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Exploring the Funds Hub

Exploring the Funds Hub

Harneys 60 Episodes Aug 5, 2026

Exploring the Funds Hub is a podcast series that delves into the world of offshore funds, focusing on the BVI and Cayman. Each episode provides analysis and expert commentary from leading minds in the field, demystifying legal jargon and complex terminology. The podcast is produced by Harneys, an international law firm.

Episodes

Continuing obligations of a Cayman Islands Registered Mutual Fund
Continuing obligations of a Cayman Islands Registered Mutual Fund Aug 5, 2026 01:12:10 This guide sets out the continuing obligations under Cayman Islands law of an open-ended fund registered with the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority (CIMA) under section 4(3) or 4(4)(a) of the Mutual Funds Act (Mutual Funds Act). Part A of this guide sets out the ongoing requirements under the Mutual Funds Act as well the various FATCA and CRS requirements, director registration obligation
Continuing obligations for private and professional funds
The board and officers
Functionaries and other service providers
Service provider
Requirement
Is an exemption available?
Notice requirements
Event triggering an obligation to notify the FSC
Time frame
Annual regulatory and government requirements
Due by date
Action
Maintenance of records and financial statements
Fund policies and arrangements
Anti-money laundering obligations
Obligations under FATCA and CRS?
Beneficial ownership regime
Continuing obligations for private and professional funds The board and officers Functionaries and other service providers Service provider Requirement Is an exemption available? Notice requirements Event triggering an obligation to notify the FSC Time frame Annual regulatory and government requirements Due by date Action Maintenance of records and financial statements Fund policies and arrangements Anti-money laundering obligations Obligations under FATCA and CRS? Beneficial ownership regime Aug 4, 2026 12:06 As a recognised fund, your professional or private fund is regulated by the British Virgin Islands (BVI) Financial Services Commission (the FSC). This note provides a quick reference to your professional or private fund's ongoing BVI obligations. Professional and private funds are recognised under the Securities and Investment Business Act, Revised Edition 2020 and are subject to the Mutu
Establishing a Hedge Fund in the BVI
What factors determine whether a hedge fund must be regulated in the BVI?
Which hedge fund product is right for me?
What hedge fund structure should I use?
What service providers will I need to get started?
Investment Manager
Administrator
Custodian
Auditor
Authorised Representative
I have existing relationships with some service providers but they are not based in the BVI. Can I appoint them to my BVI fund?
I am also going to need to set up a new investment management vehicle to manage my BVI fund. Can you assist with that?
Any other regulatory obligations I should be thinking about?
What fees are payable to the Commission?
Application Fee (US$)
Annual Fee (US$)**
How long will it take to set up my hedge fund?
Fund
Incorporation/Formation of Company/Partnership
Time to Prepare Documentation & Submit Application to Commission
Establishing a Hedge Fund in the BVI What factors determine whether a hedge fund must be regulated in the BVI? Which hedge fund product is right for me? What hedge fund structure should I use? What service providers will I need to get started? Investment Manager Administrator Custodian Auditor Authorised Representative I have existing relationships with some service providers but they are not based in the BVI. Can I appoint them to my BVI fund? I am also going to need to set up a new investment management vehicle to manage my BVI fund. Can you assist with that? Any other regulatory obligations I should be thinking about? What fees are payable to the Commission? Application Fee (US$) Annual Fee (US$)** How long will it take to set up my hedge fund? Fund Incorporation/Formation of Company/Partnership Time to Prepare Documentation & Submit Application to Commission Aug 4, 2026 21:52 Are you thinking of setting up an investment fund in the British Virgin Islands (BVI)? This document provides an overview of the hedge funds industry in the BVI and why it is such an attractive jurisdiction for hedge funds. We explain the regulatory regime in the BVI, the fund structures and fund products available and how we can support you from the initial structuring and planning conve
Establishing a Closed-Ended Fund in the BVI
What factors determine whether a closed-ended fund must be regulated in the BVI?
