On October 22, the European Commission (Commission) launched its formal public consultation (Consultation) on its review of the Alternative Investment Fund Managers Directive (AIFMD).

The Consultation follows the Commission’s June 10 report on the application and scope of the AIFMD (see the June 12, 2020 edition of Corporate & Financial Weekly Digest) and aims to achieve a more efficient, effective and competitive European market for alternative investment funds (AIFs) as a part of a stable financial system. The Consultation also notes that it may result in adjustments the existing European mutual fund rules (UCITS).
Continue Reading AIFMD II – European Commission Consultation on AIFM Directive Review

On August 19, the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) published a letter it sent to the European Commission on its proposed areas of recommendation for the upcoming review of the Alternative Investment Fund Managers Directive (AIFMD).

Since AIFMD’s implementation in 2011 and as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, ESMA and EU financial regulators have identified areas of improvement to AIFMD. The review provides an opportunity for their recommendations to be enacted.
Continue Reading ESMA Publishes Letter to the European Commission on the AIFMD Review

On January 28, the UK Government published the Financial Services (Consequential Amendments) Regulations 2020 (the Regulations). This is in response to the passing by the UK Parliament of the Withdrawal Act on Thursday last week, and in anticipation of the UK’s withdrawal from the EU (and start of the implementation period) on January 31 (for more information, please see the January 24 edition of Corporate & Financial Weekly Digest).
Continue Reading Brexit: UK Updates TPR Start Date

On December 4, the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) updated its Questions and Answers (Q&A) on the application of the Alternative Investment Fund Managers Directive (AIFMD).

The new question concerns the apparent conflict between Article 24(2) AIFMD, which requires managers of alternative investment funds (AIFMs) to report results of liquidity stress tests for all of the alternative investment funds (AIFs) that they manage, and Article 16(1) AIFMD, which exempts managers of closed-ended unleveraged AIFs from conducting liquidity stress tests.
Continue Reading ESMA Updates AIFMD Q&A

On September 3, the UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) updated its webpage on the national private placement regime (NPPR) to announce changes to submission of notification and material change by alternative investment fund managers (AIFMs) under the Alternative Investment Fund Managers Directive (AIFMD). The NPPR allows AIFMs to market AIFs that cannot otherwise be marketed in the EEA under the AIFMD domestic marketing or passporting regimes.
Continue Reading FCA Announces Changes to AIFM Submission of Notification and Material Change Under NPPR

On June 4, the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) announced that it had published an updated version of each of its questions and answers documents (Q&As) on the application of the Alternative Investment Fund Managers Directive (AIFMD) and the Undertakings for the Collective Investment in Transferable Securities (UCITS) Directive.
Continue Reading ESMA Updates AIFMD and UCITS Q&As

On May 2, the UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) updated its webpage on the United Kingdom’s national private placement regime (NPPR) under the Alternative Investment Fund Managers Directive (AIFMD).

The NPPR allows non-European Economic Area (EEA) alternative investment funds (AIFs) that are managed by full-scope UK and EEA alternative investment fund managers (AIFMs), as well as any AIFs managed by non-EEA AIFMs, to be marketed in the United Kingdom.
Continue Reading FCA Updates National Private Placement Regime Notification Process Under AIFMD

On May 3, the European Securities and Markets Association (ESMA) published final reports on technical advice to the European Commission (EC) on integrating sustainability risks and factors in the core EU asset management directives:

  1. the Undertakings for the Collective Investment in Transferable Securities (UCITS) Directive;
  2. the Alternative Investment Fund Managers Directive (AIFMD); and
  3. the revised Markets in Financial Instruments Directive (MiFID II) and the Markets in Financial Instruments Regulation (MiFIR).

Continue Reading ESMA Publishes Final Reports on Technical Advice on Integrating Sustainability Risks and Factors in the UCITS Directive, AIFMD and MiFID II

On March 29, the UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) issued a press release announcing that it has signed two updated memoranda of understanding (MOUs) with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Both MOUs aim to ensure the continued ability of the United Kingdom and the United States to cooperate and consult with each other regarding the effective and efficient oversight of regulated entities across national borders.
Continue Reading FCA and SEC Sign Updated Memoranda of Understanding