Related provisions for SUP 18.2.54

Format of the prospectus

25.1

Where an issuer, an offeror or a person asking for the admission to trading on a regulated market chooses, according to [PR 2.2.1 R] to draw up a prospectus as a single document, the prospectus shall be composed of the following parts in the following order:

(1)

a clear and detailed table of contents;

(2)

the summary provided for in [section 87A(5) of the Act];

(3)

the risk factors linked to the issuer and the type of security covered by the issue;

(4)

the other information items included in the schedules and building blocks according to which the prospectus is drawn up.

2.

Where an issuer, an offeror or a person asking for the admission to trading on a regulated market chooses, according to [LR 3.1.1 R], to draw up a prospectus composed of separate documents, the securities note and the registration document shall be each composed of the following parts in the following order:

(1)

a clear and detailed table of contents;

(2)

as the case may be, the risk factors linked to the issuer and the type of security covered by the issue;

(3)

the other information items included in the schedules and building blocks according to which the prospectus is drawn up.

3.

In the cases mentioned in paragraphs 1 and 2, the issuer, the offeror or the person asking for admission to trading on a regulated market shall be free in defining the order in the presentation of the required information items included in the schedules and building blocks according to which the prospectus is drawn up.

4.

Where the order of the items does not coincide with the order of the information provided for in the schedules and building blocks according to which the prospectus is drawn up, the [FSA] may ask the issuer, the offeror or the person asking for the admission to trading on a regulated market to provide a cross reference list for the purpose of checking the prospectus before its approval. Such list shall identify the pages where each item can be found in the prospectus. [see LR 3.1.1R(3)]

5.

Where the summary of a prospectus must be supplemented according to [section 87G of the Act], the issuer, the offeror or the person asking for admission to trading on a regulated market shall decide on a case-by-case basis whether to integrate the new information in the original summary by producing a new summary, or to produce a supplement to the summary.

If the new information is integrated in the original summary, the issuer, the offeror or the person asking for admission to trading on a regulated market shall ensure that investors can easily identify the changes, in particular by way of footnotes.

Format of the base prospectus and its related final terms

26.1

Where an issuer, an offeror or a person asking for the admission to trading on a regulated market chooses, according to [PR 2.2.7 R] to draw up a base prospectus, the base prospectus shall be composed of the following parts in the following order:

(1)

a clear and detailed table of contents;

(2)

the summary provided for in [section 87A of the Act];

(3)

the risk factors linked to the issuer and the type of security or securities covered by the issue(s);

(4)

the other information items included in the schedules and building blocks according to which the prospectus is drawn up.

2.

Notwithstanding paragraph 1, the issuer, the offeror or the person asking for admission to trading on a regulated market shall be free in defining the order in the presentation of the required information items included in the schedules and building blocks according to which the prospectus is drawn up. The information on the different securities contained in the base prospectus shall be clearly segregated.

3.

Where the order of the items does not coincide with the order of the information provided for by the schedules and building blocks according to which the prospectus is drawn up, the [FSA] may ask the issuer, the offeror or the person asking for admission to trading on a regulated market to provide a cross reference list for the purpose of checking the prospectus before its approval. Such list should identify the pages where each item can be found in the prospectus. [see LR 3.1.1R(3)]

4.

In case the issuer, the offeror or the person asking for admission to trading on a regulated market has previously filed a registration document for a particular type of security and, at a later stage, chooses to draw up base prospectus in conformity with the conditions provided for in [PR 2.2.7 R], the base prospectus shall contain:

(1)

the information contained in the previously or simultaneously filed and approved registration document which shall be incorporated by reference, following the conditions provided for in Article 28 of this Regulation;

(2)

the information which would otherwise be contained in the relevant securities note less the final terms where the final terms are not included in the base prospectus.

5.

The final terms attached to a base prospectus shall be presented in the form of a separate document containing only the final terms or by inclusion of the final terms into the base prospectus.

In the case that the final terms are included in a separate document containing only the final terms, they may replicate some information which has been included in the approved base prospectus according to the relevant securities note schedule that has been used for drawing up the base prospectus. In this case the final terms have to be presented in such a way that they can be easily identified as such.

A clear and prominent statement shall be inserted in the final terms indicating that the full information on the issuer and on the offer is only available on the basis of the combination of base prospectus and final terms and where the base prospectus is available.

6.

Where a base prospectus relates to different securities, the issuer, the offeror or the person asking for admission to trading on a regulated market shall include a single summary in the base prospectus for all securities. The information on the different securities contained in the summary, however, shall be clearly segregated.

