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SUP 3.1 Application

SUP 3.1.1RRP

This chapter applies to:

  1. (1)

    every firm within a category listed in column (1) of the table in SUP 3.1.2 R; and

  2. (2)

    the external auditor of such a firm (if appointed under SUP 3.3 or appointed under or as a result of a statutory provision other than in the Act);

in accordance with column (2) or (3) of that table, except as described in the remainder of this section.2

SUP 3.1.1AGRP

9For the avoidance of doubt, this chapter does not apply to the following firms if they do not hold client money or client assets and do not appoint an auditor under or as a result of a statutory provision other than in the Act:

  1. (1)

    authorised professional firms;

  2. (2)

    energy market participants, including oil market participants to whom IPRU(INV) 3 does not apply;

  3. (3)

    exempt insurance intermediaries;

  4. (4)

    insurance intermediaries not subject to SUP 3.1.2 R(10);

  5. (5)

    investment management firms;

  6. (6)

    home finance administrators;10

    10
  7. (7)

    home finance intermediaries;10

    10
  8. (8)

    home finance providers;10

    10
  9. (9)

    personal investment firms, including small personal investment firms;

  10. (10)

    securities and futures firms; and

  11. (11)

    service companies.

SUP 3.1.2RRP

Applicable sections (see SUP 3.1.1 R)

(1) Category of firm

(2) Sections applicable to the firm

(3) Sections applicable to its auditor

(1)

Authorised professional firm which is required by IPRU(INV) 2.1.2R to comply with chapters 3, 5,1019 or 13 of IPRU(INV) and which has an auditor appointed under or as a result of a statutory provision other than in the Act 9 (Note 1)

19

SUP 3.1 - SUP 3.7

SUP 3.1, SUP 3.2, SUP 3.8,19 SUP 3.10

19

(2)

Authorised professional firm not within (1) to which the custody chapter or client money chapter applies22 , unless the firm is regulated by The Law Society (England and Wales), The Law Society of Scotland or The Law Society of Northern Ireland (Note 2)

1722

SUP 3.1 - SUP 3.7

SUP 3.1, SUP 3.2, SUP 3.8, SUP 3.10

(3)

Authorised professional firm not within (1) or (2) which has an auditor appointed under or as a result of a statutory provision other than in the Act

SUP 3.1, SUP 3.2, SUP 3.7

SUP 3.1, SUP 3.2, SUP 3.8

(4)

Bank, building society or dormant account fund operator21which in each case carries on designated investment business 21(Note 2A)

SUP 3.1-SUP 3.7

SUP 3.1, SUP 3.2, SUP 3.8, SUP 3.10

(5)

Bank, building society or a dormant account fund operator which in each case does not carry on designated investment business21 (Note 2A)

21

SUP 3.1 - SUP 3.7

SUP 3.1, SUP 3.2, SUP 3.8

(5A)

Credit union

SUP 3.1 - SUP 3.7

SUP 3.1, SUP 3.2, SUP 3.8

(5B)

ELMI

SUP 3.1 - SUP 3.7

SUP 3.1, SUP 3.2, SUP 3.8

(6)

Insurer, the Society of Lloyd's, underwriting agent or members' adviser, UK ISPV11 (Note 5)7

SUP 3.1 - SUP 3.7

SUP 3.1, SUP 3.2, SUP 3.8

(7)

Investment management firm, (other than an exempt CAD firm),16 personal investment firm (other than a small personal investment firm or exempt CAD firm). 15or securities and futures firm (other than an exempt CAD firm or an exempt BIPRU commodities firm20)15 which, in each case, has an auditor appointed under or as a result of a statutory provision other than in the Act 9(Notes 3 and 3A)17

917

SUP 3.1 - SUP 3.7

SUP 3.1, SUP 3.2, SUP 3.8,19 SUP 3.10

19

9(7A)

