2024-03-19 | C623

Suspension of redemption of UCITS and AIF units on 29 March and 1 April 2024

The Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission mandates the suspension of UCITS and AIF unit redemptions on 29 March and 1 April 2024 for funds with daily net asset value calculations. This directive is issued due to public holidays affecting international stock markets and the closure of the TARGET2 payment settlement system on those dates. The regulator cites its statutory powers under the UCI and AIF Laws to protect unit-holder interests and ensure proper market functioning during these specific periods.

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Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission

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1 TO : Regulated Entities: i. Alternative Investment Fund Managers (‘AIFMs’) ii. UCITS Management Companies (‘UCITS MC’) iii. Self-Managed UCITS (‘SM UCITS’) iv. Self-Managed Alternative Investment Funds (‘SM AIFs’) v. Self-Managed Alternative Investment Funds with Limited Number of Persons (‘SM AIFLNP’) vi. Companies with sole purpose the management of AIFLNPs vii. Small AIFMs viii. CIFs FROM : Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission DATE : 19 March 2024 CIRCULAR No : C623 SUBJECT : Suspension of redemption of UCITS and AIF units on 29 March and 1 April 2024 The Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (the “CySEC”) wishes herein to inform Regulated Entities that the redemption of UCITS and AIF units is suspended on 29 March and 1 April 2024. It is provided that the suspension refers to UCITS and AIFs that hold assets in transferable securities listed in regulated markets and whose net asset value is calculated on a daily basis. CySEC reached to the above after taking into consideration the following:

  1. The provision of article 20(1) of the Open-Ended Undertakings for Collective Investment (UCI) Law (the “UCI Law”) which states that: “The Securities and Exchange Commission, in exceptional cases and in the unit-holders’ interest, by virtue of a decision and at its initiative, may suspend the redemption of UCITS units.”

2 2. The provision of article 43(3) of the Alternative Investment Funds Law (the “AIF Law”) which states that: “…the Securities and Exchange Commission may: (a) decide, as long as it considers that it is to the investors’ interest or the safeguarding of the proper functioning of the market, the suspension of the redemption or repurchase of AIF units, when the provisions of the applicable legislation or of the fund rules or of the instruments of incorporation of the AIF are not complied with or any other agreements that govern its function…” 3. The fact that 29 March and 1 April 2024 are public holidays due to the Catholic Easter in most international stock markets. 4. The fact that the settlement system for payments TARGET2 is closed on those days. 5. The need to safeguard the interests of unit-holders of UCITS and AIFs and the proper functioning of the market. It is noted that the obligations under article 20(2) of the UCI Law and article 43 of the AIF Law continue to apply. Sincerely, George Karatzias Vice Chairman Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission