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The following posts provide a snapshot of selected UK, EU and global wholesale financial regulatory developments of interest to banks, investment firms, broker-dealers, market infrastructures, asset managers and corporates. 

  • Fourth Commencement Regulations Under Financial Services and Markets Act 2023 Published
    01/18/2024

    The Fourth Commencement Regulations - the Financial Services and Markets Act 2023 (Commencement No. 4 and Transitional and Saving Provisions) (Amendment) Regulations 2023 - under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2023 were made on December 14, 2023. The Fourth Commencement Regulations provide, among other things, for:
    • The repeal of HM Treasury’s obligation to review legislation in various financial services legislation, including but not limited to, the Short Selling Regulation, the Securitization Regulation, the Alternative Investment Fund Managers Regulations and the U.K. version of the European Market Infrastructure Regulation. These repeals took effect on December 15, 2023.
    • The revocation from April 5, 2024 of the Data Reporting Services Regulations 2017 and related implementing legislation such as (i) the provisions in the onshored Markets in Financial Instruments Regulations that provide HM Treasury and the regulators with powers to specify further detail relating to data reporting services; and (ii) the provisions in the MiFIR Delegated Regulation on the provision of data on reasonable commercial basis. The revocation of these provisions on this date aligns with HM Treasury's aim of the draft Data Reporting Services Regulations 2023 entering into force on April 5, 2024. The draft Data Reporting Services Regulations 2023 will replace the Data Reporting Services Regulations 2017, restating with modifications some of the 2017 content. The FCA has confirmed the final framework for a consolidated tape for bonds, which will also enter into force on April 5, 2024.

    Read more.
  • UK Statutory Instrument Made to Ensure Legislation Remains Consistent with Latest Repeals
    01/08/2024

    The Financial Services and Markets Act 2023 (Consequential Amendments) Regulations 2023 make consequential amendments to various pieces of legislation arising from the repeal by the Financial Services and Markets Act 2023 of certain retained EU financial services laws. The Regulations took effect on January 1, 2024. The Financial Services and Markets Act 2023 (Commencement No. 1) Regulations 2023 provided for the repeal of 98 statutory instruments on August 29, 2023, and further revocations from January 1, 2024, including the European Long-Term Investment Funds Regulation (and related SI and tertiary legislation) and a provision from the Capital Requirements Regulation so as to allow the Bank of England more flexibility to set internal Minimum Requirements for Own Funds and Eligible Liabilities for U.K. subsidiaries of non-U.K. global systemically important banks. These latest Regulations make consequential amendments to ensure that legislation remains consistent with the January 2024 repeals.

    Consequential amendments are also made to account for the removal of the double volume cap from the U.K.'s Markets in Financial Instruments regime. The DVC limited the level of dark trading to a certain proportion of total trading in an equity. Instead, the Financial Conduct Authority must monitor trading and has new powers to direct that transparency waivers should be suspended if the ongoing use of the waiver would impact market integrity. In addition, consequential amendments are made following the Electronic Money, Payment Card Interchange Fee and Payment Services (Amendment) Regulations 2023 which amended payments-related REUL.
  • Revocation of the Collective Investment in Transferable Securities (Contractual Scheme) Regulations 2013 is Postponed
    09/14/2023

    The Financial Services and Markets Act 2023 (Commencement No. 3) (Amendment) Regulations 2023 were made on August 25, 2023, postponing the revocation of the Collective Investment in Transferable Securities (Contractual Scheme) Regulations 2013.

    The Commencement No. 3 Regulations amend the Financial Services and Markets Act 2023 (Commencement No. 1) Regulations 2023, which were made on July 10, 2023 and provide for the entry into force of certain provisions of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2023 (which we discuss in our client note, A Boost for UK Financial Services: The UK Financial Services and Markets Act 2023). This included provisions revoking retained EU legislation relating to financial services, including the CITS Regulations. The CITS Regulations establish a fund vehicle for the U.K. investment management industry which makes U.K. domiciled funds for collective investment in transferable securities more competitive. The CITS Regulations will now be revoked on a day appointed by the Treasury in a later instrument.
  • European Commission Publishes Retail Investment Strategy
    06/05/2023

    On May 24, 2023, the European Commission published a Retail Investment Strategy package aimed at enhancing retail investor protections across the EU and encouraging participation in the EU capital markets. The package comprises an amending Directive, which makes changes across a range of EU legislation, and an amending Regulation, which revises the EU's Packaged Retail and Insurance-based Investment Products Regulation.