The BVI Private Investment Fund Regime
What fund structure should I use?
What service providers or appointed persons will I need to get started?
I have existing relationships with some service providers but they are not based in the BVI. Can I appoint them to my BVI fund?
I am also going to need to set up a new investment management vehicle to manage my BVI fund. Can you assist with that?
Regulatory considerations
What fees are payable to the Commission?
Application Fee (US$)
Initial Recognition Fee (US$)*
Annual Fee (US$)
How long will it take to set up my fund?
Formation/Incorporation of Partnership/Company
Time to Prepare Documentation
Establishing a Closed-Ended Fund in the BVI What factors determine whether a closed-ended fund must be regulated in the BVI? The BVI Private Investment Fund Regime What fund structure should I use? What service providers or appointed persons will I need to get started? I have existing relationships with some service providers but they are not based in the BVI. Can I appoint them to my BVI fund? I am also going to need to set up a new investment management vehicle to manage my BVI fund. Can you assist with that? Regulatory considerations What fees are payable to the Commission? Application Fee (US$) Initial Recognition Fee (US$)* Annual Fee (US$) How long will it take to set up my fund? Formation/Incorporation of Partnership/Company Time to Prepare Documentation Aug 4, 2026 18:11 Are you thinking of setting up a closed-ended investment fund in the British Virgin Islands (BVI)? This document provides an overview of the closed-ended funds industry in the BVI and why the BVI is such an attractive jurisdiction for private equity, venture capital and other closed-ended fund managers. We explain the regulatory regime in the BVI, the fund structures available and how we
Introduction to automatic exchange of information for BVI Investment Funds
The legislative framework
Funds as investment entities and therefore financial Institutions
Reporting financial institutions
Registration with the IRS
Registration with FARS and the principal point of contact
Financial account
Identification of reportable accounts
Specified persons or reportable persons
Reporting to the Tax Information Authority
FATCA and non-participating FIs
Review of fund documentation
Introduction to automatic exchange of information for BVI Investment Funds The legislative framework Funds as investment entities and therefore financial Institutions Reporting financial institutions Registration with the IRS Registration with FARS and the principal point of contact Financial account Identification of reportable accounts Specified persons or reportable persons Reporting to the Tax Information Authority FATCA and non-participating FIs Review of fund documentation Jul 29, 2026 14:08 This guide provides a high level summary of the main obligations for British Virgin Islands (BVI) investment funds under BVI automatic exchange of information (AEOI) legislation. The BVI Government is a signatory to: A Model 1B intergovernmental agreement with the United States (the IGA) which provides the framework for the implementation of the US Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATC
Ongoing obligations of approved managers
Submission of annual returns
Provision
What to do and when?
Renewal fee
Provision
What to do and when?
Payment of Registry fees
Provision
What to do and when?
Preparation and submission of financial statements
Provision
What to do and when?
Directors and authorised representative
Provision
What to do and when?
Anti-money laundering/Countering the financing of terrorism
Provision
What to do and when?
Record keeping
Provision
What to do and when?
Notification of changes
Provision
What to do and when?
Notification of material or significant matters
Provision
What to do and when?
Delegation of relevant business functions
Provision
What to do and when?
Notification of excess assets under management
Provision
What to do and when?
Ceasing to qualify as an Approved Manager and new relevant business
Provision
What to do and when?
