COLL 4.5 Reports and accounts

The rules and guidance in this section apply to an authorised fund manager, a depositary and any other director of an ICVC.

1. (1)

   The authorised fund manager must for each annual accounting period and half-yearly accounting period, prepare a short report and a long report for a scheme.

2. (2)

   For a scheme which is an umbrella, the authorised fund manager must prepare a short report for each sub-fund but this is not necessary for the umbrella as a whole.

3. (3)

   Where the first annual accounting period of a scheme is less than 12 months, a half-yearly report need not be prepared.

4. (4)

   [deleted]1

1. (1)

   The short report for an authorised fund, or for a scheme which is an umbrella, its sub-fund, must contain for the relevant period:

   1. (a) 4
      1. (i)

         the name of the scheme or sub-fund;4

      2. (ii)

         its stated investment objectives and the policy and strategy pursued for achieving those objectives;4

      3. (iii)

         4a brief assessment of its risk profile;

      4. (iv)

         in the case of a UCITS scheme, the figure for the synthetic risk and reward indicator disclosed in its most up-to-date key investor information document and any subsequent changes to that figure during that period; and4

      5. (v)

         the name and address of the authorised fund manager;4

   2. (b)

      a review of the scheme or sub-fund's investment activities and investment performance during the period;

   3. (c)

      a performance record consistent with COLL 4.5.10R (1) (Comparative table) so as to enable a unitholder to put into context the results of the investment activities of the scheme during the period;

   4. (d)

      sufficient information to enable unitholders to form a view on where the portfolio is invested at the end of the period and the extent to which that has changed over the period;

   5. (e)

      any other significant information which would reasonably enable unitholders to make an informed judgement on the activities of the scheme or sub-fund during the period and the results of those activities at the end of the period; and

   6. (f)

      a statement that the latest long report is available on request.

2. (1A)

   4The short report of a UCITS scheme which is a feeder UCITS must also include:

   1. (a)

      in relation to each annual accounting period only,7 a statement on the aggregate charges of the feeder UCITS and the master UCITS;

   2. (b)

      a description of how the annual and half-yearly long reports of its master UCITS can be obtained; and

   3. (c)

      where the master UCITS is a UCITS scheme, a description of how its annual and half-yearly short reports can be obtained.

   [Note: article 63(2) of the UCITS Directive]4

3. (1B)

   7The short report of a feeder NURS must also include:

   1. (a)

      in relation to each annual accounting period only, a statement on the aggregate charges of the feeder NURS and its qualifying master scheme;

   2. (b)

      a description of how the annual and half-yearly long reports (or nearest equivalent documents for a qualifying master scheme that is a recognised scheme) of its qualifying master scheme can be obtained; and

   3. (c)

      where the qualifying master scheme is a UCITS scheme or non-UCITS retail scheme, a description of how the annual and half-yearly short reports of its qualifying master scheme can be obtained.

4. (2)

   The authorised fund manager must take reasonable steps to ensure that the short report is structured and written in such a way that it can be easily understood by the average investor.

5. (3)

   The short report must form a separate stand-alone document which must not include any extraneous material.

6. (4)

   The inclusion in a single document of the short reports of more than one of an authorised fund manager's schemes with the same accounting periods, or of more than one sub-fund in an umbrella, is not a contravention of (3) if each such report is discrete and easily identifiable.

7. (5)

   The authorised fund manager must ensure that the information given in the short report is consistent with the long report for the relevant accounting period prepared under COLL 4.5.7 R (Contents of the annual long report) or COLL 4.5.8 R(Contents of the half-yearly long report).

1. (1)

   An annual long report on an authorised fund, other than a scheme which is an umbrella, must contain:

   1. (a)

      the accounts for the annual accounting period which must be prepared in accordance with the requirements of the IMA SORP;

      3
   2. (b)

      the report of the authorised fund manager in accordance with COLL 4.5.9 R (Authorised fund manager's report);

   3. (c)

      the comparative table in accordance with COLL 4.5.10 R (Comparative table);

   4. (d)

      the report of the depositary in accordance with COLL 4.5.11 R (Report of the depositary); and

   5. (e)

      the report of the auditor in accordance with COLL 4.5.12 R (Report of the auditor).

