Related provisions for BIPRU 12.7.9
Articles 3 to 23 of the PD Regulation provide for the minimum information to be included in a prospectus:
Note: the Annexes (including schedules and building blocks) referred to in these articles are set out for information in PR App 3.
Article 3 Minimum information to be included in a prospectus |
A prospectus shall be drawn up by using one or a combination of the schedules and building blocks set out in this Regulation.2 2 |
A prospectus shall contain the information items required in Annexes I to XVII and Annexes XX to XXX depending on the type of issuer or issues and securities involved. Subject to Article 4a(1), a competent authority shall not require that a prospectus contains information items which are not included in Annexes I to XVII or Annexes XX to XXX.3 1223 |
In order to ensure conformity with the obligation referred to in Article 5(1) of Directive 2003/71/EC, the competent authority of the home Member State, when approving a prospectus in accordance with Article 13 of that Directive, may, on a case by case basis, require the information provided by the issuer, the offeror or the person asking for admission to trading on a regulated market to be completed, for each of the information items.2 2 |
2Where the issuer, the offeror or the person asking for the admission to trading on a regulated market is required to include a summary in a prospectus, in accordance with Article 5(2) of Directive 2003/71/EC, the competent authority of the home Member State, when approving the prospectus in accordance with Article 13 of that Directive, may, on a case by case basis, require certain information provided in the prospectus, to be included in the summary. |
3[Note: See transitional provisions in Regulation (EU) No 862/2012] |
Article 4 Share registration document schedule |
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1. |
For the share registration document information shall be given in accordance with the schedule set out in Annex I. |
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2. |
The schedule set out in paragraph 1 shall apply to the following: |
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(1) |
shares and other transferable securities equivalent to shares; |
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(2) |
other securities which comply with the following conditions: |
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(a) |
they can be converted or exchanged into shares or other transferable securities equivalent to shares, at the issuer’s or at the investor’s discretion, or on the basis of the conditions established at the moment of the issue, or give, in any other way, the possibility to acquire shares or other transferable securities equivalent to shares, and |
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(b) |
provided that these shares or other transferable securities equivalent to shares are or will be issued by the issuer of the security and are not yet traded on a regulated market or an equivalent market outside the Community at the time of the approval of the prospectus covering the securities, and that the underlying shares or other transferable securities equivalent to shares can be delivered with physical settlement. |
1Article 4a Share registration document schedule in cases of complex financial history or significant financial commitment |
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1. |
Where the issuer of a security covered by Article 4(2) has a complex financial history, or has made a significant financial commitment, and in consequence the inclusion in the registration document of certain items of financial information relating to an entity other than the issuer is necessary in order to satisfy the obligation laid down in Article 5(1) of Directive 2003/71/EC, those items of financial information shall be deemed to relate to the issuer. The competent authority of the home Member State shall in such cases request that the issuer, the offeror or the person asking for admission to trading include those items of information in the registration document. Those items of financial information may include pro forma information prepared in accordance with Annex II. In this context, where the issuer has made a significant financial commitment any such pro forma information shall illustrate the anticipated effects of the transaction that the issuer has agreed to undertake, and references in Annex II to “the transaction” shall be read accordingly. |
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2. |
The competent authority shall base any request pursuant to the first subparagraph of paragraph 1 on the requirements set out in item 20.1 of Annex I, item 15.1 of Annex XXIII, item 20.1 of Annex XXV, item 11.1 of Annex XXVII and item 20.1 of Annex XXVIII as regards the content of financial information and the applicable accounting and auditing principles, subject to any modification which is appropriate in view of any of the following factors:2 2 |
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(a) |
the nature of the securities; |
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(b) |
the nature and range of information already included in the prospectus, and the existence of financial information relating to an entity other than the issuer in a form that might be included in a prospectus without modification; |
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(c) |
the facts of the case, including the economic substance of the transactions by which the issuer has acquired or disposed of its business undertaking or any part of it, and the specific nature of that undertaking; |
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(d) |
the ability of the issuer to obtain financial information relating to another entity with reasonable effort. |
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Where, in the individual case, the obligation laid down in Article 5(1) of Directive 2003/71/EC may be satisfied in more than one way, preference shall be given to the way that is the least costly or onerous. |
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(3) |
