Jurisdictional Review – Segregated Cell Companies

Segregated accounts (or cell / portfolio) companies have been on the commercial landscape for more than a decade.

Known as SACs in Bermuda, they are in some jurisdictions described as "cell companies", "segregated accounts companies", or "segregated portfolio companies".

The first public legislation in this area was introduced in Guernsey in 1997, with the Cayman Islands following in 1998 and Bermuda doing so in 2000. Public legislation also now exists in Jersey, British Virgin Islands, Mauritius, Bahamas, Barbados, and in various other jurisdictions, both offshore and onshore.

This article is intended to provide a high level review of segregated accounts legislation in Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Jersey, and Mauritius.