2021-12-30
The Central Bank of Tunisia issued Circular No. 2021-09 to establish authorization conditions for residents subscribing in foreign currency to assets of fund-of-funds and specialized investment funds. The circular mandates that applicants submit Form No. 2 through an approved intermediary, accompanied by specific information sheets, sworn declarations, tax returns, financial statements, legal files, and fund approval documents. It further specifies that proceeds may be repatriated in dinars or retained in foreign currency through designated professional, Startup, or resident accounts, while exempting certain state and financial entities from preliminary documentation requirements.
Tunis, December 24, 2021 Circular to Approved Intermediaries No. 2021-09 OBJECT: Conditions for the authorization for residents to subscribe in foreign currency to the assets of fund-of-funds and specialized investment funds.
The Governor of the Central Bank of Tunisia, Having regard to the Foreign Exchange and External Trade Code promulgated by Law No. 76-18 of January 12, 1976, consolidating and codifying foreign exchange and external trade legislation governing relations between Tunisia and foreign countries, as amended by subsequent texts, particularly Legislative Decree No. 2011-98 of October 24, 2011; Having regard to the Collective Investment Undertakings Code promulgated by Law No. 2001-83 of July 24, 2001, as amended by subsequent texts, particularly Law No. 2019-47 of May 29, 2019 on improving the investment climate; Having regard to Law No. 2016-35 of April 25, 2016 establishing the status of the Central Bank of Tunisia; Having regard to Decree No. 77-608 of July 27, 1977 setting the implementation conditions for the Foreign Exchange and External Trade Code, as amended by subsequent texts, particularly Governmental Decree No. 2017-393 of March 28, 2017; Having regard to Decree No. 2012-2945 of November 27, 2012 implementing the provisions of Article 23 of Law No. 88-92 of August 2, 1988 on investment companies and Article 22-quinquies of the Collective Investment Undertakings Code; Having regard to Opinion No. 2021-09 of the Compliance Control Committee dated December 14, 2021, as provided for in Article 42 of Law No. 2016-35 of April 25, 2016 establishing the status of the Central Bank of Tunisia. Decides:
Article 1: This circular aims to establish, in application of Articles 22-ter and 22-novodecies of the Collective Investment Undertakings Code, the conditions for authorization for residents within the meaning of foreign exchange regulations to subscribe in foreign currency to the assets of fund-of-funds and specialized investment funds.
Article 2: Any resident within the meaning of foreign exchange regulations intending to subscribe in foreign currency to assets of fund-of-funds and specialized investment funds must first obtain authorization from the Central Bank of Tunisia by submitting to it, through an approved intermediary, a request on Form No. 2, accompanied by the following documents:
Article 3: The management company for fund-of-funds or specialized investment funds must take the necessary steps to ensure that any subscriber to the assets of fund-of-funds or specialized investment funds benefits from the status of a sophisticated investor in accordance with Decree No. 2012-2945 mentioned above.
Article 4: The proceeds and income arising from the subscriptions provided for by this circular to the assets of fund-of-funds and specialized investment funds are collected, as applicable, as follows:
Article 5: This circular enters into force upon its notification. The Governor, Marouane EL ABASSI
Annex No. 1 to Circular No. 2021-09 Information Sheet Legal Entity / Natural Person
Annex No. 2 to Circular No. 2021-09 Sworn Declaration: For legal entities: I, the undersigned (name and surname, ID card No. or residence permit No.……), legal representative of the legal entity (company name – Unique identifier …), hereby certify that said legal entity benefits from the status of a sophisticated investor in accordance with Decree No. 2012-2945 of November 27, 2012, implementing the provisions of Article 23 of Law No. 88-92 of August 2, 1988 on investment companies, and Article 22-quinquies of the Collective Investment Undertakings Code. Date Stamp and signature For natural persons: I, the undersigned (name and surname, ID card No. or residence permit No.……), hereby certify that I benefit from the status of a sophisticated investor in accordance with Decree No. 2012-2945 of November 27, 2012, implementing the provisions of Article 23 of Law No. 88-92 of August 2, 1988 on investment companies, and Article 22-quinquies of the Collective Investment Undertakings Code. Date Signature