Financial resources rules

IPRU-INV 5.2.1R to 5.7.3R

4

No

No

Yes

Individuals whose sole investment business is giving investment advice to institutional or corporate investors

Firms subject to "lead regulator arrangements"

All other firms

Financial resources rules

IPRU-INV 5.2.1R to 5.7.3R

No

No

Yes

(see Note 2 below)

Accounting records rules

IPRU-INV 5.3.1R (1) to 5.3.1R(6)

No

Yes

Yes

Note 1. Firms are referred to the specific compliance reports for OPS firms required by Chapter 16 of the Supervision manual4.

Note 2. A firm subject to "lead regulator arrangements" whereby a body other than the FCA is responsible for its financial regulation shall comply with the corresponding financial resources rules and financial returns rules of that body, and a breach of such rules shall be treated as a breach of the rules of the FCA.

4

Tier 1

(1)

Paid-up share capital (excluding preference shares)

A

(1A)

Eligible LLP members' capital

(2)

Share premium account

(3)

Reserves

2A

(4)

Non-cumulative preference shares

Less:

(5)

Investments in own shares

B

(6)

Intangible assets

(7)

Material current year losses

4

(8)

Material holdings in credit and financial institutions2

52

(8A)

Excess LLP members' drawings

Tier 1 capital = (A-B)

C

Plus: TIER 2

1

(9)

Revaluation reserves

D

(10)

Fixed term cumulative preference share capital

2

(11)

Long-term Qualifying Subordinated Loans

26

(12)

Other cumulative preference share capital and debt capital2

2

(13)

Qualifying arrangements

7

"Own Funds" = (C+D)

E

Plus: TIER 3

(14)

Net trading book profits

F

28

(15)

Short-term Qualifying Subordinated Loans and excess Tier 2 capital

1(b)2; 9

Less:

(16)

Illiquid assets

G

10

Add:

(17)

Qualifying Property

11

"Liquid Capital" = (E+F+G)

1 Deductions and Ratios (Items 10, 11 and 15)

(a)

[deleted]2

(b)

A firm2which is subject to a liquid capital requirement under IPRU-INV 5.4.1R may take into account qualifying subordinated loans in the calculation of liquid capital up to a maximum of 400% of its Tier 1 capital.

2 Non corporate entities

(a)

In the case of partnerships or sole traders, the following terms should be substituted, as appropriate, for items 1 to 4 in Tier 1 capital:

(i)

partners' capital accounts (excluding loan capital);

(ii)

partners' current accounts (excluding unaudited profits and loan capital);

(iii)

proprietors' account (or other term used to signify the sole trader's capital but excluding unaudited profits).

(b)

Loans other than qualifying subordinated loans shown within partners' or proprietors' accounts must be classified as Tier 2 capital under item 12.

(c)

For the calculation of own funds, partners' current accounts figures are subject to the following adjustments in respect of a defined benefit occupational pension scheme:

(i)

a firm must derecognise any defined benefit asset;

(ii)

a firm may substitute for a defined benefit liability the firm'sdeficit reduction amount. The election must be applied consistently in respect of any one financial year.

Note 1

A firm should keep a record of and be ready to explain to its supervisory contacts in the FCA the reasons for any difference between the deficit reduction amount and any commitment the firm has made in any public document to provide funding in respect of a defined benefit occupational pension scheme.

2A Reserves

For the calculation of own funds the following adjustments apply to the audited reserves figure:

(a)

a firm must deduct any unrealised gains or, where applicable, add back in any unrealised losses on cash flow hedges of financial instruments measured at cost or amortised cost;

(b)

in respect of a defined benefit occupational pension scheme, a firm must derecognise any defined benefit asset;

(c)

a firm may substitute for a defined benefit liability the firm's deficit reduction amount. The election must be applied consistently in respect of any one financial year.

Note 2

A firm should keep a record of and be ready to explain to its supervisory contacts in the FCA the reasons for any difference between the deficit reduction amount and any commitment the firm has made in any public document to provide funding in respect of a defined benefit occupational pension scheme.

(d)

a firm must not include any unrealised gains from investment property.

Note 3

Unrealised gains from investment property should be reported as part of revaluation reserves.

(e)

where applicable, a firm must deduct any asset in respect of deferred acquisition costs and add back in any liability in respect of deferred income (but exclude from the deduction or addition any asset or liability which will give rise to future cash flows), together with any associated deferred tax.

