Related provisions for GENPRU 2.2.175

1

Can a body corporate be both open-ended and closed-ended at the same time?

In the FCA's view, the answer to this question is 'no'. The fact that the investment condition is applied to BC (rather than to particular shares in, or securities of, BC) means that a body corporate is either an open-ended investment company as defined in section 236 of the Act or it is not. Where BC is an open-ended investment company, all of its securities would be treated as units of a collective investment scheme for the purpose of the Act. A body corporate formed in another jurisdiction may, however, be regarded as open-ended under the laws of that jurisdiction but not come within the definition of an open-ended investment company in section 236 (and vice versa).

2

Can an open-ended investment company become closed-ended (or a closed-ended body become open-ended)?

In the FCA's view, the answer to this question is 'yes'. A body corporate may change from open-ended to closed-ended (and vice versa) if, taking an overall view, circumstances change so that a hypothetical reasonable investor would consider that the investment condition is no longer met (or vice versa). This might happen where, for example, an open-ended investment company stops its policy of redeeming shares or securities at regular intervals (so removing the expectation that a reasonable investor would be able to realise his investment within a period appearing to him to be reasonable). See also PERG 9.7.5 G.

3

Does the liquidation of a body corporate affect the assessment of whether or not the body is an open-ended investment company?

The FCA considers that the possibility that a body corporate that would otherwise be regarded as closed-ended may be wound up has no effect at all on the nature of the body corporate before the winding up. The fact that, on a winding up, the shares or securities of any investor in the body corporate may be converted into cash or money on the winding up (and so 'realised') would not, in the FCA's view, affect the outcome of applying the expectation test to the body corporate when looked at as a whole. The answer to Question 4 explains that investment in a closed-ended fixed term company shortly before its winding up does not, in the FCA view, change the closed-ended nature of the company. For companies with no fixed term, the theoretical possibility of a winding up at some uncertain future point is not, in the FCA's view, a matter that would generally carry weight with a reasonable investor in assessing whether he could expect to be able to realise his investment within a reasonable period.

4

Does a fixed term closed-ended investment company become an open-ended investment company simply because the fixed term will expire?

In the FCA's view, the answer to this is 'no'. The termination of the body corporate is an event that has always been contemplated (and it will appear in the company's constitution). Even as the date of the expiry of the fixed term approaches, there is nothing about the body corporate itself that changes so as to cause a fundamental reassessment of its nature as something other than closed-ended. Addressing this very point in parliamentary debate, the Economic Secretary to the Treasury stated that the "aim and effect [of the definition] is to cover companies that look, to a reasonable investor, like open-ended investment companies". The Minister added that "A reasonable investor's overall expectations of potential investment in a company when its status with respect to the definition is being judged will determine whether it meets the definition. The matter is therefore, definitional rather than one of proximity to liquidation". (Hansard HC, 5 June 2000 col 124).

5

In what circumstances will a body corporate that issues a mixture of redeemable and non-redeemable shares or securities be an open-ended investment company?

In the FCA's view, the existence of non-redeemable shares or securities will not, of itself, rule out the possibility of a body corporate falling within the definition of an open-ended investment company. All the relevant circumstances will need to be considered (see PERG 9.6.4 G, PERG 9.2.8.8G and PERG 9.8.9 G). So the following points need to be taken into account.

• The precise terms of the issue of all the shares or securities will be relevant to the question whether the investment condition is met, as will any arrangements that may exist to allow the investor to realise his investment by other means.
• The proportions of the different share classes will be relevant to the impression the reasonable investor forms of the body corporate. A body corporate that issues only a minimal amount of redeemable shares or securities will not, in theFCA's view, be an open-ended investment company. A body corporate that issues a minimal amount of non-redeemable shares or securities will be likely to be an open-ended investment company. A body corporate that falls within the definition of an open-ended investment company is likely to have (and to be marketed as having) mainly redeemable shares or securities. However, whether or not the body corporate does fall within the definition in any particular case will be subject to any contrary indications there may be in its constitutional documents or otherwise.
• Where shares or securities are only redeemable after the end of a stated period, this factor will make it more likely that the body corporate is open-ended than if the shares or securities are never redeemable.

6

Does "realised on a basis calculated wholly or mainly by reference to..." in section 236(3)(b) apply to an investor buying investment trust company shares traded on a recognised investment exchange because of usual market practice that the shares trade at a discount to asset value?

In the FCA's view, the answer is 'no' (for the reasons set out in PERG 9.9.4 G to PERG 9.9.6 G).

7

Does the practice of UK investment trust companies buying back shares result in them becoming open-ended investment companies?

In the FCA's view, it does not, because its actions will comply with company law: see section 236(4) of the Act and PERG 9.6.5 G.

8

Would a body corporate holding out redemption or repurchase of its shares or securities every six months be an open-ended investment company?

In the FCA's view a period of six months would generally be too long to be a reasonable period for a liquid securities fund. A shorter period affording more scope for an investor to take advantage of any profits caused by fluctuations in the market would be more likely to be a reasonable period for the purpose of the realisation of the investment (in the context of the 'expectation' test, see PERG 9.8 and, in particular, PERG 9.8.9 G which sets out the kind of factors that may need to be considered in applying the test).

9

Would an initial period during which it is not possible to realise investment in a body corporate mean that the body corporate could not satisfy the investment condition?

