Channel Islands

Public Notice by the Malta Financial Intelligence Analysis Unit that it imposed a fine of €3.7 million on Satabank Plc for regulatory breaches, which was reduced to €851,792 by the Court of Appeal. Editor's Note: Research by OffshoreAlert in the Malta Business Registry showed that Satabank Plc was incorporated in Malta on October 7th, 2014 and its shareholders are Signia Holding Ltd., of Malta, and Christo Georgiev Georgiev, a citizen of Bulgaria with an address in Zurich, Switzerland. No directors are listed. Previous directors include Christo Georgiev Georgiev, who resigned effective October 11th, 2018; Anthony Paris, who resigned effective October 12th, 2018; Christoph Boeckle, who resigned effective October 21st, 2018; Mario Gauci, who resigned effective October 30th, 2018; Herbert Weininger, a citizen of Germany, who resigned effective October 21st, 2018, and Susanne Lehmann, who resigned effective April 8th, 2015. Signia Holding Ltd. was incorporated in Malta on December 5th, 2013, its directors are Eugene M. Alexander, a citizen of the United States with an address in Marathon, Florida, USA, and Christo Georgiev Georgiev, and its shareholders are E E Capital Limited, of Jersey, in the Channel Islands; Net-M Privatbank 1891 AG, of Germany; Signia Group AG, of Zurich, Switzerland, and Eugene Alexander.

Public Statement by the Guernsey Financial Services Commission that InterTrader Limited, of Gibraltar, "has agreed to pay a financial penalty" of an undisclosed amount to settle a regulatory investigation.

Prohibition Order by the Guernsey Financial Services Commission against Richard John Bach.

Public statement by the Guernsey Financial Services Commission that it has imposed penalties on Safehaven International Limited, Richard John Bach, Tracey Jane Ozanne, David Charles Housley Whitworth, Michael John Good, and Stephen John Dickinson.

Prohibition Order by the Guernsey Financial Services Commission against Tracey Jane Ozanne.

Administrative Order by the U. S. Securities and Exchange Commission imposing penalties totaling $170 million on BlueCrest Capital Management Limited, of Jersey, in the Channel Islands, for regulatory breaches involving, inter alia, BlueCrest Capital International Master Fund Limited and BSMA Limited, both of the Cayman Islands.

Prohibition Order by the Guernsey Financial Services Commission against Stephen Bougourd.

Public Statement by the Guernsey Financial Services Commission that it has imposed penalties on Stephen Bougourd.

Complaint in Amy Clark Huber, of Massachusetts v. Gerhard Huber, described as a resident of Germany and Japan; Huber Investments Limited, described as being domiciled in the British Virgin Islands; Trident Trust Company Limited, Trident Director Services Limited, and Strategic Management Limited, all of Jersey, in the Channel Islands, at the U. S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts.

Application by the Republic of Kazakhstan to take discovery from The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., Deutsche Bank Trust Co. Americas, Bank of China, Barclays Bank PLC, BNP Paribas USA, Citibank N.A., The Clearing House Payments Company LLC (CHIPS), Commerzbank AG, HSBC Bank USA, N.A., Société Générale S.A., Standard Chartered Bank USA, UBS AG, Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., and Bank of America, N.A. for use "in foreign judicial proceedings to enforce and collect upon an arbitral award that was issued in Kazakhstan's favor" against "a Canadian company called Gold Pool JV Limited", filed at the U. S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. Kazakhstan is, inter alia, seeking information regarding "third party funding that Gold Pool allegedly received from "a litigation funder registered in Guernsey", a "law firm", and "a Canadian" entity. Editor's Note: Research by OffshoreAlert in the corporate registry for Toronto, Canada showed that Gold Pool JV Limited was incorporated on December 29th, 1995 and its officers and directors are A. Thomas Griffis, President and Director; Elia Crespo, Vice President, Secretary, and Director, and Chris Irwin, Assistant Secretary,

Public Statement by the Jersey Financial Services Commission regarding regulatory breaches by Brooks Macdonald Asset Management (International) Limited, Jersey Branch.

Specially Indorsed Writ of Summons in Managed Investments PCC Limited, on behalf of IRIS Balanced Cell, of Guernsey; Managed Investments PCC Limited, on behalf of IRlS Enhanced Cell, of Guernsey; CS ILS SICAV-SIF, on behalf of Credit Suisse (Lux) IRIS Balanced Fund, of Luxembourg; IRIS Dynamic SPC, on behalf of IRlS Post-Event Fund SP, of the Cayman Islands; CS IRIS ALHC Fund Ltd., of the Cayman Islands; CS IRIS C Fund Limited, of Guernsey, and Alpha Z ILS Fund Limited, of Guernsey v. Aeolus Re Ltd., in respect of its Keystone PF Segregated Account, of Bermuda, at Bermuda Supreme Court.

