Related provisions for BIPRU 7.9.33
Table There are some frequently asked questions about the application of the definition of an open-ended investment company in the following table. This table belongs to PERG 9.2.4 G (Introduction).
Question |
Answer |
|
1 |
Can a body corporate be both open-ended and closed-ended at the same time? |
In the FSA's view, the answer to this question is 'no'. The fact that the investment condition is applied to BC (rather than to particular shares in, or securities of, BC) means that a body corporate is either an open-ended investment company as defined in section 236 of the Act or it is not. Where BC is an open-ended investment company, all of its securities would be treated as units of a collective investment scheme for the purpose of the Act. A body corporate formed in another jurisdiction may, however, be regarded as open-ended under the laws of that jurisdiction but not come within the definition of an open-ended investment company in section 236 (and vice versa). |
2 |
Can an open-ended investment company become closed-ended (or a closed-ended body become open-ended)? |
In the FSA's view, the answer to this question is 'yes'. A body corporate may change from open-ended to closed-ended (and vice versa) if, taking an overall view, circumstances change so that a hypothetical reasonable investor would consider that the investment condition is no longer met (or vice versa). This might happen where, for example, an open-ended investment company stops its policy of redeeming shares or securities at regular intervals (so removing the expectation that a reasonable investor would be able to realise his investment within a period appearing to him to be reasonable). See also PERG 9.7.5 G. |
3 |
Does the liquidation of a body corporate affect the assessment of whether or not the body is an open-ended investment company? |
The FSA considers that the possibility that a body corporate that would otherwise be regarded as closed-ended may be wound up has no effect at all on the nature of the body corporate before the winding up. The fact that, on a winding up, the shares or securities of any investor in the body corporate may be converted into cash or money on the winding up (and so 'realised') would not, in the FSA's view, affect the outcome of applying the expectation test to the body corporate when looked at as a whole. The answer to Question 4 explains that investment in a closed-ended fixed term company shortly before its winding up does not, in the FSA's view, change the closed-ended nature of the company. For companies with no fixed term, the theoretical possibility of a winding up at some uncertain future point is not, in the FSA's view, a matter that would generally carry weight with a reasonable investor in assessing whether he could expect to be able to realise his investment within a reasonable period. |
4 |
Does a fixed term closed-ended investment company become an open-ended investment company simply because the fixed term will expire? |
In the FSA's view, the answer to this is 'no'. The termination of the body corporate is an event that has always been contemplated (and it will appear in the company's constitution). Even as the date of the expiry of the fixed term approaches, there is nothing about the body corporate itself that changes so as to cause a fundamental reassessment of its nature as something other than closed-ended. Addressing this very point in parliamentary debate, the Economic Secretary to the Treasury stated that the "aim and effect [of the definition] is to cover companies that look, to a reasonable investor, like open-ended investment companies". The Minister added that "A reasonable investor's overall expectations of potential investment in a company when its status with respect to the definition is being judged will determine whether it meets the definition. The matter is therefore, definitional rather than one of proximity to liquidation". (Hansard HC, 5 June 2000 col 124). |
5 |
In what circumstances will a body corporate that issues a mixture of redeemable and non-redeemable shares or securities be an open-ended investment company? |
In the FSA's view, the existence of non-redeemable shares or securities will not, of itself, rule out the possibility of a body corporate falling within the definition of an open-ended investment company. All the relevant circumstances will need to be considered (see PERG 9.6.4 G, PERG 9.2.8.8G and PERG 9.8.9 G). So the following points need to be taken into account.
|
6 |
Does "realised on a basis calculated wholly or mainly by reference to..." in section 236(3)(b) apply to an investor buying investment trust company shares traded on a recognised investment exchange because of usual market practice that the shares trade at a discount to asset value? |
In the FSA's view, the answer is 'no' (for the reasons set out in PERG 9.9.4 G to PERG 9.9.6 G). |
7 |
Does the practice of UK investment trust companies buying back shares result in them becoming open-ended investment companies? |
In the FSA's view, it does not, because its actions will comply with company law: see section 236(4) of the Act and PERG 9.6.5 G. |
8 |
Would a body corporate holding out redemption or repurchase of its shares or securities every six months be an open-ended investment company? |
In the FSA's view a period of six months would generally be too long to be a reasonable period for a liquid securities fund. A shorter period affording more scope for an investor to take advantage of any profits caused by fluctuations in the market would be more likely to be a reasonable period for the purpose of the realisation of the investment (in the context of the 'expectation' test, see PERG 9.8 and, in particular, PERG 9.8.9 G which sets out the kind of factors that may need to be considered in applying the test). |
9 |
Would an initial period during which it is not possible to realise investment in a body corporate mean that the body corporate could not satisfy the investment condition? |
In the FSA's view, the answer to that question is 'no'. In applying the investment condition, the body corporate must be considered as a whole (see PERG 9.6.3 G). At the time that the shares or securities in a body corporate are issued, a reasonable investor may expect that he will be able to realise his investment within a reasonable period notwithstanding that there will first be a short-term delay before he can do so. Whether or not the 'expectation test' is satisfied will depend on all the circumstances (see PERG 9.8.9 G). |
This table belongs to COLL 8.3.2 R.
