During this conference the various speakers will tackle topics relating to the registers on beneficial owners of all legal entities and arrangements and the importance of transparency of these entities. 

To this end we have Dr Helga Buttigieg Debono (National Coordinating Committee for Money Laundering and Financing of Terrorism) who will give a detailed explanation on the vulnerability of legal entities and arrangements of being abused or misused to launder proceeds of crime and to finance terrorist activities. She will also evaluate this in the local context and in the light of the Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing National Risk Assessment.

Dr Geraldine Spiteri Lucas, together with Dr Deandra Schembri (both from Malta Business Registry), will be tackling the register on beneficial owners of commercial partnerships including amendments transposing the Fifth Anti-Money Laundering Directive and other important amendments.

Dr Petra Camilleri (Malta Financial Services Authority) will give an overview of the requirements relating to the reporting of beneficial ownership information of trusts, including changes introduced by the amendments to the legislation following the transposition of the 5th AML Directive.

Dr Maria Schembri (Malta Business Registry) will delve into the register of beneficial owners of foundations and associations.

Mr Andrew Schembri (Malta Business Registry) will explain the role of MBR’s Compliance Unit and an explanation on the inspections being carried out to a number of companies whereby verification is being conducted against a number of documents which ultimately confirms the beneficial owner.

The Hon Silvio Schembri, Minister for Economy, Investment and Small Business and Mr Joseph Farrugia, Chief Executive Officer of the Malta Business Registry will also be addressing this conference.