Paragraph 1 is without prejudice to the responsibility under national law of any other person, including the persons referred to in Article 6(1) of Directive 2003/71/EC, for the information contained in the prospectus. In particular, those persons shall be responsible for the inclusion in the registration document of any items of information requested by the competent authority pursuant to paragraph 1. |
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(4) |
For the purposes of paragraph 1, an issuer shall be treated as having a complex financial history if all of the following conditions apply: |
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(a) |
its entire business undertaking at the time that the prospectus is drawn up is not accurately represented in the historical financial information which it is required to provide under item 20.1 of Annex I, item 15.1 of Annex XXIII, item 20.1 of Annex XXV, item 11.1 of Annex XXVII and item 20.1 of Annex XXVIII;2 2 |
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(b) |
that inaccuracy will affect the ability of an investor to make an informed assessment as mentioned in Article 5(1) of Directive 2003/71/EC; and |
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(c) |
information relating to its business undertaking that is necessary for an investor to make such an assessment is included in financial information relating to another entity. |
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(5) |
For the purposes of paragraph 1, an issuer shall be treated as having made a significant financial commitment if it has entered into a binding agreement to undertake a transaction which, on completion, is likely to give rise to a significant gross change. In this context, the fact that an agreement makes completion of the transaction subject to conditions, including approval by a regulatory authority, shall not prevent that agreement from being treated as binding if it is reasonably certain that those conditions will be fulfilled. In particular, an agreement shall be treated as binding where it makes the completion of the transaction conditional on the outcome of the offer of the securities that are the subject matter of the prospectus or, in the case of a proposed takeover, if the offer of securities that are the subject matter of the prospectus has the objective of funding that takeover. |
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(6) |
For the purposes of paragraph 5 of this Article, and of item 20.2 of Annex I, item 15.2 of Annex XXIII and item 20.2 of Annex XXV, a significant gross change means a variation of more than 25%, relative to one or more indicators of the size of the issuer's business, in the situation of an issuer.2 2 |
Recital 9 |
Pro forma financial information is needed in case of significant gross change, i. e. a variation of more than 25% relative to one or more indicators of the size of the issuer's business, in the situation of an issuer due to a particular transaction, with the exception of those situations where merger accounting is required. |
Article 5 Pro-forma financial information building block |
For pro-forma financial information, information shall be given in accordance with the building block set out in Annex II. |
Pro forma financial information should be preceded by an introductory explanatory paragraph that states in clear terms the purpose of including this information in the prospectus. |
Article 6 Share securities note schedule |
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1. |
For the share securities note information is necessary to be given in accordance with the schedule set out in Annex III. |
2. |
The schedule shall apply to shares and other transferable securities equivalent to shares5 |
53. |
Where shares with warrants give the right to acquire the issuer’s shares and these shares are not admitted to trading on a regulated market, the information required by the schedule set out in Annex XII except item 4.2.2 shall also be given. |
[Note: See transitional provisions in Regulation (EU) No 759/2013]5
Article 7 Debt and derivative securities registration document schedule for securities with a denomination per unit of less than EUR 100 0002 2 |
For the debt and derivative securities registration document concerning securities which are not covered in Article 4 with a denomination per unit of less than EUR 100 0002 or, where there is no individual denomination, securities that can only be acquired on issue for less than EUR 100 0002 per security, information shall be given in accordance with the schedule set out in Annex IV. 22 |
Article 8 Securities note schedule for debt securities with a denomination per unit of less than EUR 100 0002 2 |
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1. |
For the securities note for debt securities with a denomination per unit of less than EUR 100 0002 information shall be given in accordance with the schedule set out in Annex V. 2 |
2. |
The schedule shall apply to debt where the issuer has an obligation arising on issue to pay the investor 100% of the nominal value in addition to which there may be also an interest payment.5 |
53. |
Where debt securities are exchangeable or convertible into shares already admitted to trading on a regulated market, the information required by item 4.2.2 of the schedule set out in Annex XII shall also be given. |
54. |
Where debt securities are convertible or exchangeable into shares which are or will be issued by the issuer of the debt security or by an entity belonging to its group and these underlying shares are not already admitted to trading on a regulated market, information on the issuer of the underlying shares shall also be given in accordance with items 3.1 and 3.2 of the schedule set out in Annex III or, as the case may be, of the proportionate schedule set out in Annex XXIV. |
55. |
Where debt securities with warrants give the right to acquire the issuer’s shares and these shares are not admitted to trading on a regulated market, the information required by the schedule set out in Annex XII except item 4.2.2 shall also be given. |
[Note: See transitional provisions in Regulation (EU) No 759/2013]5
Article 9 Guarantees building block |
For guarantees information shall be given in accordance with the building block set out in Annex VI. |
