Legal Bulletin October 2020
29 October 2020
General
MinLaw extends relief periods for specified contracts under Covid-19 (Temporary Measures) Act 2020
Capital Markets
Competition
Corporate / M&A
Covid-19: Legislation for alternative meeting arrangements refined and extended to 30 June 2021
Apostille Bill introduced to facilitate cross-border use of public documents
Invoking a material adverse change / material adverse effect clause amid the Covid-19 pandemic
UK Supreme Court significantly curbs the reflective loss principle in landmark judgment
Dispute Resolution
Singapore Court of Appeal decides complex and novel jurisdictional and arbitration issues
Employment
Termination of employment: Options available to employers
Medico-Legal
Public Policy
NEA, EDB and BCA announce new grants aimed at reducing Singapore’s greenhouse gas emissions
Real Estate
MinLaw announces proxy restrictions at general meetings for en bloc sales from January 2021
Tax & Support Measures
Ministerial statement on Singapore Government’s strategy to emerge stronger from Covid-19 pandemic
Bill to amend Income Tax Act introduced to implement Budget changes
Bill to amend Goods and Services Tax Act introduced
Regional News
Malaysia
Malaysia Currency Act 2020 in force from 1 October 2020
Partial commencement of Malaysia’s amended Employees Provident Fund Act from 1 October 2020
Malaysia Senate passes Bill to amend Insolvency Act
Amendments to Road Transport Act in force from 23 October 2020
Myanmar
Soft Opening of Myanmar’s new trademark registration system on 1 October 2020
Myanmar government issues notification clarifying definition of independent directors
Vietnam
Vietnam’s new Law on Investment in effect from 1 January 2021
Vietnam passes new Law on Enterprises, strengthening protection for shareholders
Vietnam’s Public-Private Partnership Law to come into effect from 1 January 2021
Corporate income tax in Vietnam cut by 30% for 2020 fiscal year
Indonesia
Architecture of Indonesia’s ultimate umbrella law
Indonesia Omnibus Law on Job Creation: Banking law aspects
Indonesia Omnibus Law on Job Creation: Changes to Competition Law
Indonesia’s President issues presidential regulation on procurement of Covid-19 vaccines
Publications
CDR Essential Intelligence - Fraud, Asset Tracing & Recovery
Singapore Academy of Law Annual Review 2019: Equity and Trusts
Practical Law Regulation of State and Supplementary Pension Schemes in Singapore
Practical Law Agricultural Law in Singapore: Overview
Practical Law Cross-border Commercial Transactions
Practical Law Cross-border Dispute Resolution
Deals
S$3.2 billion merger of the insurance businesses of Aviva Singapore and Singapore Life Pte. Ltd.
Issue of US$2.75 billion notes by Temasek Financial (I) Limited
US$100 million Series C investment in Biofourmis Holdings Pte. Ltd. led by SoftBank Vision Fund II
S$200 million dual-tranche term loan facilities to CapitaLand
News
Allen & Gledhill establishes new office in Vietnam
Awards & Rankings
Allen & Gledhill recognised at Benchmark Litigation Asia-Pacific Awards 2020
Allen & Gledhill continues to be the only Singapore law firm ranked Tier 1 in World Tax 2021
Allen & Gledhill lawyer ranked in Who’s Who Legal: Arbitration 2021 Global Guide
Six lawyers from the Allen & Gledhill network featured in IFLR Asia Best Lawyers 2020 guide
A&G secures major regional awards at ALB SE Asia Law Awards 2020