    Read more.
  • FCA Publishes Consultation Paper on Sustainability Disclosure Requirements
    10/25/2022

    Following its 2021 Discussion Paper, the FCA has published a consultation paper setting out proposals to enhance sustainability disclosure and labeling requirements for sustainability-linked investment products. The majority of the rules will apply only to fund and asset managers, although the FCA is considering expanding this to FCA-regulated asset owners in relation to their investment products and for certain rules to apply to distributors of investment products to U.K. retail investors. The proposals are directed at fund and asset managers and portfolio managers based in the U.K. The FCA will consult separately on how these proposals apply to overseas fund and asset managers. The FCA already has climate-related disclosure rules for premium listed issuers, as well as rules for standard listed issuers and certain FCA-regulated firms (asset managers, life insurers, pure reinsurers and FCA-regulated pension providers).

    Read more.
  • UK Regulator Proposes Extending Long-Term Asset Fund to Certain Retail Investors
    08/01/2022

    Following the introduction of a regulatory framework for a new type of authorized open-ended fund called the long-term asset fund, the U.K. Financial Conduct Authority has opened a consultation on extending the LTAF to more retail investors. The LTAF enables investors to invest in long term illiquid assets through an authorized fund vehicle. The LTAF may currently only be marketed to professional investors, certified and self-certified sophisticated investors, and certified high net worth individuals. The FCA is proposing to categorize the LTAF as a Restricted Mass Market Investment as per its recent Policy Statement on revising the financial promotion rules for high-risk investments. Opening the LTAF to more retail investors would be accompanied by additional investor protections rules, such as those that apply to other retail authorized funds. Responses to the consultation may be submitted by October 10, 2022. The FCA intends to publish a policy statement and final rules early in 2023.
  • HM Treasury Publishes Responses to Review of UK Funds Regime
    02/10/2022

    HM Treasury has published a summary of responses to its consultation on the U.K. funds regime. The consultation forms part of the U.K. Government's plans to make the U.K. a more attractive location for asset management.

    Read more.
  • UK Regulator Issues Statement on Extension of Exemption for UCITS From PRIIPs Disclosure Requirements
    12/29/2021

    The U.K. Financial Conduct Authority has published a statement in which it confirms that it will amend the Technical Standards and related Handbook provisions to align with the extended exemption from the requirements of the U.K. Packaged Retail and Insurance-based Investment Products Regulation for investment companies and persons advising on, or selling, units in UCITS from December 31, 2021, to December 31, 2026. The FCA states that it will not take enforcement action against firms that offer UCITS funds to U.K. retail investors and that provide either a key information document under the PRIIPs Regulation or a UCITS key investor information document. Following the government's announcement in June 2021, the Financial Services Act 2021 extended the exemption for UCITS.
  • EU Amending Technical Standards Improve PRIIPs Regulation Requirements
    12/20/2021

    An EU Commission Delegated Regulation (2021/2268) amending the Regulatory Technical Standards supplementing the EU Packaged Retail Investment and Insurance-based Products Regulation has been published in the Official Journal of the European Union. The amending RTS include provisions to:
    • Introduce new methodologies to calculate appropriate performance scenarios and a revised presentation of these scenarios.
    • Revise the summary cost indicators and changes to the content and presentation of information on the costs of PRIIPs.
    • Modify the methodology to calculate transaction costs.
    • Clarify the rules for PRIIPs offering a range of options for investment (known as MOPs), in particular, to identify the products' full cost implications.

    Read more.
  • FCA Publishes Policy Statements on Climate-Related Disclosures for Standard Listed Companies and FCA-Regulated Firms
    12/17/2021

    The FCA has published two policy statements introducing new rules and guidance on climate-related disclosures for standard listed issuers and certain other FCA-regulated firms. The Policy Statements mirror the rule imposed under the FCA's Policy Statement on climate-related disclosures for premium listed issuers.

    Read more.
  • HM Treasury Identifies Areas for Improving the UK Securitization Framework
    12/13/2021

    Following its call for evidence earlier this year, HM Treasury has published its report on the review of the U.K. Securitization Regulation. HM Treasury was required to conduct a review of the functioning of the Regulation and report to Parliament on its findings by January 2022. The Securitization Regulation provides the criteria for identifying which securitizations will be designated as "simple, transparent and standardized" (STS) securitizations, a system to monitor the application of those criteria as well as common requirements on risk retention, due diligence and disclosure. Related provisions under the Capital Requirements Regulation set out the regulatory treatment of exposures to securitizations that are deemed to be STS securitizations.

    Read more.
  • UK Financial Conduct Authority Publishes Discussion Paper on Sustainability Disclosure Requirements and Investment Labels
    11/03/2021
     

    The U.K. Financial Conduct Authority has published a discussion paper on its proposed Sustainability Disclosure Requirements and sustainable investment labels. The FCA is seeking initial views on these proposals with the intention of consulting on fuller policy proposals in Q2 2022. Responses to the discussion paper may be submitted until January 7, 2022. These proposals link to the U.K. government's ambitions on climate change and green finance, detailed in its October policy paper, Greening Finance: A Roadmap to Sustainable Investing, further details of which are set out in our related client note.

