Related provisions for COBS 20.2.1B
41 - 60 of 118 items.
The EEA territorial scope rule modifies the default territorial scope of the section on personal account dealing (see COBS 11.7 and COBS 11.7A6) to the extent necessary to be compatible with European law (see paragraph 1.1G5 of Part 3 of COBS 1 Annex 1). This means that the section on personal account dealing also applies to passported activities carried on by a UK MiFID investment firm or a UK UCITS management company5 from a branch in another EEA state, but does not apply to
3The section on best execution (COBS 11.2A6) does not apply to a firm when:(1) executing orders: or(2) placing orders with other entities for execution: or(3) transmitting orders to other entities for execution;in relation to a spread-bet which is not a financial instrument, where the firm has not made a personal recommendation in relation to that spread-bet.
Each of the following is a per se professional client unless and to the extent it is an eligible counterparty or is given a different categorisation under this chapter:(1) an entity required to be authorised or regulated to operate in the financial markets. The following list includes all authorised entities carrying out the characteristic activities of the entities mentioned, whether authorised by an EEA State or a third country and whether or not authorised by reference to a
A firm may treat a client other than a local public authority or municipality3 as an elective professional client if it complies with (1) and (3) and, where applicable, (2):(1) the firm undertakes an adequate assessment of the expertise, experience and knowledge of the client that gives reasonable assurance, in light of the nature of the transactions or services envisaged, that the client is capable of making his own investment decisions and understanding the risks involved (the
Before deciding to accept a request for re-categorisation as an elective professional client a firm must take all reasonable steps to ensure that the client requesting to be treated as an elective professional client satisfies the qualitative test and, where applicable, the relevant3 quantitative test. [Note: second paragraph of section II.2 of annex II to MiFID]
(1) If a firm becomes aware that a client no longer fulfils the initial conditions that made it eligible for categorisation as an elective professional client, the firm must take the appropriate action.(2) Where the appropriate action involves re-categorising that client as a retail client, the firm must notify that client of its new categorisation. [Note: fourth paragraph of section II.2 of annex II to MiFID3]
1An insurer must not contract to provide benefits under linked long-term contracts of insurance that are determined wholly or partly, directly or indirectly, by reference to fluctuations in any index or wholly or partly by reference to the value of, or the income from, or fluctuations in the value of, property other than in accordance with the rules in this section.
To comply with the requirements of COBS 21.2.4A R, a firm should:(1) disclose to policyholders the implications of any credit-risk exposure they may face in relation to the solvency of the reinsurer; and(2) suitably monitor the way the reinsurer manages the business in order to discharge its continuing responsibilities to policyholders.
A key features document must:(1) include enough information about the nature and complexity of the product, how it works, any limitations or minimum standards that apply and the material benefits and risks of buying or investing for a retail client to be able to make an informed decision about whether to proceed; 7(2) explain:(a) the arrangements for handling complaints about the product;(b) that compensation might be available from the FSCS if the firm cannot meet its liabilities
TableA key features document for a non-PRIIP packaged product8 must:(1)Include the title: ‘key features of the [name of product]’;(2)describe the product in the order of the following headings, and by giving the following information under those headings:HeadingInformation to be given‘Its aims’A brief description of the product’s aims‘Your commitment’ or ‘Your investment’What a retail client is committing to or investing in and any consequences of failing to maintain the commitment
A firm must:(1) on request, provide its PPFM, or the PPFM applicable to specified with-profits funds:(a) free of charge to its with-profits policyholders; or(b) for a reasonable charge to any person who is not its with-profits policyholder; and(2) if the firm publishes its PPFM on its website, prominently signpost its location there.