1 |
Document status |
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A statement that this document is the prospectus of the authorised fund valid as at a particular date which shall be the date of the document. |
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2 |
Description of the authorised fund |
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Information detailing: |
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(1) |
the name of the authorised fund; |
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(2) |
that the authorised fund is either an ICVC or an AUT; |
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(3) |
that the scheme is a qualified investor scheme; |
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(4) |
where relevant, that the unitholders in an ICVC are not liable for the debts of the authorised fund; |
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(5) |
where relevant, the address of the ICVC's head office and the address in the United Kingdom for service on the ICVC of documents required or authorised to be served on it; |
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(6) |
the effective date of the authorisation order made by the FSA and, if the duration of the authorised fund is not unlimited, when it will or may terminate; |
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(7) |
the base currency for the authorised fund; |
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(8) |
where relevant, the maximum and minimum sizes of the ICVC's capital; and |
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(9) |
the circumstances in which the authorised fund may be wound up under the rules in COLL and a summary of the procedure for, and the rights of unitholders under, such a winding up. |
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3 |
Investment objectives and policy |
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(1) |
Sufficient information to enable a unitholder to ascertain: |
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(a) |
the investment objectives of the authorised fund; |
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(b) |
the authorised fund's investment policy for achieving those investment objectives, including: |
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(i) |
the general nature of the portfolio and any intended specialisation; |
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(ii) |
the policy for the spreading of risk in the scheme property; and |
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(iii) |
the policy in relation to the exercise of borrowing powers; |
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(c) |
a description of any restrictions in the assets in which investment may be made; and |
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(d) |
the extent (if any) to which that investment policy does not envisage remaining fully invested at all times. |
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(2) |
For investment in immovables : |
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(a) |
the countries or territories of immovables in which the authorised fund may invest; |
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(b) |
the policy of the authorised fund manager in relation to insurance of immovables forming part of the scheme property; and |
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(c) |
the policy of the authorised fund manager in relation to the granting of options over immovables in the scheme property and the purchase of options on immovables. |
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(3) |
If intended, whether the scheme property may consist of units in collective investment schemes ("second schemes") which are managed by or operated by the authorised fund manager or by one of its associates and a statement as: |
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(a) |
to the basis of the maximum amount of the charges in respect of transactions in a second scheme; and |
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(b) |
the extent to which any such charges will be reimbursed to the scheme. |
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(4) |
If intended, whether the scheme may enter into stock lending transactions and, if so, what procedures will operate and what collateral will be required. |
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4 |
Distributions and accounting dates |
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Relevant details of accounting and distribution dates and a description of the procedures: |
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(1) |
for determining and applying income (including how any distributable income is paid); and |
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(2) |
relating to unclaimed distributions. |
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5 |
The characteristics of units in the authorised fund |
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Information as to: |
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(1) |
the names of the classes of units in issue or available for issue and the rights attached to them in so far as they vary from the rights attached to other classes; |
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(2) |
how unitholders may exercise their voting rights and what these are; and |
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(3) |
the circumstances where a mandatory redemption, cancellation or conversion of units from one class to another may be required. |
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6 |
The authorised fund manager |
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The following particulars of the authorised fund manager: |
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(1) |
its name and the nature of its corporate form; |
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(2) |
the country or territory of its incorporation; |
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(3) |
the date of its incorporation and if the duration of its corporate status is limited, when that status will or may cease; |
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(4) |
if it is a subsidiary, the name of its ultimate holding company and the country or territory in which that holding company is incorporated; |
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(5) |
the address of its registered office, its head office, and, if different, the address of its principal place of business in the United Kingdom; |
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(6) |
the amount of its issued share capital and how much of it is paid up; |
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(7) |
for an ICVC, a summary of the material provisions of the contract between the ICVC and the authorised fund manager which may be relevant to unitholders including provisions (if any) relating to termination, compensation on termination and indemnity; and |
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(8) |
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7 |
