Module |
Relevance to Credit Unions |
The Principles for Businesses (PRIN) |
The Principles for Businesses (PRIN) set out 3high-level requirements 3imposed by the FCA3. They provide a general statement of regulatory requirements. The Principles apply to all12credit unions. In applying the Principles to credit unions, the FCA3 will be mindful of proportionality. In practice, the implications are likely to vary according to the size and complexity 3of the credit union. 1212121212 |
Senior Management Arrangements, Systems and Controls (SYSC) |
SYSC 1,3SYSC 4 to 10 and SYSC 213 apply to all credit unions in respect of the carrying on of their regulated activities and unregulated activities in a prudential context. SYSC 18 applies to all credit unions in respect of both their regulated activities and their unregulated activities3. |
Threshold Conditions (COND) |
In order to become authorised under the Act all firms must meet the threshold conditions. The threshold conditions must be met on a continuing basis by credit unions. Failure to meet one of the conditions is sufficient grounds for the exercise by the FCA3 of its powers. 121212 |
Statements of Principle and Code of Practice for Approved Persons (APER) |
The purpose of the Statements of Principle contained in APER 2 is to provide guidance to approved persons in relation to the conduct expected of them in the performance of a controlled function. The Code of Practice for Approved Persons sets out descriptions of conduct which, in the opinion of the FCA3, do not comply with a Statement of Principle and, in the case of Statement of Principle 3, conduct which tends to show compliance within that statement. 1212 |
The Fit and Proper test for Approved Persons (FIT) |
The purpose of FIT is to set out and describe the criteria that the FCA3 will consider when assessing the fitness and propriety of a person in respect of whom an application is being made for approval to undertake a controlled function under the approved persons regime. The criteria are also relevant in assessing the continuing fitness and propriety of persons who have already been approved. 1212 |
General Provisions (GEN) |
GEN contains rules and guidance on general matters, including interpreting the Handbook, statutory status disclosure, the FCA's3 logo and insurance against financial penalties. 12 |
Fees manual (FEES) |
This manual sets out the fees applying to credit unions. |
3Prudential sourcebook for Mortgage and Home Finance Firms, and Insurance Intermediaries (MIPRU) |
MIPRU applies to any credit union carrying out insurance mediation activity or home finance mediation activity, or using these services. In particular, it sets out requirements for allocation of responsibility for the credit union’sinsurance mediation activity (MIPRU 2), for the use of home finance intermediaries (MIPRU 5) and for professional indemnity insurance (MIPRU 3). |
Conduct of Business sourcebook (COBS) |
A credit union which acts as a CTF provider or provides a cash-deposit ISA will need to be aware of the relevant requirements in COBS. COBS 4.6 (Past, simulated past and future performance), COBS 4.7.1 R (Direct offer financial promotions), COBS 4.10 (Systems and controls and approving and communicating financial promotions), COBS 13 (Preparing product information) and COBS 14 (Providing product information to clients) apply with respect to accepting deposits as set out in those provisions, COBS 4.1 and BCOBS. |
ICOBS applies to any credit union carrying on non-investment insurance activities, such as arranging or advising on general insurance contracts to be taken out by members. But ICOBS does not apply to a credit union taking out an insurance policy for itself, such as a policy against default by members on their loans where the credit union is the beneficiary of the policy, since in this circumstance the credit union would not be acting as an insurance intermediary, but would itself be the customer. Credit unions are reminded that they are subject to the requirements of the appropriate legislation, including the Credit Unions Act 1979, relating to activities a credit union may carry on. |
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3Mortgages and Home Finance: Conduct of Business sourcebook (MCOB) |
MCOB applies to any credit union that engages in any home finance activity. MCOB rules cover advising and selling standards, responsible lending (including affordability assessment), charges, and the fair treatment of customers in payment difficulties. |
Banking: Conduct of Business sourcebook (BCOBS) |
BCOBS sets out rules and guidance for credit unions on how they should conduct their business with their customers. In particular there are rules and guidance relating to communications with banking customers3and financial promotions (BCOBS 2), distance communications (BCOBS 3), information to be communicated to banking customers3(BCOBS 4), post sale requirements (BCOBS 5), and cancellation (BCOBS 6). 3The rules in BCOBS 3.1 that relate to distance contracts may apply 3to a credit union. This is because the Distance Marketing Directive3applies where there is "an organised distance sales or service-provision scheme run by the supplier" (Article 2(a)), i.e. if the credit union routinely sells any of its services by post, telephone, fax or the internet3. |
Supervision manual (SUP) |
The following provisions of SUP are relevant to credit unions: 13SUP 1A13 (The FCA’s 3 approach to supervision), SUP 2 (Information gathering by the FCA or PRA 3 on its own initiative), SUP 3.1 to SUP 3.8 (Auditors), SUP 5 (Skilled persons), SUP 6 (Applications to vary or cancel Part 4A12permission), SUP 7 (Individual requirements), SUP 8 (Waiver and modification of rules), SUP 9 (Individual guidance), 13SUP 10A and SUP 10B13 (Approved persons), SUP 11 (Controllers and Close links), SUP 15 (Notifications to the FCA or PRA 3) and SUP 16 (Reporting Requirements). Credit unions are reminded that they are subject to the requirements of the Act and SUP 11 on close links, and are bound to notify the FCA3 of changes. It may be unlikely, in practice, that credit unions will develop such relationships. It is possible, however, that a person may acquire close links with a 3credit union3 within the meaning of the Act by reason of holding the prescribed proportion of deferred shares in the credit union. In relation to SUP 16, credit unions are exempted from the requirement to submit annual reports of 3close links. 121212121212121212 |
