Related provisions for COBS 20.3.4
41 - 60 of 101 items.
(1) A firm must ensure that a communication or a financial promotion is fair, clear and not misleading.(2) This rule applies in relation to:(a) a communication by the firm to a client in relation to designated investment business other than a third party prospectus;(b) a financial promotioncommunicated by the firm that is not:(i) an excluded communication;(ii) a non-retail communication;(iii) a third party prospectus; and(c) a financial promotion approved by the firm.[Note: article
(1) 1The fair, clear and not misleading rule applies in a way that is appropriate and proportionate taking into account the means of communication and the information the communication is intended to convey. So a communication addressed to a professional client may not need to include the same information, or be presented in the same way, as a communication addressed to a retail client.(2) COBS 4.2.1R(2)(b)1 does not limit the application of the fair, clear and not misleading
A firm should ensure that a financial promotion:(1) for a product or service that places a client's capital at risk makes this clear;(2) that quotes a yield figure gives a balanced impression of both the short and long term prospects for the investment;(3) that promotes an investment or service whose charging structure is complex, or in relation to which the firm will receive more than one element of remuneration, includes the information necessary to ensure that it is fair, clear
1A firm must provide a suitability report to a retail client if the firm makes a personal recommendation to the client and the client:(1) acquires a holding in, or sells all or part of a holding in:(a) a regulated collective investment scheme;(b) an investment trust where the relevant shares have been or are to be acquired through an investment trust savings scheme;(c) an investment trust where the relevant shares are to be held within an ISA which has been promoted as the means
The obligation to provide a suitability report does not apply:(1) if the firm, acting as an investment manager for a retail client, makes a personal recommendation relating to a regulated collective investment scheme;(2) if the client is habitually resident outside the EEA and the client is not present in the United Kingdom at the time of acknowledging consent to the proposal form to which the personal recommendation relates;(3) to any personal recommendation by a friendly society
A firm must provide the suitability report to the client:(1) in the case of a life policy, before the contract is concluded unless the necessary information is provided orally or immediate cover is necessary; or(2) in the case of a personal pension scheme or stakeholder pension scheme, where the rules on cancellation (COBS 15) require notification of the right to cancel, no later than the fourteenth day after the contract is concluded; or(3) in any other case, when or as soon
In the case of telephone selling of a life policy, when the only contact between a firm and its client before conclusion of a contract is by telephone, the suitability report must:(1) comply with the distance marketing disclosure rules (COBS 5.1);(2) be provided immediately after the conclusion of the contract; and(3) be in a durable medium.[Note: article 13(3) of the Insurance Mediation Directive]
The suitability report must, at least:(1) specify the client's demands and needs;(2) explain why the firm has concluded that the recommended transaction is suitable for the client having regard to the information provided by the client; and(3) explain any possible disadvantages of the transaction for the client.[Note: article 12(3) of the Insurance Mediation Directive]
If a firm is providing a suitability report in the course of insurance mediation activity, the information must be provided:(1) in a durable medium which is available and accessible to the client;(2) in a clear and accurate manner, comprehensible to the client; and(3) in an official language of the State of the commitment in which the contract of insurance is made or in any other language agreed by the parties.[Note: article 13 of the Insurance Mediation Directive]
When a firm is making a personal recommendation to a retail client about income withdrawals or purchase short-term annuities, explanation of possible disadvantages in the suitability report should include the risk factors involved in entering into an income withdrawal or purchase of a short-term annuity. These may include:(1) the capital value of the fund may be eroded;(2) the investment returns may be less than those shown in the illustrations;(3) annuity or scheme pension rates
A key features document must:(1) include enough information about the nature and complexity of the product, how it works, any limitations or minimum standards that apply and the material benefits and risks of buying or investing for a retail client to be able to make an informed decision about whether to proceed; and(2) explain:(a) the arrangements for handling complaints about the product;(b) that compensation might be available from the FSCS if the firm cannot meet its liabilities
Table
A key features document for a packaged product must: |
||
(1) |
Include the title: ‘key features of the [name of product]’; |
|
(2) |
describe the product in the order of the following headings, and by giving the following information under those headings: |
|
Heading |
Information to be given |
|
‘Its aims’ |
A brief description of the product’s aims |
|
‘Your commitment’ or ‘Your investment’ |
What a retail client is committing to or investing in and any consequences of failing to maintain the commitment or investment |
|
‘Risks’ |
The material risks associated with the product, including a description of the factors that may have an adverse effect on performance or are material to the decision to invest |
|
‘Questions and Answers’ |
(in the form of questions and answers) the principle terms of the product, what it will do for a retail client and any other information necessary to enable a retail client to make an informed decision. |
|
3A key features document for a short-term money market fund, a money market fund or a qualifying money market fund must include a statement identifying it as such a fund and a statement that the authorised fund's investment objectives and policies will meet the conditions of the definition of short-term money market fund, money market fund or qualifying money market fund, as appropriate.
