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    <title>Vistra</title>
    <description>Vistra Description</description>
    <link>http://www.vistra.com/</link>
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      <title>Vistra Sponsors ITPA Reception</title>
      <description>
  &lt;p&gt;Vistra was delighted to sponsor the champagne reception at the International Tax Planning Association&amp;#8217;s annual congress, on the evening of the 10th November at the Dorchester Hotel in London. In spite of terrible weather, the event was a big success, attended by over 150 tax professionals from different countries and 15 Vistra employees from various offices. &lt;/p&gt;
  &lt;p&gt;30 different jurisdictions from all over the world were represented and the reception allowed everyone to discuss the current financial situation and possible future business co-operation.&lt;br /&gt; &lt;br /&gt;In his welcome speech, Dennis Lavin, member of the Board of Vistra Group, said: "It is great to see such a good turnout and so many familiar old faces as well as many new faces which will ensure the continued growth of ITPA."  &lt;/p&gt;
  &lt;p&gt;During the event, our guests had the opportunity to view our Marine and Aviation video and the images of Yann Arthus-Bertrand, which fits perfectly with Vistra&amp;#8217;s ethos of crossing borders, creating solutions. &lt;/p&gt;
  &lt;p&gt;This successful networking event was an ideal opportunity for Vistra to develop and strengthen business relationships with attending worldwide trust and corporate services providers. It also enabled our Group to reaffirm its position in this market.&lt;br /&gt; &lt;br /&gt;For further info please email &lt;a href="mailto:yolanda.garcia@vistra.com"&gt;Yolanda Garcia&lt;/a&gt; or &lt;a href="mailto:penny.borny@vistra.com"&gt;Penny Borny&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
</description>
      <link>http://www.vistra.com/content/72/index.html</link>
      <author>Vistra - Trust</author>
      <pubDate>Tue, 18 Nov 2008 16:22:59 GMT</pubDate>
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      <title>Vistra Sponsors Cancerbackup Golf Day</title>
      <description>
  &lt;div&gt;
    &lt;font face="Verdana" size="2"&gt;
    &lt;/font&gt;
    &lt;p&gt;This year&amp;#8217;s Vistra Golf Day in &lt;st1:personname w:st="on"&gt;support&lt;/st1:personname&gt; of Cancerbackup was a great success once again, raising over £12,000 for the charity which celebrates its 21st Birthday this year. The Captains&amp;#8217; Team, made up of John Hutchins, Sheila Smith, Claire Reid and Bob Bowden scooped first prize with 98 points, narrowly beating CCSS (Georgina Cottini, Eddy Cottini, Stacey Sarre and Roger Small) into second place with 96. It&amp;#8217;s Magic (Richard True, &lt;st1:personname w:st="on"&gt;Paul&lt;/st1:personname&gt;ine True, Joe Francis, Mike Brooks) came third. &lt;/p&gt;
    &lt;p&gt;Cancerbackup Jersey was created to give cancer patients and their families and friends the up to date information, practical advice and &lt;st1:personname w:st="on"&gt;support&lt;/st1:personname&gt; they need to reduce the fear and uncertainty of cancer. The money raised goes towards funding a Cancer Information Centre and Cancer Information Nurse Specialist. &lt;/p&gt;
    &lt;p&gt;Dennis Lavin, CEO for Vistra Jersey commented: &amp;#34;We are delighted to be helping Cancerbackup once again this year. The Golf Day was a great success in raising more than £12,000, and was such an enjoyable way to &lt;st1:personname w:st="on"&gt;support&lt;/st1:personname&gt; a worthy cause. Cancer is an illness which unfortunately touches the lives of so many people in &lt;st1:place w:st="on"&gt;Jersey&lt;/st1:place&gt;, and if we can help raise funds to make sure those people and their friends, relatives and colleagues have access to as much information and &lt;st1:personname w:st="on"&gt;support&lt;/st1:personname&gt; as possible it&amp;#8217;ll be a job well done. I would like to personally thank all those who took part, and we hope to see them again next year&amp;#34;. &lt;/p&gt;
  &lt;/div&gt;
</description>
      <link>http://www.vistra.com/content/71/index.html</link>
      <author>Vistra - Trust</author>
      <pubDate>Tue, 04 Nov 2008 11:55:59 GMT</pubDate>
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      <title>Vistra hosts the Champagne reception at ITPA (10th November, London)</title>
      <description>
  &lt;div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;
  &lt;div&gt;Vistra is delighted to sponsor the champagne reception at the International Tax Planning Association&amp;#8217;s annual congress, on the evening of the 10th November at the Dorchester Hotel in London. Drinks and canapés will be served from 6:30pm to 8:30pm  in the Crystal Suite.   &lt;/div&gt;
  &lt;div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;
  &lt;div&gt;The congress is one of the main events in the ITPA&amp;#8217;s calendar and brings together hundreds of professionals from a variety of disciplines. 120 delegates have already confirmed their presence.   This year topics under discussion include: the effects of the UK&amp;#8217;s new non-domiciled laws, hedge fund locations, a look at tax in Iceland and the changing role of the protector in trusts. Senior staff from the major Vistra offices will be present to assist guests with any requests they may have.&lt;/div&gt;
  &lt;div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;
  &lt;div&gt;Please contact &lt;a href="mailto:yolanda.garcia@vistra.com"&gt;Yolanda Garcia&lt;/a&gt; or &lt;a href="mailto:penny.borny@vistra.com"&gt;Penny Borny&lt;/a&gt; for further information.&lt;/div&gt;
</description>
      <link>http://www.vistra.com/content/70/index.html</link>
      <author>Vistra - Trust</author>
      <pubDate>Fri, 24 Oct 2008 14:45:59 GMT</pubDate>
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      <title>Vistra at the Monaco Yacht Show</title>
      <description>
  &lt;p&gt;Following the success of last year&amp;#8217;s stand at the Monaco Yacht Show, Vistra Marine &amp;amp; Aviation will again have a significant presence at the world&amp;#8217;s premier super yacht exhibition in Monaco from the 24th to 27th September. &lt;/p&gt;
  &lt;p&gt;Last year, over 26,000 people visited the show and hundreds took an interest in the services that Vistra Marine &amp;amp; Aviation offer to yacht owners. Manned by Matt Ruane and Marina Gall, the customised stand stood out from the crowd and was an ideal way to connect with existing clients, captains and industry professionals.&lt;/p&gt;
  &lt;p&gt;If you are visiting the show, please come and see us at our stand located at Darse Sud at any time during the show, or contact &lt;a href="mailto:matthew.ruane@vistra.com"&gt;Matt Ruane&lt;/a&gt; on +44 (0)1534 504700 to book an appointment.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
</description>
      <link>http://www.vistra.com/content/69/index.html</link>
      <author>Vistra - Trust</author>
      <pubDate>Mon, 15 Sep 2008 14:32:00 GMT</pubDate>
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      <title>Vistra Cocktail at the IFA a big success </title>
      <description>
  &lt;div dir="ltr" align="left"&gt; &lt;/div&gt;
  &lt;div dir="ltr" align="left"&gt;The Vistra champagne reception which took place in De Warande in Brussels, on the 1st September on the occasion of the 62nd International Fiscal Association Congress was attended by over 200 tax professionals from various countries and some 20 Vistra employees from various offices.&lt;/div&gt;
  &lt;div dir="ltr" align="left"&gt;
    &lt;br /&gt;During the event, our guests had the opportunity to admire the images of Yann Arthus-Bertrand. His talent for taking complicated subjects often unappealing from the ground - and providing a new point of view that highlights their innate stability and beauty - fits perfectly with Vistra&amp;#8217;s ethos of crossing borders, creating solutions.  In addition our guests were invited to watch an "avant-premiere" of our new Marine and Aviation video, which will be officially launched during the upcoming Monaco Yacht Show from the 24th to 27th September. &lt;/div&gt;
  &lt;div dir="ltr" align="left"&gt; &lt;/div&gt;
  &lt;div dir="ltr" align="left"&gt;This successful networking event was for Vistra an ideal opportunity to reaffirm its reputation as a recognized player in the trust and corporate services market.&lt;/div&gt;
  &lt;div dir="ltr" align="left"&gt; &lt;/div&gt;
  &lt;div dir="ltr" align="left"&gt;For further info please email &lt;a href="mailto:yolanda.garcia@vistra.com"&gt;Yolanda Garcia&lt;/a&gt; or call her on +41 22 319 18 92.&lt;/div&gt;
</description>
      <link>http://www.vistra.com/content/68/index.html</link>
      <author>Vistra - Trust</author>
      <pubDate>Mon, 15 Sep 2008 14:25:00 GMT</pubDate>
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      <title>August Newsletter is published</title>
      <description>
  &lt;p align="justify"&gt;Vistra is pleased to present you with the latest edition of our &lt;a href="http://www.vistra.com/content/66/index.html"&gt;newsletter&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;
  &lt;p align="justify"&gt;On the 6th of November it will be two years since we have launched the Vistra brand. Today Vistra employs some 200 professionals in ten countries and is therefore able to provide a full range of cross border solutions for wealth protection and the structuring of assets and cash flows. Our services include amongst others trustee and corporate services, immigration and yacht management.&lt;/p&gt;
  &lt;p align="justify"&gt;In this newsletter we have a closer look at the advantages &lt;a href="http://www.vistra.com/content/66/index.html#cyprus"&gt;&lt;font color="#806e27"&gt;Cyprus&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/a&gt; can bring in international tax planning. In addition we analyse the possibilities of the &lt;a href="http://www.vistra.com/content/66/index.html#luxembourg"&gt;&lt;font color="#806e27"&gt;Luxembourg Specialised Investment Fund&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/a&gt;. The instant popularity of this new entity suggests that they are especially useful as a lightly regulated, low tax investment vehicle for the fund business.&lt;/p&gt;
  &lt;p align="justify"&gt;Also we give you an overview of &lt;a href="http://www.vistra.com/content/66/index.html#events"&gt;&lt;font color="#806e27"&gt;Vistra events&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/a&gt; in the coming weeks and how you can register. Finally we share with you an article in &lt;a href="http://www.vistra.com/content/66/index.html#features"&gt;&lt;font color="#806e27"&gt;Banque &amp;amp; Finance&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/a&gt;, a prestigious Swiss industry magazine, where Vistra director Walter Stresemann is the subject of a profile in the "Leaders" section. &lt;/p&gt;
  &lt;p align="justify"&gt;As always we hope you enjoy reading this edition, we have certainly enjoyed writing it!&lt;/p&gt;
  &lt;p align="justify"&gt;Please &lt;a href="http://www.vistra.com/content/66/index.html"&gt;click here&lt;/a&gt; to read the full version.&lt;/p&gt;
</description>
      <link>http://www.vistra.com/content/67/index.html</link>
      <author>Vistra - Trust</author>
      <pubDate>Fri, 29 Aug 2008 13:12:00 GMT</pubDate>
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      <title>Kinetic / Vistra - Joint presentation in Geneva</title>
      <description>
  &lt;div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;
  &lt;div&gt;Vistra Geneva and &lt;a href="http://www.kinetic-partners.com/" target="_blank"&gt;Kinetic Partners&lt;/a&gt; are proud to hold a joint presentation on the 23rd September at the hotel Beau Rivage in Geneva at 5pm, on "Regulatory trends: mastering risks and maximising opportunities in the investment world".&lt;/div&gt;
