Vistra

Vistra teams up with Zurich based Centrapriv Group

Vistra — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 16:58:00 GMT

Vistra has acquired 50% of Centrapriv Group, a private independent Swiss trust and fiduciary company that specialises in providing tailored solutions for private individuals, companies and international organisations.

Vistra’a Chief Executive Officer, Bart Deconinck, said: ' Our objective is to become recognised as a top-five company in our industry, and the acquisition of 50% of Centrapriv helps us towards that goal. We have an office in Geneva, but none in Zurich, so there is a natural synergy between the companies. Centrapriv's staff are experienced professionals who have been an important part of the success that the company has enjoyed for more than 30 years.'

Centrapriv operates from Zurich and Zug with staff specialising in areas including corporate consultancy, accountancy, fiduciary and tax as well as tailored solutions.

Centrapriv's CEO, Enzo Beretta, said: 'We have established long-term relationships with many of our clients and look forward to enhancing our offering to them as a result of this agreement. Vistra has offices in 17 jurisdictions and a fully integrated administration and communication system which we look forward to joining.’

It is intended that Centrapriv keeps operating under its own brand and will be able to join Vistra’s network of offices and services.

For further information on Centrapriv, please visit www.centrapriv.ch

Vistra Cocktail Party at the IFA in Rome

Vistra — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 14:54:59 GMT

The 64th International Fiscal Association (IFA) Congress is being held in Rome from August 29 to September 3, 2010. Always informative, the IFA Congress is a must-attend event for financial service providers, tax advisers and clients.

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 30th August 2010.

The Vistra cocktail party takes place at the Restaurant and Wine Bar Il Palazzetto, exclusively located at the top of the Spanish Steps, one of the most spectacular hideaways in the very heart of Rome.

Beginning at 7pm, we’d be delighted for you to join us for an evening of fine drinks and canapés.

Please contact Manuela Maymo for more details.

IBSL in Malta becomes Vistra

Vistra — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 15:51:33 GMT

Today, Thursday 1st July 2010, IBSL, which was acquired in June, has now completed its rebranding into Vistra.

Chris Sammut and Joanna Agius, who were directors of IBSL, will continue to lead Vistra Malta, together with Rubrecht Rosman, who will be appointed as director in Malta and also join the Vistra Group Executive board.

The team continue to offer their high level of service with the added benefit of being part of the Vistra Group network, services of the local office include:-

Relocation services for EU and non-EU individuals and re-domiciliation services for companies who wish to establish a tax residency in Malta to benefit the favourable tax regime;
Incorporation, administration, accounting, management and other corporate services for Maltese (holding/finance/royalty/shipping) companies;
Set-up, re-domiciliation and administration of investment funds.

The Malta address and contact numbers remain the same:-

34, Cathedral Street
Sliema SLM 1503

Tel +(356) 21 31 42 59
Fax +(356) 21 31 42 53

Old email addresses will continue to work, but for all new contact information, please click here or contact the office directly.

Vistra opens new office in Singapore headed by Jean-Pierre Koolmees

Vistra — Sun, 27 Jun 2010 21:30:57 GMT

Vistra has opened a new office in the international financial and trade centre Singapore.

Vistra Singapore will deliver services both locally and to the international client base. Located at the southern tip of the Malaysian Peninsula, Singapore's free-market economy is booming, and it leads world rankings as the easiest place to do business thanks to its first class infrastructure, workforce, legal and financial framework and long history of political stability.

Singapore is considered to be an ideal hub for foreign investments into growing Asian economies such as India, Indonesia, Vietnam and China and is home to many local and international banks who take advantage of the absence of foreign exchange control.

Vistra's office will be lead by Jean-Pierre Koolmees, who has considerable experience and knowledge in assisting international clients in structuring their financial transactions and providing related trust and company management services across multiple jurisdictions.

A Dutch national, Jean-Pierre is fluent in Dutch and English and speaks proficient German and French. He obtained his law degree (LLM) from Leiden University, where he specialised in corporate law before joining a large international provider of trust and corporate services in 2000. He worked there for ten years in both The Netherlands and, from 2007, in Singapore, rising to become Director Corporate Services in Asia Pacific.

For further information please call Jean-Pierre on +65 9179 1892 or by email at jp.koolmees@vistra.com.

Vistra (Curacao) approved as Licensed Listing Advisor to the DCSX

Vistra — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 11:14:22 GMT

Vistra (Curaçao) NV has been approved as a Licensed Listing Advisor (LAD) to the Dutch Caribbean Securities Exchange NV (DCSX).

The DCSX is an international exchange for the listing and trading of domestic and international securities. It is supervised by the Central Bank of the Netherlands Antilles and operates in a stable and highly developed financial services environment. It provides a time- and cost-efficient listing procedure, ensuring a smooth process for local and international companies and investment funds. Furthermore, the DCSX’s sophisticated trading platform ensures transparency for the investor and guarantees visibility for the issuer.

Listing on the DCSX can provide a multitude of advantages.

For funds, it:

•          Increases the potential investor base
•          Allows investors to mark their fund investment to market, more accurately reflecting the underlying
           asset’s true value
•          Increases a fund’s prestige and profile
•          Makes information for investors publicly available

For corporations, it:

•          Gives access to capital for growth
•          Broadens the shareholder base
•          Provides employee incentive and commitment
•          Raises profile and visibility
•          Increases corporate transparency
•          Gives greater efficiency

It also creates a platform for:

•          asset protection and estate planning,
•          the creation of substance in the Netherlands Antilles, and
•          a regulatory environment for exchange traded funds.