Each of the following is a per se professional client unless and to the extent it is an eligible counterparty or is given a different categorisation under this chapter:(1) an entity required to be authorised or regulated to operate in the financial markets. The following list includes all authorised entities carrying out the characteristic activities of the entities mentioned, whether authorised by an EEA State or a third country and whether or not authorised by reference to a
1In relation to MiFID or equivalent third country business a local authority or a public authority is not likely to be a regional government for the purposes of COBS 3.5.2 R (4). 2In the FSA's opinion, a local authority may be a per se professional client for those purposes if it meets the test for large undertakings in COBS 3.5.2 R (2)2.22
A firm may treat a client as an elective professional client if it complies with (1) and (3) and, where applicable, (2):(1) the firm undertakes an adequate assessment of the expertise, experience and knowledge of the client that gives reasonable assurance, in light of the nature of the transactions or services envisaged, that the client is capable of making his own investment decisions and understanding the risks involved (the "qualitative test");(2) in relation to MiFID or equivalent
Before deciding to accept a request for re-categorisation as an elective professional client a firm must take all reasonable steps to ensure that the client requesting to be treated as an elective professional client satisfies the qualitative test and, where applicable, the quantitative test. [Note: second paragraph of section II.2 of annex II to MiFID]
(1) If a firm becomes aware that a client no longer fulfils the initial conditions that made it eligible for categorisation as an elective professional client , the firm must take the appropriate action.(2) Where the appropriate action involves re-categorising that client as a retail client, the firm must notify that client of its new categorisation. [Note: fourth paragraph of section II.2 of annex II to MiFID and article 28(1) of the MiFID implementing Directive]
When a firm is carrying on Lloyd's market activities, any reference in COBS to the term:(1) designated investment is to be taken to include the following specified investments:(a) the underwriting capacity of a Lloyd's syndicate;(b) membership of a Lloyd's syndicate; and (c) rights to or interests in the specified investments in (a) or (b);(2) designated investment business is to be taken to include the following regulated activities:(a) advising on syndicate participation at
(1) 1A firm must act honestly, fairly and professionally in accordance with the best interests of its client (the client's best interests rule).(2) This rule applies in relation to designated investment business carried on:(a) for a retail client; and(b) in relation to MiFID or equivalent third country business, for any other client.(3) For a management company, this rule applies in relation to any UCITS scheme or EEA UCITS scheme the firm manages.2[Note: article 19(1) of MiFID
(1) In order to comply with the client's best interests rule, a firm should not, in any communication to a retail client relating to designated investment business:(a) seek to exclude or restrict; or(b) rely on any exclusion or restriction of;any duty or liability it may have to a client other than under the regulatory system, unless it is honest, fair and professional for it to do so.(2) The general law, including the Unfair Terms Regulations, also limits the scope for a firm
1When a firm prepares documents or information in accordance with this chapter, the firm should consider the rules on providing product information (COBS 14). Those rules require a firm to provide the product information in a durable medium or via a website that meets the website conditions (if the website is not a durable medium). [Note: article 29(4) of the MiFID implementing Directive]
A key features document and a key features illustration2must also:(1) (if it is a key features document) 2be produced and presented to at least the same quality and standard as the sales or marketing material used to promote the relevant product;(2) (if it is a key features document) 2display the firm's brand at least as prominently as any other;(3) (if it is a key features document or a key features illustration which does not form an integral part of the key features document)
1A firm that communicates a projection for an in-force packaged product which is not a financial instrument:(1) must include a standardised deterministic projection; (2) may also include an alternative projection except that the most prominent projection must be a standardised deterministic projection; andmust follow the projectionrules in COBS 13 Annex 2.