  &lt;div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;
  &lt;div&gt;The panel discussion will be moderated by guest speakers from the Swiss Federal Banking Commission and the Geneva Office for Economic Development, who will give us their views on the above-mentioned topic. &lt;/div&gt;
  &lt;div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;
  &lt;div&gt;Our presentation will be followed by an opportunity to continue the discussion over a canapé reception at 6pm.&lt;/div&gt;
  &lt;div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;
  &lt;div&gt;Please contact &lt;a href="mailto:manuela.maymo@vistra.com"&gt;Manuela Maymo&lt;/a&gt; for further information on &lt;/div&gt;
  &lt;div&gt;+41 22 319 18 93.&lt;/div&gt;
  &lt;div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;
  &lt;div&gt;Please &lt;a href="http://www.vistra.com/userfiles/files/invitation.pdf" target="_blank"&gt;click here&lt;/a&gt; to download the invitation.&lt;/div&gt;
  &lt;div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;
</description>
      <link>http://www.vistra.com/content/65/index.html</link>
      <author>Vistra - Trust</author>
      <pubDate>Mon, 18 Aug 2008 10:15:00 GMT</pubDate>
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      <title>Vistra Cocktail Party at the IFA</title>
      <description>
  &lt;p&gt;The 62&lt;sup&gt;nd&lt;/sup&gt; International Fiscal Association (IFA) Congress is being held in &lt;st1:city w:st="on"&gt;&lt;st1:place w:st="on"&gt;Brussels&lt;/st1:place&gt;&lt;/st1:city&gt; from the 31&lt;sup&gt;st&lt;/sup&gt; August to 5&lt;sup&gt;th&lt;/sup&gt; September. Always informative, the IFA Congress is a must-attend event for financial service providers, tax advisers and clients.&lt;/p&gt;
  &lt;p&gt;As active members of the IFA, senior Vistra staff will be attending the Congress and the Vistra Group directors are hosting a private cocktail party for clients and contacts on the evening of Monday 1&lt;sup&gt;st&lt;/sup&gt; September. &lt;/p&gt;
  &lt;p&gt;The Vistra cocktail party takes place in the glorious and exclusive surroundings of &lt;a title="De Warande" href="http://www.dewarande.be/" target="_blank"&gt;De Warande&lt;/a&gt; in the royal heart of &lt;st1:city w:st="on"&gt;&lt;st1:place w:st="on"&gt;Brussels&lt;/st1:place&gt;&lt;/st1:city&gt;, just a few minutes walk from the Congress itself. &lt;/p&gt;
  &lt;p&gt;Beginning at 9pm, we&amp;#8217;d be delighted for you to join us for an evening of fine drinks and company.&lt;/p&gt;
  &lt;p&gt;Please contact &lt;a href="mailto:yolanda.garcia@vistra.com"&gt;Yolanda Garcia&lt;/a&gt; for more details. &lt;/p&gt;
</description>
      <link>http://www.vistra.com/content/63/index.html</link>
      <author>Vistra - Trust</author>
      <pubDate>Wed, 16 Jul 2008 13:32:59 GMT</pubDate>
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      <title>ACSA becomes Vistra</title>
      <description>
  &lt;p&gt;
    &lt;span&gt;Today, Monday 2nd June 2008, ACSA, which was acquired on the 2nd April 2008, has finished its rebranding as Vistra and thereby completed a further step in realising Vistra&amp;#8217;s acquisition strategy. &lt;/span&gt;
  &lt;/p&gt;
  &lt;p&gt;
    &lt;span&gt;ACSA&amp;#8217;s dynamic team of ten people fits perfectly with the Vistra ethos, which aims to be &lt;/span&gt;
    &lt;span&gt;Truly Global, Truly Independent and Truly Personal, putting our existing and new clients at the centre of everything we do. Moreover, the rebrand will strengthen and develop Vistra&amp;#8217;s corporate image and brand recognition among the Cypriot trust and corporate services industry.&lt;/span&gt;
  &lt;/p&gt;
  &lt;p&gt;
    &lt;span&gt;Vistra is proud to have a full operational presence in &lt;st1:place w:st="on"&gt;&lt;st1:country-region w:st="on"&gt;Cyprus&lt;/st1:country-region&gt;&lt;/st1:place&gt; and the group expects to benefit from the high service levels that ACSA&amp;#8217;s experienced professionals are accustomed to providing to their international corporate client base.&lt;/span&gt;
  &lt;/p&gt;
  &lt;p&gt;
    &lt;span&gt;Arjan Schaapman and Adriaan Coppens founded ACSA in 2005 after recognizing the tremendous opportunities that &lt;st1:place w:st="on"&gt;&lt;st1:country-region w:st="on"&gt;Cyprus&lt;/st1:country-region&gt;&lt;/st1:place&gt; could offer to the international business community, especially after its accession to the EU. The pair built ACSA into a successful business that was well known for its personal approach and long-standing expertise in international fiscal structuring and corporate services. &lt;/span&gt;
  &lt;/p&gt;
  &lt;p&gt;
    &lt;span&gt;It is important to note that ACSA&amp;#8217;s client relationships will not be affected in any way and the whole team will continue to provide the same services as before the acquisition by Vistra. However, the company will now be able to benefit from Vistra&amp;#8217;s global presence and international reach. &lt;/span&gt;
  &lt;/p&gt;
  &lt;p&gt;
    &lt;span&gt;Today, Vistra is active in 10 jurisdictions and employs 200 staff. In the coming months we will further strengthen our resources, acquiring new businesses and continuing to develop new services.&lt;/span&gt;
  &lt;/p&gt;
  &lt;p&gt;
    &lt;span&gt;For more information, please contact &lt;a href="mailto:arjan.schaapman@vistra.com"&gt;Arjan Schaapman&lt;/a&gt; or &lt;a href="mailto:adriaan.coppens@vistra.com"&gt;Adriaan Coppens&lt;/a&gt; on +357 25 817411.&lt;/span&gt;
  &lt;/p&gt;
</description>
      <link>http://www.vistra.com/content/62/index.html</link>
      <author>Vistra - Trust</author>
      <pubDate>Fri, 30 May 2008 15:01:00 GMT</pubDate>
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      <title>Vistra  features in May/June issue of Banque &amp; Finance</title>
      <description>
  &lt;p&gt;Vistra director, Walter Stresemann is the subject of a profile in the &amp;#34;Leaders&amp;#34; section in the latest issue of prestigious Swiss industry magazine, Banque &amp;amp; Finance. &lt;/p&gt;
  &lt;p&gt;The article by respected finance journalist Mohammad Farrokh, discusses Walter&amp;#8217;s work in &lt;st1:city w:st="on"&gt;Geneva&lt;/st1:city&gt;, the town where his Nobel Peace Prize winning grandfather gave a pivotal speech to the &lt;st1:place w:st="on"&gt;League of Nations&lt;/st1:place&gt; 80 years ago. &lt;/p&gt;
  &lt;p&gt;Farrokh describes Walter as one of &amp;#34;&lt;st1:city w:st="on"&gt;&lt;st1:place w:st="on"&gt;Geneva&lt;/st1:place&gt;&lt;/st1:city&gt;&amp;#8217;s foremost trust specialists&amp;#34;, a natural leader with an &amp;#34;innate understanding of human relations&amp;#34; and briefly outlines his career in the Swiss finance industry which spans over twenty years. &lt;/p&gt;
  &lt;p&gt;After acquiring &amp;#34;impeccable academic credentials&amp;#34; in both the &lt;st1:country-region w:st="on"&gt;USA&lt;/st1:country-region&gt; and &lt;st1:city w:st="on"&gt;&lt;st1:place w:st="on"&gt;Geneva&lt;/st1:place&gt;&lt;/st1:city&gt;, Walter began his career with the Cantrade Group. A number of mergers and acquisitions resulted in him working for the Belgo-Dutch group Fortis. However, dissatisfied with organisational changes, Walter joined the Board of Directors at Vistra in 2007. Farrokh acknowledges the work of Walter and Vistra CEO, Bart Deconinck, in driving the growth of Vistra, which &amp;#34;less than two years after its formation, employs 200 people worldwide&amp;#34;.&lt;/p&gt;
  &lt;p&gt;Farrokh&amp;#8217;s article is a short but fascinating insight into the life and history of one the driving forces behind Vistra&amp;#8217;s success. &lt;/p&gt;
  &lt;p&gt;Please click &lt;a href="http://www.vistra.com/userfiles/files/BF_91-vistra(WS).pdf"&gt;here&lt;/a&gt; for the original article in French or &lt;a href="http://www.vistra.com/userfiles/files/BF_91-vistra(WS%20English).pdf"&gt;here&lt;/a&gt; for the English translation.&lt;/p&gt;
  &lt;p&gt;You can contact Walter on +41 (0)22 319 1890 or by email at &lt;a href="mailto:walter.stresemann@vistra.com"&gt;walter.stresemann@vistra.com&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
</description>
      <link>http://www.vistra.com/content/61/index.html</link>
      <author>Vistra - Trust</author>
      <pubDate>Fri, 16 May 2008 16:18:00 GMT</pubDate>
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      <title>Marjoleine van Oort joins Vistra</title>
      <description>
  &lt;p&gt;Vistra (Luxembourg) S.à r.l.,  the Luxembourg branch of the Vistra Group, a world-wide independent trust and company services provider,  is pleased to announce the arrival of a new Senior Account Manager, Marjoleine van Oort. &lt;/p&gt;
  &lt;p&gt;Marjoleine, a Dutch national, attained her Master in Law degree at Groningen University where she specialized in tax law. Prior to joining Vistra (Luxembourg) S.à r.l., she worked for more than 10 year for Loyens &amp;amp; Loeff in Luxembourg and the Netherlands. At Loyens &amp;amp; Loeff she gained extensive experience in working with a diverse base of corporate and private clients in the areas of corporate advise, tax advise, real estate transactions and corporate restructurings. &lt;/p&gt;
  &lt;p&gt;In 2005 Marjoleine joined a Luxembourg Fiduciary company for a period of three years where she was, based on her past experience, the main contact person for multinational institutional clients as well as for larger corporate clients and private clients. &lt;/p&gt;
  &lt;p&gt;You can contact her on +352 42 22 29 or by email at &lt;a href="mailto:marjoleine.van.oort@vistra.com"&gt;marjoleine.van.oort@vistra.com&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
</description>
      <link>http://www.vistra.com/content/60/index.html</link>
      <author>Vistra - Trust</author>
      <pubDate>Thu, 08 May 2008 09:52:00 GMT</pubDate>
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    <item>
      <title>April newsletter is published</title>
      <description>
  &lt;p&gt;This latest edition of the Vistra newsletter focuses on our continued global expansion and details our acquisition of ACSA in Cyprus &amp;#8211; another important milestone for the Vistra Group.  Also discussed are the financial uses of Jersey-based Foundations as tools for estate and financial planning, as well as detailing the culmination of four months of conflicting announcements, ferocious lobbying and a last minute climb-down in the saga of the UK budget and the Resident Non-Domicile rules.&lt;/p&gt;
  &lt;p&gt;Tax advantages in the Netherlands are highlighted as part of our focus on international tax planning and news that a number of Vistra&amp;#8217;s staff have been recognised as being at the top of their field has also been included.&lt;/p&gt;
  &lt;p&gt;Click &lt;a href="http://www.vistra.com/content/58/index.html"&gt;here&lt;/a&gt; to read more about what we have been up to in recent months and to find out how Vistra can help you with your financial requirements across a range of international jurisdictions.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
</description>
      <link>http://www.vistra.com/content/59/index.html</link>
      <author>Vistra - Trust</author>
      <pubDate>Fri, 25 Apr 2008 15:56:59 GMT</pubDate>
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    <item>
      <title>Vistra acquires Cypriot Business</title>
      <description>
  &lt;p&gt;Vistra is pleased to announce that today, April 2nd 2008, it reached agreement with the owners of ACSA, an independent corporate services provider based in Cyprus, regarding the sale of 100% of ACSA to the Vistra Group. &lt;/p&gt;
