{{ languageVal }}
  • English
 

Industry Updates

COVID-19 Cayman Islands Update: Additional Financial Services Concessions

13 Apr 2020

Further to our update1 of 24 March 2020, the Cayman Islands Ministry of Financial Services and the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority ("CIMA") recently introduced additional policy concessions and filing extensions in light of COVID-19.

CIMA Filings

  • De-registrations:  CIMA has confirmed that it will accept uncertified resolutions confirming the de-registration / cancellation date of a fund.

  • Fund Annual Return ("FAR"):  The Mutual Funds (Annual Returns) (Amendment) Regulations (2020) (the "Regulations") are now in force and amend the FAR form required to be submitted to CIMA by registered mutual funds.  Notwithstanding the Regulations, CIMA has indicated that all mutual funds with a 31 December 2019 financial year end can submit the current form.

  • Extended Filing Dates:  CIMA has allowed a one month extension for filing deadlines 2 for some regulatory returns with due dates through 30 June 2020.  These related primarily to the banking and money services sector and not, generally, to investment funds.

Key Ministry of Finance Measures

  • Registrar of Companies (the "ROC") Filings:  The deadline after which penalties will apply in respect of annual return filings for Cayman Islands entities has been extended to 30 June 2020.  As the economic substance notification process was connected to annual return filings for companies, this deadline has also been extended to 30 June 2020.  Where fees / returns remain outstanding on 1 July 2020, penalties will be assessed at 33.33% of the annual fee, with penalties rising to 100% of the annual fee on 1 October 2020.  Please note the ROC continues to apply good standing to entities that completed its annual return filings by 31 January 2020.  Despite the extended deadline regarding the application of any penalties, entities will only be deemed to be in good standing by the ROC once all annual return filings and economic substance filings have been duly completed and associated fees paid.

  • FATCA / CRS Reporting:  As the FATCA / CRS filing portal remains closed and is not expected to open until June 2020, the FATCA / CRS reporting deadline has been extended to 18 September 2020 for this year only.

Further Assistance

To assist clients with reporting obligations, we offer a Regulatory Filing and Notification Calendar as well as a monthly or bi-monthly regulatory update, subject to client's registration or licensing status.

If you would like further information, please contact your usual Maples Group contact or any of the contacts listed below.

Print Ready Version


Related Services

Corporate

Advising on the laws of the BVI, the Cayman Islands, Ireland, Jersey and Luxembourg, our global corporate team provides expert legal advice to corporate clients on all corporate commercial matters.  Our clients include major banks, multinationals and institutional investment firms, leading law and accountancy firms and a number of state / government entities across all industry sectors. 

Finance

Advising on the laws of the BVI, the Cayman Islands, Ireland, Jersey and Luxembourg, our global Finance team provides expert legal advice on even the most complex financial transactions under intense time pressure. Clients repeatedly return to our qualified finance lawyers to handle a variety of complex matters relating to acquisition and leveraged financing, asset finance, banking, debt capital markets, derivatives, fund finance, insurance linked products, Islamic finance, repackaging and structured finance. 

Funds & Investment Management

Advising on the laws of the BVI, the Cayman Islands, Ireland, Jersey and Luxembourg, our global Funds & Investment Management team provides expert legal advice on every aspect of the life cycle of an investment fund including set up, management and investment across a broad range of fund structures and management entities.  

Regulatory & Financial Services Advisory 

Our global team of regulatory lawyers provides expert legal advice to BVI, Cayman Islands, Irish, Jersey and Luxembourg entities regarding AML and CTF compliance including development and assessment of AML / CTF and risk management systems, KYC and customer due diligence best practices, conduct of money laundering and fraud proceedings and provision of expert evidence on AML / CTF and regulatory obligations. 

COVID-19

COVID-19 resource hub which includes important resources, links and contact information to assist you with keeping informed of important changes.