2Item 3 of Annex VI shall not apply where a Member State acts as guarantor. |
Article 10 Asset backed securities registration document schedule |
For the asset backed securities registration document information shall be given in accordance with the schedule set out in Annex VII. |
Article 11 Asset backed securities building block |
For the additional information building block to the securities note for asset backed securities information shall be given in accordance with the building block set out in Annex VIII. |
Article 12 Debt and derivative securities registration document schedule for securities with a denomination per unit of at least EUR 100 0002 2 |
For the debt and derivative securities registration document concerning securities which are not covered in Article 4 with a denomination per unit of at least EUR 100 0002 or, where there is no individual denomination, securities that can only be acquired on issue for at least EUR 100 0002 per security, information shall be given in accordance with the schedule set out in Annex IX. 22 |
Article 13 Depository receipts schedule |
For depository receipts issued over shares information shall be given in accordance with the schedule set out in Annex X. |
Article 14 Banks registration document schedule |
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1. |
For the banks registration document for debt and derivative securities and those securities which are not covered by article 4 information shall be given in accordance with the schedule set out in Annex XI. |
2. |
The schedule set out in paragraph 1 shall apply to credit institutions as defined in point (a) of Article 1(1) of Directive 2000/12/EC as well as to third country credit institutions which do not fall under that definition but have their registered office in a state which is a member of the OECD. |
These entities may also use alternatively the registration document schedules provided for under in Articles 7 and 12. |
Article 15 Securities note schedule for derivative securities |
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1. |
For the securities note for derivative securities information shall be given in accordance with the schedule set out in Annex XII. |
2. |
The schedule shall apply to securities which are not in the scope of application of the other securities note schedules referred to in articles 6, 8 and 16, except for the cases mentioned in article 6(3), Article 8(3) and (5) and article 16 (3) and (5). The schedule shall apply to certain securities where the payment and/or delivery obligations are linked to an underlying.5 5 |
[Note: See transitional provisions in Regulation (EU) No 759/2013]5
Article 16 Securities note schedule for debt securities with a denomination per unit of at least EUR 100 0002 2 |
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1. |
For the securities note for debt securities with a denomination per unit of at least EUR 100 0002 information shall be given in accordance with the schedule set out in Annex XIII. 2 |
2. |
The schedule shall apply to debt where the issuer has an obligation arising on issue to pay the investor 100% of the nominal value in addition to which there may be also an interest payment.5 |
53. |
Where debt securities are exchangeable or convertible into shares already admitted to trading on a regulated market, the information required by item 4.2.2 of the schedule set out in Annex XII shall also be given. |
54. |
Where debt securities are convertible or exchangeable into shares which are or will be issued by the issuer of the debt security or by an entity belonging to its group and these underlying shares are not already admitted to trading on a regulated market, information on the issuer of the underlying shares shall also be given in accordance with items 3.1 and 3.2 of the schedule set out in Annex III or, as the case may be, of the proportionate schedule set out in Annex XXIV. |
55. |
Where debt securities with warrants give the right to acquire the issuer’s shares and these shares are not admitted to trading on a regulated market, the information required by the schedule set out in Annex XII except item 4.2.2 shall also be given. |
[Note: See transitional provisions in Regulation (EU) No 759/2013]5
Article 17 Additional information building block on the underlying share |
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1. |
For the additional information on the underlying share, the description of the underlying share shall be given in accordance with the building block set out in Annex XIV. |
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In addition, if the issuer of the underlying share is an entity belonging to the same group, the information required by the schedule referred to in Article 4 shall be given in respect of that issuer. |
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2. |
The additional information referred to in the first subparagraph of paragraph 1 shall only apply to those securities which comply with both of the following conditions: |
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(1) |
they can be converted or exchanged into shares or other transferable securities equivalent to shares, at the issuer’s or at the investor’s discretion, or on the basis of the conditions established at the moment of the issue or give, in any other way, the possibility to acquire shares or other transferable securities equivalent to shares; and |
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(2) |
provided that these shares or other transferable securities equivalent to shares are or will be issued by the issuer of the security, by an entity belonging to the group of that issuer or by a third party and are not yet traded on a regulated market or an equivalent market outside the Union at the time of the approval of the prospectus covering the securities, and that the underlying shares or other transferable securities equivalent to shares can be delivered with physical settlement.5 5 |
[Note: See transitional provisions in Regulation (EU) No 759/2013]5
Article 18 Registration document schedule for collective investment undertakings of the closed-end type |