Generally Endorsed Writ for "breach of contract in relation to a Swap Confirmation Agreement" in Aeolus Re Ltd., in respect of its Keystone PF Segregated Account v. CS ILS SICAV-SIF, in respect of Credit Suisse (Lux) Iris Balanced Fund, of Luxembourg; CS Iris ALHC Fund Limited, of the Cayman Islands; CS Iris C Fund Limited, of Guernsey; Managed Investments PCC Limited, on behalf of its Iris Balanced Cell, of Guernsey; Managed Investments PCC Limited, on behalf of its Iris Enhanced Cell, of Guernsey; Iris Dynamic SPC, on behalf of its Iris Post-Event Fund SP, of the Cayman Islands, and Alpha Z ILS Fund Limited, of Guernsey, at Bermuda Supreme Court.

News Release by the U.S. Department of Justice entitled 'Jersey/Swiss Financial Services Firm Admits to Conspiring with U.S. Taxpayers to Hide Assets and Income in Offshore Accounts - Strachans SA in Liquidation Pleads Guilty'.

Criminal Judgment imposing a fine of $500,000 for conspiracy to defraud the United States in USA v. Strachans SA (in Liquidation), of Jersey, in the Channel Islands, and Switzerland, at the U. S. District Court for the Central District of California.

Decision by the Employment and Discrimination Tribunal, in Guernsey, in the Channel Islands, finding that a partner in Babbé law firm was "constructively dismissed and that it was an unfair dismissal" following a "false" and "maliciously motivated" allegation by another partner, Robert Varley, in Katherine D. Hitchins v. Babbé LLP. Editor's Note: In an action that indicates either preferential treatment or a legal challenge, the 'Extended Reasons' for this 'Decision' were published on the 'Tribunal Decisions 2020' part of the Government of Guernsey's website and then removed, meaning it is the only published Decision for 2020 that does not include this information. When asked why this had been done, a Tribunal spokesperson told OffshoreAlert today: "I am not in a position to comment on the reasons the Tribunal's full decision was taken down. I will advise you when they are back up on the site." OffshoreAlert obtained the 'Extended Reasons' separately, from a 'concerned individual'. The Decision was reinstated to the website on March 1st, 2021. Meanwhile, Robert Varley, a funds and corporate lawyer whose "false" allegation was determined to have been "motivated by frustration, revenge, or possibly anger", left Babbé in 2018 and became a partner of Appleby law firm, in the British Virgin Islands, a position he left the same month the Tribunal Decision was published.

Application by SIC Holdings LLC, of Nevada, to take discovery from Bain Capital LP for use in legal proceedings in New York alleging fraud brought by VXI Lux Holdco Sarl, of Luxembourg, against SIC Holdings LLC, Symbio Investment Corp., of the British Virgin Islands; Flanderit Holding AB, of Sweden; CapMan Equity VII A LP, CapMan Equity VII C LP, CapMan Equity Sweden KB, Maneq 2005 AB, all of Finland; Financial Technology Ventures II (Q) LP, Financial Technology Ventures II LP, both of Delaware; Actua Holdings Inc., formerly known as ICG Holdings Inc., of Delaware; Landtek Corporation, of the British Virgin Islands; Treasure High Holdings, of the British Virgin Islands; Waterton Resources Limited, of the British Virgin Islands; University Ventures Inc., of Taiwan; Randy Lee, of California; Ethos Technologies Holding Ltd., of Delaware; Joning Ta, South China (Jersey) Holdings Limited, of Jersey, in the Channel Islands; Graham Bolton, of China; Michael Keating, of North Carolina; Jean Cholka, of Maine; James Reesing, of Ohio; Paul Machle, of California; Bo Huang, of China; Gagandeep Singh, John Wagster, of Tennessee; Big Bend XI Investments LP, of Texas; Anthony Massa, Deborah Baldini, of California; Susan Kirchhoff, Jacob Hsu, of California, and Qing Lu, of California, filed at the Superior Court of California, County of Santa Clara.

