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Audit of stand-alone annual accounts
At Grant Thornton Luxembourg, our team of experts is specialised in audits of stand-alone annual accounts.
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Audit of consolidated annual accounts
Grant Thornton Luxembourg team of experts is specialised in providing audit services to a lot of multinational which have their administrative center located in Luxembourg for whom the consolidated annual accounts have to be audited.
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Agreed-Upon Procedures Engagements
In the case of agreed-upon procedures engagement, Grant Thornton Luxembourg performs procedures particularly requested by the client/bank and reports on the findings.
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GDPR-CARPA Certification
Grant Thornton Audit and Assurance is accredited by the Commission Nationale pour la Protection des Données (CNPD) to provide GDPR-CARPA certifications for organisations.
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Forensic Audit
Grant Thornton Luxembourg has the forensic and business skills to deal with the most complex situations. A multi-disciplinary team of dedicated accountants in consultation with lawyers, IT consultants, insurance experts, valuation specialists and actuaries may be engaged when necessary.
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Supervisory Auditor (Commissaire)
Grant Thornton Luxembourg has a dedicated team of experts committed to deliver services to reserved to Supervisory Auditor or "Commissaire aux Comptes".
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Liquidation Audit
Grant Thornton Luxembourg has a dedicated team of experts committed to deliver services to reserved to liquidation audit "Commissariat à la liquidation".
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Assurance Engagements
Grant Thornton Luxembourg have a dedicated team of experts committed to work on audit and assurance special engagements.
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IFRS Services
At Grant Thornton Luxembourg, our experts can help you navigate the complexity of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS).
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Valuation
Grant Thornton Luxembourg helps clients evaluate and implement various strategic alternatives through our comprehensive suite of corporate value consulting services. From opinions, board solutions and services, to valuation and modeling, we can assist you with value added services throughout the transaction lifecycle.
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Governance, Risk & Compliance
Grant Thornton Luxembourg offers comprehensive services in Governance, Risk & Compliance (GRC) tailored to meet the evolving needs of businesses in today's dynamic regulatory environment. Our commitment is to provide personalised guidance and global expertise, ensuring that your company establish robust internal controls and navigates governance challenges effectively.
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Structuring & Modeling
Grant Thornton Luxembourg offers workable solutions to maximise your value and deliver sustainable growth. Transactions or reorganisations are significant events in the life of a business, so the stakes are high for both buyers and sellers.
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Data Protection and Privacy
EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) - The real challenge consists of remaining compliant with GDPR and in being able to prove this compliance (accountability principle). Grant Thornton Luxembourg can help you with a tailored phase approach.
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Sustainability & ESG Services
At Grant Thornton, we recognise the need of our clients to operate responsibly and to meet the high standards posed by the sector they operate. We offer pragmatic, tailor-made solutions to our clients and we assist them to make the required transitions towards the implementation of sustainable business practices.
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Whistleblowing services
Since May 2023, the Whistleblower Law has become effective in Luxembourg. What does this mean for your business? Our experts can advise and help you to set-up internal reporting channels and to comply with the new law.
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Alternative Investment Services
Grant Thornton Luxembourg is a bespoke business partner to established Alternative Investment Fund (“AIF”) Managers (“AIFM”) as well as independent Managers launching start-up Funds and seeking for a single entry point in Luxembourg in order to set-up and manage their Luxembourg domiciled Funds.
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Fund Administration
Fund Administration - Grant Thornton Luxembourg offers a full range of tailored solutions to our clients.
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Registrar & Transfer Agency Services, Client Reporting
Grant Thornton Luxembourg provides investors with confirmations, final Contract Notes and regular statements upon finalisation of the Fund’s Net Asset Value, We handle all wire payments and transfers, including the processing of distribution dividend payments, and perform in-depth Anti-Money Laundering Counter Terrorism Financing and Know-Your Client due diligence checks on investors.
