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Anthea Sammut​

The MFSA issued a Circular to inform licence holders of the minor amendment made to the Annual Fund Return.
Amendment to the Annual Fund Return Investment Services & Funds

Amendment to the Annual Fund Return

On the 12th of April 2021, the Malta Financial Services Authority (‘MFSA’) introduced the requirement for all collective investment schemes that are locally licensed or notified to submit a novel return, being the Annual Fund Return. Various amendments to the Annual Fund Return have been made as can be seen in the Circular issued by the MFSA on the 21st of December 2021, along with the updated Guidelines. On the 18th of November 2022, the MFSA issued a Circular to inform licence holders of another minor amendment made to the Annul Fund Return. The MFSA informed the public that the…
Anthea Sammut​
25th November 2022
The Introduction of an Updated Process for the Reporting of Major ICT-Related Incidents
The Introduction of an Updated Process for the Reporting of Major ICT-Related Incidents Investment Services & Funds

The Introduction of an Updated Process for the Reporting of Major ICT-Related Incidents

On the 12th of July 2022, the Malta Financial Services Authority (the “MFSA”) issued a Consultation Document on the reporting of major ICT-related incidents with a consultation period expiring on the 5th of August 2022. The MFSA worked on introducing an updated major ICT-related incident reporting process that replaces the previous process that was communicated on the 25th of September 2019 entitled ‘Cybersecurity - Threat Mitigation’. The former process was introduced with the aim of safeguarding national as well as international financial institutions from malicious attack campaigns. The MFSA issued a renovated major ICT-related incident reporting process in line with…
Anthea Sammut​
17th October 2022
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The Online Presence of UCITS Management Companies and Reverse Solicitation Investment Services & Funds

The Online Presence of UCITS Management Companies and Reverse Solicitation

Recently, the Malta Financial Services Authority ("MFSA") issued two circulars related to updates on Undertakings for Collective Investment in Transferable Securities ("UCITS") Management Companies, and a clarification note on the disclosures in the financial return reporting and other essential regulatory clarifications. In this article, a brief overview of the salient features emanating from these two circulars shall be given to ensure that subject persons comply with the below updates and clarifications. The first circular dated the 6th of April 2022 relates to the online and social media presence of UCITS Management Companies. The MFSA is requesting UCITS Management Companies to…
Anthea Sammut​
18th April 2022
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The Cross-Border Distribution of Funds Framework Investment Services & Funds

The Cross-Border Distribution of Funds Framework

The Cross-Border Distribution of Funds (the "CBDF") Framework is composed of the CBDF Regulation and Directive, and is supplemented by the Commission Delegated Regulation 2021/955 and by the ESMA Guidelines on Marketing Communications under the Regulation on Cross-Border Distribution of Funds. The ESMA Guidelines on Marketing Communications and the Commission Delegated Regulation 2021/955 came into effect recently on the 2nd of February 2022. The CBDF Regulation establishes marketing requirements for collective investment undertakings and for marketing communications that are addressed to investors. This Regulation establishes principles relating to fees and charges that are levied on managers of collective investment undertakings…
Anthea Sammut​
8th February 2022
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The Investment Firms Regulation and Directive – Master Data Collection and Investment Firms Classification Investment Services & Funds

The Investment Firms Regulation and Directive – Master Data Collection and Investment Firms Classification

The Investment Firms Regulation and Directive (the "IFR/D Package"), became applicable on the 26th of June 2021. The IFR/D Package introduced a new prudential framework that is applicable to Investment Firms. For further details on the coming into force of the IFR/D Package, kindly refer to our article of the 4th of November 2021. On the 17th of January 2022, the Malta Financial Services Authority (the "MFSA") issued a Circular titled "The Investment Firms Regulation and Directive – Data Collection", which follows up on other circulars and briefings that were issued by the MFSA following the coming into force of…
Anthea Sammut​
25th January 2022
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The Updated FATF Guidance for a Risk-Based Approach to Virtual Assets and Virtual Asset Service Providers. Investment Services & Funds

The Updated FATF Guidance for a Risk-Based Approach to Virtual Assets and Virtual Asset Service Providers.

In 2019, the Financial Action Task Force ("FATF") adopted a Guidance for Risk-Based Approach to Virtual Assets ("VAs") and Virtual Asset Service Providers ("VASPs"). The purpose behind the Guidance was to help national authorities to comprehend and develop regulatory and supervisory responses to VAs activities or operations and VASPs, and to help private sector entities seeking to engage in VAs activities in comprehending their obligations with respect to anti-money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism ("AML/CFT") and how they can successfully comply with these requirements. The FATF updated its 2019 Guidance in October of this year. A brief outline…
Anthea Sammut​
23rd November 2021