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📘 𝙀-𝙗𝙤𝙤𝙠: 𝙉𝙚𝙬 𝙀𝙐 𝘼𝙣𝙩𝙞-𝙈𝙤𝙣𝙚𝙮 𝙇𝙖𝙪𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙇𝙚𝙜𝙞𝙨𝙡𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱 2024 marked a turning point in European anti-money laundering: new rules, new challenges. A far-reaching European package of measures was adopted to combat money laundering and terrorist financing. The package aims to reduce regulatory differences between EU Member States whilst better integrating international recommendations into national legislation. This book covers three key components of the legislative package: • the establishment of the new Anti-Money Laundering Authority (AMLA) • the new Regulation (AMLR) • the Directive (AMLD6) It brings these together – including the recitals – and provides in-depth insight into the implications for supervision, compliance, and practice. Authored by experts Birgit Snijder-Kuipers, Sari Eckhardt, Neyah Van der Aa and Juliëtte Boeser. 🔗 Link to the e-book in the comments. 👉 Essential reading for compliance professionals, supervisors, and legal practitioners navigating Europe’s evolving AML landscape. #AML #Compliance #EuropeanLaw #FinancialRegulation #MoneyLaundering #RegulatoryCompliance

The new BIS 50% rule for the Entity List was announced and implemented very quickly, giving little time to screening providers and organizations to comply. As with the OFAC 50% rule, this is an unfair burden to place on organizations. If the government knows what parties have sanctioned owners well enough to enforce the rule, then the government should add those parties to the lists. Trade compliance teams do not have nearly the same resources as the government, in terms of research capabilities or language skills, and standard denied party screening programs don't include beneficial ownership screening. While the new requirements will add complexity to the screening process, I hope that the good that can come from this change is to have beneficial ownership included in standard denied party screening programs. The OFAC 50% rule has existed for years, and yet most trade compliance teams still have to use multiple screening tools to meet their full screening obligations, at an additional cost that can be a hard sell to company leadership. I hope that the expansion of the 50% rule to the BIS Entity List will spur the inclusion of beneficial ownership as a standard part of denied party screening. #tradecompliance #exportcontrols #sanctions #ofac #bis #deniedparties

🇪🇺 The European Commission pauses some non-essential Level 2 AML/CFT legislation The EC has decided to de-prioritise a large number of Level 2 acts (Delegated Acts, Implementing Acts, RTS, and ITS) across financial services legislation — including several linked to the AMLR, AMLD6, and AMLA. The rationale: 📉 A high volume of Level 2 measures risks creating unnecessary complexity and compliance costs, while requiring significant scrutiny resources from EU co-legislators. ⚖️ The EC aims to simplify and focus on measures that are essential for the functioning of the new AML/CFT framework. As a result, the EC has informed the ESAs and AMLA that it will not adopt “non-essential” Level 2 acts before 1 October 2027. Among the postponed AML/CFT measures are: -RTS on AML/CFT supervisory colleges (financial & non-financial sectors) -ITS on cooperation templates with third-country supervisors -ITS on reporting format from AMLA to EPPO -DA on additional categories of prominent public functions (PEPs) -DA on high-risk corporate categories and lower beneficial ownership thresholds -IA on the methodology for AML statistics collection https://lnkd.in/ej_k2jcs

Shocking insight: AML regulations increase costs and complexity. 🤯 So, the next time your regulator criticizes the lack of progress in your AML remediation project, just tell them you have "de-prioritized" items "considered non-essential" because "the large number of measures to be adopted is a concern for stakeholders" and, therefore, these will not be completed before October 2027. 🤷♂️ I'm sure it will be fine. 😏 Thanks, Maud Bökkerink, for flagging and for the summary! 👍

Steve Drescher, Tassilo A. - Interesting that the EC only postponed measures that give additional complexity and compliance costs to public actors and regulators. Non of the RTS, etc. that are expected to add significant effort and costs to private actors have been postponed. Let's see what happens next. The timeline for AMLA conformance in July 2027 is very ambitious both for the private sector but for AMLA as well. Less than 2 years to go and chiefs of section are now being hired. Lets see how effective AMLA will be on July 10 - I am sure the expectation for private actors will be 100% compliance on day one.