7.

Where the summary of a base prospectus must be supplemented according to [section 87G of the Act], the issuer, the offeror or the person asking for admission to trading on a regulated market shall decide on a case-by-case basis whether to integrate the new information in the original summary by producing a new summary, or by producing a supplement to the summary.

If the new information is integrated in the original summary of the base prospectus by producing a new summary, the issuer, the offeror or the person asking for admission to trading on a regulated market shall ensure that investors can easily identify the changes, in particular by way of footnotes.

8.

Issuers, offerors or persons asking for admission to trading on a regulated market may compile in one single document two or more different base prospectuses.

Article 3

Minimum information to be included in a prospectus

A prospectus shall be drawn up by using one or a combination of the following schedules and building blocks set out in Articles 4 to 20, according to the combinations for various types of securities provided for in Article 21.

A prospectus shall contain the information items required in Annexes I to XVII depending on the type of issuer and securities involved, provided for in the schedules and building blocks set out in Articles 4 to 20. Subject to Article 4a(1), a1 competent authority shall not request that a prospectus contains information items which are not included in Annexes I to XVII.

In order to ensure conformity with the obligation referred to in [section 87A(2) of the Act], the [FSA], when approving a prospectus in accordance with [section 87A of the Act], may require that the information provided by the issuer, the offeror or the person asking for admission to trading on a regulated market be completed, for each of the information items, on a case by case basis.

Article 4

Share registration document schedule

1.

For the share registration document information shall be given in accordance with the schedule set out in Annex I.

2.

The schedule set out in paragraph 1 shall apply to the following:

(1)

shares and other transferable securities equivalent to shares;

(2)

other securities which comply with the following conditions:

(a)

they can be converted or exchanged into shares or other transferable securities equivalent to shares, at the issuer’s or at the investor’s discretion, or on the basis of the conditions established at the moment of the issue, or give, in any other way, the possibility to acquire shares or other transferable securities equivalent to shares, and

(b)

provided that these shares or other transferable securities equivalent to shares are or will be issued by the issuer of the security and are not yet traded on a regulated market or an equivalent market outside the Community at the time of the approval of the prospectus covering the securities, and that the underlying shares or other transferable securities equivalent to shares can be delivered with physical settlement.

1Article 4a

Share registration document schedule in cases of complex financial history or significant financial commitment

1.

Where the issuer of a security covered by Article 4(2) has a complex financial history, or has made a significant financial commitment, and in consequence the inclusion in the registration document of certain items of financial information relating to an entity other than the issuer is necessary in order to satisfy the obligation laid down in Article 5(1) of Directive 2003/71/EC, those items of financial information shall be deemed to relate to the issuer. The competent authority of the home Member State shall in such cases request that the issuer, the offeror or the person asking for admission to trading include those items of information in the registration document.

Those items of financial information may include pro forma information prepared in accordance with Annex II. In this context, where the issuer has made a significant financial commitment any such pro forma information shall illustrate the anticipated effects of the transaction that the issuer has agreed to undertake, and references in Annex II to “the transaction” shall be read accordingly.

2.

The competent authority shall base any request pursuant to paragraph 1 on the requirements set out in item 20.1 of Annex I as regards the content of financial information and the applicable accounting and auditing principles, subject to any modification which is appropriate in view of any of the following factors:

(a)

the nature of the securities;

(b)

the nature and range of information already included in the prospectus, and the existence of financial information relating to an entity other than the issuer in a form that might be included in a prospectus without modification;

(c)

the facts of the case, including the economic substance of the transactions by which the issuer has acquired or disposed of its business undertaking or any part of it, and the specific nature of that undertaking;

(d)

the ability of the issuer to obtain financial information relating to another entity with reasonable effort.

Where, in the individual case, the obligation laid down in Article 5(1) of Directive 2003/71/EC may be satisfied in more than one way, preference shall be given to the way that is the least costly or onerous.

(3)

Paragraph 1 is without prejudice to the responsibility under national law of any other person, including the persons referred to in Article 6(1) of Directive 2003/71/EC, for the information contained in the prospectus. In particular, those persons shall be responsible for the inclusion in the registration document of any items of information requested by the competent authority pursuant to paragraph 1.