Investment management firm (other than an exempt CAD firm)20, personal investment firm (other than a small personal investment firm or exempt CAD firm15), or securities and futures firm (other than an exempt CAD firm15 or an exempt BIPRU commodities firm20) not within (7) to which the custody chapter or client money chapter applies22

1722

SUP 3.1 - SUP 3.7

SUP 3.1, SUP 3.2, SUP 3.8, SUP 3.10

9(7B)

UCITS firm13

13

SUP 3.1 - SUP 3.7

SUP 3.1, SUP 3.2, SUP 3.8,19 SUP 3.10

19

13(7C)

UK MiFID investment firm, which has an auditor appointed under or as a result of a statutory provision other than in the Act (Note 3B)20

20

SUP 3.1 - 3.7

SUP 3.1, SUP 3.2, SUP 3.8, SUP 3.1014

17(7D)

Sole trader or partnership that is a UK 20MiFID investment firm (other than an exempt CAD firm) (Note 3C)20

20

SUP 3.1 - SUP 3.7

SUP 3.1, SUP 3.2, SUP 3.8, SUP 3.10

(8)

Small personal investment firm or service company which, in either case, has an auditor appointed under or as a result of a statutory provision other than in the Act

SUP 3.1, SUP 3.2, SUP 3.7

SUP 3.1, SUP 3.2, SUP 3.8

(9)8

Home finance provider10 which has an auditor appointed under or as a result of a statutory provision other than in the Act9

10

SUP 3.1 - SUP 3.78

SUP 3.1, SUP 3.2, SUP 3.88

(10)8

Insurance intermediary (other than an exempt insurance intermediary) to which the insurance client money chapter17 (except for CASS 5.2 (Holding money as agent)) applies (see Note 4)8

17

SUP 3.1 - SUP 3.78

SUP 3.1, SUP 3.2, SUP 3.8, SUP 3.108

(11)8

Exempt insurance intermediary and insurance intermediary not subject to SUP 3.1.2 R(10) which has an auditor appointed under or as a result of a statutory provision other than in the Act

SUP 3.1, SUP 3.2, SUP 3.78

SUP 3.1, SUP 3.2, SUP 3.88

(12)8

Home finance intermediary10 or home finance administrator10 which has an auditor appointed under or as a result of a statutory provision other than in the Act.

1010

SUP 3.1, SUP 3.2, SUP 3.78

SUP 3.1, SUP 3.2, SUP 3.88

Note 1 = This chapter applies to an authorised professional firm in row (1) (and its auditor) as if the firm were of the relevant type in the right-hand column of IPRU(INV) 2.1.4R.

Note 2 = In row (2):

(a) The non-directive custody chapter17 is treated as applying only if (i) the firm safeguards and administers investments 17in connection with managing investments (other than when acting as trustee) or (ii) it safeguards and administers17 investments in relation to bonded investments (and, in either case, it has not opted to conduct all business that would fall within the non-directive custody chapter under the MiFID custody chapter).17

(b) The non-directive client money chapter17 is treated as applying only if the firm receives or holds client money other than under an arrangement where commission is rebated to the client (and assuming that it has not opted to conduct all business that would fall within the non-directive client money chapter under the MiFID client money chapter)17;

but, if the custody rules or the client money rules above are17 treated as applying, then SUP 3.10 (Duties of auditors: notification and report on client assets) applies to the whole of the business within the scope of the custody rules or the client money rules above17.

17171717171717

Note 2A = For this purpose, designated investment business does not include either or both:

(a) dealing which falls within the exclusion in article 15 of the Regulated Activities Order (Absence of holding out etc) (or agreeing to do so); and

(b) dealing in investments as principal (or agreeing to do so):

(i) by a firm whose permission to deal in investments as principal is subject to a limitation to the effect that the firm, in carrying on this regulated activity, is limited to entering into transactions in a manner which, if the firm was an unauthorised person, would come within article 16 of the Regulated Activities Order (Dealing in contractually based investments); and

(ii) in a manner which comes within that limitation;

having regard to article 4(4) of the Regulated Activities Order (Specified activities:).

