Related provisions for INSPRU 1.5.4
Sections 85 and 86 of the Act provide for when a prospectus approved by the FCA will be required:
85 |
(1) |
It is unlawful for transferable securities to which this subsection applies to be offered to the public in the United Kingdom unless an approved prospectus has been made available to the public before the offer is made. |
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(2) |
It is unlawful to request the admission of transferable securities to which this subsection applies to trading on a regulated market situated or operating in the United Kingdom unless an approved prospectus has been made available to the public before the request is made. |
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(3) |
A person who contravenes subsection (1) or (2) is guilty of an offence and liable – |
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(a) |
on summary conviction, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 months or a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum or both; |
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(b) |
on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years or a fine or both. |
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(4) |
A contravention of subsection (1) or (2) is actionable, at the suit of a person who suffers loss as a result of the contravention, subject to the defences and other incidents applying to actions for breach of statutory duty. |
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(5) |
Subsection (1) applies to all transferable securities other than – |
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(a) |
those listed in Schedule 11A; |
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(b) |
such other transferable securities as may be specified in prospectus rules [see PR 1.2.2 R]. |
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(6) |
Subsection (2) applies to all transferable securities other than – |
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(a) |
those listed in Part 1 of Schedule 11A; |
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(b) |
such other transferable securities as may be specified in prospectus rules [see PR 1.2.3 R]. |
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(7) |
"Approved prospectus" means, in relation to transferable securities to which this section applies, a prospectus approved by the competent authority of the home State in relation to the issuer of the securities. |
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86 |
Exempt offers to the public |
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(1) |
A person does not contravene section 85(1) if – |
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(a) |
the offer is made to or directed at qualified investors only; |
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(b) |
the offer is made to or directed at fewer than 1502 persons, other than qualified investors, per EEA State; |
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(c) |
the minimum consideration which may be paid by any person for transferable securities acquired by him pursuant to the offer is at least 100,0003 euros (or an equivalent amount); 3 |
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(d) |
the transferable securities being offered are denominated in amounts of at least 100,0003 euros (or equivalent amounts); 33 |
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(e) |
the total consideration for the transferable securities being offered in the EEA states3 cannot exceed 100,000 euros (or an equivalent amount); or3 3 |
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3(f) |
the offer falls within subsection (1A). |
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3(1A) |
An offer (“the current offer”) falls within this subsection where transferable securities are resold or placed through a financial intermediary where: |
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3(a) |
the transferable securities have previously been the subject of one or more offers to the public; |
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3(b) |
in respect of one or more of those previous offers, any of paragraphs (a) to (e) of subsection (1) applied; |
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3(c) |
a prospectus is available for the securities which has been approved by the FCA and meets either of the conditions in subsection (1B);4 and 4 |
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3(d) |
the issuer or other person who was responsible for drawing up the prospectus has given written consent to the use of the prospectus for the purpose of the current offer.4 |
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4(1B) |
The conditions referred to in subsection (1A)(c) are: |
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(a) |
that the prospectus was approved by the FCA no earlier than 12 months before the date the current offer is made, and is supplemented by every supplementary prospectus which was required to be submitted under section 87G; or |
