Like any marketplace, the fund management industry requires a reliable and fair basis of operation, with all participants given the chance to succeed and skill and innovation being encouraged. But regulation creates both: challenges, as well as opportunities. The last few years in particular have seen an outpouring of new rules. Legislators attempt to protect investors and prevent abuses that could lead to financial crises. It is an unenviable task, but how can the new European Commission help?
The focus for regulators should always be on walking the fine line between creating new rules to enforce a level playing field and not causing undue strains on individual market participants. This is easier said than done, but there are a number of key considerations that can help ensure that regulation creates a level playing field. Here is a quick guideline:
New rules are also being passed in key geographic hubs like the US and Asia, and the asset management industry is of a global nature. It is vital for regulators in Europe to take this into consideration. Failure to do so can create unfairness and regulatory arbitrage, or at worst, even split the industry. This is particularly challenging as some hubs for the industry – and particularly the US – are ahead of Europe in the development of their regulatory agenda.
New regulation can mean new costs, such as building technology, hiring back office staff or diverting existing resources. It is equally important for fund managers to plan for change and to take new opportunities created by new rules.
With enough time it can be possible for fund managers to work through changes and realign their businesses to thrive in what will become a new working environment. If developments occur too quickly, however, regulation can quickly turn into a burden that creates consolidation – particularly with smaller fund managers – that can hamper competition in the industry. The asset management ecosystem is very carefully balanced and too much upheaval can create a multi-tiered market.
Read also: 3 smart ways to manage regulatory fund data
While restrictions on activity are sometimes necessary, they must be crafted to ensure that new products and services can still be brought to investors. Similarly, given that the asset management industry is founded on considered, well thought-out risk taking, new rules have to be carefully crafted to ensure that risk taking is not prohibited.
As an important part of attempts to create a level playing field in the investment world hinge on improving transparency for investors, this is particularly important. A good example of attempting to maintain simplicity is Europe’s Undertakings for Collective Investment in Transferable Securities (UCITS) regulatory regime. Over decades this directive has evolved several times; however, it has always held simplicity and transparency at its heart. While this requires fund managers to produce a great deal of data, the benefits and reasons for doing this are ultimately clear.
With technology always changing, however, it can be all too easy for regulators to fall behind what the industry is doing, particularly as the focus is often on fixing past issues.
While Europe’s regulators have always acted with the best intentions, no one knows the potential impact of new rules better than the fund industry itself. The input from practitioners must be considered and incorporated into regulation for a level playing field to be achieved.
Ultimately the regulatory environment for the European fund management industry is extremely complicated, which has brought about a number of challenges and opportunities for market participants. The journey towards a truly level playing field for investors is still ongoing. Regulators and fund managers both have a role to play in order to ensure that the fine line between too little and too much change is maintained.
