General

The Commission has today updated Appendix I to the Handbook as a result of the FATF's announcement that it has removed The Bahamas from its list of jurisdictions under increased monitoring. The Bahamas has strengthened the effectiveness of its AML/CFT system and addressed related technical deficiencies to meet the commitments in its action plan and remedy the strategic deficiencies identified by...

The Financial Services Commission (Bailiwick of Guernsey) Law, 1987 (“the Financial Services Commission Law”). The Regulation of Fiduciaries, Administration Businesses and Company Directors, etc (Bailiwick of Guernsey) Law, 2000 (the “Fiduciaries Law”); The Protection of Investors (Bailiwick of Guernsey) Law, 1987 (the “POI Law”); The Insurance Managers and Insurance Intermediaries (Bailiwick of...

On 15 November 2019, the Guernsey Financial Services Commission (“the Commission”) applied to the Royal Court of Guernsey under section 427 of The Companies (Guernsey) Law, 2008 (the “Companies Law”), to seek a disqualification order against Mr Dawson-Ball. On 8 December 2020, the Deputy Bailiff handed down her judgment in which she disqualified Mr Dawson-Ball from: being a director, secretary or...

In October of this year, the Commission issued a consultation paper proposing amendments to the Insurance Business (Solvency) Rules 2015 which would see the introduction of a specific approach for green assets into the Solvency Rules and help to incentivise increased investment in green assets by life insurers. The background to this move follows global political and public debate around...

The Commission has now sent its 2021 annual fees to all licensees and registrants by email. If you have not receive d an invoice by email you should contact [email protected] quoting the entity name and the GFSC reference number, which can be found on our website ( Regulated Entities and Registered Entities). You may also contact this email address to confirm the validity of an emailed invoice...

The International Association of Insurance Supervisors (IAIS) recently held its held biennial Executive Committee elections which saw the Commission’s Director General, William Mason, re-elected as a member. In addition to Mr Mason’s election, the Commission’s Director of Risk and Operations, Katherine Jane, has been appointed as the next Chair of the IAIS’ Standards Assessment Working Group (SAWG...

On the 11th day of December 2020 the Commission imposed the following discretionary financial penalties: Safehaven International Limited (the “Firm”) - £100,000 Mr Richard John Bach - £50,000 Miss Tracey Jane Ozanne - £5,000 Mr David Charles Housley Whitworth - £10,000 Mr Michael John Good - £10,000 Mr Stephen John Dickinson - £1,000 (collectively the “Individuals”) Mr Richard John Bach was also...

The Commission has today published a Consultation Paper containing proposals which, if implemented, would allow different investor categories to take advantage of an appropriately regulated fund structure. Whilst the proposals would see the current approach to registering a PIF continue, other paths would be introduced to complement this. One of the new paths being proposed would enable a PIF to...

The Commission has today published a Consultation Paper seeking feedback on proposals for changes to the Non-Guernsey Scheme regime. If the proposal is implemented it will see the current rules revoked. A Non-Guernsey Scheme is a collective investment scheme that is not established or incorporated in the Bailiwick of Guernsey and is not authorised or registered by the Commission. The Law permits...