Are you facing data quality issues with your sanctions screening systems?   To help improve the effectiveness and efficiency of screening controls, this checklist, produced with Malverde, outlines common challenges and how to mitigate them.   ICA Members can find a range of practical checklists via our Learning Hub: https://lnkd.in/eVH5afHQ #sanctionsscreening

As I am getting ready to speak about the "Rapidly Evolving Sanctions Risk Landscape and Increasing Complexity" in the MENA Financial Crimes & Compliance Conclave 2025 this morning, happy to share some background information from the hand notes 😊 New BIS "Affiliates Rule" Reshapes UAE Trade Finance Compliance The whole game of "Trade Finance" is just about to change for banks in the UAE and across the region. On September 29, 2025, the U.S. Bureau of Industry and Security implemented the "Affiliates Rule" and if you're in trade finance, this demands your immediate attention. Any company that's 50% or more owned by an entity on the BIS Entity List or Military End-User List is now automatically restricted, even if they're not formally listed themselves. This applies globally, to direct subsidiaries, holding company structures, and even collective ownership scenarios. How does it matter for UAE Banks? This rule hits close to home for UAE banks. The UAE's position as a major re-export hub for technology, electronics, and dual-use goods means significant exposure. Dubai alone has over 500,000 registered companies, many in affected sectors. Add thousands of free zone entities in technology and electronics, the UAE's trade relationships with Russia, Iran, China, and Central Asia, plus Jebel Ali's role as a regional transshipment center, and you can see why this matters. Banks must now screen not just customers, but their entire ownership structures. Yes, you've read it just right. Suggest read that sentence again😊 That electronics distributor in Deira? You need to verify who owns the holding company that owns them, potentially through multiple jurisdictions. Financial institutions now have an affirmative duty to investigate ownership through the new "Red Flag 29" requirement. "We didn't know" will no longer be a defence. This means integrated BIS screening in your sanctions platforms, risk-based ownership screening up to five levels deep for high-risk sectors, enhanced investigation protocols, customer certifications, and significant technology investments with major UAE banks spending between $5-15M. The UAE context adds unique challenges: variable ownership data quality across different free zones, rapid company formation creating constant screening needs, complex Islamic finance structures where economic and legal ownership differ, regional counterparties with limited transparency, and high-volume transactions requiring efficient risk-based approaches. This isn't just another compliance requirement. It's a fundamental shift in how we approach trade finance due diligence. The institutions that adapt quickly will maintain their competitive edge while managing regulatory risk. https://lnkd.in/drZDsw4r #TradeFinance #Compliance #Sanctions #ExportControls #UAEBanking #BIS #DubaiFinance #RiskManagement #RegTech #KYC #FinancialCrime #TradeCompliance #MENA #Banking #DueDiligence

The pressure for transparency is mounting Across jurisdictions, regulators are tightening requirements on Ultimate Beneficial Ownership (UBO) disclosure. Public registers, stricter reporting standards, and cross-border data sharing are no longer optional they are becoming the global norm. * Exposing shell companies and opaque structures is key to fighting money laundering, sanctions evasion, and tax abuse. * Businesses face rising expectations to identify, verify, and continuously monitor UBO information. * Transparency builds trust with regulators, investors, and counterparties. The shift towards open UBO databases and mandatory disclosure rules signals a turning point: compliance is not just a checkbox, it’s central to market integrity. Firms that embrace transparency today will be better positioned to navigate tomorrow’s enforcement actions and stakeholder scrutiny. #AML #KYC #Compliance #UBO #Transparency #Croftz #dmcc #fzco #rbi #fca #acams #forensic #mfsa #CDD #verification #screening

🔍 Who really owns the company? Behind every business name is a layer of ownership and control that shapes global trade. This video unpacks beneficial ownership, explains how to identify an ultimate beneficial owner (UBO), and explores why transparency matters for trade finance, AML compliance, and corporate due diligence. 💡 Highlights include: • Legal vs beneficial ownership — what’s the difference? • The 25% threshold & control criteria used globally • Key regulations like the U.S. FinCEN / Corporate Transparency Act • The risks of hidden ownership & shell companies • How transparency strengthens trust in trade If you work in compliance, logistics, or international business, understanding beneficial ownership gives you a sharper edge in managing risk and ensuring integrity. 👉 Discover more at www.adamftd.com #BeneficialOwnership #UBO #CorporateTransparency #TradeFinance #AML #DueDiligence #GlobalTrade #TradeCompliance #OwnershipStructure #TradeIntelligence