Luxembourg Investment Funds Guide - UCITS, SIF, UCI
Luxembourg Investment Funds Guide - UCITS, SIF, UCI
d’investissement à capital fixe) (SICAF). EUR 1,875 for 1st line of quotation
Close-ended investment company EUR 1,250 for 2nd line of quotation
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EUR 875 for 3rd line of quotation
Common Contractual Fund (similar to unit trust in UK law) EUR 500 for the 4th and following lines of quotation
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AVAILABLE TYPES OF CORPORATE VEHICLE ÿ Dÿ Bÿ <9=ÿ '>@**
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SICAVs under the 2002 Law must be set up as public EUR 2,500 for 1st line of quotation
limited companies (S.A.s). EUR 1,875 for 2nd line of quotation
Under the SIF Law EUR 1,250 for 3rd line of quotation
SICAV / SICAF may be set up as a: EUR 625 for 4th and following line of quotation
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REGULATORY APPROVAL TIME (BY THE CSSF)
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4/8 weeks.
Funds set up under the SIF Law
AUDIT REQUIREMENT No prior authorisation required.
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Law and Circulars 02/77 and 02/80
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Funds be audited at least annually by a Luxembourg
auditor, approved by the CSSF (for certain funds semi-
annually)
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Institute of Auditors (Institut des Réviseurs
d’entreprises – IRE)
REGULATORY FEES
CSSF fees
Funds set up under the 2002 Law
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Luxembourg
By Chevalier & Sciales
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their investment policy. Those rules are quite restrictive the same type issued by the same issuer may be sold
towards UCITS, somewhat lighter concerning UCIs, and short;
much lighter when it comes to SIFs. ● Borrowings must not exceed 200% of the net assets;
UCITS and
The 2002 Law provides for numerous restrictions upon ● Counterparty risk, defined as the difference between
investments by UCITS, restrictions which have been the value of assets given as guarantee and the
clarified in recent regulatory developments: amount borrowed, cannot represent more than 20% of
● Circular CSSF 07/308 lays down rules for the the UCI’s assets per lender.
implementation of a risk management framework, SIFs
relating, inter alia, to the conduct to be adopted by Specialised investment funds set up under the SIF Law
UCITS with respect to the use of derivative financial are not required to comply with any detailed investment
instruments. Those rules, rendered necessary following restrictions or leverage rules, the SIF Law merely stating
the extension, in the 2002 Law, of the list of financial that a SIF should apply the principle of risk diversification.
instruments in which UCITS may invest, precise that a This principle provides that the collective investment
UCITS must self-assess itself as either ‘sophisticated’ of funds must be made in assets “in order to spread
or ‘non-sophisticated’. A sophisticated UCITS, being the investment risks”. The CSSF clarified in its Circular
in the obligation of entrusting to a developed risk 07/309 that:
management unit, is able to make a significant use ● A SIF may not invest more than 30% of its assets or
of derivative financial instruments. In contrast, non- commitments to subscribe securities of the same type
sophisticated UCITS, with a much less developed risk issued by the same issuer;
management unit, can make use of derivative financial ● Short sales may not result in the SIF holding a short
instruments only for hedging purposes. This Circular position in securities of the same type issued by the
also specifies some valuation rules stating, inter alia, same issuer representing more than 30% of its assets;
that overall risk exposure related to financial derivative and
instruments should not exceed the total net asset ● When using financial derivative instruments, the SIF
value, the net asset value being the total value of the must ensure, via appropriate diversification of the
fund’s portfolio less its liabilities. Consequently, the underlying assets, a similar level of risk-spreading.
UCITS’ overall risk exposure may not exceed 200% of However, it should be noted that the CSSF may, upon
the NAV on a permanent basis; appropriate justification, grant exemptions to these rules
● The Grand-ducal regulation of 8th February 2008 on a case-by-case basis.
clarifies the notion of UCITS as provided in the 2002
Law, in light of the Commission Directive 2007/16/EC; Reporting and audit requirements
and Prospectus
● The Circular CSSF 08/339 (as amended by Circular Funds are also in the obligation to issue a prospectus
08/380) displays the guidelines given by the CESR in containing information concerning the fund and its
relation to eligible assets for investment by UCITS, management company (presentation, economic and
and in this context provides additional provide commercial information…). The Law of 10th July 2005 on
additional clarifications relating to eligible assets for prospectus for securities specified that the obligation to
investment by UCITS covered by Directive 85/611/ publish a full prospectus shall not apply to undertakings
EEC, as amended. As a result, the range of financial for collective investment of the closed-ended type,
instruments that a UCITS may invest in was expanded meaning funds excluded from Part I of the 2002 Law.
to include transferable securities and money market In this context such a fund is still in the obligation to
instruments, bank deposits, fund of funds, financial publish a simplified prospectus. According to the 2002
derivatives and, finally, index tracking funds. Law, both the simplified and the full prospectus must
Non-UCITS Part II Funds include the information necessary for investors to make
If there are no restricted eligible assets for a UCI, its an informed judgment of the investment proposed to
investment policy is subject to the CSSF approval, them, and especially of the risks attached thereto. The
and specific rules are laid down in Circular IML 91/75 simplified prospectus is however somewhat more basic,
(as amended by Circular CSSF 05/177), whilst others as it must be structured in such a way so as to be easily
are specifically applicable to UCIs pursuing alternative understood by the average investor.
