00 Set-up a Luxembourg securitisation vehicle - summary of the main features
SPF | |
---|---|
Practical use | Individuals wishing to optimise their personal tax planning (private wealth management purposes). |
Applicable legislation | Law of 11 May 2007 (“SPF Law”). |
Authorisation and supervision by the CSSF | Non. |
Qualification as an AIF | In principle, no (as it would not be considered as “raising” capital from a number of investors as the structure generally serves for the investment of the private wealth of a “pre-existing group” (as defined in the Esma guidelines on key concepts of the AIFMD)). |
Exemption from AIFMD full regime under lighter regime (AIFMD registration regime) | Not applicable. |
External authorised AIFM requirement | Not applicable. |
Eligible investors | Restricted to: • natural persons acting in the context of the management of their personal wealth; • management entities acting solely in the interest of the private wealth (e.g. trusts, private foundations); and intermediaries acting for the account of the above mentioned eligible investors (e.g. bank acting under a fiduciary agreement). |
Eligible assets | Restricted to acquisition, detention, management and realisation of financial assets. The SPF is not allowed to carry out commercial activities or to hold directly real estate (except for its own use or through its participations). |
Risk diversification requirements | No risk diversification requirements. |
Legal Form | • SA • Sàrl • SCA • SCSA |
Umbrella structure | No. |
Capital requirements | Depends on the form: • SA / SCA: EUR 30,000 • Sàrl: EUR 12,000 • SCSA: no minimum capital. |
Required service providers | Registered auditor in principle not required unless two of the following criteria are met: (i) net turnover above EUR 8.8 million, (ii) balance sheet above EUR 4.4 million and (iii) average number of employees above 50. However, depending on the legal form of the company, there may be an obligation to appoint a commissaire aux comptes. |
Possibility of listing | No. |
European passport | No. |
Net asset value (NAV) calculation and redemption frequency | Not required. |
Overall income tax (corporate income tax and municipal business tax) | No income tax. |
Subscription tax (NAV: net asset value) | Annual subscription tax of 0.25% on the amount of paid up capital and issue premium (if any). |
Wealth tax | No wealth tax. |
Withholding tax on dividends | Not subject to withholding tax. |
Benefit from Double Tax Treaty network | No. |
Benefit from the EU Parent Subsidiary Directive | No. |
Thin capitalization rules (debt-toequity ratio) | Tax of 0.25% on the debt that exceeds 8 times the paid-up capital increased by the issue premium. |
01 Introduction
The Law of March 22, 2004, on securitisation (the “Securitisation Law”) has been amended by legislation of February 25, 2022, intended to promote the flexibility of securitisation vehicles and to enhance the attractiveness of Luxembourg for securitisation. Here we will set out the main features of Luxembourg’s securitisation regime and explain the flexibility and opportunities offered by the amended Securitisation Law.
02 What is securitisation under Luxembourg law?
The Securitisation Law defines the process of securitisation as the acquisition or assumption, directly or through another undertaking, of risks associated with receivables, other assets or liabilities assumed by third parties or inherent in all or part of the activities carried out by third parties, and the issue of financial instruments or the use of any form of borrowing whose value or yield depends on those risks.
Securitisation vehicles (SVs) are entities that fully carry out the securitisation or those that participate in such a transaction by assuming all or part of the securitised risks by issuing financial instruments or taking out a loan or loans to finance it.
The Securitisation Law sets three conditions for a transaction to be qualified as securitisation:
- The SV must acquire assets or assume existing risks, directly or through another vehicle; and
- These risks are related to receivables, other assets or obligations assumed by third parties or inherent in all or part of the activities of third parties; and
- The SV issues financial instruments or takes out one or more loans whose value or yield depends on the risks.
The assets or the risks should be passively managed under a ‘prudent man’ approach, irrespective of whether management is delegated to a professional acting on behalf of the SV. It may include renegotiation of the repayment schedules or credit terms in the event of financial difficulties of a debtor.
However, the revised legislation authorises active management by the SV itself or a third party if the portfolio is composed of a basket of risks relating to debt securities, financial debt instruments or claims securitised through financial instruments not offered to the public.
The revised legislation thus makes collateralised loan obligations (CLOs, securities backed by a pool of debt, often backed by corporate loans with low credit ratings or loans taken out by private equity firms to conduct leveraged buyouts) and collateralised debt obligations (CDOs) more attractive to meet the needs of the promoters of securitisation transactions.
The securitisation transaction may either be a true sale or synthetic, and it can be set up either as a long-term securitisation or as a short-term commercial paper programme. In a traditional true sale securitisation, one or several more or less homogeneous claims or assets are assigned to an ad hoc structure, the SV, which acquires them using the funds received through the issue of financial instruments or borrowing. One aim is to release the asset owner from the risks inherent to the assets by removing them from its balance sheet.
Only the risks linked to the assets are transferred in a synthetic securitisation, while the legal and beneficial ownership of the assets remains with the originator. For example, banks can use credit derivatives such as swaps to transfer only the credit risk of the asset pool while retaining ownership of the underlying assets.
03What is the rationale of the securitisation Law?
The main purpose of the securitisation process is to transfer any risks related to an asset that the participants no longer wish to bear. Securitisation provides efficient access to capital markets, creates liquidity, diversifies funding sources and investor base, transfers the risk to third parties and lowers the capital requirement for banks and insurance companies. Borrowers obtain better credit terms, while investors can benefit from portfolio diversification. Luxembourg’s implementation of the Securitisation Law is intended to maintain and deepen the competitiveness of its asset management market.
04 Which vehicles may be used?
The SV can be structured as a company or as a fund without legal personality managed by a management company. The securitisation company must adopt one of the following forms:
- Public limited liability company (société anonyme or S.A.).
- Private limited liability company (société à responsabilité limitée or S.àr.l.).
- Common limited partnership (société en commandite simple or SCS).
