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Advocate William RedgravePartner
Ed ShorrockDirector of Regulatory Services
The Panama Papers: What now for Jersey?
Breakfast Briefing29 April 2016Royal Yacht Hotel St. Helier
What is in the Panama Papers?Why are they such big news?What has the effect been so far?What can we expect?Are central registries the answer?What now for Jersey?
Contents
What is in the Panama Papers?
11.5m documents, 2.6 Tb. 40 years’ worth of recordsOnly 1% published so far 9 May: Database release of 200,000 entities
Panama Paper contents
Identifies 215,000 entities set up in 21 jurisdictionsHalf the companies are BVI incorporatedClients mainly introduced by banks and their
affiliatesMaterial includes identities of directors,
shareholders and UBOs
Panama Paper contents
MF - a law firm, but mainly an incorporation agent and registered agent
Offered "virtual office" with fake email and fake names for $1,500.
For $17,500, a “very sensitive” service: would find a “natural person trustee” – pretend UBO of a company, who would “sign lots of documents”
(Guardian, 8 April 2016)
What did MF do?
Prominent people identifiedCurrent leaders of UAE, Ukraine, Saudi, Iceland
Former leaders of Iraq, Jordan, Qatar, Sudan, Italy (Berlusconi)
Relatives of current leaders: Xi, Assad, Sharif, Zuma, Abbas, Cameron
Relatives of former leaders: Annan, Thatcher
Close friends of Putin (Roldugin)
Jackie Chan
Panama Paper contents
Poor client due diligence Identified in BVI FSC inquiries re sanctions:
Cowie – North Korea link not picked up
Alaa Mubarak – MF fined $37,500 for not identifying UBO of $1bn company
Previously extensive use of reliance on introducers and intermediaries, often abused
Panama Paper contents
MF unable to name UBOs on request, but improved following law change in 2008:2005-2008 – of 100 requests could only name 5
2008 – 2014 – law changed - of 500 requests, could name 70
2015 – 90 requests – named all but one
Panama Paper contents
MF financial model based on volume Typical cost to incorporate: US$1,000, of which
US$400 goes to governmentGenerates 50% of BVI government revenueUK government encouragement for OTs and CDs to develop
own economies
Panama Paper contents
Why are they such big news?
History of data leaks: BVI (2013), Luxembourg (2014), HSBC (2015) and now Panama, the biggest
Sheer quantity of info, and prominence of individuals
Staged release – clever PR To many in IFCs, ‘revelations’ about products and
services are entirely unrevealingMedia encourages popular prejudice
Why such big news?
Attitude of MF co-founder attracted criticism:MF had no responsibility for what clients do with the
offshore companies that MF sells
Blaming MF for what people do with their companies would be like blaming a car factory “if the car was used in a robbery”
Why such big news?
Effect so far
Resignation of Iceland PM and Spanish ministerPressure on Cameron: #resigncameron Tax return publication for MPs? 5 EU countries agree on 14 April to automatically
exchange UBO information for trusts and companies – now expanded to all EU countries
Panama effects
MF offices raided in Panama and BrazilUS DoJ (and other prosecutors) ask to see
documents and consider local investigationsAcceleration of signing of Exchange of Notes
between UK and Jersey (12 April) re UBO information
Panama effects
What can we expect?
Another round of disclosures on 9 May with searchable database of 200,000 companies, trusts, foundations and funds
Extension of pilot initiative re automatic exchange of UBO information - globally?
What can we expect?
“As a next step, we should also call for the development of a system of interlinked registries containing full benefit [sic] ownership information and mandate the OECD, in co-operation with FATF, to develop common international standards for these registries and their interlinking.
…we are willing to ensure the effective implementation of the exchange of information standards and to deal with non-cooperative jurisdictions on the basis of an international list and through defensive measures.”George Osborne to European colleagues, 14 April 2016
What can we expect?
