Chris Farrugia

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Audit and assurance
Residence
Citizenship
Business risk services
Business consulting services
Family businesses
Technology
Other services
Business Process Solutions
Recovery and reorganisation
Tax services
Transaction services
Regulatory Services

Audit and assurance

Financial statements audits
Financial statements audits
Financial statement reviews
Financial statement reviews
Financial statements compilations
Financial statements compilations
IFRS
IFRS
Audit quality monitoring
Audit quality monitoring
Global audit technology
Global audit technology
Systems and risk assurance
Systems and risk assurance

Residence

Malta Residence Programme

Programmes
Grant Thornton is authorised and regulated by the Government of Malta to handle and submit applications for both citizenship applications as well as residence permits under the various residence programmes available in terms of Maltese law.
Ordinary residency in Malta
Any EU, EEA or third country national who resides in Malta for more than 3 months is obliged to apply for a Residence Permit. There are various grounds upon which an applicant may apply to require a residence permit, including: Self-Sufficiency, Employment or Self-Employment, Family Members, Permanent Residence, Study Purposes.
Qualifying Employment in Aviation Rule
Malta provides qualified persons employed in the field of aviation with an opportunity to enjoy a 15% flat personal tax rate on income generated from their direct employment in Malta. For a candidate to qualify, their annual income must exceed €45,000. This does not include the value of fringe benefits and applies to the derived income received from an eligible office.
Qualifying Employment in Innovation and Creativity (Personal Tax) (Amendment) Rules, 2019
These Rules allows persons employed in a role directly engaged in carrying out, or management of research, development, design, analytical or innovation activities, to enjoy a 15% flat personal tax rate on income generated from their direct employment in Malta.
Qualifying Employment in Maritime and Offshore Oil & Gas Industry Rule
Malta provides qualified persons employed in the field of aviation, with an opportunity to enjoy a 15% flat personal tax rate on income generated from their direct employment in Malta.
Nomad Residence Permit
The nomad residence permit, which was launched in June 2021, allows third-country nationals who would normally require a Visa to travel to Malta, to retain their current employment based in another country whilst legally residing on the island.

Related insights:

RESIDENCY Applying for residence in Malta

01 Oct 2019

Any EU, EEA or third country national who resides in Malta for more than 3 months is obliged to apply for a Residence Permit. There are various grounds upon which an applicant may apply to require a residence permit

Citizenship

With its balmy Mediterranean climate and favourable business environment, Malta is the ideal place to relocate your family and/or your business.

Citizenship by naturalisation
The Maltese Citizenship Act (Cap 188) establishes who may become a citizen of Malta by naturalisation, provided that the applicant satisfies the relative provisions.
Citizenship for Exceptional Services by Direct Investment
With the continuously changing global dynamics and evolving geopolitics, there is an ever-growing number of highly-talented high-net-worth individuals who are willing to invest and relocate to give themselves and their family members the chance to broaden their horizons and become part of a welcoming community.
Grant of Citizenship for Exceptional Services
Malta has enacted legislation which extends to individuals providing excellent or manifestly superior contributions in the fields of science, research, sports, arts and culture as well as people of exceptional interest to the Republic of Malta, the right to become Maltese citizens.
Acquisition of citizenship by registration
The Maltese Citizenship Act (Cap 188) establishes who can register as a citizens of Malta. The Act was amended on 1st August 2007, this making it possible for second and subsequent generations born abroad to acquire Maltese citizenship by registration.

Business risk services

Internal audit
Internal audit
Risk management and internal controls consulting
Risk management and internal controls consulting
Governance and risk management
Governance and risk management
Regulatory services
Regulatory services
Risk modelling services
Risk modelling services
Forensic and investigation
Forensic and investigation
Compliance audit
A compliance audit is a detailed review which focuses on whether an organisation is in conformity with statutory laws as well as internal rules and decisions. This type of audit also assesses the effectiveness of an organization’s internal controls by identifying weaknesses in compliance processes whilst finding measures to enhance such processes.