- Special limited partnership (société en commandite spéciale or SCSp).
- Partnership limited by shares (société en commandite par actions or SCA).
- Unlimited company (société en nom collectif or SENC).
- Simplified joint stock company (société par actions simplifiées or SAS).
- Co-operative company in the form of a public limited liability company (société coopérative organisée comme une société anonyme or SCSA).
The common limited partnership, special limited partnership, unlimited company and simplified joint stock company are the four corporate forms added by the legislation to promote use of tax-efficient vehicles, including tax-transparent vehicles.
Securitisation funds can be structured either as a co-ownership of assets, in which case the investors in the securitisation fund will have a right to the underlying securitised assets, or as a fiduciary estate, where the management company holds the securitised assets as fiduciary property. The management company is a commercial company whose purpose is to manage securitisation funds or act as fiduciary of funds consisting of one or more fiduciary properties. All these forms allow tailored structuring of SVs.
05 What types of assets and risks may a securitisation vehicle assume?
In Luxembourg, securitisation is available for all kinds of risks and assets in the broadest sense. All risks related to all movable or immovable property, or tangible or intangible assets, may be securitised. It also applies to risks associated with obligations assumed by third parties or inherent in all or part of third-party activities. Assets that may be securitised include the following:
- Receivables, loans, mortgages, future cash flow on sale of assets, current accounts.
- Bonds, shares, other financial instruments, derivatives, currencies.
- Real estate, aircraft, yachts, buildings, land, forests, commodities.
- Bank cards, car rentals, commercial, legal or political risks, catastrophe risks.
- Intellectual property, royalty income, future cash flow on activities, contractual rights.
06 How should the securitised risks be assumed?
There are many scenarios under which the acquisition or assumption of risks and the financing of SVs may take place. The assumption of risk by the SV may result from a transfer of assets, but also from other forms of risk transfer in which the SV hedges the risks.
Another possibility offered by the revised legislation is the indirect acquisition of the assets, using a fully or partially owned company to structure the acquisition of tangible assets such as real estate, aircraft, commodities (for which securitisation had previously been difficult), as long as the SV does not perform a commercial or entrepreneurial activity, which remains prohibited.
Securitisation can take several forms in Luxembourg. The securitisation may be structured as a true sale securitisation form or synthetic, or as a whole or partial business securitisation. A two-tier structure can be set up involving an assumption vehicle that takes on all or part of the securitised risks, and an issuing vehicle, which finances the assumption of the risks or acquisition of the assets.
Moreover, securitisation can be long term, involving mortgage-backed securities, residential mortgage-backed securities, commercial mortgage-backed securities, asset-backed securities or collateralised debt obligations. A short securitisation is a process with asset-backed commercial paper and a structured investment vehicle. Setting up note issuance facilities, where the notes are booked as debt securities by the SV and as loans by investors, is also possible.
07 Are tranching and subordination possible for securitisation vehicles?
The securitisation process may be carried out with compartmentalisation and tranching, for instance with senior, mezzanine, and junior tranches. The assets may be pooled, or the securitisation process may be used for only one asset or risk, for instance with a global note programme.
Subordination is permitted for SVs, with the revised legislation clarifying the subordination rules by creating a legal hierarchy between types of instruments. The financial instrument and credit agreement repayments are subordinated to the prior repayment of other securities, certain claims, or classes of shares. Junior financial instruments are subordinated to senior ones, but the SV is entitled to opt for a different ranking.
The legal hierarchy is as follows:
- Units of a securitisation fund are subordinated to other financial instruments issued and borrowing contracted by the fund.
- Shares, corporate units or partnership interests in a securitisation company are subordinated to other financial instruments issued and borrowing contracted by the company.
- Shares, corporate units or partnership interests in a securitisation company are subordinated to beneficiary shares issued by the company.
- Beneficiary shares issued by a securitisation company are subordinated to debt instruments issued and borrowing contracted by the company.
- Non-fixed income debt instruments issued by an SV are subordinated to fixed income debt instruments issued by the SV.
The law offers the possibility of consent to other subordination rules in the articles of association, management regulations and any contract concluded by the SV.
08 How is the securitisation vehicle financed?
The revised legislation broadens the financing possibilities for SVs by replacing references to transferable securities with the term financial instruments and removing the limit relating to borrowing arrangements. The financial instruments that may be issued by the SV are defined to have the broadest possible meaning, thanks to a cross-reference to a list of instruments set out in Luxembourg’s amended legislation of August 5, 2005, on financial collateral.
Borrowing is broadly defined as any form of debt creating a reimbursement obligation for the SV. It can be used either when the SV is structured, as an alternative to a direct investment in the equity tranche, as a liquidity facility, or to improve investors’ yield. The value or yield of the financial instruments and the borrowing arrangements should be linked to the securitised assets or risks.
All types of debt security and trackers of specific assets or risks may also be used, as well as warrants, futures, options, and equity securities such as ordinary equity, preference shares or non-voting shares, tracker shares and beneficiary shares.
The shares and bonds issued by the SV may have different values. In such a case, the voting right attached to bonds and other debt securities is always proportional to the amount of the loan they represent, but it can be stipulated otherwise for shares.
The scope of collateral arrangements is broad. Granting of security interests and pledging of assets may be used to cover commitments relating to the transaction. This has been extended by the revised law to authorise SVs to grant security interests to third parties other than investors in the SV. For instance, the SV may grant a security interest over its underlying assets to a bank providing financing to an investor in the SV.
Whereas there is neither a restriction nor a definition of eligible investors, the law applicable to the financial instruments or loans may be applicable to the investors or creditors, according to their jurisdiction.
Based on the rules of conflict of law between lex contractus (law of the contract) for debt securities and lex societatis for equity securities under international private law, the financial instruments recognised as securities under applicable law or qualified as securities within the meaning of the EU’s Markets in Financial Instruments Directive are deemed to be eligible financial instruments. For instance, the use of promissory notes (Schuldscheindarlehen governed by German law) is possible.