A firm that communicates a projection for a packaged product which is not a financial instrument,(1) for which a key featureillustration is not required to be provided; and (2) which is not an in-force packaged product;must ensure that such a projection is either a standardised deterministic projection or an alternative projection in accordance with COBS 13 Annex 2.
A firm that communicates a projection of benefits for a packaged product which is not a financial instrument, as part of a combined projection where other benefits being projected include those for a financial instrument or structured deposit, is not required to comply with the projection rules in COBS 13.4, COBS 13.5 and COBS 13 Annex 2 to the extent that it complies with the future performance rule (COBS 4.6.7 R).
The general requirement that communications be fair, clear and not misleading will nevertheless mean that a firm that elects to comply with the future performance rule in COBS 4.6.7 R will need to explain how the combined projection differs from other information that has been or could be provided to the client, including a projection provided under the projectionrules in COBS 13.4, COBS 13.5 and COBS 13 Annex 2.
When a firm prepares a suitability report it must:(1) (in the case of a personal pension scheme), explain why it considers the personal pension scheme to be at least as suitable as a stakeholder pension scheme; and(2) (in the case of an FSAVC), explain why it considers the FSAVC to be at least as suitable as any stakeholder pension scheme, AVC or facility to make additional contributions to an occupational pension scheme which is available to the retail client.
When a firm promotes a personal pension scheme, including a group personal pension scheme, to a group of employees it must:(1) be satisfied on reasonable grounds that the scheme is likely to be at least as suitable for the majority of the employees as a stakeholder pension scheme; and(2) record why it thinks the promotion is justified.
The provisions of COBS in the table do not apply in relation to any energy market activity or oil market activity carried on by a firm which is MiFID or equivalent third country business:
COBS |
Description |
6.2 |
Describing the breadth of a firm's advice on investments |
Disclosing information about services, fees and commission - packaged products |
|
Disclosure of charges, remuneration and commission |
|
Suitability reports |
|
Special rules for providing basic advice on a stakeholder product |
|
Use of dealing commission |
|
Guidance on contingent liability transaction |
|
Quotations for surrender values |
|
Life insurance contracts - communications to clients |
|
Information to be provided in accordance with COBS 16.2.1 R and 16.3 |
The provisions of COBS in the table are unlikely to be relevant to any energy market activity or oil market activity carried on by a firm which is MiFID or equivalent third country business:
COBS |
Description |
Distance communications |
|
Insurance mediation |
|
Preparing product information |
|
Providing product information to clients |
|
Cancellation |
|
Claims handling for long-term care insurance |
|
Trustee firms' regime |
|
Corporate finance business |
|
Stock lending activity |
|
Pensions - supplementary provisions |
|
With-profits |
1The duty to provide best execution does not apply where:(1) the firm has agreed with a professional client that it does not owe a duty of best execution to him; or(2) the firm relies on another person to whom it passes a customer order for execution to provide best execution, but only if it has taken reasonable care to ensure that he will do so.
1To provide best execution, a firm must:(1) take reasonable care to ascertain the price which is the best available for the customer order in the relevant market at the time for transactions of the kind and size concerned; and (2) execute the customer order at a price which is no less advantageous to the customer, unless the firm has taken reasonable steps to ensure that it would be in the customer's best interests not to do so.
