Global Fund Domiciles and Fund Structures Comparison

Establishing a new fund can take a lot of work and a whole host of calculated decisions. Therefore, getting the right advice about which country to establish a new fund is a critical first step. One of the first things a fund manager must understand are the structures available in a jurisdiction and the benefits and limitations of each. The domicile choice will have regulatory, tax-structuring and other consequences throughout the life of the fund.

To help we’ve compiled a list of available fund structures and related considerations in our most popular destination countries.

Click on a country in the interactive map to see the structures available and allow you to easily compare jurisdictions and structures by set-up time, regulations, taxes, asset class and more.

Select a country below to learn more

Luxembourg

The largest fund jurisdiction in Europe and second-largest in the world (after the US), Luxembourg has a longstanding reputation for political, economic, and social stability. Located in the heart of Europe, it is the headquarters of the EU’s legal and financial operations, with an internationally recognised tax and regulatory framework and easy access to other European financial centres.

Structure	Time Line	Cost
Part II UCI ( Undertakings for Collective Investments)^*	3 to 6 months	Contact one of our experts
SIF (Specialised Investment Fund^*	3 to 6 months	Contact one of our experts
SICAR (Société d´investissement en capital à risque)^*	3 to 6 months	Contact one of our experts
RAIF (Reserved Alternative Investment Fund)^*	1 month	Contact one of our experts
Limited Partnerships (SCS, SCSp, SCA)	1 month	Contact one of our experts

Cayman

Cayman is the world’s leading offshore mutual fund jurisdiction, specialising in banking, trustee services, company incorporation and limited partnerships. With no tax on income, profits or capital gains, easy set-up procedures, and a flexible regulatory environment, the country is a favourite offshore destination for wealth and hedge fund managers. As an overseas territory of Britain, Cayman’s court system is based on English common law and has enacted legislation to become fully compliant with the latest requirements of the OECD and the Financial Action Task Force (FATF).

Structure	Time Line	Cost
Mutual Funds (open ended) Registered Mutual Fund (inc. Master Fund) Administered Mutual Fund Licenced Mutual Fund Limited Investor Fund	1-3 months	Contact one of our experts
Private Funds (Close ended) Private Fund	1-3 months	Contact one of our experts
Non-Fund Arrangements Typical Legal Structures available Unit Trust Exempted Company Segregated Portfolio Company (umbrella) Limited Liability Company Exempted Limited Partnership	1-5 business days	Contact one of our experts

United States

The world’s largest economy, the US offers exceptional political and financial stability. Set-up costs are relatively low, with many uncomplicated regulatory structures available. The country also hosts a majority of the world’s alternative investment managers. New York offers all the advantages of a world-class finance capital, and Delaware is noted for its business- and tax-friendly environment.

Structure	Time Line	Cost
Limited Partnership	1-2 months	Contact one of our experts
Limited Liability Corporation (mainly used by General Partnerships)	1-2 months	Contact one of our experts
Non publicly traded Corporation (mainly used by Blockers)	1-2 months	Contact one of our experts

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Canada

One of the world’s top 10 trading nations, Canada has a large oil and gas sector and has become a magnet for technology companies. Toronto, an international centre of business and finance, hosts the world’s seventh-largest stock exchange. The country offers a stable government, a high standard of living, and a highly skilled workforce, as well as close proximity to the US.

Structure Time Line Cost
Ontario Limited Partnerships 1-2 months Contact one of our experts

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Hong Kong

Hong Kong is one of the world’s leading financial centres. Its location provides a key link to both Western and Eastern markets, as well as mainland China. What makes it a growing popular fund domicile are: its close proximity to and relationship with China; the ability to hold funds in a range of currencies; and an attractive and simple tax system for foreign investors that has no capital gains, withholding or dividend taxes.

Structure Time Line Cost
Open-ended Fund Company (OFC) <1 month Contact one of our experts
Hong Kong Limited Partner Fund (HKLPF) <1 month Contact one of our experts

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Singapore

Singapore is a leading financial services hub strategically located in the heart of South East Asia and has a robust asset management ecosystem in place. Singapore has signed over 90 double taxation agreements and has robust tax incentive schemes for funds and asset managers, all on the base of a flat corporate income tax rate of 17%. Singapore is a common law jurisdiction and offers a variety of fund structures for various purposes.

Structure Time Line Cost
Variable Capital Company (VCC) <1 month TBC
Limited Partnerships 1 - 2 days TBC
Private Limited Company 1 - 2 days TBC

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Structure	Time Line	Cost
Ontario Limited Partnerships	1-2 months	Contact one of our experts

Structure	Time Line	Cost
Open-ended Fund Company (OFC)	<1 month	Contact one of our experts
Hong Kong Limited Partner Fund (HKLPF)	<1 month	Contact one of our experts

Structure	Time Line	Cost
Variable Capital Company (VCC)	<1 month	TBC
Limited Partnerships	1 - 2 days	TBC
Private Limited Company	1 - 2 days	TBC

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Choosing a domicile for your fund

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