09 Can securitisation vehicles have multiple compartments?
SVs are authorised to create one or more compartments, each corresponding to a distinct portion of the assets and liabilities and benefiting from independent management of these assets and liabilities.
The compartments are segregated with regard to third-party creditors of the SV, prohibiting third-party creditors whose claim relates to the creation, operation or liquidation of one compartment to take action affecting assets linked to another compartment.
The ability to create compartments must be set out in the articles of incorporation, the management rules, or the limited partnership agreement of the SV. The allocation of general expenses should be included in the articles of incorporation, and the financial statements and related financial notes must be prepared with assets and liabilities for each compartment. The true and fair view principle is applied to both the company and the compartments.
The use of multiple compartments offers various advantages including high flexibility, ease and speed of creation, and complete segregation of assets and investors or creditors between compartments.
10 Can a securitisation vehicle benefit from bankruptcy remoteness?
SVs may benefit from bankruptcy remoteness if it has been provided for in the articles of association, the management regulations or any contract concluded by the SV. The investors or creditors may waive their right to seize the assets of the SV and to initiate insolvency proceeding against it. They may also subordinate their right to payment to the prior payment of other investors or creditors.
The rights of investors and creditors are limited to the assets of the SV or the compartment to which they are attached. If the SV delegates the recovery of its claims to a third party that is subject to collective proceedings, sums recovered on behalf of the SV before the collective proceedings are protected; the SV has the right to recover them.
11 Who may manage a securitisation vehicle?
The company law provisions corresponding to the structure of the management body and the daily management apply according to the legal form of the SV. It may be managed by a board of directors, a management board, one or more managers who may or may not be general partners, partners, a chairman or a director.
Management of the assets or risks may be entrusted to third parties, and notably the active management of certain assets or risk can be transferred to a third-party asset manager. Most CLO securitisation structures are actively managed by CLO managers in order to maximise performance.
A registered or authorised alternative investment fund manager may be required to manage the SV if the conditions of the legislation of July 12, 2013, on alternative investment fund managers are met.
12 Does the AIFMD apply?
The AIFM legislation applies if the SV is deemed to be an alternative investment fund, specifically the law’s ordinary investment and risk management rules. However, securitisation special purpose entities, as defined in the EU’s Securitisation Regulation 2017/2402 of December 12, 2017, are excluded from the scope of the AIFM legislation.
A securitisation special purpose entity’s sole purpose is to conduct one or more securitisations. Securitisation is also defined in the Securitisation Regulation, but the definition is not as broad as under Luxembourg’s Securitisation Law. An SV not deemed to be a securitisation special purpose entity under the Securitisation Regulation may be considered an alternative investment fund that must be managed by an AIFM.
An SV is not considered an AIF, irrespective of whether it qualifies as a securitisation special purpose entity, if it issues only debt instruments or it is not managed according to a defined investment policy, in which case the AIFM legislation does not apply and no AIFM is required.
13 Is a securitisation vehicle regulated?
SVs may or may not be regulated. They are regulated by Luxembourg’s Financial Sector Supervisory Authority (CSSF) if they issue financial instruments on a continuous basis to the public. These terms should be understood as follows:
- “Continuously” means more than three issues to the public per financial year by all compartments of the SV. To determine the number of annual issues of an SV under a programme, each series should in principle be regarded as a distinct issue unless the features of the various series indicate that the programme is a single issue.
- “To the public” means, according to the Securitisation Law, issues to non-professional clients as defined by the amended legislation of April 5, 1993, on the financial sector, in denominations of less than €100,000 and that are not distributed as private placements. The subscription of securities by an institutional investor or financial intermediary for a subsequent placement of the securities with the public constitutes a public offering, as is a wrapper aimed at the public for marketing purposes.
14 What does supervision entail?
The constitutional documents of a supervised SV must be approved by the CSSF, a requirement that also applies to an existing SV seeking the regulator’s authorisation. The SV must communicate to the CSSF the names of the securitisation project's arranger, its managers, and the beneficial owner(s). The human and material resources and the administrative and accounting organisation, including delegations, must be appropriate to ensure that the SV is able to perform its activity properly and in a professional manner.
“The members of the administrative, management and supervisory bodies of a securitisation company or a management company of an authorised securitisation undertaking, as well as its direct or indirect shareholders which are in a position to exercise a significant influence over the conduct of the business of such a company must be of sufficiently good repute and have the experience or means required for the performance of their duties.”[1]
The presentation of all the guarantees of irreproachable business includes, for instance, all the personal and professional characteristics which allow an individual to properly manage a professional supervised by the CSSF, such as past and present professional activities. If the directors’ mandates are held exclusively by legal entities, the CSSF checks criteria regarding the capabilities and professional standing of directors that are legal entities and of individuals designated to represent directors that are entities.
“Any change in control of the securitisation company or the management company, any replacement of the management company, as well as any amendment to the management regulations or the articles of incorporation are subject to the prior approval of the CSSF.”[2]
An authorised SV must provide the CSSF with a list of new issues of securities and a summary of its financial situation on a half-yearly basis within 30 days. Once they are finalised, the SV must provide the CSSF with a copy of final issue documents for any issue, financial reports, the annual reports and documents issued by the independent auditor, information on any change of service provider and substantive provisions of a contract, and on any change to fees and commission. The CSSF may require any other information or perform on-site inspections.
Supervised SVs must entrust their liquid assets and securities to a depositary established in or with its registered office in Luxembourg. The CSSF may request a periodical statement of the SV’s assets and liabilities and its operating results. A minimum of three directors should be involved in the management. As the substance of administration of the regulated SV must be in Luxembourg, an administrative agent in the grand duchy is required. In most cases, the SV appoints a Luxembourg domiciliation agent, and all SVs, regulated or unregulated, should appoint an independent auditor approved by the CSSF. Their accounts should be approved once a year and then published.
