The Cayman Islands has ranked as the most popular destination for investors seeking to acquire offshore assets for the past four years, according to a new report released by law firm Appleby.
The report found that, in 2015, Cayman attracted nearly 1,000 deals worth a cumulative £125 billion, representing a third of the deal volume for the entire offshore region, and over a quarter of deal value.
Hong Kong led the way in deal value recording 519 deals worth a total $163 billion. The recent colossal Nanyang Bank $43.5 billion acquisition contributed to the strong performance, but Hong Kong frequently appears among the top offshore jurisdictions for deal making.
Appleby said that when looking at the origin of offshore investment, statistics show that the main onshore investors in offshore targets are China, the UK and the USA, responsible for 209, 116 and 107 deals respectively in 2015.
The report also found that Cayman has shown strong positive growth year-on-year in the insurance and financial services sector since 2012, while Jersey, Mauritius and the Seychelles also show a consistent upward trajectory in deal volumes.
Cameron Adderley, partner and global head of corporate at Appleby, said: “Many offshore jurisdictions recorded their best annual performance of the past five years in 2015, including Bermuda, Cayman, Jersey, Mauritius and Seychelles. The latter three have enjoyed a steady upward trajectory in deal volumes since 2011.”
Offshore assets, Appleby, Cameron Adderley, Cayman Islands
