Exploring the legal and regulatory issues affecting the worldwide asset management community.
By: Hilger von Livonius and Philipp Riedl
As anticipated in our earlier blog on ELTIF 2.0, Regulation (EU) 2023/606 amending the Regulation on European long-term investment funds (ELTIF Regulation) has been in force since 10 January 2024. There is a lot of hope in the German market that the revised ELTIF regime will finally help this product to achieve a breakthrough.
Read MoreBy: Shane Geraghty, Aoife Maguire, Andrew Massey, Philip Morgan, and Courtney Hunter
The UK’s overseas funds regime has been in development for several years and is finally close to becoming a reality. It will create a more streamlined method by which non-UK funds given “equivalence” status may be marketed to UK retail investors.
Read MoreBy: Grant F. Butler, Robert M. Tammero, Jr, Yuki Sako, and Aiden D. O’Leary
On 29 January 2024, Acting Comptroller Hsu gave a speech articulating his vision that the US banking system should support the diversity, dynamism and the size of the US economy, and unveiling proposed updates to the OCC merger application review processes. Shortly thereafter, the OCC issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPR) proposing to (i) eliminate automatic expedited approval based on passage of time and inaction by the OCC, which would result in every bank merger or consolidation application requiring a deliberate approval by the agency; and (ii) adopt a policy statement containing factors and indicators considered by the agency in reviewing such applications, and principles that will guide the OCC decision making process, including factors such as financial stability, financial and managerial resources and future prospects, and convenience and needs. OCC is accepting comments on the NPR which are due 60 days after publication in the federal register.
Read MoreBy: Cheryl L. Isaac, Matthew J. Rogers, and Benjamin C. Skillin
On 25 January, 2024, multiple Divisions of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) issued a Request for Comment (RFC) on the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in CFTC-regulated derivatives markets. The RFC seeks information on the current and potential uses of AI as well as the risks associated with using it. The RFC is intended to complement the Biden Administration’s Executive Order urging federal agencies to promote the safe, secure, and trustworthy development of AI. The CFTC staff views the RFC as an opportunity to “identify the highest priorities and return-on-investment projects with AI use cases” and enhance the CFTC’s data-driven approach to policy, surveillance, and enforcement.
Read MoreBY: TJ Bright and Annabelle North
On 22 January 2024, industry groups representing private investment fund sponsors, including the Alternative Investment Management Association (AIMA), National Association of Private Fund Managers, and Managed Funds Association, filed their first reply to the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) response in the groups’ ongoing petition against the new private fund adviser rules (PFAR) adopted by the SEC on 23 August 2023.
Read MoreBy: Richard Kerr, Eden Rohrer, and Aiden O’Leary
On 23 January 2024, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) published its findings from a 2022 targeted exam sweep, which may serve as a warning to broker-dealers offering crypto asset products. FINRA conducted a sweep reviewing communications made between 1 July 2022 and 30 September 2022 by member firms in connection with crypto assets and crypto-related products and services, focusing on compliance with FINRA Rule 2210 (Communications with the Public). The exam focused not only on written material, but also on communications made via websites, podcasts, advertisements, social media, and other public channels.
Read MoreBy: Shane Geraghty and Gayle Bowen
The Irish Department of Finance has published a Progress Update on their ongoing review of the funds sector in Ireland. The review, under interlinked themes of open markets, resilient markets and developing markets, is seeking to ensure that the Irish funds sector is resilient, future-proofed, supportive of macro-prudential stability, and continues to meet international best-practice standards.
Read MoreBy: Cal Gilmartin, Abigail Hemnes, Michael Davalla and Benjamin Skillin
This past Friday, the SEC staff issued a set of responses to FAQs on the Tailored Shareholder Reports (TSRs) Rule. While these responses only represent the views of the staff of the Division of Investment Management and have no legal force or effect, they provide welcome clarity and guidance on certain elements of the Rule that had been the subject of discussion across the industry.
Read MoreBy: Áine Ní Riain and Lucy Deane
Under the EU PRIIPs Regulation “manufacturers” are required to prepare a key information document (KID) where relevant packaged retail investment products (including most funds) are made available to retail investors.
Read MoreBy: Peter J. Shea, Richard F. Kerr, Keri E. Riemer, and Aiden D. O’Leary
The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is making 2024 a significant year for exchange-traded products (ETPs) by declaring effective the registration statements of ten Bitcoin ETPs, and approving their listing on one of the major stock exchanges. This is a monumental step to bringing access to Bitcoin to a broader retail market in the US For over a decade, the staff of the SEC (Staff) had denied or otherwise blocked applications to list spot Bitcoin ETPs, claiming, in part, that there were insufficient protections against market manipulation in the underlying Bitcoin market. The approvals issued this week unlock – although do not widely open – a previously dead bolted door to registered products offering direct exposure to Bitcoin, providing an opportunity for retail investors to have easier access to exposure to Bitcoin in a regulated product.
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