CONC contains rules that apply to firms carrying on credit-related regulated activities. PERG 2.7.19IG provides guidance on relevant exemptions. Most credit union lending is therefore outside the scope of CONC. However, subject to the constraints in the Credit Unions Act 1979 or the Credit Unions (Northern Ireland) Order 1985 (as relevant), credit unions may undertake credit-related regulated activities to which CONC does apply if the activity is carried out by way of business. This could include lending under a borrower-lender-supplier agreement, or debt adjusting or debt counselling where the credit union is not the lender. A credit union carrying on such activities should consider whether it requires permission to do so. Further information can be found on the FCA’s website. |
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Decision, Procedure and Penalties manual (DEPP) |
DEPP is relevant to credit unions because it sets out: (1) the FCA's12 decision-making procedure for giving statutory notices. These are warning notices, decision notices and supervisory notices (DEPP 1.2 to DEPP 5); and (2) the FCA's12 policy with respect to the imposition and amount of penalties under the Act (see DEPP 6). 1212 |
Dispute Resolution: Complaints (DISP) |
DISP sets out rules and guidance in relation to treating complainants fairly and the Financial Ombudsman Service. |
Compensation (COMP) |
COMP sets out rules relating to the scheme for compensating consumers when authorised firms are unable, or likely to be unable, to satisfy claims against them.12 |
The Enforcement Guide (EG) |
The Enforcement Guide (EG) describes the FCA's12 approach to exercising the main enforcement powers given to it by the Act and by other legislation.2 12 |
Financial crime: a guide for firms (FC) |
FC provides guidance on steps that a firm can take to reduce the risk that it might be used to further financial crime. |
Related provisions for SUP 8.3.13A
This table belongs to COLL 8.2.5 R
1 |
Description of the authorised fund |
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Information detailing: |
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(1) |
the name of the authorised fund; |
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(2) |
that the authorised fund is a qualified investor scheme; and |
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(3) |
in the case of an ICVC, whether the head office of the company is situated in England and Wales or Wales or Scotland or Northern Ireland. |
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3Property Authorised Investment Funds |
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1A |
For a property authorised investment fund, a statement that: |
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(1) |
it is a property authorised investment fund; |
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(2) |
no body corporate may seek to obtain or intentionally maintain a holding of more that 10% of the net asset value of the fund; and |
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(3) |
in the event that the authorised fund manager reasonably considers that a body corporate holds more than 10% of the net asset value of the fund, the authorised fund manager is entitled to delay any redemption or cancellation of units in accordance with 6A if the authorised fund manager reasonably considers such action to be: |
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(a) |
necessary in order to enable an orderly reduction of the holding to below 10%; and |
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(b) |
in the interests of the unitholders as a whole. |
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2 |
Constitution |
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The following statements: |
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(1) |
the scheme property of the scheme is entrusted to a depositary for safekeeping (subject to any exception permitted by the rules); |
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(2) |
if relevant, the duration of the scheme is limited and, if so, for how long; |
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(3) |
charges and expenses of the scheme may be taken out of scheme property; |
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(4) |
for an ICVC: |
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(a) |
what the maximum and minimum sizes of the scheme's capital are; and |
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(b) |
the unitholders are not liable for the debts of the company;5 6 |
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5(4A) |
for an ICVC which is an umbrella, a statement that the assets of a sub-fund belong exclusively to that sub-fund and shall not be used to discharge directly or indirectly the liabilities of, or claims against, any other person or body, including the umbrella, or any other sub-fund, and shall not be available for any such purpose;6 |
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6(4B) |
for a co-ownership scheme which is an umbrella, the property subject to a sub-fund is beneficially owned by the participants in that sub-fund as tenants in common (or, in Scotland, is the common property of the participants in that sub-fund) and must not be used to discharge any liabilities of, or meet any claims against, any person other than the participants in that sub-fund; |
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6(4C) |
for a limited partnership scheme, that the scheme prohibits pooling as is mentioned in section 235(3)(a) of the Act in relation to separate parts of the scheme property, with the effect that the scheme cannot be an umbrella; |
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(5) |
for an AUT: |
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(a) |