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(b) |
in the case of non-equity transferable securities falling within article 5(4)(b) of the prospectus directive, that the securities concerned have not ceased to be issued in a continuous or repeated manner. |
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(2) |
Where - |
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(a) |
a person who is not a qualified investor ("the client") has engaged a qualified investor falling within point (1) of Section 1 of Annex II to the markets in financial instruments directive3 to act as his agent; and 3 |
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(b) |
the terms on which the qualified investor is engaged enable him to make decisions concerning the acceptance of offers of transferable securities on the client's behalf without reference to the client, |
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an offer made to or directed at the qualified investor is not to be regarded for the purposes of subsection (1) as also having been made to or directed at the client. |
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(3) |
For the purposes of subsection (1)(b), the making of an offer of transferable securities to – |
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(a) |
trustees of a trust, |
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(b) |
members of a partnership in their capacity as such, or |
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(c) |
two or more persons jointly, |
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is to be treated as the making of an offer to a single person. |
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(4) |
In determining whether subsection (1)(e) is satisfied in relation to an offer ("offer A"), offer A is to be taken together with any other offer of transferable securities of the same class made by the same person which – |
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(a) |
was open at any time within the period of 12 months ending with the date on which offer A is first made; and |
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(b) |
had previously satisfied subsection (1)(e). |
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(5) |
For the purposes of this section, an amount (in relation to an amount denominated in euros) is an "equivalent amount" if it is an amount of equal value denominated wholly or partly in another currency or unit of account. |
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(6) |
The equivalent is to be calculated at the latest practicable date before (but in any event not more than 3 working days before) the date on which the offer is first made. |
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(7) |
"Qualified investor" in relation to an offer of transferable securities,3 means – |
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(a) |
a person described in points (1) to (4) of Section I of Annex II to the markets in financial instruments directive, other than a person who, before the making of the offer, has agreed in writing with the relevant firm (or each of the relevant firms) to be treated as a non-professional client in accordance with the final paragraph of Section I of Annex II to that directive;3 3 |
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(b) |
a person who has made a request to one or more relevant firms to be treated as a professional client in accordance with Section II of Annex II to that directive and has not subsequently, but before the making of the offer, agreed in writing with that relevant firm (or each of those relevant firms) to be treated as a non-professional client in accordance with the final paragraph of Section I of Annex II to that directive;3 3 |
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(c) |
a person who is recognised as an eligible counterparty in accordance with article 24 of that directive and has not, before the making of the offer, agreed in writing with the relevant firm (or each of the relevant firms) to be treated as a non-professional client in accordance with the final paragraph of Section I of Annex II of that directive;3 3 |
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3(d) |
a person whom any relevant firm is authorised to continue to treat as a professional client in accordance with article 71(6) of that directive. |
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3(8) |
In subsection (7) “relevant firm” means an investment firm or credit institution acting in connection with the offer. |
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3(9) |
Investment firms and credit institutions must communicate their classification of their clients as being or not being qualified investors on request to an issuer, subject to complying with the Data Protection Act 1998 or any directly applicable EU legislation relating to data protection. |
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3(10) |