  &lt;p&gt;Bart Deconinck, Vistra&amp;#8217;s CEO said: "Cyprus is one of the fastest growing financial jurisdictions in the world and having a full, operational presence in Cyprus is an essential element of the Vistra network. The team at ACSA are highly experienced, dynamic and have a very innovative approach to working, all of these qualities go hand-in-hand with the levels of service that Vistra offers its clients around the world. Importantly, all Vistra clients will be able to benefit from the wide range of business advantages that Cyprus offers."&lt;/p&gt;
  &lt;p&gt;ACSA provides high quality management services to an international corporate client base. The company has a personal approach and long standing expertise in international fiscal structuring and corporate services.&lt;/p&gt;
  &lt;p&gt;Arjan Schaapman and Adriaan Coppens, established ACSA in 2005. Arjan Schaapman, said: "We founded ACSA because we recognized the tremendous opportunities that Cyprus has to offer international business, especially after its accession to the EU. The company has gone from strength to strength and employs a dynamic team of ten people who will thrive under the Vistra ethos".&lt;/p&gt;
  &lt;p&gt;ACSA will shortly rebrand under the Vistra banner and all of its staff will become members of the Vistra global team. Under the leadership of Arjan and Adriaan, the existing Vistra business in Cyprus will be integrated in the newly acquired company. &lt;/p&gt;
  &lt;p&gt;For more information, please contact &lt;a title="Yolanda Garcia" href="mailto:yolanda.garcia@vistra.com"&gt;Yolanda Garcia&lt;/a&gt; (+41 22 319 18 92).&lt;/p&gt;
  &lt;p&gt;For the full press release, please &lt;a href="http://www.vistra.com/userfiles/files/PRESS%20RELEASE_Vistra_Cyprus.pdf"&gt;click here&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;
</description>
      <link>http://www.vistra.com/content/57/index.html</link>
      <author>Vistra - Trust</author>
      <pubDate>Wed, 02 Apr 2008 16:50:00 GMT</pubDate>
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    <item>
      <title>Vistra trio recognised as being top of their field</title>
      <description>
  &lt;p&gt;Vistra&amp;#8217;s professionalism and dedication to customer service has been recognised by the inclusion of three of its members of staff in CityWealth&amp;#8217;s &amp;#34;Leaders List&amp;#34;.&lt;/p&gt;
  &lt;p&gt;Carola Breusch, Vistra&amp;#8217;s Head of Corporate Services, Bart Deconinck, Vistra CEO and Peter Rice, a Senior Relationship Manager in &lt;st1:place w:st="on"&gt;Jersey&lt;/st1:place&gt; have all been named as leading figures in the Private Wealth Management industry by CityWealth, a sector specific publishing company. &lt;/p&gt;
  &lt;p&gt;Carola has been recognised twice. She is listed as one of the &amp;#34;Top 20 Women In Private Wealth Management&amp;#34; and also shares the honour, alongside Bart, as being one of the top 20 &amp;#34;Leading Trustees&amp;#34;. Senior Relationship Manager, Peter Rice is recognised as one of the Private Wealth Management industry&amp;#8217;s &amp;#34;Prominent Figures&amp;#34;.&lt;/p&gt;
  &lt;p&gt;This is CityWealth&amp;#8217;s third annual &amp;#34;Leaders&amp;#8217; List&amp;#34; and has been drawn up following research with private clients and peers within the industry. According to CityWealth: &amp;#34;Those listed are generally acknowledged to possess a sterling reputation for expertise in their respective field, first-class client service, and top-notch products/services for wealthy families and individuals.&amp;#34;&lt;/p&gt;
</description>
      <link>http://www.vistra.com/content/56/index.html</link>
      <author>Vistra - Trust</author>
      <pubDate>Wed, 12 Mar 2008 15:36:59 GMT</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Swiss financial sector reforms</title>
      <description>
  &lt;p&gt;Walter Stresemann, Director at Vistra, recently had an article published in IFC review. The article focuses on the fact that &lt;st1:country-region w:st="on"&gt;&lt;st1:place w:st="on"&gt;Switzerland&lt;/st1:place&gt;&lt;/st1:country-region&gt; is in the throes of substantial change with reforms set to change the way business is done in the Swiss financial sector.&lt;/p&gt;
  &lt;p&gt;The changes include the ratification of the Hague Convention which means that there is a firm legal basis for the country&amp;#8217;s growing trustee business. Parallel amendments to federal legislation on private law, debt enforcement and bankruptcy means that there is more legal certainty as a solid legal framework will create a much more stable environment for the setting up and administration of trusts. This will also help to promote the country&amp;#8217;s appeal as a perfect location for private wealth management.&lt;/p&gt;
  &lt;p&gt;Another major reform that has been enacted is the establishment of a new Federal Financial Market Supervisory Authority (to be known as FINMA). FINMA will group together the regulatory workings of three watchdogs: the Federal Banking Commission, the Federal Office of Private Insurance and the Money Laundering Control Authority. The intended effect of FINMA is to provide a single, efficient supervisory authority that will maintain the requirements of the original three supervisory sectors, thus banks still have to fulfil the requirements of the Banking Act, insurance companies will still abide by the legislation of the Insurance Supervision Act, and so on.&lt;/p&gt;
  &lt;p&gt;Finally, a series of measures have been put forward by the financial industry as a comprehensive package aimed at doubling the financial sector&amp;#8217;s contribution to GDP from 15% to 30%, as well as adding somewhere between CHF11bn and CHF17bn in new tax receipts. The aim is to catapult Switzerland into the top three global financial centres by 2015 following a significant slowing of wealth creation in the country since the 1980&amp;#8217;s. These reforms are all designed to strengthen and enhance the competitiveness of the Swiss financial sector and targets eight key areas:&lt;/p&gt;
  &lt;p&gt;-         private banking &lt;br /&gt;-         retail banking         &lt;br /&gt;-         investment funds&lt;br /&gt;-         pensions business&lt;br /&gt;-         hedge funds&lt;br /&gt;-         private equity&lt;br /&gt;-         Swiss capital market&lt;br /&gt;-         Commodity trade finance&lt;/p&gt;
  &lt;p&gt;Walter concludes by stating that these proposed reforms are astonishing not just for the comprehensive approach they have adopted but also because the Swiss are taking a very strong offensive stance (in contrast to the traditional defensive strategy related to banking secrecy and asset management) to establish Switzerland once more as a leading world financial centre and a world player with regard to traditional mutual funds, hedge funds and private equity.&lt;/p&gt;
  &lt;p&gt;For further information please contact &lt;a href="mailto:walter.stresemann@vistra.com"&gt;Walter Stresemann&lt;/a&gt; or call on +41 22 319 18 94.&lt;/p&gt;
  &lt;p&gt;To view the full article, plese &lt;a href="http://www.vistra.com/userfiles/files/Walters%20article%20IFC%20Review%2008.pdf"&gt;click here&lt;/a&gt; (7.87Mb PDF).&lt;/p&gt;
</description>
      <link>http://www.vistra.com/content/55/index.html</link>
      <author>Vistra - Trust</author>
      <pubDate>Thu, 07 Feb 2008 15:53:00 GMT</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Monterey Group becomes Vistra</title>
      <description>
  &lt;div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;
  &lt;div&gt;Today, Monday 4th February, Monterey Group, which was acquired on the 12th December 2007, has been fully rebranded into Vistra as a further step in realising Vistra&amp;#8217;s acquisition strategy. &lt;/div&gt;
  &lt;div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;
  &lt;div&gt;Vistra is now a dominant force in the &lt;st1:country-region w:st="on"&gt;Netherlands&lt;/st1:country-region&gt; and the Netherlands Antilles and will strengthen and develop its corporate image and brand recognition in the Trust and Corporate Services industry, benefiting from the excellent reputation built during the &lt;st1:city w:st="on"&gt;&lt;st1:place w:st="on"&gt;Monterey&lt;/st1:place&gt;&lt;/st1:city&gt; and Rijnhove years. &lt;/div&gt;
  &lt;div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;
  &lt;div&gt;Our main challenge and our success will depend on our ability to provide excellent and rapid service in a sector where the business is becoming more and more competitive and, above all, increasingly sophisticated and regulated. Indeed, our company aims to be Truly Global, Truly Independent and Truly Personal, putting our existing and new clients at the centre of everything we do.&lt;/div&gt;
  &lt;div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;
  &lt;div&gt;It is important to note that the long-lasting client relationships of Monterey will not undergo any changes and the whole team will continue to provide the same services as in the past, benefiting from the international reach of Vistra. &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;
  &lt;div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;
  &lt;div&gt;Today Vistra is active in 10 jurisdictions and employs 180 staff. In the coming months we will further strengthen our resources, acquiring new businesses and developing new services&lt;/div&gt;
  &lt;div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;
  &lt;div&gt;For more information please mail &lt;a title="Frans van Rijn" href="mailto:frans.van.rijn@vistra.com"&gt;Frans van Rijn&lt;/a&gt; or &lt;a title="Sjaak ten Hove" href="mailto:sjaak.ten.hove@vistra.com"&gt;Sjaak ten Hove&lt;/a&gt; or call them +31 76 560 990.&lt;/div&gt;
  &lt;div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;
</description>
      <link>http://www.vistra.com/content/54/index.html</link>
      <author>Vistra - Trust</author>
      <pubDate>Mon, 04 Feb 2008 14:32:59 GMT</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Vistra's Fifth newsletter is released</title>
      <description>
  &lt;p&gt;Vistra has now published its fifth newsletter, received by more than 5000 clients and intermediaries worldwide. &lt;/p&gt;
  &lt;p&gt;This first edition of the year focuses on Vistra&amp;#8217;s continuing expansion, with the set up of a representative office in Istanbul and the closing of the Monterey Group acquisition in the Netherlands and Curaçao. Vistra envisages announcing more acquisitions in the next few months.&lt;/p&gt;
  &lt;p&gt;We also highlight the advantages of moving to Switzerland, explaining the role of our office in Geneva and how our team there can help you to meet the different requirements of the local authorities.  &lt;/p&gt;
  &lt;p&gt;The Vistra brand is growing in strength and we also look in the newsletter at how we are building further on our brand recognition. With these latest developments, Vistra is achieving its strategy of being Truly Global, Truly Independent and Truly Personal. &lt;/p&gt;
  &lt;p&gt;Click &lt;a href="http://www.vistra.com/content/46/index.html"&gt;here&lt;/a&gt; to read the fifth Vistra newsletter.&lt;/p&gt;
</description>
      <link>http://www.vistra.com/content/53/index.html</link>
      <author>Vistra - Trust</author>
      <pubDate>Fri, 11 Jan 2008 17:19:00 GMT</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Vistra finalises the acquisition of Monterey Group</title>
      <description>
  &lt;p&gt;Following the press release made on 13 July 2007, Vistra is pleased to announce that it has now finalised the acquisition of 100% of the shares of Monterey Group. The transaction was completed on the 12th December after full approval from the Dutch Central Bank.&lt;/p&gt;
