The Alternative Investment Fund Managers Directive (AIFMD) is the cornerstone of EU regulation for managers of non-UCITS investment funds. It determines which fund managers require authorisation, sets asset thresholds that trigger full regulatory obligations, and establishes the framework for marketing alternative investment funds to EU investors. It also created a passport allowing AIFMs to market their funds throughout the EEA without relying on National Private Placement Rules (NPPRs). This note sets out the scope of AIFMD, the key thresholds and exemptions available, how the directive applies to EU and non-EU managers, as well as recent changes introduced by AIFMD II. The Alternative Investment Fund Managers Directive (Directive 2011/61/EU), commonly known as AIFMD, is the primary EU regulatory framework governing managers of alternative investment funds (AIFs). It was adopted in 2011 and transposed into national law across EU member states by July 2013. AIFMD was subsequently amended by Directive (EU) 2024/927 (AIFMD II), which had to be transposed by member states by 16 April 2026. AIFMD regulates alternative investment fund managers (AIFMs), not the funds themselves. Its core objectives are: Investor protection through enhanced transparency and disclosure requirements Systemic risk monitoring across the alternative investment fund sector A harmonised regulatory and supervisory framework for AIFMs operating across the EU An AIF is defined broadly as any collective investment undertaking that raises capital from a number of investors with a view to investing it in accordance with a defined investment policy for the benefit of those investors, and which is not a UCITS fund. This definition captures hedge funds, private equity funds, real estate funds, infrastructure funds, fund of funds and other non-UCITS structures. AIFMD applies to any entity that manages one or more AIFs, regardless of the legal form of those funds or whether they are open-ended or closed-ended. The directive captures both EU AIFMs and, in certain circumstances, non-EU AIFMs. Funds within scope Private equity and venture capital funds (including carried interest and co-investment vehicles) Hedge funds (including single-strategy and multi-strategy vehicles) Real estate, infrastructure and debt funds Fund of funds structures Any other collective investment scheme that does not require authorisation under the UCITS Directive Key regulated activities Portfolio management and risk management (these are the minimum functions that define an AIFM) Marketing of AIF units or shares to investors in the EU Administration, valuation and ancillary services (where performed by the AIFM) Delegation arrangements (the AIFM remains responsible even where functions are delegated to third parties) Structures outside scope Certain structures are expressly excluded from AIFMD, including holding companies, institutions for occupational retirement provision (IORPs), supranational institutions (such as the EIB and EBRD), central banks, national governments and bodies managing social security and pension funds, employee participation or savings schemes, securitisation special purpose entities, and single-investor vehicles where the investor itself has management control. AIFMD provides a registration regime for smaller EU-AIFMs that fall below certain asset thresholds. These sub-threshold AIFMs are exempt from the full scope of AIFMD but remain subject to registration and reporting obligations with their home member state regulator. De minimis thresholds (Article 3) EUR 100 million: applies where the AIFs managed include funds that employ leverage. This threshold is calculated on the total value of assets under management (AuM), including any assets acquired through leverage. EUR 500 million: applies where the AIFs managed are unleveraged and have no redemption rights exercisable during a period of five years from the date of initial investment. EU AIFMs that fall below these...