the trust deed: |
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(i) |
is made under and governed by the law of England and Wales, or the law of Scotland or the law of Northern Ireland; |
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(ii) |
is binding on each unitholder as if he had been a party to it and that he is bound by its provisions; and |
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(iii) |
authorises and requires the trustee and the manager to do the things required or permitted of them by its terms; |
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(b) |
subject to the provisions of the trust deed and all the rules made under section 247 of the Act (Trust scheme rules): |
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(i) |
the scheme (other than sums held to the credit of the distribution account) is held by the trustee on trust for the unitholders according to the number of units held by each unitholder or, where relevant, according to the number of individual shares in the scheme property represented by the units held by each unitholder; and |
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(ii) |
the sums standing to the credit of any distribution account are held by the trustee on trust to distribute or apply in accordance with COLL 8.5.15 R (Income); |
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(c) |
a Unitholder is not liable to make any further payment after he has paid the price of his units and that no further liability can be imposed on him in respect of the units he holds; and |
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(d) |
payments to the trustee by way of remuneration are authorised to be paid (in whole or in part) out of the scheme property; and6 6 |
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(6)6 |
for an ACS: |
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(a) |
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(i) |
is made under and governed by the law of England and Wales, or the law of Scotland or the law of Northern Ireland; |
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(ii) |
is binding on each unitholder as if he had been a party to it and that he is bound by its provisions; |
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(iii) |
authorises and requires the depositary and the authorised contractual scheme manager to do the things required or permitted of them by its terms; and |
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(iv) |
states that units may not be issued to a person other than a person7: |
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(A) |
who 7is a: |
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(i) |
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(ii) |
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(iii) |
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(B) |
to whom units in a qualified investor scheme may be promoted under COBS 4.12.4 R;7 7 |
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(v) |
states that the authorised contractual scheme manager of an ACS must redeemunits as soon as practicable after becoming aware that those units are vested in anyone (whether as a result of subscription or transfer of units) other than a person meeting the criteria in (iv)(A) and (B); |
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(vi) |
states that for a co-ownership scheme: |
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(A) |
the scheme property is beneficially owned by the participants as tenants in common (or, in Scotland, is the common property of the participants); |
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(B) |
the arrangements constituting the scheme are intended to constitute a co-ownership scheme as defined in section 235A(2) of the Act; and |
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(C) |
the operator and depositary are required to wind up the scheme if directed to do so by the FCA in exercise of its power under section 261X (Directions) or section 261Z (Winding up or merger of master UCITS) of the Act; |
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(vii) |
states: |
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(A) |
whether the transfer of units in the ACS scheme or, for a co-ownership scheme which is an umbrella (sub-funds of which pursue differing policies in relation to transfer of units), in each particular sub-fund, is either: |
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(i) |
prohibited; or |
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(ii) |
allowed; |
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(B) |
where transfer of units is allowed by the scheme or, where appropriate the sub-fund, in accordance with (A)(ii), units may only be transferred in accordance with the conditions specified by FCArules, including that units may not be transferred to a person other than a person : 7 |
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(i) |
who 7is a: |
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(1) |
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(2) |
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(3) |
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(ii) |
to whom units in a qualified investor scheme may be promoted under COBS 4.12.4 R; and7 7 |
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(viii) |
states that for a limited partnership scheme, the scheme is not dissolved on any person ceasing to be a limited partner or nominated partner provided that there remains at least one limited partner; |
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(b) |
subject to the provisions of the contractual scheme deed and all the rules made under section 261I of the Act (Contractual scheme rules) and for the time being in force: |
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(i) |
the scheme property (other than sums standing to the credit of the distribution account) is held by, or to the order of, the depositary for and on behalf of the unitholders according to the number of units held by each unitholder or, where relevant, according to the number of individual shares in the scheme property represented by the units held by each unitholder; and |
