Securities and Futures (Amendment) Bill 2026 Introduced to Facilitate Dual Listings on SGX and Nasdaq
The Securities and Futures (Amendment) Bill 2026 (“Bill“) was introduced for its First Reading in Parliament on 7 April 2026. The Bill establishes the legislative framework for the Global Listing Board, a joint initiative between the Singapore Exchange Securities Trading (SGX) and the Nasdaq Stock Market (Nasdaq) to enable concurrent listings on both exchanges under a streamlined regulatory framework. The Bill also empowers the Monetary Authority of Singapore (“MAS“) to implement a similar framework for dual-listing arrangements with other overseas exchanges as and when opportunities arise.
The Bill gives legislative effect to earlier proposals issued by MAS in January 2026 for public consultation, incorporating comments received, where appropriate. For a detailed discussion of those proposals, please refer to our earlier Client Update on the on “SGX & MAS Consult on Changes to Listing Rules and SFA to Facilitate Dual Listings on SGX and Nasdaq“.
For more information, click here to read our Legal Update.
Singapore and Indonesia Sign MOU to Enhance Cross-border Insolvency Communication and Cooperation
On 30 March 2026, the Supreme Court of Singapore and the Supreme Court of Indonesia signed a Memorandum of Understanding (“MOU“) to Enhance Cross-Border Communication and Cooperation in Cross-Border Insolvency Proceedings.
The MOU marks another important step in further strengthening the relationship between the Supreme Courts of Singapore and Indonesia, following their first bilateral MOU for judicial cooperation. It reflects both judiciaries’ shared commitment to closer collaboration. The MOU builds on the Model Framework for Communication and Cooperation Between ASEAN Courts in Cross-Border Insolvency Proceedings endorsed at the 12th Council of ASEAN Chief Justices Meeting in November 2025. Through the MOU, communication and cooperation in insolvency and restructuring are expected to be further strengthened, particularly through the appointment of liaison points.
Indonesia is the latest Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) jurisdiction to join Singapore in affirming its commitment to cooperation and communication in cross-border insolvency proceedings through bilateral arrangements. This follows the 2021 protocol between the Federal Court of Malaysia and the Supreme Court of Singapore on court-to-court communication in cross-border corporate insolvency matters, and the 2025 memorandum of understanding between the Supreme Court of the Philippines and the Supreme Court of Singapore to enhance cross-border communication and cooperation in such proceedings.
For more information, please refer to the Singapore Courts Media Release here.
CSA to Enact Changes to the Licensing Framework for Cybersecurity Service Providers
Following the conclusion of a public consultation, the Cyber Security Agency of Singapore (“CSA“) has indicated that it will proceed to enact proposed changes to the licensing framework for cybersecurity service providers. The changes seek to raise baseline cybersecurity standards nationally and enhance clarity on the licensing requirements.
Singapore’s licensing framework for cybersecurity service providers was established in 2022 under the Cybersecurity Act 2018. However, with the swift and continuous evolution of the cybersecurity landscape, it has become necessary to update and enhance the framework, particularly given the important role that cybersecurity service providers play in the security of organisations and Singapore’s cyber resilience.
CSA has issued a closing note on the public consultation, summarising the feedback received, its response to the feedback, and the implementation of the proposed changes moving forward.
For more information, click here to read our Legal Update.
Arbitration Rendered "Impossible" by Sanctions – Singapore Court Affirms Tribunal's Right to Terminate Proceedings
While arbitrations are built on the concept of efficiency, obstacles may arise in the course of events that cause delay or halt proceedings entirely. To avoid proceedings being stuck in limbo, the UNCITRAL Model Law on International Commercial Arbitration provides that the arbitral tribunal may terminate proceedings where their continuation has become unnecessary or impossible.
DRL v DRK [2026] SGHC 32 involved an arbitration that had been terminated by the arbitral tribunal on the basis that continuing proceedings had become impossible due to various sanctions that had been imposed on the Applicant. The Singapore High Court (“Court“) dismissed the application to set aside the tribunal’s award, upholding the termination of proceedings.
The termination of the arbitration had significant impact on the Applicant as the limitation period that governed its claim against the Respondent expired before the tribunal terminated the arbitration, meaning that the Applicant could not commence a fresh arbitration. Nonetheless, the Court maintained that the sole issue in deciding termination under the relevant provision is the existence of impossibility; there is no room to consider the prejudice to either party or who caused the impossibility.
The Court’s decision is particularly relevant in the current global economic context, where the imposition of international sanctions has greatly escalated in recent years.
For more information, click here to read our Legal Update.
Singapore Budget 2026: Securing Our Future Together in a Changed World
The Budget Statement for Singapore’s Budget 2026 was delivered on 12 February 2026. As Singapore enters a post-SG60 era, it faces a global climate of great change, led by increased geopolitical tensions and growing instability in the global economy. Against the backdrop of heightened uncertainties, Budget 2026 seeks to refresh Singapore’s strategies to secure its future in a changed world, laying the foundations for how Singapore will traverse its next phase of development.
Some of the key tax measures announced in Budget 2026 are as follows:
- tax measures for corporations;
- initiatives to strengthen the enterprise ecosystem;
- tax measures accelerating artificial intelligence (AI) adoption by corporations;
- measures on workforce policy;
- tax measures on corporate social responsibility; and
- Other tax changes.
For more information, click here to read our Legal Update.
Supporting the Safe Adoption of Agentic AI – Singapore Launches New Model Governance Framework for Agentic AI
The Infocomm Media Development Authority of Singapore (“IMDA“) has launched a new Model Artificial Intelligence (“AI“) Governance Framework for Agentic AI (“MGF for Agentic AI“). This framework for reliable and safe agentic AI deployment is the first of its kind, giving organisations looking to deploy agentic AI a structured overview of the relevant risks and emerging best practices in managing these risks.
The MGF for Agentic AI recognises that agentic AI holds transformative potential for users and businesses, but also carries with it new challenges for effective accountability. It is thus crucial to understand these risks and implement the necessary governance measures to harness agentic AI responsibly.
The MGF for Agentic AI provides organisations with guidance on technical and non-technical measures they need to implement to deploy agents responsibly, across four dimensions: (i) bounding of risks; (ii) human accountability; (iii) technical controls; and (iv) end-user responsibility.
For more information, click here to read our Legal Update.
Please note that whilst the information in this Update is correct to the best of our knowledge and belief at the time of writing, it is only intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter and should not be treated as a substitute for specific professional advice
