1Introduction |
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1. |
An accredited body is a body appearing in the list of such bodies in the Glossary.1 1 |
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2. |
Information on accredited bodies, including guidance on the process for including an applicant body in the list, is set out below and the obligation to pay the application fee is set out in FEES 3.2. |
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3. |
[deleted]1 1 |
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Process for including a body in the list of accredited bodies |
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4. |
In considering the compatibility of a proposed addition with the statutory objectives, the FCA will determine whether the applicant will, if accredited, contribute to securing an appropriate degree of protection for consumers having regard in particular to: |
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(1) |
the matters set out in paragraphs 10 to 20; and |
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(2) |
the rules and practices of the applicant. |
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5. |
An application to the FCA to be added to the list of accredited bodies should set out how the applicant will satisfy the criteria in paragraphs 10 to 20. The application should be accompanied by a report from a suitable auditor which sets out its independent assessment of the applicant's ability to meet these criteria. An application form is available from the FCA upon request. |
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6. |
When considering an application for accredited body status the FCA may: |
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(1) |
carry out any enquiries and request any further information that it considers appropriate, including consulting other regulators; |
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(2) |
ask the applicant or its specified representative to answer questions and explain any matter the FCA considers relevant to the application; |
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(3) |
take into account any information which the FCA considers appropriate to the application; and |
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(4) |
request that any information provided by the applicant or its specified representative is verified in such a manner as the FCA may specify. |
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7. |
The FCA will confirm its decision in writing to the applicant. |
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8. |
The FCA will enter into an agreement with the applicant or accredited body which will specify the requirements that the accredited body must meet. These will include the matters set out in paragraphs 10 to 20. Approval as an accredited body becomes effective only when the name of the applicant is added to the Glossary definition of accredited body. |
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9. |
Paragraphs 10 to 20 set out the criteria which an applicant should meet to become an accredited body and which an accredited body should meet at all times. |
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Acting in the public interest and furthering the development of the profession |
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10. |
The FCA will expect an accredited body to act in the public interest, to contribute to raising consumer confidence and professional standards in the retail investment advice market and to promoting the profession. |
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Carrying out effective verification services |
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11. |
If independent verification of a retail investment adviser's professional standards has been carried out by an accredited body, the FCA will expect the accredited body to provide the retail investment adviser with evidence of that verification in a durable medium and in a form agreed by the FCA. This is referred to in this Appendix and TC 2.1.28 R as a 'statement of professional standing'. |
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12. |
The FCA will expect an accredited body to have in place effective procedures for carrying out its verification activities. These should include: |
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(1) |
verifying that each retail investment adviser who is a member of or subscriber to the accredited body's verification service has made an annual declaration in writing that the retail investment adviser has, in the preceding 12 months, complied with APER and completed the continuing professional development required under TC 2.1.15 R;1 |
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(2) |
verifying annually the continuing professional development records of no less than 10% of the retail investment advisers who have used its service in the previous 12 months to ensure that the records are accurate and the continuing professional development completed by the retail investment advisers is appropriate; and |
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(3) |
verifying that, if required by TC, the retail investment advisers who use its services have attained an appropriate qualification. This should include, where relevant, checking that appropriate qualification gap-fill records have been completed by the retail investment advisers. |
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13. |
The FCA will not expect an accredited body to carry out the verification in paragraph 12(3) if a retail investment adviser provides the accredited body with evidence in a durable medium which demonstrates that another accredited body has previously verified the retail investment adviser's appropriate qualification, including, where relevant, appropriate qualification gap-fill. |
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14. |
