DTR 8.4 Continuing obligations

Arrangements with media operators

DTR 8.4.1RRP

A primary information provider must establish and maintain adequate arrangements with media operators in the United Kingdom 3for the dissemination of regulated information.

DTR 8.4.2GRP

The purpose of DTR 8.4.1 R is to ensure that a primary information provider can disseminate regulated information to as wide a public as possible, as close to simultaneously as possible, in the United Kingdom 3. In considering whether a primary information provider has satisfied the requirements in DTR 8.4.1 R, the FCA will consider the number and nature of arrangements that the primary information provider has with media operators.

Handling regulated information: timing and prioritisation

DTR 8.4.3RRP

Unless the regulated information is embargoed by the person who submitted it or by the FCA, a primary information provider must disseminate all regulated information that it receives as soon as possible.

DTR 8.4.4GRP

In assessing compliance with DTR 8.4.3 R, the FCA will have regard to whether the primary information provider has disseminated at least 95% of all regulated information which did not require reformatting within 5 minutes of receipt.

DTR 8.4.5RRP

A primary information provider must prioritise the order of dissemination of pending regulated information according to the headline information, except that a primary information provider must prioritise the dissemination of regulated information that is submitted by the FCA if the FCA requests it.

Handling regulated information: fees

DTR 8.4.6RRP

A primary information provider must set out clearly:

  1. (1)

    the services it provides in relation to the dissemination of regulated information; and

  2. (2)

    the fees it charges for the provision of those services.

DTR 8.4.7RRP

A primary information provider must not charge a regulatory body listed in DTR 8 Annex 1 for the dissemination of regulated information.

Handling regulated information: operational hours and support

DTR 8.4.8RRP

A primary information provider must:

  1. (1)

    disseminate regulated information at least between the hours of 7:00 am and 6:30 pm on any business day;

  2. (2)

    be able to receive regulated information at all times;

  3. (3)

    provide service support at least between the hours of 7.00 am and 6.30 pm on any business day to:

    1. (a)

      any person who has requested the dissemination of regulated information; and

    2. (b)

      any media operator with whom the primary information provider has an arrangement for the dissemination of regulated information; and

  4. (4)

    have staff available to assist the FCA exercise its functions in relation to the dissemination of regulated information by the primary information provider at least between the hours of 7.00 am and 6.30 pm on any business day.

Handling regulated information: business continuity

DTR 8.4.9RRP

A primary information provider must ensure that if circumstances arise which prevent it from disseminating and continuously receiving regulated information, it has adequate arrangements in place to ensure that it can continue to satisfy its obligations as a primary information provider with minimal disruption.

DTR 8.4.10GRP

In considering whether a primary information provider satisfies the requirements of DTR 8.4.9 R, the FCA will consider, among other things, whether the primary information provider has arrangements in place for an alternative primary information provider to receive and disseminate regulated information on its behalf.

Handling regulated information: security

DTR 8.4.11RRP

A primary information provider must:

  1. (1)

    ensure that regulated information is handled securely; and

  2. (2)

    provide persons wishing to disseminate regulated information with a secure means of communicating regulated information to the primary information provider.

DTR 8.4.12RRP

A primary information provider must have arrangements in place to prevent the misuse of regulated information by any of its staff.

Handling regulated information: amendments

DTR 8.4.13RRP

A primary information provider must not make substantive changes to the regulated information it receives, unless requested by the issuer or other organisation who submitted the regulated information for dissemination.

DTR 8.4.14GRP

In determining whether a primary information provider has satisfied the requirement in DTR 8.4.13 R, the FCA will consider whether the changes made by the primary information provider would be likely to affect the import of the regulated information.

Handling regulated information: record keeping

DTR 8.4.15RRP

A primary information provider must record the following information for each announcement of regulated information it disseminates:

  1. (1)

    the name of any person who communicates regulated information on behalf of an issuer or other organisation to the primary information provider;

  2. (2)

    the name of the issuer or organisation on whose behalf the regulated information is communicated;

  3. (3)

    the security validation details of the issuer or organisation;

  4. (4)

    the date and time the regulated information is received by the primary information provider;

  5. (5)

    details of the form in which the regulated information is received by the primary information provider;

  6. (6)

    if applicable, details of any embargo placed by the issuer, organisation or the FCA on the regulated information;

  7. (7)

    details of all persons who are authorised by the primary information provider to have access to the regulated information;

  8. (8)

    if applicable, details of, and reasons for, any substantive change made to the regulated information in accordance with DTR 8.4.13 R; and

  9. (9)

    the date and time the primary information provider disseminates the regulated information to the media operator.

DTR 8.4.16RRP

A primary information provider must retain the records required under DTR 8.4.15 R for 3 years.

DTR 8.4.17RRP

Records must be capable of timely retrieval.

DTR 8.4.18RRP

A primary information provider that has had its approval cancelled must continue to comply with its record keeping obligations in DTR 8.4.16 R to DTR 8.4.17 R.

Receiving regulated information: validation of submissions

DTR 8.4.19RRP

A primary information provider must ensure that there is certainty about the:

  1. (1)

    identity of any person who submits regulated information on behalf of an issuer or organisation to the primary information provider;

  2. (2)

    authority of the person to submit the regulated information on behalf of the issuer or organisation; and

  3. (3)

    identity of the issuer or organisation on whose behalf the regulated information is submitted.

DTR 8.4.20RRP

A primary information provider must ensure that there is no significant risk of corruption of regulated information during its submission, handling and dissemination.