    Read more.
  • UK Government Opens Review of Securitization Regulation
    06/24/2021

    HM Treasury has opened a Review of the U.K. Securitization Regulation with the issue of a call for evidence. The Review is required under the Regulation, and HM Treasury must report to Parliament on its findings by January 2022. Responses to the consultation may be submitted until September 2, 2021. HM Treasury also asks respondents to consider whether any changes are needed that are time-sensitive so that consideration can be given to whether a change is implemented through legislation or regulator rules. In the context of the Future Regulatory Framework Review, the responsibility for making and implementing rules will be transferred to the regulators. The FRF Review is ongoing, with a second consultation expected later this year.

    The Securitization Regulation provides the criteria for identifying which securitizations will be designated as "simple, transparent and standardized" (STS) securitizations, a system to monitor the application of those criteria as well as common requirements on risk retention, due diligence and disclosure. Related provisions under the Capital Requirements Regulation set out the regulatory treatment of exposures to securitizations that are deemed to be STS securitizations.

    Read more.
  • UK Announces Extension of Exemption for UCITS from PRIIPs Disclosure Requirements
    06/01/2021

    HM Treasury has announced that the current exemption for Undertakings for Collective Investment in Transferable Securities funds from the requirements of the U.K. Packaged Retail Investment and Insurance-based Products Regulation will be extended by five years to December 31, 2026.

    The U.K. PRIIPs Regulation, which was on-shored in the U.K. after Brexit and is based upon the corresponding and much-criticized EU regulation, requires "manufacturers" of PRIIPs to produce a standardized "key information document," designed to improve U.K. retail investors' understanding of the financial products they are purchasing. Technical Standards govern the presentation, content, review and revision of KIDs and the conditions for fulfilling the requirement to provide a KID. Under the U.K. PRIIPS Regulation, management companies, investment companies and persons advising on, or selling, units in UCITS are exempt from the requirements of the PRIIPs Regulation until December 31, 2021. UCITS funds still need to prepare a key investor information document (KIID) as required by the UCITS Directive, with different but broadly similar content requirements. The EU PRIIPs regime, which the U.K. has now adopted without material modifications, was intended to improve investor disclosures for more complex retail products such as index-tracking investments and insurance-wrapped products. However, it has resulted in deleterious impacts in other industries and has been widely criticized for its vagueness of scope and wide application, with particularly difficult consequences for bond issuers, listed derivatives and funds. The U.K. has announced that it is undertaking a broader review.

    Read more.
  • UK Regulator's Feedback Statement to Consultation on Liquidity Mismatch in Authorized Open-Ended Property Funds
    05/07/2021

    Following its consultation last year, the U.K. Financial Conduct Authority has published a feedback statement to its consultation on liquidity mismatch in authorized open-ended property funds. In the consultation, the FCA proposed introducing a notice period of up to 180 days for U.K. authorized property funds that are non-UCITS retail schemes (known as NURS) that invest directly in property. The aim is to mitigate the potential for harm arising from the structure of funds that may lead to a mismatch between a fund holding illiquid assets and offering daily redemptions.

    The FCA confirms that it will not make a final policy decision until Q3 2021 at the earliest and that if mandatory notice periods for property funds are introduced, there will be an appropriate implementation period before the rules come into force so as to allow firms to make operational changes.

    Noting some cross-over between these proposals and the FCA's more recent proposals to introduce a long-term asset fund framework, the FCA also confirms that it will consider feedback to that consultation before finalizing its position. The FCA launched its consultation on proposals on LTAFs on the same day as this feedback was published. The aim of the LTAF framework is to establish a fund that would facilitate authorized funds to be set up to invest efficiently in long-term, illiquid assets. In the feedback statement, the FCA states that if notice periods are introduced then fund managers of LTAFs might have the same operational challenges.

    View the FCA's feedback statement (FS21-8).

    View details of the FCA's consultation on a LTAF framework.

    View details of the FCA's consultation (CP20/15).
    TOPIC : Funds
  • UK Regulator Consults on a New Authorised Fund Regime for Investing in Long Term Assets
    05/07/2021

    The U.K. Financial Conduct Authority has opened a consultation on proposals to establish a regulatory framework for a new type of authorized open-ended fund called the long-term asset fund. The aim is to establish a fund that would facilitate authorized funds to be set up to invest efficiently in long-term, illiquid assets, such as venture capital, private equity, private debt, real estate and infrastructure. The consultation closes on June 25, 2021.

    The consultation paper sets out the details of the proposed framework, including increased governance requirements, clear disclosure rules and discusses the proposals on rules on the purpose of an LTAF, borrowing levels, valuation, redemption and subscription, due diligence and reporting. The FCA is proposing to restrict distribution of LTAFs to professional investors and sophisticated retail investors. However, the consultation asks for feedback on whether, and how, future wider retail access to such funds could be safely supported. LTAFs will be an alternative investment fund. As the LTAFs would invest in potentially complex and risky assets, the FCA proposes that only a firm authorized as a full-scope U.K. alternative investment fund manager could manage an LTAF. This will ensure that LTAFs have appropriate resources as well as good systems and controls.