Unregulated SVs are not required to apply to the CSSF, nor appoint a regulated administrator, manager or custodian, and there is no regulatory oversight of the SV's documentation or approval of its board members. Nor do they have to issue any form of private placement memorandum, prospectus or offering document, provided the issue of financial instruments falls within one of the exemptions under Luxembourg’s Prospectus Law implementing the EU’s Prospectus Directive.
[1] Art. 20 (2) of the Law of March 22, 2004, on securitization, as amended
[2] Art. 20 (3) of the Law of March 22, 2004, on securitization, as amended
15 What documentations and reporting requirements must a securitisation vehicle comply with?
SVs situated in Luxembourg have some reporting obligations including those set out in the European Central Bank’s Regulation ECB/2013/40 of October 18, 2013, regarding statistics on the assets and liabilities of financial vehicle corporations engaged in securitisation transactions and the Luxembourg Central Bank’s Circular 2014/236 of April 25, 2014, on statistical data collection for securitisation vehicles. In some cases, SVs should comply with European Market Infrastructure Regulation reporting obligations, such as when derivative contracts are used, and must register with Luxembourg’s Trade and Companies Register. Regulated SVs or their management companies must comply with a much wider range of reporting obligations.
16 To what taxation is a securitisation vehicle subject?
No debt-equity ratio requirement: As above mentioned, SVs do not need to meet a debt-to-equity ratio obligation.
Withholding tax: Interest paid by an SV is not subject to any withholding tax (except under the application of EU law. and payments to shareholders such as dividends are not subject to any withholding tax. This is a significant advantage compared with a Luxembourg Soparfi, which is subject to a 15% withholding tax on dividends.
Deductibility of expenses and payments to investors in the Luxembourg SV: All expenses relating to the management of the SV are fully tax-deductible, and payments made to investors in the securitisation company (whether in the form of interest or dividends) are in principle deductible from the SV’s taxable base. Interest charges are deductible subject to EU’s anti-tax avoidance directives, which sets limitations on the deductibility of interest. However, the ATAD regime includes various exemptions, notably for securitisation companies subject to the EU Regulation and autonomous entities.
The legal certainty offered by the Luxembourg rules could be called into question by the EU authorities. Luxembourg received two letters of formal notice onMay 14, 2020, from the European Commission, which in December 2021 sent a reasoned opinion. It called on Luxembourg to amend its legislation to correctly transpose the non-deductibility of interest payments rule set by the ATAD 1 directive. ATAD 2, which has been transposed into Luxembourg’s income tax law, expands the scope of hybrid mismatch provisions under the first directive and implements reverse hybrid rules.
VAT exempt: The management services of SVs are exempt from value-added tax. However, these services should be reviewed since some VAT registration requirements may arise from the reverse charge mechanism.
Minimum net worth tax: SVs may be subject to a minimum annual net worth tax in Luxembourg.
Benefit from Luxembourg’s double tax treaty network: As a resident of a contracting state and liable (or subject) to tax in that state, an SV can in principle benefit from Luxembourg’s network of double taxation treaties.
Registration tax: Any agreement executed as part of a securitisation, or any related deed, is exempt from the registration formality unless it relates to real estate situated in Luxembourg, or aircraft or vessels recorded in a Luxembourg public register. For the registration of any agreement or deed relating to a securitisation, documents written in English are accepted without the need for translation into French or German.
17 Compare Luxembourg vehicles
Compare two vehicles:
UCITS | Part II UCI | ELTIF | SIF | SICAR | RAIF | SPF | Securitisation vehicle | Unregulated SCS/SCSp | Ordinary Luxembourg company | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Practical use | Highly regulated vehicle which can be sold through a EU passport to all types of investors (such as retail investors, professional investors, institutional investors). | Investment funds which could be used for investment strategies that do not meet the criteria set by the UCITS directives. | EU marketing label for long-term investment funds, private equity funds, infrastructure funds, debt funds, funds of funds, sustainable finance, debt funds, co-investments, securitisation, debt funds, investments in fintechs, real assets. | Hedge funds, private equity funds, venture capital funds, real estate funds, infrastructure funds, distressed debt funds, Islamic finance funds, microfinance funds, socially responsible investment funds, tangible assets funds and any other type of alternative funds. | Private equity and venture capital transactions. | Hedge funds, private equity funds, venture capital funds, real estate funds, infrastructure funds, distressed debt funds, Islamic finance funds, microfinance funds, socially responsible investment funds, tangible assets funds and any other type of alternative funds. | Individuals wishing to optimise their personal tax planning (private wealth management purposes). | • True sale and synthetic securitisations. • Securitisation of a portfolio of securities. • Securitisation as structure for intra group financing activities. • Securitisation of non-performing loans. • Securitisation of leasing receivables. • Securitisation of both tangible and intangible assets. • CLOs (possibility of active management). | Private equity, venture capital and real estate investments and any other alternative investments. | Holding and financing activity, commercial activity, holding of IP, etc. |
Applicable legislation | Law of 17 December 2010 - Part I (“UCITS Law”). | Law of 17 December 2010 - Part II (“UCI Law”). | Regulation (EU) 2015/760 of 29 April 2015 on European long-term investment funds (“ELTIF Regulation”). The ELTIF Regulation has been amended on 15 March 2023 with significant changes which favour the fund market participants, fund financing and investors, in particular, the process of retailization and the amendments will apply from 10 January 2024. The ELTIF column has been drafted according to the amended ELTIF Regulation ("ELTIF 2 Regulation"). | Law of 13 February 2007 (“SIF Law”). | Law of 15 June 2004 (“SICAR Law”). | Law of 23 July 2016 (“RAIF Law”). | Law of 11 May 2007 (“SPF Law”). | Law of 22 March 2004 (“Securitisation Law”). | Law of 10 August 1915 (“Company Law”). | Law of 10 August 1915 (“Company Law”). |
