Daily Archives: 20 Oct 2009

S’pore to enter ‘white list’

Tax regime changes allow it to implement standard for sharing information

Singapore will let a foreign jurisdiction access tax data if requests are ‘clear, specific, relevant, and consistent with the exchange of information standard’, says Mr Tharman. — TNP FILE PHOTO

Public interest means…

”Public interest’ under the Act covers the same grounds as ‘public policy’ (ordre public) as stated in the internationally agreed standard. It covers especially national security interests, or sensitive information held in the vital interests of the requested country. We have used the term ‘public interest’ only so as to be consistent with our Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters Act (MACMA), which is an existing Act. ‘Public interest’ does not in substance depart from what is envisaged under the internationally agreed standard, under its public policy provision.’

Finance Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam, on amendments to the Income Tax Act, in response to a question by MP Ho Geok Choo. The new Bill allows Singapore to implement the internationally agreed standard for the exchange of information for tax purposes upon request from treaty partners.

LATEST changes to the local tax regime will see Singapore edge closer towards getting on a list of the world’s leading tax jurisdictions.

The Income Tax (Amendment) (Exchange of Information) Bill, passed by Parliament yesterday, will allow Singapore to implement an internationally agreed standard for the exchange of information on tax matters.

That is key to getting out of a ‘grey’ list of nations committed to the standard but have yet to fully implement it. Continue reading

Evergrande to raise US$769m in IPO

Chinese property developer Evergrande Real Estate Group Limited plans to raise up to US$769 million in a Hong Kong initial public offering (IPO), according to a term sheet obtained by Reuters yesterday.

The Guangzhou-based property developer, which focuses on residential properties, is selling 1.5 billion shares, including 900 million new shares and 611 million secondary shares, at a price range indicated between HK$3 and HK$4 per share, according to the term sheet.

The developer is expected to price its shares on or around Oct 28, with trading expected to begin on Nov 5. Evergrande tried to raise US$2.1 billion in a flotation in March last year but cancelled the deal due to lack of interest. BofA-Merrill Lynch, Goldman Sachs, Credit Suisse and BOC International are handling the deal.

More Chinese property IPOs are on the way, with Yuzhou Properties, Fantasia, Longfor Properties, SCE Property and Sunac China also preparing listings.

Source : Business Times – 20 Oct 2009