Open an Investment Fund in Czech Republic

Updated on Thursday 13th April 2023

Rate this article

based on 1 reviews.

One of the ways in which foreign investors can set up their business operations in Czech Republic is through an investment fund. The Czech legislation provides many options in this sense, with investment vehicles addressed to various types of investors. The Czech regulations referring to the investment funds set up here have incorporated most of the directives imposed by the European Union (EU), as the country is a member state of the Community. Our team of lawyers in Czech Republic can offer legal assistance for the registration of an investment fund, in accordance with the investment plans of the businessmen.

Investment fund legislation in Czech Republic

Those who want to start a business in Czech Republic through an investment fund should analyse the legislation applicable by the local authorities. According to the Act on Collective Investments, foreign investment companies are allowed to perform investment activities in Czech Republic as long as they are incorporated in one of the member states of the EU. Furthermore, they should provide information on their registered office and should be the owners of a license which allows them to carry their activities; our team of attorneys in Czech Republic can offer more details in this sense.

Types of investment funds in Czech Republic

Although the investment market in Czech Republic is not as developed compared to other European states, in 2014 there were registered more than 1,200 foreign investment funds. As a general rule, the applicable legislation distinguishes between open-ended funds and closed-ended funds, a characteristic which refer to the limitations imposed to for the issuance of shares.

Investors can set up an investment vehicle registered under one of the following legal entities:

• mutual funds;

• trust funds;

• joint stock companies;

• investment company with variable capital;

• limited partnership;

• limited liability company;

• European company.

Requirements for the registration of a Czech investment fund

In order to set up a company registered as an investment fund, the investors will have to provide a minimum capital of EUR 1,25 million. The investment funds have to be approved by the Czech National Bank (CNB), which is the main regulatory body established for this type of vehicles, but only in certain conditions. Still, the managers of the fund, regardless of its type, have to receive an approval from the above mentioned institution and our attorneys in Czech Republic can offer more details on the application requirements.

Information referring to the statute of an investment fund in Czech Republic can be found in the Decree of 24th of July 2013, issued by the CNB, which stipulates what types of information should be provided on the investment fund and on its managers, as well as on the investment strategies carried out under the respective vehicle.

Taxation of an investment fund in Czech Republic

The taxation level of an investment fund set up in Czech Republic differs from the taxation system applicable to commercial companies. Thus, an investment fund which is listed on a stock market situated in the EU, will be taxed in Czech Republic for its income with a rate of 5%. Furthermore, pension funds are fully exempted from paying the tax on income.

The investment climate in Czech Republic started to develop after the '90s, becoming one of the most preferred business destinations in its region. Some of the key aspects which led to increased foreign direct investments (FDI) in Czech Republic refer to its quality infrastructure, the skilled workforce and business competitiveness. Foreign businessmen can register here an investment fund or an investment company, which can be set up as an investment company with variable capital (SICAV) and our team of Czech lawyers can provide more details on its legislation.

SICAV in Czech Republic

The SICAV can be registered in Czech Republic following the regulations of a new act that was signed by the local authorities in 2013. The Act of Investment Companies and Investment Funds became applicable from the beginning of January 2014 and it provides the legal framework under which SICAV structures can be registered here. Businessmen can find out in-depth information on the law from our team of attorneys in Czech Republic.

A SICAV in Czech Republic has the same structure applicable to joint-stock companies, and investors should know that the act included in its provisions the basic advantages the shareholders have under a joint-stock structure.

Types of shares in a Czech SICAV

When incorporating a company in Czech Republic, the investors will have to draw the articles of association, in which they will provide details on the shareholders, the right to issue and sell shares, the directors of the company and many others. In a SICAV structure, the shareholders can issue two types of shares:

• founder shares – the subscribers to this type of shares are the founders of the company;

• investment shares – available for the investors.

In a SICAV structure, the company’s share capital will need to be registered at the Czech commercial register. Also, investors can establish sub-funds (also referred to as umbrella - funds), which will provide to the managers the opportunity to run several different investment policies at the same time.

It is important to know that the sub-funds of a fund in Czech Republic are not to be registered with the Commercial Register.

Investors interested in receiving more details referring to the registration of an investment fund in this country can address to our Czech law firm.