Related provisions for SUP 16.18.10

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GENPRU 2.2.79HGRP
8The FCA18 considers that:(1) in order to comply with GENPRU 2.2.79G R, the firm should, at a minimum, provide the FCA18 with the following information:(a) a comprehensive explanation of the rationale for the purchase;(b) the firm's financial and solvency position before and after the purchase, in particular whether the purchase, or other foreseeable internal and external events or circumstances, may increase the risk of the firm breaching its capital resources requirement or
GENPRU 2.2.215RRP
For the purpose of the definition of a material holding, holdings must be valued using the valuation method which the holder uses for its external financial reporting purposes.
COBS 18.5.4BRRP
6A small authorised UK AIFM of an unauthorised AIF which is not a collective investment scheme must comply with COBS 16.3 (Periodic reporting) with references to managing investments to be construed as providing AIFM investment management functions.
COBS 18.5.10ERP
  1. (1)

    In order to provide adequate information to describe how the fund6 is governed, a small authorised UK AIFM of an unauthorised AIF or a residual CIS operator6 should include in the fund6 documents a provision about each of the items of relevant information set out in the following table (Content of fund6 documents).

    666
  2. (2)

    Compliance with (1) may be relied on as tending to establish compliance with COBS 18.5.5 R.

  3. (3)

    Contravention of (1) may be relied on as tending to establish contravention of COBS 18.5.5 R.

Table: Content of fund6 documents

Content of fund documents6

66

Thefund6 documents should include provision about:

6

(1)

Regulator

The firm statutory status in accordance with GEN 4 Annex 1 R (Statutory status disclosure);

(2)

Services

the nature of the services that the firm will provide6;

6

(3)

Payments for services

details of any payment for services payable by the fund or from the property of the fund6 or investors in the fund to the firm6, including where appropriate:

66

(a)

the basis of calculation;

(b)

how it is to be paid and collected;

(c)

how frequently it is to be paid; and

(d)

whether or not any other payment is receivable by the firm6 (or to its knowledge by any of its associates) in connection with any transactions effected by the firm6 with or for the fund6, in addition to or in lieu of any fees;

666

(4)

Commencement

when and how the firm6 is appointed;

6

(5)

Accounting

the arrangements for accounting to the fund or investors in the fund6 for any transaction effected;

6

(6)

Termination method

how the appointment of the firm6 may be terminated;

6

(7)

Complaints procedure

how to complain to the firm6 and a statement that the investors in the fund6 may subsequently complain direct to the Financial Ombudsman Service;

66

(8)

Compensation

whether or not compensation may be available from the compensation scheme should the firm6 be unable to meet its liabilities, and information about any other applicable compensation scheme; and, for each applicable compensation6 scheme, the extent and level of cover and how further information can be obtained;

6

(9)

Investment objectives

the investment objectives for the portfolio of the fund6;

6

(10)

Restrictions

(a)

any restrictions on:

(i)

the types of investments or property which may be included in the portfolio of the fund6;

6

(ii)

the markets on which investments or property may be acquired for the portfolio of the fund6;

6

(iii)

the amount or value of any one investment or asset, or on the proportion of the portfolio of the fund6 which any one investment or asset or any particular kind of investment or asset may constitute; or

6

(b)

that there are no such restrictions;

(11)

Holding fund6 assets

6

(a)

if it is the case, that the firm6 will:

6

(i)

hold money on behalf of the fund6 or be the custodian of investments or other property of the fund6; or

66

(ii)

arrange for some other person to act in either capacity and, if so, whether that person is an associate of the firm6 identifying that person and describing the nature of any association; and

6

(b)

in either case:

(i)

how any money is to be deposited;

(ii)

the arrangements for recording and separately identifying registrable investments of the fund6 and, where the registered holder is the firm's6 own nominee, that the firm6 will be responsible for the acts and omissions of that person;

666

(iii)

the extent to which the firm6 accepts liability for any loss of the investment of the fund6;

66

(iv)

the extent to which the firm6 or any other person mentioned in (11)(a)(ii), may hold a lien or security interest over investments of the fund6;

66

(v)

where investments of the fund6 will be registered collectively in the same name, a statement that the entitlements of the fund6 may not be identifiable by separate certificates or other physical documents of title, and that, should the firm6 default, any shortfall in investments of the fund6 registered in that name may be shared proportionately among all fund6 and any other customers of the firm6 whose investments are so registered;

