COBS 18.11 1Authorised professional firms

1 COBS applies to an authorised professional firm, except that its application in relation to non-mainstream regulated activities and financial promotion is modified as set out below.

COBS does not apply to an authorised professional firm with respect to its non-mainstream regulated activities, except that:

1. (1)

   the fair, clear and not misleading rule applies;

2. (2)

   the financial promotion rules apply as modified below;

3. (3)

   COBS 7 (Insurance mediation) applies but only if the designated professional body of the firm does not have rules approved by the FCA under section 332(5) of the Act that implement articles 12 and 13 of the Insurance Mediation Directive and that apply to the firm;

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4. (4)

   COBS 8.1.3 R (Client agreements) applies, except for the requirement to provide information on conflicts of interest; and1

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5. (5)

   COBS 5.2 (E-commerce) applies.1

The financial promotion rules do not apply to an authorised professional firm in relation to the communication of a financial promotion if:

1. (1)

   the firm's main business is the practice of its profession (see IPRU(INV) 2.1.2R(3));

2. (2)

   the financial promotion is made for the purposes of and incidental to the promotion or provision by the firm of its professional services or its non-mainstream regulated activities; and

3. (3)

   the financial promotion is not communicated on behalf of another person who would not be able lawfully to communicate the financial promotion if he were acting in the course of business;

however, a firm may use the exemptions for promoting unregulated collective investment schemes in COBS 4 (Communicating with clients, including financial promotions) if it wishes.