Market Intelligence

Recent geopolitical events in the Strait of Hormuz and Red Sea have exposed critical vulnerabilities in the international law of the sea framework. As hostile States and non-state actors increasingly threaten commercial shipping through vital maritime choke points, the shipping industry faces fundamental questions about whether UNCLOS can continue to protect freedom of navigation when legal rights cannot be practically enforced.

The European Union's proposed Digital Fairness Act could fundamentally reshape how online gambling operators design player experiences, moving beyond traditional compliance to assess whether platforms treat consumers fairly. With Malta serving as a major hub for EU-licensed operators, the legislation's focus on addictive design, dark patterns, and personalised targeting based on player vulnerabilities may require the industry to rethink its entire approach to engagement and data use.

The Malta Financial Services Authority has proposed a comprehensive revision to Chapter 2 of the Financial Institutions Rulebook, marking a fundamental shift from a principles-based framework to a more prescriptive regulatory regime. The consultation document introduces detailed standalone requirements covering governance, capital adequacy, control functions, and operational resilience that will significantly impact how financial institutions structure their operations and compliance frameworks. What specif

Modern remuneration structures in insurance are evolving from simple compensation mechanisms into sophisticated governance tools that promote prudent risk management and customer protection. How do regulatory frameworks like Solvency II and the Insurance Distribution Directive reshape executive pay to incentivize long-term value creation, and what lessons can be drawn from high-profile compensation disputes?

In this inaugural episode of Ganado Meets Funds, two industry experts explore the rapidly evolving landscape of fund administration in the digital asset era. The conversation delves into the technical challenges administrators face when valuing cryptocurrencies, from continuous trading cycles to decentralized finance protocols, and examines whether traditional fund structures can adapt to meet the demands of tokenized assets and real-time valuation requirements.

When acquiring a business in Malta, buyers face a fundamental choice: purchase the company's shares or acquire the business assets directly. While asset purchases offer flexibility in selecting what to acquire, they introduce complex legal challenges spanning asset identification, employee transfers, intellectual property rights, and tax implications that require careful navigation through Malta's regulatory framework.