666666

(vi)

whether or not investments or other property of the fund6 can be lent to, or deposited by way of collateral with, a third party and whether or not money can be borrowed on behalf of the fund6 against the security of those investments or property and, if so, the terms upon which they may be lent or deposited;

66

(vii)

the arrangements for accounting to the fund6 for investments of the fund6, for income received (including any interest on money and any income earned by lending investments or other property) of the fund6, and for rights conferred in respect of investments or other property of the fund6;

666

(viii)

the arrangements for determining the exercise of any voting rights conferred by investments of the fund6; and

6

(ix)

where investments of the fund6 may be held by an eligible custodian outside the United Kingdom, a general statement that different settlement, legal and regulatory requirements, and different practices relating to the segregation of those investments, may apply;

6

(12)

Clients' money outside the United Kingdom

if it is the case, that the firm6 may hold the money of the fund6 in a client bank account outside the United Kingdom;

66

(13)

Exchange rates

if a liability of the fund6 in one currency is to be matched by an asset in a different currency, or if the services to be provided to the firm for the fund6 may relate to an investment denominated in a currency other than the currency in which the investments of the fund6 are valued, a warning that a movement of exchange rates may have a separate effect, unfavourable or favourable, on the gain or loss otherwise made on the investments of the fund6;

6666

(14)

Stabilised investments

if it is the case, that the firm6 is to have the right under the fund6documents to effect transactions in investments the prices of which may be the subject of stabilisation;

66

(15)

Conflict of interest and material interest

if it is the case, that the firm6 is to have the right under the agreement or instrument constituting the fund6 to effect transactions on behalf of the fund6 in which the firm6 has directly or indirectly a material interest (except for an interest arising solely from the investment of the firm6 as agent for the fund6), or a relationship of any description with another party which may involve a conflict with the firm6 duty to the fund6, together with a disclosure of the nature of the interest or relationship;

66666666

(16)

Use of dealing commission

if the firm6 receives goods or services in addition to the execution of its customer orders in accordance with the section on the use of dealing commission, the prior disclosure required by the rule on prior disclosure (see COBS 11.6.2 R);

6

(17)

Acting as principal

if it is the case, that the firm6 may act as principal in a transaction with the fund6;

66

(18)

Stock lending

if it is the case, that the firm6 may undertake stock lending activity with or for the fund6 specifying the type of assets of the fund6 to be lent, the type and value of relevant collateral from the borrower and the method and amount of payment due to the fund6 in respect of the lending;

6666

(19)

Transactions involving contingent liability investments

(a)

if it is the case, that the agreement orinstrument constituting the fund6 allows the firm6 to effect transactions involving contingent liability investments for the account of the portfolio of the fund6;

666

(b)

if applicable, whether there are any limits on the amount to be committed by way of margin and, if so, what those limits are; and

(c)

if applicable, that the firm6 has the authority to effect transactions involving contingent liability investments otherwise than under the rules of a recognised investment exchange and in a contract traded thereon;

68

(20)

Periodic statements

(a)

the frequency of any periodic statement (this should not be less than once every 12 months) except where a periodic statement is not required (see COBS 18.5.13R); and

(b)

whether those statements will include some measure of performance, and, if so, what the basis of that measurement will be;

(21)

Valuation

the bases on which assets comprised in the portfolio of the fund6 are to be valued;

6

(22)

Borrowings

if it is the case, that the firm6 may supplement the funds in the portfolio of the fund6 and, if it may do so:

66

(a)

the circumstances in which the firm6 may do so;

6

(b)

whether there are any limits on the extent to which the firm6 may do so and, if so, what those limits are; and

6

(c)

any circumstances in which such limits may be exceeded;

(23)

Underwriting commitments

if it is the case, that the firm6 may for the account of the portfolio of the fund6 underwrite or sub-underwrite any issue or offer for sale of securities, and:

66

(a)

whether there are any restrictions on the categories of securities which may be underwritten and, if so, what these restrictions are; and

(b)

whether there are any financial limits on the extent of the underwriting and, if so, what these limits are;

(24)

Investments in other funds6

whether or not the portfolio may invest in fund either managed or advised by the firm6 or by an associate of the firm or in a fund6 which is not a regulated collective investment scheme;

666

(25)

Investments in securities underwritten by the firm6

whether or not the portfolio may contain securities of which any issue or offer for sale was underwritten, managed or arranged by the firm6 or by an associate of the firm6 during the preceding 12 months.

