Banking

Malta’s international banking centre has been gaining considerable ground in establishing itself as a finance hub in the Mediterranean region. Over the past decade or so, the sector has transformed itself from one having four retail banks serving the local population to a reputable international banking centre.

This influx, which includes several leading banking groups, has added dynamism to Malta’s thriving financial services industry, and the expectation is that many other banking institutions will follow this lead.

Funds

Malta’s reputation as a hedge fund domicile was established with the island’s accession to the European Union in May 2004. Back then, only four hedge funds were domiciled in Malta. Currently, over 400 investment services licenses have been issued.

Insurance Malta

Malta is also an attractive location in the European Union for the establishment of captive and other insurance and reinsurance businesses, both life and non-life. In the difficult financial times the world is facing, the island offers security and opportunity for those looking to enter the insurance industry.

Pensions

The Special Funds (Regulation) Act, 2002 ("Act") which came into force on 1st October 2002 aims at facilitating the establishment of funded second pillar retirement arrangements. The Act provides a regulatory framework for the arrangement pursuant to which an employer or contributor promises the employee or beneficiary retirement benefits. The said legislation also allows for the registration of investment vehicles (called Retirement Funds) through which Retirement Schemes can hold and invest any contributions received...

Trusts

Since Malta’s accession to the EU in 2004, Malta has emerged as an attractive jurisdiction for the establishment of international corporate holding structures, to be used in multinational groups, owner-managed companies as well as the holding of assets for high-net-worths.

Worthy of note is the fact that in the last decade Maltese legislature has been very active in the area of fiduciary obligations, specifically those resulting from the creation of trusts and foundations...

Tax & Wealth Management

The combination of Malta’s tax system and its extensive double tax treaty network means that, with proper planning and structuring, investors can achieve considerable fiscal efficiency using Malta as a base.

• Only EU member state with full imputation system;

• Extensive network of double taxation treaties, plus benefits even when no bilateral treaty in force;

• Refundable tax credit scheme – on revenues as dividends to shareholders, resident & non-resident;