News Hollywood films come to <strong>Guernsey</strong> Richard Garrod, director <strong>of</strong> Confiance Fund Services Limited Sw<strong>of</strong>fers managing director, Matthew Henry A new film fund launched by a local investment manager is believed to be the first investment fund established in <strong>Guernsey</strong> to specifically invest in film production, marketing and distribution. Confiance Fund Services Limited has worked closely with UK-based investment adviser High Fliers Film plc and local law firm AO Hall as legal adviser to launch Confiance Film Products PCC Limited which will invest in both big budget and small budget movies. ‘Financing films is always a delicate balance between the various parties involved in making the film and bringing it successfully to its target audience. You need to work with people who understand the film industry and have the relevant experience,’ said Richard Garrod, director <strong>of</strong> Confiance Fund Services Limited. High Fliers plc already has a proud reputation in the film distribution market in the UK, with over 20 years <strong>of</strong> experience and a catalogue <strong>of</strong> films starring Richard Gere, Samuel L. Jackson, Susan Sarandon, Pierce Brosnan, Robert Carlyle and Tommy Lee Jones. Ian Hunt, managing director <strong>of</strong> Confiance Fund Services Limited said High Fliers experience had been combined with Confiance’s expertise to create a completely unique investment fund at a time when the large film studios are struggling to find film financing. ‘Confiance Film Products PCC Limited was developed to fit in with the needs <strong>of</strong> the film market. It also enables those investors looking for a different asset class with identifiable returns to invest into. The concept was to utilise the experience both at A new look for Sw<strong>of</strong>fers One <strong>of</strong> the island’s largest estate agents has rebranded. Sw<strong>of</strong>fers Estate Agency, which was established in 1972, has a new look and identity. The new look has been inspired by its well-recognised red hexagon and corporate green colour. The agency, which sells and lets more homes per year than any other agency, has also invested in a new state <strong>of</strong> the art property management s<strong>of</strong>tware system and a completely new advanced website. 10 | <strong>CONTACT</strong> | OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2010 | www.guernseychamber.com The system, which is unique to the Channel Islands, brings together a two year project <strong>of</strong> training and investment, all designed to ensure that Sw<strong>of</strong>fers continues to lead the field in knowledge and expertise. The system, which is used by some <strong>of</strong> the UK’s largest estate agency groups, includes advanced database management techniques, superior customer pr<strong>of</strong>iling and cutting edge vendor/purchase matching templates. ‘Sw<strong>of</strong>fers has been established since 1972 and through hard work, focus and a continued team-driven philosophy, we can pride ourselves on selling and letting more homes per year Confiance and <strong>Guernsey</strong> in general to enable a broader business development approach to encompass distribution, production, branding and finance within the film arena,’ he said. The first fund <strong>of</strong> the PCC aims to invest in a mix <strong>of</strong> films with different genres and budgets, preferably with an A-list director and an A-list lead actor or actress, to acquire the distribution rights to those films and then distribute those films through cinema, DVD, video-on-demand, TV and other auxiliary formats such as the internet and airline entertainment systems. Future funds will also invest in film production and marketing which will give investors the ability to invest in a full range <strong>of</strong> film financing opportunities in <strong>Guernsey</strong>. It is proposed that future cells may also list on the Channel Islands Stock Exchange with Newhaven Trust Company (Channel Islands) Limited acting as the listing sponsor. Mr Hunt and Mr Garrod are both directors <strong>of</strong> the fund and members <strong>of</strong> <strong>Guernsey</strong> Film LBG, a local business group that aims to promote the wide range <strong>of</strong> film financing expertise in <strong>Guernsey</strong>. than any other agent. But as market leaders we must also look to the future,’ said managing director Matthew Henry. ‘Investing now in the latest technology, as well as our people, means we will stay ahead <strong>of</strong> the market and constantly improve our services to our customers. Whilst it’s exciting to have a fresh new look and feel, what’s really important is the difference our customers will see in how we continually challenge ourselves to improve the way we sell their homes and help potential purchasers find homes. This marks the next stage in an exciting period <strong>of</strong> growth for Sw<strong>of</strong>fers.’
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