Prospect of more blacklists? (Some EU countries have voiced concerns)
More media pressure to “crack down on offshore”:“He [David Cameron] needs to get tough with the treasure islands and follow Charles de Gaulle’s example. When Monaco refused a tax measure he requested, he forced them to surrender by surrounding the kingdom with soldiers and turning off their water supply” Polly Toynbee, Guardian
What can we expect?
Increasingly widely held view that even basic tax planning using offshore structures is unacceptable
Registers of trusts back on the agendaOffshore registries of all entities to be public? The level playing field argument – the US
What can we expect?
Significant announcements expected at UK anti-corruption summit in May
Legislative developments in the UKOffshore companies buying British property could be
forced to reveal their UBOs
Criminalisation of companies for failing to prevent their staff facilitating tax evasion
What can we expect?
Are central registries the
answer?
Policy driven by journalists and politicians seeking to dominate the news agenda. The 5 Ps:
1. Panama2. Press3. Population4. Politicians5. Policy
Are central registries the answer?
The speed at which the steps take place is ever increasing
Does this make for sound policy development and implementation?
Politicians feel under pressure to actWhat is in the interest of the public is not
necessarily in the public interest
Are central registries the answer?
Garbage in – garbage outMost registries are passive, archiving repositories
of informationWhere is the evidence that central registries are
effective?Easy to promise returns from a policy not yet in
practice
Are central registries the answer?
A registry designed to achieve stated objectives needs:Leadership
Resources: Skilled staff, infrastructure, IT
Ability to verify documents being provided to it
Enforcement powers
Does the UK have this in place? Reliance on self-reporting
Are central registries the answer?
What is the alternative? Licensing, supervision and enforcement of CSPsCSPs have the direct client contacts: CSP is a
private sector information collection agency, delivering a public good at no public cost
Can only work within the context of a proper regulatory regime
Costs of a publicly funded registry?
Are central registries the answer?
What is the evidence that CSPs are effective? Little evidence that central registries do work as
there are so few! 2011-2012 study by Griffith University on CSP
performanceHeadlines: Half of responses did not ask for proper
ID, 22% for nothing; IFCs better than onshore; Corruption risks less of a deterrent than terrorism risks
Are central registries the answer?
Transparency is not an end in itself, it is part of the answer but access to this information needs to be balanced against legitimate privacy concerns
Are central registries the answer?
What now for Jersey?
All IFCs are affected by political/reputational impact
Jersey has featured in Panama reports already:Spanish minister case - featured Jersey BBVA office,
from library footage
Azerbaijani president’s daughters – MF Jersey provided nominee directors for company holding UK property – UK lawyers say they have “no political connections”
Jersey
Risks to Jersey:Pressure for CDs to adopt register of trusts? Public?
EU initiative to automatically share UBO information even if not public
Impact on attractiveness of Jersey products
Cost implications of expanded registry
Jersey
Regulatory attentionFCA call to firms to investigate MF links
Could it happen here? P.42/2016 (Southern)“directs the JFSC (i) to request the handover of any information held by financial institutions registered in Jersey about their dealings with….MF, and (ii) to ask what action the institutions concerned are taking as a result of any significant issues or relationships identified”
Jersey
“7 Guiding principles
In exercising any of its functions the Commission may take into account any matter which it considers appropriate, but shall in particular have regard to –
………
(b) the protection and enhancement of the reputation and integrity of Jersey in commercial and financial matters;
(c) the best economic interests of Jersey; and
(d) the need to counter financial crime both in Jersey and elsewhere.”
Jersey
Litigation?9 May database release likely to include structures
with Jersey links
Creditors (private individuals and states) will be searching it for illegally obtained / concealed assets
Reputational and commercial damage to institutions and clients
Jersey
What to do?You know if you have used MF
Assess due diligence and commercial rationale – be proactive
Put yourself in the shoes of a creditor or journalist
Be ready to handle media and client enquiries
Jersey
Advocate William RedgravePartner
Ed ShorrockDirector of Regulatory Services
The Panama Papers: What now for Jersey?
Breakfast Briefing29 April 2016Royal Yacht Hotel St. Helier
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