Application by SIC Holdings LLC, of Nevada, to take discovery from Frank Yao, described as "Operating Partner" of Bain Capital LP, for use in legal proceedings in New York alleging fraud brought by VXI Lux Holdco Sarl, of Luxembourg, against SIC Holdings LLC, Symbio Investment Corp., of the British Virgin Islands; Flanderit Holding AB, of Sweden; CapMan Equity VII A LP, CapMan Equity VII C LP, CapMan Equity Sweden KB, Maneq 2005 AB, all of Finland; Financial Technology Ventures II (Q) LP, Financial Technology Ventures II LP, both of Delaware; Actua Holdings Inc., formerly known as ICG Holdings Inc., of Delaware; Landtek Corporation, of the British Virgin Islands; Treasure High Holdings, of the British Virgin Islands; Waterton Resources Limited, of the British Virgin Islands; University Ventures Inc., of Taiwan; Randy Lee, of California; Ethos Technologies Holding Ltd., of Delaware; Joning Ta, South China (Jersey) Holdings Limited, of Jersey, in the Channel Islands; Graham Bolton, of China; Michael Keating, of North Carolina; Jean Cholka, of Maine; James Reesing, of Ohio; Paul Machle, of California; Bo Huang, of China; Gagandeep Singh, John Wagster, of Tennessee; Big Bend XI Investments LP, of Texas; Anthony Massa, Deborah Baldini, of California; Susan Kirchhoff, Jacob Hsu, of California, and Qing Lu, of California, filed at the Superior Court of California, County of Santa Clara.

Chapter 15 Petition for Recognition of a Foreign Main Proceeding in England by Richard Collyer, as the Foreign Representative of New Look Financing Plc, of Weymouth, Dorset, England, which is owned by New Look Bonds Limited, of Jersey, in the Channel Islands, and is part of a group that "operates a British fashion retail business", at the U. S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York.

Public Statement by the Jersey Financial Services Commission regarding the conclusions of its investigation into Lumiere Wealth Limited (in liquidation).

Disqualification of Deborah Anne Ellis by the Guernsey Financial Services Commission.

Generally Indorsed Writ of Summons seeking to void the sale of Hong Kong-domiciled Colour Zone Limited in Grandview Holdings Limited v. Tyche Investment Holdings Limited, of the British Virgin Islands; Christopher Kennedy, of the Cayman Islands, and Matthew Wright, of Guernsey, as former Joint Official Liquidators of Blue Ridge China DFSS Holdings, at the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands.

Civil Cover Sheet, Order Sealing Complaint, and Order Staying Action Pending Arbitration in LyonRoss Partners Master Fund LP, of New York; Sussex Directories SEZC, of the Cayman Islands; Timberdale Limited, of Guernsey, in the Channel Islands; Vladimir Kuznetsov, of Switzerland, and The Piers Playfair Retirement Plan & Trust, of New York v. Prophecy Trading Advisors International Ltd., Prophecy Trading Advisors Master Fund LP, Prophecy Asset Management LP, Prophecy Trading Advisors GP LLC, Jeffrey Spotts, John Hughes, all of New York; John Caruso, of Johns Island, South Carolina, and Brian Khan, of Orlando, Florida, at the U. S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.

Application by Richard A. Hayward and Susan J. Heath, sons of deceased Bahamas-based, British businessman Jack Hayward, individually and on behalf of certain other beneficiaries of the Lydhurst Settlement, the Lydhurst 1993 Settlement, and the Dunmaglass Settlement, to take discovery from Patricia Ruth Bloom, described as "Sir Jack's long-time partner" and executrix of his estate, regarding, inter alia, their father's "financial troubles" and "irrational" behavior involving his investment in English soccer team Wolverhampton Wanderers prior to his death for use in contemplated legal proceedings "in England or the Bahamas", filed at the U. S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida.

Criminal Information alleging conspiracy to defraud the United States in USA v. Strachans SA (in Liquidation), described as "a Jersey-based accounting and financial services company that assisted U.S. taxpayer-clients and others in evading taxes through the use of offshore trusts and entities and offshore bank accounts" that later moved to Switzerland, at the U. S. District Court for the Central District of California. Editor's Note: In the Criminal Information, the USA stated that Strachans moved from Jersey to Switzerland in 1999 and, in 2009, "began doing business as Elston Management". Research by OffshoreAlert in the Swiss Commercial Registry showed that directors, past and present, of Elston Management SA have included Richard Jepson Egglishaw, a citizen of the United Kingdom residing in Monaco; Dino Ferro, a citizen of Italy; Rachel Laure Dupanloup, Henri Bressoud, and Dominique de Weck, of Switzerland.