In subsections (8) and (9) - “credit institution” means - (a) a credit institution authorised under the banking consolidation directive; or (b) an institution which would satisfy the requirements for authorisation as a credit institution under that directive if it had its registered office (or if it does not have one, its head office) in an EEA State. |
Frequently asked questions about allocation of functions in SYSC 4.4.5 R
Question |
Answer |
|
1 |
Does an individual to whom a function is allocated under SYSC 4.4.5 R need to be an approved person? |
An individual to whom a function is allocated under SYSC 4.4.5 R will be performing the apportionment and oversight function (CF 8, see SUP 10A.7.1 R17) and an application must be made under section 59 of the Act for approval of the individual before the function is performed. There are exceptions from this in SUP 10A.117 (Approved persons - Application). 1717 |
2 |
If the allocation is to more than one individual, can they perform the functions, or aspects of the functions, separately? |
If the functions are allocated to joint chief executives under SYSC 4.4.5 R, column 2, they are expected to act jointly. If the functions are allocated to an individual under SYSC 4.4.5 R, column 2, in addition to individuals under SYSC 4.4.5 R, column 3, the former may normally be expected to perform a leading role in relation to the functions that reflects his position. Otherwise, yes. |
3 |
What is meant by "appropriately allocate" in this context? |
The allocation of functions should be compatible with delivering compliance with Principle 3, SYSC 4.4.3 R and SYSC 4.1.1 R. The appropriate regulator considers that allocation to one or two individuals is likely to be appropriate for most firms. |
4 |
If a committee of management governs a firm or group, can the functions be allocated to every member of that committee? |
Yes, as long as the allocation remains appropriate (see Question 3). If the firm also has an individual as chief executive, then the functions must be allocated to that individual as well under SYSC 4.4.5 R, column 2 (see Question 7). |
5 |
Does the definition of chief executive include the possessor of equivalent responsibilities with another title, such as a managing director or managing partner? |
Yes. |
6 |
Is it possible for a firm to have more than one individual as its chief executive? |
Although unusual, some firms may wish the responsibility of a chief executive to be held jointly by more than one individual. In that case, each of them will be a chief executive and the functions must be allocated to all of them under SYSC 4.4.5 R, column 2 (see also Questions 2 and 7). |
7 |
If a firm has an individual as chief executive, must the functions be allocated to that individual? |
Normally, yes, under SYSC 4.4.5 R, column 2. But if the firm is a body corporate and a member of a group, the functions may, instead of being allocated to the firm'schief executive, be allocated to a director or senior manager from the group responsible for the overall management of the group or of a relevant group division, so long as this is appropriate (see Question 3). Such individuals may nevertheless require approval under section 59 (see Question 1). If the firm chooses to allocate the functions to a director or senior manager responsible for the overall management of a relevant group division, the FSA would expect that individual to be of a seniority equivalent to or greater than a chief executive of the firm for the allocation to be appropriate. See also Question 14. |
8 |
If a firm has a chief executive, can the functions be allocated to other individuals in addition to the chief executive? |
Yes. SYSC 4.4.5 R, column 3, permits a firm to allocate the functions, additionally, to the firm's (or where applicable the group's) directors and senior managers as long as this is appropriate (see Question 3). |
9 |
What if a firm does not have a chief executive? |
Normally, the functions must be allocated to one or more individuals selected from the firm's (or where applicable the group's) directors and senior managers under SYSC 4.4.5 R, column 3. But if the firm: (1) is a body corporate and a member of a group; and (2) the group has a director or senior manager responsible for the overall management of the group or of a relevant group division; then the functions must be allocated to that individual (together, optionally, with individuals from column 3 if appropriate) under SYSC 4.4.5 R, column 2. |
10 |
What do you mean by "group division within which some or all of the firm's regulated activities fall"? |
A "division" in this context should be interpreted by reference to geographical operations, product lines or any other method by which the group's business is divided. If the firm's regulated activities fall within more than one division and the firm does not wish to allocate the functions to its chief executive, the allocation must, under SYSC 4.4.5 R, be to: (1) a director or senior manager responsible for the overall management of the group; or (2) a director or senior manager responsible for the overall management of one of those divisions; together, optionally, with individuals from column 3 if appropriate. (See also Questions 7 and 9.) |
