There are two types of cell companies in Guernsey –

  • The Protected Cell Company (PCC); and
  • The Incorporated Cell Company (ICC) These are similar to segregated account companies used in some other jurisdictions.

They are well recognised structures amongst international finance centres.

Protected Cell Companies

Legal Structure

A PCC is a single legal entity with separate and distinct "cells" within it. Each cell may, but is not required to, have cell shares. A cell of a PCC cannot contract in its own name; it is the PCC which will be the contracting party, in respect of the relevant cell which must be identified.

Uses

When the concept of PCCs was first introduced in Guernsey in 1997, only collective investment funds and insurers could be established as PCCs. Today, PCCs can be used for most businesses provided that they are administered by an entity licensed by the Guernsey Financial Services Commission in Guernsey.

Because a PCC is a single legal entity for tax purposes, it can be seen as a solution for entities caught by Controlled Foreign Corporation rules of their jurisdiction.

Beyond the funds and captive/life insurance markets, they are popular as asset-holding vehicles and segregated investment vehicles for high net worth individuals.

Legal segregation & Position of Creditors

Assets and liabilities of cells in a PCC are, by law, segregated from those of other cells and those assets are not available to creditors of other cells in an insolvency. Recourse beyond the cell is permitted only in certain circumstances.

There is a statutory provision that no party shall seek, whether in any proceedings or by any other means whatsoever or wheresoever, to make or attempt to make liable any cellular assets attributable to any cell of the PCC other than the cell with which they are transacting.

Dividends

A PCC may pay a cellular dividend in respect of cell shares by reference only to the cellular assets and liabilities, or the profits, attributable to the relevant cell. In determining whether or not profits are available for the purpose of paying a cellular dividend, no account need be taken of:

  • the profits and losses, or the assets and liabilities, attributable to any other cell of the company; or
  • non-cellular profits and losses, or assets and liabilities.

Directors' Duties

It is the duty of the directors of a PCC:

  • to keep cellular assets separate and separately identifiable from non-cellular assets; and
  • to keep cellular assets attributable to each cell separate and separately identifiable from cellular assets attributable to other cells.

Incorporated Cell Companies

Legal Structure An ICC is a legal entity, as are each of the Incorporated Cells (ICs) associated with it. The ICC and each of its ICs have the following in common:

  • Directors;
  • Secretary; and
  • Registered office.

A single annual return is filed for the ICC containing information relevant to each IC.

ICs contract in their own names as they are separate and distinct entities from their ICC.

Uses

They are subject to the same restrictions as for PCCs. However, they are particularly versatile structures for the following reasons:

  • a lower cost base (compared to standalone companies) because of the ability to share certain functions through the ICC, particularly attractive for fledgling ventures; and
  • the ability to spin-off an IC or convert into a stand-alone company through various mechanisms set out in the legislation. There are other ways in which ICCs and ICs may be reorganised.

As with PCCs, they could be used for structuring investment holding companies. An example of this would be property development and holding companies each set up within different ICs or cells to hold intellectual property rights or image rights of budding sports stars.

The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.