Open a Hedge Fund

Hedge Fund: How to Open and What You Need

If you decide to establish a hedge fund, you need to be well-prepared for the procedure. The first step is to choose a country of registration. The most common option is offshore jurisdictions — Cayman Islands, Belize, Mauritius, etc. These jurisdictions are popular for hedge funds, so registration procedures there are simplified.

Before opening your own hedge fund, you can consult with our team. If you are interested in Europe, they will explain the specific features of various EU countries where funds can be registered. This allows you to attract European investors who may not be keen on offshore jurisdictions but are willing to work with European hedge funds.

The choice of country determines the registration requirements, costs, and timelines. Offshore jurisdictions generally have more lenient requirements, and opening and maintaining a fund there is often cheaper than in Europe or the United States.

How to Create a Hedge Fund: Required Documents

In some cases, you don’t need to visit the country in person, since hedge funds can be set up remotely. Personal presence is usually only required to open a bank account in the country where the hedge fund is established.

Requirements differ across jurisdictions, but some general rules apply. You will typically need at least the following documents:

• a high-resolution scan of your international passport;
• your full residential address, including city/town;
• a police clearance certificate.

If you are interested in setting up a hedge fund in an offshore jurisdiction, additional documents may be required, such as:

• a memorandum;
• the company’s articles of association;
• an investment management agreement;
• a securities purchase agreement, and more.

Please note that the above are just the basic documents. Depending on the chosen jurisdiction and other circumstances, additional paperwork may be necessary. For guidance, we recommend consulting our managers.

How Hedge Fund Registration Works

The fund registration process may vary depending on the country, but there are several common steps you will need to follow when opening a hedge fund.

Typically, registration includes the following stages:

• Consultation with a registrar. Our team has many years of experience registering funds in different countries, so during the consultation you’ll learn what documents are required in a given jurisdiction and how to prepare them. Our specialists handle all these procedures for you.
• Selecting a management company. This can be done in two ways: by hiring a professional trustee or engaging an existing company.
• Finding a guarantor. Often a bank plays this role. This requires experience in attracting guarantors, sufficient qualifications, and negotiation skills. To make the process easier, we handle this on your behalf.
• Finding a broker. This is necessary to operate in securities markets as well as commodity and currency markets. Our specialists will find a licensed broker and perform all legal checks.
• Attracting investors. Finding those who will entrust their capital to your hedge fund is the main purpose of creating it. To attract investors, we can recommend PR and marketing experts who understand the processes within hedge funds.

How Much Does It Cost to Open a Hedge Fund

There is no universal answer, since each fund is unique. In offshore jurisdictions, minimum capital requirements are lower than in the US or EU, but you must also account for taxes and additional expenses when establishing a fund.

For example, hedge funds often require various services such as:

• accounting;
• auditing;
• administrative support, and more.

In addition, you must pay government fees, which vary depending on the jurisdiction of registration.

If you want precise information on the cost of opening a hedge fund, our managers are always ready to assist. We provide comprehensive consulting and legal services, prepare and process all necessary documents, and register the fund in the jurisdiction of your choice. On average, registration takes 1.5–2 months, but timelines may vary. Please clarify during consultation.

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