In relation to any with-profits policyholder where the state of the commitment is2 the United Kingdom, an EEA insurer must:2(1) provide the information necessary to enable that policyholder properly to understand the insurer's commitment under the policy;2(2) ensure that the information provided is not narrower in scope or less detailed in content than the information required to be provided in the PPFM produced by a firm subject to COBS 20.3;2 and2(3) send the policyholder who
A firm must produce an annual report to its with-profits policyholders, which must:(1) state whether, throughout the financial year to which the report relates, the firm believes it has complied with its obligations relating to its PPFM and setting out its reasons for that belief;(2) address all significant relevant issues, including the way in which the firm has:(a) exercised, or failed to exercise, any discretion that it has in the conduct of its with-profits business; and(b)
The following documents should be annexed to the annual report in this section:(1) the report to with-profits policyholders made by a with-profits actuary in respect of each financial year (see SUP 4.3.16AR(4)); and(2) any statement or report provided by the person or committee who provides the independent judgement under the firm's governance arrangements for its with-profits business.
(1) A firm must take reasonable steps to ensure that a personal recommendation, or a decision to trade, is suitable for its client.(2) When making the personal recommendation or managing his investments, the firm must obtain the necessary information regarding the client's:(a) knowledge and experience in the investment field relevant to the specific type of designated investment or service;(b) financial situation; and(c) investment objectives;so as to enable the firm to make the
(1) A firm must obtain from the client such information as is necessary for the firm to understand the essential facts about him and have a reasonable basis for believing, giving due consideration to the nature and extent of the service provided, that the specific transaction to be recommended, or entered into in the course of managing:(a) meets his investment objectives;(b) is such that he is able financially to bear any related investment risks consistent with his investment
The information regarding a client’s knowledge and experience in the investment field includes, to the extent appropriate to the nature of the client, the nature and extent of the service to be provided and the type of product or transaction envisaged, including their complexity and the risks involved, information on:(1) the types of service, transaction and designated investment with which the client is familiar;(2) the nature, volume, frequency of the client’s transactions in
Although a firm may not be permitted to make a personal recommendation or take a decision to trade because it does not have the necessary information, its client may still ask the firm to provide another service such as, for example, to arrange a deal or to deal as agent for the client. If this happens, the firm should ensure that it receives written confirmation of the instructions. The firm should also bear in mind the client's best interests rule and any obligation it may have
(1) When recommending a small friendly societylife policy, a firm, for the purpose of assessing suitability, need only obtain details of the net income and expenditure of the client and his dependants.(2) A friendly societylife policy is small if the premium:(a) does not exceed £50 a year; or(b) if payable weekly, £1 a week.(3) The firm must keep for five years a record of the reasons why the recommendation is considered suitable.
(1) 3A firm must not communicate or approve an invitation or inducement to participate in, acquire, or underwrite a non-mainstream pooled investment where that invitation or inducement is addressed to or disseminated in such a way that it is likely to be received by a retail client. (2) The restriction in (1) is subject to COBS 4.12.4 R and does not apply to units in unregulated collective investment schemes, which are subject to a statutory restriction on promotion in section
(1) 3The restriction in COBS 4.12.3 R does not apply if the promotion falls within an exemption in the table in (5) below. (2) A firm may communicate an invitation or inducement to participate in an unregulated collective investment scheme without breaching the restriction on promotion in section 238 of the Act if the promotion falls within an exemption in the table in (5) below.(3) Where the middle column in the table in (5) refers to promotion to a category of person, this means
(1) 3Where a firm communicates any promotion of a non-mainstream pooled investment in the context of advice, it should have regard to and comply with its obligations under COBS 9 or 9A (as applicable)10. Firms should also be mindful of the appropriateness requirements in COBS 10 and 10A10 which apply to a wide range of non-advised services.(2) (a) A firm which wishes to rely on exemptions 2 (certified high net worth investors), 9 (self-certified sophisticated investors) or 12
3A certified high net worth investor is an individual who has signed, within the period of twelve months ending with the day on which the communication is made, a statement in the following terms:“HIGH NET WORTH INVESTOR STATEMENTI make this statement so that I can receive promotional communications which are exempt from the restriction on promotion of non-mainstream pooled investments. The exemption relates to certified high net worth investors and I declare that I qualify as