Authorisation and supervision by the CSSF | Yes. | Yes. | Yes. | Yes. | Yes. | Non. | Non. | No, unless issue on a continuous basis of financial instruments offered to the public. The securitisation vehicle issues on a continuous basis when it carries out more than three issuances of financial instruments offered to the public during the financial year. All the issuances by the compartments should be added up. The issuance of financial instruments is offered to the public when it is not intended for professional clients, the denominations are less than 100,000 euros and it is not distributed as private placement. | Non. | Non. |
Qualification as an AIF | No. | Always an AIF. | Always an AIF. | Yes, unless exempt. It is exempt if it does not raise 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. | Yes, unless exempt. It is exempt if it does not raise 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. | Always an AIF. | In principle, no (as it would not be considered as “raising” capital from a number of investors as the structure generally serves for the investment of the private wealth of a “pre-existing group” (as defined in the Esma guidelines on key concepts of the AIFMD)). | No, in case • such vehicle meets the definition of “securitisation special purpose vehicle ” under the AIFM Law; • it issues collateralised debt obligations; • it only issues debt instruments; • such entity is not managed according to an investment policy within the meaning of the AIFM Law. | Non-AIF, unless activities fall within the scope of article 1 (39) of the AIFM Law. | Non-AIF, unless activities fall within the scope of article 1 (39) of the AIFM Law. |
Exemption from AIFMD full regime under lighter regime (AIFMD registration regime) | Not applicable. | Possible. | No. | Possible. | Possible. | No. | Not applicable. | Possible. | Possible. | Possible. |
External authorised AIFM requirement | Not applicable. | Required in case the entity is an AIF that is not self-managed and above the AIFMD threshold. | Required in case the entity is an AIF that is not self-managed. Always an authorised EU AIFM. | Required in case the entity is an AIF that is not self-managed and above the AIFMD threshold. | Required in case the entity is an AIF that is not self-managed and above the AIFMD threshold. | Always required. | Not applicable. | Required in case the entity is an AIF that is not self-managed and above the AIFMD threshold. | Required in case the entity is an AIF that is not self-managed and above the AIFMD threshold. | Required in case the entity is an AIF that is not self-managed and above the AIFMD threshold. |
Eligible investors | Unrestricted. | Unrestricted. | Unrestricted. | Well-informed investors. | Well-informed investors. | Well-informed investors. | Restricted to: • natural persons acting in the context of the management of their personal wealth; • management entities acting solely in the interest of the private wealth (e.g. trusts, private foundations); and intermediaries acting for the account of the above mentioned eligible investors (e.g. bank acting under a fiduciary agreement). | Unrestricted. | Unrestricted. | Unrestricted. |
Eligible assets | Restricted to transferable securities admitted or dealt on a regulated market, investment funds, financial derivative instruments, cash and money market instruments that are in compliance with article 41 of the Ucits law and the relevant EU directives and regulations. Please note that the eligibility of the asset must be ascertained on a case-by-case basis in view of the applicable laws and regulatory practice. | Unrestricted. The investment objective and strategy of the fund is subject to the prior approval of the CSSF. | Restricted to: - equity or quasi-equity instruments and debt instruments issued by a qualifying portfolio undertaking; -loans granted by the ELTIF to a qualifying portfolio undertaking with a maturity that does not exceed the life of the ELTIF, - units or shares of one or several other ELTIFs, EuVECAs, EuSEFs, UCITS and EU AIFs managed by EU AIFM provided that those ELTIFs, EuVECAs, EuSEFs¸ UCITS and EU AIFs invest in eligible investments (this wording) and have not themselves invested more than 10% of their assets in any other UCI; - real assets; - certain STS securitisations (where the underlying exposures are residential mortgage-backed securities, commercial loans backed by mortgages on commercial immovable property, credit facilities, trade receivables and other underlying exposures; provided that, for the two last ones, the proceeds from the securitisation bonds are used for financing or refinancing long-term investments), - EU Green Bonds issued by a qualifying portfolio, and UCITS eligible assets. Qualifying portfolio undertaking is an undertaking that fulfils, at the time of the initial investment, the following requirements: - it is not a financial undertaking undertaking, unless it is a financial undertaking, other than a financial holding company or a mixed-activity holding company, that has been authorized or registered more recently than 5 years before the date of the investment (fintechs); - is not admitted to trading on a regulated market or on a multilateral trading facility; or is admitted to trading on a regulated market or on a multilateral trading facility and has a market capitalisation of no more than EUR 1 500 000 000; - it is established in a Member State, or in a third country provided that the third country is not identified as high-risk third and is not mentioned in the EU list of non-cooperative jurisdictions for tax prusposes. ELTIFs are not allowed to: - short sell - take direct or indirect exposure to commodities; - enter into securities lending, securities borrowing, repurchase transactions, or any other agreement which has an equivalent economic effect and poses similar risks, if more than 10 % of the assets of the ELTIF are affected; - use financial derivative instruments, except where the use of such instruments solely serves the purpose of hedging the risks inherent to other investments of the ELTIF. | Unrestricted. | Restricted to investments in securities representing risk capital. According to the CSSF Circular 06/241, investment in risk capital is to be understood as the direct or indirect contribution of assets to entities in view of their launch, their development or their listing on a stock exchange. The SICAR is not allowed to invest directly in real estate (except for its own use or through its participations). | Unrestricted, unless it invests in a portfolio of risk capital (such as a Sicar). | Restricted to acquisition, detention, management and realisation of financial assets. The SPF is not allowed to carry out commercial activities or to hold directly real estate (except for its own use or through its participations). | Unrestricted. The securitisation vehicle may acquire or assume, directly or through another undertaking, risks relating to claims, other assets, or obligations assumed by third parties or inherent to all or part of the activities of third parties and issues financial instruments or contracts, for all or part of it, any type of loan, whose value or yield depends on such risks. | Unrestricted. | Unrestricted. |
