Germany: Financial Services

Germany's transitional exemption from the EU-wide Payment for Order Flow (PFOF) ban expired on 1 July 2026, and BaFin has issued detailed supervisory guidance outlining impermissible circumvention structures...

Germany's financial regulator has issued detailed guidance on which business models will be permitted following the payment for order flow ban that took full effect in July 2026. The notice clarifies which replacement structures are acceptable and which will be treated as circumvention, with particular implications for retail brokers, infrastructure providers, and firms operating layered distribution chains.

EU financial supervisory authorities have published their 2025 annual reports, revealing a fundamental shift from framework development to operational enforcement and implementation monitoring. The reports demonstrate how the European Banking Authority, ESMA, EIOPA, ECB-SSM, and Single Resolution Board are moving toward data-driven supervision, systematic DORA monitoring, and enhanced cross-sectoral coordination. What does this transition from rule construction to demonstrable, peer-comparable outcomes mean

The rise of generative and agentic AI is fundamentally disrupting the SaaS sector, threatening traditional seat-based pricing models and creating a stark divide between resilient platforms and vulnerable mid-market vendors. As AI-driven competition intensifies and a significant refinancing wave approaches in 2027-28, private equity sponsors and lenders face unprecedented challenges in evaluating software investments and managing portfolio risk.

Private equity execution has evolved beyond traditional buyout models, requiring sophisticated deal structures, flexible financing arrangements, and comprehensive due diligence across ESG, cybersecurity, and geopolitical risks. Success now depends on navigating complexity through adaptive strategies, cross-border expertise, and the ability to maintain momentum when conventional approaches no longer suffice.

The European Union has fundamentally restructured its anti-money laundering framework through a comprehensive legislative package that replaces fragmented national implementations with directly applicable regulations. This transformation introduces a new EU-wide supervisory authority, expands the scope of regulated entities, and establishes harmonized customer due diligence requirements across all member states.

On 24 February 2026, the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) issued a public statement addressing the increasing prevalence of derivatives marketed as "perpetual futures"...

When an incident occurs at a financial institution, whether a cyberattack, an operational failure, a data breach, or internal misconduct, the immediate response is rarely a single, straightforward process.

On 17 February 2026, the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) imposed a total fine of EUR 1,374,000 on REGIS-TR S.A. for seven infringements under Regulation...