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Insight

13 January 2022

VG makes host of promotions to begin 2022

We're delighted to share that we have begun 2022 with a number of promotions across non-client facing, funds, private client and corporate teams.

VG

VG

Press Office

News

23 November 2021

VG positions for further growth with new Director of Operations

We have appointed Kevin Cooper as Director of Operations as we pave the way for the next stage of our development.

VG

VG

Press Office

News

12 November 2021

VG’s Chelsea Ford named Trust Officer of the Year

VG has been recognised at the 2021 Citywealth Future Leaders Awards, with senior trust officer Chelsea Ford winning the Gold award for Trust Officer of the Year.

VG

VG

Press Office

Insight

1 September 2021

Trust structures offer flexible vehicles to support and protect wealth transfer for Shari’ah-compliant investors

Within the next 10 years, 25,000 high-net-worth individuals are expected to transfer $15 trillion to a younger generation. Yet, a recent study prepared by Jersey Finance found that 92% of high-net-worth clients surveyed in the Gulf region were poorly prepared and inadequately structured for the transition of their wealth across generations. Trevor Norman looks at how trusts, foundations and similar legal structures can help to ensure an orderly transition of wealth between generations.

Trevor Norman

Trevor Norman

Director - Islamic Finance and Funds Group

News

28 May 2021

VG named Tier 1 provider in 2021 eprivateclient Top Trust companies

VG has once again been recognised for the third consecutive year, notably as a Tier 1 Provider, in the annual eprivateclient Top Trust Companies rankings one of the industry’s most prestigious directories of private-client solutions providers across the globe.

VG

VG

Press Office

Insight

7 May 2021

Doubled business growth, a duo of promotions and a raft of new joiners at VG

We are delighted to share that FY20/21 saw a 225% increase in new business versus prior year, despite the uncertainty of the last 12 months, and we kicked-off the new financial year (May 1 2021) with two promotions and a raft of new joiners to support our rapidly growing business.

VG

VG

Press Office

Insight

12 April 2021

SARS Tax Unit: Cause for a great emigration?

The South African Revenue Service has bolstered its tax collection capabilities and created a dedicated SARS unit responsible for improving the tax compliance of wealthy individuals and organisations employing complex, and often offshore, financial arrangements. Paul Roper explores what this means for HNWs and organisations in the context of their offshore wealth.

Paul Roper

Paul Roper

Director

News

31 March 2021

VG promotes James Amos and Chris Hamon

James Amos and Chris Hamon have been promoted to Assistant Managers as we continue to recognise key talent and strengthen our management team.

VG

VG

Press Office

Insight

5 March 2021

UK Budget: The only way is up

The pandemic has prompted unprecedented UK government policy responses and has involved enormous and sustained public spending that has left the UK with public debt levels unseen for decades.  Against the backdrop of a fragile economic the Chancellor has presented a Budget that sets out to support people and businesses, fix public finances, and build the economy. Debbie Lumsden assesses the main tax headlines and the impact for high-net worth private clients and businesses.

Debbie Lumsden

Debbie Lumsden

Private Client Director

News

24 February 2021

VG named Independent Trust Company of the Year

We are delighted to announce that VG has been recognised at the 2021 Citywealth IFC Awards where we won Gold in the Independent Trust Company of the Year category.

VG

VG

Press Office

News

12 February 2021

VG strikes with a senior management hire

VG has appointed Sheena Huggett as Senior Manager to further support the expansion of VG’s private client team.

VG

VG

Press Office

Insight

12 February 2021

All is (not necessarily!) fair in love and war

Financial matters will be far from a couple’s minds when they get married but very likely to be at the forefront when they get divorced, especially when dealing with high-net-worth individuals. Mark Healey explores how a trust can help avoid war when the love is gone.

 

Mark Healey

Mark Healey

Director

News

5 February 2021

VG strengthens management team with a VG veteran, a rising star and a new joiner

Following a raft of promotions in January 2021, VG has further strengthened its management team with an appointment and promotions of a VG veteran and rising star.

VG

VG

Press Office

Insight

13 January 2021

Timing, cost and control: Top 3 considerations for deemed domicile planning.

As the 5th April deadline approaches Debbie Lumsden, Private Client Director at VG, explores the top three considerations for clients and their advisors when contemplating settling an offshore trust as part of deemed domicile planning.