11 |
How does the requirement to allocate the functions in SYSC 4.4.5 R apply to an overseas firm which is not an incoming EEA firm, incoming Treaty firm or UCITS qualifier? |
The firm must appropriately allocate those functions to one or more individuals, in accordance with SYSC 4.4.5 R, but: (1) The responsibilities that must be apportioned and the systems and controls that must be overseen are those relating to activities carried on from a UK establishment with certain exceptions (see SYSC 1 Annex 1.1.8R). Note that SYSC 1 Annex 1.1.10R does not extend the territorial scope of SYSC 4.4 for an overseas firm. (2) The chief executive of an overseas firm is the person responsible for the conduct of the firm's business within the United Kingdom (see the definition of "chief executive"). This might, for example, be the manager of the firm'sUK establishment, or it might be the chief executive of the firm as a whole, if he has that responsibility. The apportionment and oversight function applies to such a firm, unless it falls within a particular exception from the approved persons regime (see Question 1). |
12 |
How does the requirement to allocate the functions in SYSC 4.4.5 R apply to an incoming EEA firm or incoming Treaty firm? |
SYSC 1 Annex 1.1.1R(2) and SYSC 1 Annex 1.1.8R restrict the application of SYSC 4.4.5 R for such a firm. Accordingly: (1) Such a firm is not required to allocate the function of dealing with apportionment in SYSC 4.4.5R (1). (2) Such a firm is required to allocate the function of oversight in SYSC 4.4.5R (2). However, the systems and controls that must be overseen are those relating to matters which the appropriate regulator, as Host State regulator, is entitled to regulate (there is guidance on this in SUP 13A Annex 2). Those are primarily, but not exclusively, the systems and controls relating to the conduct of the firm's activities carried on from its UK branch. (3) Such a firm need not allocate the function of oversight to its chief executive; it must allocate it to one or more directors and senior managers of the firm or the firm'sgroup under SYSC 4.4.5 R, row (2). (4) An incoming EEA firm which has provision only for cross border services is not required to allocate either function if it does not carry on regulated activities in the United Kingdom; for example if they fall within the overseas persons exclusions in article 72 of the Regulated Activities Order. See also Questions 1 and 15. |
13 |
What about a firm that is a partnership or a limited liability partnership? |
The appropriate regulator envisages that most if not all partners or members will be either directors or senior managers, but this will depend on the constitution of the partnership (particularly in the case of a limited partnership) or limited liability partnership. A partnership or limited liability partnership may also have a chief executive (see Question 5). A limited liability partnership is a body corporate and, if a member of a group, will fall within SYSC 4.4.5 R, row (1) or (2). |
14 |
What if generally accepted principles of good corporate governance recommend that the chief executive should not be involved in an aspect of corporate governance? |
The Note to SYSC 4.4.5 R provides that the chief executive or other executive director or senior manager need not be involved in such circumstances. For example, the UK Corporate Governance Code5 recommends that the board of a listed company should establish an audit committee of non-executive directors to be responsible for oversight of the audit. That aspect of the oversight function may therefore be allocated to the members of such a committee without involving the chief executive. Such individuals may require approval under section 59 in relation to that function (see Question 1). 5 |
15 |
What about incoming electronic commerce activities carried on from an establishment in another EEA State with or for a person in the United Kingdom? |
SYSC does not apply to an incoming ECA provider acting as such. |
Table Application of Exemptions to Forms of Promotions
Financial Promotion Order |
Applies to |
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Article No. |
Title and PERG 8 reference (where applicable) |
Unsolicited real time |
Solicited real time |
Non-real time (solicited or unsolicited) |
12 |
Communications to overseas recipients (8.12.2G) |
*1 |
* |
* |
13 |
Communications from customers and potential customers (8.12.9G) |
* |
* |
* |
14 |
Follow up non-real time communications and solicited real time communications (8.12.10G) |
* |
* |
|
15 |
Introductions (8.12.11G) |
* |
* |
*1 |
16 |
Exempt persons (8.12.12G) |
*2 |
*3 |
*3 |
17 |
Generic promotions (8.12.14G and 8.21.4G) |
* |
* |
* |
17A1 |
Communications caused to be made or directed by unauthorised persons (8.6.7AG) |
* |
* |
* |
18 |
Mere conduits (8.12.18G) |
* |
* |
* |
18A |
Outgoing electronic commerce communications: mere conduits, caching and hosting (8.12.18G)1 |
* |
* |
* |
19 |
