With effect from 8 January 2019, Financial Institutions will no longer be able to unilaterally treat investors as accredited investors (even if the investors qualify under the applicable wealth or asset thresholds).  In order to dis-apply regulatory safeguards afforded to retail investors under the law and offer restricted products to investors who qualify as accredited investors, Financial Institutions will be required to obtain written consent from these investors in that they agree to be treated as an accredited investor (“opt in consent”). Transitional provisions will be afforded to investors existing immediately before 8 January 2019.

In this Seminar, we aim to help participants navigate the mechanics of the new regime by covering the following topics:

• New definitions of accredited investors
• “Opt in consent” requirements, including contents to be included in the notice to investors and consent forms
• Transitional provisions for existing investors immediately before 8 January 2019, including the contents to be included in the “opt out notices”, timeline for providing the “opt out notices”, distinction between existing individual and non-individual accredited investors
• How the new regime will apply to fund managers