SFDR disclosures: Luxembourg regulator implements a fast track procedure for prospectus/issuing document updates

Regulation (EU) 2019/2088 requires investment fund managers of UCITS and AIFs to comply with harmonised rules on transparency regarding sustainability-related disclosures. The disclosure requirements set out in Regulation (EU) 2019/2088 will apply as from 10 March 2021 even though the level 2 regulatory technical standards have been delayed.

Investment fund managers shall assess their situation in respect of the new disclosures obligations, as well as their compliance with the requirements relating to the publication of information on their websites. Following this gap analysis, they shall identify the actions to be taken, such as: the update of (i) the prospectuses/issuing documents or AIFMD disclosures statements of the funds they manage, (ii) their internal policies and processes related to sustainability risks and (iii) their websites.

For AIFs, information should be made available in the AIFMD disclosures statement in accordance with Article 23 of the AIFMD.

UCITS prospectuses must be submitted to the CSSF until 28 February 2021 for visa stamp. The fast track procedure is also available for Part II UCIs and SIFs.

Actions to be taken

UCITS

In relation to UCITS, disclosures required under Article 6 of the Regulation (EU) 2019/2088 on the sustainability-related disclosures in the financial services sector (SFDR) and, if applicable, Articles 7, 8 or 9 of SFDR must be disclosed in their prospectuses.

Such disclosures require a prior categorisation of the investment fund (as a product promoting an environmental or social characteristic (Article 8 SFDR), a product which have sustainable investment as its objective (Article 9 SFDR) or an out of scope product).

In order to benefit from the fast track procedure, updates must be limited to the changes required under SFDR and each updated prospectus must be accompanied by a letter based on the template available on the website of the Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier (CSSF). Such letter must include a summary of the amendments made to the prospectus/issuing document in order to comply with SFDR and a confirmation that all the relevant obligations under SFDR will be complied with by 10 March 2021.

Where a notice is foreseen to inform investors on prospectus/issuing document update, this notice shall also be submitted to the CSSF.

AIFs

For AIFs, SFDR disclosures should be made available in the AIFMD disclosures statement in accordance with Article 23 of the AIFMD. The CSSF confirmed that the fast track procedure will also be available for Part II UCIs and SIFs.

Next steps

The investment fund managers should assess their current situation in order to comply with the SFDR requirements before 10 March 2021. Any prospectus/issuing document to be visa stamped by the CSSF pursuant to the fast track procedure should be submitted to the CSSF by 28 February 2021 at the very latest.

For additional information, please see CSSF Communication. If you have any questions, please contact your trusted Loyens & Loeff adviser.