Luigi Wewege founder of Vivier Group interviewed by Mario Schulzke founder of IdeaMensch on being an entrepreneur

ORLANDO, FLORIDA – 13 April 2015

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Luigi Wewege is the founder of Vivier Group and CEO of its Auckland based financial services arm Vivier & Co. Luigi explains to IdeaMensch how the idea for the company came about and discusses certain things learnt along the way.

Firstly where did the idea for Vivier Group come from?

The Global Credit Crunch had relatively little effect on the New Zealand banking sector. In part, this fortunate stability was a result of the health of the country’s financial market and lending sector, which always faced much sterner regulation and control than many other countries during the boom years between 2002 and 2007. 

For such reasons, since the 1990s, New Zealand has been the destination of choice for global investors, who have been well rewarded for their faith. Particularly, those from countries such as Japan and China, who flocked to place their household savings in New Zealand, have since received interest rates well above their domestic offerings.

It became apparent to me in late 2013 that many global investors wanted to enjoy the attractive rates offered from New Zealand, without exposing themselves to exchange rate risk and thus the idea for Vivier Group was born.

What does your typical day look like and how do you make it productive?

It always starts with a coffee due to being predominantly a night owl. I am at my most productive when it’s quiet and I can work without interruptions and distractions. To allow the latter to occur I during the day, endeavour to check in with international staff members as they come online via their respective time zones and go over any pressing issues they may have.

How do you bring ideas to life?

Business plans, costing sheets, financial forecasts, etc… etc… people can spend an exceptional amount of time theorizing their ideas further but for me if the idea does not come close to certain indicators from the get go then they are not worth pursuing. Although when they do it’s all about creating a clear strategy and bringing in the right team members in order to execute.

What’s one trend that really excites you?

For me it has to be the onset of digital banking firms and I find it fascinating how it’s forced larger retails banks to increase their pace of digital adoption. As established banks cannot stop client attrition to agile start-ups and niche players, these banks are now beginning to think more like disruptors, obsessing about consumer experience and using digital technology to avoid being totally outflanked by new entrants or established competitors.

This interview first appeared on IdeaMensch.com and you may find the remainder of the interview here: https://ideamensch.com/luigi-wewege

About Mario Schulzke:

Mario Schulzke is the founder of IdeaMensch, a community he started to help people bring their ideas to life. He is the AVP of Marketing at his alma mater the University of Montana where he also teaches in the business school. Before, Mario spent 10 years managing digital strategy teams at ad agencies up and down the West Coast.

About IdeaMensch:

IdeaMensch is a community supported resource for entrepreneurs from across the world. Our mission is to help entrepreneurs bring their ideas to life, and a big part of that is by having entrepreneurs share their stories with us via our interviews.

About Luigi Wewege:

Luigi Wewege is the founder of Vivier Group and the Managing Director of Vivier Mortgages (a Dublin, Ireland based home loan company), as well as CEO of its Auckland based financial services arm, Vivier & Co, a boutique Financial Service Provider in New Zealand, offering no-cost, above average returns for investors.

About Vivier Group:

Vivier Group is the global umbrella organisation of the Auckland based Vivier & Co and Vivier Investments, the London based Vivier Developments & Vivier Home Loans, and the Dublin based Vivier Mortgages.

For more information please contact:

Name: Vivier Group
Contact: Media Relations Manager
Email: press@viviergroup.com
Phone: +64 9 889 3998
Website: http://www.viviergroup.com

Luigi Wewege, Managing Director of Vivier Mortgages gives his opinion on Ireland’s current housing market

DUBLIN, IRELAND – 25 February 2015

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Curbing price volatility in the housing market is an ongoing challenge for governments.  Clearly, in order to stabilise house prices, supply and demand must be brought into equilibrium. The difficulties inherent in achieving this goal are illustrated by Ireland’s economic travails over the past decade. 

During the heady days of the ‘Celtic Tiger’, property developers embarked on a building frenzy, their expansionary drive fuelled by three factors: the availability of almost limitless credit, the flow of cheap labour from Eastern Europe and an apparently buoyant property market. However, too many of these building schemes were not brought to fruition. The onset of the recession and the accompanying credit crunch which it triggered forced many developers to abandon their projects. The landscape of Ireland is now littered with ‘ghost estates’, abandoned, unoccupied or unfinished. They have been declared economically unviable and have consequently been flagged for demolition. Compounding the difficulties in the housing sector, the lax mortgage credit criteria have also led to a cascade of defaults amongst existing mortgage holders, thus creating an unprecedented wave of house repossessions.

A priority of paramount importance for governments in shaping social policy these days is, undeniably, the provision of quality housing for its citizens.  One legacy of the 2008 financial crisis, however, is an acute shortage of housing.  As a supply shortage inevitably drives an upward spiral in prices, this is reflected in the housing market. During 2014, house price inflation across Ireland has vacillated between 8% and 20%.  Galloping ahead of the rest of the country, house prices in Dublin increased by 20%, whilst nationally the rate averaged out at 13% to 14%.  These increases in prices show marked variations from county to county.  In the last quarter of 2014, the year-on-year changes recorded per county were: Donegal 0.1%; Cavan 1.5%; Monaghan 5.2%; Louth 11.4%; Longford 12.2%; Roscommon 9.7%; Wicklow 18.8%: Cork City 12.2%; Limerick City 2.8%; Dublin City Centre 27.1%; South County Dublin 17.9% and North County Dublin 15.9%.