Business consulting services

General business consulting
General business consulting
Business planning and performance improvement
Business planning and performance improvement
Change and program management
Change and program management
Business intelligence and analytics
Business intelligence and analytics
Business valuation and litigation support
Business valuation and litigation support
Business process outsourcing and consulting
Business process outsourcing and consulting
Family business consulting
Our business solutions for family businesses center on alignment of all aspects of the family and business, including culture, vision, mission, values, governance, ownership, leadership, communication and policy development.
Quantitative small caps
Quantitative small caps
Data analytics
Data analytics is the process through which businesses leverage data to gain actionable insights and enhance their performance. This is based on a solid foundation of well-organised and accurate data. Many businesses have a large amount of data at their disposal however, most of them do not have the expertise to analyse the available data.

Family businesses

Our business solutions for family businesses center on alignment of all aspects of the family and business, including culture, vision, mission, values,...

Maltese Family Businesses Resource Centre
For over 30 years Grant Thornton’s advisory teams have assisted family businesses in navigating the challenges of leadership and succession across generations
Grooming
Preparing the next generation for leadership and ownership is an integral part of any succession process. Grant Thornton can help formulate the necessary grooming plan for all the potential successors.
Tax services
Using a combination of reason and instinct, we can work with clients to develop a strategy that helps them understand and manage their tax liability in a transparent and ethical way.
Access to finance
Like all companies, family businesses need finance. As an ongoing business concern looking at expanding, when it comes to raising capital, it’s important that this is done wisely to minimise the risk of collateral damage.
Governance
Having a proper governance structure is essential to ensure that the family and business strategies are achieved. Grant Thornton can advise on this, and facilitate the implementation of the ideal governance structure based on the exact scenario.
Ownership succession
Letting go of your family business is difficult for all owners and even more so for founders; however, in a family business the additional challenge presented by the family component increases the complexity of this process. Our team of family business advisors will ensure that such ownership issues are dealt with in an effective and structured approach.
Exit strategies
There are many 'exit strategies' that need to be considered to minimise the risk of conflict. They can arise from the eventual exit of a family member from the ownership ranks and can have many causes. See how we can help.
Management succession
By implementing our family business guidelines to family succession and a proper governance structure, the management succession process can be completed with minimal conflict and will result in the most competent successor being chosen.

Technology

IT and technology

GDPR consultancy
The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is the EU's data protection law which brings a lot of changes for your business to prepare. Grant Thornton can help your business make sure it complies to the new regulation.
Cyber security consultancy
Cyber security consultancy
IT business consultancy
IT business consultancy
Technology implementation
Technology implementation
ESEF Reporting
We are providing a service for listed companies that fall in scope to report in xHTML. Our service includes the mapping of the taxonomy, as well as the output of the audit/regulator ready xHTML report
IT Audit and Assurance
Information systems strengthens an organisation’s financial and operational processes. Grant Thornton Malta strengthens your organisation’s need for IT and information assurance.

Other services

Human resource consultancy
Human resource consultancy
Brand development
Brand development
Marketing and communications consultancy
Marketing and communications consultancy
Market research
Market research
EU funding
EU funding

Business Process Solutions

Bookkeeping & financial accounting
Bookkeeping & financial accounting
Payroll and personnel administration
Payroll and personnel administration
Direct and Indirect tax compliance
Tax compliance within outsourcing
Compilation of financial statements
Compilation of financial statements
Business process outsourcing
Business process outsourcing including back office and secretarial
Family business consulting
Family business consulting
Startups
Startups
Company formation
Company formation
BOR
Entities in Malta, including companies, partnerships, foundations, trusts and associations, have an obligation to disclose the ultimate beneficial owner/s (physical person) of the entities. A beneficial owner is defined as the individual (s) who ultimately owns or controls a legal entity or arrangement through direct or indirect ownership of a sufficient percentage of the shares or voting rights or ownership interest in that entity.

