In a landmark decision, the German Fiscal Court (Bundesfinanzhof – BFH) confirmed that capital gains from the sale of cryptocurrencies are subject to income tax.
The BFH considers cryptocurrencies to be ‘other assets’...more
The new German Regulation on Crypto Fund Units (Verordnung über Kryptofondsanteile – KryptoFAV) introduces the possibility to issue units of German investment funds digitally as so-called Crypto Fund Units. ...more
On August 2, 2021, a new pre-marketing regime for alternative investment funds (AIFs) promoted and distributed in Germany will come into force with the Fund Domicile Act making changes to the German Capital Investment Code....more
In this OnPoint we will look at some of the upcoming German legislative initiatives that will impact asset managers and financial services providers in Germany and abroad. We will cover the following items: Fund Domicile...more
The recent volatility in capital markets during the COVID-19 pandemic has created the risk that investment funds may be passively breaching investment restrictions that apply to them under the German Investment Tax Act....more
Both the German Federal Government and the German Federal States have enacted a variety of new financial support programs aimed at mitigating the economic consequences that the COVID-19 pandemic has on the German economy....more
4/21/2020
/ Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Federal Loans ,
Financial Stimulus ,
Germany ,
Loan Applications ,
Private Equity ,
Private Equity Funds ,
Relief Measures ,
Startups ,
State of Emergency ,
Supporting Memorandum ,
Venture Capital
German draft bill for the implementation of the 5th EU Anti-Money Laundering Directive provides for licensing requirements and an expansion of the address of the anti-money laundering obligations with regard to crypto-asset...more
New provisions of the German Capital Investment Act (Vermögensanlagengesetz – VermAnlG) (the “Act”) relating to crowdfunding will become effective on 21 July 2019. The amendments will have a significant impact on the...more
No-deal Brexit preparations: BaFin criticizes financial entities for missing Brexit preparation with regard to license requirements -
As of March 2019, Germany's Federal Financial Supervisory Authority BaFin (Bundesanstalt...more
4/11/2019
/ AIFs ,
Anti-Money Laundering ,
Asset Management ,
BaFin ,
Cryptocurrency ,
EU ,
Germany ,
Initial Coin Offering (ICOs) ,
Investment Funds ,
Investment Management ,
Licensing Rules ,
No-Deal Brexit ,
Public Offerings ,
Securities Regulation ,
Securities Tokens ,
UCITS ,
UK Brexit
German Parliament adopts Brexit Transitional Act -
The German Parliament (“Bundestag”) adopted by a large majority the so-called Brexit Transitional Act (“Brexit-Übergangsgesetz”) submitted by the Federal Government on...more
3/12/2019
/ Asset Management ,
Bank Recovery and Resolution Directive (BRRD) ,
Banks ,
Capital Requirements Regulation (CRR) ,
CDS ,
Central Counterparties ,
Credit Default Swaps ,
CRR II ,
EU ,
Germany ,
Investment Funds ,
ISDA ,
Single Resolution Mechanism Regulation (SRMR) ,
Transitional Arrangements ,
UK Brexit ,
Unsecured Debt
Law amending Financial Market Laws to Regulation (EU) 2017/2402 and Regulation (EU) No 575/2013 as amended by Regulation (EU) 2017/2401 published in the Federal Law Gazette -
The Law amending Financial Market Laws to...more
2/6/2019
/ Amended Rules ,
Asset Management ,
BaFin ,
EU ,
European Commission ,
European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) ,
Financial Markets ,
Germany ,
Investment Funds ,
Marketing ,
MiFID II ,
MiFIR ,
Popular ,
Retail Investors
German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy publishes draft bill implementing MiFID II requirements for investment brokers and advisers regulated under the German Industrial Code -
The German Federal Ministry...more
12/8/2018
/ AIFM ,
Alternative Investment Fund Managers Directive (AIFMD) ,
Asset Management ,
Brokers ,
EU ,
Germany ,
Investment Adviser ,
Investment Funds ,
MiFID II ,
Statistical Analysis ,
UCITS
German Federal Ministry of Justice and Consumer Protection published draft bill implementing the Directive (EU) 2017/828 as regards the encouragement of long-term shareholder engagement (“ARUG II”) -
The Directive (EU)...more
11/9/2018
/ Asset Management ,
BaFin ,
EU ,
European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) ,
Executive Compensation ,
Germany ,
