Amendments to the International Business Companies Act 2000 have resulted in legislative enhancements that reinforce the IBC as an important part of the comprehensive range of products and services available from Bahamian service providers.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit has recently decided a case of first impression regarding whether a private equity fund could be liable to a multiemployer pension fund for the withdrawal liability of a bankrupt portfolio company.

Minister Maynard-Gibson addressed a "Special Programme for Intermediaries in Nassau" (SPIN) earlier this week. This first SPIN for the year 2005, targeting the private wealth management sector, was hosted by the Bahamas Financial Services Board (BFSB) in collaboration with the Association of International Banks & Trust Companies in the Bahamas (AIBT).

Notification requirements in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia, Montenegro, and Serbia are relatively low and can easily be triggered by multinational companies having any activities in these jurisdictions.

Addressing Parliamentarians during the current Debate on the Government's 2004-5 Budget, Minister Maynard-Gibson took the opportunity to report on key accomplishments, maintaining that her Ministry has demonstrated its relevance as the focal point for the promotion of financial services as well as for foreign direct investment.