The FCA will expect an accredited body to make it a contractual condition of membership (where a retail investment adviser is a member of the accredited body) or of using its verification service (where a retail investment adviser is not a member of the accredited body) that, as a minimum, the accredited body will not continue to verify a retail investment adviser's standards and will withdraw its statement of professional standing if the accredited body is provided with false information in relation to a retail investment adviser's qualifications or continuing professional development or a false declaration in relation to a retail investment adviser's compliance with APER. In this regard, an accredited body must have in place appropriate decision-making procedures with a suitable degree of independence and transparency. |
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Having appropriate systems and controls in place and providing evidence to the FCA of continuing effectiveness |
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15. |
The FCA will expect an accredited body to ensure that it has adequate resources and systems and controls in place in relation to its role as an accredited body. |
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16. |
The FCA will expect an accredited body to have effective procedures in place for the management of conflicts of interest and have a well-balanced governance structure with at least one member who is independent of the sector. |
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17. |
The FCA will expect an accredited body to have a code of ethics and to ensure that its code of ethics and verification service terms and conditions do not contain any provisions that conflict with APER. |
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Ongoing cooperation with the FCA |
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18. |
The FCA will expect an accredited body to provide the FCA with such documents and information as the FCA reasonably requires, and to cooperate with the FCA in an open and transparent manner. |
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19. |
The FCA will expect an accredited body to share information with the FCA (subject to any legal constraints) in relation to the professional standards of the retail investment advisers who use its service as appropriate. Examples might include conduct issues, complaints, dishonestly obtaining or falsifying qualifications or continuing professional development or a failure to complete appropriate continuing professional development. The FCA will expect an accredited body to notify the firm if issues such as these arise. |
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20. |
The FCA will expect an accredited body to submit to the FCA an annual report by a suitable independent auditor which sets out that auditor's assessment of the quality of the body's satisfaction of the criteria in paragraphs 10 to 19 in the preceding 12 months and whether, in the auditor's view, the body is capable of satisfying the criteria in the subsequent 12 months. The FCA will expect this annual report to be submitted to the FCA within three months of the anniversary of the date on which the accredited body was added to the Glossary definition of accredited body. |
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Withdrawal of accreditation |
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21. |
If an accredited body fails or, in the FCA's view, is likely to fail to satisfy the criteria, the FCA will discuss this with the accredited body concerned. If, following a period of discussion, the accredited body has failed to take appropriate corrective action to ensure that it satisfies and will continue to satisfy the criteria, the FCA will withdraw the accredited body's accreditation by removing its name from the list of accredited bodies published in the Glossary. The FCA will expect the body to notify each retail investment adviser holding a current statement of professional standing of the FCA's decision. A statement of professional standing issued by the accredited body before the withdrawal of accreditation will continue to be valid until its expiration. |
Related provisions for REC 3.6.2
The guidance in relation to the recognition requirements in the sections of REC 2 listed in Column A of the table below applies to an RAP in relation to the equivalent RAP recognition requirements listed in Column C and (if shown) with the modifications in Column B.
Table: Guidance on RAP recognition requirements
Column A REC 2 guidance which applies to an RAP |
Column B Modification to REC 2 guidance for an RAP |
Column C Relevant RAP recognition requirement |
REC 2.2.2 G to REC 2.2.7 G (Relevant circumstances and Outsourcing) |
Reg 13 |
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REC 2.3.3 G to REC 2.3.9 G (Financial resources) |
Reg 14 |
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REC 2.4.3 G to REC 2.4.6 G (Suitability) |
In addition to the matters set out in REC 2.4.3 G to REC 2.4.6 G, the FCA3 will have regard to whether a key individual has been allocated responsibility for overseeing the auction platform of the UK recognised body. 3 |
Reg 15 |
REC 2.5.3 G to REC 2.5.20 G (Systems and controls and conflicts) and REC 2.5A (Guidance on Public Interest Disclosure Act: Whistleblowing) |
Reg 16 and 17(2)(f)1 |
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REC 2.6.26 G to REC 2.6.34 G (Safeguards for investors) |
Reg 17 |
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REC 2.7.3 G to REC 2.7.4 G (Access to facilities) |
The FCA3 shall have regard to whether an RAP provides access to bid at auctions only to those persons eligible to bid under article 18 of the auction regulation. 3 |
Reg 17(2)(a) and1 20 |
REC 2.8.3 G to REC 2.8.4 G (Settlement and clearing services) |
Reg 17(2)(d) and 21 |
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REC 2.9.3 G to REC 2.9.4 G (Transaction recording) |
Reg 17(2)(e) |
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REC 2.10.3 G to REC 2.10.4 G (Financial crime and market abuse) |