Risk diversification requirements | Risk diversification requirements are provided by articles 42 et seq. of the UCITS Law, e.g. (not exhaustive): • a UCITS may not invest more than 10% of its assets in transferable securities or money market instruments issued by the same body; • a UCITS may not invest more than 20% of its net assets in deposits made with the same body; • the global exposure relating to derivative instruments does not exceed the total net value of the UCITS portfolio. | Risk diversification requirements are defined by IML Circular 91/75 (as amended by CSSF Circular n° 05/177). Such requirements are less stringent than the ones applicable to UCITS. In particular, a UCI is not allowed to invest more than 20% of its net assets in securities issued by any one issuer. Specific restrictions concerning funds adopting an alternative investment strategy are contained in CSSF Circular n° 02/80. | Risk diversification requirements are provided by articles 13 and 17 of the ELITF Regulation (not exhaustive): ELTIFs marketed to retail investors shall not invest more than: - 20 % of its capital in instruments issued by, or loans granted to, any single qualifying portfolio undertaking; - 20 % of its capital in a single real asset; - 20 % of its capital in units or shares of any single ELTIF, EuVECA, EuSEF, UCITS, or EU AIF managed by an EU AIFM; - 10 % of its capital in UCITS (liquid) assets where those assets have been issued by any single body; or 25 % where bonds are issued by a credit institution which has its registered office in a Member State and is subject by law to special public supervision designed to protect bond-holders; - The aggregate value of STS Securitisations in an ELTIF portfolio shall not exceed 20% of the value of the capital of the ELTIF; - The aggregate risk exposure to a counterparty of the ELTIF stemming from OTC derivative transactions, repurchase agreements, or reverse repurchase agreements shall not exceed 10 % of the value of the capital of the ELTIF. | Risk diversification requirements are defined by CSSF Circular n° 07/309. Such requirements are less stringent than the ones applicable to UCITS and UCI. In particular, a SIF is not allowed to invest more than 30% of its net assets in securities of the same type issued by the same issuer. | No risk diversification requirements. | Risk diversification requirements are aligned with those applicable to SIFs, unless the RAIF chooses to invest in risk capital only and such choice is mentioned in its constitutive documents. | No risk diversification requirements. | No risk diversification requirements. | No risk diversification requirements. | No risk diversification requirements. |
Legal Form | • FCP • SICAV (SA) • SICAF (SA,SCA) All of these entities must be open-ended. | • FCP • SICAV (SA) • SICAF (SA, Sàrl, SCA, SCS, SCSp) The entities may be open-ended or closed-ended. | • FCP, SICAV and SICAF in various legal forms, Soparfis, SCS, SCSp, SCA and future forms entitling an AIF to be authorized as an ELTIF. In principle closed-ended, but may be open-ended provided certain safeguards are set up, inter alia: - redemptions are not granted before the end of a minimum holding period or before the date specified in the rules or instruments of incorporation - at the time of authorisation and throughout the life of the ELTIF, the manager is able to demonstrate that the ELTIF has an appropriate redemption policy and LMTs compatible with the long-term strategy of the ELTIF. | • FCP • SICAV (SA, Sàrl, SCA, SCoSA, SCS, SCSp) • SICAF (SA, Sàrl, SCA, SCoSA, SCS, SCSp) The entities may be open-ended or closed-ended. | • SA • Sàrl • SCA • SCS • SCSp • SCoSA The entities may be open-ended or closed-ended. | • FCP • SICAV (SA, Sàrl, SCA, SCoSA, SCS, SCSp) • SICAF (SA, Sàrl, SCA, SCoSA, SCS, SCSp) The entities may be open-ended or closed-ended. | • SA • Sàrl • SCA • SCSA | A securitisation vehicle may be set up in one of the following forms: • a securitisation company (SA, Sàrl, SCS, SCSp, SENC, SCA, SAS, SCSA); or • a securitisation fund consisting of one or several co-ownerships or one or several fiduciary estates and managed by a management company. | • SCS • SCSp | • SA, Sàrl, SCA • SAS • SCoSA • SCS • SCSp |
Umbrella structure | Yes. | Yes. | Yes. Application for authorisation as ELTIF of one or more compartments may be submitted | Yes. | Yes. | Yes. | No. | Yes. | No. | No. |
Capital requirements | • FCP: EUR 1,250,000 to be reached no later than 6 months following the authorisation by the CSSF. • Self managed SICAV / SICAF: EUR 300,000 at the date of authorisation and EUR 1,250,000 within 6 months following its authorisation. | • FCP: EUR 1,250,000 to be reached no later than 12 months following the authorisation by the CSSF. • Self managed SICAV / SICAF: EUR 300,000 at the date of authorisation and EUR 1,250,000 within 12 months following its authorisation. | As ELTIF is an EU label, the capital requirements applicable to an ELTIF are the capital requirements applicable to fund, in particular due to the national product law. | EUR 1,250,000 to be reached no later than 24 months following the authorisation by the CSSF. | EUR 1,000,000 to be reached no later than 24 months following the auhorisation by the CSSF. | • FCP: EUR 1,250,000 to be reached within 24 months from the entry into force of the management regulations. • SICAV: EUR 1,250,000 to be reached within 24 months from the incorporation of the SICAV. | Depends on the form: • SA / SCA: EUR 30,000 • Sàrl: EUR 12,000 • SCSA: no minimum capital. | If the securitisation vehicle is set up as a company, it depends on the form: • SA / SCA: EUR 30,000 • Sàrl: EUR 12,000 If the securitisation vehicle is set up as a fund, there is no minimum capital requirement. | No minimum capital requirement. | Depends on the form: • SA / SCA: EUR 30,000 • Sàrl: EUR 12,000 No minimum capital requirement for other legal forms. |