The DCSX has created the LAD status for reputable listing sponsor firms such as Vistra to assist the issuer in the listing procedure. The LAD acts as coordinator between the issuer and the exchange at all times, and any company or fund seeking to list on the DCSX must have a LAD, both during the listing process and throughout its life as a listed entity. The LAD guides the issuer through the entire process and, once it is listed, the LAD must help the listed company to fulfil its obligations to the DCSX and investors. The LAD is accountable for all information and ensures that an issuer fulfils its transparency requirements.

The Netherlands Antilles has a renowned financial services industry, and financial and professional infrastructures that are among the best developed in the Caribbean. The DCSX offers Vistra’s clientele additional opportunities alongside the wide range of financial planning products already in place on Curaçao.

For further information please contact Gerard Jan van Spall on +(599 9) 7366 044 or by email at gerard.van.spall@vistra.com

Vistra Fund Services attend GAIM event in Monaco

Vistra — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 09:05:33 GMT

Vistra Fund Services will be present during the 16th edition of GAIM lnternational 2010 to be held in Monaco from 14 to 17 June. GAIM is the annual global focal point for wider industry and strategic debate for over 750 participants active in the Alternative Investment Industry.

Vistra will be present with a multi-jurisdictional team providing information and contacts for fund structures in line with Vistra's ethos of crossing borders / creating solutions.

Vistra can be found on stand number 28 and will be delighted to meet with you at the event.

Please click here for the contact details of our colleagues attending the event.

Vistra strengthens global position with acquisition in Malta

Vistra — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 03:00:00 GMT

Vistra is pleased to announce that it has acquired the Maltese financial service provider International Beneficiary Services Ltd (IBSL).

Founded in 2001 and originally forming part of the law firm of Griscti & Chetcuti, IBSL is regarded as one of Malta’s leading corporate service providers, delivering personal and tailored solutions to high net worth individuals, international corporations and institutional investors. It will continue to trade as part of the Vistra Group offering:

Incorporation, administration, accounting, management and other corporate services for Maltese (holding/finance/royalty/shipping) companies;

Relocation services for EU and non-EU individuals and re-domiciliation services for companies who wish to establish a tax residency in Malta to benefit the favourable tax regime;

Set-up, re-domiciliation and administration of investment funds.

Chris Sammut and Joanna Agius, who were directors of IBSL, will lead Vistra Malta, together with Rubrecht Rosman, who will be appointed as director in Malta and also join the Vistra Group Executive board.

IBSL will shortly rebrand under the Vistra banner and all of its staff will become members of the Vistra global team.

For further information, please contact Rubrecht on + 356 79 82 19 50 or by email at rubrecht.rosman@vistra.com

The full press release is available here.

Vistra Seminar in Dubai

Vistra — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 14:07:32 GMT

Vistra has arranged a number of seminars entitled "Trusts, Wealth and Succession Planning" to be held next week on the 16th June in the DIFC. Peter Rice, the main speaker, is a senior relationship manager with the Vistra Group and will be speaking on the subject. Peter has been in the Trust industry for twenty five years and recognized as one of the Private Wealth Managements industry’s “Prominent Figures” in CityWealth’s “Leader List” 2008, 2009 and 2010 and has been covering the Middle East for the last decade.

If you would to attend one of these seminars or would like further information, please contact Peter Rice on +44 1534 504700.

May newsletter is published

Vistra — Thu, 27 May 2010 17:35:58 GMT

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Vistra continues with Global Focus

Looking back through previous editions of Vistra News, it appears that my welcome normally includes the announcement of our expansion into new jurisdictions, alongside a synopsis of the interesting articles that can be found in that particular edition. This newsletter is no exception, and I am delighted that we have opened three offices since the December edition. It is part of Vistra's continuing growth and development as a global provider of trust and corporate services.

Our new offices in Germany, Bulgaria and the United Arab Emirates, bring the total number of offices in the Vistra Group to 14, all providing the full range of trust, corporate and estate planning solutions. Yet each office is also tailored to the needs of its jurisdiction and region. We recognise that our clients each require a bespoke solution, and each will need global expertise, and local knowledge, and an integrated service.

This newsletter reflects Vistra's ability to deal with a diverse range of issues across multiple jurisdictions. The articles in this edition give a small illustration of the range of our expertise, from Cura�ao's E-Zones, which provide a fiscally friendly climate for international businesses, to the new double taxation agreement between Jersey and Malta. This newsletter also gives a global overview of the issue of international financial reporting standards, which are slowly becoming streamlined, to the benefit of many of our clients.

I hope that you find the articles in this newsletter interesting and useful, and I wish you all the very best.

Bart Deconinck
Chief Executive Officer

Vistra opens an office in Bulgaria

Vistra — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 17:17:27 GMT

Vistra now has a presence in Bulgaria, a country with an outstanding strategic position as a bridge between Europe and Asia.

Initially Vistra's Bulgaria office will offer local incorporation assistance, and related corporate services, and will expand its local services in the near future.

Bulgaria is known for its low tax rate and stable political and economic situation. The country has a 10% corporate income tax rate and the same flat rate for individuals. Moreover, its withholding tax on dividends and liquidation quotas is only 5%, and 0% for EU tax residents. In addition, there are no restrictions on the after-tax repatriation of profits or the movement of capital, and the country has investment-grade credit ratings from major rating agencies.

The office has been set up by Petar Stoichev, who started his career at 1996 in Bulgaria as a partner in his family-owned law office. Since then he has built up vast experience as an independent full service corporate lawyer, providing legal services to international corporate clients.

For further information, please contact Petar Stoichev on +(359) 32 264 242 or by email at petar.stoichev@vistra.com.