Applying for a PSF Licence
A Professional of the Financial Sector ("PSF") is a legal person that has been granted authorisation to perform, as a regular occupation, an activity of the financial sector (whether direct, connected or complementary) in accordance with article 13 of the law of 5 April 1993 on the financial sector, as amended ("the Law").
In practice, PSF is a generic label which embraces various and heterogeneous types of legal license (or “status”): from traditional actors of the financial sector (such as investment firms) to highly technical service providers (such as IT service providers, regulated as Support PSF). Depending on their activity and the risks they are likely to face, the intensity of the rules applicable to them will vary.
Should you intend to set-up a Professional of the Financial Sector in Luxembourg, you would need to apply to the Ministry of Finance. The authorisation will be granted after seeking advice from the Luxembourg regulator, the Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier ("the CSSF").
In that context, PwC Luxembourg is able to provide you with the following services:
- Preparation of the application file
- Defining a business plan
- Description of the IT set-up
- Drafting of the AML procedure
- Incorporation of private company in Luxembourg
- Recruitment services
- Project Management
Preparation of the application file
- Define and assess your project from a regulatory perspective;
- Introduce you/your project to the Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier ("CSSF");
- Assisting you in the preparation of an application file and its formal filing to the Luxembourg financial services regulator until approval from CSSF and the Ministry of Finance.
Defining a business plan
Define and build a three year business plan based on your assumptions.*
Description of the IT set-up
Drafting and review of the description of the IT set-up taking into account the specific Luxembourg requirements relating to outsourcing to third party or related party service providers.*
Drafting of the AML procedure
Draft or review your draft AML procedure to ensure compliance with Luxembourg laws and regulations.*
Incorporation of private company in Luxembourg
- Drafting of the required documentation, including the review of KYC/Identification requirements, drafting of standard articles of incorporation;
- Coordination with the notary for the enactment of the incorporation deed;
- Follow-up of the registration, filing and publication formalities etc.
Recruitment services
Selection from middle to top management* positions including CEO, Deputy CEO, Compliance Manager, Sales, etc., through a combination of the following channels:
- PwC database research;
- Activation of PwC’s network;
- Advertisement on PwC’s website: www.pwc.lu as well as on web job boards.
PwC disposes of a permanently updated database of profiles in varied areas such as Finance, Risk Management, HR, Accounting, Compliance, including Independent Administrators.
Project Management
Managing the project (coordinate the project with you and all PwC teams): establishing timeline with milestones, organising meetings, etc.
* Mandatory item to be included in the application file
Timeline
- Applicants who wish to incorporate a Luxembourg PSF office have to obtain prior authorisation from the Luxembourg authorities and have to follow the licence application procedure described hereafter.
- The authorisation procedure is described in the amended Law of 5 April 1993.
- Before taking a formal decision to set up a PSF operation in Luxembourg, it is advisable that senior representatives of the applicant have an introductory meeting with the CSSF in order to give a general overview of the project to the authorities.
- The CSSF will examine the application file and may address additional queries to the applicant. The Ministry of Finance will seek advice from the CSSF before granting the PSF licence for an unlimited duration.
Contact us
Olivier Carré
Deputy Managing Partner, Technology & Transformation Leader, PwC Luxembourg
Tel: +352 49 48 48 4174
Isabelle Melcion-Richard
Advisory Managing Director, Regulatory & Compliance, PwC Luxembourg
Tel: +352 49 48 48 2469