    Read more.
    TOPIC : Funds
  • UK Financial Services Act 2021 Published
    04/29/2021

    The U.K. Financial Services Bill has received Royal Assent from Her Majesty the Queen and has become an Act of Parliament, the Financial Services Act 2021. Some provisions of the Act came into force on the date of Royal Assent, with a limited number following on June 29, 2021. The majority of the Act will come into force on a date specified in regulations yet to be made by HM Treasury.

    Read more.
  • European Securities and Markets Authority Proposes Changes to European Long-Term Investment Funds Regulation
    02/03/2021

    The European Securities and Markets Authority has written to the European Commission proposing a series of amendments to the European Long-Term Investment Funds Regulation. ESMA's letter comes in response to the Commission's consultation on the efficacy of the ELTIF Regulation, which was designed to increase long-term investments in the real economy (e.g. infrastructure projects, real estate and listed and unlisted small and medium-sized enterprises). The consultation was launched in October 2020 and was designed to analyze why the ELTIF market has not developed to a large scale and how well it is contributing to the integration of European capital markets and smart, sustainable growth within the EU.

    Read more.
    TOPIC : Funds
  • EU Final Draft Standards on Information for Facilitating Cross-Border Distribution of Funds
    02/01/2021

    The European Securities and Markets Authority has published a final report and final draft Implementing Technical Standards setting out the forms, templates and procedures that national regulators should use to publish information on their websites to facilitate cross-border distribution of funds. The Regulation on facilitating cross-border distribution of funds aims to increase transparency on the rules and procedures applicable to cross-border marketing of investment funds and regulatory fees and charges levied by national regulators. It was brought in at the same time amendments were made to the Directive on Undertakings for Collective Investment in Transferable Securities and the Alternative Investment Fund Managers Directive through an amending Directive. Member states are required to transpose the amending Directive into national laws by, and apply those laws from, August 2, 2021. Certain provisions of the Regulation applied directly across the EU from August 1, 2019, while the remaining provisions will apply from August 2, 2021.

    The Regulation requires ESMA to draft Implementing Technical Standards on the standard forms, templates and procedures that national regulators should use to publish information on their websites that will facilitate the cross-border distribution of funds. The information must cover:
    • the national laws, regulations and provisions on marketing requirements for Alternative Investment Funds and UCITS; and
    • the regulatory fees and charges applied by the national regulator for the activities of AIFMs, UCITS management companies and managers of European Venture Capital Fund and European social entrepreneurship funds.

    The final draft ITS have been submitted to the European Commission for consideration.

    View the final report and final draft ITS.
    TOPIC : Funds
  • HM Treasury Launches Consultation on UK Funds Regime
    01/26/2021

    HM Treasury has launched a consultation on a series of proposed reforms to the U.K.'s funds regime, as part of the U.K. Government's plans to make the U.K. a more attractive location for asset management. Responses to the consultation should be submitted by April 20, 2021.

    Read more.
    TOPIC : Funds
  • UK Parliament Publishes Financial Services Bill for Post-Brexit Regulatory Framework
    10/21/2020

    The U.K. Government has published a Financial Services Bill setting out a proposed regulatory framework for the financial services industry following the U.K.'s exit from the EU. The Bill is part of the U.K.'s wider initiative under the Future Regulatory Framework Review to re-frame its regulatory framework. Although Brexit has brought challenges to the financial sector, there may also be post-Brexit opportunities for the U.K. to seize. The aim of these reforms is to cement the U.K.'s position as a global financial centre of excellence. A core piece of that will be to set conditions that continue attracting business to the U.K. and to look for opportunities to cut "red tape" whilst at the same time maintaining the U.K.'s globally recognized high regulatory standards.

    Read more
  • European Commission Launches Consultation on European Long-Term Investment Funds Regulation
    10/19/2020

    The European Commission has launched a public consultation on possible improvements to the European Long-Term Investment Funds Regulation. The ELTIF Regulation has applied across the EU since December 2015 and is designed to encourage investment in long-term projects in the real economy, such as infrastructure projects, real estate and listed and unlisted small and medium-sized enterprises. However, only a small number of ELTIFs have been launched since the Regulation was introduced. In addition, in its 2020 report, the High Level Forum on the Capital Markets Union recommended that the ELTIF Regulation be reviewed in order to broaden the scope of eligible assets and reduce potential barriers to investment.