(1) 1In order to take reasonable care to ascertain the price which is the best available, a firm:(a) should disregard any charges and commission made by it or its agents that are disclosed to the customer under COBS 6.1.9 R (Information about costs and associated charges);(b) need not have access to competing exchanges, or to all, or a minimum number of, available price sources; but if a firm can access prices displayed by different exchanges and trading platforms and make a direct
(1) A firm that holds clientdesignated investments or client money for a client must send that client at least once a year a statement in a durable medium of those designated investments or that client money unless such a statement has been provided in a periodic statement.(2) A credit institution need not send a statement in respect of deposits held by it.(3) This rule does not apply in relation to a firm holding clientdesignated investments or client money under a personal pension
A firm must include in a statement of client assets referred to under this section the following information:(1) details of all the designated investments or client money held by the firm for the client at the end of the period covered by the statement;(2) the extent to which any clientdesignated investments or client money have been the subject of securities financing transactions; and(3) the extent of any benefit that has accrued to the client by virtue of participation in any
In cases where the portfolio of a client includes the proceeds of one or more unsettled transactions, the information in a statement provided under this section may be based either on the trade date or the settlement date, provided that the same basis is applied consistently to all such information in the statement. [Note: article 43(2) of the MiFID implementing Directive]
1In reporting to a client in accordance with this section, a firm should consider whether to provide details of any assets loaned or charged including:(1) which investments (if any) were at the end of the relevant period loaned to any third party and which investments (if any) were at that date charged to secure borrowings made on behalf of the portfolio; and(2) the aggregate of any interest payments made and income received during the period in respect of loans or borrowings
(1) 4Subject to (2) and (3), this section applies to a firm in relation to the communication or approval of a financial promotion that relates to the business of an overseas person.4(2) This section does not apply to a firm in relation to its MiFID or equivalent third country business.(3) 4If a communication relates to a firm's business that is not MiFID or equivalent third country business, this section does not apply:4(a) to the extent that it is an excluded communication;(b)
A firm must not communicate or approve a financial promotion which relates to a particular relevant investment or relevant business of an overseas person, unless:(1) the financial promotion makes clear which firm has approved or communicated it and, where relevant, explains:(a) that the rules made under the Act for the protection of retail clients do not apply;(b) the extent and level to which the compensation scheme will be available, or if the scheme will not be available, a
A firm may only2communicate or approve a financial promotion to enter into a life policy with a person who is:22(1) an authorised person; or(2) an exempt person who is exempt in relation to effecting or carrying out contracts of insurance of the class to which the financial promotion relates; or(3) an overseas long-term insurer that is entitled under the law of its home country or territory to carry on there insurance business of the class to which the financial promotion rel
A financial promotion for an overseas long-term insurer, which has no establishment in the United Kingdom, must include:(1) the full name of the overseas long-term insurer, the country where it is registered, and, if different, the country where its head office is situated;(2) a prominent statement that 'holders of policies issued by the company will not be protected by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme if the company becomes unable to meet its liabilities to them'; and(3)
A financial promotion for an overseas long-term insurer which is authorised to carry on long-term insurance business in any country or territory listed in paragraph (c) of the Glossary definition of overseas long-term insurer must also include:(1) the full name of any trustee of property of any description which is retained by the overseas long-term insurer in respect of the promoted contracts;(2) an indication whether the investment of such property (or any part of it) is managed
If a financial promotion relates to a life policy with an overseas long-term insurer but does not name the overseas long-term insurer by giving its full name or its business name:(1) it must include the following prominent statement: "This financial promotion relates to an insurance company which does not, and is not authorised to, carry on in any part of the United Kingdom the class of insurance business to which this promotion relates. This means that the management and solvency
1 A key features illustration must include appropriate charges information and, if it is a packaged product which is not a financial instrument:(1) must include a standardised deterministic projection;(2) the projection and charges information must be consistent with each other ;(3) it may also include alternative projections except that the most prominent projection must be a standardised deterministic projection.