Debbie Lumsden

Debbie Lumsden

Private Client Director

News

6 January 2021

VG kicks-off 2021 with a sweep of promotions

We are delighted to have kicked-off the new year across our funds, private client, family office, corporate and compliance teams with 8 promotions, effective 1 January 2021, as we continue to strengthen our talent base.

VG

VG

Press Office

News

18 December 2020

VG celebrates a year of growth

We close off the year by celebrating the appointment of a raft of new employees throughout 2020 as part of our focus on growth and a commitment to attracting the best local talent.

VG

VG

Press Office

Insight

1 December 2020

The April countdown begins: Is tax the only driver for establishing a trust?

As a whirl wind 2020 draws to a close, it sets the scene for UK-resident non-domiciliaries to begin considering their plans for 2021, particularly for those who will become deemed-domiciled. Whilst the tax protections afforded by “protected settlements” tend to command the spotlight, Debbie Lumsden explores the many non-tax related advantages which can help meet the many demands, desires and concerns of prospective settlors.

Debbie Lumsden

Debbie Lumsden

Private Client Director

News

26 November 2020

The best of both worlds: investments that are both Shariah-compliant and sustainable

Shariah-compliant finance was taking an ethical view of investing long before the rise of sustainable investment strategies in western financial markets. Now, as both Shariah-compliant and sustainable investments expand, investors and issuers are finding increasing complementarity between Shariah-compliant investments and those that also comply with international standards on sustainable investing. Trevor Norman, Director of Islamic Finance and Funds at VG, explains how these two investment markets are converging.

Trevor Norman

Trevor Norman

Director - Islamic Finance and Funds Group

Insight

16 November 2020

Building on a solid foundation

Ashley Le Feuvre, Director of VG Fund Services Limited considers, the key trends currently driving growth and development within Jersey’s funds industry.

 

Ashley Le Feuvre

Ashley Le Feuvre

Director,
VG Funds

News

26 October 2020

Venturing beyond borders: A South African perspective

South Africans venturing offshore (whether investing directly or setting up structures), have been accused of disloyalty to the country. There are several reasons why this is simply not true and why offshore should feature in the investment landscape of all South Africans.

Paul Roper

Paul Roper

Director

News

26 October 2020

Steve Langan appointed to lead VG’s corporate and capital markets business

Steve has a proven track record of delivering exceptional outcomes across global markets and a deep understanding of capital markets; he will lead a team in Jersey administering a diverse portfolio of employee benefits, corporate and private wealth structures, together with expanding the existing capital markets business.

VG

VG

Press Office

Insight

21 October 2020

Trust us, take tax advice.

There are occasions when clients and their representatives tell us that a structure is not tax driven and sometimes we are told that there are ‘no tax issues’. So, why else should clients and their advisers consider taking tax advice?

Debbie Lumsden

Debbie Lumsden

Private Client Director

News

1 October 2020

VG appoints Paul Roper as Director

Paul’s appointment further strengthens our leadership team which, alongside Paul’s extensive knowledge of the African market, will extend our offering and reach into our core growth markets.

VG

VG

Press Office

Insight

29 July 2020

The becoming ‘deemed domiciled’ in the UK conundrum; is your client holding the “right” assets?

The ability to create a ‘protected settlement’, prior to becoming deemed domiciled in the UK for all tax purposes, can be a “golden opportunity”.  But what if it is also a curse?

Debbie Lumsden

Debbie Lumsden

Private Client Director

News

29 July 2020

VG named on 2020 eprivateclient Top Trust companies

VG has once again been recognised in the annual eprivateclient Top Trust Companies rankings, one of the industry’s most prestigious directories of private-client solutions providers across the globe.

VG

VG

Press Office

Insight

14 July 2020

Are you getting fair value from your employee benefit trust provider?

With companies generally scrutinising their expenditure, this might be the opportune time to contemplate the service levels they are receiving in comparison to the fees of such service, to determine whether they are getting fair value.

Ross Crick

Ross Crick

Manager

Insight

9 July 2020

Will you be looking to benefit from the UK stamp duty holiday?

UK chancellor, Rishi Sunak, yesterday announced a stamp duty holiday. For those looking to expand their portfolios, it seems as though now is as good a time as any.

Insight

8 June 2020

Fundraising in a crisis: why it’s time to consider a Jersey cash box.

COVID-19 has, in many cases, placed significant stresses on companies’ cash flows, even public limited companies (PLCs), and they may need an alternative, fast, flexible and cost-effective way of raising capital to safeguard the future of their businesses and staff.

