Rule · CSSF · 19 Dec 2025
This circular consolidates and updates regulatory provisions for specialised investment funds (SIFs), investment companies in risk capital (SICARs), and undertakings for collective investment subject to Part II of the Law of 17 December 2010 (Part II UCIs). It repeals previous circulars CSSF 02/80, CSSF 07/309, CSSF 06/241, and specific chapters of Circular IML 91/75, while rendering Circular CSSF 08/356 and Chapter H of Circular IML 91/75 inapplicable to Part II UCIs. The document establishes investment limits for risk-spreading, permitting up to 25% exposure to single entities for retail funds and 50% for well-informed or professional investors, with specific rules for infrastructure investments and ramp-up periods. It also clarifies the concept of risk capital for SICARs, requiring active management intentions and defined exit strategies in authorization files and sales documents.
Circular CSSF 25/901 relating to specialised investment funds, investment companies in risk capital and undertakings for collective investment subject to Part II of the Law of 17 December 2010
In case of discrepancies between the French and the English texts, the French text shall prevail. CIRCULAR CSSF 25/901 2/15 Circular CSSF 25/901 relating to specialised investment funds, investment companies in risk capital and undertakings for collective investment subject to
Part II of the Law of 17 December 2010
To all specialised investment funds (SIFs), investment companies in risk capital (SICARs) and undertakings for collective investment governed by Part II of the Law of 17 December 2010 (Part II UCIs), and to all the persons involved in the functioning and control of these funds. Luxembourg, 19 December 2025 Ladies and Gentlemen, This circular is part of a broader effort towards modernisation, clarification and simplification. With a few exceptions, the circular is intended for all investment funds that are subject to an authorisation by the Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier (hereinafter “CSSF”) pursuant to the Law of 13 February 2007 relating to specialised investment funds, the Law of 15 June 2004 relating to the investment company in risk capital or Part II of the Law of 17 December 2010 relating to undertakings for collective investment. The circular repeals Circulars CSSF 02/80, CSSF 07/309, CSSF 06/241 and Chapters G and I of Circular IML 91/75 and renders the provisions of Circular CSSF 08/356 as well as Chapter H of Circular IML 91/75 inapplicable to Part II UCIs. It replaces these circulars while maintaining their core principles, but adapting them to the practical experience gained since their publication. It brings together all the provisions into a single text while ensuring consistency in the terminology used. It provides flexibility depending on the type of investor targeted and allows the CSSF to grant derogations based on a duly motivated justification. The circular does not call into question the rules adopted by the funds or compartments authorised by the CSSF before the date of entry into force of this circular. Without prejudice to the provisions above and point 50 of this circular, the CSSF expects the directors (dirigeants) of SIFs, SICARs and Part II UCIs, as well as the persons involved in the functioning, management and control of these funds, to ensure, within the scope of their respective responsibilities, that the SIFs, SICARs and Part II UCIs concerned comply with the provisions of this circular. For the illustration of the general concepts underlying this circular, reference is made to the document entitled “Compilation of the key concepts and terms used in the area of investment funds other than UCITS and MMFs and how the CSSF understands them” (updated on a regular basis).
CIRCULAR CSSF 25/901 3/15
TABLE OF CONTENTS
CIRCULAR CSSF 25/901 4/15
CIRCULAR CSSF 25/901 5/15
SICAR Law: the Law of 15 June 2004 relating to the investment company in risk capital, as amended. MMF: a money market fund within the meaning of Regulation (EU) 2017/1131 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 June 2017 on money market funds.
Part II UCI: an undertaking for collective investment subject to Part II of the UCI Law.
UCITS: an undertaking for collective investment in transferable securities within the meaning of the UCITS Directive. SFTR: Regulation (EU) 2015/2365 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 November 2015 on transparency of securities financing transactions and of reuse and amending Regulation (EU) No 648/2012, as amended. Regulation 2017/1129: Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 June 2017 on the prospectus to be published when securities are offered to the public or admitted to trading on a regulated market, and repealing Directive 2003/71/EC, as amended. SICAR: an investment company in risk capital governed by the SICAR Law.