(4)

For the purposes of paragraph 1, an issuer shall be treated as having a complex financial history if all of the following conditions apply:

(a)

its entire business undertaking at the time that the prospectus is drawn up is not accurately represented in the historical financial information which it is required to provide under item 20.1 of Annex I;

(b)

that inaccuracy will affect the ability of an investor to make an informed assessment as mentioned in Article 5(1) of Directive 2003/71/EC; and

(c)

information relating to its business undertaking that is necessary for an investor to make such an assessment is included in financial information relating to another entity.

(5)

For the purposes of paragraph 1, an issuer shall be treated as having made a significant financial commitment if it has entered into a binding agreement to undertake a transaction which, on completion, is likely to give rise to a significant gross change.

In this context, the fact that an agreement makes completion of the transaction subject to conditions, including approval by a regulatory authority, shall not prevent that agreement from being treated as binding if it is reasonably certain that those conditions will be fulfilled.

In particular, an agreement shall be treated as binding where it makes the completion of the transaction conditional on the outcome of the offer of the securities that are the subject matter of the prospectus or, in the case of a proposed takeover, if the offer of securities that are the subject matter of the prospectus has the objective of funding that takeover.

(6)

For the purposes of paragraph 5 of this Article, and of item 20.2 of Annex I, a significant gross change means a variation of more than 25%, relative to one or more indicators of the size of the issuer's business, in the situation of an issuer.

Recital 9

Pro forma financial information is needed in case of significant gross change, i. e. a variation of more than 25% relative to one or more indicators of the size of the issuer's business, in the situation of an issuer due to a particular transaction, with the exception of those situations where merger accounting is required.

Article 5

Pro-forma financial information building block

For pro-forma financial information, information shall be given in accordance with the building block set out in Annex II.

Pro forma financial information should be preceded by an introductory explanatory paragraph that states in clear terms the purpose of including this information in the prospectus.

Article 6

Share securities note schedule

1.

For the share securities note information is necessary to be given in accordance with the schedule set out in Annex III.

2.

The schedule shall apply to shares and other transferable securities equivalent to shares

Article 7

Debt and derivative securities registration document schedule for securities with a denomination per unit of less than EUR 50 000

For the debt and derivative securities registration document concerning securities which are not covered in Article 4 with a denomination per unit of less than EUR 50 000or, where there is no individual denomination, securities that can only be acquired on issue for less than EUR 50 000per security, information shall be given in accordance with the schedule set out in Annex IV.

Article 8

Securities note schedule for debt securities with a denomination per unit of less than EUR 50 000

1.

For the securities note for debt securities with a denomination per unit of less than EUR 50 000information shall be given in accordance with the schedule set out in Annex V.

2.

The schedule shall apply to debt where the issuer has an obligation arising on issue to pay the investor 100% of the nominal value in addition to which there may be also an interest payment.

Article 9

Guarantees building block

For guarantees information shall be given in accordance with the building block set out in Annex VI.

Article 10

Asset backed securities registration document schedule

For the asset backed securities registration document information shall be given in accordance with the schedule set out in Annex VII.

Article 11

Asset backed securities building block

For the additional information building block to the securities note for asset backed securities information shall be given in accordance with the building block set out in Annex VIII.

Article 12

Debt and derivative securities registration document schedule for securities with a denomination per unit of at least EUR 50 000

For the debt and derivative securities registration document concerning securities which are not covered in Article 4 with a denomination per unit of at least EUR 50 000or, where there is no individual denomination, securities that can only be acquired on issue for at least EUR 50 000per security, information shall be given in accordance with the schedule set out in Annex IX.

Article 13

Depository receipts schedule

For depository receipts issued over shares information shall be given in accordance with the schedule set out in Annex X.

Article 14

Banks registration document schedule

1.

For the banks registration document for debt and derivative securities and those securities which are not covered by article 4 information shall be given in accordance with the schedule set out in Annex XI.

2.

The schedule set out in paragraph 1 shall apply to credit institutions as defined in point (a) of Article 1(1) of Directive 2000/12/EC as well as to third country credit institutions which do not fall under that definition but have their registered office in a state which is a member of the OECD.

These entities may also use alternatively the registration document schedules provided for under in Articles 7 and 12.

Article 15

Securities note schedule for derivative securities

1.

For the securities note for derivative securities information shall be given in accordance with the schedule set out in Annex XII.

2.

The schedule shall apply to securities which are not in the scope of application of the other securities note schedules referred to in Articles 6, 8 and 16, including certain securities where the payment and/or delivery obligations are linked to an underlying.

Article 16

Securities note schedule for debt securities with a denomination per unit

of at least EUR 50,000

1.

