MFSA outlines expectations in fund management sector

On Wednesday, the Malta Financial Services Authority (MFSA) issued the fourth volume of its publication: The Nature and Art of Financial Supervision.

The document provides an overview of the MFSA’s approach to the supervision of Fund Managers, Collective Investment Schemes, Recognised Persons and Custodians of Collective Investment Schemes. 

It highlights the main observations made by the MFSA through the supervisory engagements conducted in 2020, sets out the authority’s findings, and identifies the best practices which are expected of licence holders. It then highlights the Authority’s supervisory focus for 2021 and the regulatory developments which may be expected over the coming year.

MFSA’s Chief Officer Supervision and CEO ad interim, Dr Christopher P. Buttigieg, commented that “the MFSA applies the highest level of scrutiny in its supervisory work and processes. 

“This publication highlights the MFSA’s supervisory work in the fund management sector and sets out our expectations. As highlighted in the document, it is important to note that the supervisory team has incorporated an AML/CFT aspect into all its onsite inspections. This will lead to the Authority identifying and addressing any existing vulnerabilities in this respect.”

Doreen Balzan, Head of the Authority’s Securities and Markets Supervision function added that “the MFSA plans to continue building on the work carried out over the past year to ensure the integrity of the markets, the financial soundness of operators and, of course, the protection of consumers of financial services.”

The publication is part of the MFSA’s commitment to ensure that the financial services system remains stable and resilient in order to fulfil its role as a main economic contributor and as a conduit for other equally important sectors of society.

The authority remarked that it also expects licence holders to take note of the contents of this publication and conduct a self-assessment exercise with respect to the recommendations being made. Subsequently, licence holders should address any weaknesses identified, as applicable.