  &lt;p&gt;Monterey Group is the combination of Monterey, a fiduciary business formerly owned by Fortis, and Rijnhove Group, a Dutch accounting and fiduciary business with roots that go back to 1989. Monterey Group employs 37 staff, of which 32 are in The Netherlands and 5 are in Curaçao. &lt;/p&gt;
  &lt;p&gt;This acquisition not only strengthens Vistra&amp;#8217;s presence in the Netherlands but also adds Curaçao to our global footprint. In The Netherlands, Vistra will now be able to serve customers from Breda, as well as Amsterdam, thus providing perfect coverage for two complimentary business feeder networks.&lt;/p&gt;
  &lt;p&gt;Monterey will be re-branded to Vistra in the course of the first quarter of 2008.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
</description>
      <link>http://www.vistra.com/content/44/index.html</link>
      <author>Vistra - Trust</author>
      <pubDate>Wed, 12 Dec 2007 17:35:00 GMT</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Vistra Opens Istanbul Office</title>
      <description>
  &lt;p&gt;
    &lt;span&gt;We are pleased to announce that Vistra has opened a representative office in &lt;st1:city w:st="on"&gt;&lt;st1:place w:st="on"&gt;Istanbul&lt;/st1:place&gt;&lt;/st1:city&gt;.&lt;/span&gt;
  &lt;/p&gt;
  &lt;p&gt;
    &lt;span&gt;
    &lt;/span&gt;
    &lt;span&gt;The office will focus on serving the large number of wealthy Turkish individuals who are looking for expertise in wealth protection and business structuring. &lt;/span&gt;
  &lt;/p&gt;
  &lt;p&gt;
    &lt;span&gt;
    &lt;/span&gt;
    &lt;span&gt;Having a presence in &lt;st1:place w:st="on"&gt;&lt;st1:country-region w:st="on"&gt;Turkey&lt;/st1:country-region&gt;&lt;/st1:place&gt; is an important step in Vistra&amp;#8217;s sales and marketing plans and results from the identification of a growing network of wealthy individuals in the country.&lt;/span&gt;
  &lt;/p&gt;
  &lt;p&gt;
    &lt;span&gt;There is a strong case for opening an office in &lt;st1:country-region w:st="on"&gt;&lt;st1:place w:st="on"&gt;Turkey&lt;/st1:place&gt;&lt;/st1:country-region&gt; as the country is currently experiencing an amazing economic growth rate which reached almost 10% in 2006 and importantly, which is built upon a stable economy. &lt;st1:place w:st="on"&gt;&lt;st1:country-region w:st="on"&gt;Turkey&lt;/st1:country-region&gt;&lt;/st1:place&gt; also has strong traditional and business links with most Arabic countries and therefore provides a clear access  route to Middle Eastern markets. &lt;/span&gt;
  &lt;/p&gt;
  &lt;p&gt;Onur Kizilot, who is Vistra&amp;#8217;s representative in &lt;st1:place w:st="on"&gt;&lt;st1:city w:st="on"&gt;Istanbul&lt;/st1:city&gt;&lt;/st1:place&gt;, will be delighted to answer any questions that you may have. You can contact Onur by &lt;a href="mailto:onur.kizilot@vistra.com"&gt;email&lt;/a&gt; or by calling him on +90 (0)212 252 82 35.&lt;/p&gt;
</description>
      <link>http://www.vistra.com/content/41/index.html</link>
      <author>Vistra - Trust</author>
      <pubDate>Thu, 06 Dec 2007 13:40:00 GMT</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Vistra brand is nominated for award</title>
      <description>
  &lt;p&gt;The strength of the Vistra brand has been recognised by the Chartered Institute of Marketing in &lt;st1:place w:st="on"&gt;Jersey&lt;/st1:place&gt;. Vistra has been shortlisted for the Best Use of Brand Award in the &lt;st1:place w:st="on"&gt;Island&lt;/st1:place&gt;&amp;#8217;s annual marketing awards with the winner being announced at a ceremony held at the Hotel de France on the 2nd November. Vistra will host a table at this event, the CIM Gala Ball and whilst we hope to come back with the silverware, we are delighted to have been nominated.&lt;/p&gt;
  &lt;p&gt;The nomination is for &amp;#34;Crossing Borders &amp;#8211; Creating Solutions&amp;#34;, a campaign designed by Advertising International, who have themselves been nominated in the Best Agency category. The designs combine the striking environmental photography of Yann Arthus-Bertrand with Advertising International&amp;#8217;s simple, yet dynamic design elements. Bringing the two together has created a brand that truly reflects the company&amp;#8217;s ethos of &amp;#34;Crossing Borders &amp;#8211; Creating Solutions&amp;#34;.&lt;/p&gt;
  &lt;p&gt;The timing of the nomination also adds weight to the brand awareness campaign which continues to be rolled-out across key airports and in certain in-flight magazines. The campaign is focused on raising awareness among intermediaries and potential private and corporate clients. The strong response to date, has been clearly reflected in this nomination for the Best Use of Brand Award.&lt;/p&gt;
  &lt;p&gt;Our thanks go to Advertising International for their creative work, which has made the most of Yann Arthus-Bertrand&amp;#8217;s images, fully supporting the Vistra brand.&lt;/p&gt;
</description>
      <link>http://www.vistra.com/content/39/index.html</link>
      <author>Vistra - Trust</author>
      <pubDate>Wed, 17 Oct 2007 11:23:00 GMT</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Luxembourg government announces gradual abolishment of capital duty</title>
      <description>
  &lt;p&gt;In the 2008 budget which was deposited as a bill on 10&lt;sup&gt;th&lt;/sup&gt; October 2007, the &lt;st1:country-region w:st="on"&gt;Luxembourg&lt;/st1:country-region&gt; government has announced a gradual abolition of the capital duty, which is currently due at a rate of 1% on contributions of capital to &lt;st1:place w:st="on"&gt;&lt;st1:country-region w:st="on"&gt;Luxembourg&lt;/st1:country-region&gt;&lt;/st1:place&gt; companies and partnerships. Pursuant to the bill, the capital duty rate is to be reduced to 0.5% from 1&lt;sup&gt;st&lt;/sup&gt; January 2008. In the explanatory comments to the bill the Government further announces its resolution to abolish the capital duty by the end of 2009, in line with an EU proposal for a Council Directive concerning capital duty.&lt;/p&gt;
  &lt;p&gt;This latest move by the &lt;st1:place w:st="on"&gt;&lt;st1:country-region w:st="on"&gt;Luxembourg&lt;/st1:country-region&gt;&lt;/st1:place&gt; government is again a confirmation that the country wants to confirm it&amp;#8217;s role as a leading jurisdiction for intermediary holding activities. For more information please email &lt;a href="mailto:bart.zech@vistra.com"&gt;Bart Zech&lt;/a&gt; or call him on +352 422 229 203.&lt;span lang="EN-GB" style="FONT-SIZE: 7.5pt; COLOR: black"&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
  &lt;p&gt; &lt;/p&gt;
</description>
      <link>http://www.vistra.com/content/38/index.html</link>
      <author>Vistra - Trust</author>
      <pubDate>Mon, 15 Oct 2007 15:01:00 GMT</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Vistra's view on UK pre-budget report</title>
      <description>
  &lt;p&gt;
    &lt;span&gt;As you may be aware the Chancellor revealed potential new changes to the tax laws governing &lt;st1:country-region w:st="on"&gt;UK&lt;/st1:country-region&gt; resident but non-domiciled individuals and also for individuals non-resident, but ordinarily resident in the &lt;st1:country-region w:st="on"&gt;&lt;st1:place w:st="on"&gt;UK&lt;/st1:place&gt;&lt;/st1:country-region&gt;. To summarise, non-domiciled individuals, resident in the &lt;st1:country-region w:st="on"&gt;UK&lt;/st1:country-region&gt; for at least seven years will pay an additional charge of £30,000 per annum, in order to avoid &lt;st1:country-region w:st="on"&gt;&lt;st1:place w:st="on"&gt;UK&lt;/st1:place&gt;&lt;/st1:country-region&gt; taxation on overseas income and gains. In addition, a change to the 90 day residence rule was also announced.&lt;/span&gt;
  &lt;/p&gt;
  &lt;p&gt;
    &lt;span&gt;In fact, what both the Chancellor and the main opposition party have done is to confirm the &lt;st1:place w:st="on"&gt;&lt;st1:country-region w:st="on"&gt;UK&lt;/st1:country-region&gt;&lt;/st1:place&gt;&amp;#8217;s status as a tax haven for non-domiciled individuals, ending years of speculation of "will he won&amp;#8217;t he abolish the non-domicile rules". Last week saw a clear indication that non-domicile is here to stay, but at a small cost.&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/p&gt;
  &lt;p&gt;
    &lt;span&gt;The new rules are intended to come into effect from 6 April 2008. Years of tax residence prior to 6 April 2008, will however count towards the seven years. The effect of the rule is that, if an individual wishes to retain non-domicile status and therefore be subject to tax only on remittances from offshore, a £30,000 charge will be levied per annum. If not, then the individual will &lt;u&gt;in effect&lt;/u&gt; be domiciled in the &lt;st1:country-region w:st="on"&gt;&lt;st1:place w:st="on"&gt;UK&lt;/st1:place&gt;&lt;/st1:country-region&gt;.&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/p&gt;
  &lt;p&gt;
    &lt;span&gt;The proposed £30,000 per annum charge for the non-dom status will be for most people a small cost compared to the benefit gained, which we think is the rationale behind the charge.&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/p&gt;
  &lt;p&gt;
    &lt;span&gt;There has been some talk that the £30,000 charge will put off those who wish to claim non-domicile, but are not yet in a position to benefit from it, because their foreign income (unremitted) is too small to justify paying the £30,000 charge. We at Vistra disagree, as the de minimus level of £1,000, will allow clients to claim "non-dom" status, keep under £1,000 of unremitted foreign income and not pay the £30,000. They are able therefore to &lt;u&gt;plan&lt;/u&gt; when they need to start paying the charge. &lt;/span&gt; &lt;/p&gt;
  &lt;p&gt;
    &lt;span&gt;We have already identified several ways of mitigating against the new rules for the benefit of our clients but as the full changes, such as "ceased source" rules and anti avoidance provisions against conversion of income into capital, are not yet known, and will be going to "consultation", it is too early at this stage to release our full proposals. &lt;/span&gt; &lt;/p&gt;
  &lt;p&gt;
    &lt;span&gt;The proposed legislation regarding the 90 day rule, is for most clients not an issue, but it will mean that ex-UK tax residents will now have to plan their visits to the &lt;st1:place w:st="on"&gt;&lt;st1:country-region w:st="on"&gt;UK&lt;/st1:country-region&gt;&lt;/st1:place&gt; in a better way, as the concession for days of travel has now been withdrawn. This may mean some frequent travellers could be in danger of being ordinarily resident. The new rules will still allow 18 working weeks in the &lt;st1:country-region w:st="on"&gt;&lt;st1:place w:st="on"&gt;UK&lt;/st1:place&gt;&lt;/st1:country-region&gt;, which for most will not be a problem.&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/p&gt;
  &lt;p&gt;
    &lt;span&gt;We will be releasing a detailed synopsis on this matter when the draft bill is published and will be providing regular updates to all our clients.  In the meantime should you have any queries please email &lt;a href="mailto:greg.macrae@vistra.com"&gt;Greg MacRae&lt;/a&gt; or call him on +44 207 268 2430.&lt;/span&gt;
  &lt;/p&gt;
  &lt;p&gt; &lt;/p&gt;
  &lt;p&gt; &lt;/p&gt;
  &lt;p&gt;DISCLAIMER&lt;/p&gt;
  &lt;p&gt;The contents of this document are made available for information purposes only. Nothing within this document should be relied upon as constituting legal or other professional advice. Neither Vistra Holdings Limited nor any of its companies, subsidiaries or affiliates accept any responsibility whatsoever for any loss occasioned to any person no matter howsoever caused or arising as a result, or in consequence, of action taken or refrained from in reliance on any of the contents of this document.&lt;/p&gt;
</description>
      <link>http://www.vistra.com/content/37/index.html</link>