2. Scope and legal bases
2.1. Scope
CIRCULAR CSSF 25/901 6/15
CIRCULAR CSSF 25/901 7/15
iii. one and the same other asset. Are not considered as distinct assets,
assets, for example real estate assets, whose economic viability is closely linked to the point that these assets form a single economic entity. b. Short sales may not result in the fund or compartment holding a short position in securities issued by the same entity representing more than the limit set out under point 8(a).
c. When using financial derivative instruments, the fund or compartment must ensure
a comparable level of risk-spreading through an appropriate diversification of the underlying assets. Similarly, counterparty risk (i) not cleared by a clearing institution or (ii) not mitigated by collateral such as a pledge or a transfer of ownership must be limited having regard to the quality and qualification of the counterparty. d. Such fund or compartment may invest up to 50% of its assets in one and the same infrastructure investment. An infrastructure investment may consist in the acquisition of such asset or the exposure to it.
9. Each compartment of an undertaking for collective investment or other investment
vehicle, as well as each compartment of a securitisation undertaking may be considered as a distinct undertaking for collective investment or entity provided that the principle of segregation of the liabilities of the various compartments with regard to third parties is ensured.
10. When using intermediary vehicles, regardless of their legal form, the investment limits
apply to the investments made through them, and not to the vehicles themselves.
11. The limit set out in point 8:
CIRCULAR CSSF 25/901 8/15 derogate from the investment limits for a period of up to twelve months following its launch. The launch date of the fund or compartment in principle coincides with the date of the first subscription of units or shares in that fund or compartment. b. Where the fund or compartment aims to make private investments, which generally require more time to negotiate, the ramp-up period may be longer, but in principle, it may not exceed four years as from the date of the launch of the fund or compartment. In exceptional circumstances, this period may be extended, provided this extension is duly justified to and accepted by the CSSF. In principle, the maximum duration of this additional extension is one year. In all cases, the rampup period must be limited to a reasonable period of time, which is consistent with the specific needs of the investment policy of the fund or compartment concerned.
16. Where the fund’s or the compartment’s objective is to make private investments, the
sales document may provide that the investment limits cease to apply during the winddown period.
17. During the periods when the investment limits do not apply, the fund or compartment
must not be exposed to excessive risks or conflicts of interest that had not been previously identified. Available cash may be temporarily invested in accordance with the provisions of the sales document.
18. A SICAR which sets investment limits in its sales document may also provide for rampup and wind-down periods during which these limits do not apply.
5. Concept of security representing risk capital (SICAR)
19. The purpose of this chapter is to clarify the concepts of risk capital and securities referred
to in Article 1(1) and (2) of the SICAR Law. This chapter sets out the criteria on which the CSSF bases its assessment of the acceptability of the investment policy proposed for a SICAR.
20. Pursuant to the SICAR Law, the object of a SICAR is to invest its assets in securities
representing risk capital to ensure that its investors benefit from the result of the management of its assets in consideration for the risk which they incur. The SICAR Law defines investment in risk capital as the direct or indirect contribution of assets to entities with a view to their launch, development or listing on a stock exchange. Private equity strategies, and more specifically venture capital strategies, are targeted but potentially also debt financing strategies for non-listed undertakings.
21. Indeed, the contribution of assets by the SICAR may take various forms. It may, for
example, take the form of capital contributions, loan origination, bond subscriptions, bridge financing or mezzanine financing. It is not always necessary to inject new capital through a capital increase. The acquisition of securities representing risk capital on the secondary market is also eligible.
22. In view of their specific objective, all the assets other than investment in risk capital held
by a SICAR must comply with that objective.
