EU Fund regulation
The EU fund product landscape is deep, diverse and dynamic. Since the birth of the UCITS framework in 1985, European institutions have progressively refined it into a global “gold standard”, one that successfully balances strict regulatory requirements with the flexibility required by manager to meet evolving client demands. The successful evolution of UCITS was followed by the creation of alternative investment funds (AIFs) under the 2011 AIFM Directive, adding a second important pillar to EU fund/manager regulation. Building on this second pillar are further ambitious EU fund products, such as EUSEFs, EUVECAs and ELTIFs. EFAMA has helped guide all of these key regulatory developments, informing policymakers and regulators on their main merits and drawbacks, while also keeping a close eye on their respective review initiatives.
EFAMA strongly supports a fundamental review to the ELTIF regime, in view of broadening its eligible investment universe and adapting it to better meet retail investor needs. We are also closely monitoring the review of the AIFM Directive from a product regulation standpoint, including possible spillover effects on the UCITS Directive requirements. Further work involves keeping pace with relevant ESMA initiatives, such as the work around the Common Supervisory Action on costs and fees for UCITS.
EFAMA's response to ESMA's CP on Implementing technical Standards under Regulation (EU) 2019/1156
Counterparty and liquidity risks in ETFs - EFAMA response to ECB
Our comment paper confutes the ECB study’s main findings by focusing on its two core areas, namely
liquidity and counterparty risks inherent to the structure and functioning of ETFs. A final section
considers the merits of further regulatory action addressed at the European ETF industry.
EFAMA’s comments on ESMA’s CP on Draft regulatory technical standards under Article 25 of ELTIF Regulation
European Money Market Funds navigated the Covid 19 crisis successfully
The European Fund and Asset Management Association (EFAMA) has published its second Market Insights highlighting the major trends shaping the European Money Market Fund (MMF) landscape since the entry into force of the Money Market Fund Regulation (MMFR).
Monthly Statistics July 2020 | Investors remained confident in investment outlook in July
The European Fund and Asset Management Association (EFAMA) has today published its latest monthly Investment Fund Industry Fact Sheet, which provides net sales data of UCITS and AIFs for July 2020*.
An ambitious CMU Action Plan that will need strong political support from Member States
Building a Capital Markets Union (CMU) that serves the needs of European citizens and businesses is an ambitious yet, essential - project that requires a long-term political vision, determination and perseverance.
The new CMU Action Plan adopted today by the European Commission, which largely builds on the recommendation of the CMU High-Level Forum, is a milestone in the journey towards the realisation of this ambition for Europe.
Asset Management in Europe - An Overview of the Asset Management Industry - November 2020
The report aims to provide a unique and comprehensive set of facts and figures on the state of the industry at the end of 2018 but also to highlight the fundamental role of asset managers in the financial system and wider economy.
European MMFs in the Covid-19 market turmoil: Evidence, experience and tentative considerations around eventual future reforms
The pandemic-induced market events experienced in March 2020 have marked the first true ‘stress-test’ for European MMFs, following the introduction of the EU Money Market Fund Regulation (MMFR) in 2017. Despite the severity of the liquidity stress in the secondary market for short-term instruments and the significant outflows experienced by European MMFs across all three of the MMFR-identified categories (public debt CNAV, LVNAV and VNAV), funds proved resilient.
Demystifying ETPs: an EFAMA guide for the European investor
Through its ETF Task Force, EFAMA has produced an Investor Education Guide intended to draw out, in a simple form, the defining features for the three main types of ETPs (Exchange-traded products) listed across European markets. The association hopes this guide will primarily assist investors in having a clearer understanding of different ETPs and help investors appreciate the differences between them, especially from a risk and product complexity viewpoint.