18

Note 3 = This note applies in relation to an oil market participant to which IPRU(INV) 3 does not apply and in relation to an energy market participant to which IPRU(INV) 3 does not apply. In SUP 3:

(a) only SUP 3.1, SUP 3.2 and SUP 3.7 are applicable to such a firm; and

(b) only SUP 3.1, SUP 3.2 and SUP 3.8 are applicable to its auditor;

and, in each case, only if it has an auditor appointed under or as a result of a statutory provision other than in the Act.

17Note 3A = If the firm has elected to comply with the MiFID custody chapter or the MiFID client money chapter also in respect of its non-MiFID business then SUP 3.10 will apply to the whole of the business within the scope of the MiFID custody chapter or the MiFID client money chapter.

20Note 3B = UK MiFID investment firms include exempt CAD firms. An exempt CAD firm that has opted into MiFID can benefit from the audit exemption for small companies in the Companies Act legislation if it meets the relevant criteria in that legislation and fulfils the conditions of regulation 4C(3) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Markets in Financial Instruments) Regulations 2007. If a firm does so benefit then SUP 3 will not apply to it. For further details about exempt CAD firms, see PERG 13, Q58.

17Note 3C20 = A sole trader or a partnership that is a UK MiFID investment firm20 to which the custody chapter 22 or client money chapter applies2220 must have its annual accounts audited.

20202222

Note 4 = The client money audit requirement in SUP 3.1.2 R(10) therefore applies to all insurance intermediaries except:8

• those which do not hold client money or other client assets in relation to insurance mediation activities; or 8

• those which only hold up to, but not exceeding, £30,000 of client money under a statutory trust arising under CASS 5.3.8

Insurance intermediaries which, in relation to insurance mediation activities, hold no more than that amount of client money only on a statutory trust are exempt insurance intermediaries.8

Note (5) = In row (6):7

(a)7

SUP 3.1 - SUP 3.7 applies to a managing agent in respect of its own business and in respect of the insurance business of each syndicate which it manages; and7

(b)7

SUP 3.1, SUP 3.2 and SUP 3.8 apply to the auditors of a managing agent and the auditors of the insurance business of each syndicate which the managing agent manages.1234567
SUP 3.1.2AGRP

8If a firm falls within more than one row in column (1) of the table in SUP 3.1.2 R, SUP 3.1.1 R requires the firm and its external auditor to comply with all the sections referred to in column (2) or (3). For example, a bank which carries on designated investment business which is also a mortgage lender, falls in rows (4) and (9). Therefore, the bank must comply with SUP 3.1 to SUP 3.7, and its external auditor must comply with SUP 3.1, SUP 3.2, SUP 3.8 and SUP 3.10.

Incoming firms

SUP 3.1.3RRP

This chapter applies17to an incoming EEA firm (and the auditor of such a firm) only if it has a17top-up permission.

171717
SUP 3.1.4GRP

The application of SUP 3.10 to the auditor of an incoming EEA firm with a top-up permission is qualified in SUP 3.10.3 R.

SUP 3.1.5RRP

This chapter does not apply to an incoming Treaty firm, which:

  1. (1)

    does not have a top-up permission; and

  2. (2)

    is not required to comply with the client asset rules.

SUP 3.1.6GRP

The application of SUP 3.7 to an incoming Treaty firm or an auditor of such a firm is further qualified in SUP 3.7.1 G.

1919

Auditors of lead regulated firms

SUP 3.1.7GRP

The application of SUP 3.10 to the auditor of a lead regulated firm is qualified in SUP 3.10.3 R.