CIRCULAR CSSF 25/901 9/15
5.1. Assessment criteria
23. Risk capital under the SICAR Law is characterised by the combination of two elements,
namely an intention to develop the target entity and a specific risk:
CIRCULAR CSSF 25/901 10/15 sales document includes information on the risk capital criteria. The sales document must notably include a description of the exit strategy, comprising a non-exhaustive list of how the SICAR intends to divest from the target entities, and must indicate the expected holding period. Where a SICAR intends to invest in eligible investments through target funds, the sales document must include a general reference indicating that the target funds comply with the exit strategy criteria as described above.
5.2. Specific restrictions
27. For SICARs, the following restrictions result from the concept of risk capital:
CIRCULAR CSSF 25/901 11/15 funds. The underlying real-estate assets must meet the criteria of risk capital set out in Section 5.1.
CIRCULAR CSSF 25/901 12/15
Similarly, counterparty risk (i) not cleared by a clearing institution or (ii) not mitigated by collateral such as a pledge or a transfer of ownership must be limited having regard to the quality and qualification of the counterparty.
7. Borrowing
31. A SIF or a Part II UCI may borrow cash. This cash may be used, notably, to make
investments, cover costs and expenses or meet redemptions. For SICARs, reference should be made to the general principles laid down in Chapter 5, which limit the use of borrowing in consideration to the specific objective of the SICAR. When borrowing cash, the fund or the compartment may encumber assets.
32. Borrowing for investment purposes must, in principle, not exceed 70% of the assets or
commitments to subscribe of the fund or compartment, if the latter is marketed to unsophisticated retail investors. Where the securities of the fund or compartment are reserved for well-informed or professional investors, this limit does not apply. These funds or compartments set their own maximum borrowing limit.
33. Temporary borrowing arrangements that are fully covered by capital commitments of
investors are, in general, not regarded as borrowings. The same applies, in principle, to any debt security issued by the fund or compartment whose income is linked to the performance of the assets in the portfolio of the fund or compartment concerned.
34. The above is without prejudice to the applicable requirements for calculating leverage.
8. Transparency
35. The requirements set out below are without prejudice to the information that the
manager must communicate under Article 23 of the AIFMD, where applicable. They aim to clarify certain information in the sales document that is considered important and are based on Articles 53 and 71(2) of the SIF Law, Articles 3(3) and 24(1) of the SICAR Law and Articles 151(1) and 181(2) of the UCI Law.
36. A fund or a compartment that is required to publish a prospectus under Regulation
2017/1129 includes the information mentioned in Chapter 8 in its prospectus, unless said information is not compatible with the information required under that regulation.
37. The information provided in the sales document of the fund or compartment must be
correct, clear and not misleading, to enable investors to make an informed judgement of the investment proposed to them.
8.1. at the level of investments
38. The sales document must specify the investment policy of the fund or compartment,
notably the investment objectives and strategies, the composition of the portfolio, the asset classes in which it may invest, the investment limits and their calculation basis, and, where applicable, the use of intermediary vehicles. It must provide information on the risks and potential conflicts associated with the contemplated investments. For funds or compartments investing primarily in less liquid assets, the sales document must
CIRCULAR CSSF 25/901 13/15 address the situation in which the fund or the compartment finds itself with significant amounts of cash that it must be able to invest temporarily in liquid assets.
39. Where a fund or compartment intends to invest in undertakings for collective investment
or other investment vehicles, this possibility must be expressly mentioned in the sales document. If the fund or compartment is marketed to unsophisticated retail investors and intends to invest more than 25% of its assets or commitments to subscribe in an undertaking for collective investment or other investment vehicle, it must expressly provide for this in its sales document, specifying that a risk-spreading comparable to or stricter than that provided for under point 8 is ensured at the level of the target undertaking for collective investment or other investment vehicle, in accordance with the sales document of the latter or the laws and regulations applicable to it. If the target undertaking for collective investment or other investment vehicle is not supervised by or registered with an authority with which the CSSF can cooperate on the basis of a cooperation agreement, this must be clearly indicated in the sales document and taken into consideration at the level of the risks communicated to the investors. Where investments are to be made in undertakings for collective investment or other investment vehicles of the same initiator or manager, the sales document must specify the nature of the fees or charges that may be incurred.