Note 4

Reserves must be audited unless the firm is exempt from the provisions of Part VII of the Companies Act 1985 (section 249A (Exemptions from audit)), or where applicable, Part 16 of the Companies Act 2006 (section 477 (Small companies: Conditions for exemption from audit)) relating to the audit of accounts.

3 Intangible assets (Item 6)

Intangible assets comprise:

(a)

formation expenses to the extent that these are treated as an asset in the firm's accounts;

(b)

goodwill, to the extent that it is treated as an asset in the firm's accounts; and

(c)

other assets treated as intangibles in the firm's accounts.

Intangible assets do not include a deferred acquisition cost asset.

4 Material current year losses (Item 7)

Losses in current year operating figures must be deducted when calculating Tier 1 capital if such losses are material. For this purpose profits and losses must be calculated quarterly or monthly, as appropriate. If this calculation reveals a net loss it shall only be deemed to be material for the purposes of this Table if it exceeds 10 per cent of the firm's Tier 1 capital.

5 Material holdings in credit and financial institutions (Item 8)

Material holdings comprise:

(a)

where the firm holds more than 10 per cent of the equity share capital of the institution, the value of that holding and the amount of any subordinated loans to the institution and the value of holdings in qualifying capital items or qualifying capital instruments issued by the institution;

(b)

in the case of holdings other than those mentioned in (a) above, the value of holdings of equity share capital in, and the amount of subordinated loans made to, such institutions and the value of holdings in qualifying capital items or qualifying capital instruments issued by such institutions to the extent that the total of such holdings and subordinated loans exceeds 10 per cent of the firm'sown funds calculated before the deduction of item 8.

2

6 Long term qualifying subordinated loans (Item 11)

Loans having the characteristics prescribed by IPRU-INV 5.6.1R may be included in item 11, subject to the limits set out in paragraph (1) above.

2

7 Qualifying arrangements (Item 13)

2

2

2

A firm2 may only include qualifying undertakings in its calculation of liquid capital if:

(i)

it maintains liquid capital equivalent to 6/52 of its annual expenditure in a form other than qualifying undertakings; and

(ii)

the total amount of all qualifying undertakings plus qualifying subordinated loans does not exceed the limits set out in paragraph (1)(b) above.

8 Net trading book profits (Item 14)

Unaudited2 profits can be included at item 14.

This Item must not be included in the liquid capital calculation of a firm whose permitted business includes establishing, operating or winding up a personal pension scheme.

Note 5

Non-trading book interim profits may only be included in Tier 1 of the calculation if they have been independently verified by the firm’s external auditors, unless the firm is exempt from the provisions of Part VII of the Companies Act 1985 (section 249A (Exemptions from audit)), or where applicable, Part 16 of the Companies Act 2006 (section 477 (Small companies: Conditions for exemption from audit)) relating to the audit of accounts.

For this purpose, the external auditor should normally undertake at least the following:

(a)

satisfy himself that the figures forming the basis of the interim profits have been properly extracted from the underlying accounting records;

(b)

review the accounting policies used in calculating the interim profits so as to obtain comfort that they are consistent with those normally adopted by the firm in drawing up its annual financial statements;

(c)

perform analytical review procedures on the results to date, including comparisons of actual performance to date with budget and with the results of prior periods;

(d)

discuss with management the overall performance and financial position of the firm;

(e)

obtain adequate comfort that the implications of current and prospective litigation, all known claims and commitments, changes in business activities and provisions for bad and doubtful debts have been properly taken into account in arriving at the interim profits; and

(f)

follow up problem areas of which the auditors are already aware in the course of auditing the firm’s financial statements.

A firm wishing to include interim profits in Tier 1 capital in a financial return should submit to the FCA with the financial return a verification report signed by its external auditor which states whether the interim results are fairly stated, unless the firm is exempt from the provisions of Part VII of the Companies Act 198 (section 249A (Exemptions from audit)), or where applicable, Part 16 of the Companies Act 2006 (section 477 (Small companies: Conditions for exemption from audit)) relating to the audit of accounts.

Profits on the sale of capital items or arising from other activities which are not directly related to the investment business of the firm may also be included within the calculation of liquid capital, but (unless the firm is exempt as above) only if they can be separately verified by the firm’s auditors. In such a case, such profits can form part of the firm’s Tier 1 capital as profits.

