Guernsey event to look at practical aspects of AIFMD implementation

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Funds experts will examine Guernsey’s approach to the EU’s Alternative Investment Fund Managers Directive (AIFMD) at an event in London this November.

With uncertainty still surrounding aspects of the Directive, panellists from the UK and Guernsey will look at what the Island’s dual regime means in practice for advisers and clients, particularly in relation to the most appropriate route to market.

The event, ‘AIFMD: Practical aspects of implementation’, is being held on the afternoon of Tuesday 5 November at the recently refurbished Rosewood London.

Fiona Le Poidevin, Chief Executive of Guernsey Finance, the promotional agency for the Island’s finance industry internationally, said: “AIFMD has dominated a large proportion of the coverage relating to the European funds industry over the past couple of years but, despite this attention and focus, there are still many questions about certain aspects of the Directive that remain unanswered.

“We hope that the event will help answer these questions and demonstrate how Guernsey’s dual regime offers fund managers an attractive mix of options and flexibility for distributing funds into both EU and non-EU countries.”

Panellists for the event are Cathy Pitt, Partner at Norton Rose Fulbright; Phil Bartram, Partner at Travers Smith; Carl Rosumek, Director of Investment Supervision and Policy for the Guernsey Financial Services Commission; and Justin Partington, Commercial Director at Ipes.

Ben Morgan, Partner at Carey Olsen, will moderate the panel session and also provide an overview of AIFMD and how it relates to Guernsey.

In addition to discussing the most appropriate route to market and summarising Guernsey’s AIFMD offering, other topics to be covered at the event include portfolio and risk management, private placement bilateral discussions and Guernsey as a depositary centre of excellence.

Miss Le Poidevin said the event will appeal to investors, fund promoters, investment managers, fund formation lawyers, tax advisers and anyone launching a fund.

“Our panellists are extremely well placed to provide fund managers with a significant level of detail and technical expertise on AIFMD, its implications and their potential options. The panellists will also be ready to answer any questions from the audience so we expect it to be a highly interactive and informative debate which really gets to the heart of matters which concern the funds community in the UK and beyond,” she said.

The event, which is free to attend, takes place from 4pm on Tuesday 5 November 2013 in the Grand Ballroom of Rosewood London. It will be followed by a drinks reception at 6pm. Northern Trust and Ipes are event sponsors.

For further information or to book a delegate place please contact Jennifer Baudains by email jen@guernseyfinance.com or telephone +44 (0) 1481 720071.