General

GUERNSEY FINANCIAL SERVICES COMMISSION ANNUAL FEES 2018 All businesses, entities and individuals licensed by or registered with the Guernsey Financial Services Commission are reminded that the payment of annual fees to the Commission are due by 31 January 2018. If payment is received after the due date a late payment penalty fee will be applied in accordance with Regulation 2 of the Financial...

The Commission has issued an FAQ to those considering investing in Bitcoins or Bitcoin related investments. It can be found here.

Licensees are reminded that where a Licence is held at as at 1 January 2018 and no request has been received by the Commission by close of business on 31 December 2017 to cancel or surrender that licence, then the (non-refundable) annual licence fee for 2018 will be payable by the licensee. Likewise, where no request to suspend or revoke the authorisation or registration of a collective investment...

The Commission has published a guide to financial services regulation in the Bailiwick which is intended to clarify and explain regulation in a non-legal way. To view or download a copy please click here. At the same time, the Commission has taken the opportunity to republish its guide to risk based supervision in Guernsey which was first published in April 2016. To view or download a copy please...

During late 2016 a thematic review of fund managers and fund administrators' governance, risk and compliance frameworks was jointly undertaken by the Investment Supervision and Policy Division and the Financial Crime Supervision and Policy Division of the Commission. The Investment Supervision and Policy Division report which focussed on the mitigation of governance and compliance risk in relation...

In January 2016, the States of Deliberation (the States) agreed to increase the maximum level of financial penalties available to the Commission which can be applied in cases where there have been serious breaches of the regulatory laws. Subsequently, in March 2016, the States approved the necessary legislation (Projet de Loi) to give effect to the proposals. The Commission has been informed that...

The Commission has confirmed that it will apply an increase of 3% across all sectors for 2018, not including anomalies. Anomalies include a flat fee of £2,000 for change of controller applications which will be introduced under the Insurance Managers and Insurance Intermediaries (Bailiwick of Guernsey) Law 2002, and the Protection of Investors (Bailiwick of Guernsey) Law, 1987. A similar fee will...

The Guernsey Financial Services Commission consulted on proposals to introduce changes to the FRR rules for full fiduciary licensees (“FFLs”). The consultation, which closed on 19 June 2017, generated a number of substantive responses, for which the Commission is grateful. The Commission is giving careful consideration to the views and opinions expressed by respondents and further discussions will...

The Commission has today published updated guidance on its Decision Making Process which is used in instances where the Commission proposes the imposition of an enforcement measure or sanction. The revised guidance is aimed at further streamlining the process whilst maintaining the open and transparent approach which has always been a key feature of the guidance. The updated guidance can be found...