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1. |
In addition to the information required pursuant to items 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.1, 7, 9.1, 9.2.1, 9.2.3, 10.4, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17.2, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25 of Annex I, for the registration document for securities issued by collective investment undertakings of the closed-end type information shall be given in accordance with the schedule set out in Annex XV. |
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2. |
The schedule shall apply to collective investment undertakings of the closed-end type holding a portfolio of assets on behalf of investors that: |
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(1) |
are recognised by national law in the Member State in which it is incorporated as a collective investment undertaking of the closed end type; or |
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(2) |
do not take or seek to take legal or management control of any of the issuers of its underlying investments. In such a case, legal control and/or participation in the administrative, management or supervisory bodies of the underlying issuer(s) may be taken where such action is incidental to the primary investment objective, necessary for the protection of shareholders and only in circumstances where the collective investment undertaking will not exercise significant management control over the operations of that underlying issuer(s). |
Article 19 Registration document schedule for Member States, third countries and their regional and local authorities |
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1. |
For the registration document for securities issued by Member States, third countries and their regional and local authorities information shall be given in accordance with the schedule set out in Annex XVI. |
2. |
The schedule shall apply to all types of securities issued by Member States, third countries and their regional and local authorities. |
Article 20 Registration document schedule for public international bodies and for issuers of debt securities guaranteed by a member state of the OECD |
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1. |
For the registration document for securities issued by public international bodies and for securities unconditionally and irrevocably guaranteed, on the basis of national legislation, by a state which is a member of the OECD information shall be given in accordance with the schedule set out in Annex XVII. |
2. |
The schedule shall apply to: |
- all types of securities issued by public international bodies; - to debt securities unconditionally and irrevocably guaranteed, on the basis of national legislation, by a state which is a member of the OECD. |
3Article 20a Additional information building block for consent given in accordance with Article 3(2) of Directive 2003/71/EC |
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1. |
For the purposes of the third subparagraph of Article 3(2) of Directive 2003/71/EC, the prospectus shall contain the following: |
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(a) |
the additional information set out in Sections 1 and 2A of Annex XXX where the consent is given to one or more specified financial intermediaries; |
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(b) |
the additional information set out in Sections 1 and 2B of Annex XXX where the issuer or the person responsible for drawing up the prospectus chooses to give its consent to all financial intermediaries. |
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2. |
Where a financial intermediary does not comply with the conditions attached to consent as disclosed in the prospectus, a new prospectus shall be required in accordance with the second paragraph of Article 3(2) of Directive 2003/71/EC. |
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[Note: See transitional provisions in Regulation (EU) No 862/2012] |
Article 21 Combination of schedules and building blocks |
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1. |
The use of the combinations provided for in the table set out in Annex XVIII shall be mandatory when drawing up prospectuses for the types of securities to which those combinations correspond according to this table. However, for securities not covered by those combinations further combinations may be used. |
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2. |
The most comprehensive and stringent registration document schedule, i.e. the most demanding schedule in term of number of information items and the extent of the information included in them, may always be used to issue securities for which a less comprehensive and stringent registration document schedule is provided for, according to the following ranking of schedules: |
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(1) |
share registration document schedule; |
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(2) |
debt and derivative securities registration document schedule for securities with a denomination per unit of less than EUR 100 0002; 2 |
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(3) |
debt and derivative securities registration document schedule for securities with a denomination per unit at least EUR 100 0002. 2 |
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23. |
The issuer, the offeror and the person asking for admission to trading on a regulated market may choose to draw up a prospectus in accordance with the proportionate schedules set out in Annexes XXIII to XXIX instead of the schedules set out in Annexes I, III, IV, IX, X and XI as described in the second subparagraph provided that the respective conditions laid down in Articles 26a, 26b and 26c are fulfilled. |
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Where the issuer, the offeror and the person asking for admission to trading on a regulated market makes that choice: |
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(a) |
the reference to Annex I in Annex XVIII shall be read as a reference to Annexes XXIII or XXV; |
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(b) |
the reference to Annex III in Annex XVIII shall be read as a reference to Annex XXIV; |
