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COCON 1.1 1Application

COCON 1.1.1 G RP

Under section 64A of the Act, the FCA may make rules about the conduct of approved persons and persons who are employees of relevant authorised persons.

To whom does it apply?

COCON 1.1.2 R RP
  1. (1)

    COCON applies to:

    1. (a)

      an SMF manager;

    2. (b)

      an employee (“P”) of a relevant authorised person who:

      1. (i)

        performs the function of an SMF manager;

      2. (ii)

        is not an approved person to perform the function in question; and

      3. (iii)

        is required to be an approved person at the time P performs that function; and

    3. (c)

      an employee of a relevant authorised person who would be an SMF manager but for SUP 10C.3.13R (The 12-week rule);

    4. (d)

      a certification employee employed by a relevant authorised person, even if the certification employee has not been notified that COCON applies to them or notified of the rules that apply to them;

      121
    5. (e)

      an employee of a relevant authorised person who would be a certification employee but for SYSC 5.2.27R(1) (Scope: emergency appointments) or SYSC 5.2.28AR (Scope: temporary UK role)6;

      112
    6. (f)

      any other employee of a relevant authorised person, except: 12

      2
      1. (i)

        a non-executive director other than a senior conduct rules staff member; and12

      2. (ii)

        an employee whose role is listed under COCON 1.1.2R(2); and2

        1
    7. (g)

      an FCA-approved person or PRA-approved person approved to perform a controlled function in a Solvency II firm (including a large non-directive insurer) or a small non-directive insurer4.2

  2. (2)

    For Swiss general insurers, references in this sourcebook to parts of the PRA Rulebook for ‘Solvency II firms’ are to be read as references to the corresponding parts of the PRA Rulebook applying to large non directive insurers.7COCON does not apply to an employee of a relevant authorised person who only performs functions falling within the scope of the following roles:1

    1. (a)

      receptionists;1

    2. (b)

      switchboard operators;1

    3. (c)

      post room staff;1

    4. (d)

      reprographics/print room staff;1

    5. (e)

      property/facilities management;1

    6. (f)

      events management;1

    7. (g)

      security guards;1

    8. (h)

      invoice processing;1

    9. (i)

      audio visual technicians;1

    10. (j)

      vending machine staff;1

    11. (k)

      medical staff;1

    12. (l)

      archive records management;1

    13. (m)

      drivers;1

    14. (n)

      corporate social responsibility staff;1

    15. (o)

      data controllers or processors under the Data Protection Act 1998;1

    16. (p)

      cleaners;1

    17. (q)

      catering staff;1

    18. (r)

      personal assistant or secretary;1

    19. (s)

      information technology support (ie, helpdesk); and1

    20. (t)

      human resources administrators /processors.1

  3. (3)

    COCON does not apply to approved persons approved to perform a controlled function in SUP 10A.1.15R to SUP 10A.1.16BR (appointed representatives).2

COCON 1.1.3 R RP

Rules 1 to 5 in COCON 2.1 apply to all conduct rules staff.

COCON 1.1.4 R RP

Rules SC1 to SC4 in COCON 2.2 apply to all senior conduct rules staff members.

COCON 1.1.5 G RP
  1. (1)

    The guidance in COCON 2.3 applies to relevant authorised persons.

  2. (2)

    The persons in COCON 1.1.2R(1)(a) and (b) are referred to as senior conduct rules staff members. An approved person performing a significant influence function (including a PRA controlled function) in a Solvency II firm or in a small non-directive insurer4 is also a senior conduct rules staff member.2

  3. (3)

    SYSC 5.2.26R provides that a function performed by a non-executive director of a firm acting as such is not an FCA-specified significant-harm function for that firm.

To what conduct does it apply?

COCON 1.1.6 R RP

For a person (P) who is an approved person, COCON applies to the conduct of P in relation to the performance by P of functions relating to the carrying on of activities (whether or not regulated activities) by the firm on whose application approval was given to P.