Investment Funds ,
Investment Management ,
MiFID II ,
MiFIR ,
Portfolio Managers ,
Say-on-Pay ,
Second Shareholder Rights Directive (ARUG II) ,
Shareholder Rights ,
Shareholders ,
UCITS
Half-year figures for Germany: Investment funds raise €51 billion by August -
The German Investment Fund Association BVI issued its half-year figures report on 9 August 2018. The first half of 2018 saw investment funds in...more
BMF starts consultation of tax circular on investment tax act with associations -
The BMF (Federal Ministry of Finance) sent an updated draft tax circular on 15 June 2018 to industry associations. The updated draft...more
8/6/2018
/ Asset Management ,
EU ,
German Investment Tax Act (GITA) ,
Germany ,
Income Taxes ,
Investment Funds ,
Misleading Impressions ,
Pending Legislation ,
Premium Listed Issuers ,
Private Equity Funds ,
Rating Agencies ,
Remedies
European banking and securities authorities published guidelines on the assessment of the suitability of members of the management body and key function holders -
ESMA and EBA published joint guidelines regarding the...more
7/6/2018
/ Asset Management ,
BaFin ,
CRD IV Directive ,
EU ,
European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) ,
Germany ,
Investment Funds ,
Legal Entity Identifiers ,
MiFID II ,
MiFIR ,
New Guidance
European Commission Publishes Legislative Proposals on Sustainable Finance Which Impacts Asset Managers -
The EU Commission presented a package of measures on 24 May 2018, as a follow-up to its action plan on financing...more
BaFin interpretative notice regarding eligible investments for AIFs as real-estate companies
BaFin published a new interpretative notice on 9 April 2018, regarding the requirements for alternative investment funds (AIF) in...more
BaFin Publishes Interpretative Notice Regarding the Qualification of Tokens and Cryptocurrencies Offered Through Initial Coin Offerings to Investors -
BaFin published its new interpretative notice on 20 February regarding...more
4/2/2018
/ Asset Management ,
BaFin ,
Cryptocurrency ,
EU ,
Fees ,
Germany ,
Initial Coin Offering (ICOs) ,
Investment Funds ,
MiFID II ,
Open-Ended Fund Companies (OFCs) ,
Securities Regulation ,
Token Sales ,
Transaction Costs
BaFin Decision Regarding the Duties of Management Companies in Respect to Externally Managed Investment Companies -
After a long consultation period, BaFin published its new interpretative decision on 21 December 2017...more
BaFin publishes new circular for investments of German Insurers -
As of 12 December 2017 and after a long consultation period, BaFin has published its new Circular 11/2017 (Hinweise zur Anlage des Sicherungsvermögens...more
Since January 2017, more than $2 billion has been raised through the rapidly growing market for so-called “token sales” or “initial coin offerings” (ICOs). The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced on July...more
10/7/2017
/ BaFin ,
Banking Restrictions ,
Banks ,
China ,
Corporate Counsel ,
Corporate Issuers ,
Digital Currency ,
Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) ,
Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) ,
Financial Regulatory Reform ,
Financial Services Industry ,
Germany ,
Hong Kong ,
Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission (HKSFC) ,
Initial Coin Offering (ICOs) ,
Investors ,
Monetary Authority of Singapore ,
People's Bank of China ,
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) ,
Singapore ,
Token Sales ,
UK ,
Unregistered Securities ,
Young Lawyers
Pursuant to the new German investment tax act (GITA) that will take effect of 1 January 2018, domestic and foreign resident investment funds may become subject to German corporate income tax with various German source income...more
9/13/2017
/ AIFs ,
Corporate Taxes ,
Dividends ,
Domestic Corporations ,
Foreign Corporations ,
German Investment Tax Act (GITA) ,
Germany ,
Interest Income ,
Investment Funds ,
Partnerships ,
Registration Requirement ,
Withholding Tax
BaFin Publishes Guidance on the Authorization of Credit Institutions -
BaFin issued a guidance notice on 20 July 2017 on the requirements for the application for a banking license in accordance with Sections 32 and 33 of...more
The German Federal Court issued a series of groundbreaking rulings on July 4, 2017. Arrangement fee clauses in German law loan agreements are invalid if they are included in general terms and conditions set by the lender....more