Sunday, 7th September 2008

 

IMF warns of Liechtenstein threat to anti-money laundering efforts

Liechtenstein has a lot of ground to cover before its financial services sector can be closely aligned with international standards and regulations, the International Monetary Fund says

Liechtenstein, famous for its status as a global tax and investment haven, still poses a threat to international anti-money laundering efforts, a new study from the International Monetary Fund has revealed, according to various press reports.

"By its nature, Liechtenstein's financial sector business creates a particular money laundering risk in response to which the authorities and the financial sector firms have developed risk-based mitigating measures," noted the IMF report.

Despite progress by authorities to curb Liechtenstein's money laundering risk, the IMF warns that there is still much to be done before its financial services sector can be closely aligned with international financial services standards and regulations.

"Minimising the risk of abuse of corporate vehicles and related financial services products presents an ongoing challenge, as does the identification of the natural persons who are the beneficial owners of the underlying assets or legal person or arrangements," said the IMF.

Brummel

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Doing the Continental

Frank Sinatra had it about right: “It's very subtle, the Continental, because it does what you want it to do.” I had spent the morning driving down relatively busy A roads behind a Ferrari 599 but was perfectly happy that I had got the better of the deal. It’s no hardship being cocooned in the plush cockpit of a Bentley Continental GT Speed listening to John Humphrys detailing the latest travails of our benighted government.

Rich Monitor

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Russia’s richest man increases his property interests

Russian tycoon Oleg Deripaska has raised his stake in the managing company of the emerging business district of Moscow City to 84% after buying out fellow oligarchs Prokhorov and Vladimir Potanin.

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