Bermuda Registered Funds Fund_Guideline

Bermuda Registered Funds

The Bermuda Investment Funds Amendment Act 2019 sets forth the regulatory environment for operation of mutual funds in Bermuda.

Upon registration, funds are classified as one of the following:

  1. Private Funds:

Funds are considered Private under the Act if the number of participants does not exceed 20 persons and the fund does not promote itself by communicating invitations or inducements to the public generally.

The operator of a Private fund is required to appoint a local service provider authorised and regulated by the Authority and appoint a Custodian to ensure safekeeping of the fund’s assets.​

  1. Professional Class A and Class B Funds:

An Investment Fund, which satisfies the criteria set out in section 6A(2) of the Act, may apply to the Authority to be registered as a Professional Class A fund while an Investment Fund which satisfies the criteria set out in section 7(2) of the Act may apply to the Authority to be registered as a Professional Class B fund.

The criteria that must be satisfied for both classes, as detailed in sections 6A(2) and 7(2), are:​

  1. the fund must be open to qualified participants as defined under section 9(2) and 9(3) of the Act;
  2. the operator of the fund has appointed an officer, trustee or representative resident in Bermuda who has authority to access the books and records of the fund;
  3. the operator of the fund has appointed the following service providers to the fund-
    • an investment manager;
    • fund administrator;
    • registrar;
    • an auditor; and
    • a custodian or prime broker; and
  4. the financial statements of the fund are prepared in accordance with any one of the following standards-
  5. International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”);
  6. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“GAAP”) in Bermuda, Canada, the United Kingdom or the United States of America; or
  7. any such other GAAP as the Authority may recognise.

The qualification criteria differs between the two classes as it relates to the appointment of the investment manager.  Professional Class A funds must appoint an investment manager for the fund who is either:

  • licensed under the Investment Business Act 2003;
  • authorised or licensed by a foreign regulator recognised by the Authority; or
  • carrying on business in or from Bermuda or in a jurisdiction recognised by the Authority, being a person who
  1. has gross assets under management of an amount that is not less than $100 million; or
  2. is a member of an investment management group that has consolidated gross assets under management of an amount that is not less than $100 million;

Legal Requirements

Sr.

No

 Element Requirement(s)
Entity Requirements The entity making the application is Bermuda:

  1. Company
  2. Limited partnerships,
  3. Unit trust or
Director’s Requirements The licensee will need at least 2 (two) natural person Fit and Proper Directors of any jurisdiction.
Shareholder requirements
  • The investment dealer will need at least one shareholder.
  • Corporate shareholding is allowed and 100% foreign ownership is permitted.
Compliance Officer The Licensee must establish and maintain an appropriate and effective compliance function within the firm which operates independently of all operational and business line functions and senior or supervisory management.
Licensed Principle The Applicant must employ at least one individual who is licensed as a principal.

The Principle must:

  1. Have sufficient educational or other qualifications or experience;
  2. Have sufficient authority within the company;
  3. Be a fit and proper person, to supervise the business for which the company that has nominated him is licensed or is applying to be licensed
Fund Administrator The Applicant must employ a fund administrator with no local requirement
Fund Manager The Applicant must employ a fund manager with no local requirement
Custodian
  • The applicant must have a custodian approved by the BMA.
  • A Custodian licensed and approved locally the minister.
  • A Custodian licensed and approved under the laws of a recognized country or jurisdiction.
  • A person with a written permission from the Minister to carry on Business as a Custodian.
Local Office The applicant must have premises acceptable to the authority. The premises should be able to facilitate confidential interaction between the applicant and its clients, and provide for safe and confidential storage of documents.
Auditor The Licensee, within one month after becoming licensed, shall appoint an external auditor who is acceptable to the Authority
Insurance The applicant must have indemnity insurance coverage or a fidelity bond acceptable to the regulator
Minimum Capital Requirements

Ongoing Obligations

  1. Licenses are to be renewed annually after the date of registration. On application for renewal of a Licence, the Bermuda Monetary Authority , if satisfied that the applicant is a licensee of good standing, may grant the renewal on payment by the applicant of the annual renewal Licence fee
  2. Filing of Audited Accounts: The licensee shall for the financial year beginning on the day on which it commences to carry on securities business; and for each subsequent year submit to the Authority, within ninety days after the end of the financial year, audited financial statements prepared in accordance with international accounting standards, and which contain such additional information as may be prescribed.
  3. The Licensee must maintain appropriate policies of insurance for the purpose of indemnifying such licensee against any liability that may be incurred as a result of any act or omission by the licensee or any of its officers or employees in the conduct of the licensee’s securities business.

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