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Fund set-up, Launch & Corporate life
High-quality product structuring and legal services have become a crucial tool enabling industry players to get through the major changes impacting their business development, strategy and organisation as a whole. Our Investment Management practice at Grant Thornton Luxembourg is your one-stop place for expert advice combining pragmatism and a unique in-depth knowledge of the Luxembourg market.
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AML Compliance Services
Grant Thornton Luxembourg helps its Clients to keep compliant with AML-CTF laws and regulations and provide an expert skilled team.
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Regulatory Reporting Delivery
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Legal Support & Corporate Services
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Accounting & Reporting Services
Grant Thornton Luxembourg may explore the specific characteristics of your company in order to provide a personalised assistance in the fields of Accounting & Reporting services.
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Corporate Tax Compliance
Grant Thornton Luxembourg may explore the specific characteristics of your company in order to provide a personalised assistance in the fields of corporate tax compliance.
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Direct Corporate Tax Advice
Grant Thornton Luxembourg understand the complexity of national and international tax laws. We can unlock your potential for local and international growth.
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VAT and Other Indirect Tax Compliance
Handling the day-to-day VAT compliance obligations requires being close to your business. Our VAT compliance business line assists you to ensure that long term reporting processes are implemented and respected with the aim of safeguarding a proper and timely VAT filing. This is important for achieving a VAT compliant environment and mitigating local VAT risks.
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VAT and Other Indirect Tax Advice
Our VAT advisory business line is dedicated to keeping you up to date with amended VAT legislation and changes in the administrative practice in Luxembourg and worldwide with our Grant Thornton global VAT network. Specialists review and comment on new EU directives and the latest case law by the Court of Justice of the European Union in order to provide you with advice tailored to your specific needs.
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Transaction & Reorganisation
Reorganisations - Transaction Planning - Tax Structuring - M&A. Companies strive to improve their market position with take-overs, mergers and demergers. Strategy and financial tactics are important elements in this respect. Grant Thornton tax specialists may intervene in all stages of the transaction.
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Transfer Pricing
The laws surrounding transfer pricing are becoming ever more complex, as tax affairs of multinational companies are facing scrutiny from media, regulators and the public. Grant Thornton Luxembourg can help you manage your transfer pricing risks and find opportunities.
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Tax - Financial Services & Operational Tax
Our Tax - Financial Services team provides tax advisory services relevant for the Financial Services Industries and Operational Tax assistance. This includes tax advice, automatic exchange of information (FATCA, CRS, DAC 6, DAC 7 and DAC 8), advisory and compliance assistance regarding the US Qualified Intermediary (QI) regime, assistance regarding withholding tax reclaims, investor tax reporting and tax structuring in the context of Islamic finance.
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Personal Tax
Our experienced multilingual Personal Tax Team is keen to give you tailored solutions, optimise your situation and help you make decisions. We could assist you with: income tax returns, vat returns, tax assessments, contacts with the tax authorities and assistance by tax audit or tax litigation, tax matters advices, inheritance tax matters, international assignments and trainings.
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Cross-Border Tax
Tax policies are constantly evolving and there are a number of complex changes on the horizon that could significantly affect your business. We can help you with practical advice such as VAT and direct tax.
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Corporate Finance
Exploring the strategic options available to you as a business or shareholder, advising and project managing the chosen solution, Grant Thornton Luxembourg provide a truly integrated corporate finance offering. Merger & acquisition, buying a business, selling a business, transaction piloting,raising finance to support your business plans.Vendor due diligence, acquisition due diligence, reporting accountant work,operational due diligence, management assessment.
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Expatriate Tax
Although international employment has become a standard practice in business life, employers and their assignees are still faced with numerous questions in this area. Grant Thornton Luxembourg can help you to be one step ahead.
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Set-up, Restructuring & Business Planning
Grant Thornton Luxembourg is delighted to add value during the implementation of your businesses and to be given the opportunity to grow together with you. Relying on our professionals’ financial expertise will allow you to take dynamic but sustainable decisions.
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Corporate Secretarial Services
Grant Thornton Luxembourg provides corporate secretarial services to enable our clients to comply with their legal and administrative obligations in Luxembourg.
