29 November 2023

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Competition & Foreign Investment Review

Singapore proposes new Significant Investments Review Bill to regulate significant investments in entities critical to national security

Corporate / M&A

ACRA issues Financial Reporting Practice Guidance No. 1 of 2023 on areas of review focus for FY2023 financial statements

Cybersecurity & Data Protection

Cyber Security Agency launches cloud security companion guides for organisations

ESG & Public Policy

MAS consults on proposed guidelines for financial institutions on transition planning for a net zero economy

Q3 2023 Review: Key ESG and public policy developments in Singapore

Study on greenwashing in online marketing finds use of vague environmental claims and confusing technical jargon

Green Skills Committee identifies green skills in high demand in energy and sustainability reporting and assurance sectors

Energy Market Authority announces new emission standards for power generation units and initiatives to meet electricity demand

Singapore announces changes to gas procurement framework for power sector, and launches next stage of selection of a low- or zero-carbon ammonia solution for power generation and bunkering

SWITCH 2023 - New initiatives launched in sustainability, open innovation, and market access

FinTech

Digital tokens and customer protections

MAS partners financial industry to expand asset tokenisation initiatives, publishes whitepaper on interlinking networks

MAS lays foundation for safe and innovative use of digital money in Singapore, launches integrated platform for seamless ESG data collection and access

MAS partners industry to develop generative AI risk framework for financial sector

Intellectual Property

New class licensing scheme for collective management organisations from 1 May 2024

Singapore Court of Appeal allows registration of “Prosecco” as geographical indication

Real Estate

MAS announces new AI-powered system to support sustainable finance in real estate sector

Restructuring & Insolvency

Singapore courts’ crypto-friendly approach shown in new ruling that cryptocurrency can be property

Insolvency, Restructuring and Dissolution Act 2018 amended on 1 November 2023 to mandate appointment of private trustees in bankruptcy cases and extend Simplified Insolvency Programme

Tax

Amendments to Income Tax Act 1947 in force from various dates: New Enterprise Innovation Scheme and treatment for foreign-sourced income

Singapore commits to implementing Crypto Asset Reporting Framework in 2027

Bill passed to extend certain incentive schemes under Economic Expansion Incentives (Relief from Income Tax) Act 1967

Technology, Media & Telecommunications

Consultations on proposed shared responsibility framework for FIs, Telcos, and consumers for phishing scams and revisions to E-Payments User Protection Guidelines

Regional News

Malaysia

Malaysia takes a significant step towards its net zero goals: Dewan Rakyat passes Energy Efficiency and Conservation Bill 2023

Malaysia introduces National Energy Transition Roadmap

Malaysia Court of Appeal finds employees can be made redundant if company downsizes due to business and economic circumstances

Myanmar

Myanmar levies income tax on citizen earnings abroad including salary

Myanmar issues Copyright Registration Rules

Indonesia

Indonesia Financial Services Authority introduces implementing regulation on peer-to-peer lending business

Indonesia introduces new task force authorised to monitor and recommend revocation of land titles and business permits

Publications

The International Comparative Legal Guide to Foreign Direct Investment Regimes 2024 (5th Ed): Singapore

Practical Law: Competition Law in Singapore

Practical Law: Litigation & Dispute Resolution - Singapore

SAL Practitioner: Does size of debt always prevail? Determinative factors for court-appointed liquidators and judicial managers in Singapore

SAL Practitioner: A contractor’s entitlement to adjudication - Judicial interpretation of amendments to the Building and Construction Industry Security of Payment Act 2004

Bits & Bytes: Cryptocurrency group granted moratoria to formulate worldwide restructuring plan centred in Singapore

Lexology In-Depth: Technology Disputes (3rd Ed, 2023)

Getting the Deal Through: Technology Disputes 2024

Deals

Issue of CNY600 million 3.80% guaranteed bonds due 2026 by CLCT MTN Pte. Ltd. unconditionally and irrevocably guaranteed by HSBC Institutional Trust Services (Singapore) Limited (in its capacity as trustee of CapitaLand China Trust)

Issue of US$500 million notes by PT Medco Energi Internasional Tbk

US$45.6 million acquisition of a majority interest in American International Hospital by Scotts Capital Pte. Ltd.

Subscription of seed preference shares in Kinetic Innovation

News

Siva Subramaniam joins Allen & Gledhill as Head of Aviation Finance

Awards & Rankings

Allen & Gledhill wins Singapore Trademarks Firm of the Year at Asia IP Awards 2023