    Read more.
    TOPIC : Funds
  • Bank of England Financial Policy Committee Publishes Policy Summary
    10/08/2020

    The Bank of England's Financial Policy Committee has published its latest Policy Summary and the minutes of its meeting held on September 30, 2020. The FPC notes a range of near-term risks that could impact the U.K. economy, including the evolution of the COVID-19 pandemic, post-Brexit trading arrangements between the U.K. and EU and various other geopolitical risks. 

    Read more.
  • Confirmation Announced of Revisions to EU Guidelines on Stress Testing of Money Market Funds
    08/27/2020

    The European Securities and Markets Authority has published a statement confirming that the 2019 Guidelines on stress test scenarios under the Money Market Funds Regulation will be updated by the end of 2020 to reflect COVID-19 market developments. The MMF Regulation has applied directly across the EU since July 21, 2018. MMFs are fund vehicles that invest in highly liquid short-term debt instruments, such as government bonds, and are often regarded as a short-term cash management function alternative to bank deposits. The MMF Regulation requires MMFs and MMF managers to measure the impact of the common reference stress test scenarios, as specified by ESMA in its guidelines, and to report the outcomes to their national regulators. ESMA is required to assess annually whether the Guidelines should be updated to reflect market developments. ESMA states that it intends to update the Guidelines published in July 2019 to reflect the impact of COVID-19 on the market, in particular, the liquidity challenges faced by MMFs. The 2019 Guidelines will continue to apply until the revised Guidelines apply—ESMA intends to publish the updated Guidelines in Q4 2020, following which they will be translated into EU national languages. The updated Guidelines will apply two months after the translations are published.

    View ESMA's statement.
    TOPICS : COVID-19Funds
  • EU Review: Alternative Investment Fund Managers Directive
    08/18/2020

    The European Securities and Markets Authority has published a letter addressed to the European Commission on the upcoming review of the Alternative Investment Fund Managers Directive. In the letter, ESMA highlights areas that it considers would benefit from a review and potential amendments. ESMA considers these areas important because of the discussions it has had with national regulators on the practical difficulties involved in implementing the AIFMD. ESMA is proposing policy improvements and reporting recommendations, including harmonizing the AIFMD and UCITS regimes. The areas of focus include delegation and substance, liquidity management tools, leverage and the harmonization of supervision of cross-border entities. The Commission is likely to publish its proposals for amending AIFMD in Q3 2020.

    View the letter.
    TOPIC : Funds
  • UK Regulator Consults on Addressing Liquidity Mismatch in Open-Ended Property Funds
    08/03/2020

    The U.K. Financial Conduct Authority has launched a consultation on liquidity mismatch in authorized open-ended property funds. The FCA wants to tackle the potential for investor harm that arises because the terms for dealing in units of some property funds are not aligned with the time that it takes to buy or sell the buildings that the funds invest in. Responses to the consultation may be submitted until November 3, 2020. The FCA intends to publish its final policy statement and rules as soon as possible in 2021.

    The FCA's proposals seek to address the structural issues arising from the mismatch between holding illiquid assets and offering daily redemptions and the potential harm caused by the liquidity mismatch of U.K. authorized property funds that are non-UCITS retail schemes (known as NURS) that invest directly in property. The FCA is proposing to introduce a notice period of up to 180 days for these funds with the object of removing the potential for some investors to gain at the expense of others and to decrease the probability of liquidity runs on funds that lead to rapid sales of assets.

    The FCA clarifies that the proposals in this consultation paper are only directly relevant to U.K.-authorized property funds that are NURS. The FCA is continuing its work with the Bank of England on illiquid assets in open-ended funds and will consult on additional solutions once the Financial Policy Committee has completed its work.

    View the FCA's consultation paper (CP20/15).
    TOPIC : Funds
  • Outcome of European Supervisory Authorities’ Review of PRIIPs Technical Standards Published
    07/21/2020

    The Joint Committee of the European Supervisory Authorities has published a letter addressed to the European Commission informing it of the outcome of the ESAs’ review of the Regulatory Technical Standards (Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2017/653) on the presentation, content, review and revision of a standardized “key information document” and the conditions for fulfilling the requirement to provide a KID. The RTS supplements the Packaged Retail and Insurance-based Investment Products Regulation, which introduced a requirement for manufacturers of PRIIPs to produce a KID with the intention of improving retail investors’ understanding of the financial products they were purchasing.