A certified sophisticated investor is an individual:(1) who has a written certificate signed within the last 36 months by a firm confirming he has been assessed by that firm as sufficiently knowledgeable to understand the risks associated with engaging in investment activity in non-mainstream pooled investments; and(2) who has signed, within the period of twelve months ending with the day on which the communication is made, a statement in the following terms:“SOPHISTICATED INVESTOR
3A self-certified sophisticated investor is an individual who has signed, within the period of twelve months ending with the day on which the communication is made, a statement in the following terms:“SELF-CERTIFIED SOPHISTICATED INVESTOR STATEMENTI declare that I am a self-certified sophisticated investor for the purposes of the restriction on promotion of non-mainstream pooled investments. I understand that this means:(i) I can receive promotional communications made by a person
(1) 3A firm which wishes to rely on any of the certified high net worth investor exemptions (see Part I of the Schedule to the Promotion of Collective Investment Schemes Order, Part I of Schedule 5 to the Financial Promotions Order and COBS 4.12.6 R) should have regard to its duties under the Principles and the client's best interests rule. In particular, the firm should take reasonable steps to ascertain that the retail client does, in fact, meet the income and net assets criteria
(1) 3A firm which is asked to or proposes to assess and certify a retail client as a certified sophisticated investor (see article 23 of the Promotion of Collective Investment Schemes Order, article 50 of the Financial Promotions Order and COBS 4.12.7 R) should have regard to its duties under the Principles and the client's best interests rule. In particular, the firm should carry out that assessment with due skill, care and diligence, having regard to the generally complex nature
(1) 3A firm which wishes to rely on any of the self-certified sophisticated investor exemptions (see Part II of the Schedule to the Promotion of Collective Investment Schemes Order, Part II of Schedule 5 to the Financial Promotions Order and COBS 4.12.8 R) should have regard to its duties under the Principles and the client's best interests rule. In particular, the firm should consider whether the promotion of the non-mainstream pooled investment is in the interests of the client
(1) 3A firm which wishes to rely on one of the one-off promotion exemptions provided by the Promotion of Collective Investment Schemes or the Financial Promotion Order to promote a non-mainstream pooled investment to a retail client should have regard to its duties under the Principles and the client's best interests rule. In particular, the firm should consider whether the promotion of the non-mainstream pooled investment is in the interests of the client and whether it is fair
(1) 3A firm which wishes to rely on the excluded communications exemption in COBS 4.12.4R (5) to promote units in a qualified investor scheme to a retail client should have regard to its duties under the Principles and the client's best interests rule. (2) As explained in COLL 8.1, qualified investor schemes are intended only for professional clients and retail clients who are sophisticated investors. Firms should note that, in the FCA's view, promotion of units in a qualified
When a firm is carrying on Lloyd's market activities, any reference in COBS to the term:(1) designated investment is to be taken to include the following specified investments:(a) the underwriting capacity of a Lloyd's syndicate;(b) membership of a Lloyd's syndicate; and (c) rights to or interests in the specified investments in (a) or (b);(2) designated investment business is to be taken to include the following regulated activities:(a) advising on syndicate participation at
1A firm that agrees to facilitate3 the payment of an adviser charge or consultancy charge, or an increase in such a charge, from a new or3 in-force packaged product, must prepare sufficient information for the retail client to be able to understand the likely effect of that facilitation, in good time before it takes effect2.2
The provisions of COBS in the table do not apply in relation to any energy market activity or oil market activity carried on by a firm which is MiFID or equivalent third country business: COBSDescription36.1AAdviser charging and remuneration36.1BRetail investment product provider requirements relating to adviser charging and remunerationCOBS 6.2B53Describing advice services446.4Disclosure of charges, remuneration and commission9.4Suitability reports9.6Special rules for providing
The provisions of COBS in the table are unlikely to be relevant to any energy market activity or oil market activity carried on by a firm which is MiFID or equivalent third country business:COBSDescription5Distance communications7Insurance mediation13Preparing product information14.2Providing product information to clients15Cancellation17Claims handling for long-term care insurance18.1Trustee firms' regime18.3Corporate finance business18.4Stock lending activity19Pensions - supplementary
1The duty to provide best execution does not apply where:(1) the firm has agreed with a professional client that it does not owe a duty of best execution to him; or(2) the firm relies on another person to whom it passes a customer order for execution to provide best execution, but only if it has taken reasonable care to ensure that he will do so.
