The Bermuda Monetary Authority (BMA) recently published some guidance notes that will facilitate the establishment of Shariah compliant investment funds in Bermuda. FAWAZ ELMALKI and SHEBA RAZA take a closer look.
The Bermudian government is keen to promote the development of Islamic finance on the island and to explore opportunities to support the growth of this burgeoning industry.
The publication of the notes illustrates Bermuda’s continued commitment to embracing new market entrants and alternative business products, further complementing its role as a domicile of choice for Islamic finance transactions and Shariah compliant funds.
Located within easy access of both London and New York, Bermuda’s existing relationship with the GCC countries (particularly Bahrain) and its desire to promote the development of Islamic finance means it is well positioned to provide opportunities for investors, promoters and asset managers to expand and develop their Shariah compliant product offerings on an attractive, globally recognized platform.
Bermuda’s highly respected and transparent regulatory framework already provides legal certainty to Islamic finance transactions such as Sukuk by providing modern, flexible corporate and trust legislation based on common law principles coupled with tax neutrality, a key element in effectively structuring transactions. Company names in Bermuda may also be registered in Arabic or non-Roman script. Shariah compliant funds can be established in the same manner as conventional funds. In essence, the Shariah element essentially operates as an extra set of rules layered on top of the corporate structure that influence the underlying investment decisions to suit a specific group of investors. Shariah compliant funds are thus not dissimilar to ethical investment vehicles.
The guidance notes augment Bermuda’s regulatory regime to ensure that Bermuda domiciled Shariah compliant funds comply with international best practice. The BMA supervises, regulates and inspects financial institutions operating in or from within Bermuda. The BMA is a full member of the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO), and refers to the core principles issued by IOSCO (deemed to be universal standards of conduct within the investment business industry).
There is currently an unprecedented increase in investor demand for Islamic finance and Shariah compliant products and thus the publication of the guidance notes is timely. Recent developments in the Middle East have highlighted the need for locally based investors and managers to seek greater geographic and product diversification.
One of the key determinants for the successful development of Islamic finance in any jurisdiction is the existence of a legal framework that supports the operation and growth of the industry. Bermuda offers such a framework and the guidance notes are based on sound corporate governance principles that demonstrate the BMA’s desire to ensure that Shariah compliant products are easily accommodated within Bermuda’s existing regulatory framework whilst remaining appropriately regulated. Shariah compliant mutual/open-ended funds will otherwise still be subject to the same regulatory framework as conventional funds.
Already widely recognized for its contribution to conventional finance and one of the world’s leading fund domiciles, Bermuda is determined to maintain a leading role in the growth of the Islamic finance industry. Bermuda offers an attractive, global, politically neutral and familiar platform to western investors and managers familiar with conventional finance and fund structures seeking access to alternative asset classes in emerging markets (such as Islamic finance) whilst simultaneously offering Islamic investors and managers seeking geographic and product diversification an internationally accepted platform from which to access a wider asset class and global investor base.
Fawaz Elmalki is a partner at Conyers Dill & Pearman (Dubai office) and can be contacted at
[email protected]
. Sheba Raza is an associate at Conyers Dill & Pearman (London office) and can be contacted at
[email protected]
.