Offshore Incorporations Limited, the Asian company formation firm, has launched its first European office in London.

Heading up the new office is Tim Edwards, the firm’s director for business development.

“This is the first step in expanding OIL’s presence across Europe and it is an exciting milestone for the business, having just celebrated 25 years in Asia. We wish to continue supporting our clients as they grow globally and require a wider variety of services for their offshore activities,” said chief executive Martin Crawford.

“You just need to look at the fact that over 50 per cent of new properties in London are purchased by Asian investors to see the growth in demand.”

OIL, which was launched in Hong Kong in 1986, serves professional intermediaries across various offshore jurisdictions, including Anguilla, the Bahamas, the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, Delaware, Hong Kong, Mauritius, Samoa, the Seychelles and Singapore. Its 200 employees are based in offices in Hong Kong, Singapore, China and Taiwan.