      <author>Vistra - Trust</author>
      <pubDate>Mon, 15 Oct 2007 14:57:00 GMT</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Vistra launches advertising campaign</title>
      <description>
  &lt;p&gt;
    &lt;span&gt;We are pleased to announce that Vistra has launched an advertising campaign to &lt;/span&gt;
    &lt;span&gt;position Vistra as a recognised brand in the trust and corporate services industry.&lt;/span&gt;
  &lt;/p&gt;
  &lt;p&gt;
    &lt;span&gt;Vistra&amp;#8217;s adverts, based on our Yann Arthus Bertrand imagery, have been visible in Jersey and &lt;st1:place w:st="on"&gt;&lt;st1:country-region w:st="on"&gt;Luxembourg&lt;/st1:country-region&gt;&lt;/st1:place&gt; airports since July, taking advantage of the huge traffic of business travellers to and from these destinations. To reinforce Vistra&amp;#8217;s presence in airports, our ads will also appear in VLM&amp;#8217;s in-flight magazine. This will be available from November on the &lt;st1:country-region w:st="on"&gt;Luxembourg&lt;/st1:country-region&gt;, &lt;st1:city w:st="on"&gt;Rotterdam&lt;/st1:city&gt;, &lt;st1:city w:st="on"&gt;Amsterdam&lt;/st1:city&gt;, Jersey and &lt;st1:place w:st="on"&gt;&lt;st1:placename w:st="on"&gt;London&lt;/st1:placename&gt;&lt;st1:placetype w:st="on"&gt;City&lt;/st1:placetype&gt;&lt;/st1:place&gt; flights. We have chosen to advertise with VLM because 80% of the airline&amp;#8217;s passengers are senior international business passengers. &lt;/span&gt;
  &lt;/p&gt;
  &lt;p&gt;
    &lt;span&gt;To create our first impact in the emerging African market, Vistra will publish an advert in the November issue of African Business magazine. This publication focuses on the most relevant economic, political and industrial trends in &lt;st1:place w:st="on"&gt;Africa&lt;/st1:place&gt; and is read by anyone interested in the economy and development of the continent. African Business can be found on-board and in the executive lounges of &lt;/span&gt;
    &lt;span&gt;British Airways and Lufthansa&lt;/span&gt;
    &lt;span&gt;
    &lt;/span&gt;
    &lt;span&gt;flights. Above all, the November issue will be distributed to all the participants of the US-Africa Business Summit, taking place in &lt;st1:place w:st="on"&gt;&lt;st1:city w:st="on"&gt;Cape Town&lt;/st1:city&gt;&lt;/st1:place&gt; on November 14-16. 1&amp;#8217;500 business leaders from top US, European and African companies are expected to attend.&lt;/span&gt;
  &lt;/p&gt;
  &lt;p&gt;
    &lt;span&gt;This advertising campaign shows more than ever, that Vistra is crossing borders and creating solutions.&lt;/span&gt;
  &lt;/p&gt;
</description>
      <link>http://www.vistra.com/content/36/index.html</link>
      <author>Vistra - Trust</author>
      <pubDate>Mon, 15 Oct 2007 10:57:59 GMT</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>The Monaco Yacht Show </title>
      <description>
  &lt;p&gt;Vistra&amp;#8217;s Marine and Aviation team, led by Matthew Ruane and Marina Gall, had a significant presence at this year&amp;#8217;s Monaco Yacht Show. Over 20,000 people attended the yachting industry&amp;#8217;s premier exhibition, which this year played host to 97 of the world&amp;#8217;s most prestigious super yachts, from the ultra cool Wally Power at a mere 22m up to state of the art leviathans such as Oceanco&amp;#8217;s 82m Alfa Nero.&lt;/p&gt;
  &lt;p&gt;Vistra&amp;#8217;s presence in the main exhibition area was enhanced by a new custom-built exhibition stand which not only stood out from the 500 other industry-related exhibitors, but successfully communicated Vistra&amp;#8217;s fresh, clean new brand and service-orientated approach to the industry.&lt;/p&gt;
  &lt;p&gt;During the show, the team were kept extremely busy by existing clients, captains and industry professionals, leaving early mornings and some (late!) evenings to meet premiere clients and secure new business. &lt;/p&gt;
  &lt;p&gt;Off the back of this success the team will be further expanding to accommodate the increased demand. Matthew Ruane commented "We have had a great response to the new brand and coupled with our ability to offer the most accurate and comprehensive service in this highly competitive market we are well on track now to establishing ourselves as market leaders in corporate services to the large yacht and aircraft sectors".&lt;/p&gt;
  &lt;p&gt;For further info please email &lt;a href="mailto:matthew.ruane@vistra.com"&gt;Matthew Ruane&lt;/a&gt; or call him on +44 (0)1534 504704. &lt;/p&gt;
  &lt;p&gt;For more information on Marine &amp;amp; Aviation services please click &lt;a href="http://www.vistra.com/section/27/index.html"&gt;here&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;
  &lt;p&gt; &lt;/p&gt;
  &lt;p&gt;
    &lt;b&gt;Vistra stand at Monaco&lt;/b&gt;
  &lt;/p&gt;
  &lt;p&gt;
    &lt;img style="WIDTH: 412px; HEIGHT: 274px" height="274" alt="" src="http://www.vistra.com/userfiles/images/MonacoStand.JPG" width="412" border="0" /&gt;
  &lt;/p&gt;
  &lt;p&gt; &lt;/p&gt;
  &lt;p&gt;
    &lt;img style="WIDTH: 413px; HEIGHT: 167px" height="167" alt="" src="http://www.vistra.com/userfiles/images/MonacoView.JPG" width="413" border="0" /&gt;
  &lt;/p&gt;
  &lt;p&gt; &lt;/p&gt;
  &lt;p&gt;
    &lt;img style="WIDTH: 414px; HEIGHT: 276px" height="276" alt="" src="http://www.vistra.com/userfiles/images/MonacoNight.JPG" width="414" border="0" /&gt;
  &lt;/p&gt;
</description>
      <link>http://www.vistra.com/content/35/index.html</link>
      <author>Vistra - Trust</author>
      <pubDate>Thu, 11 Oct 2007 16:05:00 GMT</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Vistra's fourth newsletter is released</title>
      <description>
  &lt;p&gt;Vistra is delighted to have published its fourth newsletter, which has been sent to clients and intermediaries worldwide. &lt;/p&gt;
  &lt;p&gt;The fourth edition focuses on Vistra&amp;#8217;s continuing expansion, both in terms of working in new territories and offering new services. We look at Walter Stresemann&amp;#8217;s recently published article in Offshore Investor magazine about the impact of the new Swiss Trusteeship laws. There&amp;#8217;s also news of our office move in &lt;st1:city w:st="on"&gt;&lt;st1:place w:st="on"&gt;Geneva&lt;/st1:place&gt;&lt;/st1:city&gt; and the rebranding of Benelux Trust as Vistra.&lt;/p&gt;
  &lt;p&gt;We take a close look at the UK immigration services offered by our London office and the development of our services for corporate and institutional clients. Finally, there are details of how you can meet with Vistra&amp;#8217;s team at the International Fiscal Association&amp;#8217;s conference in &lt;st1:city w:st="on"&gt;&lt;st1:place w:st="on"&gt;Kyoto&lt;/st1:place&gt;&lt;/st1:city&gt; at the beginning of October. We look forward to seeing you there.&lt;/p&gt;
  &lt;p&gt;Click &lt;a href="http://www.vistra.com/content/32/index.html"&gt;here&lt;/a&gt; to read the fourth Vistra newsletter.&lt;/p&gt;
</description>
      <link>http://www.vistra.com/content/47/index.html</link>
      <author>Vistra - Trust</author>
      <pubDate>Tue, 25 Sep 2007 11:16:00 GMT</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Vistra in Kyoto and Monaco</title>
      <description>
  &lt;div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;
  &lt;div&gt;Also this year our &lt;a href="http://www.vistra.com/section/27/index.html"&gt;Marine and Aviation Team&lt;/a&gt; is delighted to welcome you at our custom-designed stand at the Monaco Yacht Show (19-22 September). Vistra offers Marine and Aviation Services as a part of our total solutions service, from registration and VAT recovery to crew payroll and employment services. We advise on the full spectrum of scenarios including commercial, private and international leasing structures. Please contact &lt;a href="mailto:matthew.ruane@vistra.com"&gt;Matthew Ruane&lt;/a&gt; to organise a meeting.&lt;/div&gt;
  &lt;div&gt;
    &lt;p&gt;In addition Vistra will be present at the 61st yearly congress of the International Fiscal Association in Kyoto, Japan (30 September - 5 October). A delegation under the leadership of Bart Deconinck, Roel Pels and Tako van Ginkel will take the opportunity to connect with tax professionals from different countries. Please contact &lt;a href="mailto:yolanda.garcia@vistra.com"&gt;Yolanda Garcia&lt;/a&gt; to organise a meeting with the Vistra delegation in Kyoto.&lt;/p&gt;
  &lt;/div&gt;
</description>
      <link>http://www.vistra.com/content/33/index.html</link>
      <author>Vistra - Trust</author>
      <pubDate>Tue, 18 Sep 2007 17:51:00 GMT</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>New expertise for Vistra Corporate Services</title>
      <description>
  &lt;p&gt;Vistra is delighted to announce that it has added specific corporate expertise to its team in &lt;st1:place w:st="on"&gt;Jersey&lt;/st1:place&gt; by recruiting Carola Breusch and Jackie Goodwin to head up its new corporate services division in this office. &lt;/p&gt;
  &lt;p&gt;Carola is a qualified German lawyer who studied at &lt;st1:placename w:st="on"&gt;Freiburg&lt;/st1:placename&gt;&lt;st1:placetype w:st="on"&gt;University&lt;/st1:placetype&gt; in &lt;st1:country-region w:st="on"&gt;&lt;st1:place w:st="on"&gt;Germany&lt;/st1:place&gt;&lt;/st1:country-region&gt; and, as well as her law degree, she has a BA in business administration and a great deal of experience working in the trust industry. Before joining Vistra, Carola was a director and head of business development at Ansbacher&amp;#8217;s &lt;st1:place w:st="on"&gt;Jersey&lt;/st1:place&gt; trust company. Previous to this, she worked at Equity Trust as the head of business development for Europe and has also served as a Director of Mourant, initially working in the share plan administration department before moving to their International Finance division and establishing Mourant&amp;#8217;s office in &lt;st1:country-region w:st="on"&gt;&lt;st1:place w:st="on"&gt;Luxembourg&lt;/st1:place&gt;&lt;/st1:country-region&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;
  &lt;p&gt;After graduating with a BA (Hons) degree in accountancy Jackie joined the fiduciary private client department of PricewaterhouseCoopers where she developed an expertise in offshore structures and how these can provide wealth management solutions for international private clients and their families.  In more recent years Jackie has worked extensively with FTSE100 and private companies on issues surrounding incentive schemes that allow employees to participate in the success of the enterprise.  She and Carola have also been involved in the set up and administration of an award-winning private capital market structure. &lt;/p&gt;
  &lt;p&gt;The team will primarily be focusing on third party fund administration for private and close-ended private equity, real estate or alternative investment funds in a variety of legal structures.  The fund administration services include project managing the set up of the fund, fund accounting, registrar and transfer agency, reporting and fund compliance.  The &lt;st1:place w:st="on"&gt;Jersey&lt;/st1:place&gt; team will also provide specialist trustee and administration services to international executive share and pension plans in a tax neutral environment. &lt;/p&gt;
  &lt;p&gt;In addition to developing Vistra&amp;#8217;s corporate and institutional services in Jersey the team will also be aiming to compliment those already offered from Vistra&amp;#8217;s &lt;st1:country-region w:st="on"&gt;&lt;st1:place w:st="on"&gt;Luxembourg&lt;/st1:place&gt;&lt;/st1:country-region&gt; and Dutch offices.&lt;/p&gt;
Please email &lt;a href="mailto:carola.breusch@vistra.com"&gt;Carola Breusch&lt;/a&gt; or &lt;a href="mailto:jackie.goodwin@vistra.com"&gt;Jackie Goodwin&lt;/a&gt; or call them on +44 1534 504746. 
