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The comment period for the first round of the US regulatory reduction review closes soon. But many are sceptical about its impact

The lawyers, bankers and investors driving the asset class have spoken with IFLR about the asset class’s pressure points. Here are their insights

Despite their popularity in Europe and the US, warranty and indemnity policies have failed to gain traction in Asia – even in riskier emerging jurisdictions

Corporate governance practices in South African have worsened over the past 12 months, according to an annual survey released last week

The Houston-based company's decision to abandon the MLP structure that it pioneered has sparked debate about its future

Corporate issuance has exploded this year. But can it become a mainstay of conventional finance?

Samuel Hong A number of recent privatisations in Malaysia have been proposed to be undertaken through selective capital reduction (SCR) exercises. The most recent example is the proposal by Khazanah Nasional, Malaysia's sovereign wealth fund, to privatise Malaysian Airline System through an SCR. Under an SCR privatisation, an existing shareholder (acquirer) of a company (target) becomes the sole shareholder of the target under the selective cancellation of shares held by all shareholders other than the acquirer.

The Government of the Republic of Kenya has ratified the Double Taxation Treaty (DTA) with Mauritius through the publication of a legal notice in the Kenya Official Gazette on May 23 2014. The DTA will become effective on January 1 2015. It was signed on May 7 2012, together with an investment promotion and protection agreement (IPPA) and ratified by the Republic of Mauritius. This is a significant event, reinforcing the economic relationship between the economic powerhouses of east Africa.

Jose Florante M Pamfilo The Philippines recently enacted a law that allows the full entry of foreign banks into the Philippines. Under this new law, Republic Act (RA) No 10641, foreign banks may operate in the Philippine banking system through any one of the following modes of entry: (i) by acquiring, purchasing or owning up to 100% of the voting stock of an existing bank; (ii) by investing in up to 100% of the voting stock of a new banking subsidiary incorporated under the laws of the Philippines; or (iii) by establishing branches with full banking authority. RA No 10641 amends RA No 7721, the Foreign Banks Liberalisation Act. Previously, foreign banks were limited to one of the following modes of entry: (i) acquiring, purchasing or owning up to 60% of the voting stock of an existing bank; (ii) investing in up to 60% of the voting stock of a new banking subsidiary incorporated under the laws of the Philippines; or (iii) establishing branches with full banking authority. The third mode was available only for a period of five years from the effectivity of RA No 7721 or until May 1999, during which period a maximum of 10 foreign banks could be allowed to establish branches in the Philippines. Meanwhile, the General Banking Law of 2000 expanded the first mode and allowed foreign banks to acquire up to 100% of one already existing bank, but only for a period of seven years from the effectivity of the General Banking Law or until June 2007.

The country aims to pass a casino law to boost tourism opportunities ahead of the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo. Masayuki Fukuda of Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu explains how