Investment professionals (8.12.21G and 8.21.5G) |
* |
* |
* |
20 |
Communications by journalists (8.12.23G) |
* |
||
20A |
Promotion broadcast by company director etc (8.12.23G and 8.21.6G) |
* |
* |
* |
20B |
Incoming electronic commerce communications (8.12.38G) |
* |
* |
* |
22 |
Deposits : non-real time communications (8.13) |
* |
||
23 |
Deposits : real time communications (8.13) |
* |
* |
|
24 |
Relevant insurance activity : non-real time communications (8.13) |
* |
||
25 |
Relevant insurance activity : non-real time communications : reinsurance and large risks (8.13) |
* |
||
26 |
Relevant insurance activity : real time communications (8.13) |
* |
* |
|
28 |
One-off non-real time communications and solicited real time communications (8.14.3G) |
* |
* |
|
28A |
One-off unsolicited real time communications (8.14.11G) |
* |
||
28B1 |
Real time communications: introductions in connection with qualifying credit (8.17.12G) |
* |
* |
|
29 |
Communications required or authorised by enactments |
* |
* |
* |
30 |
Overseas communicators: solicited real time communications (8.14.15G) |
* |
||
31 |
Overseas communicators: non-real time communications to previously overseas customers (8.14.17G) |
* |
||
32 |
Overseas communicators: unsolicited real time communications to previously overseas customers (8.14.16G) |
* |
||
33 |
Overseas communicators: unsolicited real time communications to knowledgeable customers (8.14.16G) |
* |
||
34 |
Governments, central banks etc |
* |
* |
|
35 |
Industrial and provident societies |
* |
* |
|
36 |
Nationals of the EEA States other than United Kingdom (8.14.18G) |
* |
* |
|
37 |
Financial markets |
* |
* |
|
38 |
Persons in the business of placing promotional material |
* |
* |
* |
39 |
Joint enterprises (8.14.19G) |
* |
* |
* |
40 |
Participants in certain recognised collective investment schemes |
* |
* |
|
41 |
Bearer instruments: promotions required or permitted by market rules (8.14.42G) |
* |
* |
|
42 |
Bearer instruments: promotions to existing holders (8.14.42G) |
* |
* |
|
43 |
Members and creditors of certain bodies corporate (8.14.41G and 8.21.8G) |
* |
* |
|
44 |
Members and creditors of open-ended investment companies |
* |
* |
|
45 |
Group companies |
* |
* |
* |
46 |
Qualifying credit to bodies corporate (8.17.10G)1 |
* |
* |
* |
47 |
Persons in the business of disseminating information (8.21.10G) |
* |
* |
* |
48 |
Certified high net worth individuals (8.14.21G) |
* |
* |
|
49 |
High net worth companies, unincorporated associations etc (8.14.25G) |
* |
* |
* |
50 |
Sophisticated investors (8.14.27G) |
* |
* |
* |
50A |
Self-certified sophisticated investors {8.14.28AG) |
*5 |
* |
* |
51 |
Associations of high net worth or sophisticated investors (8.14.29G) |
* |
* |
|
52 |
Common interest group of a company (8.14.30G) |
* |
* |
|
53 |
Settlors, trustees and personal representatives |
* |
* |
* |
54 |
Beneficiaries of trust, will or intestacy |
* |
* |
* |
55 |
Communications by members of professions (8.15.1G) |
* |
* |
|
55A |
Non-real time communication by members of the professions. (8.15.5G) |
* |
||
56 |
Remedy following report by Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration |
* |
* |
* |
57 |
Persons placing promotional material in particular publications |
* |
* |
* |
58 |
Acquisition of interest in premises run by management companies |
* |
* |
|
59 |
Annual accounts and directors' report (8.21.11G) |
* |
* |
* |
60 |
Participation in employee shares schemes |
* |
* |
* |
61 |
Sale of goods and supply of services |
* |
* |
|
62 |
Sale of body corporate (8.14.35G) |
* |
* |
* |
64 |
Takeovers of relevant unlisted companies |
* |
* |
* |
65 |
Takeovers of relevant unlisted companies: warrants etc |
* |
* |
* |
66 |
Takeovers of relevant unlisted companies: application forms |
* |
* |
* |
67 |
Promotions required or permitted by market rules (8.21.13G) |
* |
* |
|
68 |
Promotions in connection with admission to certain EEA markets (8.21.16G) |
* |
* |
|
69 |
Promotions of securities already admitted to certain markets (8.21.17G) |
* |
*1 |
|
701 |
Promotions included in listing particulars etc (8.21.20G)1 |
*1 |
||
711 |
Material relating to prospectus for public offer of unlisted securities |
*1 |
||
721 |
Pension products offered by employers (8.14.40AG8) |
* |
* |
* |
872A |
Pension product offers communicated to employees by third parties (8.14.40AAG) |
* |
* |
* |
872B |
Insurance product offers communicated to employees by employers (8.14.40ABG) |
* |
* |
* |
872C |
Insurance products offers communicated to employees by third parties (8.14.40ACG) |
* |
* |
* |
872D |
Staff mortgage offers communicated to employees by employers (8.14.40ADG) |
* |
* |
* |
872E |
Staff mortgage offers communicated to employees by third parties (8.14.40AEG) |
* |
* |
* |
731 |
Advice centres (8.14.40B) |
* |
* |
* |
1 in limited circumstances only – see article 12(2) of the Financial Promotion Order |
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2 for the purpose of article 16 (2) only |
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3 for the purpose of article 16 (1) only1 |