Compliance - PwC Establishment of Banks Blog

Changes of Reporting Duties (Part 2)

Changes regarding reporting obligations pursuant to the German Foreign Trade and Payments Regulation (AWV)

Within the scope of the establishment of credit or financial institutions external sector statistics reporting is still to be observed. This topic is subject to substantial changes from July 2013 on.

From this date on the reports could only be filed electronically. Apart from that, the content of the reporting will be extended in order to meet the increased needs for information on both, national and international level. Additionally, there will be changes with respect to the persons subject to external sector statistics reporting obligations.

Changes of Reporting Duties (Part 1)

Extended Reporting Requirements based on the ‘Financial Information Regulation’

Within the context of the establishment of a credit or financial institution the proper compliance with the German reporting regulations has to derive already from the respective application documentation. That means, one should deal with the German reporting duties at a very early stage. Even EU-Branches pursuant to Sect. 53b German Banking Act should be aware of German reporting requirements since they are also obligated to submit regulatory reports to a certain extent.

Requirements for licensing of alternative investment funds managers (AIFM) – Part 1

Funding required for running the business
As already posted on June 2012 (see below), from July 2013 on all collective investment schemes, which are not already covered by the UCITS Directive [Directive for the regulation of collective investment undertakings; Directive 2009/65/EC] are regulated by the AIFMD. Therefore fund managers of so-called “alternative” funds, such as private equity funds or hedge funds generally are required to obtain a license for their activities.

There are numerous requirements that have to be met in order to obtain an AIFM-license by the Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin). One of these conditions is the availability of adequate capital.

Alternative Investment Fund Managers Directive (AIFMD) – German Implementation Act in preparation

In the near future, collective investment models that do not fall under the UCITS Directive, will be regulated indirectly by the AIFMD. The AIFMD regulates fund managers directly, and thus indirectly also their products, and will be applied from 22 July 2013. In the future, it will apply basically to so-called “alternative” fund managers, such as managers of closed end funds, private equity or non-UCITS investment funds, and on account of European provisions a license will be required.

The German implementation is currently in preparation. According to reports, the current investment law is turned upside down and will be transformed in a so called “Capital Investment Code”. The release of the draft is expected daily.

3rd edition of Banking Business in Germany is now available as an eBook

The third edition of this practical guide on establishing a bank in Germany has been edited by Jens Rönnberg (PwC) and Dr Oliver Wagner (Association of Foreign Banks in Germany).

The authors Christian Wilhelm Baumann, Sascha Demgensky, Dr Nicole Elert, Markus Erb, Christina Grulke, Eva Handrick, Holger Junghanns, Dr Eric Krause, Marco Libudda, Hartmut Liehr, Jens Marth, Dr Angelika Meyding-Metzger, Thomas Karl Otto, Martina Rangol, Kristina Rölver, Jens Rönnberg, Alice Dagmar Romisch, Dr Martin Schulte, Dr Jörg Schwerdtfeger, Marc Seedorf, Hiltrud Thelen-Pischke, Wolfgang Vahldiek, Dr Oliver Wagner, Christian Wettlaufer, Christine Wicker, Daniel Wildhirt, Rainer Wilken, Maxi Wilkowski and Herbert Zerwas have revised and expanded this edition.

Banking Business in Germany – 3rd edition, revised and expanded – now available

I am proud to announce that the latest, the 3rd, edition of "Banking Business in Germany" is now available. Also the new edition was developed in close cooperation between the Association of Foreign Banks in Germany (Verband der Auslandsbanken in Deutschland e.V.) and PwC and, like the former editions, is endorsed by the State-Government of Hesse.

The book's subtitle tries to explain its ambition in one short sentence:

"A practical guide for foreign banks establishing a subsidiary or a branch in Germany"

MiFID II draft: Extension of the license obligation to non regulated enterprises?

On 20 October 2011, a draft of the revised Markets in Financial Instruments Directive (MiFID) flanked by the draft of a new Market in Financial Instruments regulation (MiFIR) was published by the EU Commission. The two drafts are hereinafter referred to collectively as "MiFID II". The revision of the existing MiFID is part of reforms designed after the financial crisis to create a safer and sounder financial system.

MiFID II is expected to expand the existing licensing obligation to a larger number of enterprises.

Emission Allowances: Trading and possible Licensing Requirements

An increasing number of companies will be obliged to submit emission allowances in the future. More companies will participate in trading for the purpose of covering and securing their need for emission allowances. However, certain arrangements of such transactions can trigger a license requirement of the involved entity. Under certain circumstances, the application for a banking license for trading in emission allowances may be required.

The German Supervisory Authority has clarified the scope of the license requirements in a recent guidance notice. By doing so, it aligned its orientation in this matter with the given legal status in Europe.

EU branches: Without permission at the German market or still under German law obligations?

Basically banks and securities traders from the European Economic Area do not require a separate authorization from the Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin), if they would like to establish a branch in Germany and / or if they are about to take action in cross-border services. By using this so-called "European Passport", the Authority in the home country of the bank or securities trader reserves the general oversight authority.

Nevertheless; there are also several regulatory provisions in Germany that must be fulfilled particularly by branches. BaFin notifies the bank about these obligations in advance in a so-called standardized "Welcome Letter". However, due to the generic enumeration of the relevant German sections the real content of the obligations that exist for the branch in Germany are often under-estimated.

Banking business in Germany – revised edition soon available

As time goes by …

Time is relative. But from a regulatory perspective the last four years since 2007 brought close to epochal changes. In nearly all areas of the financial industry the measures taken to scope with the financial crisis led to fundamental amendments and new regulations which already transformed the industry sustainably and will further do so in future.

What you can look forward to

Category: Compliance