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Global rules on foreign direct investment (FDI)
Cross-border acquisitions and investments increasingly trigger foreign direct investment (FDI) screening requirements.
United Kingdom | Publication | June 2024
Parliament was dissolved on May 30, 2024, with the General Election being held on July 4, 2024. As a result, much of the planned pensions legislation has been lost and it remains to be seen if the various bills will be reprised by the new Government.
The Finance (No.2) Act 2024 survived the election cull and was published on May 24, 2024. Sections of the Act which are relevant to pensions make amendments to the Finance Act 2004 in respect of tax on drawdown pensions from collective money purchase arrangements.
Legislation or policies which were lost, or the future of which is unclear, include:
One of the first pensions related election announcements was “triple lock plus” from the Conservatives. This is a proposal to raise pensioners’ tax-free personal allowance in line with the State pension triple lock. This proposal aims to address the problem of pensioners whose sole income is the State pension being drawn into paying income tax due to the freezing of the personal tax allowance.
It was reported in the general press on June 10, 2024, that the Labour party will not, after all, reintroduce the lifetime allowance if they gain power. This announcement could be welcome news in that it would save an added layer of complexity to legislation.
The Institute for Fiscal Studies has published a report on the five key pensions policy decisions awaiting the next Government. One such decision is the increase in auto-enrolment contributions and the expansion of the regime to the self-employed, lower earners and younger savers. Another is the future level of the State pension.
Our June briefing will look at future pensions policy and the main parties’ manifestos as they become available.
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Cross-border acquisitions and investments increasingly trigger foreign direct investment (FDI) screening requirements.
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On February 2, 2024, the Belgian Presidency of the Council of the European Union confirmed that the Committee of Permanent Representatives had signed the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Regulation, referred to as the AI Act. Approval by the EU Parliament followed on 13 March 2024, and the AI Act is likely to appear in the EU’s Official Journal around May 2024. The AI Act aims to establish a stringent legal framework governing the development, marketing, and utilisation of artificial intelligence within the region, thereby marking a significant advancement in the regulation of this burgeoning domain.
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In the recent decision of Euronav Shipping NV (Euronav) v Black Swan Petroleum DMCC (BSP) [2024] EWHC 986 (Comm) (the Judgment), the English Commercial Court has underscored the role of comity in international disputes.
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