9 Short term qualifying subordinated loans (Item 15)

Loans having the characteristics prescribed by IPRU-INV 5.6.3R may be included in item 15 subject to the limits set out in paragraph (1) above. Tier 2 capital which exceeds the ratios prescribed by paragraph (1)(a) and (b) may be included in item 15 subject to paragraph (1) above.

10 Illiquid assets (Item 16)

Illiquid assets comprise:

(a)

tangible fixed assets.

Note 6

In respect of tangible fixed assets purchased under finance leases the amount to be deducted as an illiquid asset shall be limited to the excess of the asset over the amount of the related liability shown on the balance sheet.

(b)

holdings in, including subordinated loans to, credit or financial institutions which may be included in the own funds of such institutions unless they have been deducted under item 8;

(c)

any investment in undertakings other than credit institutions and other financial institutions where such investments are not readily realisable;

(d)

any deficiency in net assets of a subsidiary;

(e)

deposits not available for repayment within 90 days or less (except for payments in connection with margined futures or options contracts);

Note 7

Where cash is placed on deposit with a maturity of more than 90 days but is repayable on demand subject to the payment of a penalty, then this is not required to be deducted as an illiquid asset but a deduction is required for the amount of the penalty.

(f)

loans, other debtors and accruals not falling due to be repaid within 90 days or which are more than one month overdue by reference to the contractual payment date;

(g)

physical stocks (except where subject to the position risk requirement as set out in IPRU-INV 5.11; and

(h)

prepayments to the extent that the period of prepayment exceeds six weeks in the case of a firm subject to the 6/52 expenditure based requirement or thirteen weeks in the case of a firm subject to the 13/52 expenditure based requirement.

(i)

if not otherwise covered, any holding in eligible capital instruments of an insurance undertaking, insurance holding company, or reinsurance undertaking that is a subsidiary or participation. Eligible capital instruments include ordinary share capital, cumulative preference shares, perpetual securities and long-term subordinated loans that are eligible for insurance undertakings under INSPRU 1.

Illiquid assets do not include a defined benefit asset or a deferred acquisition cost asset.

11 Qualifying property (Item 17)

This item comprises the qualifying amount calculated in accordance with IPRU-INV 5.7.1R.

1 Liquid Capital Requirement = Initial Capital Requirement + Capital Surcharge

Calculation of Initial Capital Requirement

ICR = (√AUA) x K1

Where

ICR

means Initial Capital Requirement

AUA

means Assets Under Administration calculated as the sum of the most recent annual valuations over the preceding 12 months of the personal pension schemes administered by the firm, and adjusted to include any revaluation of assets that may occur between the date of the most recent annual valuation and the date when the firm must calculate its AUA.

A firm must calculate its AUA quarterly in line with the dates when it has to submit its regulatory capital reporting form in accordance with SUP 16.12 (Integrated Regulatory Reporting).

Where it is not possible to value an asset (for example because there is no readily available market price), the most recent market valuation should be used.

Where it would be reasonable to assume that the value of the asset has changed by more than 15% since the most recent market valuation, a firm should instead use a reasonable estimate. This is without prejudice to any requirement on a firm to provide a personal pension scheme member with accurate and timely valuations of their portfolios.

K1

is set subject to the firm’s AUA as specified in the below table:

AUA

K1 constant to be applied

<£100m

10

£100-£200m

15

>£200m

20

When K1 changes due to an increase in AUA, in accordance with the thresholds in this table, the firm must apply the new K1 value within six months following the date on which its AUA exceeded the threshold of its previous K1 value.

Calculation of Capital Surcharge

CS =(√P) x K2 x ICR

Where

CS

means Capital Surcharge

P

means the fraction of personal pension schemes administered by the firm which contain one or more asset types which do not appear in the list of Standard Assets below, at the most recent quarter end. For example, if a quarter of personal pensions contained non-Standard Assets, this would be inputted in to the formula as 0.25.

K2

is set at 2.5.

ICR

means the Initial Capital Requirement calculated as above.

Standard Assets

The List of Standard Assets is as follows (subject to Note 1):

Cash

Cash funds

Deposits

Exchange traded commodities

Government & local authority bonds and other fixed interest stocks

Investment notes (structured products)

Shares in Investment trusts

Managed pension funds

National Savings and Investment products

Permanent interest bearing shares (PIBs)

Physical gold bullion

Real estate investment trusts (REITs)

Securities 2 admitted to trading on a regulated venue

UK commercial property

Units in regulated collective investment schemes2

NOTE 1:

A Standard Asset must be capable of being accurately and fairly valued on an ongoing basis and readily realised within 30 days, whenever required.