For the securities note for debt securities with a denomination per unit of at least EUR 50 000information shall be given in accordance with the schedule set out in Annex XIII.

2.

The schedule shall apply to debt where the issuer has an obligation arising on issue to pay the investor 100% of the nominal value in addition to which there may be also an interest payment.

Article 17

Additional information building block on the underlying share

1.

For the additional information on the underlying share, the description of the underlying share shall be given in accordance with the building block set out in Annex XIV.

In addition, if the issuer of the underlying share is an entity belonging to the same group, the information required by the schedule referred to in Article 4 shall be given in respect of that issuer.

2.

The additional information referred to in the first subparagraph of paragraph 1 shall only apply to those securities which comply with both of the following conditions:

(1)

they can be converted or exchanged into shares or other transferable securities equivalent to shares, at the issuer’s or at the investor’s discretion, or on the basis of the conditions established at the moment of the issue or give, in any other way, the possibility to acquire shares or other transferable securities equivalent to shares; and

(2)

provided that these shares or other transferable securities equivalent to shares are or will be issued by the issuer of the security or by an entity belonging to the group of that issuer and are not yet traded on a regulated market or an equivalent market outside the Community at the time of the approval of the prospectus covering the securities, and that the underlying shares or other transferable securities equivalent to shares can be delivered with physical settlement.

Article 18

Registration document schedule for collective investment undertakings of the closed-end type

1.

In addition to the information required pursuant to items 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.1, 7, 9.1, 9.2.1, 9.2.3, 10.4, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17.2, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25 of Annex I, for the registration document for securities issued by collective investment undertakings of the closed-end type information shall be given in accordance with the schedule set out in Annex XV.

2.

The schedule shall apply to collective investment undertakings of the closed-end type holding a portfolio of assets on behalf of investors that:

(1)

are recognised by national law in the Member State in which it is incorporated as a collective investment undertaking of the closed end type; or

(2)

do not take or seek to take legal or management control of any of the issuers of its underlying investments. In such a case, legal control and/or participation in the administrative, management or supervisory bodies of the underlying issuer(s) may be taken where such action is incidental to the primary investment objective, necessary for the protection of shareholders and only in circumstances where the collective investment undertaking will not exercise significant management control over the operations of that underlying issuer(s).

Article 19

Registration document schedule for Member States, third countries and their regional and local authorities

1.

For the registration document for securities issued by Member States, third countries and their regional and local authorities information shall be given in accordance with the schedule set out in Annex XVI.

2.

The schedule shall apply to all types of securities issued by Member States, third countries and their regional and local authorities.

Article 20

Registration document schedule for public international bodies and for issuers of debt securities guaranteed by a member state of the OECD

1.

For the registration document for securities issued by public international bodies and for securities unconditionally and irrevocably guaranteed, on the basis of national legislation, by a state which is a member of the OECD information shall be given in accordance with the schedule set out in Annex XVII.

2.

The schedule shall apply to:

- all types of securities issued by public international bodies;

- to debt securities unconditionally and irrevocably guaranteed, on the basis of national legislation, by a state which is a member of the OECD.

Article 21

Combination of schedules and building blocks

1.

The use of the combinations provided for in the table set out in Annex XVIII shall be mandatory when drawing up prospectuses for the types of securities to which those combinations correspond according to this table. However, for securities not covered by those combinations further combinations may be used.

2.

The most comprehensive and stringent registration document schedule, i.e. the most demanding schedule in term of number of information items and the extent of the information included in them, may always be used to issue securities for which a less comprehensive and stringent registration document schedule is provided for, according to the following ranking of schedules:

(1)

share registration document schedule;

(2)

debt and derivative securities registration document schedule for securities with a denomination per unit of less than EUR 50 000;

(3)

debt and derivative securities registration document schedule for securities with a denomination per unit at least EUR 50 000.

Article 22

Minimum information to be included in a base prospectus and its related final terms

1.

A base prospectus shall be drawn up by using one or a combination of schedules and building blocks provided for in Articles 4 to 20 according to the combinations for various types of securities set out in Annex XVIII.

A base prospectus shall contain the information items required in Annexes I to XVII depending on the type of issuer and securities involved, provided for in the schedules and building blocks set out in Articles 4 to 20. A competent authority shall not request that a base prospectus contains information items which are not included in Annexes I to XVII.

In order to ensure conformity with the obligation referred to in [section 87A(2) of the Act], the [FSA], when approving a base prospectus in accordance with [section 87A of the Act], may require that the information provided by the issuer, the offeror or the person asking for admission to trading on a regulated market be completed, for each of the information items, on a case by case basis.

