On 3 February 2023, the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) updated its Questions and Answers (Q&As) on the application of the UCITS Directive. The Q&As have been updated to include a new Q&A in Question 5: Issuer concentration. The new Q&A is as follows: Question: Article 52(1)(b) of the UCITS Directive requires a UCITS … Continue Reading
On 31 January 2023, the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) issued a consultation on the review of the methodology included in the guidelines on stress test scenarios under the Money Market Fund Regulation. The proposed changes concern amendments to the liquidity scenario which is intended to take into account the interaction between liquidity and … Continue Reading
On 27 January 2023, the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) issued guidelines that apply in relation to Article 28 of the Money Market Funds Regulation and establish common reference parameters for the stress test scenarios to be included in the stress tests conducted by money market funds (MMFs) or managers of MMFs in accordance … Continue Reading
On 30 November 2022, the European Systemic Risk Board (ESRB) announced the adverse scenario for the European Securities and Markets Authority’s (ESMA) money market fund (MMF) stress testing guidelines in 2022. ESMA, in cooperation with the ESRB are required by legislation to conduct stress tests to assess the resilience of financial institutions or market participants … Continue Reading
On 30 November 2022, the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA)published a final report on guidelines on stress test scenarios under the Money Market Funds Regulation (MMF Regulation). Article 28 of the MMF Regulation provides that ESMA shall develop guidelines with a view to establishing common reference parameters of the stress test scenarios to be … Continue Reading
On 19 October 2022, the Council of the EU announced that provisional agreement had been reached on the review of the regulation on European long-term investment funds (ELTIF) in order to make these investment funds more attractive. In their alignment, the co-legislators intend to overcome a number of supply-side and demand-side limitations. They clarified in … Continue Reading
Introduction Irrespective of one’s view on whether the FX and Gilts markets’ reaction to the UK mini-budget announced on September 23 2022 was proportionate to the threat posed to the UK’s fiscal position and Sterling, the crisis of confidence and volatility triggered by the mini-budget has served to focus attention on the UK’s particular set … Continue Reading
On 9 August 2022, the European Central Bank (ECB) published an opinion on a proposal for a directive as regards delegation arrangements, liquidity risk management, supervisory reporting, provision of depositary and custody services and loan origination by alternative investment funds. The proposal forms part of a package of legal acts in support of the Capital … Continue Reading
On 1 August 2022, the FCA published Consultation Paper 22/14 ‘Broadening retail access to the long-term asset fund’ (CP22/14). In CP22/14 the FCA sets out proposals for broadening the retail distribution of long-term asset funds (LTAFs) to more categories of retail investors, whilst including further investor protections. The FCA is proposing to treat a LTAF … Continue Reading
On 1 July 2022, the European Parliament published a report on the proposed Regulation amending the European Long Term Investment Funds Regulation as regards the scope of eligible assets and investments, the portfolio composition and diversification requirements, the borrowing of cash and other fund rules and as regards requirements pertaining to the authorisation, investment policies … Continue Reading
On 21 June 2022, the Council of the European Union published the Presidency’s final compromise text for the draft Directive amending the Alternative Investment Funds Managers Directive and the UCITS Directive as regards delegation arrangements, liquidity risk management, supervisory reporting, provision of depositary and custody services and loan origination by alternative investment funds.… Continue Reading
On 20 June 2022, the European Parliament issued an announcement stating that its Economic and Monetary Committee had adopted new rules for long-term investment funds. Lead MEP, Michiel Hoogeveen has said on the matter, ‘While the legislative framework for European long-term investment funds (ELTIFs) was adopted in 2015, so far their market remains small…The Parliament … Continue Reading
On 25 November 2021, the European Commission proposed a number of legislative amendments to the Alternative Investment Funds Manager Directive (AIFMD), the UCITS Directive and the Regulation on European long term investment funds, namely the “AIFMD 2 Proposal”. The AIFMD Proposal aims to improve the integration of asset management markets in Europe, while modernising the … Continue Reading
Germany further broadens the scope of its new legislative regime for electronic securities: On 18 June 2022, the German Regulation on Crypto Fund Units (Verordnung über Kryptofondsanteile – KryptoFAV; link) entered into force. The KryptoFAV introduces the possibility to issue units in common funds (Sondervermögen) via decentralised crypto securities registers which are typically based on distributed ledger … Continue Reading
On 31 May 2022, the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) published a speech by its chair, Verena Ross, entitled ‘Key priorities for EU retail fund investors’. The speech focuses on the ESMA’s key priorities for European retail fund investors and key points include: In early May, the ESMA and the other European Supervisory Authorities … Continue Reading
On 31 May 2022, the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) issued a report on the common supervisory action (CSA) on costs and fees for investment funds. The CSA was carried out with Member State competent authorities (NCAs) during 2021. The CSA’s aim was to assess, foster and enforce the compliance of supervised entities with … Continue Reading
Introduction On 23 May 2022, the FCA, jointly with the Bank of England, published Discussion Paper 22/1 ‘Resilience of Money Market Funds’ (DP22/1). At the same time the FCA published Finalised Guidance 22/3 ‘Finalised Guidance (non-Handbook) on parts of the UK MMF Regulation’ (FG22/3). DP22/1 Money market funds (MMFs) are a type of open-ended investment … Continue Reading
On 16 May 2022, the European Parliament published a draft report concerning the proposal for a directive amending the Alternative Investment Fund Managers Directive (AIFMD) and UCITS IV Directive as regards delegation arrangements, liquidity risk management, supervisory reporting, provision of depositary and custody services and loan origination by alternative investment funds. The draft report sets … Continue Reading
On 4 May 2022, the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) published the official translations of its guidelines on stress test scenarios under the Regulation on money market funds (MMF Regulation). The guidelines apply in relation to Article 28 of the MMF Regulation and establish common reference parameters for the stress test scenarios to be … Continue Reading
On 12 April 2022, the European Commission launched a targeted public consultation intended to evaluate the Regulation on money market funds (MMF Regulation). The objective of the consultation is to seek feedback on the functioning of the regulatory framework and to collect data, in particular economic data, on the use of MMFs. The deadline for … Continue Reading
On 6 April 2022, the International Organisation of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) published a report, Corporate bond markets – drivers of liquidity during COVID-19 induced market stresses. The report analyses the work of the IOSCO working group on corporate bond market liquidity, which was tasked with analysing the corporate bond market microstructure, resilience and liquidity provision … Continue Reading
On 30 March 2022, the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) announced that following a supervisory engagement with investment funds and Member State national competent authorities (NCAs) it had found some room for improvement in funds’ liquidity stress testing. This year the ESMA will facilitate further discussion among NCAs on the application of its liquidity … Continue Reading
On 30 March 2022, the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) published a speech given by Natasha Cazenave, Executive Director at the ICI Investment Management Conference. The speech is entitled Key priorities for the asset management industry in 2022: sustainable finance and systemic risk and focusses on: Developing a framework for the asset management industry … Continue Reading
On 23 March 2022, the European Systematic Risk Board (ESRB) published a letter to the Council Working Party and the European Parliament on the Directive on Alternative Investment Fund Managers (AIFMD) Review. The European Commission’s proposal reflects most of the considerations presented by the ESRB; they particularly welcome the proposal to increase the availability of … Continue Reading
