En Voyage_Issue#11_Flickbook
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Business<br />
BUSINESS NEWS<br />
Page 89<br />
The road to<br />
infrastructure<br />
investment<br />
Page 93<br />
Heart of<br />
Guernsey<br />
Page 107<br />
A 'connected<br />
Guernsey' is<br />
what we need<br />
SEE GUERNSEY WITH<br />
THE ISLAND’S YOUNGEST<br />
ACCREDITED GUIDE<br />
Guernsey's youngest accredited tour<br />
guide has launched See Guernsey<br />
Tours, offering a range of tours<br />
and services to suit the needs and<br />
requirements of the corporate, visitor<br />
and local markets.<br />
At 24, Victoria Robinson has<br />
become the island’s youngest silver<br />
level accredited tour guide, and is<br />
passionate about sharing Guernsey’s<br />
history, culture and heritage.<br />
'From an early age I have had a<br />
passion for Guernsey's history and<br />
culture. I noticed an increasing<br />
amount of interest from locals<br />
wanting to learn more about<br />
Guernsey and its history and<br />
heritage. With this in mind , I have<br />
created a range of tours and services<br />
designed to suit local islanders,<br />
alongside a comprehensive<br />
programme of services for those<br />
visiting or moving to the island<br />
to join local organisations, and<br />
of course a selection of tours for<br />
visitors,.' said Victoria.<br />
APEX ANNOUNCES<br />
ACQUISITION OF IPES<br />
Apex Group Ltd, one of the world’s largest fund<br />
administrators, and Genstar Capital have announced<br />
the acquisition of Ipes, a leading provider of fund<br />
administration and other services to the private equity<br />
sector. Adding $165 billion in assets under administration<br />
to the Group’s portfolio, this acquisition will bolster<br />
Apex’s private equity capabilities and depositary services<br />
across Europe and position the Group as the fifth largest<br />
fund administrator globally.<br />
The acquisition of Ipes from pan-European private<br />
equity firm Silverfleet Capital will further strengthen the<br />
Group’s breadth of service and expertise in the European<br />
market. Headquartered in Guernsey, Ipes currently has<br />
265 staff across five European offices. As one of the<br />
largest European private equity fund administrators and<br />
depositaries, Ipes works with 195 clients and provides<br />
administration and depositary oversight for 390 funds.<br />
The well-established European reputation and robust<br />
private equity infrastructure Ipes brings to Apex will<br />
complement the existing European set up and extend its<br />
private equity arm and expertise.<br />
Peter Hughes, Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Apex<br />
Fund Services, said, 'This deal marks another momentous<br />
milestone for Apex, positioning us as the fifth largest fund<br />
administrator in the world—a goal we set out to achieve<br />
over a five-year period but have achieved in just under<br />
a year. Our focused growth strategy is designed to build<br />
out the global Apex portfolio of services and increase our<br />
expert resources across key markets. Throughout this<br />
growth we remain steadfast and committed to upholding<br />
the hallmarks of the Apex brand—offering flexibility in the<br />
solutions we offer, exceptional locally delivered customer<br />
service, and wrapping that framework around best-inclass<br />
technologies.'<br />
As well as the traditional offering of<br />
shore excursions for visiting cruise<br />
passengers, island-wide walking tours<br />
and bespoke private tours for visitors<br />
and locals, there will be a range of<br />
services targeted at the corporate<br />
market, including orientation tours for<br />
newcomers, local presentations for<br />
corporate events and tours designed<br />
for visiting clients or guests.<br />
'I hope the launch of See Guernsey<br />
Tours will open up options for local<br />
islanders and visitors alike to see,<br />
discover and experience Guernsey in<br />
a unique, fun and engaging way.'<br />
RAVENSCROFT ADDS<br />
MORE THAN £1.5b<br />
TO ASSETS UNDER<br />
ADMINISTRATION<br />
Ravenscroft has grown its assets<br />
under administration to £4.44b<br />
– an increase of 55% in 12 months.<br />
Its annual report shows that the<br />
company has increased group<br />
revenue by 15% to £20.00m, the first<br />
time it has reached £20m since the<br />
business started 12 years ago, with<br />
recurring revenues up 50% from<br />
£7.61m in 2016 to £11.45m in 2017.<br />
Gross profit increased by 14% to<br />
£17.21m and the board has declared<br />
a dividend of 12p per share making<br />
an annual dividend of 17p per share.<br />
‘These are impressive results which<br />
have come about through hard<br />
work, a drive to do the very best for<br />
our clients and a commitment to<br />
ensure that we continue to diversify<br />
the company to ensure it can offer<br />
investors a choice of investments<br />
that will meet their long-term<br />
objectives,’ said Chairman Stephen<br />
Lansdown, CBE.<br />
As well as launching a treasury<br />
service and onshore versions of<br />
two of its Huntress funds, the year<br />
also saw Ravenscroft backing a<br />
management buy-out of D2 Real<br />
Estate and acquire a 50% stake<br />
in the company to strengthen<br />
its property proposition. It also<br />
acquired 100% of Guernsey Mint<br />
Refined Limited, which trades as<br />
BullionRock, to enable it to offer<br />
precious metals as an alternative<br />
asset class. The financial year<br />
ended with Ravenscroft being<br />
appointed as investment manager<br />
to the Guernsey Investment Fund,<br />
which is backed by the States of<br />
Guernsey and private investors.<br />
‘It really has been an incredible<br />
year with a number of highlights<br />
which reflect the diversity of the<br />
group,’ said group Chief Executive<br />
Officer Jon Ravenscroft. ‘We<br />
are now so much more than the<br />
stockbroking and investment<br />
management company we were a<br />
decade ago. Ravenscroft has grown<br />
and developed into a business<br />
that has an investment option for<br />
everyone whether that’s buying a<br />
silver bar for your child’s christening,<br />
investing money for school fees,<br />
weddings and first homes, saving for<br />
retirement or buying stocks to grow<br />
and protect wealth.'<br />
74 <strong>En</strong> <strong>Voyage</strong> | Aurigny’s Magazine