1To provide best execution, a firm must:(1) take reasonable care to ascertain the price which is the best available for the customer order in the relevant market at the time for transactions of the kind and size concerned; and (2) execute the customer order at a price which is no less advantageous to the customer, unless the firm has taken reasonable steps to ensure that it would be in the customer's best interests not to do so.
(1) 1In order to take reasonable care to ascertain the price which is the best available, a firm:(a) should disregard any charges and commission made by it or its agents that are disclosed to the customer under COBS 6.1.9 R (Information about costs and associated charges);(b) need not have access to competing exchanges, or to all, or a minimum number of, available price sources; but if a firm can access prices displayed by different exchanges and trading platforms and make a direct
(1) 1The requirements in this section apply to a firm when dealing in or arranging a deal in a mutual society share with or for a retail client in the EEA where the retail client is to enter into the deal as buyer.(2) The requirements in this section do not apply if:(a) the firm has taken reasonable steps to ensure that one (or more) of the exemptions in COBS 22.2.4R applies; or(b) the deal relates to the trading of a mutual society share in the secondary market.(3) In this section,
1The firm must give the retail client the following risk warning on paper or another durable medium and obtain confirmation in writing from the retail client that he has read it, in good time before the retail client has committed to buy the mutual society share:“The investment to which this communication relates is a share. Direct investment in shares can be high risk and is very different to investment in deposit accounts or other savings products. In particular, you should
(1) 1The requirements in (2) and (3) must be met if:(a) the firm is not providing an investment service in the course of MiFID or equivalent third country business; and(b) the retail client is not otherwise receiving a personal recommendation4 on the mutual society share from the firm or another person.(2) The firm must give the retail client the following statement on paper or another durable medium and obtain confirmation in writing from the retail client that he or she2 has
1Each of the exemptions listed below applies only if the retail client is of the type described for the exemption and provided any additional conditions for the exemption are met.TitleType of retail clientAdditional conditionsCertified high net worth investor(a) An individual who meets the requirements set out in COBS 4.12.6R; or(b) an individual in an EEA State other than the UK who meets requirements which are broadly equivalent to those set out in COBS 4.12.6R; or(c) a person
(1) 1For the purposes of any assessments or certifications required by the exemptions in COBS 22.2.4R, any references in COBS 4.12 provisions to non-mainstream pooled investments must be read as though they are references to mutual society shares.(2) If the firm is relying on the exemptions for certified high net worth investors, certified sophisticated investors or self-certified sophisticated investors to comply with this section, the statement the investor must sign should
1A firm which carries on an activity which is subject to this section must comply with the following record-keeping requirements:(1) the person allocated the compliance oversight function in the firm must make a record at or near the time of the activity certifying it complies with the requirements set out in this section;(2) the making of the record required in (1) may be delegated to one or more employees of the firm who report to and are supervised by the person allocated the
(1) If a firm has carried out an order in the course of its designated investment business on behalf of a client, it must:(a) promptly provide the client, in a durable medium, with the essential information concerning the execution of the order;(b) in the case of a retail client, send the client a notice in a durable medium confirming the execution of the order and such of the trade confirmation information (COBS 16 Annex 1R) 2as is applicable: (i) as soon as possible and no later
For the purposes of calculating the unit price in the trade confirmation information, where the order is executed in tranches, the firm may supply the client with information about the price of each tranche or the average price. If the average price is provided, the firm must supply the retail client with information about the price of each tranche upon request.6
1In determining what is essential information, a firm should consider including:(1) for transactions in a derivative:(a) the maturity, delivery or expiry date of the derivative;(b) in the case of an option, a reference to the last exercise date, whether it can be exercised before maturity and the strike price;(c) if the transaction closes out an open futures position, all essential details required in respect of each contract comprised in the open position and each contract by
Where a firm executes an order in tranches, the firm may, where appropriate, indicate the trading time and the execution venue in a way that is consistent with this, such as, "multiple". In accordance with the client's best interests rule, a firm should provide additional information at the client's request.
