News and developments
The Alternative Investment Fund (aif)
A. INTRODUCTION
Cyprus is dynamically positioning itself as one of the top emerging investment fund centres in Europe. The fully upgraded and modernised legislative and regulatory framework, which is in full compliance with the European legislation, has enhanced competiveness and has placed the country in the league of important jurisdictions for the Alternative Investment Funds industry.
The Government, the Regulator and the Professionals have firmly committed in providing their full support in developing further the Funds industry in Cyprus and there is strong belief that this joint effort will create even more positive results.
B. WHO CAN BENEFIT FROM THE SET UP OF A FUND
Conducting business through a fund, a vehicle which operates under more strict and transparent rules than normal limited liability companies, gives the ability to raise capital from private and institutional investors who are not really interested in being involved in the day to day management of their investment but seek a good return on their investment in accordance with the risk they chose to undertake.
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Funds are traditionally being used as an alternative method to bank financing and are used to finance real estate, shipping and other large scale investments. It is also one of the most widely used vehicle from Venture Capitalists whose investments may need extra funding.
The way investment funds operate provide a clear separation between ownership and the management and control of the underlying investments. This is due to the fact that the management is not performed by the owners (unitholders) but by fund managers who are subject to specific rules and supervision. This makes it appropriate for High Net Worth Individuals seeking to achieve asset protection and tax optimisation by replacing their traditional holding companies with a more sophisticated and professionally managed and regulated vehicle, as well as Family Offices who want to manage the family wealth in a more flexible and transparent way with specific risk and investment characteristics.
C. WHY SET UP A FUND IN CYPRUS
Cyprus being an EU Member State has a lot to offer in the financial services sector and the Funds industry in particular. With its efficient and up-to date regulation, which is fully harmonised with the related EU Directives, provides a framework in which Fund Managers and Funds can operate efficiently.
Further, Cyprus is an already established International Business Center with years of experience in servicing international clients. The skills and knowhow obtained from the experienced lawyers and accountants is now put at work in servicing the Funds industry in a cost effective manner, keeping the set-up and ongoing operational costs well below other established EU Fund jurisdictions, without compromising the quality of the services offered.
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The island’s strategic geographic location allows Cyprus to act as a footbridge between Europe and the emerging Middle East and African markets as well as the attractive Asian economies.
Finally, Cyprus enjoys one of the most attractive taxation systems which is fully compliant with EU and OECD requirements. Funds set up in Cyprus will have access to a wide network of double taxation treaties and will be benefited from low tax burdens levied on Cyprus based entities. In addition, specific incentives exist for fund managers and high-earning employees making the relocation of such persons very attractive from a taxation perspective.
D. TYPES OF ALTERNATIVE INVESTMENT FUNDS IN CYPRUS
There are three types of Alternative Investment Funds that can be set up in Cyprus. It is the Alternative Investment Fund of unlimited number of investors (AIF), the Alternative Investment Fund of Limited Number of Investors (AIFLNP) and finally the Registered Alternative Investment Fund (RAIF). In this publication we provide an overview of the AIF, which is the standard form of a Fund in Cyprus. We will identify below its main characteristics and requirements. For more information on the other types of Alternative Investment Funds you may refer to our separate publications on each specific fund type.
E. THE ALTERNATIVE INVESTMENT FUND (AIF)
1. Authorisation Process
The Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) is the regulatory authority, responsible under the AIF Law for the licensing and supervision of Alternative Investment Funds in Cyprus.
The operation of an AIF is subject to the prior granting of authorisation and notification of authorisation by CySEC, only if CySEC approves:
- The relevant application;
- The AIF’s fund rules or instruments of incorporation;
- The choice of external manager, or in case of internally managed AIF, the persons who effectively shall conduct the business of the AIF; and
- The choice of the depositary.
The application for the granting of authorisation for an AIF must be accompanied by the following data:
- the name of the AIF, its registered address and address of its headquarters (in case of investment company and limited partnership),
- sufficient information and data,including a resume, for the people who effectively direct the business of the internally managed AIF (in case of investment company and limited partnership),
- the name and data identifying and certifying the appropriateness of the external manager, as well as the identity of the person or persons responsible for the risk management and portofolio management functions,
- a statement by the external manager confirming agreement to perform the investment management functions of the AIF,
- a statement by the depositary confirming agreement to perform the depositary functions for the assets of the AIF,
- the identity of the person or persons appointed by the depositary as responsible for monitoring the activity of the AIF,
- a draft of the AIF’s fund rules, instruments of incorporation or partnership agreement depending on the legal form of the AIF,
- a draft of the AIF’s offering document,
- a draft of the AIF’s key investor information document
- CySEC shall inform the external manager of the AIF or the AIF directly, if internally managed, within 6 months of the submission of a complete application file as described above.
2. Legal Forms
An AIF may be established and operate as open-ended or close ended fund and take the following legal forms:
- Variable Capital Investment Company (VCIC)
- Fixed Capital Investment Company (FCIC)
- Limited Partnership
- Common fund
An AIF may operate as an Umbrella Fund structure, with more than one investment compartments (sub-funds).
According to the AIF Legislation, the Umbrella Fund and the Sub-Funds constitute a SINGLE legal entity but each Sub-Fund is (please refer on our website for the chart):
- Ring fenced and fully segregated from the Umbrella Fund and the other Sub-Funds.
- Each Compartment’s investors’ rights are restricted to the assets of the compartment.