Directors of an ICVC, other than the ACD |
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Other than for the ACD: |
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(1) |
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(2) |
the manner, amount and calculation of the remuneration of the directors. |
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8 |
The depositary |
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The following particulars of the depositary: |
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(1) |
its name and the nature of its corporate form; |
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(2) |
the country or territory of its incorporation; |
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(3) |
the address of its registered office and the address of its head office if that is different from the address of its registered office; and |
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(4) |
if neither its registered office nor its head office is in the United Kingdom, the address of its principal place of business in the United Kingdom. |
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9 |
The investment adviser |
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If an investment adviser is retained in connection with the business of the authorised fund, its name and whether or not it is authorised by the FSA. |
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10 |
The auditor |
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The name of the auditor of the authorised fund. |
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11 |
The register of Unitholders |
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Details of the address in the United Kingdom where the register of unitholders is kept and can be inspected by unitholders. |
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12 |
Payments out of the scheme property |
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The payments that may be made out of the scheme property to any person whether by way of remuneration for services, or reimbursement of expense and for each category of remuneration or expense, the following should be specified: |
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(1) |
the current rates or amounts of such remuneration; |
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(2) |
how the remuneration will be calculated and accrue and when it will be paid; |
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(3) |
if notice has been given to unitholders of the authorised fund manager's intention to: |
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(a) |
introduce a new category of remuneration for its services; or |
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(b) |
increase the basis of any current charge; or |
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(c) |
change the basis of the treatment of a payment from the capital property set out in COLL 8.5.13 R (2) (Payments); |
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particulars of that introduction or increase and when it will take place; |
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(4) |
the types of any other charges and expenses that may be taken out of the scheme property; and |
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(5) |
if, in accordance with COLL 8.5.13 R (2), all or part of the remuneration or expense are to be treated as a capital charge: |
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(a) |
that fact; and |
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(b) |
the basis of the charge which may be so treated |
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13 |
Dealing |
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Details of: |
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(1) |
the dealing days and times in the dealing day on which the authorised fund manager will receive requests for the sale and redemption of units; |
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(2) |
the procedures for effecting: |
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(a) |
the issue and cancellation of units; |
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(b) |
the sale and redemption of units; and |
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(c) |
the settlement of transactions; |
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(3) |
the steps required to be taken by a unitholder in redeeming units before he can receive the proceeds including any relevant notice periods and the circumstances and periods where a deferral of payment as provided in COLL 8.5.11 R (3) (Sale and redemption) may be applied; |
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(4) |
the circumstances in which the redemption of units may be suspended; |
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(5) |
the days and times in the day on which recalculation of the price will commence; |
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(6) |
details of the minimum number or value of each type of unit in the authorised fund which: |
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(a) |
any one person may hold; and |
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(b) |
may be the subject of any one transaction of sale or redemption; |
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(7) |
the circumstances in which the authorised fund manager may arrange for, and the procedure for, a redemption of units in specie; |
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(8) |
the circumstances in which the further issue of units in any particular class may be limited and the procedures relating to this |
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(9) |
the circumstances in which direct issue or cancellation of units by the ICVC or the trustee (as appropriate) may occur and the relevant procedures for such issues and cancellations |
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14 |
Valuation of scheme property |
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Details as to: |
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(1) |
how frequently and at what times of the day the scheme property will be regularly valued to determine the price at which units in the scheme may be purchased from or redeemed by the authorised fund manager and a description of any circumstance where the scheme property may be specially valued; |
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(2) |
in relation to each purpose for which the scheme property must be valued, the basis on which it will be valued; and |
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(3) |
how the price of units of each class will be determined, including whether a forward price or historic price basis is to be applied. |
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15 |
Sale and redemption charges |
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If the authorised fund manager makes any charges on sale or redemption of units, details of the charging structure and how notice will be provided to unitholders of any increase. |