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(c) |
the reference to Annex IV in Annex XVIII shall be read as a reference to Annex XXVI; |
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(d) |
the reference to Annex IX in Annex XVIII shall be read as a reference to Annex XXVII; |
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(e) |
the reference to Annex X in Annex XVIII shall be read as a reference to Annex XXVIII; |
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(f) |
the reference to Annex XI in Annex XVIII shall be read as a reference to Annex XXIX. |
Article 22 Minimum information to be included in a base prospectus and its related final terms |
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1. |
A base prospectus shall be drawn up using one or a combination of schedules and building blocks provided for in this Regulation according to the combinations for various types of securities set out in Annex XVIII.2 2 |
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A base prospectus shall contain the information items required in Annexes I to XVII, Annex XX and Annexes XXIII to XXX depending on the type of issuer and securities involved. Competent authorities shall not require that a base prospectus contains information items which are not included in Annexes I to XVII, Annex XX or Annexes XXIII to XXX.3 223 |
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In order to ensure conformity with the obligation referred to in Article 5(1) of Directive 2003/71/EC, the competent authority of the home Member State, when approving a base prospectus in accordance with Article 13 of that Directive, may, on a case by case basis, require the information provided by the issuer, the offeror or the person asking for admission to trading on a regulated market to be completed for each of the information items.2 2 |
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2Where the issuer, the offeror or the person asking for the admission to trading on a regulated market is required to include a summary in a base prospectus, in accordance with Article 5(2) of Directive 2003/71/EC, the competent authority of the home Member State, when approving the base prospectus in accordance with Article 13 of that Directive, may, on a case-by-case basis, require certain information provided in the base prospectus to be included in the summary. |
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21a. |
The base prospectus may contain options with regard to information categorised as Category A, Category B and Category C, required by the relevant securities note schedules and building blocks, and set out in Annex XX. The final terms shall determine which of these options is applicable to the individual issue, by referring to the relevant sections of the base prospectus or by replicating such information. |
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2. |
The issuer, the offeror or the person asking for admission to trading on a regulated market may omit information items which are not known when the base prospectus is approved and which can only be determined at the time of the individual issue. |
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3. |
The use of the combinations provided for in the table in Annex XVIII shall be mandatory when drawing up base prospectuses for the types of securities to which those combinations correspond according to this table. However, for securities not covered by those combinations further combinations may be used. |
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4. |
The final terms attached to a base prospectus shall only contain the following:2 2 |
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2(a) |
within the various securities notes schedules according to which the base prospectus is drawn up, the information items in Categories B and C listed in Annex XX. When an item is not applicable to a prospectus, the item shall appear in the final terms with the mention "not applicable; |
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2(b) |
on a voluntary basis, any “additional information” set out in Annex XXI; |
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2(c) |
any replication of, or reference to options already provided for in the base prospectus which are applicable to the individual issue. |
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2The final terms shall not amend or replace any information in the base prospectus. |
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5. |
In addition to the information items set out in the schedules and building blocks referred to in Articles 4 to 20 the following information shall be included in a base prospectus: |
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(1) |
indication on the information that will be included in the final terms;2 |
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2(1a) |
a section containing a template, the "form of the final terms", which has to be filled out for each individual issue; |
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(2) |
the method of publication of the final terms; if the issuer is not in a position to determine, at the time of the approval of the prospectus, the method of publication of the final terms, an indication of how the public will be informed about which method will be used for the publication of the final terms; |
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(3) |
in the case of issues of non equity securities according to [PR 2.2.7R (1)], a general description of the programme. |
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6. |
Only the following categories of securities may be contained in a base prospectus and its related final terms covering issues of various types of securities: |
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(1) |
asset backed securities; |
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(2) |
warrants falling under Article 17; |
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(3) |
non-equity securities provided for under [PR 2.2.7R (2)]; |
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(4) |