According to analysts, the five factors impacting on house prices are credit, expectation, income, supply and demographics.  Of these variables, changes in credit and expectation are most likely to induce changes in house prices. Harnessing this recognition, the Central Bank has established new regulations that place quantitative ceilings on the proportion of mortgages at high loan-to-value ratio and on the proportion of mortgage lending at high loan-to-income ratio. According to the Central Bank, this change in macro-prudential policy in the real estate sector will have a dual effect: increasing the resilience of the banking and household sectors to financial shocks, and dampening the pro-cyclical dynamics between property lending and housing prices. 

In practical terms, the new regulations mean that first-time residential buyers can borrow as much as 80% of the property price or even 90%, up to a limit of €220,000, plus 80% of any amount beyond it.  The scope of these caps also extends to housing loans secured on residential property in the state, as well as to equity-release/top-up mortgages.  What it does not cover is the refinancing of a house loan or loans that have been negotiated for the purpose of addressing arrears of payments.

Although the regulations have been welcomed by property analysts, there has been a current of dissent. Opponents of the restrictions, whilst conceding that they may have the desired effect of moderating house inflation, argue that the measures may also foster a concomitant escalation of rental prices.  They predict that a rising demand curve for rented accommodation will have the inevitable consequence of luring speculators into the market thereby destabilising house prices and posing a threat to first-time buyers.

About the Author

Luigi Wewege is the founder of Vivier Group and the Managing Director of Vivier Mortgages (a Dublin, Ireland based home loan company), as well as CEO of its Auckland based financial services arm, Vivier & Co, a boutique Financial Service Provider in New Zealand, offering no-cost, above average returns for investors.

Vivier Mortgages

Vivier Mortgages is a Dublin, Ireland based home loan company that has specialised in secured property lending, principally for domestic mortgages and building projects, for nearly twenty years.  The company,   having recently become part of Vivier Group, is currently looking for new opportunities in Ireland, in the areas of property acquisition, redevelopment and regeneration.

Vivier Group

Vivier Group is the global umbrella organisation of the Auckland based Vivier & Co and Vivier Investments, the London based Vivier Developments & Vivier Home Loans, and the Dublin based Vivier Mortgages.

Media Contact

Company Name: Vivier Mortgages
Contact Person: Media Relations Manager
Email: press@viviergroup.com
Phone: +353 1 697 1353
Country: Ireland
Website: http://www.viviermortgages.com

Why New Zealand is considered an economic success story and a safe haven for investors

Unlike many larger OECD countries, New Zealand did not suffer the severe recession that hit most of its peers.  Many investors and others wondered why and this was largely due to the strict banking and lending standards that New Zealand has in place. This regulatory environment meant that the subprime loan market, which caused the recession, didn't affect the country, since New Zealand had virtually no subprime market to begin with. When a country’s banks are not making risky loans, the effects from an economic slowdown are not nearly so severe as they inevitably must be in other countries that do have an unsound subprime loan market.

New Zealand enjoys other financial advantages from which its investors profit.  The economy of the country is diverse.  Moreover, its central government has successfully positioned its economy as a global leader amongst smaller nations.  In the currency exchange market, this has constantly held true. New Zealand’s comparative advantage is maintained, even as the U.S. economy improves.  Likewise, the currency has gained as well and in fact, the currency of New Zealand is considered the  second best performer against the U.S. dollar among 16 major peers tracked by Bloomberg in 2014, with gains approaching 4%: unlike others, such as Canada, which suffered the biggest loss at -3.6%.

Recently, New Zealand’s dollar has further benefited from a Central Bank that in 2014 became the first in the developed world to raise interest rates since 2011.  At the same time, an economic revival is currently in progress, boosting its currency.  It is also noteworthy that New Zealand’s currency has been unaffected by plummeting oil prices.  That is largely due to the fortunate fact that the country is not nearly as commodity-dependent and resource-reliant as are so many others.

The land of the Kiwi has a vibrant export economy – dairy production being its flagship export commodity. The developing world has a thirst for increased dairy usage and New Zealand’s economy will be the beneficiary of this for many years to come. New Zealand is also very stable politically, as well as financially, and it enjoys one of the highest standards of living of any OECD country. There is very little corruption and both ruling parties are centrist in ideology.   Thus, no wild policy swings can be expected if the government changes.

According to Luigi Wewege, CEO of boutique Auckland, New Zealand investment firm Vivier & Co: "New Zealand not only offers investors a secure place to deposit their money but also financial returns that far exceed what’s available in most Western countries.” Luigi adds that: “Unsurprisingly, we’ve seen a global uptake in investors who want to enjoy the attractive rates New Zealand offers, without undue exposure to exchange rate risk."