Ongoing obligations of approved managers Submission of annual returns Provision What to do and when? Renewal fee Provision What to do and when? Payment of Registry fees Provision What to do and when? Preparation and submission of financial statements Provision What to do and when? Directors and authorised representative Provision What to do and when? Anti-money laundering/Countering the financing of terrorism Provision What to do and when? Record keeping Provision What to do and when? Notification of changes Provision What to do and when? Notification of material or significant matters Provision What to do and when? Delegation of relevant business functions Provision What to do and when? Notification of excess assets under management Provision What to do and when? Ceasing to qualify as an Approved Manager and new relevant business Provision What to do and when? Jul 28, 2026 11:59 The Investment Business (Approved Managers) Regulations, Revised Edition 2020 (the Regulations) and Approved Investment Managers Guidelines (the Guidelines) establish a regime that allows eligible investment managers and advisers to be regulated under a simple approval process and avoid the licensing regime under Part I of the Securities and Investment Business Act, Revised Edition 2020 (
Continuing obligations for incubator funds
The board and officers
Functionaries and other service providers
Notice requirements
Event triggering an obligation to notify the FSC
Time frame
Notices in relation to an incubator fund's validity period
Annual regulatory and government requirements
Due by date
Action
Reporting and financial statements
Anti-money laundering obligations
Fund policies and arrangements
Obligations under FATCA and CRS
Beneficial ownership regime
Continuing obligations for incubator funds The board and officers Functionaries and other service providers Notice requirements Event triggering an obligation to notify the FSC Time frame Notices in relation to an incubator fund's validity period Annual regulatory and government requirements Due by date Action Reporting and financial statements Anti-money laundering obligations Fund policies and arrangements Obligations under FATCA and CRS Beneficial ownership regime Jul 27, 2026 12:12 As a mutual fund, your incubator fund is regulated by the British Virgin Islands (BVI) Financial Services Commission (the FSC). This note provides a quick reference to your incubator fund's ongoing BVI obligations. Incubator funds are governed by the Securities and Investment Business (Incubator and Approved Funds) Regulations, Revised Edition 2020 (the Regulations) and the Incubator and
Continuing obligations for approved funds
The board and officers
Functionaries and other service providers
Notice requirements
Event triggering an obligation to notify the FSC
Time frame
Annual regulatory and government requirements
Due by date
Action
Reporting and financial statements
Anti-money laundering obligations
Fund policies and arrangements
Obligations under FATCA and CRS
Beneficial ownership regime
Continuing obligations for approved funds The board and officers Functionaries and other service providers Notice requirements Event triggering an obligation to notify the FSC Time frame Annual regulatory and government requirements Due by date Action Reporting and financial statements Anti-money laundering obligations Fund policies and arrangements Obligations under FATCA and CRS Beneficial ownership regime Jul 27, 2026 11:16 As a mutual fund, your approved fund is regulated by the British Virgin Islands (BVI) Financial Services Commission (the FSC). This note provides a quick reference to your approved fund's ongoing BVI obligations. Approved funds are governed by the Securities and Investment Business (Incubator and Approved Funds) Regulations, Revised Edition 2020 (the Regulations) and the Incubator and App
The BVI's quiet role in ESG-linked fund structures: substance, speed, and strategic value
Addressing the perception problem directly
Where the BVI fits in the ESG fund ecosystem
Three structural scenarios in practice
Scenario 1: BVI feeder into a Cayman ESG master fund
Scenario 2: BVI limited partnership as a co-investment vehicle
Scenario 3: BVI company as an impact SPV with UNPRI-aligned reporting
What institutional investors actually require
When the BVI is — and is not — the right choice
A pragmatic tool in a sophisticated toolkit
The BVI's quiet role in ESG-linked fund structures: substance, speed, and strategic value Addressing the perception problem directly Where the BVI fits in the ESG fund ecosystem Three structural scenarios in practice Scenario 1: BVI feeder into a Cayman ESG master fund Scenario 2: BVI limited partnership as a co-investment vehicle Scenario 3: BVI company as an impact SPV with UNPRI-aligned reporting What institutional investors actually require When the BVI is — and is not — the right choice A pragmatic tool in a sophisticated toolkit Jul 20, 2026 08:17 The BVI is not the top-level vehicle in an ESG fund, but it plays a valuable role at the layer beneath, as a feeder fund, co-investment vehicle, or impact SPV, where speed, simplicity, and cost matter. Institutional ESG investors do not categorically exclude BVI vehicles; eligibility is driven by the structure's conduct, governance, transparency, and reporting, not the jurisdiction alone.
