SUP 12.6 Continuing obligations of firms with appointed representatives

The FSA would normally expect a firm to carry out a check on its appointed representative's financial position every year (more often, if necessary) and to review critically the information obtained. An appropriately experienced person (for example, a financial accountant) should carry out these checks.

Consideration should be given, among other things, to the impact on the appointed representative's financial position of any debts owed to, or by, the appointed representative. Indicators that an appointed representative is experiencing financial problems may include failure to adhere to repayment schedules for any debts, failure to meet any other financial commitments or requests for advances of commission.

A firm should look into any concerns that may arise at any time about an appointed representative's financial standing and take the necessary action. The necessary action may include, for example, increased monitoring or, if appropriate, suspension or termination of the appointment.

The senior management of a firm should be aware that the activities of appointed representatives are an integral part of the business that they manage. The responsibility for the control and monitoring of the activities of appointed representatives rests with the senior management of the firm. Guidance is set out in SYSC4 on delegation and in the Statements of Principle and Code of Practice for Approved Persons in APER (for example, APER 4.5 and APER 4.6).

1. (1)

   Some of the controlled functions, as set out in SUP 10.4.1 R, apply to an appointed representative of a firm, other than an introducer appointed representative, just as they apply to a firm (see SUP 10.1.16 R). These are the governing functions and the customer functions (other than the investment management function) such as, for example, CF 21, the investment adviser function. As explained in SUP 10.1.16A R, SUP 10.1.17G (3) and SUP 10.3.2 G respectively:2

   1. (a)

      the effect of SUP 10.1.16 R is that the directors (or their equivalent) and senior managers (or their equivalent) of an appointed representative, other than an introducer appointed representative, must also be approved under section 59 of the Act for the performance of certain controlled functions;2

   2. (b)

      although the customer functions (other than the investment manager function) apply to an appointed representative, the descriptions of the functions themselves do not extend to 2home finance mediation activity3 or 22 insurance mediation activity; and2

      3
   3. (c)

      sections 59(1) and 59(2) of the Act (Approval for particular arrangements) provide that approval is necessary in respect of a controlled function which is performed under an arrangement entered into by a firm, or its contractors (typically an appointed representative), in relation to a regulated activity.21

2. (2)

   The approved persons regime applies differently to an appointed representative whose scope of appointment includes insurance mediation activity in relation to non-investment insurance contracts but no other regulated activity and whose principal purpose is to carry on activities other than regulated activities. These appointed representatives need only one person performing one of the governing functions. This means that only one director (or equivalent) of these appointed representatives must be approved under section 59 of the Act for the performance of the director function, the chief executive function, the partner function or the director of unincorporated association function, whichever is the most appropriate (see SUP 10.1.16A R and SUP 10.1.17G (3)).2

Firms should be aware that, under the approved persons regime, the firm is responsible for submitting applications to the FSA for the approval as an approved person of:

1. (1)

   any individual who performs a controlled function and who is an appointed representative; and

2. (2)

   any person who performs a controlled function under an arrangement entered into by any of the firm'sappointed representatives.

Applications for approval should be submitted as early as possible since a person may not perform a controlled function if he has not been approved by the FSA (see SUP 10.12).

The rules and guidance in TC extend to any employee of the firm in respect of whom the relevant rules apply. For these purposes, an employee of a firm includes:

1. (1)

   an individual who is an appointed representative of a firm; and

2. (2)

   an individual who is employed or appointed by an appointed representative of a firm (whether under a contract of service or for services) in connection with the business of the appointed representative for which the firm has accepted responsibility.

A firm should take reasonable care to ensure that:

1. (1)

   it has satisfied TC 2 in respect of the relevant staff of the appointed representative; and

2. (2)

   its appointed representative has adequate arrangements in respect of training and competence, which meet the requirements in TC.