</description>
      <link>http://www.vistra.com/content/31/index.html</link>
      <author>Vistra - Trust</author>
      <pubDate>Mon, 03 Sep 2007 11:33:59 GMT</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Walter Stresemann article in Offshore Investor</title>
      <description>
  &lt;p&gt;Vistra&amp;#8217;s profile in the press received a further boost recently with Offshore Investor Magazine publishing an informative article about the Swiss Trust Industry by Walter Stresemann of Vistra, in their July/ August issue.&lt;/p&gt;
  &lt;p&gt;The article looks at the effects of &lt;st1:place w:st="on"&gt;&lt;st1:country-region w:st="on"&gt;Switzerland&lt;/st1:country-region&gt;&lt;/st1:place&gt;&amp;#8217;s recent ratification of the Hague Convention on the international recognition of trusts. &lt;/p&gt;
  &lt;p&gt;Walter asserts that the ratification of the Hague Convention will create a firm legal basis for Switzerland&amp;#8217;s growing trustee business and unlike other countries, which have already ratified the Convention, Switzerland is also introducing specific rules in its private international law dealing with international jurisdictions and the recognition/enforcement of judgments in trust-related matters.&lt;/p&gt;
  &lt;p&gt;On the international private law level, there will be freedom of choice with respect to legal forums for contesting trustee actions and with regard to debt enforcement and bankruptcy. The Swiss government has amended the Federal Debt Enforcement and Bankruptcy Act to explicitly distinguish between the personal assets of the trustee and the trust in Swiss-based debt enforcement proceedings.&lt;/p&gt;
  &lt;p&gt;The article praises the greater legal certainty that these legislative changes provide because a solid legal foundation is likely to create a better climate for the setting up and administration of trusts in Switzerland, and also promotes the country&amp;#8217;s appeal as an excellent location for private wealth management.&lt;/p&gt;
  &lt;p&gt;However, the question of appropriate regulation is portrayed as a contentious issue with the Swiss Bankers&amp;#8217; Association (SBA) supporting the introduction of specific licensing requirements for trustees which would ultimately exclude the majority of existing trust companies, lawyers and independent asset managers from acting as professional trustees.&lt;/p&gt;
  &lt;p&gt;In general the trust practitioners themselves, support the idea of establishing an adequate regulatory framework and have committed to the setting up of a Swiss Association of Trust Companies (SATC), which will have the purpose of "engaging in the furtherance and development of trustees&amp;#8217; activities in &lt;st1:country-region w:st="on"&gt;&lt;st1:place w:st="on"&gt;Switzerland&lt;/st1:place&gt;&lt;/st1:country-region&gt; and to promote the adherence to certain professional and ethical standards."&lt;/p&gt;
  &lt;p&gt;The Swiss government on the other hand has taken the opposing point of view by deciding not to introduce a specific regulatory framework for trustees in &lt;st1:country-region w:st="on"&gt;&lt;st1:place w:st="on"&gt;Switzerland&lt;/st1:place&gt;&lt;/st1:country-region&gt;, relying instead on the regulatory framework that governs all financial intermediaries in the country. This authorization from the Federal Money-Laundering Control Authority ensures that intermediaries prevent money laundering acts and obliges them to report suspicious transactions.&lt;/p&gt;
  &lt;p&gt;Walter argues that it would be logically inconsistent to introduce regulation that specifically includes trustees but not independent asset managers or fiduciaries. To do so would create a two tier system that implies that non-trustee activities of Swiss fiduciary/trust companies are somehow less accountable, "serious" or complex than trusteeships. Taking this route would also give banks and bank-like institutions the advantage of being the only organisations to automatically qualify for regulation as equitable trusteeships.&lt;/p&gt;
  &lt;p&gt;The article also makes the important point that banks which offer trustee services are placing trustees in a position where there is a strong potential for conflict of interest and self-dealing. As trustees, decisions such as which investment manager to choose should be made with the beneficiaries&amp;#8217; best interests in mind rather than the benefits that specific services may bring to the bank or its Trust division. Walter Stresseman warns that banks in &lt;st1:place w:st="on"&gt;&lt;st1:country-region w:st="on"&gt;Switzerland&lt;/st1:country-region&gt;&lt;/st1:place&gt; should beware of the reputational risks that acting as Swiss trustees could have, particularly as beneficiaries can sue in the Swiss courts.&lt;/p&gt;
  &lt;p&gt;In concluding, Walter argues that the present "level-playing field" approach to regulation in &lt;st1:country-region w:st="on"&gt;&lt;st1:place w:st="on"&gt;Switzerland&lt;/st1:place&gt;&lt;/st1:country-region&gt; is appropriate and certainly more so than an activity-based supervisory legal regime and specific rules of conduct for trustees. Given that these are early days under the new trust legislation, he suggests that the industry be given time to develop and that the regulatory situation should be assessed in the future. This would also allow time to better understand the banks&amp;#8217; positioning and strategies with regard to the growing demand for Swiss trusteeships. &lt;/p&gt;
  &lt;div&gt;For more information please mail &lt;a href="mailto:walter.stresemann@vistra.com"&gt;Walter Stresemann&lt;/a&gt; or call him on &lt;/div&gt;
  &lt;div&gt;+41 (0)22 319 18 90.&lt;/div&gt;
  &lt;div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;
  &lt;div&gt;Click &lt;a href="http://www.vistra.com/userfiles/files/Walter%20Stresemann_offshore%20investments%20article%200807.pdf"&gt;here&lt;/a&gt; for a link to the full article.&lt;/div&gt;
</description>
      <link>http://www.vistra.com/content/30/index.html</link>
      <author>Vistra - Trust</author>
      <pubDate>Sun, 02 Sep 2007 21:14:00 GMT</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Benelux Trust becomes Vistra</title>
      <description>
  &lt;div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;
  &lt;div&gt;On Monday 3rd September 2007, Benelux Trust which was acquired on the 29th June, will be fully rebranded into Vistra, as a further step in realising Vistra&amp;#8217;s acquisition strategy. &lt;/div&gt;
  &lt;div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;
  &lt;div&gt;The name change will strengthen and develop Vistra&amp;#8217;s corporate image and brand recognition in the trust and corporate services industry, building on the excellent reputation and legacy of Benelux Trust. Our main challenge and our success will depend on our ability to provide excellent and rapid service. Indeed, our company aims to be truly global, truly independent and truly personal, putting our existing and new clients at the centre of everything we do.&lt;/div&gt;
  &lt;div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;
  &lt;div&gt;Benelux Trust started its activities in 1990 and is now one of the leading independent providers of corporate and fiduciary services in Luxembourg. The core activities of Benelux are the incorporation, management and administration of Luxembourg Companies and Special Purpose Vehicles. Benelux trust employs some 45 staff. &lt;/div&gt;
  &lt;div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;
  &lt;div&gt;For more information please mail &lt;a href="mailto:bart.zech@vistra.com"&gt;Bart Zech&lt;/a&gt; or call him on &lt;/div&gt;
  &lt;div&gt;+ 352 42 22 29.&lt;/div&gt;
</description>
      <link>http://www.vistra.com/content/29/index.html</link>
      <author>Vistra - Trust</author>
      <pubDate>Wed, 29 Aug 2007 15:30:00 GMT</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Moving and expansion of Vistra Geneva Office</title>
      <description>
  &lt;div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;
  &lt;div&gt;On Monday 3rd September 2007, Vistra SA and Vistra Group Management SA will move to newly refurbished premises in an exclusive location along the Rhône river. With this new office of 400m2, our Geneva team is rapidly extending its services and now employs staff fluent in English, French, Spanish, German, Portuguese, Italian and Dutch. &lt;/div&gt;
  &lt;div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;
  &lt;div&gt;Our Geneva staff is fully experienced in offering tailor made solutions in Estate Planning, Trust and Corporate services, Group structuring, Commercial and Tax Services and Securitization.  In addition, from the 1st July 2007 and since the ratification of the Hague Convention, we are in the position to offer Swiss Trustee services. &lt;/div&gt;
  &lt;div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;
  &lt;div&gt;For more information please mail &lt;a href="mailto:walter.stresemann@vistra.com"&gt;Walter Stresemann&lt;/a&gt; or call him on &lt;/div&gt;
  &lt;div&gt;+41 (0)22 319 18 90.&lt;/div&gt;
  &lt;div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;
  &lt;div&gt;Our new address is:&lt;/div&gt;
  &lt;div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;
  &lt;div&gt;6 Place Chevelu&lt;/div&gt;
  &lt;div&gt;1201 Geneva&lt;/div&gt;
  &lt;div&gt;Switzerland&lt;/div&gt;
  &lt;div&gt;PO Box 5491&lt;/div&gt;
  &lt;div&gt;1211 Geneva 11&lt;/div&gt;
  &lt;div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;
</description>
      <link>http://www.vistra.com/content/28/index.html</link>
      <author>Vistra - Trust</author>
      <pubDate>Wed, 29 Aug 2007 15:23:00 GMT</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Vistra finalises the acquisition of Benelux Trust</title>
      <description>
  &lt;p align="left"&gt;Following the press release made on 15 May 2007, Vistra is pleased to announce that it has now finalised the acquisition of 100% of the shares of Benelux Trust. The transaction was completed after full approval from the Luxembourg regulator.&lt;/p&gt;
  &lt;p align="left"&gt;Benelux Trust started its activities in 1990 and is now one of the leading independent providers of corporate and fiduciary services in &lt;st1:country-region w:st="on"&gt;&lt;st1:place w:st="on"&gt;Luxembourg&lt;/st1:place&gt;&lt;/st1:country-region&gt;. The core activities of &lt;st1:place w:st="on"&gt;Benelux&lt;/st1:place&gt; are the incorporation, management and administration of Luxembourg Companies and Special Purpose Vehicles. &lt;st1:place w:st="on"&gt;Benelux&lt;/st1:place&gt; trust employs some 45 staff. Vistra is proud to benefit from the expertise of Benelux Trust&amp;#8217;s highly experienced professionals in this key jurisdiction. &lt;/p&gt;
  &lt;p align="left"&gt;Benelux Trust will be re-branded to Vistra in the course of August. However, the change will be effective from the 1st September 2007. Roeland Pels, former owner of Benelux Trust, will take on an important role in the new combined group and will join the Supervisory Board of Vistra as of the same date.&lt;/p&gt;
</description>
      <link>http://www.vistra.com/content/27/index.html</link>
      <author>Vistra - Trust</author>
      <pubDate>Mon, 16 Jul 2007 12:11:59 GMT</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Vistra acquires Monterey Group</title>
      <description>
  &lt;p&gt; &lt;/p&gt;
  &lt;div&gt;Vistra is delighted to announce that it has reached an agreement regarding the sale of 100% of Monterey Group to Vistra. The sale is subject to regulatory approval from the Dutch Central Bank. Weeks after the acquisition of &lt;a href="http://www.vistra.com/content/21/index.html"&gt;Benelux Trust&lt;/a&gt;, Vistra again reinforces its ambition to become a leading independent provider of trust and corporate services.&lt;/div&gt;
