In this article we follow up on some current issues in the defined contribution (DC) sphere. In its corporate plan for 2022 to 2024, the Pensions Regulator (TPR) reasserted its commitment to defined contribution savers getting the pensions that they are entitled ...
The proposal for the temporary Windfall Tax Act for enterprises operating in the electricity and fossil fuel sectors was approved by the Finnish Parliament on 27 February 2023 in an amended form. An overview of the Government's proposal can be found in our previous article on the subject. The Windfall Tax Act will be applied retroactively to the tax assessment of tax year 2023 ...
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)》) and the ancillary Guidelines No. 1-3 on private fund manager registration (collectively, the "Draft Rules"). On February 24, 2023, AMAC issued the updated Measures for Registration and Filing of Private Investment Funds (《私募投资基金登记备案办法》) (the "Measures") and the ancillary Guidelines No. 1-3 (i.e ...
“It’s a dangerous business, Frodo, going out your door. You step onto the road, and if you don’t keep your feet, there’s no knowing where you might be swept off to.” — Bilbo Baggins For those embarking on the process of obtaining a Value Added Tax (VAT) refund in Cambodia – it may feel at times like a perilous journey ...
On February 24, 2023, The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited ("HKEX") published a consultation paper (the "Consultation Paper"), which detailed the proposed amendments to the Rules Governing the Listing of Securities on The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited (the "Listing Rules") following new filing rules for the overseas listing of domestic enterprises announced by the China Securities Regulatory Commission ("CSRC") on February 17, 2023 (the "New Filing Rules") ...
The direct overseas offering and listing by domestic entities refers to the overseas offering and listing by joint-stock companies registered and incorporated domestically in China (the "Direct Overseas Listings"), which is currently one of the main ways for domestic entities to be listed overseas. Prior to the implementation of the New Filing Rules, the Direct Overseas Listings are subject to the examination and approval by both the CSRC and the overseas securities regulatory authorities ...
On February 17, 2023, the New Filing Rules was released by the China Securities Regulatory Commission ("CSRC"), which will come into force on March 31, 2023. In the meantime, the Notice of the State Council on Further Strengthening the Administration of Overseas Stock Issuance and Listing (State Council Announcement [1997] No. 21) (the "97 Red Chip Guidelines") will be repealed on the effective date of the New Filing Rules ...
On 17 February 2023, the People's Bank of China (PBoC) issued for public comments the Interim Measures for the Administration of Interconnection and Cooperation between the Interest Rate Swap Markets of the Mainland and Hong Kong (Draft for Comments)(the "Draft Swap Connect Measures"). The public comment period is open until 4 March 2023 ...
On February 17, 2023, China Securities Regulatory Commission ("CSRC"), as approved by the State Council, released new rules for the filing-based administration of overseas securities offerings and listings by Chinese domestic companies ("New Filing Rules"). The New Filing Rules signal a new era of unified filing system for overseas offerings and listings by Chinese companies. We have summarized below five key points of the New Filing Rules for your quick reference ...
On the 14th of February 2023, the General Department of Taxation (“GDT”) issued Notification 5367 (“Notification 5367”), which provides the 2022 market interest rates for Employee Loans in accordance with Article 15 of Prakas 543 on Tax on Salary and Instruction No. 7015 GDT dated 13 March 2020. The market interest rates for 2022, based on the average of eleven (11) commercial Cambodian banks, are as follows: USD – 8.35% per annum Khmer Riel – 8 ...
February 17, 2023 By: Alexander Davis and Manuel Fishman Update This article is partly a republication of a Client Alert that was issued on December 6, 2022 titled “San Francisco’s Commercial Vacancy Tax.” Readers who have already read the original article can simply read ahead to the sections labeled “Update.” Commercial Vacancy Tax In March 2020, the voters of San Francisco approved Proposition D, also known as the Commercial Vacancy Tax ...