666
BIPRU 2.2.7GRP
A firm should ensure that its ICAAP is:(1) the responsibility of the firm'sgoverning body;(2) reported to the firm'sgoverning body; and(3) forms an integral part of the firm's management process and decision-making culture.
BIPRU 2.2.23BGRP
4Following discussions with the firm on the items listed in BIPRU 2.2.23AG (1) to BIPRU 2.2.23AG (3), the appropriate regulator may put in place additional reporting arrangements to monitor the firm's use of its capital planning buffer in accordance with the plan referred to in BIPRU 2.2.23AG (3). The appropriate regulator may also identify specific trigger points as the capital planning buffer is being used up by the firm, which could lead to additional supervisory actions.
COBS 20.2.47RRP
Where a firm is not otherwise required to appoint an independent expert, it must:(1) appoint a reattribution expert to undertake an objective assessment of its reattribution proposals, who must be:(a) nominated or approved by the appropriate regulator before he is appointed; and(b) free from any conflicts of interest that may, or may appear to, undermine his independence or the quality of his report;(2) ensure that the reattribution expert's terms of appointment allow him to communicate
COBS 20.2.61GRP
(1) 4A mutual operating a common fund may seek to undertake an exercise to identify that part of the fund to which the mutual considers it would be fair for relevant provisions in COBS 20 not to apply. (2) To give regulatory effect to the identification exercise, the FCA expects that a mutual will need to apply to the FCA to modify the relevant provisions in COBS 20 and elsewhere which are dependent on the definition of the with-profits fund. (3) A mutual will need to demonstrate
ICOBS 8.4.9ARRP
2The requirement referred to in ICOBS 8.4.9R (7)(b) is that the report must include an opinion from the auditor confirming whether, in all material respects, the tracing office maintains a database which accurately and reliably stores information submitted to it by firms for the purpose of complying with relevant requirements in ICOBS 8.4 and that it has systems which can adequately keep it up to date in the light of new information provided by firms.
SUP 16.14.6RRP
3A CMAR must be submitted by electronic means made available by the FCA10.10
SUP 5.5.4GRP
In complying with the contractual duty in SUP 5.5.1 R, the FCA3 expects that, in the case of substantial or complex reports, the skilled person will give a periodic update on progress and issues to allow for a re-focusing of the report if necessary. The channel of communication would normally be directly between the skilled person and the FCA3. However, the FCA3 would also expect firms normally to be informed about the passage of information, and the skilled person would usually
SUP 10C.8.3GRP

Table: Examples of how the other local responsibility function applies

Example

Comments

(1) ‘A’ is allocated local responsibility for one of a branch’s main business lines. A is also appointed to perform a PRA-designated senior management function for the same branch.

A only needs approval to perform the PRA-designated senior management function.

(2) ‘A’ is outside the branch’s management structure and A’s responsibilities for the branch are limited to setting overall strategy for the branch. A does not have responsibility for implementing that strategy.

A is not performing the other local responsibility function. The reason for this is explained in SYSC 4.8.27G. SUP 10C.8.1R(2) is irrelevant to this example.

(3) A small branch undertakes two business lines (wholesale lending and corporate investments). ‘A’ is head of wholesale lending and is also an executive director of the branch. ‘B’ is head of corporate investments and does not sit on the branch management committee but reports to it on corporate investments. The branch allocates local responsibility for these functions to A and B. Neither A nor B performs any other PRA or FCA-designated senior management functions.

A only needs approval to perform the executive director function3. B needs approval to perform the other local responsibility function.

(4) A branch does not have a Head of Internal Audit. ‘P’ is allocated local responsibility for internal audit in relation to that branch.

P needs approval to perform the other local responsibility function. However, if P has already been approved to perform another PRA or FCA designated senior management function, then P will not be performing the other local responsibility function.

(5) ‘A’ is appointed to perform the executive3director function. The same branch also allocates local responsibility for some branch functions to A.