[Note:sections 64A(4) and (5)(a) of the Act (Rules of conduct)]

COCON 1.1.7 R RP

For a person (P) subject to COCON who is not an approved person, COCON applies to the conduct of P in relation to the performance by P of functions relating to the carrying on of activities (whether or not regulated activities) by P’s employer.

[Note: sections 64A(4) and (5)(b) of the Act (Rules of conduct)]

COCON 1.1.8 G RP
  1. (1)

    Both COCON 1.1.6R and COCON 1.1.7R may apply to the same individual performing several roles.

  2. (2)

    For example, say that an individual (A) is an approved person for firm X and is employed by firm Y in a role that does not involve a controlled function. Say that firm X is a Solvency II firm or a small non-directive insurer4 and that firm2Y is a relevant authorised person.

  3. (3)

    COCON 1.1.6R applies to A’s role with firm X and COCON 1.1.7R applies to A’s role with firm Y.

Where does it apply?

COCON 1.1.9 R RP
  1. (1)

    COCON applies to the conduct of 6conduct rules staff set out in (2) 6wherever it is performed.

  2. (2)

    6This rule applies to:

    1. (a)

      a senior conduct rules staff member; and

    2. (b)

      a certification employee performing FCA-specified significant-harm function (7) (material risk takers) in the table in SYSC 5.2.30R for a UK relevant authorised person.

COCON 1.1.10 R RP
  1. (1)

    This rule applies to members of a firm’sconduct rules staff apart from conduct rules staff in COCON 1.1.9R. 6

    522
  2. (2)

    Subject to (3), COCON only applies to the conduct of persons to whom this rule applies (as set out in (1)) if that conduct:6

    1. (a)

      6is performed from an establishment maintained in the United Kingdom by:

      1. (i)

        (for a relevant authorised person) that person’semployer; or

      2. (ii)

        (for a Solvency II firm or a small non-directive insurer8) the firm in relation to whom that person carries out controlled functions; or

    2. (b)

      6involves dealing with a client of the firm in the United Kingdom from an establishment overseas.

    5
  3. (3)

    6Paragraph (2)(b) only applies to a UK relevant authorised person.

COCON 1.1.11 G RP

The FCA interprets the phrase ‘dealing with’ in COCON 1.1.10R as including having contact with customers and extending beyond ‘dealing’ as used in the phrase ‘dealing in investments’. ‘Dealing in’ is used in Schedule 2 to the Act to describe, in general terms, the regulated activities which are specified in Part II of the Regulated Activities Order.

COCON 1.1.11A G RP

6The FCA interprets the phrase ‘a client of the firm in the United Kingdom’ in COCON 1.1.10R as referring to:

  1. (1)

    for a client which is a body corporate, its office or branch in the United Kingdom; or

  2. (2)

    for a client who is an individual, a client who is in the United Kingdom at the time of the dealing.

COCON 1.1.12 R RP

5A person will not be subject to COCON to the extent that it would be contrary to the UK's obligations under a Single Market Directive or the auction regulation.

Purpose

COCON 1.1.13 G RP

The purpose of this chapter is to set out rules for conduct rules staff and to provide guidance about those rules2 to firms whose staff are subject to them2.

COCON 1.1.14 G RP

COCON 1 Annex 1 has guidance on the role and responsibilities of non-executive directors of relevant authorised persons.

COCON 1.2 1Investments

COCON 1.2.1 G RP

COCON refers in a number of places to ‘investments’. The Glossary meaning of investment is wide and is not just limited to the ordinary dictionary meaning.

COCON 1.2.2 G RP

Therefore, for example, an approved person performing controlled functions in a Solvency II firm or a small non-directive insurer2 should note that that term includes rights under a contract of insurance, meaning they should also take into account those parts of COCON which provide guidance on individual conduct rules that refer to ‘investments’.

COCON 1.2.3 G RP

Where guidance refers to risks associated with investments, that will include risks applicable to rights under a contract of insurance including for example the risk of inadequate cover.