Required service providers | • Management company in case of an FCP. • Depositary institution. • Administrative agent. • Registrar and Transfer Agent. • Approved statutory auditor. | • Management company in case of an FCP. • Depositary institution. • Administrative agent. • Registrar and Transfer Agent. • Approved statutory auditor. | • As ELTIF is an EU label, the required service providers for an ELTIF depend on the applicable national product law. • Management company in case of an FCP. • Depositary bank or professional of the financial sector providing depositary services, subject to conditions. However, if the ELTIF is marketed to retail investors, the Depositary shall comply with the UCITS depositary requirements and be a Depositary institution • Administrative agent. • Registrar and Transfer Agent. • Other service providers required by the relevant product rules. | • Management company in case of an FCP. • Depositary bank or professional of the financial sector providing depositary services, subject to conditions. • Administrative agent. • Registrar and Transfer Agent. • Approved statutory auditor. | • Depositary bank or professional of the financial sector providing depositary services, subject to conditions. • Administrative agent. • Registrar and Transfer Agent. • Approved statutory auditor. | • Management company in case of an FCP • Depositary bank or professional of the financial sector providing depositary services, subject to conditions. • Administrative agent. • Registrar and Transfer Agent. • Approved statutory auditor. | Registered auditor in principle not required unless two of the following criteria are met: (i) net turnover above EUR 8.8 million, (ii) balance sheet above EUR 4.4 million and (iii) average number of employees above 50. However, depending on the legal form of the company, there may be an obligation to appoint a commissaire aux comptes. | • Alternative Investment Fund Manager (if the securitisation vehicle qualifies as an AIF). • Management company (if the securitisation vehicle is set up in the form of a fund). • Independent auditor. • No depository institution (unless for regulated securisation vehicles). • No administrative agent. | For SCS: • Alternative Investment Fund Manager (if the SCS qualifies as an AIF). • No requirement to appoint a depositary (except if the SCS qualifies as an AIF and is managed by a duly authorised AIFM). For SCSp: • Alternative Investment Fund Manager (if the SCSp qualifies as an AIF). • No requirement to appoint a depositary (except if the SCSp qualifies as an AIF and is managed by a duly authorised AIFM). | Registered auditor in principle not required unless the company is an AIF managed by an AIFM with AUM above the threshold or two of the following criteria are met: (i) net turnover above EUR 8.8 million, (ii) balance sheet above EUR 4.4 million and (iii) average number of employees above 50. However, depending on the legal form of the company, there may be an obligation to appoint a commissaire aux comptes. |
Possibility of listing | Yes. | Yes. | Yes. | Yes. | Yes, but difficult in practice. | Yes. | No. | No. | In principle, no. The SCS/SCSp may however issue debt securities that are eligible to be listed on the stock exchange. | Yes. |
European passport | Yes. | No, unless it falls under the scope of the full AIFMD regime. | Yes. | No, unless it falls under the scope of the full AIFMD regime. | No, unless it falls under the scope of the full AIFMD regime. | Yes. | No. | No, unless it falls under the scope of the full AIFMD regime. | No, unless it falls under the scope of the full AIFMD regime. | No, unless it falls under the scope of the full AIFMD regime. |
Net asset value (NAV) calculation and redemption frequency | The UCITS must make public the issue, sale and repurchase price of their units each time they issue, sell and repurchase their units, and at least twice a month. | The UCIs must make public the issue, sale and repurchase price of their units each time they issue, sell and repurchase their units, and at least once a month. | The UCIs must make public the issue, sale and repurchase price of their units each time they issue, sell and repurchase their units, and at least once a month. As ELTIF is an EU label, the NAV computation and redemption frequency depend on applicable national product law and the AIFM law. At least once a year for reporting purposes. Redemption frequency: In principle closed-ended, but may be open-ended provided certain safeguards are set up, inter alia: - redemptions are not granted before the end of a minimum holding period or before the date specified in the rules or instruments of incorporation - at the time of authorisation and throughout the life of the ELTIF, the manager is able to demonstrate that the ELTIF has an appropriate redemption policy and LMTs compatible with the long-term strategy of the ELTIF; - redemptions are limited to a percentage of the UCITS (liquid) assets of the ELTIF. An ELTIF may offer, under certain conditions, early redemption rights to its investors according to the ELTIF's investment strategy. | At least once a year for reporting purposes. | Not required. | At least once a year for reporting purposes. | Not required. | Not required. | Not required. | Not required. |
Overall income tax (corporate income tax and municipal business tax) | No income tax. | No income tax. | As ELTIF is an EU label the tax treatment depends on the national product rules applicable to the AIF. | No income tax. | • General aggregate rate: 24.94%. In certain cases, reduced corporate income tax rates may apply. Income derived from transferable securities (e.g. dividends received and capital gains realised on the sale of shares) is exempt. Income on cash held for the purpose of a future investment is also exempt (for one year). | No income tax, unless investing only in risk capital, then SICAR tax regime applicable. | No income tax. | • General aggregate rate for taxable securisation companies: 24.94%. Securitisation vehicles should be able to deduct from their gross profits their operational costs and the dividends or interests distributed to the shareholders/creditors. Therefore securitisation companies should not generate significant taxable profits and should therefore to a large extent be tax neutral. | No corporate income tax applicable. Municipal business tax of 6.75% applicable in very limited circumstances, namely in case the SCS/SCSp (i) carries out a commercial activity or (ii) is deemed to carry out a commercial activity. A SCS/SCSp is deemed to carry out a commercial activity if its general partner is a Luxembourg public or private limited liability company holding at least 5% of the partnership interests. With a proper structuring of the GPs partnership interest it should be possible to avoid the deemed commercial characterisation of the SCS/SCSp. | General aggregate rate: 24.94%, but 100% exemption for dividends, liquidation proceeds and capital gains from qualifying participations. |
