The Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (" SFDR "), which was passed in 2019 and became applicable in 2021, has introduced Environmental, Social and Governance ("ESG") reporting obligations for EU investment funds. These sustainability reporting obligations aim at reducing the marketing practice of greenwashing in the investment services industry. However, whilst the SFDR provided for the obligation to carry out ESG reporting, the Regulatory Technical Standards ("RTS"), which stipulate how the data relating to the financial product is to be presented to inve...

On the 11 th of April 2022, the Malta Financial Services Authority (the "MFSA" ) issued a circular entitled "The Introduction of Appendix 2E – A New Regulatory Return for Licence Holders Offering Depositary Services Solely to Collective Investment Schemes" . Through this circular, the MFSA remarked that along with the requirement to submit the annual report and audited financial statements, a new regulatory return, being Appendix 2E , is being introduced for depositaries of Collective Investment Schemes that are not allowed to offer any MiFID services and licensed...

In a circular dated the 18 th of March 2022, the Malta Financial Services Authority ("MFSA") issued a circular titled: Publication of a Revised Application Form for Professional Investor Funds ("PIFs"). In its circular issued  earlier in 2021, the MFSA outlined that the new application form is part of a wider update to consolidate the licensing processes of various Collective Investment Schemes authorised by the MFSA. Although PIFs do not have passporting rights, this type of fund remains the most efficient investment vehicle for hedge fund managers who are t...

In light of the current pandemic in which we find ourselves, the MFSA has announced that it will be extending the deadlines for submission of regulatory reporting for investment firms, investment funds and fund managers which fall due by March or April 2020. However, with regard to those submissions which fall due by May or June 2020, the MFSA is reluctant to grant extensions for the time-being. 1.  Investment Firms Category 1-4 (excluding credit institutions) - Annual Report, Audited Financial Statements, COREP Return, and Management Letter, Circularisation ...

Following the United Kingdom's ("UK") withdrawal from the European Union ("EU"), the Malta Financial Services Authority ('MFSA') has issued a circular which provides an update on governance and reporting obligations. This update is relevant and applicable to all market participants, specifically those entities which fall within the ambit of the following securities markets' regulations: 1.The Markets in Financial Instruments Directive ("MiFID II") and The Markets in Financial Instruments Regulation ("MiFIR II"); 2.The European Markets Infrastructure Regulation ("E...