Each of the following is a per se eligible counterparty (including an entity that is not from an EEA State3 that is equivalent to any of the following) unless and to the extent it is given a different categorisation under this chapter:(1) an investment firm;(2) a credit institution;(3) an insurance company;(4) a collective investment scheme authorised under the UCITS Directive or its management company;(5) a pension fund or its management company;(6) another financial institution
A firm may treat a client as an elective eligible counterparty in relation to business other than MiFID or equivalent third country business5 if:(1) the client is an undertaking and:(a) is a per se professional client (except for a client that is only a per se professional client because it is an institutional investor under COBS 3.5.2 R (5)) and5: 1(i) is a body corporate (including a limited liability partnership) which has (or any of whose holding companies or subsidiaries
In the case of MiFID or equivalent third country business, in the event of a transaction where the prospective counterparties are located in different EEA States, the firm shall defer to the status of the other undertaking as determined by the law or measures of the EEA State in which that undertaking is established. [Note: first paragraph of article 30(3)5 of MiFID]
(1) A firm that holds clientdesignated investments or client money for a client must send that client at least once a year a statement in a durable medium of those designated investments or that client money unless:4(a) 4such a statement has been provided in a periodic statement; or(b) 4the firm: (i) 4provides the client with access to an online system, which qualifies as a durable medium, where up-to-date statements of a client’sdesignated investments or client money can be easily
A firm must include the following information4 in a statement of client assets referred to under this section4: (1) details of all the designated investments or client money held by the firm for the client at the end of the period covered by the statement;(2) the extent to which any clientdesignated investments or client money have been the subject of securities financing transactions; and(3) the extent of any benefit that has accrued to the client by virtue of participation in
In cases where the portfolio of a client includes the proceeds of one or more unsettled transactions, the information in a statement provided under this section may be based either on the trade date or the settlement date, provided that the same basis is applied consistently to all such information in the statement.4
1In reporting to a client in accordance with this section, a firm should consider whether to provide details of any assets loaned or charged including:(1) which investments (if any) were at the end of the relevant period loaned to any third party and which investments (if any) were at that date charged to secure borrowings made on behalf of the portfolio; and(2) the aggregate of any interest payments made and income received during the period in respect of loans or borrowings
The provisions of COBS in the table do not apply to a trustee firm to which this section applies:COBSDescription26.1AAdviser charging and remuneration26.1BRetail investment product provider requirements relating to adviser charging and remuneration424336.4Disclosure of charges, remuneration and commission449.6Special rules for providing basic advice on a stakeholder product16A.4.54Guidance on contingent liability transactions444444
The provisions of COBS in the table are unlikely to be relevant in relation to a trustee firm to which this section applies:COBSDescription5Distance communications13Preparing product information14.2Providing product information 15Cancellation17Claims handling for long-term care insurance18.2Energy market activity and oil market activity18.3Corporate finance business18.4Stock lending activity19Pensions - supplementary provisions20With-profits
To the extent a rule in COBS applies to a trustee firm, that rule:(1) applies in addition to any duties or powers imposed or conferred upon a trustee by the general law; and(2) does not qualify or restrict the duties or powers that the general law imposes or confers upon a trustee; trustee firms will be under a duty to observe the provisions of their trust instrument; if its provisions conflict with any applicable rule, trustee firms will need to take advice in resolving the
Where an applicable rule in COBS requires the doing of any thing in relation to a client, the trustee firm should consider who, in the context of that rule and having regard to the particular trust arrangement, is the most appropriate person to treat as its client. This might, for example, be the beneficiary, another trustee or the trust, depending on the particular circumstances.