Plea Agreement in USA v. Strachans SA (in Liquidation), described as "a Jersey-based accounting and financial services company that assisted U.S. taxpayer-clients and others in evading taxes through the use of offshore trusts and entities and offshore bank accounts" that later moved to Switzerland and "began doing business as Elston Management", at the U. S. District Court for the Central District of California.

Approved Judgment regarding alleged misconduct involving "the solicitors acting for the claimants, McDermott Will and Emery LLP and Ms Ziva Robertson, a partner in that firm" in Aleksej Gubarev and Webzilla Limited v. Orbis Business Intelligence Limited and Christopher Steele at the High Court, in London.

Public Statement by the Guernsey Financial Services Commission that it has imposed a £7,000 fine on Stephen Paul Dewsnip regarding his conduct as "a non-executive director of Global Insurance Group Limited".

Public Statement by the Guernsey Financial Services Commission that it has imposed fines on Shane Younger and Christopher Percival regarding Global Insurance Group Limited, of which they are "the majority shareholders".

Public Statement regarding SWM Limited by the Jersey Financial Services Commission. Editor's Note: Research by OffshoreAlert in the Jersey Financial Services Commission's Companies Registry showed that, in its most recent annual return, dated January 1st, 2020, the sole shareholder of SWM Limited was identified as SJD Holdings Limited, also domiciled in Jersey, and, in its most recent annual return, dated January 1st, 2019, the shareholders of SJD Holdings Limited were identified as Stephen Francis Le Fondre, Simon John Dowling, Kevin Peter Goodbody, Tracey Anne Freeman, and Guy John Browning, all of Jersey.

Creditors in the British Virgin Islands, England, and Guernsey have applied to wind up the Cayman Islands parent company of insolvent Liechtenstein insurer Gable Insurance AG.

In a series of regulatory actions announced on Friday, the Malta Financial Services Authority cancelled the licenses of three investment firms and imposed fines on a retirement scheme and its administrator.

Public Statement by the Guernsey Financial Services Commission that it has imposed fines on Global Insurance Group Limited, Christopher Schofield, and Andrew William Robert.

Application by Valla PTC Limited, of Bermuda, as Trustee of the Westline Trust, to take discovery from HSBC Bank USA, HSBC Private Bank (Suisse) SA, HSBC Holdings PLC, UBS AG, Bank of New York Mellon, JPMorgan Chase Bank, NA, Citibank NA, Deutsche Bank (and its affiliates Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas and Bankers Trust Company), Wells Fargo Bank, NA, Barclays Bank PLC, Lloyd's Bank USA, Lloyd's Bank Commercial Banking, Commerzbank AG, and Bank of America, NA for use in legal proceedings in the United Kingdom against Jonathan Moss Faiman, described as a citizen of the United Kingdom residing in Monaco, over the alleged failure to repay $30 million in loans, filed at the U. S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.

Defense in JTC (Jersey) Limited, of Jersey, in the Channel Islands v. Sandra Looney, of London, England, at the High Court of Justice, in London, England.

Judgment regarding winding-up in Luke Bryan and Dennis Vernon Edmonds v. Draganfly Investments Limited at the Royal Court of Jersey, in the Channel Islands.

Public Statement by the Jersey FinancialServices Commission regarding a fine of £115,575 imposed on Equity Trust (Jersey) Limited

Defense in Circumference Investments (Europe) Limited, of England; Circumference (Luxembourg) Sàrl, of Luxembourg, and Circumference Holdings Ltd., of the Cayman Islands v. Nicholas James Martin, of Luxembourg, at the High Court of Justice, England and Wales.

Application by Benjamin Steinmetz, of Israel, described as an "adviser" to BSG Resources Limited, "a Guernsey-based international mining and natural resources company", to take discovery from Vale SA, described as a Brazil company that is "one of the largest mining companies in the world"; Vale Americas Inc., Rio Tinto Plc, and Rio Tinto Limited for use in legal proceedings in the United Kingdom involving Vale S.A., of Brazil; Vale Holdings B.V., of the Netherlands, and Vale International S.A., of Switzerland, filed at the U. S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.

Fixed Date Claim Form regarding KSK Invest Limited, a British Virgin Islands company that was previously domiciled in Jersey, in the Channel Islands, in MID Properties Investment Limited, of Cyprus v. The Registrar of Corporate Affairs at the British Virgin Islands High Court.

