Guernsey remains the domicile of incorporation for more non-UK entities listed on the London Stock Exchange (LSE) than any other jurisdiction globally, according to figures from the market authority.
LSE data shows that at the end of December 2012 there were 122 Guernsey-incorporated entities listed on either the Main Market, the Alternative Investment Market (AIM), the Specialist Fund Market (SFM) or as 'Trading Only'.
This is comfortably more than the major economic powers of the US (43), Russia and Australia (both 31), India (30), South Africa (10), Germany (7), China (5) and France (3).
It was also well ahead of competitor centres Jersey (86), Ireland (54), the Isle of Man (52), Cayman (46), Bermuda (44) and BVI (37). These are trailed by Luxembourg (11), Singapore (8), Gibraltar (5), Hong Kong (3) and Malta (2).
Fiona Le Poidevin, Chief Executive at Guernsey Finance - the promotional agency for the Island's finance industry, said: "These figures show that Guernsey remains home to more non-UK entities listed on the LSE than any other jurisdiction globally, including our competitor international finance centres. The fact that so many companies and securities on the exchange are incorporated in Guernsey means that we have developed significant expertise in London listings and this continues to be recognised by professional advisers in the City of London and beyond."
Figures from the LSE show that during 2012 Guernsey (6) added more non-UK entities to the Main Market of the LSE than any other jurisdiction globally. In second place was Jersey (4), followed by Canada and Cyprus (both 2) and then Egypt, the Isle of Man, Kazakhstan, Netherlands and Russia (1 each).
Of its peer group, Guernsey (67) has the most number of entities listed on the Main Market of the LSE, followed by Jersey (35), Ireland (28) and Bermuda (21).
Jersey (49) is home to the most number of AIM-traded entities, with Guernsey (42) taking second place, then the Isle of Man (40), Cayman (38), BVI (33) and Ireland (26).
Guernsey is also home to more than two-thirds of all listings on the SFM.
In addition, Guernsey (70) is the clear market leader in terms of the number of 'Equity Investment Instruments' - the majority of investment funds - listed on the LSE, followed by Jersey (16) and Cayman (12).
Miss Le Poidevin added: "The data shows that Guernsey is an extremely popular location for establishing vehicles which will list on the LSE, whether the Main Market, AIM or the SFM. However, companies incorporated in Guernsey can list not just on the London Stock Exchange but also the local Channel Islands Stock Exchange (CISX), Euronext Amsterdam, markets in Australia and Toronto, as well as the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (HKEx), among many others.
"This means that Guernsey provides a gateway to accessing capital from around the world, including the developing economies where there is the largest growth in private and corporate wealth which will be looking for suitable global investment opportunities. This is a major attraction of establishing investment structures in Guernsey and is a feature which we will be reemphasising during our work in both the 'traditional' and the 'emerging' introducer markets during 2013."
For more information about Guernsey's finance industry please visit www.guernseyfinance.com.
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