The exemption of Banks in respect of financially sophisticated and high-wealth corporate clients, referred to as the Merchant Banking Exemption (BN 103 of 2004), was extended by FAIS Notice 35 of 2023 until 30 June 2025. The clients covered under the Exemption include other banks, central banks, insurers (life and non-life insurers), asset managers who … Continue reading
There has been considerable media attention over the last few weeks on account closures by banks. Although there are no statutory requirements in this regard (the Banks Act, 1990 for example, is silent on the issue of account closures), it is not the case that a bank has an unfettered discretion regarding account closures. An … Continue reading
With effect from 29 June 2015, the Banks Act has been amended. The amendments to the Banks Act enable the provisions in the Companies Act on arrangements and compromises to apply to banks under curatorship and to expand the basis on which a curator of a bank may dispose of all or part of the … Continue reading
Proposed changes to the curatorship process will allow the transfer of all or a part of a bank’s business to another entity (this would be done as a transfer under s54 of the Banks Act). When African Bank Investments Limited (ABIL) was placed under curatorship on 10 August 2014, it was announced that some of … Continue reading