Regulatory: Economic Substance Update

New CIMA Rules effective September 2026 will transform anti-money laundering and sanctions compliance for Cayman Islands investment funds, elevating previous guidance to directly enforceable requirements. Fund governing bodies face enhanced responsibilities including mandatory annual AML training, independent audit requirements, and stricter AMLCO independence standards. Understanding these practical implications and preparing appropriate compliance frameworks will be essential for funds and their service p

Tokenised risk financing is revolutionising the insurance industry by using blockchain technology to represent insurance risks as digital tokens that can be traded by investors. This digital transformation promises to make capital markets more accessible, improve liquidity, and reduce friction in transferring risk, though regulatory frameworks and industry standards are still evolving to accommodate this innovation.

The Cayman Islands has emerged as a premier jurisdiction for digital asset funds, tokenised investment vehicles, and fintech ventures, offering regulatory clarity through frameworks like VASPA and SIBA. This comprehensive guide explores how entrepreneurs and fund managers can leverage Cayman's tax-neutral environment, flexible fund structures including segregated portfolio companies, and the Special Economic Zone to establish and scale digital asset businesses with legitimate offshore substance.

Premier and Minister for Financial Services and Commerce, the Hon. André M. Ebanks MP will travel to London and Dublin from 12 September as part of the Cayman Islands Government’s ongoing efforts to have continued engagement with key government, policy and financial services stakeholders across Europe.

The Cayman Islands funds industry continues to demonstrate resilience and growth, with Private Funds reaching a record 18,132 in Q2 2026, marking a 3.0% year-on-year increase. This analysis examines the latest quarterly statistics across mutual funds, private funds, and fund administrators, revealing sustained investor confidence despite ongoing considerations around economic substance requirements.

A key operational change to CRS is the new requirement for a Cayman Islands Financial Institution (each an “FI”) to appoint a Principal Point of Contact (“PPoC”) that is resident in the Cayman Islands. Where the PPoC of an FI is not currently resident in the Cayman Islands, the FI is required to appoint a Cayman Islands-based PPoC and notify the Department for International Tax Cooperation (“DITC”) by 31 January 2027.

The Cayman Islands has updated its Common Reporting Standard (“CRS”) framework, and most new requirements came into effect from 1 January 2026. This client update provides an overview of the changes and how the Maples Group can assist.

The Cayman Islands and the British Virgin Islands (“BVI”) occupy a leading position in the global investment funds landscape.

Private credit activity in the Middle East is expanding rapidly, with sponsors and investors deploying capital through increasingly sophisticated lending and structured financing arrangements. The Cayman Islands exempted company offers a flexible corporate framework that can perform multiple functions within a single transaction, from investor aggregation to direct lending, while accommodating complex economic rights and governance structures.

The Cayman Islands has emerged as a premier jurisdiction for digital asset investment funds, with nearly one in five new open-ended funds now incorporating cryptocurrency strategies. As institutional demand grows, fund sponsors face critical challenges in reconciling volatile digital assets with traditional redemption structures, requiring sophisticated liquidity management tools and robust governance frameworks.

The Abu Dhabi Global Market has eliminated its nexus requirement for Special Purpose Vehicles, fundamentally transforming access to one of the region's most established structuring regimes. This regulatory shift moves away from geographic eligibility tests toward a governance-focused framework emphasizing transparency, compliance, and the legitimate purpose of holding structures.

The UK Supreme Court's decision in Saxon Woods v Costa establishes that directors cannot justify covert, disloyal conduct by claiming they sincerely believed they were acting in the company's best interests. This analysis examines how the ruling clarifies section 172 of the Companies Act 2006 and explores its implications for directors of Jersey companies, where article 74(1)(a) of the Companies (Jersey) Law 1991 takes a different structural approach to the same fundamental duty.

The UK's proposed AIFM reforms aim to create a more proportionate framework for emerging alternative investment fund managers. As these businesses evolve from proof-of-concept to institutional scale, they face increasingly complex questions around fund structuring, investor access, and long-term platform development that require sophisticated jurisdictional solutions.

Collateralised fund obligations (CFOs) are emerging as a critical financing mechanism for private fund sponsors seeking to access institutional capital markets. This analysis examines why the Channel Islands—specifically Guernsey and Jersey—have become preferred jurisdictions for structuring CFO vehicles targeting UK and European assets, combining regulatory credibility with tax efficiency and structural flexibility.

Bermuda's Digital Asset Business Act framework offers DeFi platforms and DAOs a structured regulatory pathway that bridges decentralised governance with institutional-grade compliance. Through tiered licensing and foundation company structures, projects can evolve from testing to full authorisation while maintaining token-holder governance and meeting institutional investor requirements.

Interim freezing injunctions serve as a critical mechanism in Guernsey for preventing respondents from dissipating or transferring assets during legal proceedings. The Royal Court's flexible approach to granting these orders, whether in support of domestic or international proceedings, demonstrates Guernsey's commitment to maintaining its reputation as a reputable international financial centre while balancing the rights of both applicants and respondents.

As the UAE strengthens its position as a leading international financial hub, boards of DIFC and ADGM entities face mounting pressure to demonstrate sound decision-making and robust governance. Regulators increasingly expect clear evidence that governance arrangements work effectively in practice, not just on paper. With enhanced scrutiny on oversight, compliance, and risk management, boards must show how decisions are reached, risks are assessed, and actions are followed through.

When a settlor-beneficiary requests the sale of real estate held through a trust-owned company, can the trustee simply inform the directors and step back? This article examines the trustee's active supervision obligations under the Bartlett duty, explores how anti-Bartlett clauses operate in practice, and reveals why professional trustees cannot shelter behind the corporate veil when conflicts of interest arise within the same corporate group.

Private credit activity in the Middle East is expanding rapidly, with sponsors and investors deploying capital through increasingly sophisticated lending and structured financing arrangements. The Cayman Islands exempted company offers a flexible corporate framework that can perform multiple functions within a single transaction, from investor aggregation to direct lending, while accommodating complex economic rights and governance structures.

China has introduced a comprehensive Individual Income Tax regime for offshore trusts, imposing a 20% flat tax on settlors and beneficiaries with Chinese connections. With a 90-day transition window now in effect, affected individuals must urgently assess their disclosure obligations and consider whether existing trust structures remain viable under the new rules.