Trust Bermuda! Bermuda International Business Association New York 30 September 2009
Disclaimer Complex subject matter Review with professional advisors Assume no responsibility
Agenda: Introduction SWOT –Strengths - Why Bermuda? –Weakness – Reasons not to use Bermuda –Opportunities – What structures are being created? –Threats – What can go wrong?
Rajah Abusrewil, BA (Hons), PgDL, LPC Areas of Practice Trust Drafting & Creation Asset Protection Private and Commercial Trust Structures Private Trust Companies Professional Bermuda Bar Association (Called 2009) Law Society of England and Wales (Called 2005) Society of Trust & Estate Practioners – Junior Member
Randall J Krebs, Head of Private Client & Trusts (Bermuda) AREAS OF PRACTICE specialises in advising on trust matters in a commercial and private client setting EDUCATION Bachelor of Commerce, 1982 Bachelor of Laws, 1985 ADMISSIONS/MEMBERSHIPS Law Society of Alberta, 1986 Law Society of Upper Canada (Ontario), 1990 Bermuda Bar Association, 2005 Trade-mark Agent Canadian Tax Foundation Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP)
Ronald’s group acts as trustee for pension plan trusts, insurance trusts, investment trusts and escrow arrangements. Ronald Schmalcel was the Deputy Head of Trust and Fiduciary Services for SG Hambros (Bahamas) Limited prior to moving to Butterfield Trust in Ronald was Head of Risk Management, Processes and Training with UBS Trustees (Bahamas) Limited from Ronald holds a Bachelor of Laws Degree from Osgoode Hall Law School and practiced tax law and estate planning in Canada for approximately 12 years before working in the offshore fiduciary services business. Ronald Schmalcel Vice President, Head of Corporate Trust
DAVID A. SUSSMAN B.A., LL.B., M.B.A., TEP Over 20 years experience in international financial services A qualified lawyer in Ontario, Canada and Bermuda he has lived and worked in 5 countries Developed and executed strategy in increasingly senior positions at several of the world’s premier banks and trust companies.
TRUST BERMUDA STRENGTHS Rajah Abusrewil
WHY BERMUDA? UK Overseas Dependant Territory Basis in UK law Politically Stable Attractive position between Europe and North America
KNOWLEDGE & UNDERSTANDING Bermuda has a strong tradition in the use, understanding and administration of trusts. The Judiciary in Bermuda is solid, reliable and understands the role of Trusts in the personal and professional world.
LEADER IN TRUST INNOVATION First jurisdiction to introduce Purpose Trusts (1989) First jurisdiction to introduce PTC legislation (2001)– now Bermuda is very clearly largest PTC jurisdiction in world Other jurisdictions follow Bermuda – which should speak volumes.
NOT A FOLLOWER OF FAD TRENDS! Vista trusts or Star trusts have not been implemented They are often not considered as valid trusts.
PEOPLE Bermuda has been successful at importing and training talented professionals. Lawyers, Accountants and Trust Professionals trained around the world bring with them their high standards and practices. There is a variety of providers for Companies to be able to select the best fit. Bermuda continues to only accept a very high caliber of professionals and experts in the trust field
KNOW YOUR CLIENT Bermuda has always adhered to stringent Know Your Client procedures, even when it was not fashionable to do so. Other jurisdictions have had to raise their own standards (and costs) to meet these high KYC standards already in place in Bermuda. Bermuda has been placed firmly on the OECD White List which further confirms these excellent standards.
BERMUDA QUALITY Country Legal System Trust Administration Professionals
Weaknesses? Misinformation about Bermuda
Difficult to Deal With Bermuda Monetary Authority KYC Only 2 ‘real’ Banks Limited Number of Trust Companies
Expensive Exclusive Club - Rich and Famous Only
No Bells and Whistles Nothing Fancy –No VISTA Trusts –No STAR Trust –No Foundations No Aggressive Asset Protection Trusts –Cook Islands, Nevis, Bahamas
No Bank Secrecy, TIEAs International Cooperation (Tax Information Exchange Agreements) Act 2005 Switzerland – Banking Law of 1934 Cayman – Confidential Relationships (Preservation) Law
Ronald Schmalcel LL.B., TEP Opportunities
Bermuda - Opportunities Private Trusts Tax Information Exchange Agreements Pension and Employee Benefit Trusts
Private Trust Companies Solution for Wealthy Individuals and Families who want to have more control over their Wealth Management Bermuda pioneered Private Trust Companies Strong infrastructure of professionals necessary to support PTCs
Tax Information Exchange Agreements Bermuda has signed TIEAs with United StatesGermanyFaroes United KingdomNetherlandsFinland IrelandDenmarkIceland AustraliaSwedenGreenland New ZealandNorway Bermuda has concluded negotiations with Canada Mexico Japan
Tax Information Exchange Agreements Opens door to business Opens door to tax planning Lends security that tax plans will have intended consequences Bermuda the first to be placed on OECD white list
Pension and Employee Benefit Trusts Major service providers such as AIG and HSBC have moved out of the business Bermuda has regulatory regime that offshore plans can opt into Robust supervision of pension plans
“Threats” David A. Sussman Codan Trust Company Limited Codan Trust Company Limited is the independent trust affiliate of Conyers Dill & Pearman, one of the world’s leading international offshore law firms.
Economic Crisis Global Recession Slowdown in Wealth Creation Declining Importance of US/UK in the Global Economy
Supra-National Initiatives FATF / OECD / G-20 / US Senate Permanent Sub-Committee etc. Enhanced Scrutiny by Developed Economies
Regulation Local and Global Increasingly Complex and Demanding Erosion of Traditional Competitive Advantages
Maturing Traditional Markets International Private Client Market Distance to Growth Markets (BRIC etc.) Access to Growth Markets (HK etc.)
Competition Increasing Sophistication of IFC’s Increasing Bureaucracy Cost of Doing Business
Questions & Discussion