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(ii) |
the sums standing to the credit of any distribution account are held by the depositary to distribute or apply them in accordance with COLL 8.5.15 R(Income); and |
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(c) |
a unitholder in a co-ownership scheme is not liable to make any further payment after he has paid the price of his units and that no further liability can be imposed on him in respect of the units he holds; |
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(d) |
a unitholder in a limited partnership scheme is not liable for the debts or obligations of the limited partnership scheme beyond the amount of the scheme property which is available to the authorised contractual scheme manager to meet such debts or obligations, provided that the unitholder does not take part in the management of the partnership business; |
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(e) |
the exercise of rights conferred on limited partners by FCA rules does not constitute taking part in the management of the partnership business; |
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(f) |
the limited partners, other than the nominated partner, are to be the participants in the scheme; and |
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(g) |
the operator of a co-ownership scheme is authorised to: |
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(i) |
acquire, manage and dispose of the scheme property; and |
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(ii) |
enter into contracts which are binding on unitholders for the purposes of, or in connection with, the acquisition, management or disposal of scheme property. |
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3 |
Investment objectives |
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A statement of the object of the scheme, in particular the types of investments and assets in which it and each sub-fund (where applicable) may invest and that the object of the scheme is to invest in property of that kind with the aim of spreading investment risk. |
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4 |
Units in the scheme |
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A statement of: |
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(1) |
the classes of units which the scheme may issue, indicating, for a scheme which is an umbrella, which class or classes may be issued in respect of each sub-fund; and |
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(2) |
the rights attaching to units of each class (including any provisions for the expression in two denominations of such rights). |
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5 |
Limitation on issue of and redemption of units |
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Details as to: |
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(1) |
the provisions relating to any restrictions on the right to redeem units in any class; and |
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(2) |
the circumstances in which the issue of the units of any particular class may be limited. |
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6 |
Income and distribution |
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Details of the person responsible for the calculation, transfer, allocation and distribution of income for any class of unit in issue during the accounting period. |
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3Redemption or cancellation of units on breach of law or rules |
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6A |
A statement that where any holding of units by a unitholder is (or is reasonably considered by the authorised fund manager to be) an infringement of any law, governmental regulation or rule, those units must be redeemed or cancelled. |
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7 |
Base currency |
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A statement of the base currency of the scheme. |
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8 |
Meetings |
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Details of the procedures for the convening of meetings and the procedures relating to resolutions, voting and the voting rights for unitholders. |
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9 |
Powers and duties of the authorised fund manager and depositary |
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Where relevant, details of any function to be undertaken by the authorised fund manager and depositary which the rules in COLL require to be stated in the instrument constituting the fund.8 8 |
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10 |
Termination and suspension |
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Details of: |
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(1) |
the grounds under which the authorised fund manager may initiate a suspension of the scheme and any associated procedures; and |
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(2) |
the methodology for determining the rights of unitholders to participate in the scheme property on winding up. |
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110A |
Investment in overseas2 property through an intermediate holding vehicle1 |
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If investment in an overseas2 immovable is to be made through an intermediate holding vehicle or a series of intermediate holding vehicles, a statement that the purpose of that intermediate holding vehicle or series of intermediate holding vehicles will be to enable the holding of overseas2 immovables by the scheme.1 |
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11 |
Other relevant matters |
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Details of those matters which enable the scheme, authorised fund manager or depositary to obtain any privilege or power conferred by the rules in COLL which is not otherwise provided for in the instrument constituting the fund.8 8 |