Flexible laws bring offshore back in vogue

Healthy competition between offshore jurisdictions has helped raise the bar on regulatory standards and improve the image of centres worldwide, has claimed the British Virgin Islands International Finance Centre (BVI). Humphrey Leue, chief operations officer for the BVI, said the fact that offshore investments were coming back into vogue, was the result of flexible, lighter touch regulation that did not burden shareholders but still offered protection. He added: "In terms of regulation we have managed to achieve a high level of standard but with a lighter touch. Competition is healthy a...