Assessment of the suitability of Board of Directors and key function holders of investment firms

The Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) has issued Circular C483 on January 18th, 2022, to remind Cyprus Investment Firms (CIFs) of the European Banking Authority (EBA) and the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) revised joint Guidelines on the...

Mauritius exits the EU List of high-risk Countries

The European Commission via its Commission Delegated Regulation of 07/01/2022, amending Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/1675, has deleted the Mauritius from the EU list of high-risk countries. Along with Mauritius, the Bahamas, Botswana, Ghana and Iraq were also removed. For...

CySEC Circular C478 – National Risk Assessment on ML/TF Risks of Virtual Assets / Virtual Asset Service Providers

CySEC has issued Circular C478 on 21 December 2021, informing Regulated Entities (i.e., CIFs, ASPs, UCITS, AIFMs, AIFs, AIFLNPs, CASPs, etc.) on the result of the National Risk Assessment (‘the NRA’) on Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing (‘ML/TF’) risks of Virtual Assets...

ESMA has updated the Q&As on application of the AIFMD in December 2021

The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) has updated its Question and Answers (available here), relating to the application of the Alternative Investment Fund Managers Directive (AIFMD), Directive 2011/61/EU. ESMA added a new question under Section XI of the...

UK Firms can continue operate under TPR until their CySEC application is examined

CySEC has issued a Policy Statement (available here), relating to its decision to further amend Directive 87-04, in an effort to ensure the smooth transition of  UK groups / firms operating under the Temporary Permissions Regime (TPR), until they establish physical presence in...

FSC Mauritius grants extension for reporting deadlines due to Covid-19

Considering the ongoing impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Financial Services Commission, Mauritius (the “FSC”) via the issuance of a regulatory relief is granting an extension of deadlines for some balance sheet dates to FSC licensees, which are unable to comply, in a...

Updated FATF Risk-Approach Guidance for Virtual Assets and Virtual Asset Service Providers

CySEC via the issuance of its Circular C476 has informed Regulated Entities (CIFs, CASPs, ASPs, AIFMs, etc.) that the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) has updated its 2019 Guidance for a Risk-Based Approach to Virtual Assets (VAs) and Virtual Asset Service Providers (VASPs)....