Reg 17(2)(g) |
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REC 2.11.3 G to REC 2.11.4 G (Custody) |
REC 2.11.4 G is replaced with the following for an RAP: Where an RAP arranges for other persons to provide services for the safeguarding and administration services of assets belonging to users of its facilities, it will also need to satisfy the RAP recognition requirement in regulation 17(2)(h) of the RAP regulations (see REC 2A.2.1 UK). |
Reg 17(2)(h) |
REC 2.12.11 G to REC 2.12.12 G (Availability of relevant information) |
REC 2.12.11 G to REC 2.12.12 G are replaced with the following for an RAP: In determining whether appropriate arrangements have been made to make relevant information available to persons engaged in dealing in emissions auction products2 the FCA3 may have regard to: (1) the extent to which auction bidders are able to obtain information in a timely fashion about the terms of those emissions auction products2 and the terms on which they will be auctioned, either through accepted channels for dissemination of information or through other regularly and widely accessible communication media; (2) what restrictions, if any, there are on the dissemination of relevant information to auction bidders; and (3) whether relevant information is, or can be, kept to restricted groups of persons in such a way as to facilitate or encourage market abuse. An RAP does not need to maintain its own arrangements for providing information on the terms of emissions auction products2 to auction bidders where it has made adequate arrangements for other persons to do so on its behalf or there are other effective and reliable arrangements for this purpose. 2322 |
Reg 17(2)(c) |
REC 2.13.3 G to REC 2.13.6 G (Promotion and maintenance of standards) |
Reg 18 |
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REC 2.14.3 G to REC 2.14.6 G (Rules and consultation) |
Reg 19 |
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REC 2.15.3 G to REC 2.15.6 G (Discipline) |
Reg 22 |
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REC 2.16.3 G to REC 2.16.4 G (Complaints) |
Reg 23 |
Table of rules in FEES 4that also apply to FEES 7 to the extent that in FEES 4 they apply to fees payable to the FCA6
Description |
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Method of payment |
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Calculation of periodic fee and tariff base for a firm's second financial year |
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How FEES 4.2.7 R applies in relation to an incoming EEA firm or an incoming Treaty firm |
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Extension of time |
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FEES 4.2.11 R (first entry only) |
Due date and changes in permission for periodic fees |
Groups of firms |
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Firms applying to cancel or vary permission before start of period |
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Information on which fees are calculated |
29.8 |
Annual financial report |
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9.81 |
R |
[not used] |
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9.8.2 |
R |
[not used] |
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9.8.3 |
R |
[not used] |
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Information to be included in annual report and accounts |
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9.8.4 |
R |
In addition to the requirements set out in DTR 4.1 a listed company must include in its annual financial report, where applicable, the following: |
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(1) |
a statement of the amount of interest capitalised by the group during the period under review with an indication of the amount and treatment of any related tax relief; |
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(2) |
any information required by LR 9.2.18 R (Publication of unaudited financial information); |
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(3) |
details of any small related party transaction as required by LR 11.1.10 R (2)(c); |
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(4) |
details of any long-term incentive schemes as required by LR 9.4.3 R; |
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(5) |
details of any arrangements under which a director of the company has waived or agreed to waive any emoluments from the company or any subsidiary undertaking; |
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(6) |
where a director has agreed to waive future emoluments, details of such waiver together with those relating to emoluments which were waived during the period under review; |
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(7) |
in the case of any allotment for cash of equity securities made during the period under review otherwise than to the holders of the company'sequity shares in proportion to their holdings of such equity shares and which has not been specifically authorised by the company's shareholders: |
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(a) |
the classes of shares allotted and for each class of shares, the number allotted, their aggregate nominal value and the consideration received by the company for the allotment; |
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(b) |
the names of the allottees, if less than six in number, and in the case of six or more allottees a brief generic description of each new class of equity holder (e.g. holder of loan stock); |
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(c) |
the market price of the allotted securities on the date on which the terms of the issue were fixed; and |
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(d) |
the date on which the terms of the issue were fixed; |
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(8) |
the information required by paragraph (7) must be given for any unlisted major subsidiary undertaking of the company; |
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(9) |