2. (2)

   An annual long report on a scheme which is an umbrella must be prepared for the umbrella as a whole and2 must contain:

   1. (a)

      for each sub-fund:

      1. (i)

         the accounts for the annual accounting period which must be prepared in accordance with the requirements of the IMA SORP;

         3
      2. (ii)

         the report of the authorised fund manager in accordance with COLL 4.5.9 R; and

      3. (iii)

         the comparative table in accordance with COLL 4.5.10 R;

   2. (b)

      the aggregation of the accounts required by (a)(i) for each sub-fund;

   3. (c)

      the report of the depositary in accordance with COLL 4.5.11 R; and

   4. (d)

      the report of the auditor in accordance with COLL 4.5.12 R.

3. (3)

   The directors of an ICVC or the manager of an AUT must ensure that the accounts referred to in (1)(a),2 (2)(a) and (4)(a)2 give a true and fair view of the net revenue3 and the net capital3 gains or 3losses on the scheme property of the authorised fund, or, in the case of (2)(a) and (4)(a)2, the sub-fund, for the annual accounting period in question and the financial position of the authorised fund or sub-fund as at the end of that period.

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4. (4)

   The authorised fund manager of a scheme which is an umbrella may, in addition to complying with (2), prepare a further annual long report for any one or more individual sub-funds of the scheme, in which case it must contain:2

   1. (a)

      in relation to the sub-fund:2

      1. (i)

         the accounts for the annual accounting period which must be prepared in accordance with the requirements of the IMA SORP;2

         3
      2. (ii)

         the report of the authorised fund manager in accordance with COLL 4.5.9 R; and2

      3. (iii)

         the comparative table in accordance with COLL 4.5.10 R;2

   2. (b)

      the report of the depositary in accordance with COLL 4.5.11 R; and2

   3. (c)

      the report of the auditor in accordance with COLL 4.5.12 R.2

5. (5)

   4An annual long report of a UCITS scheme which is a feeder UCITS must also include:

   1. (a)

      a statement on the aggregate charges of the feeder UCITS and the master UCITS; and

   2. (b)

      a description of how the annual long report of its master UCITS can be obtained.

[Note: article 63(2) of the UCITS Directive]4

1. (6)

   An annual long report of a feeder NURS must also include:7

   1. (a)

      a statement on the aggregate charges of the feeder NURS and its qualifying master scheme; and7

   2. (b)

      a description of how the annual long report (or nearest equivalent document for a qualifying master scheme that is a recognised scheme) of its qualifying master scheme can be obtained.7

1. (1)

   A half-yearly long report on an authorised fund, other than for a scheme which is an umbrella, must contain:

   1. (a)

      the accounts for the half-yearly accounting period which must be prepared in accordance with the requirements of the IMA SORP; and

      3
   2. (b)

      the report of the authorised fund manager in accordance with COLL 4.5.9 R (Authorised fund manager's report).

2. (2)

   A half-yearly long report on a scheme which is an umbrella must be prepared for the umbrella as a whole and2 must contain:

   1. (a)

      for each sub-fund:

      1. (i)

         the 2 accounts for the half-yearly accounting period2 which must be prepared in accordance with the requirements of the IMA SORP; and

         32
      2. (ii)

         the report of the authorised fund manager in accordance with COLL 4.5.9 R; and

   2. (b)

      the aggregation of the accounts in (a)(i) for each sub-fund.

3. (3)

   The authorised fund manager of a scheme which is an umbrella may, in addition to complying with (2), prepare a further half-yearly long report for any one or more individual sub-funds of the scheme. Such reports must contain the

   3

   accounts and the report of the authorised fund manager that would be required by (1) if the sub-fund were a separate authorised fund.2

4. (4)

   4The half-yearly long report of a UCITS scheme which is a feeder UCITS must also include a description of how the half-yearly and annual reports of its master UCITS can be obtained.

[Note: article 63(2) second subparagraph of the UCITS Directive]

1. (5)

   The half-yearly long report of a feeder NURS must also include a description of how the half-yearly and annual long reports (or nearest equivalent documents for a qualifying master scheme that is a recognised scheme) of its qualifying master scheme can be obtained.7

3The annual reports in COLL 4.5.7R (1) and (2), and the half-yearly reports in COLL 4.5.8R (1) and (2), must:

1. (1)

   in the case of an ICVC, if there is:

   1. (a)

      more than one director, be approved by the board of directors and signed on their behalf by the ACD and at least one other director; or

   2. (b)

      no director other than the ACD, be signed by the ACD;

2. (2)

   in the case of an AUT , if the authorised fund manager has:

   1. (a)

      more than one director, be signed by at least two directors of the authorised fund manager; or

   2. (b)

      only one director, be signed by the director of the authorised fund manager.

