10.07.2015
On 1 July 2015 a new bill on the Société d’Impact Sociétal (the “SIS”) has been filed with the Chambers of Deputies (the “Bill 6831”).
The Bill 6831 aims to provide a legal environment favourable to the development of businesses which transcend the classic division between the profit-making commercial sector and the non-profit sector.
On 1 July 2015 a new bill on the Société d’Impact Sociétal (the “SIS”) has been filed with the Chambers of Deputies (the “Bill 6831”).
The Bill 6831 aims to provide a legal environment favourable to the development of businesses which transcend the classic division between the profit-making commercial sector and the non-profit sector.
Every S.A., S.C.A., S.à r.l., Cooperative company or S.E. may apply for an agreement from the Minister in charge of Social and Solidarity Economy to the extent that it meets the 3 following conditions:
a) aiming to bring support to persons in a fragile situation (i.e. disabled persons, elders, persons into precarious situations…) and who may either be employees, clients, members or beneficiaries of the SIS;
b) aiming to contribute to the preservation and development of social ties, fight against the exclusion and the health, social, cultural, economic or gender gaps, maintain or reinforce the territorial cohesion or develop educational activities;
c) participating to the sustainable development and protection of the environment if such activity is related to one of the objectives mentioned above at items a) or b).
The articles of association of the SIS will have to indicate the means by which its objectives will be reached and provide for performance indicators allowing to verify the achievement of such objectives.
After almost 5 years of apparent standstill and the appointment, in-between of new rapporteurs, the Legal Commission of the Chamber of Deputies has adopted, on 2 April 2015, new amendments (the “Amendments”) to the Bill 5730, which was itself adopted on 8 June 2007 and subject, since then, to numerous comments and amendments.
After almost 5 years of apparent standstill and the appointment, in-between of new rapporteurs, the Legal Commission of the Chamber of Deputies has adopted, on 2 April 2015, new amendments (the “Amendments”) to the Bill 5730, which was itself adopted on 8 June 2007 and subject, since then, to numerous comments and amendments.
As a reminder, the initial version of the Bill 5730 aimed at modernising the Luxembourg law on commercial and civil companies by, among others, introducing the following provisions in the Luxembourg law:
The main changes brought by the Amendments to the initial Bill 5730 as amended on 7 May 2009 are the following:
 | Aurélien Latouche
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 | Euryale Didillon
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On 19 May 2015, the regulation (EU) 2015/760 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2015 on European long-term investment funds (the “Regulation”) was published in the Official Journal of the European Union. For reminder, the legislative process which started in June 2013 with the submission by the EU Commission (the “Commission”) of the initial proposal comes thus to an end.
On 19 May 2015, the regulation (EU) 2015/760 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2015 on European long-term investment funds (the “Regulation”) was published in the Official Journal of the European Union. For reminder, the legislative process which started in June 2013 with the submission by the EU Commission (the “Commission”) of the initial proposal comes thus to an end.
The Regulation provides the regulatory framework for the European long-term investment funds (the “ELTIFs”) aiming at increasing the available long-term capital in the real economy of the EU by providing long-term commitments to various infrastructure projects, unlisted companies, or listed small and medium-sized enterprises. Pursuant to the Regulation, such infrastructure projects include among others public building infrastructure (i.e. schools, hospitals, prisons), transport infrastructure (i.e. roads, airports), energy infrastructure (i.e. energy grids, power plants, pipelines) and water management infrastructure. The Regulation, creating a new investment fund vehicle, is also intended to contribute to facilitating the Capital Markets Union initiated by the Commission.
As funding for infrastructure projects, which requires long-term investments in illiquid non-transferable assets and as bank financing during the financial crisis were not sufficient, there was a need to further consider other financing sources in order to bridge the financing gaps.
An ELTIF is an alternative investment fund (“AIF”) domiciled in the EU and managed by an authorised alternative investment fund manager (“AIFM”) within the meaning of the Directive 2011/61/EU relating to AIFM. Once authorised in accordance with the Regulation, an ELTIF can be marketed throughout the EU pursuant to the passport mechanism. Thus any non-EU AIFs are excluded from the scope of the Regulation.
