Liquidity management
1. AIFMs shall, for each AIF that they manage which is not an unleveraged closed-ended AIF, employ an appropriate liquidity management system and adopt procedures which enable them to monitor the liquidity risk of the AIF and to ensure that the liquidity profile of the investments of the AIF complies with its underlying obligations.
AIFMs shall regularly conduct stress tests, under normal and exceptional liquidity conditions, which enable them to assess the liquidity risk of the AIFs and monitor the liquidity risk of the AIFs accordingly.
2. AIFMs shall ensure that, for each AIF that they manage, the investment strategy, the liquidity profile and the redemption policy are consistent.
2a. An AIFM shall ensure that the loan-originating AIF it manages is closed-ended.
By way of derogation from the first subparagraph, a loan-originating AIF may be open-ended provided that the AIFM that manages it is able to demonstrate to the competent authorities of the home Member State of the AIFM that the AIF's liquidity risk management system is compatible with its investment strategy and redemption policy.
The requirement set out in the first subparagraph of this paragraph shall be without prejudice to the thresholds, restrictions and conditions set out in Regulations (EU) No 345/2013, (EU) No 346/2013 and (EU) 2015/760.
2b. With a view to ensuring that it complies with paragraphs 1 and 2 of this Article, an AIFM that manages an open-ended AIF shall select at least two appropriate liquidity management tools from those referred to in Annex V, points 2 to 8, after assessing the suitability of those tools in relation to the pursued investment strategy, the liquidity profile and the redemption policy of the AIF. The AIFM shall include those tools in the AIF rules or instruments of incorporation for possible use in the interest of the AIF's investors. It shall not be possible for that selection to include only the tools referred to in Annex V, points 5 and 6.
By way of derogation from the first subparagraph, an AIFM may decide to select only one liquidity management tool from those referred to in Annex V, points 2 to 8, for an AIF it manages if that AIF is authorised as a money market fund in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2017/1131 of the European Parliament and of the Council.
The AIFM shall implement detailed policies and procedures for the activation and deactivation of any selected liquidity management tool and the operational and administrative arrangements for the use of such tool. The selection referred to in the first and second subparagraphs and the detailed policies and procedures for the activation and deactivation shall be communicated to the competent authorities of the home Member State of the AIFM.
Redemption in kind as referred to in Annex V, point 8, shall only be activated to meet redemptions requested by professional investors and if the redemption in kind corresponds to a pro rata share of the assets held by the AIF.
By way of derogation from the fourth subparagraph of this paragraph, the redemption in kind need not correspond to a pro rata share of the assets held by the AIF if that AIF is solely marketed to professional investors, or if the aim of that AIF's investment policy is to replicate the composition of a certain stock or debt securities index and that AIF is an exchange-traded fund as defined in Article 4(1), point (46), of Directive 2014/65/EU.
2c. An AIFM that manages an open-ended AIF may, in the interest of AIF investors, temporarily suspend the subscription, repurchase and redemption of the AIF units or shares as referred to in Annex V, point 1, or, where those tools are included in the AIF rules or instruments of incorporation, activate or deactivate other liquidity management tools selected from Annex V, points 2 to 8, in accordance with paragraph 2b of this Article. The AIFM may also, in the interest of the AIF investors, activate side pockets as referred to in Annex V, point 9.
An AIFM shall only use a suspension of subscriptions, repurchases and redemptions or side pockets as referred to in the first subparagraph in exceptional cases where circumstances so require and where justified having regard to the interests of the AIF investors.
2d. An AIFM shall, without delay, notify the competent authorities of its home Member State of the following:
(a) where the AIFM activates or deactivates the liquidity management tool referred to in Annex V, point 1;
(b) where the AIFM activates or deactivates any of the liquidity management tools referred to in Annex V, points 2 to 8, in a manner that is not in the ordinary course of business as envisaged in the AIF rules or instruments of incorporation.
An AIFM shall, within a reasonable timeframe before it activates or deactivates the liquidity management tool referred to in Annex V, point 9, notify the competent authorities of its home Member State of such activation or deactivation.
The competent authorities of the home Member State of the AIFM shall inform, without delay, the competent authorities of a host Member State of the AIFM, ESMA and, if there are potential risks to the stability and integrity of the financial system, the European Systemic Risk Board (ESRB) established by Regulation (EU) No 1092/2010 of the European Parliament and of the Council of any notifications received in accordance with this paragraph. ESMA shall have the power to share the information received pursuant to this paragraph with the competent authorities.
2e. Member States shall ensure that at least the liquidity management tools set out in Annex V are available to AIFMs managing open-ended AIFs.
2f. ESMA shall develop draft regulatory technical standards to determine the requirements with which loan-originating AIFs are to comply in order to maintain an open-ended structure. Those requirements shall include a sound liquidity management system, the availability of liquid assets and stress testing, as well as an appropriate redemption policy having regard to the liquidity profile of loan-originating AIFs. Those requirements shall also take due account of the underlying loan exposures, the average repayment time of the loans and the overall granularity and composition of the portfolios of loan-originating AIFs.
2g. ESMA shall develop draft regulatory technical standards to specify the characteristics of the liquidity management tools set out in Annex V.
When developing those draft regulatory technical standards, ESMA shall take account of the diversity of investment strategies and underlying assets of AIFs. Those standards shall not restrict the ability of AIFMs to use any appropriate liquidity management tool for all asset classes, jurisdictions and market conditions.
2h. By 16 April 2025, ESMA shall develop guidelines on the selection and calibration of liquidity management tools by AIFMs for liquidity risk management and for mitigating financial stability risks. Those guidelines shall recognise that the primary responsibility for liquidity risk management remains with AIFMs. They shall include indications as to the circumstances in which side pockets, as referred to in Annex V, point 9, can be activated. They shall allow adequate time for adaptation before they apply, in particular for existing AIFs.
2i. ESMA shall submit the draft regulatory technical standards referred to in paragraphs 2f and 2g of this Article to the Commission by 16 April 2025.
Power is delegated to the Commission to supplement this Directive by adopting the regulatory technical standards referred to in paragraphs 2f and 2g in accordance with Articles 10 and 14 of Regulation (EU) No 1095/2010.
3. The Commission shall adopt, by means of delegated acts in accordance with Article 56 and subject to the conditions of Articles 57 and 58, measures specifying:
(a) the liquidity management systems and procedures; and
(b) the alignment of the investment strategy, liquidity profile and redemption policy set out in paragraph 2.