The matters set out in (1) to (13)2 must be included in any authorised fund manager's report, except where otherwise indicated:

1. (1)

   the names and addresses of :

   1. (a)

      the authorised fund manager;

   2. (b)

      the depositary;

   3. (c)

      the registrar;

   4. (d)

      any investment adviser;

   5. (e)

      the auditor; and

   6. (f)

      for a scheme which invests in immovables, the standing independent valuer;

2. (2)

   (for an ICVC), the names of any directors other than the ACD;

3. (3)

   a statement of the authorised status of the scheme;

4. (4)

   (for an ICVC) a statement that the unitholders of the ICVC are not liable for the debts of the ICVC;

5. (5)

   the investment objectives of the authorised fund;

6. (6)

   the policy and strategy pursued

   3

   for achieving those objectives;

7. (7)

   a review of the investment activities during the period to which the report relates;

8. (7A)

   a portfolio statement prepared in accordance with the requirements of the IMA SORP;

   3
9. (8)

   particulars of any fundamental changes in accordance with COLL 4.3.4 R (Fundamental change requiring prior approval by meeting) made since the date of the last report;

10. (9)

    particulars of any significant changes which have occurred in accordance with COLL 4.3.6 R (Significant change requiring pre-event notification) since the date of the last report;

11. (9A)

    4in the case of a UCITS scheme, the figure for the synthetic risk and reward indicator disclosed in its most recent key investor information document and any changes to that figure that have taken place during the period;

12. (10)

    any other information which would enable unitholders to make an informed judgement on the development of the activities of the authorised fund during this period and the results of those activities as at the end of that period;

13. (11)

    for a report on an umbrella prepared in accordance with COLL 4.5.7R (2)2 or COLL 4.5.8R (2)2 , information required by (1) to (10) must be given for each sub-fund, if it would vary from that given in respect of the umbrella as a whole;5

    225
14. (12)

    for a UCITS scheme which invests a substantial proportion of its assets in other schemes, a statement as to the maximum proportion of management fees charged to the scheme itself and to other schemes in which that scheme invests; and2

    2
15. (13)

    for a report on an individual sub-fund of a scheme which is an umbrella prepared in accordance with COLL 4.5.7R (4) or COLL 4.5.8R (3), a statement that the latest long report prepared for the umbrella as a whole is available on request.52

    5

The comparative table required by COLL 4.5.7R (1)(c) (Contents of the annual long report) must set out:

1. (1)

   a performance record over the last five calendar years, or if the authorised fund has not been in existence during the whole of that period, over the whole period in which it has been in existence, showing:

   1. (a)

      the highest and the lowest price of a unit of each class in issue during each of those years; and

   2. (b)

      the net income distributed (or, for accumulation units, allocated) for a unit of each class in issue during each of those years, taking account of any sub-division or consolidation of units that occurred during that period;

2. (2)

   as at the end of each of the last three annual accounting periods (or all of the authorised fund's annual accounting periods, if less than three):

   1. (a)

      the total net asset value of the scheme property at the end of each of those years;

   2. (b)

      the net asset value per unit of each class; and

   3. (c)
      1. (i)

         (for a report of the directors of an ICVC) the number of units of each class in issue; or

      2. (ii)

         (for a report of the manager of an AUT) the number of units of each class in existence or treated as in existence; and

3. (3)

   if, in the period covered by the table:

   1. (a)

      the authorised fund has been the subject of any event (such as a scheme of arrangement) having a material effect on the size of the authorised fund, but excluding any issue or cancellation of units for cash; or

   2. (b)

      there have been changes in the investment objectives of the authorised fund;

   3. (c)

      an indication, related in the body of the table to the relevant year in the table, of the date of the event or change in the investment objectives and a brief description of its nature.

1. (1)

   The depositary must make an annual report to unitholders which must be included in the annual report.

