On 4 February 2026, Marktlink Capital obtained an AIFMD licence. What does this licence entail, and what does (and does not) change for you as an investor?
An important milestone for Marktlink Capital
Marktlink Capital has recently obtained an AIFMD licence from the Dutch Authority for the Financial Markets (AFM). This licence is a requirement under European regulation for managers of alternative investment funds and enables us to continue to grow.
As this represents an important milestone for our organisation, we explain in this blog what the AIFMD licence entails, what changes, and what this regulatory framework means for you as a (prospective) investor.
1. Why is an AIFMD licence required?
Managers that manage alternative investment funds and offer fund interests to investors are, in principle, required to hold a licence under the Alternative Investment Fund Managers Directive (AIFMD).
Until recently, Marktlink Capital operated under the so-called AIFMD light regime, under which an exemption from the licensing requirement applies subject to certain conditions.
Once our assets under management exceeded €500 million, we no longer met the conditions for this exemption. This was the direct reason to initiate a full licensing process with the AFM.
2. What does the AIFMD licence entail?
With an AIFMD licence, Marktlink Capital is a licensed fund manager subject to supervision by:
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- the AFM (conduct supervision), and
- De Nederlandsche Bank (DNB) (prudential supervision).
The licence means that the full AIFMD regime applies. This regime sets requirements relating to, among other things:
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- the organisation and governance structure;
- risk management and compliance;
- information provision and reporting to investors; and
- capital and liquidity requirements,
with the aim of ensuring that we, as a fund manager, operate within a framework designed to safeguard investors’ interests.
3. What changes for you as an investor (and what does not)?
Even prior to obtaining the AIFMD licence, the interests of our investors were already central to our operations. The licence does not change the nature of our services or our investment strategy and therefore does not result in a change of course.
What may become more visible is how information is presented. For example, our marketing communications must comply with an extensive set of rules aimed at clarity and transparency, and the information we provide in relation to our funds is subject to specific regulatory requirements.
4. How does this fit into our further development?
Obtaining the AIFMD licence was a planned step in the development of Marktlink Capital and a prerequisite for further (European) expansion and professionalisation.