2.

The issuer, the offeror or the person asking for admission to trading on a regulated market may omit information items which are not known when the base prospectus is approved and which can only be determined at the time of the individual issue.

3.

The use of the combinations provided for in the table in Annex XVIII shall be mandatory when drawing up base prospectuses for the types of securities to which those combinations correspond according to this table. However, for securities not covered by those combinations further combinations may be used.

4.

The final terms attached to a base prospectus shall only contain the information items from the various securities note schedules according to which the base prospectus is drawn up.

5.

In addition to the information items set out in the schedules and building blocks referred to in Articles 4 to 20 the following information shall be included in a base prospectus:

(1)

indication on the information that will be included in the final terms;

(2)

the method of publication of the final terms; if the issuer is not in a position to determine, at the time of the approval of the prospectus, the method of publication of the final terms, an indication of how the public will be informed about which method will be used for the publication of the final terms;

(3)

in the case of issues of non equity securities according to [PR 2.2.7R (1)], a general description of the programme.

6.

Only the following categories of securities may be contained in a base prospectus and its related final terms covering issues of various types of securities:

(1)

asset backed securities;

(2)

warrants falling under Article 17;

(3)

non-equity securities provided for under [PR 2.2.7R (2)];

(4)

all other non-equity securities including warrants with the exception of those mentioned in point (2).

In drawing up a base prospectus the issuer, the offeror or the person asking for admission to trading on a regulated market shall clearly segregate the specific information on each of the different securities included in these categories.

7.

Where an event envisaged under [section 87G(1) of the Act (Supplementary prospectus)] occurs between the time that the base prospectus has been approved and the final closing of the offer of each issue of securities under the base prospectus or, as the case may be, the time that trading on a regulated market of those securities begins, the issuer, the offeror or the person asking for admission to trading on a regulated market shall publish a supplement prior to the final closing of the offer or the admission of those securities to trading.

Article 23

Adaptations to the minimum information given in prospectuses and base prospectuses

1.

Notwithstanding Articles 3 second paragraph and 22(1) second subparagraph, where the issuer’s activities fall under one of the categories included in Annex XIX, the [FSA], taking into consideration the specific nature of the activities involved, may ask for adapted information, in addition to the information items included in the schedules and building blocks set out in 4 to 20, including, where appropriate, a valuation or other expert’s report on the assets of the issuer, in order to comply with the obligation referred to in [sections 87A(2),(3) and (4) of the Act]. The [FSA] shall forthwith inform the Commission thereof.

In order to obtain the inclusion of a new category in Annex XIX a Member State shall notify its request to the Commission. The Commission shall update this list following the Committee procedure provided for in Article 24 of [the prospectus directive].

2.

By way of derogation of Articles 3 to 22, where an issuer, an offeror or a person asking for admission to trading on a regulated market applies for approval of a prospectus or a base prospectus for a security which is not the same but comparable to the various types of securities mentioned in the table of combinations set out in Annex XVIII, the issuer, the offeror or the person asking for admission to trading on a regulated market shall add the relevant information items from another securities note schedule provided for in Articles 4 to 20 to the main securities note schedule chosen. This addition shall be done in accordance with the main characteristics of the securities being offered to the public or admitted to trading on a regulated market.

3.

By way of derogation of Articles 3 to 22, where an issuer, an offeror or a person asking for admission to trading on a regulated market applies for approval of a prospectus or a base prospectus for a new type of security, the issuer, the offeror or the person asking for admission to trading on a regulated market shall notify a draft prospectus or base prospectus to the [FSA].

The [FSA] shall decide, in consultation with the issuer, the offeror or the person asking for admission to trading on a regulated market, what information shall be included in the prospectus or base prospectus in order to comply with the obligation referred to in [sections 87A(2),(3) and (4) of the Act]. The [FSA] shall forthwith inform the Commission thereof.

The derogation referred to in the first subparagraph shall only apply in case of a new type of security which has features completely different from the various types of securities mentioned in Annex XVIII, if the characteristics of this new security are such that a combination of the different information items referred to in the schedules and building blocks provided for in Articles 4 to 20 is not pertinent.

4.

By way of derogation of Articles 3 to 22, in the cases where one of the information items required in one of the schedules or building blocks referred to in 4 to 20 or equivalent information is not pertinent to the issuer, to the offer or to the securities to which the prospectus relates, that information may be omitted.