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15A5 |
Property Authorised Investment Funds |
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For a property authorised investment fund, a statement that: |
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(1) |
it is a property authorised investment fund; |
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(2) |
no body corporate may seek to obtain or intentionally maintain a holding of more than 10% of the net asset value of the fund; and |
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(3) |
in the event that the authorised fund manager reasonably considers that a body corporate holds more than 10% of the net asset value of the fund, the authorised fund manager is entitled to delay any redemption or cancellation of units if the authorised fund manager reasonably considers such action to be: |
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(a) |
necessary in order to enable an orderly reduction of the holding to below 10%; and |
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(b) |
in the interests of the unitholders as a whole. |
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16 |
General information |
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Details as to: |
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(1) |
when annual and half- yearly reports will be published; and |
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(2) |
the address at which copies of the instrument constituting the scheme, any amending instrument and the most recent annual reports may be inspected and from which copies may be obtained. |
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17 |
Information on the umbrella |
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In the case of a scheme which is an umbrella, the following information: |
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(1) |
that a unitholder may exchange units in one sub-fund for units in another sub-fund and that such an exchange is treated as a redemption and sale; |
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(2) |
what charges may be made on exchanging units in one sub-fund for units in other sub-funds; |
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(3) |
the policy for allocating between sub-funds any assets of, or costs, charges and expenses payable out of, the scheme property which are not attributable to any particular sub-fund; |
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(4) |
in respect of each sub-fund, the currency in which the scheme property allocated to it will be valued and the price of units calculated and payments made, if this currency is not the base currency of the umbrella; and |
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(5) |
for an ICVC, that the sub-funds are not "ring fenced" and in the event of an umbrella being unable to meet liabilities attributable to any particular sub-fund out of the assets attributable to that sub-fund, the remaining liabilities may have to be met out of the assets attributable to other sub-funds. |
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18 |
Application of the prospectus contents to an umbrella |
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For a scheme which is an umbrella, information required must be stated: |
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(1) |
in relation to each sub-fund where the information for any sub-fund differs from that for any other; and |
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(2) |
for the umbrella as a whole, but only where the information is relevant to the umbrella as a whole. |
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318A |
Investment in overseas4 property through an intermediate holding vehicle3 |
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If investment in an overseas4 immovable is to be made through an intermediate holding vehicle or a series of intermediate holding vehicles a statement disclosing the existence of that intermediate holding vehicle or series of intermediate holding vehicles and confirming that the purpose of that intermediate holding vehicle or series of intermediate holding vehicles is to enable the holding of overseas4 immovables by the scheme.3 |
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19 |
Additional information |
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Any other material information which is within the knowledge of the directors of an ICVC or the manager of an AUT, or which the directors or manager would have obtained by the making of reasonable enquiries which investors and their professional advisers would reasonably require, and reasonably expect to find in the prospectus, for the purpose of making an informed judgement about the merits of investing in the authorised fund and the extent and characteristics of the risks accepted by so participating. |
This table belongs to BIPRU 3.7.1 R
[Note: BCD Annex II]
Category |
Item |
Percentage |
Full risk |
Guarantees having the character of credit substitutes Credit derivatives Acceptances Endorsements on bills not bearing the name of another credit institution Transactions with recourse Irrevocable standby letters of credit having the character of credit substitutes Assets purchased under outright forward purchase agreements Forward deposits The unpaid portion of partly-paid shares and securities Asset sale and repurchase agreements as defined in Article 12(3) and (5) of the Bank Accounts Directive Other items also carrying full risk |
100% |
Medium risk |
Documentary credits issued and confirmed (see also medium/low risk). Warranties and indemnities (including tender, performance, customs and tax bonds) and guarantees not having the character of credit substitutes. Irrevocable standby letters of credit not having the character of credit substitutes. Undrawn credit facilities (agreements to lend, purchase securities, provide guarantees or acceptance facilities) with an original maturity of more than one year. Note issuance facilities (NIFs) and revolving underwriting facilities (RUFs). |
50% |
Medium/low risk |
Documentary credits in which underlying shipment acts as collateral and other self-liquidating transactions. Undrawn credit facilities (agreements to lend, purchase securities, provide guarantees or acceptance facilities) with an original maturity of up to and including one year which may not be cancelled unconditionally at any time without notice or that do not effectively provide for automatic cancellation due to deterioration in a borrower's creditworthiness. |
20% |
Low risk |
Undrawn credit facilities (agreements to lend, purchase securities, provide guarantees or acceptance facilities) which may be cancelled unconditionally at any time without notice, or that do effectively provide for automatic cancellation due to deterioration in a borrower's creditworthiness. Retail credit lines may be considered as unconditionally cancellable if the terms permit the firm to cancel them to the full extent allowable under consumer protection and related legislation. |
0% |