Due to New Zealand’s relative close proximity to Asia, too, it has long been considered a safe haven for investors from Asia’s developed countries, particularly China and Japan. These investors are also attracted to the country’s lifestyle, with its good schools, low crime rate and clean environment.  New Zealand in turn counts China as its largest export market, and speculation is rife that policy- makers there will take emergency steps to stimulate the struggling Chinese economy and in so doing give a further boost to New Zealand’s strong dollar.

New Zealand’s economic success story offers investors peace of mind, knowing that they can invest safely, and with high confidence in their yield outpacing that of comparable investments virtually anywhere else in the world.

About the Author

Jay Douglas writes exclusively for the Los Angeles and Santa Monica Business Examiner. Jay is also the founder and Owner of Prediction Tracking which was started in early 2009 as a way of measuring the results of prognostications, who too often make forecasts with little accountability on whether they're accurate or not. Prediction Tracking posts interesting predictions in a myriad of categories, and then tracks events concerning the future.

About Examiner.com

Established in 2008, Examiner.com has revolutionized the creation of original content at scale through tens of thousands of freelance contributors and its own national editors. We are a multifaceted media company with over 17 million monthly unique visitors to our consumer website and dozens of high-profile clients through our custom content solutions, OnTopic.com.

About Luigi Wewege

Luigi Wewege is the founder of Vivier Group & CEO of its Auckland based financial services arm Vivier & Co. He is also the Managing Director of its sister companies Vivier Investments, Vivier Developments, Vivier Home Loans and Vivier Mortgages.

Vivier & Co

Vivier and Company Limited (‘VCL’) is registered in New Zealand under number: 1130618. VCL is a member of Financial Services Complaints Limited a New Zealand Government approved Dispute Resolution Scheme, and maintains an insurance policy with Standard and Poor's A+ rated insurers, providing a NZD2,000,000 indemnity on any one claim/loss in the aggregate.

For further details, please contact

Press at Vivier Group

Level 31, Vero Centre, 48 Shortland Street Auckland 1010, New Zealand

+64 9 889 3998

press@viviergroup.com

https://vivierco.com

CEO of Vivier & Co, Luigi Wewege believes New Zealand’s economic growth represents a massive opportunity for investors in 2015

The start of the year is a great time for all investors to consider whether their current investment mix is still suitable – after reviewing their circumstances and any changes that may be needed for future planning.

Investors sometimes retain portfolios they haven’t reviewed for a number of years. Yes, decisions were appropriate when first put in place. But perhaps personal situations have changed. For instance, an inheritance may have been received, which could have an impact on retirement planning. Perhaps a relationship break-up has significantly reduced overall assets. Or maybe the world economic outlook has led to better opportunities. Any number of matters could have changed since you last reviewed your portfolio. These could significantly affect your time-frame - or indeed your goals.

With an excellent track record in handling past financial crises, New Zealand is a safe haven for investments. Although highly regulated, it has some of the most reliable economic and fiscal policies in the world. When coupled to some of the highest interest rates amongst developed nations, it’s little wonder that the country has a reputation as the jurisdiction of choice for investors.

New Zealand’s economy grew by 3.4% last year. That was the largest increase in ten years and - according to analysts - the country promises even more growth this year, when the economy is expected to grow by a full 4%. Moreover, New Zealand is expected to be enjoying its first budget surplus in seven years, a remarkable situation, compared with other countries.

New Zealand’s favourable position is widely expected to lead to major tax reductions for low and middle income earners, amounting by 2017 to NZ$1.5 billion, together with a prudently controlled debt and a growing economy. It is undoubtedly New Zealand’s excellent economic policies that have taken overall business confidence index to a recent high of 30.4. With current fiscal policies likely to continue in the same successful fashion, they indicate a welcome opportunity for the investment community. Shouldn’t that include you?

Amongst those taking most advantage of the country's positive business environment is the financial sector. It’s already becoming one of the most attractive of all for investment. The NZX50 was up 17.0 per cent last year, a stellar performance, against a 16.5 per cent increase in 2013 and 24.2 per cent in the bumper year before that.

Over the last decade, the New Zealand market has delivered an average annual return of no less than 6.7 per cent. However, the last three years have been exceptional. In 2015, investors remaining alive to the opportunities should expect the same outstanding returns.

About the Author

Luigi Wewege is the founder of Vivier Group & CEO of its Auckland based financial services arm Vivier & Co. He is also the Managing Director of its sister companies Vivier Investments, Vivier Developments, Vivier Home Loans and Vivier Mortgages.

Vivier & Co

Vivier and Company Limited (‘VCL’) is registered in New Zealand under number: 1130618. VCL is a member of Financial Services Complaints Limited a New Zealand Government approved Dispute Resolution Scheme, and maintains an insurance policy with Standard and Poor's A+ rated insurers, providing a NZD2,000,000 indemnity on any one claim/loss in the aggregate.

For further details, please contact

Press at Vivier Group

Level 31, Vero Centre, 48 Shortland Street Auckland 1010, New Zealand

+64 9 889 3998

press@viviergroup.com

https://vivierco.com