NOTE 2:

In addition to complying with the provisions of IPRU-INV 5.8, in accordance with IPRU-INV 5.3.2R, a firm must hold its liquid capital in financial resources as follows:

ICR

realisable within 12 months; and

CS

realisable within 30 days

Instrument

Requirement

A Debt

Maturity

0-2 years

2-5 years

>5 years

Central Government

2%

5%

13%

Qualifying debt securities

· fixed rate

8%

8%

15%

· floating rate

10%

10%

15%

Non-qualifying debt securities

· fixed rate

10%

20%

30%

· floating rate

30%

30%

30%

B Equities

· Traded on a recognised or designated investment exchange.

25%

· other

100%

C Stock position in physical commodities

· Physical positions associated with firm'sinvestment business

30% of realisable value

D Derivatives

· Exchange traded futures and written options

4 x initial margin requirement.

· otc futures and written options

Apply the appropriate percentage shown in Sections A, B, & C above to the market value of the underlying position.

· Purchased options

Apply the appropriate percentage shown in Sections A, B & C above to the market value of the underlying position but the result may be limited to the market value of the option.

· Contracts for differences

20% of the market value of the contract.

E Other investments

· units in regulated collective investment schemes

25% of realisable value.

· with profit life policies

20% of surrender value.

· other

100% of the value of investment or underlying instrument.

11

Receivables

In the case of receivables due to the firm in the form of fees, commission, interest, dividends and margin in exchange-traded futures or options contracts, which are directly related to items included in the trading book, the CRR is calculated as follows:

CRR = A x RF, where

A = the amount of the sum due; and

RF = the appropriate risk factor derived from IPRU-INV 5.14.1R.

Note 1

This requirement attaches only to balances arising from proprietary activity falling within the definition of the trading book.

Note 2

This requirement does not attach to items deducted in full as illiquid assets.

2

Delivery of cash against documents

Where a firm enters into a trading book transaction and the transaction is to be settled by delivery of cash against documents, the firm's CRR in respect of that transaction is calculated as follows:

CRR = (SP - MV) x RF, where

SP = agreed settlement price;

MV = current market value;

RF = the appropriate risk factor derived from IPRU-INV 5.13.1R.

The CRR should only be calculated where the difference between SP and MV would involve a loss if borne by the firm.

3

Free deliveries

Where a firm enters into a trading book transaction and the firm pays for the securities before it receives documents of title or delivers documents of title before receiving payment, the CRR in respect of that transaction is calculated as follows:

CRR =

V x RF,

where

V

(i)

the full amount due to the firm (i.e. the contract value) where the firm has delivered securities to a counterparty and has not received payment; or

(ii)

the market value of the securities, where the firm has made payment to a counterparty for securities and has not received documents of title; and

RF =

the appropriate risk factor derived from IPRU-INV 5.14.1R.

4

Settlement outstanding 30 days or more

In the case of trading book transactions entered into by a firm where the firm pays for the securities before it receives documents of title or delivers documents of title before receiving payment and settlement has not been effected within 30 days of falling due, CRR = V.

5

Repos/Stock Lending and Reverse Repos/Stock Borrowing

Where a firm enters into a transaction based on securities included in the trading book under the terms of a repurchase agreement or a securities lending agreement the firm's CRR in respect of that transaction is calculated as follows:

CRR = V x RF, where

RF = the appropriate risk factor derived from IPRU-INV 5.14.1R; and

for repos/stock lending:

V = the excess of the market value of the securities over the value of the collateral provided under the agreement, if the net figure is positive; or

for reverse repos/stock borrowing:

V = the excess of the amount paid or the collateral given for the securities received under the agreement, if the net figure is positive.

6

otc derivatives

In the case of a transaction entered into by a firm as principal in an otc derivative the CRR is calculated as follows:

CRR = A x RF, where

A = the appropriate credit equivalent amount derived from IPRU-INV 5.15.1R; and

RF = the appropriate risk factor derived from IPRU-INV 5.14.1R.

This calculation shall not apply to contracts for interest rate and foreign exchange which are traded on a recognised investment exchange or designated investment exchange where they are subject to a daily margin requirement and foreign exchange contracts with an original maturity of 14 calendar days or less.

