Trust Services

In light of the recent G20/OECD tax havens black list, Investec Trust (Mauritius) Limited’s Tanya Cohen looks at the secrecy provisions and other factors to be considered when choosing a jurisdiction for an offshore structure, with particular reference to Mauritius as an option for South African clients and their advisors.

A senior role at Investec Trust has been taken up by experienced trust professional, Luis Gonzalez.

As a director of the business, Luis will provide senior support for significant UK non-domiciled private clients with a diverse range of structures and he will have particular responsibility for property interests.

A leading conference attracting an expert international audience will discuss the future of trusts and foundations at the Hotel de France on November 4.

Whither goest thou?

Issues of the moment for the trust industry / A look at our language
By Robert Clifford, Investec Trust

The world of wealth and the way it is treated by the global financial services industry is changing. Trust practitioners in particular are looking closely at the evolving face of clients and their needs. In Guernsey there appears to be both an industry and regulatory understanding that, in order to continue to grow, changing quickly and changing intelligently is the order of the day. Investec Trust’s Jane Kerins argues that it is those trust specialists that adapt with innovation that will see continued success.

Unusual corporate gifts have benefitted animals at Jersey’s Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust.

Investec Trust, with offices in both Jersey and Guernsey, decided to donate money to the trust rather then give corporate gifts to guests and speakers at a dinner debate held in London last week.

There can be little doubt that philanthropy is in fashion for those who work in the private client world. High profile campaigns such as rock star Bono's one man mission to alleviate Third World debt for developed nations, Sir Tom Hunter (Scotland’s richest man) and his well-publicised philanthropic initiatives, the Gates Foundation's massive resources and ambitions (such as its programmes to eradicate malaria and river blindness), and billionaire investor and Berkshire Hathaway Chair Warren Buffett's donation in 2006 of USD30 billion to the Gates Foundation, have all ensured that philanthropy is top of the agenda for many of the world’s wealthy. 

It is difficult to reflect on where Jersey and Guernsey are now as Crown Dependencies and thriving individual offshore financial jurisidictions without looking back on the events which have shaped both islands and their shared history. 

Choosing the right trustee

Choosing the right trustee is probably the most important decision faced by a prospective settlor and his or her advisor, especially when faced with the myriad of choices available in the global market place. Investec Trust’s Rosemary Marr looks at the options.

What impact will the changes to the residence and domicile rules in the UK Budget have on the offshore trust industry in Jersey?