Ethics and governance in the European Financial centers

The CSSF today issued two press releases that are worth commenting.

The first press release is in English French, and German. It states in English: “UBS and the CSSF have met on February 5, 2009 to discuss the circumstances of Luxalpha SICAV – American Selection and Luxembourg Investment Fund - US Equity Plus, two Luxembourg funds which have been hit by the Madoff scandal. Pursuant to those discussions, UBS and CSSF have agreed to cooperate in their efforts to determine the relevant facts and define the way forward in close conjunction with all others who are affected by the events in order to find a solution as soon as possible.”

“to determine the relevant facts and define the way forward in close conjunction with all others who are affected by the events “ What a wooden language. I cannot include/understand such tergiversations for a situation that is clear enough. The jurisdiction should answer honestly 4 simple questions to face its responsibilities:

1. Was UBS both the depositary and the management company? If that is proven, it does not comply with the European directive that states that “No single company shall act as both management company and depositary “ (article 10 of the UCIT Directive dated 20 December 1985) and the Luxembourg law of 20 December 2002 seems to have removed the requirement in its article 20. This would mean that by not transposion the important requirement the legislative power would have failed in its duty to protect the investor.

2. Did UBS transfer the role of depositary? If that is proven, it is the result of a lax wording on the depositary in circular IMF 91/75 that states that “The concept of custody used to describe the general mission of the depositary should be understood not in the sense of “safekeeping”, but in the sense of “supervision” (…) The depositary has discharged its duty of supervision when it is satisfied from the outset and during the whole of the duration of the contract that the third parties with which the assets of the UCI are on deposit are reputable and competent and have sufficient financial resources. “. This would mean that by using a lax wording the CSSF would have failed in its duty to protect the investor.

3. Did the auditor as individual demonstrate a superficial behaviour that does not comply with what is expected from such professional who certifies the accounts (posing in a leisure magazine with a glass of wine...)? If that is proven it would mean that by not controlling the staff the auditor as legal person would have failed in its duty to protect the investor.

4. Did the auditor as legal person demonstrate affinities with UBS management which may reveal a breach in the independence of the audit firm? If that is proven it would mean that by not assuring the independance of the registered firms the IRE (Institute of Registered Auditors) would have failed in its duty to protect the investor.

I am looking forward to reading the official answers.


The second press release is only in French. It states only : “Comme annoncé dans le communiqué du 3 février 2009, la CSSF a remis le résultat de son enquête sur les différentes responsabilités, en application des textes légaux et réglementaires, qui incombent à la banque UBS (Luxembourg) S.A. dans sa fonction de dépositaire du fonds d’investissement LUXALPHA SICAV. La CSSF a demandé à la banque de prendre position par écrit » (free translation: As announced in the official press release of February 3, 2009, the CSSF gave the result of its investigation on the various responsibilities, pursuant to the legal and regulatory texts, which fall on bank UBS (Luxembourg) S.A. in its function of depositary of the funds of investment LUXALPHA SICAV. The CSSF required that the bank take written position.)

To whom the result was given? It is not specified. The report should be published.

The CSSF has today published a press release only in French to inform of the withdrawal of Luxalpha Sicav from the official list.
It explains that the conclusions on the depositary's liability are commung soon.

Read Press Release (french)

In the framework of its strategy to better combat tax evasion and fraud (IP/06/697), the European Commission yesterday adopted two proposals for new Directives aimed at improving mutual assistance between Member States' tax authorities in the assessment and the recovery of taxes. One of the key elements of the proposals is that Member States would no longer be able to invoke bank secrecy in order to refuse cross border co-operation.

Commissioner for Taxation and Customs, László Kovács, said: "In a globalised world, where tax evaders and fraudsters take advantage of the different limitations on national tax administrations, efficient cooperation and mutual assistance between tax administrations is essential in better combating tax fraud. Improved transparency, based on quick and simple information exchange mechanisms, is therefore crucial. In particular, it is unacceptable that bank secrecy in one Member State can be allowed to constitute an obstacle to the correct assessment by the tax authorities of another Member State of the amount of taxes due by one of its resident taxpayers."



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