On February 7, 2023, the Division of Examinations of the United States Securities & Exchange Commission (“EXAMS”) published the 2023 Examination Priorities. Like previous years, the 2023 Examination Priorities provides certain data regarding the scope of the examination program and the growth of the investment adviser community ...
Upcoming changes to Ohio’s Community Reinvestment Area (“CRA”) property tax exemption program will make it easier to create and to use CRAs. On January 2, 2023, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine signed Substitute Senate Bill 33 of the 134th General Assembly (“SB 33”), enacting substantial changes to existing CRA statutes, ultimately easing existing CRA requirements. The changes will take effect on April 3, 2023 ...
The refinancing policies for listed companies on the Shanghai and Shenzhen Stock Exchanges will be revised as a part of the full implementation of the registration-based stock issuance system reform, in addition to the reform of the IPO-related rules ...
The National Pension Commission (PENCOM) recently introduced a new category of fund which complies with sharia principles of investment. The Non-Interest Fund (Fund VI) permits pension contributors and retirees to choose the preferred investment portfolio they would want their pension contributions remitted to ...
A free transfer is when the donor (transferor) bestows a benefit or right without being paid, even though the transfer may be subject to the fulfillment of certain conditions, such as an inheritance, donation, or prize. The taxpayer in this type of conveyance is the party who accepts the benefit or right (transferee) since they receive an income. A donation deductible under article 39 of the Tax Agreement Law is exempt since it receives a different tax treatment ...
On December 8, 2022, the Thailand Board of Investment (the “BOI”) issued 17 announcements (Announcement No. 8/2565 to No. 24/2565) aimed at developing a new economic model as part of its investment promotion strategy for the next five years (2023 – 2027) in accordance with the National Economic and Social Development Plan (Thailand 4.0). All announcements went into effect at the beginning of January 3, 2023 ...
Overview A VASP will need: a licence (a "Part III VASP Licence"); and to be regulated by the Guernsey Financial Services Commission (the "Commission"). A Part III VASP Licence is required unless an exemption is available under the LCF Law or the "Notice with respect to the disapplication of the requirement to hold a licence under section 40 of the Lending, Credit and Finance (Bailiwick of Guernsey) Law, 2022" (the "LCF Notice") ...
On February 1, 2023, the China Securities Regulatory Commission ("CSRC"), the Shanghai Stock Exchange ("SSE"), the Shenzhen Stock Exchange ("SZSE"), and the Beijing Stock Exchange ("BSE") issued for public comments draft rules and regulations (the "Draft Rules") related to the registration-based stock issuance system. The Draft Rules mark the official launch of the full implementation of stock issuance reforms in China ...
When one instructs a painter to draw a portrait (no matter how detailed the instructions may be) the painter will always have discretion in executing the final product. Likewise, in investment funds, the investment manager is instructed to invest according to various rules and timeframes which are detailed in the investment strategy as approved by the competent financial regulator, but there will still remain investment discretion on how the investment strategy is executed ...
HSR Notice Thresholds Have Increased. On January 26, 2023, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced its revised annual threshold that determines whether companies may be required to notify federal antitrust authorities about a proposed merger or acquisition due to the size and value of the transaction. The Hart-Scott-Rodino (HSR) Antitrust Improvements Act (Section 7A of the Clayton Act) requires parties to certain mergers and acquisitions to notify the FTC and U.S ...
The United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) entered into force on July 1, 2020 replacing the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) that has been in force since 1994. The USMCA has a sunset provision providing that investors may continue using NAFTA’s dispute resolution mechanism for NAFTA legacy investments for up to three years after NAFTA’s termination, i.e., until June 30, 2023 ...
Instruction No. 2520 GDT on the Adjustment on the Implementation of Value Added Tax on E-Commerce Transactions (Instruction 2520) was issued by the General Department of Taxation (GDT) on the 24th of January 2023. Instruction 2520 repeals the earlier Instruction 20522 on the Implementation of Value Added Tax on E-Commerce that was issued on the 8th of December 2021 ...
