Related provisions for FEES 6.3.20A
Table: Issues to be covered in PPFM
Subject |
Issues |
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(1) |
Amount payable under a with-profits policy |
(a) |
Methods used to guide determination of the amount that is appropriate to pay individual with-profits policyholders, including: |
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(i) |
the aims of the methods and approximations used; |
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(ii) |
how the current methods, including any relevant historical assumptions used and any systems maintained to deliver results of particular methods, are documented; and |
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(iii) |
the procedures for changing the current method or any assumptions or parameters relevant to a particular method. |
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(b) |
Approach to setting bonus rates. |
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(c) |
Approach to smoothing maturity payments and surrender payments, including: |
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(i) |
the smoothing policy applied to each type of with-profits policy; |
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(ii) |
the limits (if any) applied to the total cost of, or excess from, smoothing; and |
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(iii) |
any limits applied to any changes in the level of maturity payments between one period to another. |
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(2) |
Investment strategy |
Significant aspects of the firm's investment strategy for its with-profits business or, if different, any with-profits fund, including: |
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(a) |
the degree of matching to be maintained between assets relevant to with-profits business and liabilities to with-profits policyholders and other creditors; |
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(b) |
the firm's approach to assets of different credit or liquidity quality and different volatility of market values; |
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(c) |
the presence among the assets relevant to with-profits business of any assets that would not normally be traded because of their importance to the firm, and the justification for holding such assets; and |
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(d) |
the firm's controls on using new asset or liability instruments and the nature of any approval required before new instruments are used. |
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(3) |
Business risk |
The exposure of the with-profits business to business risks (new and existing), including the firm's: |
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(a) |
procedures for deciding if the with-profits business may undertake a particular business risk; |
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(b) |
arrangements for reviewing and setting a limit on the scale of such risks; and |
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(c) |
procedures for reflecting the profits or losses of such business risks in the amounts payable under with-profits policies. |
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(4) |
Charges and expenses |
(a) |
The way in which the firm applies charges and apportions expenses to its with-profits business, including, if material, any interaction with connected firms. |
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(b) |
The cost apportionment principles that will determine which costs are, or may be, charged to a with-profits fund and which costs are, or may be, charged to the other parts of its business of its shareholders. |
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(5) |
Management of inherited estate |
Management of any inherited estate and the uses to which the firm may put that inherited estate. |
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(6) |
Volumes of new business and arrangements on stopping taking new business |
If a firm'swith-profits fund is accepting new with-profits business, its practice for review of the limits on the quantity and type of new business and the actions that the firm would take if it ceased to take on new business of any significant amount. |
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(7) |
Equity between the with-profits fund and any shareholders |
The way in which the interests of with-profits policyholders are, or may be, affected by the interests of any shareholders of the firm. |
Table: Guidance on with-profits principles and practices
Reference to PPFM issues (COBS 20.3.6R) |
With-profits principles |
With-profits practices |
(1) Amount payable under a with-profits policy |
General (a) Circumstances under which any historical assumptions or parameters, relevant to methods used to determine the amount payable, may be changed; |
General (e) For each major class of with-profits policy, methods establishing the main assumptions or parameters that decide the output of methods that determine the amount payable; (f) Degree of approximation allowed when assumptions or parameters are applied across generations of with-profits policyholders or across different types or classes of with-profits policies; (g) Formality with which the methods, parameters or assumptions used are documented; (h) Target range, or target ranges, that have been set for maturity payments; (i) Factors likely to be regarded as relevant to address policyholders' interests or security when determining excess surplus; and Investment return, expenses or charges and tax (j) How investment return, expenses or charges and tax are brought into account and how the impact of those items is determined on the amount payable. In particular:
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Bonus rates (b) General aims in setting bonus rates and the constraints to which the firm may be subject in changing economic circumstances; (c) How the range of with-profits policies or generations of with-profits policies over which the firm believes a single bonus rate would be appropriate is determined and the circumstances under which it believes a new bonus series would be necessary; and |
Bonus rates (k) Current approach to setting bonus rates, including the weight given to recent economic experience. For final bonus rates, the description should include any distinctions made between with-profits policies that remain in force until contractual dates, or dates on which no market value reduction applies (for example, maturity or retirement dates) and policies that are surrendered or transferred at other dates; (l) Frequency at which bonus rates are re-set or expected to be re-set and the circumstances under which changes in the economic environment would cause the time between re-setting to change; (m) Maximum amount by which annual bonuses would alter if annual bonus rates were reset; (n) Approach to setting any interim bonus rates before the next declaration of annual bonus rates; (o) Relationship or interaction between final bonus rates and any market value reductions, if both can apply at the same time; (p) How final bonus rates influence the value of with-profits policies that have formulaic surrender or transfer bases (for example, older conventional policies rather than unitised policies); and |
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Smoothing (d) Statement as to whether smoothing is intended to be neutral over time. |
Smoothing (q) Any differences in approach for:
