27 March 2024

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Competition & Foreign Investment Review

CCCS publishes Guidance Note on Business Collaborations Pursuing Environmental Sustainability Objectives

Construction & Engineering

BCA sets out initiatives to support transformation in built environment sector

Corporate / M&A

MOF and ACRA consult on proposed legislative amendments relating to digital communications and regulatory enhancements

SGX RegCo proposes changes to Listing Rules to aid company restructuring

EnterpriseSG enhances Partnerships for Capability Transformation scheme to cover expanded range of industry segments and partnership modalities

Cybersecurity & Data Protection

Singapore studying introduction of Digital Infrastructure Act

Employment, Health & Safety

MOM to raise Employment Pass qualifying salary from 1 January 2025 and Local Qualifying Salary from 1 July 2024

MOM to raise retirement and re-employment ages to 64 and 69 respectively in 2026

Energy, Infrastructure & Projects

Singapore to establish Future Energy Fund to invest in energy transition infrastructure

ESG & Public Policy

ACRA, SGX RegCo respond to feedback from consultation on Sustainability Reporting Advisory Committee recommendations: Mandatory climate reporting for listed issuers and large non-listed companies

New provisions on segregation, treatment, and reporting requirements relating to food waste come into force

Government enhances support for businesses in transition to low-carbon and sustainable future

NCSS conducts public consultation on sustainable philanthropy framework

Logistics industry to accelerate pace of green transition with new initiatives to intensify companies’ sustainability efforts and capabilities

Singapore aims to become leading global geospatial hub with strategies set out in new master plan

Singapore and Indonesia to collaborate on carbon capture and storage

Singapore and Australia sign MOU on green and digital shipping corridor and develop principles to guide development of cross-border electricity trade

FinTech

Three key FinTech trends in 2023

Intellectual Property

Singapore High Court finds film distributor liable for copyright infringement in first case invoking Simplified Process for Certain IP Claims

Medico-Legal

Infectious Diseases (Amendment) Bill passed in Parliament: Upcoming update to Singapore’s public health postures

Technology, Media & Telecommunications

MCI announces AI initiatives in alignment with National AI Strategy, including PDPC Advisory Guidelines on the Use of Personal Data in AI Recommendation and Decision Systems

Singapore and Malaysia sign MOU to strengthen cooperation to tackle scams across telecommunications channels

White Collar & Investigations

Registrar of Regulated Dealers issues notice relating to call for action in accordance with February 2024 FATF statement

Regional News

Indonesia

Indonesia seeks to strengthen venture capital industry with new law and initiatives

Indonesia Financial Services Authority issues new regulation on FinTech

Malaysia

Malaysia High Court determines bids in first round of tenders under order for sale of vessel remain valid during subsequent rounds

High Court finds Malaysia to be appropriate forum for dispute despite contrary exclusive jurisdiction clause

Bank Negara Malaysia revises policy documents on anti-money laundering, countering financing of terrorism, countering proliferation financing, and targeted financial sanctions

Securities Commission Malaysia revises LOLA Guidelines, introducing categories of sophisticated investors

Securities Commission Malaysia revises Guidelines on Recognized Markets

Myanmar

Central Bank of Myanmar issues guidelines on payment procedures for using special rupee vostro account in India-Myanmar bilateral trade

Central Bank of Myanmar sets out procedure for agent banking services

Vietnam

Amended Law on Credit Institutions to bring significant change to Vietnam banking sector from 1 July 2024

Vietnam’s Telecoms Law overhauled to align with digital economy

Vietnam clarifies rules on foreign ownership and raising capital in new Law on Residential Housing

Publications

Practical Law: Memorandum for Incoming Directors on Their Duties and Potential Liabilities - Singapore

Practical Law: Tax Considerations in Joint Ventures - Singapore

Practical Law: Employment and Employee Benefits in Singapore

Practical Law: Commercial Real Estate in Singapore

Bits & Bytes: Legal implications - Beijing Internet Court grants copyright protection to AI-generated artwork

Bits & Bytes: Mickey Mouse enters the public domain - The end of a cultural icon?

Deals

S$950 million sustainability-linked term loan facility to HSBC Institutional Trust Services (Singapore) Limited (in its capacity as trustee of Suntec Real Estate Investment Trust)

Issue of S$700 million fixed rate notes by Housing and Development Board

Issue of CNY750 million notes due 2029 by Temasek Financial (I) Private Limited guaranteed by Temasek Holdings (Private) Limited

US$32 million pre-Series B financing of UNOAsia led by Gateway Partners

US$10 million series seed financing of LXA

US$3 million series seed round investment in Meiro Pte. Ltd. led by Wavemaker Pacific 4, L.P.

Series seed financing of Penguin Securities Holdings Pte. Ltd.

Transfer of Phu My 3 BOT Thermal Power Plant to Vietnam Ministry of Industry and Trade and Vietnam Electricity

Awards & Rankings

Allen & Gledhill named National Law Firm of the Year (Singapore) at the IFLR Asia-Pacific Awards 2024

Allen & Gledhill maintains its top tier ranking in the Asia IP Copyright Survey 2024 Rankings