Malta Alternative Investment Funds License
Over the last two decades, Malta has established itself as an innovative and reliable financial services centre, hosting a variety of financial services businesses and structures including AIFs, UCITS, fund managers, fund administrators, forex brokers, payment services providers, investment advisors and insurance principals.
A number of factors have contributed to Malta’s rapid growth in the sector, including the approachability of the Malta Financial Services Authority (MFSA), Malta’s single regulator for financial services, and the high regulatory standards that the jurisdiction adheres to. Malta’s appeal is also enhanced by its highly skilled workforce, multilingualism, extensive tax treaty network, and reliable IT infrastructure.
Malta Government requirement of Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs)
Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs) fall within the remit of the AIFMD. AIFs are defined as collective investment undertakings which raise capital from a number of investors with a view of investing therein in accordance with a defined investment strategy, and which do not require authorisation under the UCITS Directive
Malta Legal Basis
Malta has been regulating investment funds since 1994 through the Investment Services Act as well as Investment Services Rules. The principal legislation governing Alternative Investor Funds (“AIFs”) in Malta is the Investment Services Act, 1994 (“ISA”) as subsequently amended. AIFs are a special class of collective investment schemes which fall within the provisions of the Act.
Benefit of Alternative Investment Funds in Malta
- EU Passporting: You can passporting to do business in all other EU Countries.
- Malta is robust Regulatory Framework
- Flexible Regulator
- Structure Variants
- Lower Setup and Ongoing Costs
Offshore Company Corp Can Provide To You As Service Providers
- Fund Manager – The management of the AIF can be carried out internally by the AIF (self managed AIFM) or by appointing an AIFM management company.
- Custodian – An AIFM is required to appoint a single local independent custodian for each AIF under management (provided that until July 2017, the custodian need not be a Maltese entity).
- Auditor – An auditor which is approved by the MFSA will need to be appointed.
- Compliance Officer – This role is required to ensure compliance with the AIF obligations and requirements.
- Money Laundering Reporting Officer – A role required to ensure compliance with the AML/CFT obligations and requirements.
Capital
The minimum capital requirement for self-managed AIFs is €300,000.
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Approved Service Providers | Min. €300,000 for Self-Managed Funds | MFSA Approved Offering Documents | Settle Application/ Supervisory Fee | Fit & ProperManagement and Shareholding | AIFM Management Company |
Process and Timeline
Step 1
2 Week Preparation Time
- Compiling the application documents
- Preliminary Meeting with the MFSA & Submit Application
Step 2
3-6 Months Review Time
- The MFSA Authorisation Unit reviews the application
- In Principle Approval
Step 3
2 Weeks Pre-Licensing Stage
- The MFSA issues the “in principle” approval of the licence and the applicant executes the outstanding conditions untilofficial licence is issued
Step 4
Licence issued at this stage
- Licence issued at this stage! Total time around 7 months.
Offshore Company Corp services to get your license of Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs) is 12,000 US$. Contac us for more detail.