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(2) Investment strategy |
(a) How the types, classes or mix of assets are determined; and (b) Strategy in respect of derivatives and other instruments. |
(c) Whether and to what extent there is hypothecation of assets; (d) Period between formal reviews of investment strategy; (e) Approach to investment in different asset classes, and assets of different credit or liquidity quality, including assets not normally traded; and (f) Details of any external support available to the with-profits fund and how this affects the investment strategy. |
(3) Business risk |
(a) Where a firm explicitly excludes business risk from a class of with-profits policies but there are residual risks, clarification where these risks such as guarantee and smoothing costs are borne; and (b) Define where compensation costs from a business risk would be borne. |
(c) Current limits which apply to the taking on of business risk; and (d) Whether and to what extent particular generations of with-profits policyholders or classes of with-profits policies bear or might bear particular business risks, including for example, crystallised or contingent guarantees to other classes of policyholders or whether the out-turn from all business risk is pooled across all with-profits policies. |
(4) Charges and expenses |
(a) Factors that would drive any change to the basis on which the firm applies charges to or apportions its actual expenses amongst with-profits policies, or exercises any discretion to apply charges to particular with-profits policies. |
(b) Charges currently applied and the expenses currently apportioned to major classes of with-profits policies; (c) Relationship between the firm's actual charges and expenses, as applied to determine the amounts payable under with-profits policies, and the charges and expenses borne by the with-profits fund; (d) Circumstances under which expenses will be charged to the with-profits fund at an amount other than cost, and the reasons why; and (e) Interval for reviewing any arrangements for out-sourced services, including those provided by connected parties, giving a broad indication of the terms for termination. |
(5) Management of inherited estate |
(a) Preferred size or scale of inherited estate and implications for the values of the with profits policies; and (b) Any existing division of the inherited estate between with-profits funds; and (c) Any constraints on the freedom to deal with the inherited estate as a result of previous dealings. |
(d) How the inherited estate is used, for example, in meeting costs; (e) Whether the investment strategy for the inherited estate differs from the rest of the with-profits fund; and (f) Any current guidelines in place as to the size or scale of the inherited estate or as to how and over what time period the inherited estate would be managed, if it becomes too large or too small. |
(6) Equity between the with-profits fund and any shareholders |
(a) Arrangements for, and any changes to, profit sharing between shareholders and with-profits policyholders. |
(b) Current basis on which profit between with-profits policyholders and shareholders is divided; and (c) Whether the pricing of any policies being written, and particular policies open to new business, appear to be significantly and systematically reducing the inherited estate if the shareholder transfer is taken into account. |
This table belongs to COLL 3.2.4 R (Matters which must be included in the instrument constituting the scheme)
Name of scheme |
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1 |
A statement of: |
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(1) |
the name of the authorised fund; and |
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(2) |
whether the authorised fund is a UCITS scheme or a non-UCITS retail scheme. |
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Investment powers in eligible markets |
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2 |
A statement that, subject to any restriction in the rules in this sourcebook or the instrument constituting the scheme, the scheme has the power to invest in any eligible securities market or deal on any eligible derivatives market to the extent that power to do so is conferred by COLL 5 (Investment and borrowing powers). |
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Unitholder's liability to pay |
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3 |
A provision that a unitholder is not liable to make any further payment after he has paid the price of his units and that no further liability can be imposed on him in respect of the units which he holds. |
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Base currency |
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4 |
A statement of the base currency of the scheme. |
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Valuation and pricing |
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5 |
A statement setting out the basis for the valuation and pricing of the scheme. |
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Duration of the scheme |
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6 |
If the scheme is to be wound up after a particular period expires, a statement to that effect. |
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Object of the scheme |
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7 |
A statement: |
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(1) |
as to the object of the scheme, in particular the types of investments and assets in which it and each sub-fund (where applicable) may invest; and |
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(2) |
that the object of the scheme is to invest in property of that kind with the aim of spreading investment risk and giving unitholders the benefits of the results of the management of that property. |
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27A |
Where the authorised fund is a qualifying money market fund, a statement to that effect and a statement that the authorised fund's investment objectives and policies will meet the conditions specified in the definition of qualifying money market fund. |
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5Property Authorised Investment Funds |
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57B |
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 in accordance with 18 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.11 |
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Government and public securities: investment in one issuer |
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8 |
Where relevant, for a UCITS scheme, a statement in accordance with COLL 5.2.12 R (Spread: government and public securities) as to the individual states or bodies in which over 35% of the value of the scheme may be invested in government and public securities. |
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Classes of unit |
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9 |
A statement: |
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(1) |
specifying the classes of unit that may be issued, and for a scheme which is an umbrella, the classes that may be issued in respect of each sub-fund; and |
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(2) |
if the rights of any class of unit differ, a statement describing those differences in relation to the differing classes. |
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Authorised fund manager's charges and expenses |
