Guernsey: A Practical Comparison Between Two Of Guernsey's Most Flexible Regulated Fund Products

Registered collective investment scheme (Registered Scheme)

Private Investment Fund (PIF)

Overview

Fast-track registration option whereby the Designated Administrator (as defined below) scrutinises the scheme and promoter in place of the Guernsey Financial Services Commission (the Commission) and takes responsibility for ongoing monitoring of the scheme.

The registration is granted on the basis of suitability representations made by the Designated Administrator to the Commission (achieving an efficient application process).

Fast-track registration option which seeks to provide a "light-touch" regulatory solution for schemes in respect of which management have a close relationship with investors (and which meet the relevant criteria).

The registration is granted on the basis of suitability representations made by the Designated Administrator to the Commission (achieving an efficient application process).

Regulatory framework

Registered Scheme is regulated under the Protection of Investors (Bailiwick of Guernsey) Law, 1987 (the POI Law).  The Designated Administrator must be a licensee under the POI Law.

Where a custodian is required, it will need to be a Guernsey licensee unless otherwise permitted by the GFSC.

The Registered Scheme will be subject to the Registered Collective Investment Scheme Rules 2018 and the Prospectus Rules 2018 which contain requirements for managing conflicts of interest, various market-standard investor documentation content/disclosure requirements, apply various immediate and periodic notification and annual filing requirements.  View The Prospectus Rules section below for more information on the applicable content requirements.

The PIF is regulated under the POI Law.  The Designated Administrator and the Manager must be licensees under the POI Law.

Where a custodian is required, it will need to be a Guernsey licensee unless otherwise permitted by the GFSC.

The PIF will be subject to The Private Investment Fund Rules 2016 (the PIF Rules). 

The PIF Rules contain minimum requirements for managing conflicts of interest, the submission of annual returns and annual audited accounts and certain mandatory characteristics of a PIF.  Read our article here for a summary of the PIF Rules and application process.

Vehicle type

Companies, limited partnerships, unit trusts or such other vehicle approved by the Commission.

Companies, limited partnerships, unit trusts or such other vehicle approved by  the Commission.

Closed-ended/open-ended

Closed-ended or open ended.

Closed-ended or open-ended.

Type/category of investors

No type/category restrictions.

No specific type/category restrictions, however, the Manager (as defined below) is required to declare to the Commission it has assessed that the investors are, as far as the Manager has reasonably been able to ascertain and after having made careful and appropriate enquiries, able to sustain any losses incurred on the PIF at time they have made their investment.

Number of investors

No maximum.

Maximum of 50* (excluding where an investment is made by an investment manager acting as agent for a wider group of stakeholders (e.g. pension schemes and government funds).

*Subject to the 50 investor restriction, in the first year of the PIF's operation there is no restriction on the number of investors that may be added.  In each subsequent rolling 12 month period no more than 30 new ultimate investors may be added.

Track record of promoter

No requirement to demonstrate track record; instead the Designated Administrator (as defined below) must be satis­fied that the proposed promotor of the Registered Scheme is 'fi­t and proper'.

No requirement to demonstrate track record; instead the Designated Administrator (as defined below) must be satis­fied that the proposed promotor of the PIF is 'fi­t and proper'.

Governance

Depending on the structure at least one Guernsey based director, although there are usually more for tax reasons. 

Depending on the structure at least one Guernsey based director, although there are usually more for tax reasons. 

Investor documentation

Offering document, subscription documentation and constitutional documentation complying with the Prospectus Rules 2018 and the law governing the chosen vehicle.

No requirement for an offering document or equivalent (but usual to have to protect promoter), subscription documentation and constitutional documents complying with the law governing the chosen vehicle.

Service providers

• Guernsey based and licensed administrator (the Designated Administrator)

• Auditor
   
• Custodian (in the case of open-ended Registered Schemes and certain other circumstances where a derogation has been sought and granted (e.g. hedge funds))

• Guernsey based and licensed administrator (the Designated Administrator)

• Guernsey domiciled and licensed manager (the Manager), which:

• does not need to have employees (including directors) or offices in Guernsey and can be administered by a licensed administrator, which is usually the case subject to compliance with economic substance requirements;

• despite its licence, will not be subject to Guernsey Conduct of Business or Capital Adequacy Rules

• A designated custodian must be named for an open-ended PIF, although this may be the Designated Administrator or, with the Commission's approval, a custodian that is domiciled outside Guernsey.

• Auditor

Application procedure

Expedited procedure

Key individuals in relation to the promoter and Registered Scheme to submit to the Commission personal questionnaires (Forms PQ).

Submission of application from (Form REG) setting out general information regarding the structure of the scheme, its investment activities and the parties involved, together with final forms of the offering document, constitutional documents, the subscription agreement and the material agreements to be entered into by the scheme.

Form REG contains declarations given by the Designated Administrator in respect of Promoter and Registered Scheme itself.

Registration issued within 3 business days.

Expedited procedure

Single application form (Form PIF, which applies to registration of PIF and licensing of PIF Manager), together with related Forms PQ for certain persons, including the controllers of the PIF and the Manager.

Registration in respect of PIF and licence in respect of Manager issued within one business day.

Regulatory fees:

Application fee: £3,435

Annual regulatory fee: £3,435

Application fee £2,322

Annual regulatory fee: £3,322