Contrary to the AIFs, ELTIFs may be marketed not only to professional investors, but also to retail investors, albeit with certain restrictions. First of all, the manager of an ELTIF has an obligation to ensure (i) that any retail investor with a financial instrument portfolio not exceeding EUR 500,000 does not invest an aggregate amount exceeding 10 % of that investor’s portfolio in ELTIFs and (ii) that the minimum initial investment is EUR 10,000.
The Regulation also foresees specific provisions when a manager of an ELTIF intends to market an ELTIF to retail investors. As such, the manager of an ELTIF shall, based on a specific internal process, take into account at least the duration of the ELTIF and its intended investment strategy. In addition, the manager of an ELTIF will consider whether the ELTIF is suitable for that particular retail investor after having obtained information such as (i) its knowledge and experience in the investment field relevant to the ELTIF, (ii) its financial situation, including its ability to bear losses and (iii) its investment objectives, including its time horizon.
An ELTIF marketed to retail investors shall (i) publish a key information document (“KID”), in accordance with regulation (EU) No 1286/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 November 2014 on KID for packaged retail and insurance-based investment products and (ii) have a depositary which complies with the requirements of Directive 2009/65/EC relating to undertakings for collective investment in transferable securities (“UCITS”), such as the eligible entities, the prohibition of the discharge of liability and the reuse of assets.
In order to facilitate the access of ELTIFs to retail investors, a UCITS may invest into an ELTIF provided that the ELTIF shares are eligible under UCITS Directive.
Respecting the rationales and the very objectives of the Regulation, ELTIFs may invest in (i) eligible investment assets which are considered illiquid, and (ii) the eligible assets referred to in Article 50(1) of the UCITS Directive which are deemed liquid. It should be noted that eligible investment assets consist of instruments issued by qualifying portfolio undertakings or loans to such undertakings, but also investments units of certain other ELTIFs, EuVECAs or EuSEFs, and direct or indirect holdings in certain real assets. In short, qualifying portfolio undertakings may not be financial undertakings or undertakings for collective investment, nor be admitted to trading, and have to be established in a Member State or certain third countries.
The Regulation states that an ELTIF should invest at least 70 % of its assets in eligible investment assets. For the purpose of ensuring the diversification of any ELTIF, it should invest among others no more than (i) 10 % of its capital in instruments issued by a single qualifying portfolio undertaking, (ii) 10 % directly or indirectly, in a single real asset and (iii) 10 % of its capital in units or shares of any single ELTIF, EuVECA or EuSEF.
ELTIFs may borrow cash provided such intention to borrow is disclosed in the investment strategy in the fund documents. In the marketing material of an ELTIF, it must describe its hedging policy, noting that the financial derivative instruments may not be used other than for the purpose of hedging the risks inherent to its own investments.
The Regulation entered into force on 8 June 2015 and shall apply from 9 December 2015. European Securities and Markets Authority shall establish draft regulatory technical standards specifying certain modalities and to be submitted to the Commission by 9 September 2015.
 | Grégoire d'Allard
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 | Jonas Mullo
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The European Commission has recently published its green paper on “Building a Capital Markets Union”. While the priority of the European Commission is to focus on jobs and growth in the EU, the free flow of capital is one of the fundamental principles of the EU. Those two aspects shall be linked and combined by building a Capital Markets Union. In order to strengthen investment in the EU for the long term, a true single market for capital needs to be created and developed throughout the 28 Member States.
The European Commission has recently published its green paper on “Building a Capital Markets Union”.
While the priority of the European Commission is to focus on jobs and growth in the EU, the free flow of capital is one of the fundamental principles of the EU. Those two aspects shall be linked and combined by building a Capital Markets Union. In order to strengthen investment in the EU for the long term, a true single market for capital needs to be created and developed throughout the 28 Member States.
As of today, the EU financial system is heavily reliant on banks. By complementing banks as a source of funding, stronger capital markets would create a more stable financial system. Investment for Europe’s companies and in particular small and medium-sized enterprises (the “SMEs”) and for infrastructure projects could be unlocked and more investment into the EU could be attracted.