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10 |
A statement setting out the basis on which the authorised fund manager may make a charge and recover expenses out of the scheme property. |
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Issue or cancellation directly through the ICVC or trustee |
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11 |
Where relevant, a statement authorising the issue or cancellation of units to take place through the ICVC or trustee directly. |
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In specie issue and cancellation |
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12 |
Where relevant, a statement authorising payment for the issue or cancellation of units to be made by the transfer of assets other than cash. |
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Restrictions on sale and redemption |
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13 |
Where relevant, the restrictions which will apply in relation to the sale and redemption of units under COLL 6.2.16 R (Sale and redemption). |
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Voting at meetings |
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14 |
The manner in which votes may be given at a meeting of unitholders under COLL 4.4.8 R (Voting rights). |
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Certificates |
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15 |
A statement: |
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(1) |
authorising the issue of bearer certificates if any, and how such holders are to identify themselves; and |
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(2) |
authorising the person responsible for the register to charge for issuing any document recording, or for amending, an entry on the register, other than on the issue or sale of units. |
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Income |
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16 |
A statement setting out the basis for the distribution or re-investment of income. |
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Income equalisation |
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17 |
Where relevant, a provision for income equalisation. |
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Redemption or cancellation of units on breach of law or rules |
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18 |
A statement that where any holding of units by a unitholder is (or is reasonably considered by the authorised fund manager to be) an infringement of any law, governmental regulation or rule, those units must be redeemed or cancelled. |
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ICVCs: larger and smaller denomination shares |
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19 |
A statement of the proportion of a larger denomination share represented by a smaller denomination share for any relevant unit class. |
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ICVCs: resolution to remove a director |
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20 |
A statement that the ICVC may (without prejudice to the requirements of regulation 21 of the OEIC Regulations (The Authority's approval for certain changes in respect of a company), by a resolution passed by a simple majority of the votes validly cast for and against the resolution at a general meeting of unitholders, remove a director before his period of office expires, despite anything else in the ICVC's instrument of incorporation or in any agreement between the ICVC and that director. |
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ICVCs: unit transfers |
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21 |
A statement that the person designated for the purposes of paragraph 4 of Schedule 4 to the OEIC Regulations (Share transfers) is the person who, for the time being, is the ACD of the ICVC.1 7 |
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ICVCs: Charges and expenses |
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22 |
A statement that charges or expenses of the ICVC may be taken out of the scheme property.10 |
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10ICVCs: Umbrella schemes - principle of limited recourse |
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1022A |
For an ICVC which is an umbrella, a statement that the assets of a sub-fund belong exclusively to that sub-fund and shall not be used to discharge directly or indirectly the liabilities of, or claims against, any other person or body, including the umbrella, or any other sub-fund, and shall not be available for any such purpose. |
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AUTs: governing law for a trust deed |
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23 |
A statement that the trust deed is made under and governed by the law of England and Wales, Wales or Scotland or Northern Ireland. |
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AUTs: trust deed to be binding and authoritative |
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24 |
A statement that the trust deed: |
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(1) |
is binding on each unitholder as if it had been a party to it and that it is bound by its provisions; and |
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(2) |
authorises and requires the trustee and the manager to do the things required or permitted of them by its terms. |
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AUTs: declaration of trust |
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25 |
A declaration that, subject to the provisions of the trust deed and all rules made under section 247 of the Act (Trust scheme rules) and for the time being in force: |
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(1) |
the scheme property (other than sums standing to the credit of the distribution account) is held by the trustee on trust for the unitholders according to the number of units held by each unitholder or, where relevant, according to the number of undivided shares in the scheme property represented by the units held by each unitholder; and |
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(2) |
the sums standing to the credit of the distribution account are held by the trustee on trust to distribute or apply them in accordance with COLL 6.8 (Income: accounting, allocation and distribution). |
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AUTs: trustee's remuneration |
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26 |
Where relevant, a statement authorising payments to the trustee by way of remuneration for its services to be paid (in whole or in part) out of the scheme property. |
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AUTs: responsibility for the register |
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27 |
A statement identifying the person responsible under the rules for the maintenance of the register. |
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3Investment in overseas4 property through an intermediate holding vehicle |
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328 |
3If investment in an overseas4 immovable is to be made through an intermediate holding vehicle or a series of intermediate holding vehicles, a statement that the purpose of that intermediate holding vehicle or series of intermediate holding vehicles will be to enable the holding of overseas4 immovables by the scheme. |