all other non-equity securities including warrants with the exception of those mentioned in point (2). |
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In drawing up a base prospectus the issuer, the offeror or the person asking for admission to trading on a regulated market shall clearly segregate the specific information on each of the different securities included in these categories. |
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7. |
Where an event envisaged under [section 87G(1) of the Act (Supplementary prospectus)] occurs between the time that the base prospectus has been approved and the final closing of the offer of each issue of securities under the base prospectus or, as the case may be, the time that trading on a regulated market of those securities begins, the issuer, the offeror or the person asking for admission to trading on a regulated market shall publish a supplement prior to the final closing of the offer or the admission of those securities to trading. |
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2Where the issuer needs to prepare a supplement concerning information in the base prospectus that relates to only one or several specific issues, the right of investors to withdraw their acceptances pursuant to Article 16(2) of Directive 2003/71/EC shall only apply to the relevant issues and not to any other issues of securities under the base prospectus. |
2[Note: See transitional provisions in Regulation (EU) No 862/2012]3
5Article 23 Adaptations to the minimum information given in prospectuses and base prospectuses |
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1. |
Notwithstanding Articles 3 second paragraph and 22(1) second subparagraph, where the issuer’s activities fall under one of the categories included in Annex XIX, the [FCA], taking into consideration the specific nature of the activities involved, may ask for adapted information, in addition to the information items included in the schedules and building blocks set out in 4 to 20, including, where appropriate, a valuation or other expert’s report on the assets of the issuer, in order to comply with the obligation referred to in [sections 87A(2),(3) and (4) of the Act]. The [FCA] shall forthwith inform the Commission thereof. |
In order to obtain the inclusion of a new category in Annex XIX a Member State shall notify its request to the Commission. The Commission shall update this list following the Committee procedure provided for in Article 24 of [the prospectus directive]. |
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2. |
By way of derogation of Articles 3 to 22, where an issuer, an offeror or a person asking for admission to trading on a regulated market applies for approval of a prospectus or a base prospectus for a security which is not the same but comparable to the various types of securities mentioned in the table of combinations set out in Annex XVIII, the issuer, the offeror or the person asking for admission to trading on a regulated market shall add the relevant information items from another securities note schedule provided for in Articles 4 to 20 to the main securities note schedule chosen. This addition shall be done in accordance with the main characteristics of the securities being offered to the public or admitted to trading on a regulated market. |
3. |
By way of derogation of Articles 3 to 22, where an issuer, an offeror or a person asking for admission to trading on a regulated market applies for approval of a prospectus or a base prospectus for a new type of security, the issuer, the offeror or the person asking for admission to trading on a regulated market shall notify a draft prospectus or base prospectus to the [FCA]. |
The [FCA] shall decide, in consultation with the issuer, the offeror or the person asking for admission to trading on a regulated market, what information shall be included in the prospectus or base prospectus in order to comply with the obligation referred to in [sections 87A(2),(3) and (4) of the Act]. The [FCA] shall forthwith inform the Commission thereof. |
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The derogation referred to in the first subparagraph shall only apply in case of a new type of security which has features completely different from the various types of securities mentioned in Annex XVIII, if the characteristics of this new security are such that a combination of the different information items referred to in the schedules and building blocks provided for in Articles 4 to 20 is not pertinent. |
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4. |
By way of derogation of Articles 3 to 22, in the cases where one of the information items required in one of the schedules or building blocks referred to in 4 to 20 or equivalent information is not pertinent to the issuer, to the offer or to the securities to which the prospectus relates, that information may be omitted. |
- (1)
3The restriction in COBS 4.12.3 R does not apply if the promotion falls within an exemption in the table in (5) below.
- (2)
A firm may communicate an invitation or inducement to participate in an unregulated collective investment scheme without breaching the restriction on promotion in section 238 of the Act if the promotion falls within an exemption in the table in (5) below.
- (3)
Where the middle column in the table in (5) refers to promotion to a category of person, this means that the invitation or inducement:
- (a)
is made only to recipients who the firm has taken reasonable steps to establish are persons in that category; or
- (b)
is directed at recipients in a way that may reasonably be regarded as designed to reduce, so far as possible, the risk of participation in, acquisition or underwriting of the non-mainstream pooled investment by persons who are not in that category.
- (a)
- (4)
A firm may rely on more than one exemption in relation to the same invitation or inducement.
- (5)
Title of Exemption
Promotion to:
Promotion of a non-mainstream pooled investment which is:
1. Replacement products and rights issues
A person who already participates in, owns, holds rights to or interests in, a non-mainstream pooled investment that is being liquidated or wound down or which is undergoing a rights issue. [See Note 1.]