    Read more.
  • European Systemic Risk Board Announces Further Actions to Combat Impact of COVID-19
    06/08/2020

    The European Systemic Risk Board has announced a series of further actions designed to combat the impact of COVID-19 on European financial markets. The actions relate to the five priority areas already identified by the ESRB as requiring particular focus in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, as follows:
    • Implications for the financial system of guarantee schemes and other fiscal measures to protect the economy: the ESRB has published a Recommendation introducing minimum requirements for national monitoring of the financial stability implications of the various debt moratoria and guarantee schemes introduced by Member States to support economies through COVID-19 (Recommendation A); national regulators are also advised to regularly report information on these schemes to the ESRB in accordance with reporting templates to be published by the ESRB by June 30, 2020 (Recommendation B); national regulators implicated by the Recommendation should communicate the actions they have taken, or intend to take, in response to the Recommendation A by July 31, 2020 and Recommendation B by December 31, 2020;
    Read more.
  • EU Consultation on Draft Guidelines on Outsourcing to Cloud Service Providers
    06/03/2020

    The European Securities and Markets Authority has opened a consultation on draft guidelines on outsourcing to cloud service providers. The draft guidelines cover: (i) governance, documentation, systems and procedures that firms should have in place; (ii) the assessment and due diligence to be undertaken before outsourcing arrangements are entered; (iii) minimum elements that outsourcing agreements should include; (iv) exit strategies; and (v) access and audit rights. The consultation closes on September 1, 2020. ESMA expects to publish the final guidelines in Q4 2020 or Q1 2021.

    Read more.
  • European Systemic Risk Board Actions on Five COVID-19 Priority Areas
    05/14/2020

    The European Systemic Risk Board has established five priority areas on which it intends to take action to combat the impact of COVID-19 on the EU financial system. In determining its actions, the ESRB hopes to ensure an effective response to the pandemic across the EU that prevents individual Member State actions from negatively impacting the EU Single Market and to take advantage of flexibility in regulatory standards to support financial institutions in providing financial services and liquidity.

    Read more.
  • European Securities and Markets Authority Publishes Statement on Fund Managers' Liquidity Risk Management During COVID-19
    05/14/2020

    The European Securities and Markets Authority has published a statement confirming its support for the European Systemic Risk Board's Recommendation on tackling the implications of market illiquidity for asset managers with exposures to corporate debt and real estate. In accordance with the ESRB's Recommendation, ESMA intends to coordinate with Member State national regulators to engage closely with these asset managers. The supervisory engagement ties in with ESMA's common supervisory action, announced in January 2020, on liquidity risk management by managers of Undertakings for the Collective Investment in Transferable Securities.

    View ESMA's statement on fund managers' liquidity risk management.

    View details of the ESRB's Recommendation.

    View details of ESMA's common supervisory action on liquidity risk management for UCITS.

    Details of other regulatory responses to COVID-19 are available on our COVID-19 Research Center.
    TOPICS : COVID-19Funds
  • European Securities and Markets Authority Recommends Regulatory Forbearance for Funds’ Periodic Reporting Obligations
    04/09/2020

    The European Securities and Markets Authority has announced its expectation that national regulators should, where possible, deprioritize supervisory action against certain fund managers for failure to comply with periodic financial reporting deadlines for funds they manage for the periods ending from December 31, 2019 to April 30, 2020 (inclusive). The fund managers covered by ESMA’s statement are: (i) undertakings for the collective investment in transferable securities (UCITS) management companies; (ii) self-managed UCITS investment companies; (iii) authorized alternative investment fund managers; (iv) non-EU AIFMs marketing AIFs; (v) European Venture Capital Fund managers; and (vi) European Social Entrepreneurship managers.

    Read more.
    TOPICS : COVID-19Funds
  • EU Consultation on Standardized Information for Facilitating Cross-Border Distribution of Funds
    03/31/2020

    The European Securities and Markets Authority has launched a consultation on the forms, templates and procedures that national regulators should use to publish information on their websites to facilitate cross-border distribution of funds. The Regulation on facilitating cross-border distribution of funds aims to increase transparency on the rules and procedures applicable to cross-border marketing of investment funds and regulatory fees and charges levied by national regulators. It was brought in at the same time amendments were made to the Directive on Undertakings for Collective Investment in Transferable Securities and the Alternative Investment Fund Managers Directive through an amending Directive. Member states are required to transpose the amending Directive into national laws by, and apply those laws from, August 2, 2021. Certain provisions of the Regulation applied directly across the EU from August 1, 2019, while the remaining provisions will apply from August 2, 2021.

    Read more.
    TOPIC : Funds
  • UK Conduct Regulator Dear CEO Letter to Firms on Consumer Protection During COVID-19 Pandemic
    03/31/2020

    The U.K. Financial Conduct Authority has published a Dear CEO letter addressed to firms providing services to retail investors on the actions they should be taking to protect consumers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Firms are expected to provide strong support and service to consumers, to be transparent with their customers and to report to the FCA immediately if they foresee themselves getting into financial difficulty.

    Read more.
  • COVID-19: UK Financial Conduct Authority Confirms No Short Selling Ban (Yet)
    03/23/2020

    The U.K. Financial Conduct Authority has published a statement confirming that, in the wake to the COVID-19 pandemic, it is working with regulators in the U.S., the EU and elsewhere to ensure that the financial markets can remain orderly and open. Noting the recent volatility in the financial markets, the FCA confirms that the U.K. has not imposed a short selling ban and neither has the U.S. or any other major financial market. The EU has however temporarily reduced the threshold for the reporting of short positions. Net short position holders are required to notify the relevant national regulator of any net short position of 0.1% of the issued share capital of a company and of each 0.1% above that threshold. This also applies to listed shares on UK markets.  It is not necessary to notify existing positions above the new lower threshold that were not previously notifiable, until new trading takes place.