investment strategies. Those rules are laid down in Issuing document
Circular CSSF 02/80 which states, inter alia, that: In line with a somewhat lighter regulatory regime than
● Aggregate commitment in terms of short selling may UCIs governed by the 2002 Law, funds subject to the SIF
not exceed 50% of assets, and no more than 10% of law are only required to produce an ‘issuing document’,
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displaying, with no minimum content, the information financial situation of the fund. It must be audited by a
necessary for investors to be able to make an informed Luxembourg authorised independent auditor, member
judgment about the investment proposed to them. The of the Luxembourg Institute of Auditors (Institut des
issuing documents and any modifications thereto must Réviseurs d’Entreprises – IRE), who is suitably qualified
be communicated to the CSSF. in terms of relevant experience. This auditor is in the
Financial statement obligation, if any information provided to investors does
A final obligation is to publish regularly a financial not truly describe the financial situation of the fund, to
statement, which must describe adequately the report promptly to the CSSF. The same obligation applies
General chart
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if the auditor becomes aware during the audit that any professional experience, and that the functions of
fact or decision is liable to constitute a material breach investment manager, management company, custodian
of the Law or regulations, or to affect the continuous and transfer agent must be carried out by a separate
functioning of the UCI. entity.
A difference to draw between the 2002 Law and The Stock Exchange maintenance fee has been fixed
the SIF Law is that the obligation to publish a financial at EUR 1,875 for the 1st line of quotation, EUR 1,250 for a
statement is only annual in the case of a SIF, whereas 2nd one, EUR 875 for a 3rd one, and EUR 500 for the 4th
an investment fund subject to the 2002 Law must publish and the following lines of quotation.
such an audited financial statement annually and semi-
annually. A confidentiality feature in the case of a SIF Conclusion
is also to be pointed out, as a SIF does not necessarily The Luxembourg investment fund industry, largely
have to disclose details of the portfolio in addition to the benefiting from its location in a strong financial centre,
information necessary for investors to make an informed is now an internationally recognised label for investment
judgment about the evolution of the activity of the fund, funds. The greatest asset of Luxembourg is undoubtedly
and there is no more a requirement to publish the net political voluntarism, demonstrated by a constant
asset value per share, as it is the case for UCITS and anticipation of the need of investors – either in the
UCIs. transposing of European legislation or in the shaping
of national legislation – in order to create a stable,
Taxation of funds protective, and favourable environment according to the
A first point to make is that Luxembourg UCITS, UCIs and expected development of the market.
SIFs do not pay Luxembourg income and capital gain This continuous pragmatism on the part of the
taxes, nor is a stamp duty on share issues or transfers to Luxembourg authorities, exemplified by the way the CSSF
be paid. dealt with the global financial turmoil, is invaluable when
However, in addition to a fixed capital duty of EUR shepherding investors in days of global uncertainty.
75 to be paid upon incorporation, some funds are Lastly, the increasingly important issue of transparency
also subject to an annual subscription tax. Under the is covered by national and European regulations and
SIF Law this annual subscription tax has been fixed provides new investors with an especially protective
at 0.01% of net assets, compared to 0.05 % for funds framework, especially when compared to traditional
under the 2002 Law. It is however only of 0.01% for off-shore jurisdictions. The European Commission has
UCIs whose exclusive policy is the investment in money indeed recently proposed a Directive on Alternative
market instruments or deposits with credit institution. Investment Fund Managers (AIFMs), which intends to
Other funds, such as certain institutional cash funds introduce a harmonised regulatory framework for AIFMs
and pension pooling funds, are exempted from this within the EU and provides for a broadening of the
subscription tax, no matter under which Law they are set disclosure requirements generally expected for such
up under. It should be noted that investors may invest in managers.
a SIF by means of equity or debt, hence benefiting from
an effective tax optimisation, and that there is no debt- Rémi Chevalier (founding partner)
equity ratio to be respected in the case of a SIF. Tel: +352 26 25 90 30
In order to avoid double taxation, Luxembourg has Mobile: +352 621 504 635
signed double taxation treaties with 52 countries, and 21 Email: [email protected]
others are under negotiation or awaiting approval of the
Luxembourg Parliament or the foreign country. The object Olivier Sciales (founding partner)
of such agreements is to eliminate or reduce withholding Tel: +352 26 25 90 30
taxes on foreign income or capital gains. However, it Mobile: +352 621 531 146
has to be emphasised that only 27 of these treaties are Email: [email protected]
applicable to SICAVs, whether in the form of a UCITS,
UCI or SIF.
EUROPE & BVI Hedgeweek Guide to setting up Alternative Investment Funds Jul 2009 www.hedgeweek.com | 23
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