A only needs approval to perform the executive3director function.

(6) ‘A’ is approved to perform the other local responsibility function. Later, A is appointed to perform the executive3director function for the same firm.

A requires approval for the other local responsibility function when A is first appointed. When A is later approved to perform the executive3director function, A stops performing the other local responsibility function. The firm should use Form E to apply for approval for A to perform the executive3director function.

(7) ‘A’ is appointed to perform:

(a) the compliance oversight function for one firm (Firm X) in a group (which may or may not be a relevant authorised person); and

(b) a function coming within the scope of the other local responsibility function for another firm (which is a third-country relevant authorised person) in the same group (Firm Y).

A needs approval to perform the compliance oversight function for Firm X and the other local responsibility function for Firm Y.

(8) ‘A’ is appointed to take on some functions that come within the other local responsibility function. Later, A is appointed as chief risk officer.

On A’s first appointment, A will need to be approved to perform the other local responsibility function.

On being approved as chief risk officer, A stops performing the other local responsibility function as being chief risk officer is a PRA designated senior management function.

(9) ‘A’ is appointed as an executive director. A then resigns and takes up a job with the same firm coming within the other overall responsibility function.

On A’s first appointment, A will need to be approved to perform the executive3director function. A will need to get approval to perform the other overall responsibility function before A gives up being a director.

Note: Local responsibility is explained in SYSC 4.8.10R (Third-country relevant authorised persons: Allocation of responsibilities)

CREDS 10.1.3GRP

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 4.5 (Management responsibilities maps for relevant authorised persons), SYSC 4.7 (Senior management responsibilities for relevant authorised persons: allocation of responsibilities), SYSC 4.9 (Handover procedures and material), SYSC 5.2 (Certification regime) and SYSC 18 apply3 to all credit unions in respect of both their regulated activities and their unregulated activities3.

3Code of Conduct (COCON)

This contains rules and guidance that are directly applicable to a credit union’sSMF managers, certification employees and (from 2017) other conduct rules staff. There is also guidance for credit unions on giving their staff training about COCON.

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

3

3

12312

The Fit and Proper test for Approved Persons (FIT)

The purpose of FIT is to set out and describe the criteria that a firm should3 consider when assessing the fitness and propriety of a person (1)3 in respect of whom an application is being made for approval to undertake a controlled function under the approved persons regime, (2)3 who has already been approved, (3) who is a certification employee or (4) whom a firm is considering appointing to be a certification employee3.

It also sets out and describes criteria that the FCA will consider when assessing the fitness and propriety of a candidate for a controlled function position and that it may consider when assessing the continuing fitness and propriety of approved persons.3

12312

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. A credit union that communicates with clients, including in a financial promotion, in relation to the promotion of deferred shares and credit union subordinated debt will need to be aware of the requirements of COBS 4.2 (Fair, clear and not misleading communications) and COBS 4.5 (Communicating with retail clients).4

3Insurance: Conduct of Business sourcebook (ICOBS)

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.

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 10C (FCA senior management regime for approved persons in relevant authorised persons),3SUP 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.

12121212121312121212

3Consumer Credit sourcebook (CONC)

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.

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.

