European long-term investment funds (ELTIFs), by virtue of the asset classes that they will be allowed to invest in, are expected to provide investors with long-term, stable returns. The creation of clearly defined ELTIFs will help tackle barriers to long-term investment in, for example, infrastructure projects, thereby stimulating employment and economic growth. ELTIFs will only focus on alternative investments that fall within a defined category of long-term asset classes whose successful development requires a long-term commitment from investors. This will include:
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non-listed undertakings that issue equity;
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debt instruments for which there is no readily identifiable buyer;
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real assets that require significant up-front capital expenditure;
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SMEs admitted to trading on a regulated market or on a multilateral trading facility[1].
Only EU alternative investment funds (AIFs) that are managed by alternative investment fund managers (AIFMs), authorised in accordance with directive 2011/61/EU on AIFMs, will be eligible to market themselves as ELTIFs. ELTIFs will be subject to additional rules requiring them, inter alia, to invest at least 70% of their capital in clearly-defined categories of eligible assets. Trading in assets other than long-term investments will only be permitted up to a maximum of 30% of their capital.
ELTIFs will target both professional and retail investors in the EU. The regulation lays down rules to protect investors, in particular retail investors. The fund manager or distributor must ensure that a retail investor with a portfolio[2] of up to €500 000 doesn't invest an aggregate amount exceeding 10% of his/her portfolio in ELTIFs, provided that the initial amount invested in one or more ELTIFs is not less than €10,000. Moreover, where the lifecycle of an ELTIF exceeds ten years, the fund manager or distributor must issue a written alert that it may not be suitable for retail investors unable to sustain such a long-term and illiquid commitment.
Full press release
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