where a listed company has listed shares in issue and is a subsidiary undertaking of another company, details of the participation by the parent undertaking in any placing made during the period under review; |
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(10) |
details of any contract of significance subsisting during the period under review: |
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(a) |
to which the listed company, or one of its subsidiary undertakings, is a party and in which a director of the listed company is or was materially interested; and |
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(b) |
between the listed company, or one of its subsidiary undertakings, and a controlling shareholder; |
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(11) |
details of any contract for the provision of services to the listed company or any of its subsidiary undertakings by a controlling shareholder, subsisting during the period under review, unless: |
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(a) |
it is a contract for the provision of services which it is the principal business of the shareholder to provide; and |
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(b) |
it is not a contract of significance; |
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(12) |
details of any arrangement under which a shareholder has waived or agreed to waive any dividends; and |
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(13) |
where a shareholder has agreed to waive future dividends, details of such waiver together with those relating to dividends which are payable during the period under review. |
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9.8.5 |
G |
A listed company need not include with the annual report and accounts details of waivers of dividends of less than 1% of the total value of any dividend provided that some payment has been made on each share of the relevant class during the relevant calendar year. |
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Additional information |
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9.8.6 |
R |
In the case of a listed company incorporated in the United Kingdom, the following additional items must be included in its annual financial report: |
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(1) |
a statement setting out all the interests (in respect of which transactions are notifiable to the company under DTR 3.1.2 R) of each person who is a director of the listed company as at the end of the period under review including: |
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(a) |
all changes in the interests of each director that have occurred between the end of the period under review and a date not more than one month prior to the date of the notice of the annual general meeting; or |
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(b) |
if there have been no changes in the period described in paragraph (a), a statement that there have been no changes in the interests of each director; |
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Interests of each director include the interests of connected persons of which the listed company is, or ought upon reasonable enquiry to become, aware. |
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(2) |
a statement showing the interests disclosed to the listed company in accordance with DTR 5 as at the end of the period under review and: |
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(a) |
all interests disclosed to the listed company in accordance with DTR 5 that have occurred between the end of the period under review and a date not more than one month prior to the date of the notice of the annual general meeting; or |
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(b) |
if no interests have been disclosed to the listed company in accordance with DTR 5 in the period described in (a), a statement that no changes have been disclosed to the listed company; |
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(3) |
a statement made by the directors that the business is a going concern, together with supporting assumptions or qualifications as necessary, that has been prepared in accordance with Going Concern and Liquidity Risk: Guidance for Directors of UK Companies 2009, published by the Financial Reporting Council in October 2009; |
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(4) |
a statement setting out: |
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(a) |
details of any shareholders' authority for the purchase, by the listed company of its own shares that is still valid at the end of the period under review; |
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(b) |
in the case of purchases made otherwise than through the market or by tender to all shareholders, the names of sellers of such shares purchased, or proposed to be purchased, by the listed company during the period under review; |
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(c) |
in the case of any purchases made otherwise than through the market or by tender or partial offer to all shareholders, or options or contracts to make such purchases, entered into since the end of the period covered by the report, information equivalent to that required under Part 2 of Schedule 7 to the Large & Medium Sized Companies and Groups (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 (SI 2008/410) (Disclosure required by company acquiring its own shares etc) ; and |
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(d) |
in the case of sales of treasury shares for cash made otherwise than through the market, or in connection with an employees' share scheme, or otherwise than pursuant to an opportunity which (so far as was practicable) was made available to all holders of the listed company'ssecurities (or to all holders of a relevant class of its securities) on the same terms, particulars of the names of purchasers of such shares sold, or proposed to be sold, by the company during the period under review; |
