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Find out moreThe final Law Update of 2022 is here, and it’s packed full of articles. The double edition features two focus areas, first is a spotlight on Energy and Resources and second we feature a collection of articles on Transport and Logistics. The developments occurring in these sectors in the MENA region are unprecedented and our lawyers cover vast themes for you.
The Energy and Resources focus features topics such as diversifying energy resources, solar PV, mining in the Middle East, renewable energy and green hydrogen. From a transport perspective, we draw attention to the Bahrain metro project, discuss the challenges and remedies associated with the repossession of an aircraft, and there is advice on what to consider should a party vary the terms of a shipping contract.
This edition navigates you through updates from across jurisdictions such as, Oman, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Iraq, Qatar, and the UAE. Each article is timely and provides insights into legal issues and cases that are affecting these sectors across the region.
Read the full editionHani Thabet
March 2016
This article considers the key considerations in respect of Book 5.
Recently, the CMA has trended towards taking a more stringent approach towards the activities that require to be regulated and who can perform these activities.
Book 5 outlines various matters including:
We now consider the most important provisions of Book 5 an entity should take into consideration before conducting securities activities in Kuwait.
The following securities activities require a license by the CMA (Article 1-2):
It is important to note the last item above, which reserves wide discretion for the CMA to deem any activity not outlined in the bylaws as being regulated and to require a license. Moreover, subject to other provisions in the bylaws, a single person or entity may apply for more than one license. In other words, the activities may be combined by one person or entity (Article 1-3). However, the CMA does reserve the right to prohibit the combination of activities to a single licensed person or entities.
The license application requirements set out in Book 5 are a general requirement for all who seek to obtain a license (Article 1-4, 1-5). The CMA, however, may exempt certain applicants from certain requirements or impose additional requirements at its discretion (Article 1-6).
Book 5 stipulates a number of special conditions for certain regulated activities. These activities tend to be of particular interest to foreign companies and multinational firms intending on or already performing regulated securities activities in Kuwait. Among these are the activities of an Investment Advisor and Asset Valuator, (as defined under Article 1-27 and Article 1-39). Book 5 sets out additional conditions to regulate Investment Advisor and Asset Valuator activities being specific academic and professional qualifications, practical threshold experience requirements and requiring a minimum number of licensed representatives.
In some scenarios, foreign and multinational financial advisory firms are engaged by Kuwaiti financial institutions and companies to arrange a cross-border or local transaction, for example, a sell-side or buy-side acquisition. These transactions will often require the services of an investment advisor and/or an asset valuator during the transactional cycle. Book 5 appears to require the actual persons or entities performing these specific activities to be licensed, not necessarily the foreign company or multinational firm quarterbacking the transaction. In such circumstances, the foreign entity may provide its expert advice on how the transaction is arranged and executed. However, a CMA licensed company or individual is then brought in to perform the actual regulated activities surrounding the securities that are the subject of the transaction. Foreign and multinational financial advisory firms should be ever diligent in drawing the line between providing overall transaction advice and delving into regulated activities in order to mitigate the risks of running afoul of the CMA’s regulations.
In summary, Book 5 outlines the securities activities that are under the regulatory purview of the CMA and which require entities to obtain a license from the CMA in order to engage in the same. We strongly advise firms looking to engage in any of the securities activities referenced in Article 1-2 of Book 5 in the State of Kuwait to ensure that they are not violating the licensing requirements of the CMA.
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