News

Investment

Explanatory Note - Surrender of the Authorisation or Registration of Collective Investment Schemes

30th November 2023
The Commission has today issued an Explanatory Note regarding the surrender of the authorisation or registration of collective investment schemes. The note clarifies the typical circumstances under which the Commission will consider granting consent to the surrender of a scheme’s authorisation or registration, as required under the Protection of Investors (Bailiwick of Guernsey) Law, 2020 (“the...

Thematic Review of Unclaimed Client Money of Collective Investment Schemes

21st July 2023
The Commission has today issued its report on the Thematic Review of Unclaimed Client Money of Collective Investment Schemes (“the Thematic”). The Thematic was undertaken in order to gain a better understanding of the value of unclaimed and unallocated monies in the collective investment scheme industry in Guernsey and how these monies are dealt with by the relevant parties. The Commission engaged...

Update on Exemptions from licensing – personal directorships

15th June 2023
Further to the publication of a news article on our website on exemptions from licensing – personal directorships on 12 June, the Commission has updated the news article to provide further clarification: On 5 June 2023, the Regulation of Fiduciaries etc (Bailiwick of Guernsey) (Amendment) Regulations, 2023 were made by the Policy & Resources Committee (the “Committee”). These Regulations, which...

Exemptions from licensing – personal directorships

12th June 2023
On 5 June 2023, the Regulation of Fiduciaries etc (Bailiwick of Guernsey) (Amendment) Regulations, 2023 were made by the Policy & Resources Committee (the “Committee”). These Regulations, which are to be laid before the States meeting on 5 July and which come into operation on 8 July, expand the available licensing exemptions for certain categories of personal directorship activity. The...

Two-factor authentication (‘2FA’)

22nd March 2023
Further to the announcement in our 2021 Annual Report advising of our intention to implement mandatory two-factor authentication (‘2FA’) on our Online Portals for all our regulated entities, we have been working on our background systems. On this basis by 31 May 2023, the Commission intends to switch 2FA on for all Portal Users who have not yet enabled this functionality. 2FA is an additional...

The Commission updates its Natural Capital Fund framework to reflect agreement at COP 15

10th February 2023
In September 2022, the Guernsey Financial Services Commission launched its Natural Capital Fund framework, as part of the growing Guernsey Sustainable Funds Regime. In December 2022, at COP 15, governments from around the world came together to agree on a new set of goals to guide global action by 2030 to halt and reverse nature loss. [1] To ensure that the Natural Capital Fund framework reflects...

GFG Limited (in voluntary liquidation)

11th January 2023
On 16 November 2022, the Commission imposed a discretionary financial penalty of £280,000 on GFG Limited (in voluntary liquidation). This sanction was imposed as a result of the firm’s failure to meet the minimum criteria for licensing under the Protection of Investors (Bailiwick of Guernsey) Law, 2020. More details to follow in due course.

Crescendo Advisors International Limited, Mr Hamish Jebb Hamilton Few

30th December 2022
The Financial Services Business (Enforcement Powers) (Bailiwick of Guernsey) Law, 2020 (“the Enforcement Powers Law”) The Protection of Investors (Bailiwick of Guernsey) Law, 1987 and the Protection of Investors (Bailiwick of Guernsey) Law, 2020 (collectively “the POI Law”) [i] Criminal Justice (Proceeds of Crime) (Financial Services Businesses) (Bailiwick of Guernsey) Regulations, 2007 (“the...

Guernsey Financial Services Commission at COP15 to discuss how private capital can address biodiversity challenges

19th December 2022
On Tuesday 13 December, William Mason, Director General of the Guernsey Financial Services Commission spoke as part of a Canadian-led panel on “Business investing for biodiversity and climate objectives”. The panel was part of COP15 [1] – UN Biodiversity Conference [2] in Montreal, Canada which saw governments from around the world coming together to try to agree on a new set of goals to halt and...