The members of the Board of Directors of the guarantee fund, as well as any person who, by virtue of their duties, has access to documents and information held by the guarantee fund, are bound by professional secrecy under the conditions and subject to the penalties set out inarticle 226-13 of the French penal code. This secrecy may not be invoked against the judicial authorities acting in criminal proceedings, the civil courts ruling on an appeal against a decision of the guarantee fund, or the Autorité de contrôle prudentiel et de résolution.