1. A non-mainstream pooled investment which is intended by the operator or manager to absorb or take over the assets of that non-mainstream pooled investment, or which is being offered by the operator or manager of that non-mainstream pooled investment as an alternative to cash on its liquidation;
or
2. Securities offered by the existing non-mainstream pooled investment as part of a rights issue.
2. Certified high net worth investors
An individual6 who meets the requirements set out in COBS 4.12.6 R, or a person (or persons) legally empowered to make investment decisions on behalf of such individual6.
Any non-mainstream pooled investment the firm considers is likely to be suitable for that individual6, based on a preliminary assessment of the client's profile and objectives.
[See COBS 4.12.5G (2).]
3. Enterprise and charitable funds
A person who is eligible to participate or invest in an arrangement constituted under:
(1) the Church Funds Investment Measure 1958;
(2) section 96 5or 100 of the Charities Act 2011;
(3) section 25 of the Charities Act (Northern Ireland) 1964;
(4) the Regulation on European Venture Capital Funds (‘EuVECAs’); or
(5) the Regulation on European Social Entrepreneurship Funds (‘EuSEFs’).
Any non-mainstream pooled investment which is such an arrangement.
4. Eligible employees
An eligible employee, that is, a person who is:
(1) an officer;
(2) an employee;
(3) a former officer or employee; or
(4) a member of the immediate family of any of (1) - (3), of an employer which is (or is in the same group as) the firm, or which has accepted responsibility for the activities of the firm in carrying out the designated investment business in question.
1. A non-mainstream pooled investment, the instrument constituting which:
A. restricts the property of the non-mainstream pooled investment, apart from cash and near cash, to:
(1) (where the employer is a company) shares in and debentures of the company or any other connected company; [See Note 2.]
(2) (in any case), any property, provided that the non-mainstream pooled investment takes the form of:
(i) a limited partnership, under the terms of which the employer (or connected company) will be the unlimited partner and the eligible employees will be some or all of the limited partners; or
(ii) a trust which the firm reasonably believes not to contain any risk that any eligible employee may be liable to make any further payments (other than charges) for investment transactions earlier entered into, which the eligible employee was not aware of at the time he entered into them; and
B. (in a case falling within A(1) above) restricts participation in the non-mainstream pooled investment to eligible employees, the employer and any connected company.
2. Any non-mainstream pooled investment, provided that the participation of eligible employees is to facilitate their co-investment:
(i) with one or more companies in the same group as their employer (which may include the employer); or
5. Members of the Society of Lloyd’s
A person admitted to membership of the Society of Lloyd's or any person by law entitled or bound to administer his affairs.
A scheme in the form of a limited partnership which is established for the sole purpose of underwriting insurance business at Lloyd's.
6. Exempt persons
An exempt person (other than a person exempted only by section 39 of the Act (Exemption of appointed representatives)) if the financial promotion relates to a regulated activity in respect of which the person is exempt from the general prohibition.
7. Non-retail clients
An eligible counterparty or a professional client.
Any non-mainstream pooled investment in relation to which the client is categorised as a professional client or eligible counterparty.
[See Note 4.]
8. Certified sophisticated investors
An individual6 who meets the requirements set out in COBS 4.12.7 R, including an individual who is legally empowered (solely or jointly with others) to make investment decisions on behalf of another person who is the firm'sclient6.
9. Self-certified sophisticated investors
An individual6 who meets the requirements set out in COBS 4.12.8 R, including an individual who is legally empowered (solely or jointly with others) to make investment decisions on behalf of another person who is the firm'sclient6.
Any non-mainstream pooled investment the firm considers is likely to be suitable for that client, based on a preliminary assessment of the client's profile and objectives.
[See COBS 4.12.5G (2)]
10. Solicited advice
Any person.
Any non-mainstream pooled investment, provided the communication meets all of the following requirements:
(a) the communication only amounts to a financial promotion because it is a personal recommendation on a non-mainstream pooled investment;
(b) the personal recommendation is made following a specific request by that client for advice on the merits of investing in the non-mainstream pooled investment; and
(c) the client has not previously received a financial promotion or any other communication from the firm (or from a person connected to the firm) which is intended to influence the client in relation to that non-mainstream pooled investment. [See Note 3.]
11. Excluded communications
Any person.
Any non-mainstream pooled investment, provided the financial promotion is an excluded communication.
