Regulatory environment

Protection against money laundering

The fight against money laundering and terrorist financing has been a top priority for years for Liechtenstein, which has a zero-tolerance policy towards such matters. As a member of the EEA, Liechtenstein implemented in 2017 the 4th EU Anti-Money Laundering Directive 2015/849 as well as Regulation 2015/847 on information accompanying transfers of funds.

The relevant implementing provisions are found especially in the Law on Professional Due Diligence to Combat Money Laundering, Organised Crime, and Terrorist Financing (Due Diligence Act; DDA) of 1 September 2017 and the corresponding Ordinance (Due Diligence Ordinance; DDO).

In 2002, 2007 and 2013/2014, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and Moneyval (the Council of Europe’s Committee of Experts) assessed to what extent the Liechtenstein provisions on anti-money laundering and combating the financing of terrorism meet the standards laid down by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF 40+9 Recommendations). In their last report, the IMF and Moneyval attested positively to Liechtenstein’s standards in combating money laundering and financing of terrorism.

LLB has assigned the highest priority to combating money laundering and its predicate offences as well as financing of terrorist or criminal activities. Monitoring is performed by an IT system. In addition to the systematic monitoring of transactions, employees receive ongoing training on regulatory changes. They are also sensitised to the indications of possible money laundering activities.

The Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) serves as the country’s central authority for obtaining and analysing information that is necessary to recognise money laundering, predicate offences for money laundering, organised crime and terrorist financing. It represents Liechtenstein in the Committee of Experts on anti-money laundering and terrorist financing in the EU. The revision of the FIU Law on 1 March 2016 and the adaptations made to the Due Diligence Act ensure Liechtenstein is fully legally compliant with the international standard.

MiFID II/Liechtenstein

The Liechtenstein financial centre implemented the Markets in Financial Instruments Directive (MiFID) on 1 November 2007. MiFID simplifies cross-border financial services and allows investment firms, banks and stock markets to also offer their services in other EU/EEA member states. Furthermore, they are required to conduct precise client and product analyses as well as disclose information on compensations and commissions.

The Amendment (MiFID II) and the accompanying Regulation (MiFIR) came into force in the EU on 3 January 2018, one year later than originally planned. They provide for further regulation of the financial markets and investment services. MiFIR also regulates trading transparency. Besides the refinement of regulations since MiFID, the aim of MiFID II is to create greater transparency in the markets and to increase investor protection.

High-frequency trade will be made more transparent and subject to stricter supervisory controls, while position limits on commodity trading will be stricter. In future, throughout the EU, consultations at bank branches and consultations by telephone must record and document in a comprehensive manner why a financial product was recommended and how it matches the client’s risk profile.

In Liechtenstein, the implementation of MiFID II required comprehensive changes to the Banking Act and the Asset Management Act, the Banking Ordinance and the Asset Management Ordinance, as well as amendments in particular to the Act on Certain Undertakings for Collective Investment in Transferable Securities (UCITS Act) and the Financial Market Supervision Act (FMA Act). The legislative process has been completed at national level and the amendments came into force on 3 January 2018. LLB implemented MiFID II within the specified time.

FinSA/Switzerland

Switzerland intends to conceptually reshape the guiding principles of its financial centre in order to transpose investor protection issues arising from MiFID II, in particular, into national law. On 4 November 2015, the Federal Council adopted the dispatch on the Financial Services Act (FinSA) and on the Financial Institutions Act (FinIA). The bills are being debated by Parliament.

The FinSA governs the prerequisites for providing financial services and offering financial instruments. The FinIA makes provision for an activity-based, differentiated supervisory regime for financial institutions requiring authorisation. The FinSA and the FinIA shall serve to provide modern investor protection and are expected to come into force in 2019.

The Financial Market Infrastructure Act (FMIA) and the Financial Market Infrastructure Ordinance (FMIO), which have been in force since 1 January 2016, are also all part of the new Swiss financial market architecture. Consequently, new rules that are consistent with the applicable international standards will apply in Switzerland for financial market infrastructures, such as trading venues and central counterparties, as well as for derivatives trading.