The green paper and the building of a capital markets union will be presented below through setting out the key principles and objectives (1.), the challenges to be overcome (2.), the first steps of implementation (3.) and an outlook on the next steps to be taken (4.).
The main objectives of a capital markets union according to the green paper are the improvement of access to financing (especially for SMEs) (1.2.1), increasing and diversifying the sources of funding (1.2.2) and the improvements of the markets and the rules by which they are governed to make them more efficient and effective.
In order to facilitate access to financing for companies the cost of capital raising should be reduced, particularly for SMEs. An ideal situation would be where SMEs are able to raise funds as easily as large companies.
Access to capital and the costs of investing should be harmonised all over the EU and a real convergence should be reached. Therefore, a certain degree of standardisation would be required. Where common standards cannot be achieved, policy efforts should allow establishing best practices. As an example for a common standard, a common accounting standard for SMEs could facilitate their access to capital markets due to better comparability. Another important point is that transparency and availability of information should be increased in order to allow for investors to assess and compare investment offers and facilitate their investments. In addition, alternative means of financing, such as peer to peer lending or crowd financing shall be developed in order to enhance capital markets funding. Alternative investments could also be investments in social and corporate governance or environmental projects, such as green bonds.
In order to allow diversification of the sources of funding, institutional, retail as well as international investors should be attracted to invest in capital markets in the EU.
In order to attract institutional investors, one of the requirements is to reduce the costs for setting up funds and cross border marketing, which would lower the barriers to the entry into the market, and more competition could be created.
To attract retail investors, a key issue is to restore trust of retail investors. Savings held on bank accounts by individuals could be used more efficiently. As deposit rates are declining, investors could be incented to move their savings to capital markets. Besides restoring trust of investors, it should also be focused on proposing standardised products along with improving financial literacy and education of consumers so that retail investors feel more comfortable on the market.
While the high standards of the EU market for market integrity, financial stability and investor protection should be maintained, direct marketing of EU investment funds and other investment instruments in third countries should be facilitated by reducing barriers for EU financial institutions and services to access third country markets.
The creation of a single rulebook, which will need to be effectively implemented and consistently enforced, will set the legal and regulatory framework of the capital markets union to make markets more efficient and effective.
Competition plays an important role for the market, as it helps ensuring to channel investment flows towards the most productive uses. Therefore, entry barriers for new entrants to the markets shall be removed and access to financial market infrastructure shall be assured. Hence, competition law has to be applied rigorously for consumer protection.
As regards the free flow of capital, barriers, such as unjustified restrictions imposed by host Member States on market operators with a European marketing passport need to be removed, as a more stable, transparent and predictable framework could contribute to building investor confidence.
As market infrastructure and securities law are key determinants for the efficiency of investments, the European Commission intends to establish - in addition to the regulatory framework - a legislative proposal to create a European framework for the recovery and resolution of systemically relevant financial institutions, such as central counterparties. Moreover, as the demand for collateral has significantly increased since the financial crisis, the risk that such collateral is reused for multiple transactions also needs to be addressed.
Furthermore, the European Commission is reviewing how company law, corporate governance rules, insolvency and taxation legislation can be harmonised and adapted in order to improve market infrastructure and the securities regime.
New technologies and especially the combination of new technologies with innovative financial services the so-called “FinTech” constitutes an important and growing potential for investments. However, in order to keep pace with this development, European and national company law needs to be updated, amongst other, to integrate the benefits of digitalisation.
By building a single market for capital, there are considerable challenges to overcome. As of today, capital markets in the EU are fragmented and organised on national lines and access to capital markets differs across firms and across EU Member States. The economy in the EU is quite vulnerable, as it is very reliant on banks for funding, and in the context of the financial crisis, investor confidence has dropped significantly. Furthermore, there are large data gaps and features in the national tax systems that need to be overcome.
These challenges will be tackled by taking the following measures for the creation of a single market for capital.
