The Malta Financial Services Authority (MFSA) and Directors Chambers have announced a continuing professional development course for directors of investment companies and investment funds. The course will be held at the Hilton Hotel in Malta on February 16 and 17.
The MFSA will be represented by chairman Joe Bannister and director general Marianne Scicluna.
Prof. Bannister said: “The MFSA carries out a rigorous fit-and-proper assessment on all directors of licensed entities to maintain high governance standards in Malta. The goal of the February course is to keep Malta competitive with the top funds domiciles in the world.”
The MFSA organises a rotating series of these courses for directors from the funds, banking and insurance industries.
The 2015 course is being organised in cooperation with Directors Chambers of Malta, a company promoting proper fund governance and professional standards for fund and management company directors.
Roger Buckley, a co-founder of Directors Chambers, said: “We are proud to partner with the MFSA on this event. Such events demonstrate the close link between the MFSA and local industry, and the joint goal of both parties to ensure the jurisdiction retains its position at the forefront of best practice in governance.”
Petri Tuokko, another co-founder of Directors Chambers, acdded: “Directors must keep informed regarding the latest governance and regulatory issues to ensure that Maltese directors continue to add value to boards. Having a large selection of high-calibre non-executive directors will ultimately make the jurisdiction more attractive as a fund domicile.”
The course will feature international and MFSA speakers discussing the most important topics faced by funds industry directors in 2015. International speakers are expected to include:
• Dermot Butler, president of Custom House Global Fund Services, ‘Overview of the governance process’;
• John Donohoe, chief executive officer of Carne, ‘AIFMD – Administration’;
• Peter Astleford, partner of Dechert, ‘AIFMD – Custody/Depositary and Prime Brokerage’;
• Elisa Perna, head of Global Risk Management of Cordium and Mirabella, ‘Risk management (Part 1)’;
• Bob Swarup, author of Money Mania: Booms, Panics, and Busts from Ancient Rome to the Great Meltdown, ‘Risk management (Part 2)’;
• Steven Huttler, partner of Sadis Goldberg, ‘Why Malta is a relevant domicile for US sponsors’;
Directors must keep informed regarding the latest governance and regulatory issues to ensure that Maltese directors continue to add value to boards
• David Larsen, managing director of Duff & Phelps, ‘Accounting and Audit (focus: valuation)’;
• Marie Barber, of Kinetic Partners (acquired by Duff & Phelps), ‘FATCA’;
• Simon Osborn, chief executive officer of IFI Global, ‘Duties of directors’.
The Hilton venue will allow for approximately 250 attendees, most of whom will be directors who received invitations from the MFSA. There are extra spaces, and interested people can send e-mails to registration@mfsa.com.mt to make reservations.
The event is free and the Hilton is providing lunch at a fixed price for attendees.
Simon Osborn summed up the importance of the course. He said: “I have confidence in Malta as a top fund domicile competing with longer-established domiciles such as Ireland and Luxembourg.
“The MFSA and Directors Chambers are doing a great job not only keeping directors up to date on governance and regulatory issues, but also building international awareness that Malta is a strong contender in the international funds industry.”