Announcement by the Malta Financial Services Authority that it has imposed a fine of €25,700 against Artex Risk Solutions (Malta) Limited for failure "to submit the audited financial statements within the regulatory deadline". Editor's Note: Research by OffshoreAlert showed that, in filings with the Malta Business Registry, Artex Risk Solutions (Malta) Limited identifies its directors as Evander Borg, of Malta; Stuart Ciappara, of Malta; Nicholas Peter Heys, of Guernsey, and Martin Thomas Le Pelley, of Guernsey; its shareholders as Artex Risk Solutions (Guernsey) Limited and Artex Risk Solutions (Holdings) Limited, both of Guernsey, and its auditor as Ernst & Young Malta Limited.

Announcement by the Malta Financial Services Authority that it has imposed a fine of €29,675 against Osprey Insurance Brokers Co. Limited for failure "to submit the audited financial statements within the regulatory deadline". Editor's Note: Research by OffshoreAlert showed that, in filings with the Malta Business Registry, Osprey Insurance Brokers Co. Limited identifies its directors as Martin Azzopardi, Suzanne Marie Chambers, Stuart Ciappara, all of Malta, and Martin Thomas Le Pelley, of Guernsey; its sole shareholder as Artex Holdings (Malta) Limited, and its auditor as Ernst & Young Malta Limited.

Disqualification of Mark Peter Penney by the Guernsey Financial Services Commission.

Disqualification of Marc Adam Roxby by the Guernsey Financial Services Commission.

The Guernsey Financial Services Commission has fined and disqualified Mark Penney and Marc Roxby over self-dealing and misleading clients while operating failed financial services firm Criteria Wealth Management Ltd.

Public Statement by the Guernsey Financial Services Commission announcing financial penalties and corporate disqualifications against Mark Peter Penney and Marc Adam Roxby after finding that each "was not a fit and proper person" regarding their involvement with Criteria Wealth Management Limited, which went into compulsory liquidation.

News Release, and a copy of a "trilateral agreement among the governments of the United States, Nigeria and the Bailiwick of Jersey", by the U. S. Department of Justice announcing the repatriation to Nigeria of $311 million that were allegedly the proceeds of corruption involving General Sani Abacha, Ibrahim Sani Abacha, Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, lsmaila Gwarzo, Alhaji Ahmadu Daura, Chief Anthony Ani, David Umaru, Doraville Properties Corporation, Eagle Alliance International Limited, Harbour Engineering and Construction Limited, Mecosta Securities Inc., Morgan Procurement Corporation, Rayville International SA, The Ridley Trust, Ridley Group Limited, and Standard Alliance Financial Services Limited.

Plea Agreement in USA v. Bank Hapoalim BM, of Israel, and Hapoalim (Switzerland) Ltd., of Switzerland, at the U. S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.

Judgment in Guardian Global Capital (Suisse) SA, of Switzerland v. Jersey Financial Services Commission at the Royal Court of Jersey, in the Channel Islands.

Motion for Issuance of a Request for International Judicial Assistance to Obtain Evidence in the Cayman Islands from Bell Rock Corporate Services, Campbell Corporate Services Limited, CO Services Cayman Limited, DMS Corporate Services Ltd., Forbes Hare Trust Company Limited, Genesis Trust & Corporate Services Ltd., Harneys Services (Cayman) Limited, Intertrust Corporate Services (C.I.) Limited, Ocorian (Cayman) Limited, Sterling Trust (Cayman) Limited, Trident Trust Company (Cayman) Limited, Vistra (Cayman) Limited, and Walkers Corporate Limited regarding an allegedly fraudulent 12.7 billion Danish Kroner tax refund fraud scheme whose "principal organizer" was identified as Dubai-based British national Sanjay Shah in Skatteforvaltningen, a.k.a. SKAT, Denmark's tax collection agency v. John van Merkensteijn, Richard Markowitz, Bernina Pension Plan Trust, RJM Capital Pension Plan Trust, 2321 Capital Pension Plan, Bowline Management Pension Plan, California Catalog Company Pension Plan, Clove Pension Plan, Davin Investments Pension Plan, Delvian LLC Pension Plan, DFL Investments Pension Plan, Laegeler Asset Management Pension Plan, Lion Advisory Inc. Pension Plan, Mill River Capital Management Pension Plan, Next Level Pension Plan, Rajan Investments LLC Pension Plan, Spirit on the Water Pension Plan, and Traden Investments Pension Plan at the U. S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.