    Read more.
    TOPICS : COVID-19FundsSecurities
  • European Commission Confirms Scope of Securities Financing Transactions Regulation for Non-EU Funds
    02/10/2020

    In a letter published by the International Securities Lending Association, the European Commission confirms that the reporting obligations of the EU Securities Financing Transactions Regulation will not apply to non-EU Alternative Investment Funds, even if the manager is an EU AIFM, except for SFTs concluded in the course of the operations of the non-EU AIF’s EU branch.

    View the letter.
    TOPICS : FundsSecurities
  • Macroprudential Weaknesses in EU's Alternative Investment Fund Managers Directive to Be Addressed in AIFMD Review
    02/05/2020

    The European Systemic Risk Board has published a letter (dated February 3, 2020) to the European Commission on the weaknesses of the Alternative Investment Fund Managers Directive. The ESRB is responsible for macro-prudential oversight within the European Union. The AIFMD framework provides the ESRB with data to assist it to analyze systemic risks. The ESRB considers that the AIFMD reporting framework could be improved and wants the Commission to consider these issues as part of the review of the AIFMD. The letter sets out the ESRB's experiences with the scope and application of the AIFMD, in particular considering:
     
    1. The suitability of the reporting framework and access to data for monitoring systemic risk: the ESRB highlights that the AIFMD framework could be improved, particularly with regards to fund identification, fund classification, information on the interconnectedness of funds, information on leverage and liquidity risk, reporting frequency and access to data.

    Read more.
    TOPIC : Funds
  • International Organization of Securities Commissions Priorities for 2020
    01/30/2020

    The International Organization of Securities Commissions has published its annual work program, setting out its priorities for 2020. IOSCO will continue to focus on the five areas identified by its Board in 2019 as well as one new issue. The areas of focus are:
    • Crypto-assets: following its consultation last year, in February 2020, IOSCO will publish a final report on issues, risks and regulatory considerations relating to crypto-asset trading platforms. IOSCO will also publish the outcome of its review of the regulatory risks relating to investment funds exposures to crypto-assets. Finally, a report will be issued in early 2020 on issues relating to Global Stablecoins.
    Read more.
  • EU-Wide Supervisory Focus on UCITS Liquidity Risk Management Announced
    01/30/2020

    The European Securities and Markets Authority has announced an EU-wide common supervisory action on liquidity risk management by managers of Undertakings for the Collective Investment in Transferable Securities will be undertaken in 2020. This would appear to be a response to the Woodford scandal. The EU UCITS Regulation requires UCITS managers to manage a UCITS liquidity risk to ensure, among other things, that investors can redeem their investments on demand. National regulators of EU member states are going to simultaneously assess compliance with the requirements by market participants established in their jurisdictions. The knowledge and experience of the national regulators will be shared through ESMA to enhance the convergence of supervisory practices.

    View ESMA's announcement.
    TOPIC : Funds
  • UK Conduct Regulator Wants Asset Management Sector to Reflect on Risks to Customers and Markets
    01/22/2020

    The U.K. Financial Conduct Authority has published two letters addressed to the CEOs of firms in the asset management and funds sectors. The first letter is addressed to CEOs of FCA-authorized firms directly managing mainstream investment vehicles or advising on mainstream investments, excluding wealth managers and financial advisers. The second letter is addressed to CEOs of FCA-authorized firms managing alternative investment vehicles, such as hedge funds or private equity funds, or managing alternative assets directly or advising on these types of investments. The letters follow the FCA's report on its review of how firms in the asset management sector selected and used risk modeling and other portfolio management tools.

    Read more.
  • EU Recommendations to Combat Undue Short-Term Pressure From Financial Sector on Corporates
    12/18/2019

    The European Supervisory Authorities have each published advice to the European Commission on undue short-term pressure from the financial sector on corporations. The ESAs comprise the European Banking Authority, the European Securities and Markets Authority and the European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority. The ESAs' advice responds to the European Commission's request in June 2019 for evidence and possible advice on potential undue short-term pressure by financial service participants on corporations. The Commission asked the ESAs to: (i) provide evidence of any short-termism and, if any, the consequences thereof; (ii) assess the drivers of such short-termism, including the effects of regulation on financial market participants, for example, the guidance on remuneration practices; (iii) identify existing regulations that either mitigate or exacerbate short-term pressures; and (iv) evaluate the need for regulatory or policy action and propose specific areas where action is needed. The ESAs' advice, summarized below, may result in the Commission proposing amendments to several pieces of EU legislation, such as the Capital Requirements Directive and related Regulation, the Markets in Financial Instruments package and the Non-Financial Reporting Directive.