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(5) |
a statement of how the listed company has applied the Main Principles set out in the UK Corporate Governance Code, in a manner that would enable shareholders to evaluate how the principles have been applied; |
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(6) |
a statement as to whether the listed company has: |
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(a) |
complied throughout the accounting period with all relevant provisions set out in the UK Corporate Governance Code; or |
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(b) |
not complied throughout the accounting period with all relevant provisions set out in the UK Corporate Governance Code and if so, setting out: |
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(i) |
those provisions, if any it has not complied with; |
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(ii) |
in the case of provisions whose requirements are of a continuing nature, the period within which, if any, it did not comply with some or all of those provisions; and |
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(iii) |
the company's reasons for non-compliance; and |
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(7) |
a report to the shareholders by the Board which contains all the matters set out in LR 9.8.8 R. |
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9.8.6A |
G |
(1) |
The effect of LR 9.8.6 R (1) is that a listed company is required to set out a 'snapshot' of the total interests of a director and his or her connected persons, as at the end of the period under review (including certain information to update it as at a date not more than a month before the date of the notice of the annual general meeting). The interests that need to be set out are limited to those in respect of which transactions fall to be notified under the notification requirement for PDMRs in DTR 3.1.2 R. Persons who are directors during, but not at the end of, the period under review need not be included. |
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(2) |
A listed company unable to compile the statement in LR 9.8.6 R (1) from information already available to it may need to seek the relevant information, or confirmation, from the director himself, including that in relation to connected persons, but would not be expected to obtain information directly from connected persons. |
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9.8.7 |
R |
An overseas company with a premium listing must include in its annual report and accounts the information in LR 9.8.6 R (5), LR 9.8.6 R (6) and LR 9.8.8 R (9). |
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9.8.7A |
R |
(1) |
An overseas company with a premium listing that is not required to comply with requirements imposed by another EEA State that correspond to DTR 7.2 (Corporate governance statements) must comply with DTR 7.2 as if it were an issuer to which that section applies. |
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(2) |
An overseas company with a premium listing which complies with LR 9.8.7 R will be taken to satisfy the requirements of DTR 7.2.2 R and DTR 7.2.3 R, but (unless it is required to comply with requirements imposed by another EEA State that correspond to DTR 7.2) must comply with all of the other requirements of DTR 7.2 as if it were an issuer to which that section applies. |
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Report to shareholders |
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9.8.8 |
R |
The report to the shareholders by the Board required by LR 9.8.6 R (7) must contain the following: |
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(1) |
a statement of the listed company's policy on executive directors' remuneration; |
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(2) |
information presented in tabular form, unless inappropriate, together with explanatory notes as necessary on: |
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(a) |
the amount of each element in the remuneration package for the period under review of each director, by name, including but not restricted to, basic salary and fees, the estimated money value of benefits in kind, annual bonuses, deferred bonuses, compensation for loss of office and payments for breach of contract or other termination payments; |
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(b) |
the total remuneration for each director for the period under review and for the corresponding prior period; |
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(c) |
any significant payments made to former directors during the period under review; and |
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(d) |
any share options, including Save-as-you-earn options, for each director, by name, in accordance with the requirements of the Directors' Remuneration Report Regulations; |
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(3) |
details of any long-term incentive schemes, other than share options as required by paragraph (2)(d), including the interests of each director, by name, in the long-term incentive schemes at the start of the period under review; |
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(4) |
details of any entitlements or awards granted and commitments made to each director under any long-term incentive schemes during the period, showing which crystallize either in the same year or in subsequent years; |
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(5) |
details of the monetary value and number of shares, cash payments or other benefits received by each director under any long-term incentive schemes during the period; |
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(6) |
details of the interests of each director in the long-term incentive schemes at the end of the period; |
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(7) |
an explanation and justification of any element of a director's remuneration, other than basic salary, which is pensionable; |