Private credit in Luxembourg: structuring considerations for a fast-growing strategy
Luxembourg's private credit landscape: why the domicile matters
Choosing the right vehicle: RAIF, SIF and the SCSp
AIFMD II: what the loan-originating fund rules mean in practice
Liquidity structuring: matching terms to assets
Pre-launch checklist: structuring questions to resolve before you launch
Conclusion
Private credit in Luxembourg: structuring considerations for a fast-growing strategy Luxembourg's private credit landscape: why the domicile matters Choosing the right vehicle: RAIF, SIF and the SCSp AIFMD II: what the loan-originating fund rules mean in practice Liquidity structuring: matching terms to assets Pre-launch checklist: structuring questions to resolve before you launch Conclusion Jul 13, 2026 08:40 Private credit has moved from the margins to the mainstream of European finance, and Luxembourg has become the domicile of choice for the managers raising and deploying it. As bank lending has retrenched and institutional investors have pursued the credit risk premium, European private credit assets under management have grown rapidly, and a growing share of new direct lending, mezzanine
AIFMD II and the UCITS review: what EU reform means for global fund managers
Introduction: The stakes of EU reform for global managers
What AIFMD II actually changes and for whom
Delegation and substance: the reforms that matter most
Loan-originating funds: new rules, new obligations
Liquidity management tools: an expanded toolkit with new responsibilities
Reporting obligations: what has changed and what is coming
Stricter requirements regarding national private placement rules
What managers should be asking their advisers now
AIFMD II and the UCITS review: what EU reform means for global fund managers Introduction: The stakes of EU reform for global managers What AIFMD II actually changes and for whom Delegation and substance: the reforms that matter most Loan-originating funds: new rules, new obligations Liquidity management tools: an expanded toolkit with new responsibilities Reporting obligations: what has changed and what is coming Stricter requirements regarding national private placement rules What managers should be asking their advisers now Jul 9, 2026 12:10 AIFMD II (Directive (EU) 2024/927) is in force, with national transposition due by 16 April 2026, and the UCITS review is following closely behind. For global managers using Luxembourg as their EU gateway, the practical impact is concentrated in four areas: tighter delegation and substance expectations, a new regime for loan-originating funds, mandatory liquidity management tools for open
BVI Open-Ended Funds and Approved Funds: Structures, benefits and approval process
What are BVI investment funds?
What is a BVI-approved fund?
Key benefits of investing in BVI funds and approved funds
Regulatory requirements for setting up a BVI fund
How to obtain approval for a BVI fund: step-by-step process
1. Appoint legal counsel and key service providers
2. Determine the fund structure and category
3. Incorporate the fund vehicle
4. Prepare the offering documents (or disclosure)
5. Submit the application to the FSC
6. FSC review and approval
Typical timeline for BVI fund approval
BVI hedge funds: the five fund categories
How Harneys can help
BVI Open-Ended Funds and Approved Funds: Structures, benefits and approval process What are BVI investment funds? What is a BVI-approved fund? Key benefits of investing in BVI funds and approved funds Regulatory requirements for setting up a BVI fund How to obtain approval for a BVI fund: step-by-step process 1. Appoint legal counsel and key service providers 2. Determine the fund structure and category 3. Incorporate the fund vehicle 4. Prepare the offering documents (or disclosure) 5. Submit the application to the FSC 6. FSC review and approval Typical timeline for BVI fund approval BVI hedge funds: the five fund categories How Harneys can help Jul 6, 2026 15:27 The British Virgin Islands is one of the world's leading jurisdictions for the formation of investment funds. With a well-established regulatory framework, tax-neutral environment and efficient approval processes, the BVI offers a compelling platform for fund managers — particularly those launching their first fund or structuring vehicles below US$100 million. This guide explains the key

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