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ESMA_QA_2737
Topic
Temporary regime for small providers
18/12/2025
Subject Matter
Group-affiliated small ESG rating providers
Question
Is a small ESG rating provider that is part of a medium-sized or large group eligible for the temporary regime under Article 5 of Regulation (EU) 2024/3005 when it is operating independently of the group’s resources and consolidated capacity?
Level 1 Regulation
ESGR - Regulation (EU) 2024/3005
ESMA_QA_2736
Topic
AIFMD scope
18/12/2025
Subject Matter
NEW LIQUIDITY MANAGEMENT TOOLS REQUIREMENTS FOR UCITS AND OPEN ENDED AIFS COMING INTO EFFECT ON 16 APRIL 2026: DOES THE SCOPE OF LMTs EXTEND TO NON-EU OPEN ENDED AIFs?
Question
The AIFMD II (Directive (EU) 2024/927), which will enter into effect on 16 April 2026 imposes a requirement on EU open ended alternative investment funds (EU AIFs) and UCITS to specify/include in their rules or instruments of incorporation two (2) liquidity management tools (LMTs), which are defined in the Annex V of the AIMFD II.

The AIFMD II is silent when it comes of the requirement of LMTs for non-EU open-ended AIFs such as Cayman Islands domiciled open-ended unit trusts. Can the ESMA provide clarifications on whether the requirement to choose two (2) liquidity management tools (LMTs) for open-ended EU AIFs apply also to non-EU open ended AIFs managed by an EU AIFM, even if those non-EU AIFs are not marketed in the Union?
Level 1 Regulation
Alternative Investment Fund Managers Directive (AIFMD) Directive 2011/61/EU
ESMA_QA_2734
Topic
Funds’ names
17/12/2025
Subject Matter
Exclusion related to UNGC/OECD Guidelines
Question
For the purposes of applying the exclusions in the Guidelines, how should fund managers apply the exclusion referred to in Article 12(1)(c) of Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/1818 (i.e. “companies that benchmark administrators find in violation of the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC) principles or the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises”)?
Level 1 Regulation
Alternative Investment Fund Managers Directive (AIFMD) Directive 2011/61/EU
ESMA_QA_2733
Topic
Funds’ names
17/12/2025
Subject Matter
Exclusion related to UNGC/OECD Guidelines
Question
For the purposes of applying the exclusions in the Guidelines, how should fund managers apply the exclusion referred to in Article 12(1)(c) of Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/1818 (i.e. “companies that benchmark administrators find in violation of the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC) principles or the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises”)?
Level 1 Regulation
Undertakings for Collective Investment in Transferable Securities Directive (UCITS) Directive 2009/65/EC
ESMA_QA_2708
Topic
Inducements
03/12/2025
Subject Matter
Inducements
Question
When an investment firm pays a third party (e.g law firms, accounting firms) any commission in connection with the provision of an investment service or ancillary service to the client must ensure that all the conditions set out in Article 24(9) of Directive 2014/65/EU and requirements set out in paragraphs 2-5 are met at all times. One of the requirements is that the fee and commission shall be considered to be designed to enhance the quality of the relevant service to the client if it is justified by the provision of an additional or higher level service to the relevant client, proportional to the level of inducements received. Which is responsible to enhance the quality of the relevant service to the client? The investment firm or the third party (e.g the law firms, the accounting firms)


Level 1 Regulation
Directive 2014/65/EU - Markets in Financial Instruments Directive (MiFID II)