BVI Appoints Provisional Liquidators Over Prince Group
The Government of the Virgin Islands says the BVI Court granted ex parte orders on 9 January 2026 appointing Paul Pretlove, James Drury and David Standish of Interpath as joint provisional liquidators over 28 Prince Group entities and two further companies named in a US in rem complaint. The government emphasises this follows close cooperation with UK authorities, including the sharing of beneficial ownership information, and says the measures are aimed at tracing and preserving assets while investigations continue.
The Government of the Virgin Islands has issued an update after the BVI Court granted ex parte orders on 9 January 2026 for the appointment of joint provisional liquidators over a number of Prince Group entities registered in the Territory. According to the government, the orders were made before the Honourable Justice Abbas Mithani following applications by the Attorney General on the grounds that it was just and equitable and in the public interest to appoint provisional liquidators.
The court-appointed officers named in the orders are Paul Pretlove, James Drury and David Standish from international advisory firm Interpath. The government said the appointments cover 28 BVI companies connected to recent UK and US sanctions designations, plus two further companies named in the verified in rem complaint filed by the United States on 14 October 2025.
The Attorney General's application was heard with legal representation by Mr. Koya Ryan of the law firm O’Neal Webster, the government release said. The Orders give the joint provisional liquidators authority to take control of the named entities, carry out a full investigation of their affairs and use available tools to trace, secure and preserve assets while inquiries continue.
The Government of the Virgin Islands emphasised that these measures follow close cooperation with international partners. The update specifically notes collaboration between UK and BVI authorities — including the sharing of essential beneficial ownership information — which assisted in the application of sanctions, and forms part of wider efforts to address any evidence of apparent criminality connected to BVI-registered entities.
Officials stressed the action is targeted at specific entities and intended to protect the Territory’s reputation as a trusted international financial centre. The government said normal business and banking services for compliant firms should not be affected as authorities focus on the named companies.
Interpath has been named as the advisory firm overseeing the provisional liquidations. Enquiries about the role of the joint provisional liquidators can be directed to princegroup@interpath.com and via the case pages at https://www.ips-docs.com/case/PQ112B1625/passislandtoken, and Interpath's Director of Communications Katy Broomhead may be contacted at katy.broomhead@interpath.com, the government advised.
For government-related enquiries, the public may contact bvigovernment@dgagroup.com. The Government also provided a media contact at BVIGovernment@dgagroup.com, and listed its general phone and WhatsApp numbers as (284) 468-3701 and WhatsApp 1(284) 468-9760 for further assistance.
The matter remains under active international investigation, the government said, and relevant BVI competent authorities will continue to work closely with partners to use available powers and mechanisms to combat illicit finance. Members of the public with relevant information were urged to use the official contact channels and to follow further public updates as they become available.
Primary source: BVI Government