Guernsey Property Unit Trusts: Uses and Benefits
What is a Guernsey Property Unit Trust (“GPUT”)?
A Guernsey Property Unit Trust (“GPUT”) is a form of Guernsey trust commonly used when structuring UK real estate acquisitions.
The assets of a GPUT are held in the name of the trustee on behalf of the unitholders (beneficiaries) who will hold units in the GPUT corresponding to their interest in the underlying asset. The legal ownership of the asset therefore rests with the trustee whilst the unitholders have the beneficial interest in the trusts’ assets.
The trustee will typically appoint a Property Manager to manage the real estate held.
Uses and Benefits of a GPUT
A GPUT can be used as a joint venture vehicle and / or as a regulated fund depending on the client’s requirements and offers a number of advantages. Up until 2006 a GPUT could benefit from an exemption to UK Stamp Duty Tax (“SDLT”). Whilst that exemption no longer exists, a GPUT is still an attractive investment vehicle with the following benefits:
- No Stamp Duty payable on transfer of units in a GPUT (where the GPUT qualifies as a ‘collective investment scheme’)
- No liability to income tax or capital gains tax for the Trustee in Guernsey
- The GPUT may be transparent for UK income tax when correctly structured as a “Baker” trust
- The GPUT is widely recognised by banks and financial institutions in the UK and elsewhere facilitating access to funding
- Where the GPUT is structured as a collective investment scheme it can be used as a vehicle for the pooling of investor’s funds
- No requirement to be audited (where not regulated or listed)
- Flexibility in relation to unitholder’s rights, such as different classes of units to allow certain unitholders to receive varying returns on their units
- A GPUT may (subject to tax advice) offer unitholders a greater degree of influence over the trustee, by allowing them to appoint directors to the board and/or include limitations to trustee powers under the terms of the trust instrument.
Rights of Unitholders
The rights of the unitholders will be largely governed by the terms of the trust instrument which will contain commercial terms that govern the GPUT, such as voting thresholds, rights on such matters as redemption, transfers and removal of a trustee.
The trustee is independent of the unitholders, however, unitholders are able to maintain a degree of control over the trustee by including limitations on the powers of the trustee under the terms of the trust instrument.
GPUT Trustee
It is typically recommended that a special purpose vehicle (SPV) is established to act as the trustee to a new GPUT which then allows for limited liability status for the trustee. Although the provision of trustee services is a regulated activity in Guernsey, an exemption from this requirement is available where the following criteria are met:
- The SPV trustee is administered by a Guernsey regulated fiduciary service provider, and
- The SPV trustee’s sole purpose and only activity is to act as the trustee to the NEW GPUT
A GPUT must have at least one trustee, however in practice a GPUT will often have two SPV trustees if the GPUT structure is to hold UK real estate in order to address overriding interests in English law.
A SPV trustee can be owned by a foundation or a charitable or non-charitable purpose trust.
Regulation of a GPUT in Guernsey
The requirement of a GPUT to be regulated will be dependent on the number of proposed unitholders and the sophistication of those individuals.
Where a GPUT is regulated under the Protection of Investors (Bailiwick of Guernsey) Law, 2020 (the “POI Law”), it will qualify as a “collective investment scheme”, being any arrangement relating to property (of any description):
- where the purpose is for investors to participate in, or receive profits or income arising from, the acquisition and disposal of the property, and
- in which investors do not exert management or control over the property to which the arrangement refers, and
- under which:
- The contributions of the investors and the profits and/or income out of which payments are to be made are pooled, or
- The property is managed as a whole, by or on behalf of, the person responsible for its management
Where a GPUT is regulated under the POI Law it can also be established under the registered or authorised fund regime and as a Private Investment Fund (“PIF”).
Dixcart Team
Any persons wishing to establish a Guernsey Property Unit Trust (GPUT) will require both legal and tax advice to ensure that the GPUT is structured to meet their needs as well as a licensed Guernsey administrator to provide trustee services.
Dixcart in Guernsey hold both a full Fiduciary Licence and a Protection of Investors Licence issued by the Guernsey Financial Services Commission
Dixcart Trust Corporation Limited, Guernsey: Full Fiduciary Licence granted by the Guernsey Financial Services Commission. Guernsey registered company number: 6512.
Dixcart is licensed under the Protection of Investors (Bailiwick of Guernsey) Law 1987 to offer PIF administration services, and holds a full fiduciary license granted by the Guernsey Financial Services Commission.