In order to achieve the objectives set by the European Commission and to overcome the abovementioned obstacles, the European Commission considers the following implementation measures as a priority:
As the main document setting out the terms and conditions as well as the risks of an investment, the prospectus is an important document in a capital markets funding, which is subject to a stringent regime. In order to avoid barriers for funding through the requirements for prospectuses, the European Commission will review the current prospectus regime and has launched a specific consultation in order to simplify the requirements.
As information on SMEs is mostly held by banks, access to such information is limited to non-bank investors and SMEs often have difficulties to reach a broader investor base of non-bank investors. The European Commission intends to organise workshops on SME credit information as a first step to improving availability of information on SMEs.
Securitisation can provide a powerful mechanism for transferring risks by pooling assets together for investors. However, the activity of securitisation has decreased since the financials crisis. Consultations have been launched in order to boost the securitisation market and the publication of the delegated acts on Solvency II and Liquidity Coverage Ratio contribute to a comprehensive and consistent prudential approach for securitisation.
In order to foster long terms investments, the European Commission has established a new Fund for Strategic Investment Funds (EFSI) and has published a communication on long term financing. Furthermore, the Long-Term Investment Funds (ELTIFs), a regulatory framework, has been created for investors to invest in companies and infrastructure projects for the long term.
Investments via private placements may be more cost effective than on public markets and can facilitate the availability of financing for medium to large companies and potentially infrastructure projects. In order to develop private placement markets in Europe, a market guide on common practices, principles and standardised documentation has been established by a consortium of industry bodies.
Following the three months consultation, which has recently been closed, a conference on the ”Next steps to build a Capital Markets Union” has been held in Brussels on 8 June 2015. Based on the outcome of the consultation, the European Commission develops an action plan for the further implementation of the Capital Markets Union.
We would also like to point out that the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) has confirmed in its response to the green paper that it supports the aims of the Capital Markets Union and has stressed that not only access to capital shall be improved, but also more equity funding shall be the result of the Capital Markets Union.
In terms of timing, the European Commission’s objective is to create a fully functioning Capital Markets Union by 2019.
 | Laurent Massinon
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 | Fabienne Schauber
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A recent case law (C.A. 12/03/2015, No 40824) clarifies the deadline within which the employee has to inform the employer about his/her inability to work, as mentioned in the article L. 121-6 of the Labour Code. In such case, the judges of the Court of Appeal have specified that any clause which imposed the employee to inform the employer before 9 a.m. of her/his sickness is null. In fact, such clause is considered as being less favourable for the employee than the employment law.
A recent case law (C.A. 12/03/2015, No 40824) clarifies the deadline within which the employee has to inform the employer about his/her inability to work, as mentioned in the article L. 121-6 of the Labour Code. In such case, the judges of the Court of Appeal have specified that any clause which imposed the employee to inform the employer before 9 a.m. of her/his sickness is null. In fact, such clause is considered as being less favourable for the employee than the employment law. As the employer has dismissed the employee with immediate effect on the first day of the extended sick leave, the judges of the Court of Appeal have therefore considered this dismissal as abusive.
This case law is a good opportunity to remind some essential rules about the notification of the incapacity of work and the possible protection against dismissal in such case.
(i) If the employee is unable to work because of sickness or accident, she/he must notify (orally or in written) the employer or an appropriate representative of the employer of her/his incapacity either personally or through someone else the very first day of her/his absence or extended sick leave. The recent case law mentioned above, introduces a new element as the employee has until midnight to notify his/her absence.
(ii) On the third day of her/his absence or extended sick leave at the latest, the employee shall be obliged to submit to the employer a medical certificate attesting her/his inability to work and the foreseeable length of time.
The employer who has been duly notified of the employee’s incapacity of work in due form and within the legal length of time (i) or who has received the medical certificate from the employee in due form and within the legal length of time (ii) is not allowed to notify to the employee, even for serious reasons, the termination of the employment agreement or, where relevant, to convoke the concerned employee for a pre-dismissal interview. Any notification of the dismissal by the employer to the employee who has fulfilled the two cumulative conditions (i and ii) is unfair.
In fact, the employee is, during her/his sick leave, protected against dismissal for a period of twenty-six weeks following the date of the incapacity of work.
 | Marie Sinniger
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 | Steffi De Saedelaere
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