Insurers and other insurance distributors will face significant challenges while implementing the requirements of the German law transposing IDD. Impacts on distribution models, training requirements and increased duties and obligations in distribution will need to be considered. In addition, there are a number of compliance issues, such as conflicts of interest, cross-selling and considerations regarding … Continue Reading
The German Financial Supervisory Authority (Bundesanstalt für Finanzdienstleistungsaufsicht – BaFin) has published a new draft circular on product oversight and governance arrangements for retail banking products with the objective of strengthening consumer protection in relation to financial products offered in the market. The draft circular shall govern how financial institutions are expected to control and manage the … Continue Reading
The legislation transposing the IDD into German law has been passed (as resolved by the German Parliament on 28 June 2017 and by the Federal Council of Germany on 7 July 2017). One of many changes will be that the transposed IDD will be applicable to all insurance distributors (Versicherungsvertreiber), including insurers. In addition to … Continue Reading
On May 2017, the German Federal supervisory authority (Bundesanstalt für Finanzdienstleistungsaufsicht – BaFin) organized a workshop for foreign issuers of securities. BaFin representatives held various presentations on the possible consequences of Brexit. Three major questions were discussed taking into account various Brexit scenarios: Which issuers of securities prospectuses are concerned? What are the effects on … Continue Reading
The German Federal Financial Supervisory authority (Bundesanstalt für Finanzdienstleistungsaufsicht – BaFin) and the German Central Bank (Deutsche Bundesbank) are currently working on a draft proposal for the so-called “Small Banking Box” regulation. The aim of the “Small Banking Box” is to specify the principle of proportionality in banking regulation. The new proposal suggests that small and … Continue Reading
On 4 April 2017, the Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (Bundesanstalt für Finanzdienstleistungsaufsicht – BaFin) published its interpretation decision (the “Decision”) regarding information to be provided in the sales prospectus. BaFin’s decision addresses the latest discussion about “closet indexing”; which means that the management of an investment fund is described as “active” in the sales prospectus … Continue Reading
The German Central Bank (Deutsche Bundesbank) and the Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (Bundesanstalt für Finanzdienstleistungsaufsicht – BaFin) have conducted a survey on the revenue situation and resilience of German banks in the low yield environment. The previous surveys in 2013 and 2015 have shown that the low interest rate environment poses continuous negative challenges on … Continue Reading
The Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (Bundesanstalt für Finanzdienstleistungsaufsicht – BaFin) has launched new pages on its website for foreign companies in the financial sector. On these new web pages, BaFin provides information regarding: communication; procedures; internal risk models; outsourcing and securities prospectus. The web pages also contain a new Brexit FAQ catalogue in which BaFin … Continue Reading
The German Government has begun to reorganise national financial stability tasks which are due to be completed by 2018. As a first step a new “Law on the reorganisation of the tasks of the Federal Financial Market Stability Authority” (Gesetz zur Neuordnung der Aufgaben der Bundesanstalt für Finanzmarktstabilisierung – FMSANeuOG) has been published in the … Continue Reading
The Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (Bundesanstalt für Finanzdienstleistungsaufsicht – BaFin) has published a consultation paper outlining amendments to the circular relating to the investment of guarantee assets of insurance companies (Kapitalanlagerundschreiben – the “Circular”). The Circular shall specify the German investment ordinance (Anlageverordnung – the “Investment Ordinance”) which has been effective since 22 April 2016 … Continue Reading