Recovery and reorganisation

Operational and financial restructuring and reorganisation
Operational and financial restructuring and reorganisation
Recovery
Recovery

Tax services

Tax and regulatory

Direct international tax
Direct international tax
Indirect international tax
Indirect international tax
Global mobility services
Global mobility services
Transfer pricing
Transfer pricing
Estate planning
Estate planning
Wealth advisory
Wealth advisory
Regulatory and legal
Regulatory and legal
Corporate tax services
Corporate services
VAT
At its simplest, VAT is a tax on consumption and is a multi-stage tax (ie applied at every stage of the production process), which is applied to both goods (ie tangible property) and services. Additionally, although the tax is ultimately borne by the consumer (by getting included in the price paid), responsibility for charging, collecting and passing the tax on to the tax authorities, rests with the supplier.
2018 Amendments of the Income Tax Act
The following is a brief overview of the new tax provisions introduced in 2018 by the Budget Implementation Act (Act VII of 2018) and other legislative enactments

Transaction services

Mergers and acquisitions
Mergers and acquisitions
Prospects MTF
As of 2016, small and medium-sized enterprises in Malta can access the capital markets through Prospects - a market of the Malta Stock Exchange (MSE) designed specifically for Small and Medium sized Enterprises (SME). Prospects offers a cost-effective opportunity for entities looking to raise up to €5 million per issue.
Project financing
Project financing
Due diligence
Due diligence
Valuations
Valuations
Foreign direct investment
Foreign direct investment (FDI) is the category of international investment that echoes the objective of obtaining a lasting interest by an investor in one economy in an enterprise resident in another economy.
Wholesale Securities Market
WSM is a joint venture between the Malta Stock Exchange and the Irish Stock Exchange, combining the best of each partner’s processes and technical skills.
Investment Support
The government of Malta has made available several incentive programmes, aimed at supporting Maltese SMEs and start-ups. These support schemes are targeted at different stages of a company’s lifecycle and cover from the start-up to the consolidation and expansion phases. Such incentives are usually promoted and managed by Malta Enterprise, while Trade Malta focuses on supporting businesses to penetrate foreign markets.

Regulatory Services

Financial regulatory services
Financial regulatory services
Ship and aircraft registration
Ship and aircraft registration
Medical cannabis licensing in Malta
A study published in 2018 by market intelligence and strategic consultancy firm Prohibition Partners, has forecasted that the European cannabis market will be valued €115.7 billion by 2028. According to the same study, while patient numbers are currently below 100,000 across the region, their number is set to grow to over 30 million in the next decade. In 2018 Malta introduced a bill to legalise the use of medical marijuana and attract companies willing to produce high-grade medical cannabis for the European market.
Trust and trustee services
As an entrepreneur, business owner, parent or guardian, you will want to ensure that whatever happens in the future, the rewards from your hard work can be protected as efficiently as possible. Grant Thornton Fiduciaire Limited (Grant Thornton) understands this and provides a professional and holistic trust management service.
Family trusts
The law establishes the requirement of a license for one to be able to act as a trustee subject to certain limited exceptions. One such exception is found in the Rules for Trustees of Family Trusts which provide for an exception to this rule where a trust is set up to hold property settled by a settlor or settlors for the present and future needs of family members or of family dependants who are clearly identifiable.

Transport
Consumer goods
EU funding
Fintech and Innovation
Public sector
iGaming
Startups
Real estate
Hospitality & tourism
Healthcare
Financial services
Collective Investment Schemes

Transport

Due to the breadth of expertise available, Grant Thornton can provide players in three main sectors of the transport industry; these being Maritime, Aviation,...

Aviation
The Maltese Government is constantly remaining to improve the position as the best place to do business within the aviation industry through exhaustive tax agreements, powerful legislation, and many aviation professionals. This is the best time for airlines, financiers and aircraft owners to be located in Malta.
Maritime
For Maritime, Grant Thornton provide direction with regards to VAT guidelines for yacht leasing, as well as ship and aircraft registration.
Automotive
We offer a broad range of services relating to automotive, ranging from Transaction advisory, access to finance, business advisory, process and inventory management, tax advisory, audit and advisory, outsourced support services.

EU funding

SME Growth
SME Growth
Startup investment
Start-up investment
SME Diversification and Innovation
SME Diversification and Innovation
SME Internationalisation
SME Internationalisation
SME Consultancy services
SME Consultancy services
SME eCommerce
SME eCommerce

Fintech and Innovation

At Grant Thornton we help innovative firms and entities operating in the fintech space launch new propositions and grow their business. We also help...