40. Where a fund or compartment intends to use the techniques mentioned in Chapter 6,
this must be expressly indicated in its sales document. The sales document must specify the types of transactions envisaged and the conditions and limits for their realisation. If cash received as collateral may be reinvested, the sales document must specify the conditions and limits for such reinvestment. It must also include a description of the risks inherent in these transactions. The above does not affect the information required under scheme B annexed to SFTR, which applies to AIFs managed by an authorised AIFM.
41. The manner in which the proceeds of the sale or disposal of the assets are distributed,
if applicable, must be clearly disclosed in the sales document.
8.2. at the level of redemptions and subscriptions
42. The terms and conditions for subscriptions must be described in the sales document.
43. Where the investors have the right to redeem their securities, the sales document must
clearly describe such rights as well as the relevant terms and conditions. To this end, the sales document notably specifies the following points:
CIRCULAR CSSF 25/901 14/15
44. If the non-executed part of redemption orders is transferred, the sales document must
specify, in particular, (i) whether the orders concerned will or not receive priority over new redemptions orders and (ii) what net asset value will apply, in this case. A treatment of orders different from that described above is not excluded, provided it complies with the requirements of the AIFMD, where applicable, and is justified to and approved by the CSSF.
45. With reference to Article 157(2) of the UCI Law, it is specified that the date on which the
issue and redemption price are determined depends on the issuance and redemption frequency of the securities. If investors have the right to redeem their securities, the redemption frequency must be determined in relation to the investment policy of the fund or compartment. The investment policy of the fund or compartment, especially when it provides for private investments, may justify a redemption frequency that is less than monthly. The redemption frequency does not necessarily coincide with the subscription frequency. The above does not affect the calculation of the net asset value, which must be carried out in accordance with the laws and regulations in force.
8.3. at the level of borrowing
46. If the fund or compartment intends to borrow, it must indicate the maximum borrowing
limit in its sales document. This limit must comply with that set out in the first sentence of point 32 for funds and compartments to which the latter applies.
8.4. at the level of other information
47. If the fund or compartment may be marketed to unsophisticated retail investors and
invests significantly in private investments, the sales document must contain a warning stating that the investment in the fund or compartment may imply a high level of risk, that it is only suitable for persons able to bear that risk, and that the average subscriber is advised to invest only a portion of the sums allocated to long-term investments. If, in addition, the life of the fund or compartment or the period during which the investors cannot exit the fund or the compartment exceeds or could exceed ten years, the sales document must include a warning that the fund or compartment may not be suitable for investors that are unable to maintain a commitment over such a period of time.
48. The sales document must include a description of the procedures that can be
implemented to modify the investment policy or to make any other material change. These procedures must comply with the laws and regulations in force. A notice period with a free of charge redemption option may be required.
49. Extensions of the life of a fund or compartment by one year, up to a maximum of three
times, are possible if such extensions are necessary to allow the investments to reach their full potential and if the fund’s instruments of incorporation or the compartment’s sales document provide for such a possibility. In exceptional circumstances, the CSSF may grant derogations from the above based on a duly motivated justification.
CIRCULAR CSSF 25/901 15/15
9. Entry into force, transitional provisions and repealing
provisions
50. This circular enters into force with effect as from 19 December 2025, without prejudice
to the rules adopted by the funds or compartments authorised by the CSSF before this date and which these funds or compartments may continue to apply.
51. Circulars CSSF 02/80, CSSF 07/309, CSSF 06/241, as well as Chapters G and I of Circular
IML 91/75 are repealed.
52. The provisions of Chapter H of Circular IML 91/75 and Circular CSSF 08/356 no longer
apply to Part II UCIs.
Claude WAMPACH
Director
Marco ZWICK
Director
Jean-Pierre FABER
Director
Françoise KAUTHEN
Director
Claude MARX
Director General
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