- within Accounting and Audit, Immigration and Insurance topic(s)
Since the Cayman Islands were added to the EU AML list in
February 2022, Walkers has moved multiple CLO deals to Bermuda,
with the first such deal closing in late March that same year. Of
late, the Bermuda team has seen an uptick in the number of
commercial real estate (or "CRE") CLO issuers being
incorporated in the jurisdiction, and the indications are that
Bermuda has emerged as the jurisdiction of choice for US CLO
managers seeking to market CRE CLO deals to EU investors.
Market participants will be aware that a CRE CLO differs from a
"traditional" CLO in a number of respects:
- The collateral comprises real estate loans backed by mortgages over the underlying real estate assets.
- The issuer SPV remains on balance sheet, with its ordinary shares being held by a fund managed by, or a holding entity affiliated with, the collateral manager, rather than a share trustee.
- The issuer directors are typically a mix of independent directors provided by the administrator and individuals associated with the manager.
- The deals are not warehoused, with the assets being purchased by the issuer at closing.
The advantages to managers and investors of incorporating the issuer in Bermuda are numerous. As well as the usual factors traditionally associated with the jurisdiction (tax neutrality, stability, compliance with international standards including FATCA/CRS, anti-money laundering and antiterrorist financing and beneficial ownership), Bermuda is well placed to meet the requirements of the CRE CLO market:
- CLO issuers are not subject to Bermuda's AML/ATF regime.
- CLO issuers are not subject to economic substance requirements in Bermuda, meaning that there are no barriers to appointing manager-affiliated individuals who are not resident in Bermuda to the issuer's board of directors.
- Bermuda companies (including CLO issuers) need not prepare financial statements if the directors and shareholders agree to waive their preparation.
- A Bermuda issuer is not dependent on REIT status (which can be lost upon the occurrence of certain events) to be excluded from US taxes.
- The Bermuda Monetary Authority and Registrar of Companies are well versed with CLO structures, both on and off balance sheet, and have demonstrated a commitment to swift incorporation times.
The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.