Blockchain technology
Blockchain technology
The Malta Virtual Financial Assets Act
The Virtual Financial Assets Act provides a sound legislative framework for Malta to regulate and responsibly promote the use of cryptocurrencies, crypto-exchanges and other crypto-related services, through which Malta aims to promote further technological innovations and growth, and continue building on its robust financial services industry.
Our role as a VFA agent
Our role as a VFA agent consists to assist, monitor and provide guidance throughout the full licensing process, and beyond the licensing stage. The VFA agent will be required to apply for the VFA license on behalf of the issuer.
Initial Coin Offerings
Initial Coin Offerings (ICOs) in Malta have risen to prominence as a method to raise capital from the public, institutions or venture capitalists by selling a percentage of cryptocurrency to investors in the form of tokens in exchange for legal tender (smart contracts).

iGaming

With a sound jurisdiction that steers clear of bureaucracy and that has a proven track record, the iGaming industry in Malta is continuing to build on its...

Gaming Regulations
Malta recently overhauled the framework regulating the iGaming sector. Going forward operators will still be required to obtain authorisation to carry out regulated activities.
Licensing Process
Prior to submission all applicants are advised to go through a pre-application process with one of the MGA’s Licensing Officers. This will ensure that the application has been correctly compiled and all the key ingredients are present.

Real estate

Malta Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT)
As part of the 2019 budget, the government has pledged to introduce a Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) framework in Malta.

Financial services

Financial services businesses engage in an increasingly complex and heavily regulated environment. Grant Thornton's multi-disciplinary Financial Services Group...

The Markets in Financial Instruments Directive (MiFID) II
MiFID II aims to protect investors and make sure that financial markets operate in the fairest and most transparent way possible. Building on stock and investment trading regulation introduced in 2007 it sets to ensure a more integrated financial market.

Collective Investment Schemes

At Grant Thornton we help innovative firms and entities operating in the fintech space launch new propositions and grow their business. We also help...

Taxation of Malta Collective Investment Schemes
Malta-registered collective investment schemes (CISs) are generally not subject to Malta tax. Given that CIS are properly structured, such schemes generally can take advantage of a number of tax benefits. When it comes to taxation of investors in collective investment schemes, this will depend on what type of income is being received, whether the investor is a Malta resident or not, and if the shareholder is an individual or a body-corporate?

Chris Farrugia is an IT Consultant and Information System Auditor within the Business Risk Services and Outsourcing division of Grant Thornton Malta.

He has been associated with Grant Thornton Malta for the past 20 years and has extensive experience in business requirements analysis, software implementation and project management for information systems for corporate customers in varying business sectors.

During his time as Director with Grant Thornton’s associate company, Information Technology Services Limited, Chris was in charge of Operations, including day-to-day running of the business covering:

Brand development for new products on the local market
Managing the relationship with foreign suppliers
Oversee sales and marketing teams to meet budgets
Co-ordination with the Implementation, Support and Development teams
Project Management on the larger software implementations

Also, during his time as Director at Information Technology Services Limited, Chris had established and nourished the necessary contacts with the Unit4 Group, authors of Business World ERP software, with whom Grant Thornton Malta partnered to provide a Corporate Financial Management Solution (CFMS) for the Government of Malta.

Since achieving CISA certification, Chris has been conducting IT Systems Audits, in particular for the remote gaming industry. Chris also performs these audits on behalf of MGA as part of the framework agreement signed between Grant Thornton and the Authority. His engagements includes among others, the system reviews of Mangas Gaming Ltd, Alpha, Amusnet and compliance reviews of Bwin Party Services Ltd, Racebets Ltd, Dominion Entertainment Ltd

Chris is also a Member of the Institute of Analysts and Programmers of the UK.

Chris has been a Member of the Institute of Analysts and Programmers of the UK since 1991 and a Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA by ISACA) since 2014, where he placed in the top 10 percent of those tested in June 2014.

Qualifications