The time period “offshore fund” refers back to the funds run exterior the UK, normally in low tax areas. These embody the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man, Cayman Islands, Hong Kong and Bermuda. Lately Luxemburg and Dublin have turn into extra vital additionally, as ‘tax havens’ inside the European Union.

Many offshore funds are run by firms related to giant UK unit belief teams and many of the nations concerned now have their very own regulatory framework. Sure offshore funds obtain recognition underneath the monetary companies and markets Act 2000 (FSMA 2000) and could also be marketed within the UK.

Non-regulated and non re-cognised funds are topic to extreme advertising and marketing restrictions within the UK

Prospectuses and particulars can solely be forwarded to funding professionals reminiscent of stockbrokers and Unbiased Monetary Advisers (IFAs).

Offshore funds that may be marketed into the UK

S264:

Funds which can be recognised underneath the Enterprise for collective Investments in Transferable Securities (UCITS) Directive. See under for extra particulars

S270:

Funds based mostly within the designated territories, particularly Jersey, Guernsey, Isle of Man, Bermuda, and recognised as satisfying FSA necessities.

The designated territories have comparable regulation and investor safety not less than equal to the UK.

These are termed ‘regulated’.

S272:

Funds based mostly exterior the EU and the designated territories however fulfill the FSA necessities individually.

These are termed ‘recognised’

Offshore OEICs

OEICs/ICVCs are the commonest type of pooled funding in Europe. OEICs are based mostly on the European kind of ICVC referred to as Societe d’ investissement a Capital Viable (SICAV). Unit belief, in contract, are extra like what are recognized in Europe as Fonds Commun de Placement (FCP).

 The attraction of the OEIC is that it may well challenge any variety of sorts of shares. As we noticed earlier, an OEIC is ‘open-ended’, as a result of the entire quantity invested within the scheme could be elevated.

 The power to supply a large variety of sorts of shares led to the idea of umbrella funds. In this sort of fund, there are a lot of sorts of shares underneath one administration (the umbrella). Every kind of shares can put money into a unique worldwide sector.

 There’s a wider vary of funds provided to the investor by way of an offshore OEIC than an onshore unit or funding belief. The funds embody UK Fairness, Worldwide Fairness, Worldwide Rising Markets, Worldwide Managed, America, Europe, Japan, Latin America, India, Korea, Hong Kong, Australia, Commodities and Forex Funds (in all the foremost currencies) and glued curiosity funds (in all of the main currencies: eg yen, sterling, euro, US$)