2. (2)

   The annual report must contain:

   1. (a)

      a description, which may be in summary form, of the duties of the depositary under COLL 6.6.4 (General duties of the depositary) and in respect of the safekeeping of the scheme property; and

   2. (b)

      a statement whether, in any material respect:

      1. (i)

         the issue, sale, redemption and cancellation, and calculation of the price of the units and the application of the authorised fund's revenue

         33

         , have not been carried out in accordance with the rules in this sourcebook and, where applicable, the OEIC Regulations and the instrument constituting the scheme; and

      2. (ii)

         the investment and borrowing powers and restrictions applicable to the authorised fund have been exceeded.

The authorised fund manager must ensure that the report of the auditor to the unitholders includes the following statements:3

1. (1)

   whether, in the auditor's opinion, the accounts have been properly prepared in accordance with the IMA SORP, the rules in this sourcebook, and the instrument constituting the scheme;

2. (2)

   whether, in the auditor's opinion, the accounts give a true and fair view of the net revenue3and the net capital 3gains or losses on3the scheme property of the authorised fund (or, as the case may be, the scheme property attributable to the sub-fund) for the annual accounting period in question and the financial position of the authorised fund or sub-fund as at the end of that period;

   33
3. (3)

   whether the auditor is of the opinion that proper accounting records for the authorised fund (or, as the case may be, sub-fund) have not been kept or whether the accounts are not in agreement with those records;

4. (4)

   whether the auditor has been given all the information and explanations which, to the best of his knowledge and belief, are necessary for the purposes of his audit; and

5. (5)

   whether the auditor is of the opinion that the information given in the report of the directors or in the report of the authorised fund manager for that period is consistent with the accounts.

1. (1)

   The authorised fund manager must, within four months after the end of each annual accounting period and within two months after the end of each half-yearly accounting period, respectively provide free of charge the short report in accordance with (2).

2. (2)

   The authorised fund manager must send a copy of the report:

   1. (a)

      to each unitholder (or to the first named of joint unitholders) entered in or entitled to be entered in the register at the close of business on the last day of the relevant accounting period;

      2
   2. (b)

      to each unitholder of bearer units at his request; and2

      2
   3. (c)

      to any other person free of charge on request.2

3. (3)

   unitholders in a scheme which is an umbrella must be provided with a report relating to the particular sub-fund in which they hold units subject to providing the long report on the umbrella on request in accordance with COLL 4.5.14R (2)(a).

1. (1)

   The authorised fund manager must, within four months after the end of each annual accounting period and two months after the end of each half-yearly accounting period respectively, make available and publish the long reports2 prepared in accordance with COLL 4.5.7R (1) to (3)2 (Contents of the annual long report) and COLL 4.5.8R (1) to (2)2 (Contents of the half-yearly long report).

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2. (2)

   The reports referred to in (1) must:

   1. (a)

      be supplied free of charge to any person on request2;

      2
   2. (b)

      be available in English, for inspection by the public free of charge during ordinary office hours at a place specified;

   3. (c)

      for a UCITS scheme, be available for inspection by the public at a place designated by the authorised fund manager in each EEA State other than the United Kingdom in which units in the authorised fund are marketed, in English and in at least one of that other EEA State's official languages; and

   4. (d)

      be sent to the FCA and, if the UCITS scheme is managed by an EEA UCITS management company, to that company's Home State regulator on request.4

1. (1)

   4The authorised fund manager of a UCITS scheme which is a feeder UCITS must:

   1. (a)

      where requested by an investor, provide copies of the annual and half-yearly long reports of its master UCITS free of charge; and

   2. (b)

      file copies of the annual and half-yearly long reports of its master UCITS with the FCA .

2. (2)

   Except where an investor requests paper copies or the use of electronic communications is not appropriate, the annual and half-yearly long reports of its master UCITS may be provided in a durable medium other than paper or by means of a website that meets the website conditions.

1. (1)

   7The authorised fund manager of a feeder NURS must, where requested by an investor or the FCA , provide to such person copies of the annual and half-yearly long reports (or nearest equivalent documents for a qualifying master scheme that is a recognised scheme) of its qualifying master scheme free of charge.

2. (2)

   Except where an investor requests paper copies or the use of electronic communications is not appropriate, the annual and half-yearly long reports (or nearest equivalent documents for a qualifying master scheme that is a recognised scheme) of its qualifying master scheme may be provided in a durable medium other than paper, or by means of a website that meets the website conditions.8