A firm may net off contracts with the same counterparty in the same otc derivative contract for settlement on the same date in the same currency provided that the firm is legally entitled under the terms of the contracts with such a counterparty to net such contracts by novation.

1Number of working days after due settlement date

Risk Factor

0-4

0%

5-15

8%

16-30

50%

31-45

75%

46 or more

100%

1Type of counterparty

Risk Weighting

Solvency Ratio

Risk Factor

(1)

A counterparty which is, or the contract of which is, explicitly guaranteed by a category a body.

NIL

8%

NIL

(2)

A counterparty which is, or the contract of which is, explicitly guaranteed by a category b body.

20%

8%

1.6%

(3)

Any other counterparty

100%

8%

8%

1A

By attaching current market values to contracts (marking to market), obtain the current replacement cost of all contracts with positive values.

B

To obtain a figure for potential future credit exposure, the notional principal amounts or values underlying the firm's aggregate positions are multiplied by the following percentages:

Residual Maturity

Interest-Rate Contracts

Foreign-Exchange Contracts

One year or less

Nil

1%

C

The credit equivalent amount is the sum of current replacement cost and potential future credit exposure.

Note

Except in the case of single-currency "floating/floating interest rate" swaps in which only the current replacement cost will be calculated, bought OTC equity options and covered warrants shall be subject to the treatment accorded to exchange rate contracts.

A

= AV x RF where

A

= the amount of the requirement;

AV

= the current asset value; and

RF

= the appropriate risk factor derived from IPRU-INV 5.17.2R.

Assets and Off-Balance Sheet Items

Risk Factor

Assets

Cash at bank and in hand and equivalent items

NIL

Assets secured by acceptable collateral including deposits and certificates of deposit with lending institutions

NIL

Amount due from trustees of authorised unit trusts or depositaries of authorised contractual schemes

NIL

Note 1

This only applies to firms who are authorised unit trust managers in relation to authorised unit trusts or authorised contractual scheme managers in relation to authorised contractual schemes they manage.

Amount due from depositaries of ICVCs

NIL

Note 2

This only applies to firms who are authorised corporate directors in relation to ICVCs they operate

Other receivables due from or explicitly guaranteed by or deposits with category a bodies

NIL

Other receivables due from or explicitly guaranteed by or deposits with category b bodies

1.6%

Pre-payments and accrued income (see paragraph 10 of IPRU-INV 5.8.2R)

8%

Defined benefit asset

NIL

Deferred acquisition cost asset

NIL

All other assets

8%

OFF-BALANCE SHEET ITEMS

Full Risk Items e.g.

Charges granted against assets

8% x counterparty weight (see IPRU-INV 5.14.1R)

Guarantees given

Medium Risk Items e.g.

Undrawn credit facilities granted by the firm with an original maturity of more than one year

4% x counterparty weight (see IPRU-INV 5.14.1R)

Low Risk Items e.g.

Undrawn credit facilities granted by the firm with an original maturity of one year or less

NIL

Note

(1)

In determining the appropriate other assets requirement (OAR) for guarantees given in a group context, a firm should follow the calculation below:

(a)

Categorise the guarantee agreements into:

(i)

those with the character of credit substitutes; or

(ii)

those not having the character of credit substitutes; or

(iii)

agreements to provide guarantees.

(b)

Calculate the weighted value.

(i)

For guarantees falling under (1)(a)(i), the weighted value will be 100% of the estimated current year liability under the guarantee.

(ii)

For guarantees falling under (1)(a)(ii) the weighted value will be 50% of the estimated current year liability under the guarantee.

(iii)

For guarantees falling under (1)(a)(iii), the weighted value will be nil.

(c)

The OAR is calculated as:

Weighted value x 8% x counterparty weighting (IPRU-INV 5.14.1R)

(2)

For the purpose of this requirement, in assessing whether the guarantee has the characteristics of a credit substitute the following factors should be considered:

(a)

do the agreements allow for periodic or ad-hoc calling of funds;

(b)

have the guarantees been drawn upon on a regular basis;

(c)

do firms in the group rely on such guarantees to meet their working capital or regulatory capital requirements?

(3)

Where a firm is part of a group including other FCA regulated entities which together have entered into cross-group guarantee arrangements which give rise to an OAR, the estimate of the potential liability under the guarantee may be apportioned between the regulated entities for the purpose of calculating each firm's OAR.