Time to get ready for the AIFMD

The new EU directive on alternative investment fund managers, which came into force on July 21, 2011, needs to be transposed into national law by July 22.

The Alternative Investment Fund Managers Directive (AIFMD) is one of a package of measures drawn up by the European Commission to regulate financial services in the wake of the global financial crisis. Its aim is to establish a harmonised regulatory framework for monitoring and supervising the perceived risks posed by alternative investment funds. This includes all previously unregulated funds such as private equity and hedge funds, real estate funds, commodity funds, infrastructure funds and other types of institutional fund. Rather than regulate the funds themselves, however, the directive targets their fund managers.

MFIA chairman Kenneth Farrugia said: “With this in mind, the Malta Funds Industry Association is launching a series of three technical briefs aiming to provide its members with information on the implications of the directive when considering AIFMD projects. The first brief, which has just been launched, provides an overview of the salient aspects of the directive, while the second and third briefs will focus on the implications of the directive on the various service providers to collective investment schemes and the legislative enactments that will be undertaken by the Malta Financial Services Authority in this regard.”

Mr Farrugia added: “In addition, in early July, the association will be organising an educational clinic wherein a panel of experts on this directive will present the content of the technical briefs, focusing on the practical implications of the directive”.

Firms that are not members of the Malta Funds Industry Association may request a complementary copy of the first technical brief by contacting Anatoli Grech, the committee’s executive secretary, on agrech.vfm@bov.com or on 2275 5701.

Firms interested in becoming a member of the association may contact the executive secretary or download a copy of the application form from the MFIA website http://mfia.org.mt/membershipFormalApplication.html .