Banking

At the heart of Cayman's global financial success is its formidable banking industry. Nearly 270 international banks have branches in Cayman, including 40 of the world's 50 largest.

Captive Insurance

With approximately 775 captive insurance companies registered, Cayman is the second largest offshore captive domicile globally. At the end of 2008, captives reported $7.2 billion in written premiums and assets of $43.2 billion, firmly establishing Cayman as a domicile of choice for companies seeking a formal self-insurance programme whilst lowering their cost of risk.

Funds

Cayman is an indisputable global leader specialising in fund establishment, administration, and listing for the majority of the world's hedge funds. Twelve of the top 15 offshore mutual fund administrators are licenced in the Cayman Islands, making it a significant player in fund administration. There are currently more than 9,800 funds licenced in the Cayman Islands.

Companies and Partnerships

Company formation – supporting the funds, insurance, and structured finance sectors, amongst others – reflects Cayman's steady and stable growth. Key drivers of this include strong professional offerings, a well-established legal framework, reasonable reporting requirements, and flexible corporate structures.

Trusts

The Cayman Islands continues to establish itself as the jurisdiction for the establishment of trusts – the most flexible financial instrument for making estate-planning arrangements. The Special Trusts (Alternative Regime) [STAR] substantially extended Cayman's trust planning framework.

Cayman Island Stock Exchange

The Cayman Islands Stock Exchange (CSX) has continued to grow and diversify since opening in 1997. Today it has 1,579 listings and a market capitalisation exceeding $167 billion. A key player in the listing of blue-chip hedge funds, specialist debt, depositary receipts, derivative warrants, mutual funds, and Eurobonds, the CSX has enhanced the funds industry by providing ready access to a first-class listing facility in the jurisdiction of domicile.

Vessel and Aircraft Registration

The Cayman Islands Shipping Registry (CISR) is a Category 1 British Registry qualified to register vessels of all sizes and classes ranging from yachts to supertankers. CISR has a reputation for excellence and efficiency in global shipping. Currently more than 300 commercial ships and 1,300 pleasure vessels are registered in Cayman. Similarly, registering an aircraft in the Cayman Islands can provide both cost efficiency and global recognition. More than 180 aircraft are registered today.

Global Leaders Choose the Prestige of Cayman.

The Cayman Islands has experienced success in the global financial network by striking the right balance between effective, transparent regulation and meeting competitive business needs, combined with high standards of business integrity. As a result, it has long been an essential part of the branch networks of many leading financial services firms and institutions, including, amongst others:

CITCO
Deloitte
Deutsche Bank
Ernst & Young
Goldman Sachs
HSBC
KPMG
Merrill Lynch
Pricewaterhousecoopers
RBC Royal Bank
Scotiabank
UBS

Clients benefit from fully integrated financial services ranging from registering aircraft, securing credit card receivables, forming a captive insurance company, or establishing a mutual fund for sophisticated investors.