Investments by Family Offices in Hedge Funds through Variable Insurance Policies: Tax-Advantaged Structures, Diversification and Investor Control Rules and Restructuring Strategies (Part Two of Two)

Variable insurance policies are an often utilized structure through which family offices and other high net worth investors invest in hedge funds and other private investment funds.  One of the primary advantages of investing in hedge funds and other private investment funds through variable insurance policies is the deferral of income taxes.  However, policy holders must first satisfy two important tests – the “diversification rules” and the “investor control” rules – in order for the policies to qualify for favorable income tax treatment.  This article is the second in a two-part series.  The first article in this series described the mechanics of investing in an insurance dedicated fund through variable insurance policies and offered a roadmap for satisfying the two tests to ensure the variable insurance policies maintain their tax-advantaged status.  See “Investments by Family Offices in Hedge Funds through Variable Insurance Policies: Tax-Advantaged Structures, Diversification and Investor Control Rules and Restructuring Strategies (Part One of Two),” Hedge Fund Law Report, Vol. 4, No. 11 (Apr. 1, 2011).  This article describes in detail a recent restructuring transaction in which the authors participated (the “Transaction”) and provides the key terms in the Transaction documents applicable to the diversification and investor control rules.

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