In an era of increasing regulatory complexity and escalating compliance costs, fund managers seeking a jurisdiction that offers flexibility without compromising credibility may find the British Virgin Islands (BVI) Approved Manager regime to be an ideal solution. Recognised by the BVI Financial Services Commission (FSC), this light-touch framework provides emerging managers with an efficient and […]

Since introducing the Foundation legislation in 2017, Cayman Island Foundations have become a useful structuring vehicle for diverse commercial and personal purposes.  On the commercial side as a legal wrapper, the vehicle has been popular as part of a decentralised autonomous organisation (DAO), due to its unique properties: These features are available for wealth structures […]

Overview The Seychelles International Business Companies (Amendment) Act, 2024 (IBC Amendment Act) came into effect on 18 December 2024, introducing significant changes to the striking-off process for Seychelles companies (IBCs). Under the new provisions, IBCs can now be struck-off and dissolved much sooner than before, particularly in cases of non-payment of annual fees. Key Changes to the Striking-Off Process Previously, IBCs that […]

Opening a bank account is usually one of the first items on a new company’s to do list, however, the process of establishing a corporate bank account in Hong Kong can present significant challenges, and is often more complicated than a company incorporation due to strict regulatory requirements and high compliance standards imposed on banks. […]

Background to the Register of Members and Register of Directors Updates Recent legislative amendments to the Business Companies Act, effective 2 January 2025, have introduced several changes to the filing requirements and deadlines for companies within the BVI. Key updates include amendments to the Register of Members and the Register of Directors, alongside changes to […]

Background to the beneficial ownership updates Recent amendments to the Business Companies Act have introduced several new requirements to align with international compliance standards. The Business Companies and Limited Partnerships (Beneficial Ownership) Regulations (the BO Regulations) aim to enhance transparency by mandating certain obligations for companies. The first of these changes is set to commence […]

The purpose of this update is to provide summary information around adjustments to the annual maintenance fees for Cayman entities, effective in 2025. A) Cayman Islands Monetary Authority (CIMA) – Licence fees adjustment for 2025  The Cayman Islands Monetary Authority (CIMA) confirmed on 11 December 2024 that they will impose the proposed increases to its 2025 licence fees. These […]

Recent amendments to the Companies Act and regulatory framework that may impact your business operations in Bermuda Bermuda has undergone significant enhancements in its commercial (re)insurance supervision and regulatory regime, driven by industry consultations and market testing led by the Bermuda Monetary Authority (BMA). These enhancements particularly impact commercial (re)insurers in the long-term space, resulting […]

Recent amendments to the BVI Companies Act (Revised) have introduced significant changes to the strike off regime and restoration process. We outline the process and implications around strike off and dissolution of BVI companies under the new regime and the temporary transitional period which is currently in force.

The Seychelles BTAA has updated the Business Tax Act to comply with the European Union’s Economic Substance requirements. Previously, Seychelles operated under a territorial tax regime, meaning only income sourced within the country was subject to taxation. Foreign-sourced income was exempt from Seychelles taxation. However, pursuant to the BTAA updates, exemptions for foreign sourced income have been specified.