Ross Crick

Ross Crick

Manager

News

21 April 2020

Head of Compliance and Risk promoted to Director at VG

We are delighted to announce that Ian Murphy, previously Head of Compliance and Risk at VG,  has been promoted to the position of Director of VG and its underlying companies. 

VG

VG

Press Office

Insight

1 April 2020

Jersey post-Brexit: Uniquely positioned for a supporting role

Whilst Brexit undoubtedly has implications for many aspects of Jersey’s relationship with the EU, its effect differs from that in the UK. Iain Mason explores why Jersey is well placed to play a key role between the UK and international markets.

Iain Mason

Iain Mason

Managing Director

Insight

19 March 2020

COVID-19 Update

COVID-19 has been increasingly dominating headlines, social media feeds, conversation and markets in recent weeks. At VG, the interests of our clients, staff, community and business are at the heart of our plans to safeguard and continue to support and service our client relationships during these unprecedented times.

Iain Mason

Iain Mason

Managing Director

Insight

19 March 2020

COVID-19 | Office closure

We published our COVID-19 response plan on to our website a little over a week ago. Since then, the severity and spread of the virus has moved rapidly and at 8AM GMT today, 30 March 2020, the Government of Jersey issued a lock-down order which restricts movement from the home and forces the closure of our office.

Iain Mason

Iain Mason

Managing Director

Insight

19 March 2020

A once in a lifetime, golden opportunity – time is ticking.

As seems to be the case every year, as we lead up to the 6 April UK tax year-end, the more enquiries we get from clients and advisors looking to undertake planning and implement structuring before the client becomes ‘deemed domiciled’ in the UK for all tax purposes. So what is all the rush about?

Debbie Lumsden

Debbie Lumsden

Private Client Director

News

16 March 2020

VG strengthens business development team with two hires

We are delighted to announce that we have appointed Debbie Lumsden as Private Client Director of VG. Debbie is tasked with growing the private wealth structuring business as part of the company’s next phase of growth.

VG

VG

Press Office

Insight

6 March 2020

2020 - Lifting the veil on women in the Middle East

The International Women’s Day 2020 campaign theme is #EachforEqual. As I consider the notion that an equal world is an enabled world, I reflect back on my first experience of being a woman in the Middle East.

News

25 February 2020

Iain Mason promoted to Managing Director of VG

Iain not only brings unrivalled technical knowledge, he has a solid, holistic in-depth knowledge and understanding of our business. 

VG

VG

Press Office

Insight

1 July 2019

Economic substance - prove it!

There is no doubt that ‘substance’ is flavour of the month in the offshore jurisdictions. But what is it and how will it impact your offshore company?

Karen Grieve

Karen Grieve

Associate Director, Client Service Excellence

Insight

3 May 2019

Waiting for the lightning bolt!

If you wait for the ‘giant leap for mankind’  you are very unlikely to recognise the ‘small step for man’ with which the journey of transformation begins....

Mark Hucker, Executive - Strategy and Projects

News

12 October 2018

VG introduces Mental Health First Aid team and raises funds for Mind Jersey

VG has created a dedicated Mental Health First Aid team as part of its investment into employee wellbeing.

 

 

 

VG

VG

Press Office

News

1 October 2018

VG strengthens funds team

VG has made several personnel hires and promotions to support the development of its funds offering into new regions and asset classes. 

VG

VG

Press Office

News

1 October 2018

VG partners with Jersey Finance to highlight island's strengths in Islamic Finance

VG is proud to be partnering with Jersey Finance to highlight the island’s key strengths in Islamic Finance.

 

 

VG

VG

Press Office

News

1 October 2018

VG awarded Islamic finance hat trick

VG was recognised at the Global Islamic Finance Awards (GIFA) on 29th September 2018, when the company was named Best Islamic Trust Formation Services Provider for the third year running.

 

 

VG

VG

Press Office

News

1 October 2018

VG expands Employee Benefits team

VG has expanded its Employee Benefits team as part of a focus to enhance their offering of complex, bespoke and regular solutions for employee incentives plans.

VG

VG

Press Office

News

12 June 2018

VG’s Ben Schofield named in ‘Top 35 Under 35’

VG is thrilled to announce that Senior Trust Officer Ben Schofield has been named in the inaugural ‘Channel Islands Top 35 Under 35’ list published by eprivateclient.

