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Investment Services & Funds

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The Maltese Professional Investor Fund Regime Investment Services & Funds

The Maltese Professional Investor Fund Regime

Under Maltese law, collective investment schemes that qualify as Professional Investor Funds ("PIFs") are subject to a significantly lighter and more flexible regime than retail funds. Hedge funds, funds of funds, private equity funds, and property funds, are typically set up as a PIF, in Malta. The Investment Services Rules for Professional Investor Funds, issued by the Malta Financial Services Authority ("MFSA") cater for a regulatory framework that is both robust and adaptable, allowing managers and promoters to innovate and to develop new products to meet the changing needs of the market. Changes to the Investor Base On 1 April…
Katya Tua
21st March 2017
Recognised Incorporated Cell Companies Investment Services & Funds

Recognised Incorporated Cell Companies

​BackgroundBy virtue of the Companies Act (Investment Companies with Variable Share Capital) Regulations, it has been possible, since 2003, to set up a multi-fund company licensed as a collective investment Scheme in Malta. The distinguishing feature of this type of umbrella-structure company is that several sub-funds can be set up within the company, with each sub-fund having its own segregated assets and liabilities. The assets and liabilities of each sub-fund are distinct from the assets and liabilities of the other sub-funds under the same umbrella structure. Furthermore, each sub-fund obtains its own licence as, for instance, a professional investors fund…
Katya Tua
21st November 2016
Non-Financial Counterparty and Financial Counterparty obligations under EMIR Investment Services & FundsNews

Non-Financial Counterparty and Financial Counterparty obligations under EMIR

​Each of the following shall be deemed to be Financial Counterparties for the purposes of EMIR: a credit institution, an investment firm, a UCITS, and where relevant, its management company, an AIF managed by AIFM, an insurance, assurance, reinsurance undertaking, or an institution for occupational retirement provision.Non-financial counterparties ("NFCs") are all those counterparties to a derivative contract other than Financial Counterparties, Trade Repositories and Central Counterparties. Until a fund shall remain regulated under the Malta PIF regime, it shall be classified as an NFC (and hence Parts A, B and C below shall apply), however, it is important to note…
Katya Tua
21st November 2016
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Malta: Implications of the Alternative Investment Fund Manager Directive (AIFMD) Investment Services & FundsNews

Malta: Implications of the Alternative Investment Fund Manager Directive (AIFMD)

1. Background1.1. The deadline for implementation of Directive 2011/61/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 8 June 2011 on Alternative Investment Fund Managers1 ("AIFMD"), by the EU Member States is 22 July 2013. However, there are various transitional provisions and special provisions on the transposition of certain rules in relation to third countries, which make the application of such rules dependent on a positive advice / opinion from ESMA, and a delegated act from the European Commission. For the relevant timeframes, see Annex I.1.2. The AIFMD will concern, essentially:• Fund managers established in the EU managing and / or marketing Alternative Investment Funds ("AIFs"),…
Katya Tua
18th November 2016
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Open-Ended Vs Closed-Ended AIFs Investment Services & Funds

Open-Ended Vs Closed-Ended AIFs

​Introduction A secure and stable financial system requires that all significant financial market actors are subject to appropriate regulation and supervision. Alternative Investment Fund Managers ('AIFMs') have grown to become very significant actors in the European financial system, managing a large quantity of assets on behalf of pension funds and other investors; accounting for a significant proportion of trading activity in financial markets; and constituting an important source of counterparty risk for other market participants. AIFMs have also contributed to the build-up of leverage in the financial system, the consequences of which for the stability of financial markets became apparent…
Katya Tua
8th November 2013