(1) This rule applies in relation to a distance contract that is not a life policy, personal pension scheme, cash deposit ISA, cash-only lifetime ISA3 or CTF.(2) When the consumer exercises their3 right to cancel they3 may be required to pay, without any undue delay, for the service actually provided by the firm in accordance with the contract. The performance of the contract may only begin after the consumer has given their3 approval. The amount payable must not:(a) exceed an
(1) The firm may require the consumer to pay for any loss under a contract caused by market movements that the firm would reasonably incur in cancelling it. The period for calculating the loss shall end on the day on which the firm receives the notification of cancellation.(2) This rule:(a) does not apply for a distance contract or for a contract established on a regular or recurring premium or payment basis; and(b) only applies if the firm has complied with its obligations to
The firm must, without any undue delay and no later than within 30 calendar days, return to the consumer any sums it has received from him in accordance with the contract2, except for any amount that the consumer may be required to pay under this section. This period shall begin from the day on which the firm receives the notification of cancellation.2 [Note: article 7(4) of the Distance Marketing Directive]
The firm is entitled to receive from the consumer any sums and/or property he has received from the firm without any undue delay and no later than within 30 calendar days. This period shall begin from the day on which the consumer dispatches the notification of cancellation. [Note: article 7(5) of the Distance Marketing Directive]
Unless a client expressly instructs otherwise, a firm must, in the case of a clientlimit order in respect of shares admitted to trading on a regulated market or traded on a trading venue2 which is not immediately executed under prevailing market conditions, take measures to facilitate the earliest possible execution of that order by making public immediately that clientlimit order in a manner which is easily accessible to other market participants. [Note: article 28(2)2 of Mi
(1) Subject to (3) and (4), a firm must ensure that a direct offer financial promotion that is addressed to, or disseminated in such a way that it is likely to be received by, a retail client contains:(a) 11the information referred to in the rules on information disclosure (COBS 6.1.4 R, COBS 6.1.6 R, COBS 6.1.7 R, COBS 6.1.9 R, COBS 14.3.2 R, COBS 14.3.3 R, COBS 14.3.4 R and COBS 14.3.5 R) as is relevant to that offer or invitation; and11(b) 11additional appropriate information
In order to enable a client to make an informed assessment of a relevant investment or relevant business, a firm may wish to include in a direct offer financial promotion:(1) a summary of the taxation of any investment to which it relates and the taxation consequences for the average member of the group to whom it is directed or by whom it is likely to be received;1(2) a statement that the recipient should seek a personal recommendation if he has any doubt about the suitability
4COBS 4.13.2 R (Marketing communications relating to UCITS schemes or EEA UCITS schemes) and COBS 4.13.3 R (Marketing communications relating to feeder UCITS) contain additional disclosure requirements for firms in relation to marketing communications (other than key investor information) that concern particular investment strategies of a UCITS scheme or EEA UCITS scheme.
(1) 2A firm must not communicate or approve a direct offer financial promotion:(a) relating to a warrant or derivative;(b) to or for communication to a retail client; and(c) where the firm will not itself be required to comply with the rules on appropriateness (see COBS 10 and 10A11);unless the firm has adequate evidence that the condition in (2) is satisfied.(2) The condition is that the person who will arrange or deal in relation to the derivative or warrant will comply with
(1) 5Unless permitted by COBS 4.7.8 R, a firm must not communicate or approve a direct-offer financial promotion relating to a non-readily realisable security to or for communication to a retail client without the conditions in (2) and (3) being satisfied.(2) The first condition is that the retail client recipient of the direct-offer financial promotion is one of the following:(a) certified as a ‘high net worth investor’ in accordance with COBS 4.7.9 R;(b) certified as a ‘sophisticated
5A firm may communicate or approve a direct-offer financial promotion relating to a non-readily realisable security to or for communication to a retail client if:(1) the firm itself will comply with the suitability rules (COBS 9 and 9A11) in relation to the investment promoted; or(2) the retail client has confirmed before the promotion is made that they are a retail client of another firm that will comply with the suitability rules (COBS 9 and 9A11) in relation to the investment
5A certified high net worth investor, a certified sophisticated investor or a self-certified sophisticated investor is an individual who has signed, within the period of twelve months ending with the day on which the communication is made, a statement in the terms set out in the applicable rule listed below, substituting “non-readily realisable securities” for “non-mainstream pooled investments”:(1) certified high net worth investor: COBS 4.12.6 R;(2) certified sophisticated investor:
5A certified restricted investor is an individual who has signed, within the period of twelve months ending with the day on which the communication is made, a statement in the following terms:“RESTRICTED INVESTOR STATEMENTI make this statement so that I can receive promotional communications relating to non-readily realisable securities as a restricted investor. I declare that I qualify as a restricted investor because:(a)in the twelve months preceding the date below, I have not