VG

VG

Press Office

News

17 April 2018

Faith value

An insight into the latest developments in Shariah-compliant alternative investments from Trevor Norman and Dominic Coyne of VG’s Islamic finance team in this month’s STEP Journal, Volume 19, Issue 7. www.step.org/journal/step-journal-april-2018-full-issue/faith-value.

Trevor Norman

Trevor Norman

Director - Islamic Finance and Funds Group

Insight

19 March 2018

A rock and a hard place…

Once upon a time, a business could try to solve its legacy system problems by studying gaps and opportunities, looking at a range of alternative products, issuing a Request for Proposal, evaluating the responses, making a decision and negotiating a contract… and then launching a light-dimming, morale-sapping implementation project.

Mark Hucker, Executive - Strategy and Projects

Insight

19 March 2018

Substance in Action 2004

In what promises to be a landmark decision, an Upper Tribunal has reversed the findings from a decision issued in August 2017 which argued that several Jersey companies administered by VG in 2004 were tax resident in the UK.

Trevor Norman and Simon Perchard, Directors

Trevor Norman

Trevor Norman

Director - Islamic Finance and Funds Group

News

19 March 2018

Revenue Jersey ruling on Murabaha contracts

VG, working with other interested parties in Jersey, has successfully obtained a ruling from the tax authorities in Jersey that profits arising from commodity Murabaha contracts in an Islamic financing transaction are not subject to Income Tax in Jersey.

 

Trevor Norman

Trevor Norman

Trevor Norman

Director - Islamic Finance and Funds Group

Insight

19 March 2018

Jersey remains the ideal location for real estate investment structures

Jersey remains robust in the face of pressure and the industry continues to thrive, particularly for investment holding structures where real estate is a major asset class.

Trevor Norman

Trevor Norman

Director - Islamic Finance and Funds Group

News

9 February 2018

VG named on Top Trust Companies 2019 list

Jersey fiduciary and administration company VG has been named as a Top Tier Independent Trust Company in the annual eprivateclient Top Trust Company rankings, one of the industry’s most prestigious directories of private-client solutions providers across the globe.

VG

VG

Press Office

Insight

9 February 2018

VG Boosts Business with New Joiners

Following its successful rebrand from Volaw Group to VG in September 2017 and as part of its focus on growth and the aim to delight its clients, VG has seen a raft of new employees join the fiduciary and administration company across all areas of the business.

VG

VG

Press Office

Insight

11 August 2017

VG Wins Recognition Again

VG Retains GIFA Best Islamic Trust Formation Services Award.

VG

VG

Press Office

Insight

11 August 2017

Innovation and Change in Islamic Finance

When I first visited Dubai on business in early 1996, the only completed tower block on Sheikh Zayed Road was the World Trade Centre Tower and the road itself was little more than a dual carriageway...

Trevor Norman, Director

Trevor Norman

Trevor Norman

Director - Islamic Finance and Funds Group

Insight

11 August 2017

Diversity and Having a Voice

What does diversity really mean in a business sense, who does it include and why is it important?

Claire Malkoun, Group Head of Business Development

Insight

11 August 2017

Beyond Brexit - a Jersey view

Mark Hucker joined VG as its new Managing Director in January 2017. He reflects on his new position within Jersey’s fiduciary services industry, and the changes within the sector.

Mark Hucker, Executive - Strategy and Projects

News

11 August 2017

When is a fund not a fund?

This may sound like the first line of a joke but in fact it highlights a very real question for the fiduciary sector about how to distinguish between private client services, corporate structures and funds and whether, in fact, it makes any sense to even try to do so.

Insight

11 August 2017

Volaw Group rebrands and launches new logo

VG brand reflects heritage and journey forward.

VG

VG

Press Office

Insight

11 August 2017

VG Wins Recognition Again

VG Retains GIFA Best Islamic Trust Formation Services Award.

VG

VG

Press Office

Insight

11 August 2017

UK real estate structures – time for a health check?

Now is the time to consider submitting commercial property structures to a health check.

Trevor Norman, Director

Trevor Norman

Trevor Norman

Director - Islamic Finance and Funds Group

News

11 August 2017

International Savings Plans

Launched in Jersey on 1 January 2019, the international savings plan (ISP) is a new way for employers to establish a savings plan product in a highly reputable and very well-regulated jurisdiction.

Joel Wheeler

Joel Wheeler

Assistant Manager