There is no requirement to include a projection in a key features illustration:(1) for a single premiumlife policy bought as a pure investment product, a product with benefits that do not depend on future investment returns or any other product if it is reasonable to believe that a retail client will not need one to be able to make an informed decision about whether to invest; or(2) if the product is: (a) a SIPP from which no income withdrawals are being taken (but if the SIPP
Unless a client expressly instructs otherwise, a firm must, in the case of a clientlimit order in respect of shares admitted to trading on a regulated market which is not immediately executed under prevailing market conditions, take measures to facilitate the earliest possible execution of that order by making public immediately that clientlimit order in a manner which is easily accessible to other market participants. [Note: article 22(2) of MiFID]
An investment firm shall be considered to disclose clientlimit orders that are not immediately executable if it transmits the order to a regulated market or MTF that operates an order book trading system, or ensures that the order is made public and can be easily executed as soon as market conditions allow. [Note: article 31 of MiFID Regulation]
(1) This rule applies in relation to a distance contract that is not a life policy, personal pension scheme, cash deposit ISA or CTF.(2) When the consumer exercises his right to cancel he may be required to pay, without any undue delay, for the service actually provided by the firm in accordance with the contract. The performance of the contract may only begin after the consumer has given his approval. The amount payable must not:(a) exceed an amount which is in proportion to
(1) The firm may require the consumer to pay for any loss under a contract caused by market movements that the firm would reasonably incur in cancelling it. The period for calculating the loss shall end on the day on which the firm receives the notification of cancellation.(2) This rule:(a) does not apply for a distance contract or for a contract established on a regular or recurring premium or payment basis; and(b) only applies if the firm has complied with its obligations to
The firm must, without any undue delay and no later than within 30 calendar days, return to the consumer any sums it has received from him in accordance with the contract2, except for any amount that the consumer may be required to pay under this section. This period shall begin from the day on which the firm receives the notification of cancellation.2 [Note: article 7(4) of the Distance Marketing Directive]
The firm is entitled to receive from the consumer any sums and/or property he has received from the firm without any undue delay and no later than within 30 calendar days. This period shall begin from the day on which the consumer dispatches the notification of cancellation. [Note: article 7(5) of the Distance Marketing Directive]
The provisions of COBS in the table do not apply to a trustee firm to which this section applies:
COBS |
Description |
6.2 |
Describing the breadth of a firm's advice on investments |
6.3 |
Disclosing information about services, fees and commission - packaged products |
6.4 |
Disclosure of charges, remuneration and commission |
9.4 |
Suitability reports |
9.6 |
Special rules for providing basic advice on a stakeholder product |
16.3.9 |
Guidance on contingent liability transaction |
16.5 |
Quotations for surrender values |
16.6 |
Life insurance contracts - communications to clients |
16 Annex 1 R (1) 14 |
Information to be provided in accordance with COBS 16.2.1 R and 16.3 |
The provisions of COBS in the table are unlikely to be relevant in relation to a trustee firm to which this section applies:
COBS |
Description |
5 |
Distance communications |
13 |
Preparing product information |
14.2 |
Providing product information |
15 |
Cancellation |
17 |
Claims handling for long-term care insurance |
18.2 |
Energy market activity and oil market activity |
18.3 |
Corporate finance business |
18.4 |
Stock lending activity |
19 |
Pensions - supplementary provisions |
20 |
With-profits |
To the extent a rule in COBS applies to a trustee firm, that rule:(1) applies in addition to any duties or powers imposed or conferred upon a trustee by the general law; and(2) does not qualify or restrict the duties or powers that the general law imposes or confers upon a trustee; trustee firms will be under a duty to observe the provisions of their trust instrument; if its provisions conflict with any applicable rule, trustee firms will need to take advice in resolving the
Where an applicable rule in COBS requires the doing of any thing in relation to a client, the trustee firm should consider who, in the context of that rule and having regard to the particular trust arrangement, is the most appropriate person to treat as its client. This might, for example, be the beneficiary, another trustee or the trust, depending on the particular circumstances.
(1) 1This
chapter applies to a firm in
relation to designated investment business carried
on for:(a) a retail
client; and(b) in relation to MiFID
or equivalent third country business, a professional
client.(2) If expressly provided, this chapter
also applies to a firm in relation
to other ancillary services carried
on for a client, but only in
relation to its MiFID or equivalent third
country business.(3) But this chapter does not apply
to a firm to the extent that
it is effecting
If a firm carries
on designated investment business,
other than advising on investments with or for a new retail client,
the firm must enter into a written
basic agreement, on paper or other durable
medium, with the client setting
out the essential rights and obligations of the firm and
the client.[Note: article 39 of the MiFID
implementing Directive]
(1) A firm must,
in good time before a retail client is
bound by any agreement relating to designated
investment business or ancillary
services or before the provision of those services, whichever
is the earlier, provide that client with:(a) the terms of any such agreement;
and(b) the information about the firm and its services relating to that agreement
or to those services required by COBS 6.1.4 R, including information on communications, conflicts
of interest and authorised
(1) A firm must
establish a record that includes the document or documents agreed between
it and a client which set out
the rights and obligations of the parties, and the other terms on which it
will provide services to the client.(2) The record must be maintained for
at least whichever is the longer of:(a) 5 years; or(b) the duration of the relationship
with the client; or(c) in the case of a record relating
to a pension transfer, pension opt-out or FSAVC,
indefinitely. [Note:
When considering its approach to
client agreements, a firm should
be aware of other obligations in the Handbook which
may be relevant. These include the fair,
clear and not misleading rule and the rules on
disclosure of information to a client before
providing services and the rules on
distance communications (principally in COBS 2.2, 5, 6 and 13).
