On January 4, 2023, Law No. 21,521, also known as the "Fintech Law", was published. The new law promotes competition and financial inclusion through innovation and technology in the provision of financial services. Among other amendments, the Fintech Law introduced certain amendments related to the public offering of securities, amending Law No. 18,045, the Securities Market Law ("LMV"), Law No. 18,046, the Corporations Law ("LSA") and the Commercial Code ...
On 14 December 2022, following a campaign by the Royal Yachting Association, the UK Government confirmed that it would not be implementing changes to HMRC policy to enable UK residents that purchased (EU) VAT paid UK vessels located in the EU prior to the end of the Brexit transition period (31 December 2020) to bring these vessels back into the UK without incurring a second (UK) VAT charge ...
On December 9, 2022, the Office of Chief Counsel of the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) issued a General Legal Advice Memorandum (“Memorandum”) challenging the 1994 Tax Court decision inChilds v. Commissioner, 103 T.C. 634 (1994),aff’d without published opinion, 89 F.3d 856 (11thCir. 1996) (“Childs”) ...
On December 30, 2022, the Asset Management Association of China ("AMAC") issued a consultation draft of the Measures for Registration and Filing of Private Investment Funds (《私募投资基金登记备案办法 (征求意见稿)》) (the "Draft Measures") and the ancillary Guidelines No. 1-3 on private fund manager registration〔i.e. Guideline on Basic Operational Requirements ("Guideline No. 1"), Guideline on Shareholders, Partners and Actual Controllers ("Guideline No ...
In the words of its own Attorney-General, Australia's privacy laws were “out of date and not fit-for-purpose”. After recent amendments, they now stand to contain one of the world’s toughest data breach penalty regimes. So, what has changed? Fines The Privacy Legislation Amendment (Enforcement and Other Measures) Bill 2022 (the “Bill”) received Royal Assent on 12 December 2022 ...
After an extremely busy 2021 where the financial markets and the lending sector recovered rapidly from the COVID-hibernation, 2022 has been a turbulent year that did not live up to expectations in terms of activity. With geopolitical unrest, high inflation and rising interest rates as the backdrop, financial markets were volatile and funding costs increased substantially ...
In the final instalment of our “future of work” series, we look at the potential ways advancements in technology have changed and continue to change the way we work. Keeping us connected Technology has been used in workplaces for many years and has been at the forefront of the move away from traditional employment models – the advent of mobile apps to support the gig economy being a prime example ...
A lesser-known state incentive in the nonprofit sector has created a boon for taxpayers, private education institutions and their students. Across the country, states are providing tax credits that reduce individuals’ state income taxes for any donation to a state-certified nonprofit organization providing scholarships to K-12 students to attend private schools ...
Recently, the China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission ("CBIRC") issued the Measures for Regulatory Assessment of Corporate Governance of Banking and Insurance Institutions (the "2022 Measures"), which replace the Measures for Regulatory Assessment on Corporate Governance of Banking and Insurance Institutions (for Trial Implementation) (the "2019 Measures") issued by CBIRC on 25 November 2019 ...
What are Digital Assets? The Official Bermuda Definition The definition of "digital asset" under Bermuda's Digital Asset Business Act 2018 ("DABA") is: "anything that exists in binary format and comes with the right to use it and includes a digital representation of value that – (a) is used as a medium of exchange, unit of account, or store of value and is not legal tender… &nbs
On 23 September the Government announced its ‘Growth Plan 2022’ (Growth Plan). It was intended, the Government said, to tackle rising energy costs, bring down inflation and help businesses and households alike. Instead, it caused a sudden and significant rise in interest rates which caused havoc for defined benefit (DB) pension schemes with liability driven investment (LDI) strategies ...
The task of upgrading and developing the UK’s electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure to cope with current and future demand is no mean feat. The UK Government has committed to ending the sale of new petrol and diesel cars by 2030 ...
Financial Services Principles-based sustainable and responsible investment (“SRI”) taxonomy for Malaysian capital market 9th Meeting of Joint Committee on Climate Change (“JC3”) Meeting Revision to Guidelines on the Registration of Venture Capital and Private Equity Corporations and Management Corporations Bank Negara Malaysia issues exposure draft on Capital Adequacy Framework (Basel III — Risk Weighted Assets) — Operationa
On December 19, 2022, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) issued a proposed rule that, if enacted, will permit prime contractors to receive small-business subcontracting credit for subcontracts at any tier. The deadline for comments on this proposed rule is February 17, 2023. 13 Code of Federal Regulations (C.F.R.) § 125 ...
The SEC, in a unanimous vote, adopted final rules on December 14, 2022 amending Rule 10b5-1 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Additionally, it includes related amendments concerning disclosures about insider trading policies, disclosures about equity awards made close in time to the disclosure of material nonpublic information and the reporting of gifts by insiders ...
On 14 December 2022, the People's Bank of China ("PBOC") issued for public comments the Measures for Administration and Supervision of Financial Market Infrastructures (the "FMI Measures"). The public comment period is open until 14 January 2023 ...
In this briefing, we will review the implications of the Law for property transactions in Jersey. Tax on purchase of residential properties which are not used as a main residence The key implication of the Law is that stamp duty (and equivalent land taxes such as land transactions tax and enveloped property transactions tax) on acquisitions of domestic residential property which will not be the purchaser's main residence will be increased ...
The Site Report has extensively discussed the developments of 3-D printing building construction and its impact on the construction industry. 3-D printing structures is becoming more commonplace. Last month, Iowa State University began designing 3-D printed housing for rural Iowa. ICON Technology, Inc., an Austin, Texas company, is currently planning to build an entire subdivision in Texas using its 3-D printing technology ...
Video games have become increasing popular among all age groups in Indonesia – especially with the introduction of mobile video games in the past few years that allows almost all types of smartphones to operate the most popular video games with ease. Now, parents are no longer hiding the fact that their children from a very young age are much more interested in playing video games than playing outside ...
Financial Services Exposure draft on licensing framework for digital insurers and takaful operators Amendment to the Guidelines on Recognised Markets Guidelines on Islamic Capital Market Products and Services
The Council of the EU has now adopted its common position on the bloc's draft AI Act, as the legislation approaches final form. The updated position signals a number of important refinements to key principles in the previous text. The EU is hoping the legislation, once agreed and ratified with the European Parliament, will provide organisations within or trading into the EU with a uniform, risk-based framework, creating a single market for AI applications ...
The season of goodwill is upon us, with retailers and the press announcing Christmas charity partnerships to raise funds for good causes, but the cost-of-living crisis will still be with us in 2023. Charities are increasingly feeling a greater level of pressure to be the first line of defence as gaps in public services open up and they face a “triple threat” of increasing running costs (in particular, energy bills), rising service demand, and falling incomes ...
Recently approved Cabinet Decision 85 of 2022 (the Decision) outlines the requirements and conditions for classification of persons as a “Tax Resident” of the UAE. We briefly outline below who qualifies as a UAE tax resident. Afridi & Angell have assisted a variety of clients in procuring tax domicile certificates and are well versed in the procedures and requirements ...
January 2022 began with the announcement that businesses and corporations will be subject to Corporate Tax (CT) from 1 June 2023. While the UAE Ministry of Finance helpfully provided information on the basic tenets of CT, including a comprehensive white paper, the CT Law governing CT was published on 9 December 2022 providing clarity. However, there are still a number of areas that will be further clarified through the implementing regulations ...