BIPRU 8.4.19GRP
Although an investment firm consolidation waiver switches off most of this chapter, a firm should still carry out the capital adequacy calculations in BIPRU 8.3 to BIPRU 8.8 as if those parts of this chapter still applied to the UK consolidation group or non-EEA sub-group and report these to the FCA. It should also still monitor large exposure risk on a consolidated basis.
IFPRU 7.1.3GRP
The FCA's liquidity regime and liquidity reporting in BIPRU 12 (Liquidity standards) and SUP 16 (Reporting requirements) continue to apply to an IFPRU investment firm until the liquidity coverage requirement in article 412 of the EU CRR becomes applicable in 2015.
BIPRU 8.3.23GRP
Even where the requirements for a non-EEA sub-group are absorbed into those for the UK consolidation group a firm should still make clear in its regulatory reporting that the consolidation figures relate to a UK consolidation group and a non-EEA sub-group and that they both contain the same members.
REC 3.26.4RRP
1The duty in section 300B(1) of the Act does not apply to any of the following:(1) any regulatory provision which is required under EU2 law or any enactment or rule of law in the United Kingdom; or2(2) (a) the specification of the standard terms of any derivative which a UK RIE proposes to admission to trading, or the amendment of the standard terms of any derivative already admitted to trading; or(b) the specification or any amendment of standard terms relating to the provision
BIPRU 12.3.7GRP
As well as the rules in BIPRU 12.3 requiring a firm to have robust systems to enable it to identify, measure, manage and monitor liquidity risk, an ILAS BIPRU firm is also subject to obligations in SUP 16 (Reporting requirements) requiring it to report quantitative data about its liquidity position to the appropriate regulator. That chapter of SUP sets out the applicable data items and the rules governing the frequency of their submission to the appropriate regulator. Absent a
FIT 2.1.1GRP
In determining a person's honesty, integrity and reputation, the FCA5 will have regard to all relevant 3matters including, but not limited to, those set out in FIT 2.1.3 G which may have arisen either in the United Kingdom or elsewhere. The FCA5 should be informed of these matters (see SUP 10A.14.17 R and SUP 10C.14.18R5), but will consider the circumstances only where relevant to the requirements and standards of the regulatory system. For example, under FIT 2.1.3 G(1), conviction
INSPRU 8.2.28RRP
The information provided to the 2FCA2by the Society under INSPRU 8.2.25 R must include:(1) a statement of the purpose of any proposed amendment or new Lloyd's trust deed and the expected impact, if any, on policyholders, managing agents, members, and potential members; and(2) a description of the consultation undertaken under INSPRU 8.2.26 R including a summary of any significant responses to that consultation.
BIPRU 12.4.9RRP
A firm must ensure that the results of its stress tests are reported to the appropriate regulator in a timely manner.
(1) “Annual income” is the annual income from the firm’sdesignated investment business as given in its reporting form in (3) drawn up at its most recent accounting reference date. (2) In (1), the most recent accounting reference date is the last one for which the firm reported annual income.(3) The relevant reporting form under SUP 16.12 is: (a) the Retail Mediation Activities Return (RMAR) (Section B: Profit and Loss Account) for a category B firm; and(b) FSA030 (Income Statement)
ICOBS 6.3.1RRP
  1. (1)

    Before a pure protection contract is concluded, a firm must communicate, at least,1 the information in the table below to the customer.1

    1
  2. (2)

    The information must be provided in a clear and accurate manner, in writing, and in an official language of the State of the commitment or in another language if the policyholder so requests and the law of the State of the commitment so permits or the policyholder is free to choose the applicable law.1

    1
  3. Information to be communicated before conclusion

    (1)

    The name of the insurance undertaking and its legal form.

    (2)

    The name of the EEA State in which the head office and, where appropriate, the agency or branch1 concluding the contract is situated.

    1

    (3)

    The address of the head office and, where appropriate, of the agency or branch concluding the contract.

    1(3a)

    A concrete reference to the firm'sSFCR allowing the policyholder easy access to this information.

    (4)*

    Definition of each benefit and each option.

    (5)*

    Term of the contract.

    (6)*

    Means of terminating the contract.

    (7)*

    Means of payment of premiums and duration of payments.

    (8)*

    Information on the premiums for each benefit, both main benefits and supplementary benefits, where appropriate.

    (9)*1

    Arrangements for application of the cancellation period.

    (10)

    General information on the tax arrangements applicable to the type of policy.

    (11)

    The arrangements for handling complaints concerning contracts by policyholders, lives assured or beneficiaries1 under contracts including, where appropriate, the existence of a complaints body (usually the Financial Ombudsman Service), without prejudice to the right to take legal proceedings.

    1

    (12)

    The law applicable to the contract where the parties do not have a free choice or, where the parties are free to choose the law applicable, the law the firm1 proposes to choose.

    1

    Note: The rule on mid-term changes applies to items marked with an asterisk (see ICOBS 6.3.3 R).

[Note: article 185 of the Solvency II Directive1]

1
SYSC 18.4.4RRP
A firm must allocate to the whistleblowers’ champion the responsibility for ensuring and overseeing the integrity, independence and effectiveness of the firm’s policies and procedures on whistleblowing (see SYSC 18.3 (Internal Arrangements)) including those policies and procedures intended to protect whistleblowers from being victimised because they have disclosed reportable concerns.