News

Consumers

The HyperFund

6th October 2021
The Commission has been notified that investment is being promoted in the above-named entity by non-licensed individuals in Guernsey. The purpose of this notice is to advise that The HyperFund is not licensed, authorised or in any way regulated by the Commission for the conduct of any financial services business in the Bailiwick of Guernsey. The Commission also wishes to emphasise that dealing in...

Clifton Consulting Group LLC

27th April 2021
The Commission has been notified of an unsolicited approach that was made to a Guernsey resident by representatives of the above-named company. The company, which claims to be based in New York, is said to provide trading services in respect of shares and other securities. The company representative offered to arrange to buy shares that were held by the Guernsey resident at a price far higher than...

Risk Warning Regarding Phishing Attempts

9th April 2021
The Commission is aware that there has been a recent increase in phishing attempts targeting local businesses. Firms are reminded of the guidance available to them in the Commission’s Cyber Rules and Guidance, 2021 and in particular the need to ensure the Firm: has appropriate cyber security software in place; implements IT systems updates in a timely manner; and its staff exercise caution and...

Commission publishes two papers addressing Green and Climate related Risk

11th March 2021
The Commission has today published a Spring Green Consultation Paper - please click here and its Thematic Review of the Guernsey Green Fund Regime - please click here . Both documents underline the Bailiwick’s ongoing commitment to this important area. The Spring Green Consultation Paper proposes an addition to the Finance Sector Code of Corporate Governance, to take specific account of climate...

Commission staff to work from home

25th January 2021
The Commission confirms that with effect from Monday 25 January 2021, the vast majority of its staff will be home working. The Commission’s Authorisations team remains open for business. The switchboard will continue to operate during normal office hours and callers will be asked by the receptionist to provide their contact details in order that a member of staff can call or email them back. Firms...

Home working - Information Security Risks

7th July 2020
The COVID 19 pandemic resulted in many licensees being unable to operate in their usual office environments. Entering Phase 5, a return to normal activity in the Bailiwick, has seen many licensees return to their offices but we are conscious that adoption of home working has accelerated. Information security risks can increase with home working and therefore we are highlighting a non-exhaustive...

LIBOR Transition

3rd July 2020
Over the last three months, various international supervisory bodies have reaffirmed the planned timelines for transition away from LIBOR to alternative reference rates, such as SONIA (Sterling Overnight Index Average) or SOFR (Secured Overnight Financing Rate). Firms should therefore continue to assume that they will be unable to rely on LIBOR being published beyond the end of 2021 and should...

Resumption of onsite inspections

8th June 2020
The Commission’s Financial Crime Division is recommencing its routine financial crime inspections to firms with immediate effect. Routine inspections were suspended on 19 March 2020 to enable firms to deal with the immediate operational impact of the coronavirus lockdown. Financial Crime inspections are resuming now as the finance industry has demonstrated its resilience and firms have generally...

Continent Worldwide Limited and Continent PCC Limited

1st June 2020
On 29 May 2020, the Guernsey Financial Services Commission, acting to protect the interests of investors and pursuant to powers granted to it under the Protection of Investors (Administration and Intervention) (Bailiwick of Guernsey) Ordinance of 2008, made an application to the Court to have administrators appointed to Continent Worldwide Limited, a company licensed under the Protection of...