- Each Compartment can be dissolved separately.
- Each Compartment can have its own investment strategy.
- The set-up and running costs of each compartment is lower than separate funds.
3. Fund Manager
AIFs may be either internally or externally managed.
An AIF which is internally managed, may take the form of an Investment Company or a Limited Partnership with separate legal personality .
An externally managed AIF may take any legal form and can be managed by:
• An AIFM (established in Cyprus or the EU or third country)
• a UCITS Management Company (established in Cyprus or the EU)
• an Investment Firm (established in Cyprus or the EU)
• a Sub-threshold AIF/mini manager (authorised in Cyprus or the EU)
4. Depositary Requirements
The assets of the AIF shall be entrusted to a depositary which has its registered office in Cyprus, an EU member state or a third country.
The eligible depositaries for an AIF include Credit Institutions, Investment Firms or an institution under prudential regulation and supervision, and recognised by the Member State as eligible to be appointed as depositaries.
The depositary of an AIF is responsible for:
- the safekeeping of AIF’s assets by maintaining the register of its assets
- the oversight of the AIF regarding any subscriptions and redemptions, valuation of shares/units, timely settlement of transactions, profit distribution and the carrying out of the External Manager’s instructions
- the effective and proper monitoring of the AIF cashflows.
Under certain conditions, the depositary may delegate the duty of safekeeping the AIF’s assets to third parties.
The duties of the depositary and the external manager or the AIF in case it is internally managed, must be performed independently and exclusively in the interest of the unitholders of the AIF.
5. Investment Strategy
The directives issued by CySEC set the restrictions and investments limits that apply to an AIF’s investment strategy. These relate to:
- General Restrictions
- Restriction based on the type of its eligible investors (see point 6 below)
- Restrictions based on the investment strategy of the AIF
The primary goal of the restrictions and investment limits is to ensure liquidity and promote a well-diversified investment portfolio.
6. Eligible Investors
A Cyprus registered AIF can be addressed to professional and well-informed investors. It may also market its units to retail investors, however, certain conditions and prior approval from CySEC must be obtained.
7. Limitation on Number of Investors
A Cyprus AIF has no restriction as to the number of investors provided that the legal form of the AIF allows it.
8. Initial Capital Requirements
In the case of an externally managed AIF there are no initial capital requirements, as such requirements are imposed on the manager.
For internally-managed AIFs that fall below the AIFMD thresholds, the minimum capital requirements are set to €125.000, which must be available at any time in the form of cash which is deposited in the name of the AIFLNP in an approved credit institution in an EU member state or in the form of assets readily convertible to cash.
For internally-managed AIFs that fall within the conditions of the AIFMD the minimum capital requirement is set at €300.000.
9. Value of Assets under Management
An AIF must hold assets of at least €500.000 for each investment compartment within 12 months from the date of registration, through the means of capital raising from investors
CySEC may extend the 12 month period for up to additional 12 months, if this is considered as necessary.
Any capital commitments for the acquisition of units as well as the amount of minimum initial capital as identified in section 9 above, are not taken into account for the calculation of the AIF assets under management.
10. Fund Taxation
Cyprus based funds and their investors can benefit from a favourable tax environment. An AIF will be subject to Corporation tax at 12.5% on the resulting net profits without any imposition of taxes on the net assets of the Fund.
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It must be noted however that dividend income as well as any profit generated from the trading of titles – such as shares, units of funds, bonds, options etc, are exempt from taxation in Cyprus.
Any interest income received from an AIF is considered as “active” income and is exempt from Special Defence Contribution Tax. This means that interest income is taxed as normal business income at 12.5% on any resulting net profits.
Further, the amount of capital raised from investors (unitholders) may be eligible to receive a Notional Interest Deduction (NID) as per the provisions of the Cyprus Tax Legislation which can potentially reduce the taxable base of a company type AIF by up to 80%.
There are no withholding taxes on dividend payment to foreign investors irrespective of the percentage of the participation in the Fund and no taxation applied on the redemption of units of an AIF.
In case of an AIF with multiple compartments, each compartment is taxed separately (i.e. as a separate taxpayer) despite the fact that each compartment is not a separate legal entity.
F. FUNDS AT A GLANCE
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G. THE FUTURE OF FUNDS IN CYPRUS
The transformation of the investment funds regime in Cyprus in combination with the island’s strategic geographic position, attractive tax environment and the experienced professional service sector has made Cyprus the rising star of the EU funds jurisdictions.
As the value of assets under fund management in Europe is increasing with a consistent growth rate, Cyprus with steady and important steps to the right direction, will play a significant role in the future of the global funds industry.
H. HOW KINANIS LLC CAN ASSIST
Our dedicated Financial Services team is ready to assist clients with:
• Preparation of Fund authorisation application to CySEC.
• Assistance in drafting of constitutional and other legal documents of the Fund.
• Consulting in legal, tax and accounting matters of the Fund.
• Directorship services.
• Listing of funds in the Cyprus Stock Exchange.
• Corporate services such as secretary and registered office.
Disclaimer:This publication has been prepared as a general guide and for information purposes only. It is not a substitution for professional advice. One must not rely on it without receiving independent advice based on the particular facts of his/her own case. No responsibility can be accepted by the authors or the publishers for any loss occasioned by acting or refraining from acting on the basis of this publication.
March 2019
Authors: Charalambos Meivatzis - Partner, Andri Michael - Partner, Elena Andreou - Associate