(1) If a firm has carried out an order in the course of its designated investment business on behalf of a client, it must:(a) promptly provide the client, in a durable medium, with the essential information concerning the execution of the order;(b) in the case of a retail client, send the client a notice in a durable medium confirming the execution of the order and such of the trade confirmation information (COBS 16 Annex 1R) 2as is applicable: (i) as soon as possible and no later
For the purposes of calculating the unit price in the trade confirmation information, where the order is executed in tranches, the firm may supply the client with information about the price of each tranche or the average price. If the average price is provided, the firm must supply the retail client with information about the price of each tranche upon request. [Note: article 40(4) of the MiFID implementing Directive]
1In determining what is essential information, a firm should consider including:(1) for transactions in a derivative:(a) the maturity, delivery or expiry date of the derivative;(b) in the case of an option, a reference to the last exercise date, whether it can be exercised before maturity and the strike price;(c) if the transaction closes out an open futures position, all essential details required in respect of each contract comprised in the open position and each contract by
Where a firm executes an order in tranches, the firm may, where appropriate, indicate the trading time and the execution venue in a way that is consistent with this, such as, "multiple". In accordance with the client's best interests rule, a firm should provide additional information at the client's request.
A firm must retain a copy of any confirmation despatched to a client under this section:(1) for MiFID or equivalent third country business, for a period of at least five years; or(2) for business that is not MiFID or equivalent third country business, for a period of at least three years;from the date of despatch. [Note: see article 51(3) of the MiFID implementing Directive]
This section applies to a firm in relation to the communication of 3a financial promotion that is not in writing, but it does not apply:(1) to the extent that the financial promotion is an excluded communication;(2) if the financial promotion is image advertising;(3) if the financial promotion is a non-retail communication;1(4) [deleted]22(5) to the extent that the financial promotion relates to a pure protection contract that is a long-term care insurance contract.1
A firm must not make a cold call unless:(1) the recipient has an established existing client relationship with the firm and the relationship is such that the recipient envisages receiving cold calls; or(2) the cold call relates to a generally marketable packaged product which is not:(a) a higher volatility fund; or(b) a life policy with a link (including a potential link) to a higher volatility fund; or(3) the cold call relates to a controlled activity to be carried on by an authorised
A firm must not communicate a solicited or unsolicited financial promotion that is not in writing, to a client3 outside the firm's premises, unless the personcommunicating it:(1) only does so at an appropriate time of the day;(2) identifies himself and the firm he represents at the outset and makes clear the purpose of the communication;(3) clarifies if the client would like to continue with or terminate the communication, and terminates the communication at any time that the
If a consumer exercises his right to cancel he must, before the expiry of the relevant deadline, notify this following the practical instructions given to him. The deadline shall be deemed to have been observed if the notification, if in a durable medium available and accessible to the recipient, is dispatched before the deadline expires. [Note: article 6 (6) of the Distance Marketing Directive]
The firm should accept any indication that the consumer wishes to cancel as long as it satisfies the conditions for notification. In the event of any dispute, unless there is clear written evidence to the contrary, the firm should treat the date cited by the consumer as the date when the notification was dispatched.
The firm must make adequate records concerning the exercise of a right to cancel or withdraw and retain them:(1) indefinitely in relation to a pension transfer, pension opt-out or FSAVC;(2) for at least five years in relation to a life policy, pension contract, personal pension scheme or stakeholder pension scheme; and(3) for at least three years in any other case.