1919

Authorised professional firms

SUP 3.1.8G

This chapter applies to an authorised professional firm as set out in rows (1) to (3) of SUP 3.1.2 R:

  1. (1)

    a firm in row (1) is treated in the same way as its equivalent in row (7);

  2. (2)

    large parts of this chapter apply to a firm in row (2) and its auditor; the report on client assets under SUP 3.10 (Duties of auditors: notification and report on client assets) must cover compliance for the whole of the business within the scope of whichever ofthe custody rules and the client money rules are17 treated as applying; but there is no requirement for the auditor to prepare a report to the FSA on the firm's17financial statements;

    1717
  3. (3)

    this chapter has limited application to a firm in row (3) and its auditor.3

Material elsewhere in the Handbook

SUP 3.1.9GRP

A firm which is a friendly society or other insurer, investment management firm, personal investment firm or a 13securities and futures firm,7 should see the Prudential Standards part of the Handbook13 for further provisions on auditors as set out in SUP 3.1.10 G. For the categorisations employed in SUP 3.1.2 R and SUP 3.1.10 G see SUP App 1.

1313713713131313

7Lloyd's

7Enabling provision and application

SUP 3.1.11G

7The insurance market direction in this chapter is given under section 316(1) of the Act (Direction by Authority) and applies to members.

7Purpose

SUP 3.1.12G

7The insurance market direction in this chapter is intended to enable the rules in SUP 3 and SUP 4 to be applied to a managing agent in respect of the insurance business of each syndicate which it manages.

7Insurance market direction on rules concerning auditors and actuaries

SUP 3.1.13D
  1. (1)

    7With effect from 1 January 2005, Part XXII of the Act (Auditors and Actuaries) applies to the carrying on of insurance business by members as modified by paragraph (3).

  2. (2)

    For the purposes of (1) "insurance business" means the regulated activities of effecting or carrying out contracts of insurance written at Lloyd's.

  3. (3)

    Regulations made by the Treasury under section 342(5) and section 343(5) of Part XXII of the Act apply only to actuaries appointed by a managing agent in respect of the insurance business of a syndicate, in relation to the long-term insurance business of that syndicate.

  4. (4)

    In Part XXII of the Act (Auditors and Actuaries) as applied by this insurance market direction:

    1. (a)

      a reference to an auditor of an authorised person is to be read as including an auditor appointed by a managing agent in respect of the insurance business of a syndicate; and

    2. (b)

      a reference to an actuary acting for an authorised person is to be read as including an actuary appointed by a managing agent in respect of the insurance business of a syndicate.

SUP 3.1.14G

7Part XXII (Auditors and Actuaries) is a core provision mentioned in section 317(1) of the Act (The core provisions).

SUP 3.1.15G

7Section 317(2) of the Act (The core provisions) provides that references in an applied core provision to an authorised person are to be read as references to a person in the class to which the insurance market direction applies. The effect of this, and of the insurance market direction set out at SUP 3.1.13 D, is that Part XXII of the Act (Auditors and Actuaries), applies also to auditors and actuaries who are appointed to report on the underwriting business of members. Part XXII is modified in its application to members by paragraph (3) of SUP 3.1.13 D with the effect that the regulations made under sections 342(5) and 343(5) of the Act relating to communications by actuaries will only apply where the actuary is appointed to evaluate the long-term insurance business of the syndicate. The regulations made under sections 342(5) and 343(5) in relation to communications by auditors will apply in relation to both general insurance business and long-term insurance business.

SUP 3.1.16G

7SUP 3.3 sets out rules the effect of which is to require a managing agent to appoint an auditor in respect of its own business and the insurance business of each syndicate which it manages.

SUP 3.1.17G

7References in SUP 3, as applied by SUP 3.1.2 R, to a firm include, where appropriate:

  1. (1)

    a managing agent; and

  2. (2)

    one or more members carrying on insurance business at Lloyd's through a syndicate,

and references to an actuary of a firm should be read accordingly.

SUP 3.1.18G

7SUP 4.6 sets out rules the effect of which is to require a managing agent to appoint an actuary in respect of the insurance business of each syndicate which it manages.