[See COBS 4.12.12 G and COBS 4.12.13 G.]
12. Non-recognised UCITS
Any person.
Any EEA UCITS scheme which is not a recognised scheme, provided the following requirements are met:
(1) the firm considers it is likely to be suitable for that client based on a preliminary assessment of the client's profile and objectives; and
(2) the firm provides that client with the same product information as it would be required to provide by COBS 14.2 if the scheme was a recognised scheme.
[See COBS 4.12.5G (2).]
13. US persons
A person who is classified as a United States person for tax purposes under United States legislation or who owns a US qualified retirement plan.
Any investment company registered and operated in the United States under the Investment Company Act 1940.
The following Notes explain certain words and phrases used in the table above.
Note 1
Promotion of non-mainstream pooled investments to a category of person includes any nominee company acting for such a person.
Note 2
A company is 'connected' with another company if:
- they are both in the same group; or
- one company is entitled, either alone or with another company in the same group, to exercise or control the exercise of a majority of the voting rights attributable to the share capital, which are exercisable in all circumstances at any general meeting of the other company or of its holding company.
Note 3
A person is connected with a firm if it acts as an introducer or appointed representative for that firm or if it is any other person, regardless of authorisation status, who has a relevant business relationship with the firm.
Note 4
In deciding whether a promotion is permitted under the rules of this section or under section 238 of the Act, firms may use the client categorisation regime that applies to business other than MiFID or equivalent third country business. (This is the case even if the firm will be carrying on a MiFID activity at the same time as or following the promotion.)
Table Controlled activities
1. |
Accepting deposits |
2. |
Effecting and carrying out contracts of insurance |
3. |
Dealing in securities and contractually based investments |
4. |
Arranging deals in investments |
4A.4 |
|
104B. |
Credit broking |
104C. |
Operating an electronic system in relation to lending |
5. |
Managing investments10 |
105A. |
Debt adjusting |
105B. |
Debt counselling |
6. |
Safeguarding and administering investments |
7. |
Advising on investments |
8. |
Advising on syndicate participation at Lloyd's |
9. |
Providing funeral plan contracts |
10. |
Providing qualifying credit |
11.3 3 |
Arranging qualifying credit etc |
12.3 3 |
Advising on qualifying credit etc10 |
1012A. |
Providing relevant consumer credit |
1012B. |
Providing consumer hire |
313. |
Providing a home reversion plan |
314. |
Arranging a home reversion plan |
315. |
Advising on a home reversion plan |
316. |
Providing a home purchase plan |
317. |
Arranging a home purchase plan |
318. |
Advising on a home purchase plan |
718A. |
Providing a regulated sale and rent back agreement |
718B. |
Arranging a regulated sale and rent back agreement |
718C. |
Advising on a regulated sale and rent back agreement |
19.3 3 |
Agreeing to do anything in 3 to 18C7 above 37 |
Table Application of Exemptions to Forms of Promotions
Financial Promotion Order |
Applies to |
|||
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 |
* |
* |
*10 |
1046A |
Promotions of credit etc. for business purposes (8.17-A.10G) |
* |
* |
* |
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) |
* |
* |
*10 |
1072F |
Credit agreements offered to employees by employers |
* |
* |
* |
731 |
Advice centres (8.14.40B) |
* |
* |
* |
1 in limited circumstances only – see article 12(2) of the Financial Promotion Order |
||||
2 for the purpose of article 16 (2) only |
||||
3 for the purpose of article 16 (1) only1 |
Table: Instruments which result in notional positions
This table belongs to BIPRU 7.3.2R(2)
Instrument |
See |
|
Depository receipts |
||
Convertibles where: |
(a) the convertible is trading at a market price of less than 110% of the underlying equity; and the first date at which conversion can take place is less than three months ahead, or the next such date (where the first has passed) is less than a year ahead; or |
|
(b) the conditions in (a) are not met but the firm includes the convertible in its equity PRR calculation rather than including it in its interest rate PRR calculation set out in BIPRU 7.2 (Interest rate PRR). |
||
Futures, forwards, CFDs and synthetic futures on a single equity |
||
Futures, forwards, CFDs and synthetic futures on a basket of equities or equity index |
||
Options or warrants on a single equity, an equityfuture, a basket of equities or an equity index (unless the firm calculates a PRR on the option or warrant under BIPRU 7.6). |