Capital Markets Authority CEO Paul Muthaura during a past media briefing. Muthaura says the new Finance Act has provisions that will catalyse growth in the capital markets by creating a friendly and convenient trading environment. PHOTO | DIANA NGILA | NATION MEDIA GROUP NATION MEDIA GROUP
Kenya’s capital market regulator is optimistic that a business regulation recently signed into law will spur growth at the capital markets industry.
The Capital Markets Authority (CMA) says the Finance Act has provisions that will catalyse growth in the capital markets by creating a friendly and convenient trading environment.
CMA Acting Chief Executive Paul Muthaura said the Act, which has amended the Income Tax Act to remove provisions on the taxation of any gain on the transfer of securities traded on any securities exchange licensed by the Capital Markets Authority presents a huge opportunity for growth.
“For Kenya to become an investment destination of choice as envisaged in the Master Plan, we need to create an environment that not only supports domestic savings and investment but also attracts international capital in our increasingly competitive global marketplace,’’ Mr Muthaura said.
CAPITAL GAINS TAX
Capital Gains Tax had been re-introduced in January 2015 but its implementation encountered challenges including: assessment, computation, collection and remittance to the Kenya Revenue Authority.
Some of the challenges identified included; uncertainty in interpretation of the relevant provisions, applicability to foreign investors, impact on growth of the Kenyan market and lack of infrastructural arrangements for collection.
The CMA Acting Chief Executive observed that the exemption of listed securities’ transactions from payment of CGT will allow the capital markets to further develop and encourage the flow of both domestic and foreign capital into the Kenyan economy.
SHARE LISTING
The Finance Act also amended the Income Tax Act to allow a company introducing shares through listing by introduction on any securities exchange to pay corporate tax at the rate of 25 per cent for a period of five years, commencing immediately after the year of income following the date of such listing.
Listing by introduction is the listing of securities that are either already listed on another securities exchange or that are, pre-listing, already widely held other than as a result of a public offer.
Entrepreneurs seeking to cede some of their shareholding to the public without raising additional capital have in the recent past opted for listing by introduction.
The provision is expected to encourage additional listings by companies at the Nairobi Securities Exchange.
The companies will then enjoy the benefits of raising additional capital in future as well as affording investors an opportunity to diversify their investment opportunities.
STAMP DUTY
CMA also believes the real estate sector is bound to grow after the Finance Act amended the Stamp Duty Act by removing duty on transfer of real estate into a Real Estate Investment Trust before December, 2022.
National Treasury Cabinet Secretary Henry Rotich also exempted documents executed in connection with an Asset-Backed Securities (ABS) approved by CMA from payment of stamp to enhance growth in the uptake of ABS.
President Uhuru Kenyatta recently signed six new business legislations meant to transform Kenya’s business landscape and thrust the country’s competiveness to greater heights when fully implemented.
The new legislations include the Companies Act, the Insolvency Act and the Special Economic Zones Act, the Business Registration Service, the Companies and Insolvency Legislation (Consequential Amendments) Act 2015 and Finance Act amendments 2015.
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