Disseminating regulated information: scope

DTR 8.4.21RRP

A primary information provider must disseminate regulated information that has been submitted by:

  1. (1)

    an issuer; or

  2. (2)

    any person acting as agent for an issuer; or

  3. (3)

    any regulatory body listed in DTR 8 Annex 1; or

  4. (4)

    any other person required to submit regulated information.

Disseminating regulated information: format

DTR 8.4.22RRP

A primary information provider must disseminate regulated information to any media operator with whom it has an arrangement in place for the dissemination of regulated information in:

  1. (1)

    unedited full text as submitted to the primary information provider; and

  2. (2)

    an industry standard format.

DTR 8.4.23RRP

Regulated information disseminated to a media operator by a primary information provider must contain the following:

  1. (1)

    identification of the information as regulated information which has been disseminated by a primary information provider;

  2. (2)

    the unique identification number for the item of regulated information;

  3. (3)

    the sequence number of the regulated information;

  4. (4)

    a clear indication of the start of the regulated information;

  5. (5)

    the name of the issuer or organisation concerned;

  6. (6)

    [deleted]4

  7. (7)

    the headline information relevant to the regulated information;

  8. (8)

    a headline capturing the subject matter of the regulated information;

  9. (9)

    the time and date the regulated information was submitted to the primary information provider;

  10. (10)

    the time and date the regulated information was disseminated by the primary information provider; and

  11. (11)

    a clear indication of the end of the regulated information.

Disseminating regulated information: use of headline information

DTR 8.4.24RRP

A primary information provider must add the appropriate headline information to regulated information it disseminates.

DTR 8.4.25RRP

DTR 8.4.24 R does not apply when a primary information provider disseminates information it has received from a recognised investment exchange.

Disseminating regulated information: dissemination to media operators

DTR 8.4.26RRP

A primary information provider must ensure that all regulated information it receives is disseminated successfully to all media operators with whom it has arrangements for the dissemination of regulated information.

DTR 8.4.27RRP

If a primary information provider becomes aware that the dissemination of regulated information has failed, it must remedy the failure as soon as possible.

Disseminating regulated information: embargo of regulated information

DTR 8.4.28RRP

If requested by the person who has submitted the regulated information for dissemination, a primary information provider must place an embargo on the regulated information for release at the date and time specified by the person who submitted the regulated information.

DTR 8.4.29RRP

If requested by the FCA, a primary information provider must:

  1. (1)

    place an embargo on regulated information; or

  2. (2)

    cancel any embargo placed on regulated information by the person that has submitted the regulated information and disseminate the regulated information; or

  3. (3)

    cancel any embargo placed on regulated information by the FCA and disseminate the regulated information.

Disseminating regulated information: provision to the FCA

DTR 8.4.30RRP

A primary information provider must supply free of charge all regulated information that it disseminates, exclusive of all other information, to the FCA or an agent appointed by the FCA to act on its behalf.

Systems and controls

DTR 8.4.31RRP

A primary information provider must have effective systems and controls in place to ensure that it can comply with its continuing obligations in DTR 8.4.1 R to DTR 8.4.30 R.

DTR 8.4.32GRP

In considering whether a primary information provider satisfies the requirements of DTR 8.4.31 R, the FCA will consider, among other things, whether the primary information provider has in place appropriate measures to identify new and emerging risks which would be likely to prevent its compliance with DTR 8.4.11 R, DTR 8.4.19 R or DTR 8.4.20 R.

Relations with the FCA

DTR 8.4.33RRP

A primary information provider must at all times:

  1. (1)

    deal with the FCA in an open and cooperative manner; and

  2. (2)

    deal with all enquiries raised by the FCA as soon as possible.

Changes in ownership or company structure

DTR 8.4.33AR

4A primary information provider must notify the FCA as soon as practicable of any intended changes to its ownership or control.

General notifications

DTR 8.4.34RRP

A primary information provider must notify the FCA immediately if:

  1. (1)

    there is any change to the names and contact details of staff who are available to assist the FCA exercise its functions in relation to the dissemination of regulated information by the primary information provider; or

  2. (2)

    any contractual arrangement between the primary information provider and a media operator regarding the dissemination of regulated information is terminated; or

  3. (3)

    any changes are proposed to the fees the primary information provider charges in relation to the dissemination of regulated information; or

  4. (4)

    it becomes aware of any matter which in its reasonable opinion would be likely to affect its ability to satisfy its obligations in DTR 8.4.

DTR 8.4.35RRP

If a primary information provider learns of a breach of its security it must:

  1. (1)

    notify the FCA immediately; and

  2. (2)

    provide the FCA as soon as possible with a report containing details of the security breach and the steps taken to rectify it.

DTR 8.4.36RRP

A primary information provider must notify the FCA and its clients as soon as possible if its ability to disseminate or continuously receive regulated information is disrupted.

DTR 8.4.37RRP

If a primary information provider has its approval cancelled it must immediately notify its clients, regulatory bodies and any media operator with whom it has an arrangement for the dissemination of regulated information that it is no longer approved as a primary information provider.

DTR 8.4.38RRP
  1. (1)

    Notifications must be made in writing.

  2. (2)

    Notifications to the FCA must be sent to the following address:

    1. Primary Market Specialist Supervision4

      Enforcement and Market Oversight Division1

      The Financial Conduct Authority

      12 Endeavour Square2

      London E20 1JN2

      Email: pmss@fca.org.uk4

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Annual fee

DTR 8.4.39RRP

A primary information provider must pay the annual fee set out in FEES 4 in order to remain on the list of primary information providers.