COCON 1 Annex 1 Guidance on the role and responsibilities of NEDs for relevant authorised persons

COCON 1 Annex 1 G G

1 COCON 1

Introduction

COCON 1.1

This annex applies to non-executive directors (NEDs) who are performing a designated senior management function. It only applies where the individual performing that function is also a NED.

COCON 1.2

This annex covers the role of a NED in performing the roles in (1) to (4), below:

(1)

the role of chairman of the board of directors;

(2)

the role of chairman of the nomination committee;

(3)

the role of chairman of any other committee (irrespective of whether performing that role is itself a designated senior management function);

(4)

the general NED role.

COCON 1.3

The FCA's view of the role of a NED is consistent with the duties of directors included in UK company law and the description of the role of a NED in the UK Corporate Governance Code.

COCON 2

The general role of a NED

COCON 2.1

The role of a NED performing the general NED role is to:

(1)

provide effective oversight and challenge; and

(2)

help develop proposals on strategy.

COCON 2.2

To deliver this, their responsibilities include:

(1)

attending and contributing to board and committee meetings and discussions;

(2)

taking part in collective board and committee decisions, including voting and providing input and challenge; and

(3)

ensuring they are sufficiently and appropriately informed of the relevant matters prior to taking part in board or committee discussions and decisions.

COCON 2.3

Other key roles of a NED include:

(1)

scrutinising the performance of management in meeting agreed goals and objectives;

(2)

monitoring the reporting of performance;

(3)

satisfying themselves on the integrity of financial information;

(4)

satisfying themselves that financial controls and systems of risk management are robust and defensible;

(5)

scrutinising the design and implementation of the remuneration policy;

(6)

providing objective views on resources, appointments and standards of conduct; and

(7)

being involved in succession planning.

COCON 3

Role of a NED as chair of the board or a committee

COCON 3.1

Subject to any specific governance arrangements, rules or requirements applicable to the board or particular committees, a NED’s responsibility as chairman of the board or a committee includes:

(1)

ensuring that the board or committee meets with sufficient frequency;

(2)

fostering an open, inclusive discussion which challenges executives, where appropriate;

(3)

ensuring that the board or committee devotes sufficient time and attention to the matters within its remit;

(4)

helping to ensure that the board or committee and its members have the information necessary to its and their tasks;

(5)

reporting to the main board on the committee’s activities; and

(6)

facilitating the running of the board or committee to assist it in providing independent oversight of executive decisions;

(7)

in relation to the nomination committee, safeguarding the independence and overseeing the performance of the nomination committee.

COCON 3.2

The chair of the nomination committee should take reasonable steps to ensure that the nomination committee complies with:

(1)

the requirements in SYSC 4.3A about the nomination committee (if that part of SYSC applies to the firm); and

(2)

any specific and relevant requirements relating to the committee or to the matters within the committee’s responsibilities.

COCON 3.3

SYSC 4.3A.8R and SYSC 4.3A.9R deal with the nomination committee for relevant authorised persons.

COCON 4

General approach to the role of a NED

COCON 4.1

The FCA recognises that NEDs individually do not manage a firm's business in the same way as executive directors. Therefore, the responsibilities for which NEDs are accountable are likely to be more limited.

COCON 4.2

A NED is neither required nor expected to assume executive responsibilities.

COCON 4.3

Although NEDs who are subject to the senior management regime for SMF managers have individual duties under that regime, the FCA views the regime and its application as consistent with the principle of collective decision-making.

COCON 4.4

The standard of care, skill and diligence that the FCA would expect from a NED is the care, skill and diligence that would be exercised by a reasonably diligent person with:

(1)

the general knowledge, skill and experience that may reasonably be expected of a person carrying out the functions carried out by the NED in relation to the firm, taking into account the standards in the Handbook (especially COCON and DEPP); and

(2)

the general knowledge, skill and experience that the NED has.