Subscription tax (NAV: net asset value) | • Rate: 0.05% of the NAV annually. • Reduction: 0.01% of the NAV annually in certain specific cases. • Where the proportion of net assets of a UCITS or one of its compartments in certain Taxonomy-sustainable activities represents at least 5 per cent of the aggregate net assets of the UCITS or of its relevant compartment, the subscription tax rate is 0.04 per cent. Where the proportion of such assets is at least 20 per cent, this rate amounts to 0.03 per cent. Where the proportion is at least 35 %, the subscription tax rate amounts to 0.02 per cent. Where the proportion is at least 50 per cent, this rate amounts to 0.01 per cent. However, net assets in nuclear energy and fossil gaseous fuel are excluded from such decreased rates. • Tax exemptions: special institutional money market cash funds, special pension funds (including pension pooling vehicles) and funds investing in other funds which are already subject to subscription tax. | • Rate: 0.05% of the NAV annually. • Reduction: 0.01% of the NAV annually in certain specific cases. • Where the proportion of net assets of a UCITS or one of its compartments in certain Taxonomy-sustainable activities represents at least 5 per cent of the aggregate net assets of the UCITS or of its relevant compartment, the subscription tax rate is 0.04 per cent. Where the proportion of such assets is at least 20 per cent, this rate amounts to 0.03 per cent. Where the proportion is at least 35 %, the subscription tax rate amounts to 0.02 per cent. Where the proportion is at least 50 per cent, this rate amounts to 0.01 per cent. However, net assets in nuclear energy and fossil gaseous fuel are excluded from such decreased rates. • Tax exemptions: special institutional money market cash funds, special pension funds (including pension pooling vehicles) and funds investing in other funds which are already subject to subscription tax. | As ELTIF is an EU label the tax treatment depends on the national product rules applicable to the AIF. | • Rate: 0.01% of the NAV annually. • Tax exemptions: certain money market and pension funds or SIFs investing in other funds which are already subject to subscription tax. | No subscription tax. | • Rate: 0.01% of the NAV annually. • Exemptions apply. | Annual subscription tax of 0.25% on the amount of paid up capital and issue premium (if any). | No subscription tax. | No subscription tax. | No subscription tax. |
Wealth tax | No wealth tax. | No wealth tax. | As ELTIF is an EU label the tax treatment depends on the national product rules applicable to the AIF. | No wealth tax. | No wealth tax. | No wealth tax. | No wealth tax. | No wealth tax. | No wealth tax. | 0.5% on the NAV on 1 January. Since 2017, this minimum net wealth tax for holding and finance companies (known as the Soparfis)—the fixed financial assets, intercompany loans, transferable securities and cash at bank of which exceed both 90% of their gross assets and EUR 350,000—is fixed at EUR 4,815 per year. The minimum net wealth tax for all other corporations has not changed; in other words, it is EUR 535 for companies with a total balance sheet up to EUR 350,000. |
Withholding tax on dividends | Not subject to withholding tax. | Not subject to withholding tax. | As ELTIF is an EU label the tax treatment depends on the national product rules applicable to the AIF. | Not subject to withholding tax. | Not subject to withholding tax. | Not subject to withholding tax. | Not subject to withholding tax. | Not subject to withholding tax. | Not subject to withholding tax. | Dividends distributed by a Luxembourg company are in principle subject to withholding tax at a rate of 15%, unless a domestic law exemption or a lower tax treaty rate applies. |
Benefit from Double Tax Treaty network | • SICAV/SICAF: Limited to certain double tax treaties (see circular L.G. -A n°61 of the tax administration of 8 December 2017). • FCP: see circular L.G.-A n°61 of the tax administration of 8 December 2017. | • SICAV/SICAF: Limited to certain double tax treaties (see circular L.G. -A n°61 of the tax administration of 8 December 2017). • FCP: see circular L.G.-A n°61 of the tax administration of 8 December 2017. | As ELTIF is an EU label the tax treatment depends on the national product rules applicable to the AIF. | • SICAV/SICAF: Limited to certain double tax treaties (see circular L.G. -A n°61 of the tax administration of 8 December 2017). • FCP: see circular L.G.-A n°61 of the tax administration of 8 December 2017. | Yes in case the SICAR is set-up as a corporate entity (except if set-up under the form of a SCS/SCSp). | • RAIFs investing in a portfolfio of risk capital (such as a SICAR) Access if set-up as a corporate entity (except if set-up under the form of a SCS/SCSp). • RAIFs not investing in a portfolio of risk capital (such as a SICAR), but set-up as: SICAV / SICAF: Limited to certain double tax treaties (see circular L.G. -A n°61 of the tax administration of 8 December 2017). FCP: see circular L.G.-A n°61 of the tax administration of 8 December 2017. | No. | Yes for securitisation companies. | No. | Yes. |
Benefit from the EU Parent Subsidiary Directive | No. | No. | As ELTIF is an EU label the tax treatment depends on the national product rules applicable to the AIF. | No. | In principle yes, but certain jurisdictions where the target companies are located may challenge the application of the directive. | No, unless RAIF that invests in a portfolio of risk capital (such as a SICAR). | No. | Yes. | No. | Yes. |
Thin capitalization rules (debt-toequity ratio) | Borrowings of up to 10% of net assets to finance redemptions (it should be a short term borrowing and cannot be for investment purposes) or to buy real estate for its business. The total borrowing under the above may not exceed 15% of net assets. | Borrowings of up to 25% of net assets without any restrictions are allowed. | As ELTIF is an EU label, the debt-to-equity ratio depends on the national product rules applicable to the AIF. Borrowings of cash of up to 50% of the NAV of the ELTIF marketed to retail investors and up to 100% for the ELTIF marketed solely to professional investors. | No debt-to-equity ratio. | No debt-to-equity ratio. | No debt-to-equity ratio. | Tax of 0.25% on the debt that exceeds 8 times the paid-up capital increased by the issue premium. | No debt-to-equity ratio. | No debt-to-equity ratio. | No provision in Luxembourg law. However, there is a specific administrative practice. |
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