In the FCA's view, the answer to that question is 'no'. In applying the investment condition, the body corporate must be considered as a whole (see PERG 9.6.3 G). At the time that the shares or securities in a body corporate are issued, a reasonable investor may expect that he will be able to realise his investment within a reasonable period notwithstanding that there will first be a short-term delay before he can do so. Whether or not the 'expectation test' is satisfied will depend on all the circumstances (see PERG 9.8.9 G).

Permissible investment

Maximum limit

Permissible investment

Maximum limit

Approved securities

Yes

None

Yes

None

Transferable securities that are not approved securities

Yes

10%

Yes

20%

Government and public securities

Yes

None

Yes

None

Regulated schemes other than qualified investor schemes1

Yes

None

Yes

None

Unregulated schemes and qualified investor schemes1

No

N/A

Yes

20%(C)1

Warrants

Yes

None

Yes

None

Investment trusts

Yes

None

Yes

None

Deposits

Yes

None

Yes

None

Derivatives

Yes

None

Yes

None

Immovables (i.e real property)

No

N/A

Yes

None

Gold

No

N/A

Yes

10%

Hedging

Yes

None

Yes

None

Stock lending

Yes

None

Yes

None

Underwriting

Yes

None

Yes

None

Borrowing

Yes

10% (T)

Yes

10%

Cash and near cash

Yes

None

Yes

None

Note:

Meaning of terms used:

A percentage

an upper limit (though there may be limits of other kinds).

"(T)"

temporary only- see COLL 5.5.4R(4)

"N/A"

Not applicable1

1“(C)”

In the case of a non-UCITS retail scheme operating as a FAIF there is no maximum limit - see COLL 5.7.7 R.

ancillary services undertaking

an undertaking the principal activity of which consists of owning or managing property, managing data-processing services, or any other similar activity which is ancillary to the principal activity of one or more of the firms subject to this chapter.

broad scope firm

as in the Glossary in IPRU(INV) chapter 3.

CAD Article 5 exempting criteria

the following criteria in respect of the firm's dealing positions:

- such positions arise only as a result of the firm's failure to match investors orders precisely;

- the total market value of all such positions is subject to a ceiling of 15% of the firm's initial capital; and

- such positions are incidental and provisional in nature and strictly limited to the time required to carry out the transaction in question.

contingent liability

the meaning in FRS 12 which states that it is:

(a) a possible obligation that arises from past events and whose existence will be confirmed only by the occurrence of one or more uncertain future events not wholly within the entity's control or

(b) a present obligation that arises from past events but is not recognised because:

(i) it is not probable that a transfer of economic benefits will be required to settle the obligation; or

(ii) the amount of the obligation cannot be measured with sufficient reliability.

consolidated supervision

the application of the financial rules in the Interim Prudential sourcebook for investment businesses in accordance with rules and guidance in 14.1.1 to 14.5.4.

EEA parent

a firm's direct or indirect parent which has its head office in the EEA.

financial holding company

an undertaking that satisfies the following conditions:

(a) it is:

(i) a financial institution; or

(ii) a firm falling within IPRU-INV rule 14.1.1(1);

(b) is subsidiary undertakings are either exclusively or mainly:

(i) credit institutions;,

(ii) investment firms;

(iii) broad scope firms or undertakings carrying on activities which (if they were firms doing those activities in the United Kingdom) would make them broad scope firms; and

(iv) financial institutions,

one of which at least is a credit institution, a firm falling within IPRU-INV rule 14.1.1(1) or an investment firm; and

(c) it is not a mixed financial holding company.

financial institution

an undertaking other than a credit institution, the principal activity of which is to acquire holdings or to carry on a listed activity.

group financial resources

the resources of a firm's group calculated in accordance with rules 14.4 (Group financial resources).

group financial resources requirement

the requirement that a firm's group maintains financial resources calculated in accordance with the rules in 14.5 (Group financial resources requirement).

investment firm

investment firm as in the main Glossary except that it excludes persons to which the MiFID does not apply as a result of article 2 or 3 of the MiFID.

Material holding

a holding of –

(a) ordinary share capital and non cumulative preference share capital; or

(b) subordinated loan and non fixed-term cumulative preference share capital,

in a credit institution or a financial institution where –

(i) (a) or (b) above exceeds 10% of the share capital plus share premium of the issuer; or

(ii) the aggregate of (a) and (b) above exceeds 10% of the firm’sown funds, before deducting the holding.

Material insurance holding

the higher of –

(1) the book value of an investment held in an insurance undertaking, reinsurance undertaking, or insurance holding company (investment for this purpose is either a participation or the investment in a subsidiary undertaking); or

(2) the group's proportionate share of that undertaking's local or notional regulatory capital requirement."

Non-trading book

in relation to a firm's business or exposures, means any position, counterparty exposure or balance sheet item nit falling within the definition of trading book.

parent

any parent undertaking as defined in section 1162 of the Companies Act 2006 and any undertaking which effectively exercises a dominant influence over another undertaking.

participation

a participation within the meaning of Article 17 of Directive 78/660/EEC or the ownership either direct or indirect of 20% or more of the voting rights or capital of another undertaking which is not a subsidiary.

subsidiary

as in section 1159(1) of the Companies Act 2006.

trading book

as in the Glossary in IPRU(INV) chapter 5.