  &lt;div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;
  &lt;div&gt;Monterey Group is the combination of Monterey, a fiduciary business formerly owned by Fortis, and Rijnhove Group, a Dutch accounting and fiduciary business with roots that go back to 1989.  Monterey Group employs 37 staff, of which 32 are in The Netherlands and 5 are in Curaçao. &lt;/div&gt;
  &lt;div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;
  &lt;div&gt;This acquisition not only strengthens Vistra&amp;#8217;s presence in the Netherlands but also adds Curaçao to our global footprint. In The Netherlands, Vistra will now be able to serve customers from Breda, as well as Amsterdam, thus providing perfect coverage for two complimentary business feeder networks.&lt;/div&gt;
  &lt;div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;
  &lt;div&gt;The acquisition of Monterey Group is an important step in executing Vistra&amp;#8217;s strategy and fits in perfectly with our aim to develop our business in carefully selected jurisdictions. Further expansion of our network in the Netherlands has been a key priority. The combination of being a member of the European Union and having negotiated double taxation treaties with over eighty countries, makes the Netherlands a particularly attractive base for domiciling international business operations. &lt;/div&gt;
  &lt;div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;
  &lt;div&gt;Click &lt;a href="http://www.vistra.com/userfiles/files/PressReleaseMontereyGroup2new.pdf" target="_blank"&gt;here&lt;/a&gt; for full press release.&lt;/div&gt;
</description>
      <link>http://www.vistra.com/content/26/index.html</link>
      <author>Vistra - Trust</author>
      <pubDate>Mon, 09 Jul 2007 15:40:00 GMT</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Vistra launches its third Newsletter</title>
      <description>
  &lt;div&gt;
    &lt;p&gt;Vistra is proud to announce that its third newsletter was sent to clients and intermediaries. In this recent edition we put the spotlight on our London and Cyprus offices. In addition Bart Deconinck announces further steps in the expansion of the Vistra network, including the acquisition of Benelux Trust in Luxembourg. Finally, we reflect on the America&amp;#8217;s cup event in Valencia were Vistra Marine Services has been attending the final round of the winner-takes-all, Louis Vuitton Cup 2007.&lt;/p&gt;
    &lt;p&gt;
      &lt;a href="http://www.vistra.com/content/23/index.html"&gt;Click here&lt;/a&gt; to read our Newsletter.&lt;/p&gt;
  &lt;/div&gt;
</description>
      <link>http://www.vistra.com/content/25/index.html</link>
      <author>Vistra - Trust</author>
      <pubDate>Fri, 08 Jun 2007 12:20:00 GMT</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Tako van Ginkel joins Vistra</title>
      <description>
  &lt;div&gt;
    &lt;div dir="ltr"&gt; &lt;/div&gt;
    &lt;div dir="ltr"&gt;We are proud to announce that Tako van Ginkel has joined Vistra. Tako gained over 20 years of experience in trust and corporate services in the Dutch market serving some of the leading providers like Van Lanschot and MeesPierson.  Until recently he was responsible for all marketing and business development activities for Fortis Intertrust in the Netherlands.  Under the leadership of Tako van Ginkel, Vistra will focus on developing its corporate business in the Netherlands.&lt;/div&gt;
    &lt;div dir="ltr"&gt; &lt;/div&gt;
    &lt;div dir="ltr"&gt;For more information please contact &lt;a href="mailto:tako.van.ginkel@vistra.com"&gt;Tako van Ginkel&lt;/a&gt; or &lt;a href="mailto:cathelijn.kok@vistra.com"&gt;Cathelijn Kok&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/div&gt;
    &lt;div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;
  &lt;/div&gt;
</description>
      <link>http://www.vistra.com/content/24/index.html</link>
      <author>Vistra - Trust</author>
      <pubDate>Thu, 07 Jun 2007 14:58:00 GMT</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>L&amp;#8217;AGEFI features Vistra</title>
      <description>
  &lt;p&gt;Following Vistra&amp;#8217;s successful acquisition of Luxembourg-based Benelux Trust (subject to regulatory approval in &lt;st1:country-region w:st="on"&gt;&lt;st1:place w:st="on"&gt;Luxembourg&lt;/st1:place&gt;&lt;/st1:country-region&gt;), the highly-respected Swiss daily financial newspaper, L&amp;#8217;AGEFI, has printed a front page story about the takeover in its edition of 18th May 2007.  The article, written by Mohammad Farrokh, gives a clear insight into the professional history of the Vistra board, not only describing them as being "one of the most prestigious trust management teams in Geneva" but also outlining the company&amp;#8217;s strategic vision as independent suppliers of the highest quality, personalised trust management services. &lt;/p&gt;
  &lt;p&gt;In addition Farrokh suggests that independence is a quality of the highest importance in the trust management sector and that this is something that Vistra clients can be assured of, particularly under the direction of such a strong management team. Walter Stresemann, Managing Director of Vistra&amp;#8217;s Swiss office comments on this with the observation that, "10 years ago, I thought that independent (asset) managers were going to disappear. We are now seeing the opposite phenomenon evolving." &lt;/p&gt;
  &lt;p&gt;The article is rounded off with a look at the positive effects for the trust industry of the recent Swiss ratification of &lt;st1:place w:st="on"&gt;&lt;st1:city w:st="on"&gt;The Hague&lt;/st1:city&gt;&lt;/st1:place&gt; convention and the legal separation of the trustee and the trust holdings that it entails. &lt;/p&gt;
  &lt;p&gt;Click &lt;a href="http://www.vistra.com/UserFiles/Files/french.pdf"&gt;here&lt;/a&gt; for the full article. Click &lt;a href="http://www.vistra.com/UserFiles/Files/english.pdf"&gt;here&lt;/a&gt; for an English translation. &lt;/p&gt;
</description>
      <link>http://www.vistra.com/content/22/index.html</link>
      <author>Vistra - Trust</author>
      <pubDate>Tue, 22 May 2007 09:36:00 GMT</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Vistra acquires Benelux Trust</title>
      <description>
  &lt;div&gt;
    &lt;p&gt;Vistra is proud to announce that it reached an agreement regarding the sale of 100% of Benelux Trust to the Vistra Group. The sale is subject to regulatory approval in Luxembourg. The acquisition of Benelux Trust fits in perfectly with Vistra&amp;#8217;s objective to further develop its business in designated key jurisdictions. The addition of a Luxembourg presence has been a key priority, since Luxembourg is an excellent location benefiting from an extensive tax treaty network, a highly skilled workforce and a favourable legislative environment. &lt;/p&gt;
    &lt;p&gt;Benelux Trust started its activities in 1990 and is now one of the leading independent providers of corporate and fiduciary services in Luxembourg, to mainly corporate clients. The core activities of Benelux are the incorporation, management and administration of Luxembourg Companies and Special Purpose Vehicles. Benelux employs some 45 professionals. With the addition of Benelux Trust to our global network Vistra is now able to address the various needs of its clients being private individuals, their businesses as well as larger corporations and institutions. &lt;/p&gt;
    &lt;p&gt;Click &lt;a href="http://www.vistra.com/userfiles/files/press%20international.pdf"&gt;here&lt;/a&gt; for the full press release. &lt;/p&gt;
  &lt;/div&gt;
</description>
      <link>http://www.vistra.com/content/21/index.html</link>
      <author>Vistra - Trust</author>
      <pubDate>Wed, 16 May 2007 14:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
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      <title>Vistra at the 32nd America&amp;#8217;s Cup in Valencia</title>
      <description>
  &lt;p&gt;We are proud to announce that Vistra will be present in Valencia on the 5th and 6th of June at the 32nd America&amp;#8217;s Cup. We are delighted to have the opportunity to invite some of our clients and business feeders to this prestigious and majestic sailing event, taking place for the first time in Europe. Our guests will have the opportunity to witness the spectacular action of the Louis Vuitton Cup&amp;#8217;s final round from our private boat and discover which challenger has earned the right to face the Defender Alinghi in the Cup Match. &lt;/p&gt;
  &lt;p&gt;This event is hosted by the Team of Vistra Marine Services. Vistra Marine can play an invaluable role in assisting with the acquisition and operation of yachts and aircrafts, including establishing corporate structures designed to provide robust and efficient ownership solutions. &lt;/p&gt;
  &lt;div&gt;To find out more about Vistra Marine &lt;a title="click here." href="http://www.vistra.com/section/27/index.html"&gt;click here&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/div&gt;
  &lt;div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;
</description>
      <link>http://www.vistra.com/content/19/index.html</link>
      <author>Vistra - Trust</author>
      <pubDate>Fri, 20 Apr 2007 16:12:00 GMT</pubDate>
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      <title>Jersey Swimarathon 2007</title>
      <description>
  &lt;div&gt;
    &lt;br /&gt;A team from Vistra took part in the 36th Jersey Swimarathon, an annual event run by the Lions Club of Jersey whose ethos is "enhancing quality of life". The event takes place over a period of 4½ days and this year the funds raised (in excess of £120,000) will be used towards a major project, the refurbishment of Maison des Landes, Jersey&amp;#8217;s hotel for the disabled.
&lt;p&gt;It is not a competition, it is all about taking part in a community activity and raising funds for the less fortunate. Approximately 20,000 islanders are involved as sponsors, together with the 3,000 swimmers. Over the years, £2.25 million has been raised which has been directed to many local projects such as Channel Island Air Search, Jersey Cheshire Homes, Focus on Mental Health and Les Amis. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;div&gt;The Vistra team achieved a credible total of 53 laps in their 55 minute session raising a total of £1,250. The non-swimming team captain was Andrew Taylor and swimmers were Tanya Scott-Tomlin, Dee Hudson, Judith Egré, Wendy Ewens, Sara Partridge, Alastair Scott and Rodney Hodges.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;
</description>
      <link>http://www.vistra.com/content/18/index.html</link>
      <author>Vistra - Trust</author>
      <pubDate>Fri, 13 Apr 2007 17:48:00 GMT</pubDate>
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      <title>Vistra (Cyprus) Limited Established.</title>
      <description>
  &lt;div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;
  &lt;div&gt;In close cooperation with &lt;st1:place w:st="on"&gt;&lt;st1:city w:st="on"&gt;Oneworld&lt;/st1:city&gt;, &lt;st1:country-region w:st="on"&gt;Cyprus&lt;/st1:country-region&gt;&lt;/st1:place&gt;&amp;#8217; leading provider of business services, Vistra is now able to provide the full range of trust and corporate solutions from its newly established base.&lt;/div&gt;
  &lt;st1:country-region w:st="on"&gt;
    &lt;br /&gt;Cyprus &lt;/st1:country-region&gt;is an excellent location benefiting from a combination of its low tax regime, which is a carry over from its days as an "offshore" jurisdiction, with the benefits of the European Union directives which apply since &lt;st1:place w:st="on"&gt;&lt;st1:country-region w:st="on"&gt;Cyprus&lt;/st1:country-region&gt;&lt;/st1:place&gt; joined the European Union in May 2004.