    Read more.
  • International Organization of Securities Commissions Publishes Framework for Monitoring Leverage in Funds
    12/13/2019

    The International Organization of Securities Commissions has published a framework designed to facilitate regulators’ monitoring of leverage in investment funds, assisting regulators in identifying potential risks to financial stability.

    Read more.
    TOPIC : Funds
  • European Securities and Markets Authority Publishes Report on Costs Disclosure Standards for Fund Managers
    12/10/2019

    The European Securities and Markets Authority has published its final report on its proposed Regulatory Technical Standards on costs disclosure requirements for European Long-Term Investment Fund Managers.

    Read more.
    TOPIC : Funds
  • European Commission Publishes EU Delegated Regulation Aligning KID Publication Requirements under PRIIPS Regulation
    11/08/2019

    A Commission Delegated Regulation amending secondary legislation supplementing the Packaged Retail and Insurance-Based Investment Products Regulation has been published in the Official Journal of the European Union. 

    Read more.
    TOPICS : FundsSecurities
  • UK Conduct Regulator Requests Fund Managers to Review Liquidity Management Practices
    11/04/2019

    The U.K. Financial Conduct Regulator has published a “Dear Chairman” letter addressed to Authorized Fund Managers requesting them to review certain aspects of the liquidity management arrangements for the authorized funds that they manage. The letter follows the FCA’s recent policy statement establishing new rules for open-ended funds that invest in inherently illiquid assets and aims to address concerns that open-ended funds may not always be able to liquidate funds fast enough to comply with redemption requests. In its policy statement, the FCA acknowledged that its new rules did not capture open-ended UCITS funds such as the LF Woodford Equity Income Fund. This latest letter urges firms to recognise that effective liquidity management is a core function for all open-ended funds.

    Read more.
    TOPIC : Funds
  • UK Conduct Regulator Postpones Implementation Date for Brexit Contingency Plans
    10/30/2019

    The U.K. Financial Conduct Authority has extended the date by which firms must implement Brexit contingency plans following the extension of the Brexit deadline from October 31, 2019 to January 31, 2020. Firms and funds should now notify the FCA for entry into the temporary permissions regime by January 30, 2020 and fund managers have until January 15, 2020 to notify the FCA if they wish to change their existing notification. Firms should continue to comply with transaction and trade reporting requirements under the Markets in Financial Instruments Directive and European Market Infrastructure Directive, respectively.
     
    View the FCA's statement on contingency planning deadlines.
  • UK Conduct Regulator Finalizes Rules for Funds Investing in Illiquid Assets
    09/30/2019

    The U.K. Financial Conduct Authority has finalized new rules governing certain types of open-ended funds that invest in inherently illiquid assets.

    Read more.
    TOPIC : Funds
  • EU Stress Simulation Framework for Investment Funds Published
    09/05/2019

    The European Securities and Markets Authority has published, in an economic report, a stress simulation framework for investment funds, which is intended for use by national regulators. The report provides an overview of the framework, options available for stress testing and discusses the calibration of redemption shocks for investment funds, methods to assess the resilience of funds to shocks, ways to measure the impact of fund managers' liquidation strategies on financial markets, and possible second-round effects. The report also includes a case study where ESMA applied the stress simulation framework to 6,000 UCITS bond funds, the underlying data for which ESMA has shared with national regulators.

    ESMA intends to use the stress test simulation to assist it in monitoring and identifying risks that may impact the funds industry.

    View the economic report.
    TOPIC : Funds
  • European Securities and Markets Authority Publishes Final Guidance on Liquidity Stress Tests for Investment Funds
    09/02/2019

    The European Securities and Markets Authority has published a report containing its final guidelines on liquidity stress testing in Alternative Investment Funds and Undertakings for Collective Investment in Transferable Securities. The guidelines have been published in accordance with the European Systemic Risk Board's 2018 Recommendation, which was designed to address liquidity and leverage risk in investment funds. ESMA's guidelines will apply from September 30, 2020.

    Read more.
    TOPIC : Funds
  • UK Conduct Regulator Discusses Enhanced Liquidity Requirements for UCITS
    08/06/2019

    Andrew Bailey, the Chief Executive of the U.K. Financial Conduct Authority, has written to Lord Myners of the House of Lords concerning the establishment of U.K. requirements for liquidity standards for Undertakings for Collective Investment in Transferable Securities (UCITS) that are more stringent than existing EU requirements. Andrew Bailey's letter was prompted by Lord Myners' query as to whether the U.K. government has ever formally reviewed the case for imposing more stringent requirements or whether it must abide by the requirements in the EU UCITS Directive.

    Read more.
    TOPIC : Funds
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