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Liquidation & Insolvency
Grant Thornton Luxembourg can draw on years of experience in the areas of liquidation and insolvency and then make sensible recommendations on how best to deal with your financial crisis.
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Human Resources Management & Payroll
Grant Thornton Luxembourg has been delivering since 1987 Payroll and Human Resources services to private and institutional clients. A team of highly qualified collaborators manages around 7 000 payslips per month and offers related consulting services.
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Information Security
Grant Thornton Luxembourg offers Information Security services with a strong security expertise to avoid data breaches. We also have dedicated resources for all your cybersecurity challenges.
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MySmartOffice
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The Surge in ESG Investments and the Greenwashing Challenge
ESG investments have seen significant growth as investors increasingly prioritise environmental and social considerations. Funds that emphasise sustainability attract considerable attention, allowing investors to align their financial objectives with their ethical values. However, this popularity has also led to a surge in funds that misuse ESG terminology, failing to incorporate true sustainability practices into their investment strategies—a practice known as greenwashing. Greenwashing deceives investors and damages the credibility of the entire ESG sector, making regulatory oversight essential.
ESG-related Terms
Funds utilizing ESG terminology in their names must demonstrate substantial alignment, with a minimum of 80% of their investments reflecting environmental or social characteristics outlined in their investment strategies.
Sustainability-related Terms
ESMA has opted to eliminate the 50% threshold for sustainable investments due to concerns about the subjective nature of the SFDR definition. The threshold was replaced with a requirement for substantial investment in sustainable assets for funds using sustainability-related terms in their names.
Impact and Transition-related Terms
ESMA proposed a provision for funds using "impact" or "transition" related terms in their names. For funds using "impact" terms, managers must ensure that investments below the minimum proportion aim to generate measurable social or environmental impact alongside financial returns. For those using "transition" terms, managers must demonstrate investments are on a clear and measurable path to social or environmental transition. This aims to establish a stronger connection between the fund's strategy and its name, ensuring a measurable dimension to the strategy. This provision aligns with a prior recommendation in the supervisory briefing emphasizing that "impact" terms should be used only by funds with investments intended to generate positive, measurable social and environmental impact alongside financial returns.
Minimum Safeguards
ESMA acknowledges that Paris-aligned Benchmarks (PAB) for fossil fuel exclusions could unfairly penalise funds not primarily environmental or focused on transition. Consequently, ESMA suggests using the exclusion criteria of the Climate Transition Benchmark (CTB) for transition-, social-, and governance-related terms instead. CTB exclusions encompass companies involved in activities related to controversial weapons, tobacco cultivation and production, and those found violating UNGC principles or OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises. Top of Form
Implementation and Compliance
The guidelines will take effect three months after their official translations are published. National competent authorities in the EU will have two months to notify ESMA of their compliance with these guidelines. Transitional provisions will allow existing funds to adjust to the new requirements, ensuring a smooth implementation process.
Market Impact
These guidelines are a significant step towards enhancing transparency and accountability in the ESG investment sector. By setting stricter standards for the use of ESG-related terms in fund names, ESMA aims to protect investors from misleading claims and promote genuinely sustainable investment practices. This move is expected to bolster investor confidence and support the development of a more credible and robust ESG market in Europe.
Conclusion
ESMA's new guidelines represent a move to combat greenwashing and ensure that fund names accurately reflect their investment strategies. In an era where sustainability is becoming increasingly important, these guidelines will play a crucial role in safeguarding investor interests and promoting transparency in the financial markets. By fostering a trustworthy and authentic ESG investment environment, ESMA is helping to pave the way for a sustainable future in the financial industry.
How can Grant Thornton Luxembourg help you?
Our team of experts in Sustainability and ESG can assist you to:
- Align your strategy and risk management following ESG considerations.
- Review current practices, identify gaps, and achieve compliance with Sustainable Finance regulatory requirements.
- Raise awareness of the management body and staff on ESG matters.
Contact
If you wish to understand how you could best implement ESG practices in your organisation, please contact Fani Xylouri.