AIMA Praises European Commission's Initiative On Alternative Investment

by Ulrika Lomas, for LawAndTax-News.com, Brussels

09 February 2006

The Alternative Investment Management Association (AIMA) has welcomed the European Commission’s announcement of its Expert Group on Alternative Investment Funds as part of a consultation on how the investment fund framework across Europe can be improved.

Applauding the EC for its decision to form the expert panels, and for including input from the hedge fund community on the development of alternative investments in Europe, Florence Lombard, Executive Director of AIMA, the leading global trade association for hedge funds, noted that:

“We firmly believe that the European Commission has recognised the crucial role that the hedge fund community at large has to play in the ongoing debate on investment funds.”

She added that:

“The Expert Group on Alternative Funds provides not only a potent blend of industry expertise and geographical location, but it also demonstrates the willingness of the European Commission to call upon key industry stakeholders."

The two groups are the result of proposals in the Commission Green Paper on investment funds, published in July 2005. European trade associations were then asked by the EC to nominate candidates for the discussion panels in December 2005.

One expert group is set to focus on market efficiency within the EU, while the other will concentrate on the provision of alternative investments.

The 15-strong Expert Group on Alternative Investment Funds was selected on the basis of nominations received from 13 European-level associations, including AIMA.

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