&lt;div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;With favourable tax legislation, along with an extensive network of double tax treaties &lt;st1:country-region w:st="on"&gt;&lt;st1:place w:st="on"&gt;Cyprus&lt;/st1:place&gt;&lt;/st1:country-region&gt; has become one of the most attractive countries to set up and operate investment and financial services activities.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;For more information please mail &lt;a title="Nirmal Sooknah" href="mailto:nirmal.sooknah@vistra.com"&gt;Nirmal Sooknah&lt;/a&gt; or call him on +44 (0)20 7268 2442.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;</description>
      <link>http://www.vistra.com/content/16/index.html</link>
      <author>Vistra - Trust</author>
      <pubDate>Wed, 04 Apr 2007 14:48:00 GMT</pubDate>
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      <title>Vistra UK Moves to 55 Park Lane</title>
      <description>
  &lt;div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;
  &lt;div&gt;On Wednesday 28th March Vistra &lt;st1:place w:st="on"&gt;&lt;st1:country-region w:st="on"&gt;UK&lt;/st1:country-region&gt;&lt;/st1:place&gt; (Ltd) moved to newly refurbished offices at &lt;st1:street w:st="on"&gt;&lt;st1:address w:st="on"&gt;55 Park Lane&lt;/st1:address&gt;&lt;/st1:street&gt;. With this new office Vistra is now present in the heart of Mayfair, the central hub for the private client and wealth management business in &lt;st1:city w:st="on"&gt;&lt;st1:place w:st="on"&gt;London&lt;/st1:place&gt;&lt;/st1:city&gt;. &lt;/div&gt;
  &lt;p&gt;Vistra is rapidly expanding its &lt;st1:place w:st="on"&gt;&lt;st1:city w:st="on"&gt;London&lt;/st1:city&gt;&lt;/st1:place&gt; base and now employs staff fluent in English, French and Russian. Our &lt;st1:city w:st="on"&gt;&lt;st1:place w:st="on"&gt;London&lt;/st1:place&gt;&lt;/st1:city&gt; employees are fully experienced in creating and managing tax efficient structures. In addition Vistra&amp;#8217;s &lt;st1:city w:st="on"&gt;London&lt;/st1:city&gt; office is a registered member of the Office of Immigration Service Commissioner (OISC), and thus has regulated staff who are able to advise on and organise immigration services for long and short term employees and their families, on all &lt;st1:place w:st="on"&gt;&lt;st1:country-region w:st="on"&gt;UK&lt;/st1:country-region&gt;&lt;/st1:place&gt; immigration matters. &lt;/p&gt;
  &lt;div&gt;For more information please mail &lt;a href="mailto:david.rudge@vistra.com"&gt;David Rudge&lt;/a&gt; or call him on +44 (0)20 7268 2440.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;
  &lt;div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;
</description>
      <link>http://www.vistra.com/content/15/index.html</link>
      <author>Vistra - Trust</author>
      <pubDate>Fri, 30 Mar 2007 10:18:00 GMT</pubDate>
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      <title>Newsletter Launch, Edition 2</title>
      <description>
  &lt;p&gt;Vistra is proud to announce that its second newsletter was sent to clients and intermediaries. In this recent edition we put the spotlight on the use of Private Trust Companies as an effective vehicle for estate and inheritance planning.&lt;/p&gt;
  &lt;p&gt;In addition Walter Stresemann gives his personal view on the taxation of wealth in "On Robbery, Pies and Taxes". Walter Stresemann joins Vistra&amp;#8217;s Executive Board and its Swiss operations as Managing Director in March 2007.&lt;/p&gt;
  &lt;p&gt;Finallly, civil law foundations and trusts are at the centre of the most commonly used estate planning techniques; nonetheless, clients and their advisers are often confused about their exact nature and attributes. In this newsleter we outline similarities and differences.&lt;/p&gt;
  &lt;div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;
  &lt;a href="http://www.vistra.com/content/13/index.html"&gt;Click Here &lt;/a&gt;to read our Newsletter. 
</description>
      <link>http://www.vistra.com/content/14/index.html</link>
      <author>Vistra - Trust</author>
      <pubDate>Tue, 27 Feb 2007 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
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      <title>Walter Stresemann Joins Vistra</title>
      <description>
  &lt;p&gt;Vistra is proud to announce that Walter Stresemann joins Vistra&amp;#8217;s Executive Board and its Swiss operations as Managing Director in March 2007. Previously, he held the same positions within the Fortis Intertrust Group since 1989.&lt;/p&gt;
  &lt;p&gt;Walter gained over 20 years of experience in estate planning and international structuring in the Swiss market, serving some of the leading providers like UBS, Intertrust and Fortis. Walter is a member of many professional associations and he is a founder and committee member of the Swiss anti money laundering self-regulatory body, ARIF. &lt;/p&gt;
  &lt;p&gt;Under the leadership of Walter Stresemann, Vistra will focus on developing its estate planning activities in this key jurisdiction. &lt;/p&gt;
  &lt;p&gt;For more information please mail &lt;a href="mailto:walter.stresemann@vistra.com"&gt;Walter Stresemann&lt;/a&gt; or call him on +41 22 319 18 94.&lt;/p&gt;
</description>
      <link>http://www.vistra.com/content/12/index.html</link>
      <author>Vistra - Trust</author>
      <pubDate>Tue, 20 Feb 2007 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
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      <title>New Swiss Office Opens</title>
      <description>
  &lt;p&gt;Our Swiss office opened to clients on 1 November. Its central, prestige location means convenient access for our clients at the hub of the Geneva business district. Our services include Trust and Estate Planning, Treasury and Wealth Reporting, Corporate, Commercial and Tax Services. We&amp;#8217;re delighted that our Geneva staff are now able to offer consultations in no less than seven languages - English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Dutch and Catalan.&lt;/p&gt;
  &lt;div&gt;Please see our &lt;a href="http://www.vistra.com/section/4/index.html"&gt;Swiss section &lt;/a&gt;on the website for further information. &lt;/div&gt;
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    &lt;a href="http://www.vistra.com/section/15/index.html"&gt;
    &lt;/a&gt; &lt;/p&gt;
</description>
      <link>http://www.vistra.com/content/2/index.html</link>
      <author>Vistra - Trust</author>
      <pubDate>Mon, 06 Nov 2006 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
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      <title>Vistra teams up with the French artist Yann Arthus-Bertrand</title>
      <description>
  &lt;p&gt;"It was a challenge to find images that will truly reflect us. We wanted images that would exemplify Vistra&amp;#8217;s ethos of crossing borders, creating solutions. &lt;/p&gt;
  &lt;p&gt;We found our own solution in Yann Arthus-Bertrand who specialises in aerial photography and has won the French Legion D&amp;#8217;Honneur for his photographic work on the environment. Most of the images on the website are taken from his work, and those of his photographic colleagues. His talent for taking complicated subjects &amp;#8211; often unappealing from the ground - and providing a new point of view that highlights their innate stability and beauty - fits perfectly with Vistra&amp;#8217;s new vision." &lt;/p&gt;
  &lt;p&gt;Bart Deconinck &amp;#8211; Chief Executive Officer.&lt;/p&gt;
  &lt;p&gt; &lt;/p&gt;
  &lt;p&gt;
    &lt;a href="http://www.vistra.com/section/46/index.html"&gt;Click here&lt;/a&gt; to view these wonderful images.&lt;/p&gt;
</description>
      <link>http://www.vistra.com/content/5/index.html</link>
      <author>Vistra - Trust</author>
      <pubDate>Sun, 05 Nov 2006 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
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      <title>Vistra Jersey Launched</title>
      <description>
  &lt;p&gt;Vistra Jersey Launched: On 6 November 2006, Vistra formally launched in Jersey, Channel Islands. "One of the world&amp;#8217;s leading finance centres, Jersey is a world leader in international structuring and its highly sophisticated regulatory framework makes it a natural hub for our global operations", said CEO Bart Deconinck. "We have been operating in Jersey for some time, but it is a great sense of achievement to unveil our new corporate identity, website and vision in this flagship jurisdiction."&lt;/p&gt;
</description>
      <link>http://www.vistra.com/content/1/index.html</link>
      <author>Vistra - Trust</author>
      <pubDate>Sun, 05 Nov 2006 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
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      <title>Marine Management Expertise in Monaco</title>
      <description>
  &lt;p&gt;Vistra&amp;#8217;s Marine and Aviation Team stand at the Monaco Yacht Show (20-23 September) was exceptionally successful. The team took the opportunity to renew relationships with existing clients, talk with brokers and intermediaries and update the market on the services Vistra offers to owners and lessors.&lt;/p&gt;
  &lt;p&gt;
    &lt;a href="http://www.vistra.com/section/27/index.html"&gt;Find out more about Vistra&amp;#8217;s Marine And Aviation Services&lt;/a&gt;
  &lt;/p&gt;
</description>
      <link>http://www.vistra.com/content/3/index.html</link>
      <author>Vistra - Trust</author>
      <pubDate>Sat, 04 Nov 2006 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
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      <title>Community Spirit: The key supporter of an important Jersey Charity</title>
      <description>
  &lt;p&gt;Vistra celebrated with the Cancer Bacup Charity on its tenth Anniversary Golf Day (20 October). Vistra supported not only through team involvement but with a generous donation to the continuing work of the Charity in helping people living with cancer.&lt;/p&gt;
</description>
      <link>http://www.vistra.com/content/4/index.html</link>
      <author>Vistra - Trust</author>
      <pubDate>Sat, 04 Nov 2006 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
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      <title>Newsletter Launch, Edition 1</title>
      <description>
  &lt;p&gt;Vistra is proud to announce that its first newsletter was sent to clients and intermediaries. In this first edition Bart Deconinck, Chief Executive Officer of Vistra, outlines our strategy, being Global, Independent and Personal. Bart presents his vision for the future, outlining the driving forces that shape the world our clients operate in: increased mobility, complexity and regulation.
&lt;/p&gt;
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  &lt;div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;
  &lt;div&gt;
  &lt;/div&gt;
  &lt;div&gt;In addition we focus on two specialised areas where Vistra wants to deliver added value for its customers: Marine and Aviation Services and Immigration Services.&lt;/div&gt;
  &lt;div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;
  &lt;div&gt;
  &lt;/div&gt;
  &lt;div&gt;
    &lt;a href="http://www.vistra.com/content/8/index.html"&gt;Click Here &lt;/a&gt;to read our Newsletter.&lt;/div&gt;
</description>
      <link>http://www.vistra.com/content/9/index.html</link>
      <author>Vistra - Trust</author>
      <pubDate>Thu, 02 Nov 2006 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
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