European Union: Finance and Banking

Malta's aviation finance sector is poised for significant expansion as the MFSA introduces a groundbreaking consultation on new rules for aircraft financial leasing companies. The proposed Article 3B framework offers an alternative pathway for companies to enter the aircraft leasing market without full licensing requirements, while maintaining robust regulatory oversight through a notification-based system with ongoing compliance obligations.

Malta's financial regulator has proposed a new regulatory pathway for aircraft financial leasing companies that offers an alternative to existing licensing requirements. The consultation introduces Article 3B to the Financial Institutions Act, creating a registration-based framework with specific substance and governance requirements that could reshape how aviation finance entities establish operations in Malta.

Over the years, Malta has established itself not only as one of Europe’s leading yacht registries, but also as a sophisticated jurisdiction for yacht financing and security structures.

The implementation of CRD VI introduces a new regulatory framework governing how non-EU credit institutions and undertakings can provide core banking services within the European Union. Ireland's transposition of Article 21c requirements on 10 July 2026 creates both opportunities and interpretive challenges for firms navigating deposit-taking, lending, and guarantee provision in the post-January 2027 landscape.

The European Commission has proposed significant amendments to the EU's securitisation framework, aiming to remove barriers in the market while maintaining investor protections. With the Council and Parliament having finalized their positions, trilogue negotiations are now underway under Ireland's EU Presidency, testing the balance between market liberalization and regulatory safeguards.

The Malta Financial Services Authority has introduced significant amendments to its Investment Services Rules affecting firms offering contracts for difference and rolling spot forex contracts. These changes streamline authorisation requirements, align capital thresholds with EU frameworks, and recalibrate governance expectations while removing certain prescriptive obligations that have been superseded by broader European legislation.

Private equity execution has evolved beyond traditional buyout models, requiring sophisticated deal structures, flexible financing arrangements, and comprehensive due diligence across ESG, cybersecurity, and geopolitical risks. Success now depends on navigating complexity through adaptive strategies, cross-border expertise, and the ability to maintain momentum when conventional approaches no longer suffice.

In the Booking.com case, a court ruling is up for review by the Supreme Court for the second time.

Security buybacks are becoming increasingly popular by issuers of both equity and debt securities. Internationally, S&P 500 companies share buybacks amounted to nearly $1 trillion in 2024...

The European Commission has proposed significant amendments to the EU's securitisation framework, aiming to remove barriers in the market while maintaining investor protections. With the Council and Parliament having finalized their positions, trilogue negotiations are now underway under Ireland's EU Presidency, testing the balance between market liberalization and regulatory safeguards.

Andrew Caruana Scicluna hosts Riccardo Conti of Fume and Stephen Gauci Baluci of CC Fund Services Limited to examine whether fund tokenisation delivers on its promises of liquidity and efficiency, or simply redistributes existing risks. The discussion explores how atomic settlement, fractional ownership, and smart contracts may reshape the roles of transfer agents, fund administrators, and settlement teams in daily operations.

Luxembourg has introduced a landmark legislative reform allowing unregulated alternative investment fund (AIF) limited partnerships to adopt multi-compartment structures. This development enables fund sponsors to consolidate multiple investment strategies, investor classes, and fund-level structures within a single limited partnership, significantly reducing complexity and administrative burden while maintaining creditor protection and investor segregation.