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(8) |
details of any director's service contract with a notice period in excess of one year or with provisions for pre-determined compensation on termination which exceeds one year's salary and benefits in kind, giving the reasons for such notice period; |
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(9) |
details of the unexpired term of any directors' service contract of a director proposed for election or re-election at the forthcoming annual general meeting, and, if any director proposed for election or re-election does not have a directors' service contract, a statement to that effect; |
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(10) |
a statement of the listed company's policy on the granting of options or awards under its employee share scheme and other long-term incentive schemes, explaining and justifying any departure from that policy in the period under review and any change in the policy from the preceding year; |
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(11) |
for money purchase schemes details of the contribution or allowance payable or made by the listed company in respect of each director during the period under review; and |
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(12) |
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a) |
details of the amount of the increase during the period under review (excluding inflation) and of the accumulated total amount at the end of the period in respect of the accrued benefit to which each director would be entitled on leaving service or is entitled having left service during the period under review; |
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(b) |
either: |
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(i) |
the transfer value (less director's contributions) of the relevant increase in accrued benefit (to be calculated in accordance with regulations 7 to 7E of the Occupational Pension Schemes (Transfer Values) Regulations 1996 but making no deduction for any under-funding) as at the end of the period; or |
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(ii) |
so much of the following information as is necessary to make a reasonable assessment of the transfer value in respect of each director: |
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(A) age; |
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(B) normal retirement age; |
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(C) the amount of any contributions paid or payable by the director under the terms of the scheme during the period under review; |
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(D) details of spouses and dependants benefits; |
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(E) early retirement rights and options; |
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(F) expectations of pension increases after retirement (whether guaranteed or discretionary); and |
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(G) discretionary benefits for which allowance is made in transfer values on leaving and any other relevant information which will significantly affect the value of the benefits; and |
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(c) |
no disclosure of voluntary contributions and benefits. |
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Information required by law |
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9.8.9 |
G |
The requirements of LR 9.8.6 R (6) and LR 9.8.8 R relating to corporate governance are additional to the information required by law to be included in the listed company's annual report and accounts. |
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Auditors report |
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9.8.10 |
R |
A listed company must ensure that the auditors review each of the following before the annual report is published: |
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(1) |
LR 9.8.6R(3) (statement by the directors that the business is a going concern); and |
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(2) |
the parts of the statement required byLR 9.8.6 R (6) (corporate governance) that relate to the following provisions of the UK Corporate Governance Code: |
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(a) |
C.1.1; |
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(b) |
C.2.1; and |
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(c) |
C.3.1 to C.3.7. |
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9.8.11 |
R |
A listed company must ensure that the auditors review the following disclosures: |
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(1) |
LR 9.8.8 R (2) (amount of each element in the remuneration package and information on share options); |
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(2) |
LR 9.8.8 R (3), LR 9.8.8 R (4) and (5) (details of long term incentive schemes for directors); |
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(3) |
LR 9.8.8 R (11) (money purchase schemes); and |
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(4) |
LR 9.8.8 R (12) (defined benefit schemes). |
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9.8.12 |
R |
If, in the opinion of the auditors the listed company has not complied with any of the requirements set out in LR 9.8.11 R the listed company must ensure that the auditors' report includes, to the extent possible, a statement giving details of the non-compliance. |
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Summary financial statements |
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9.8.13 |
R |
Any summary financial statement issued by a listed company as permitted under the Companies Act 2006, must disclose: |
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(1) |
earnings per share; and |
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(2) |
the information required for summary financial statements set out in or under the Companies Act 2006. |