Related provisions for BIPRU 7.9.31
Frequently asked questions about allocation of functions in SYSC 4.4.5 R
Question |
Answer |
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1 |
Does an individual to whom a function is allocated under SYSC 4.4.5 R need to be an approved person or a certification employee8? |
An individual to whom a function is allocated under SYSC 4.4.5 R will be performing the apportionment and oversight function (CF 8, see SUP 10A.7.1 R17) and an application must be made under section 59 of the Act for approval of the individual before the function is performed. There are exceptions from this in SUP 10A.117 (Approved persons - Application). The apportionment and oversight function does not apply to a relevant authorised person. However, a person performing the role in SYSC 4.4.5R will fall into the certification regime in SYSC 5.2 (Certification Regime), unless the person performing it is an approved person. A person performing the role in SYSC 4.4.5R may be an approved person because of another role that they perform (such as being an executive director).8 1717 |
2 |
If the allocation is to more than one individual, can they perform the functions, or aspects of the functions, separately? |
If the functions are allocated to joint chief executives under SYSC 4.4.5 R, column 2, they are expected to act jointly. If the functions are allocated to an individual under SYSC 4.4.5 R, column 2, in addition to individuals under SYSC 4.4.5 R, column 3, the former may normally be expected to perform a leading role in relation to the functions that reflects his position. Otherwise, yes. |
3 |
What is meant by "appropriately allocate" in this context? |
The allocation of functions should be compatible with delivering compliance with Principle 3, SYSC 4.4.3 R and SYSC 4.1.1 R. The appropriate regulator considers that allocation to one or two individuals is likely to be appropriate for most firms. |
4 |
If a committee of management governs a firm or group, can the functions be allocated to every member of that committee? |
Yes, as long as the allocation remains appropriate (see Question 3). If the firm also has an individual as chief executive, then the functions must be allocated to that individual as well under SYSC 4.4.5 R, column 2 (see Question 7). |
5 |
Does the definition of chief executive include the possessor of equivalent responsibilities with another title, such as a managing director or managing partner? |
Yes. |
6 |
Is it possible for a firm to have more than one individual as its chief executive? |
Although unusual, some firms may wish the responsibility of a chief executive to be held jointly by more than one individual. In that case, each of them will be a chief executive and the functions must be allocated to all of them under SYSC 4.4.5 R, column 2 (see also Questions 2 and 7). |
7 |
If a firm has an individual as chief executive, must the functions be allocated to that individual? |
Normally, yes, under SYSC 4.4.5 R, column 2. But if the firm is a body corporate and a member of a group, the functions may, instead of being allocated to the firm'schief executive, be allocated to a director or senior manager from the group responsible for the overall management of the group or of a relevant group division, so long as this is appropriate (see Question 3). Such individuals may nevertheless require approval under section 59 (see Question 1). If the firm chooses to allocate the functions to a director or senior manager responsible for the overall management of a relevant group division, the FSA would expect that individual to be of a seniority equivalent to or greater than a chief executive of the firm for the allocation to be appropriate. See also Question 14. |
8 |
If a firm has a chief executive, can the functions be allocated to other individuals in addition to the chief executive? |
Yes. SYSC 4.4.5 R, column 3, permits a firm to allocate the functions, additionally, to the firm's (or where applicable the group's) directors and senior managers as long as this is appropriate (see Question 3). |
9 |
What if a firm does not have a chief executive? |
Normally, the functions must be allocated to one or more individuals selected from the firm's (or where applicable the group's) directors and senior managers under SYSC 4.4.5 R, column 3. But if the firm: (1) is a body corporate and a member of a group; and (2) the group has a director or senior manager responsible for the overall management of the group or of a relevant group division; then the functions must be allocated to that individual (together, optionally, with individuals from column 3 if appropriate) under SYSC 4.4.5 R, column 2. |
10 |
What do you mean by "group division within which some or all of the firm's regulated activities fall"? |
A "division" in this context should be interpreted by reference to geographical operations, product lines or any other method by which the group's business is divided. If the firm's regulated activities fall within more than one division and the firm does not wish to allocate the functions to its chief executive, the allocation must, under SYSC 4.4.5 R, be to: (1) a director or senior manager responsible for the overall management of the group; or (2) a director or senior manager responsible for the overall management of one of those divisions; together, optionally, with individuals from column 3 if appropriate. (See also Questions 7 and 9.) |
11 |
How does the requirement to allocate the functions in SYSC 4.4.5 R apply to an overseas firm which is not an incoming EEA firm, incoming Treaty firm or UCITS qualifier? |
The firm must appropriately allocate those functions to one or more individuals, in accordance with SYSC 4.4.5 R, but: (1) The responsibilities that must be apportioned and the systems and controls that must be overseen are those relating to activities carried on from a UK establishment with certain exceptions (see SYSC 1 Annex 1.1.8R). Note that SYSC 1 Annex 1.1.10R does not extend the territorial scope of SYSC 4.4 for an overseas firm. (2) The chief executive of an overseas firm is the person responsible for the conduct of the firm's business within the United Kingdom (see the definition of "chief executive"). This might, for example, be the manager of the firm'sUK establishment, or it might be the chief executive of the firm as a whole, if he has that responsibility. The apportionment and oversight function applies to such a firm, unless it falls within a particular exception from the approved persons regime (see Question 1). |
12 |
How does the requirement to allocate the functions in SYSC 4.4.5 R apply to an incoming EEA firm or incoming Treaty firm? |
SYSC 1 Annex 1.1.1R(2) and SYSC 1 Annex 1.1.8R restrict the application of SYSC 4.4.5 R for such a firm. Accordingly: (1) Such a firm is not required to allocate the function of dealing with apportionment in SYSC 4.4.5R (1). (2) Such a firm is required to allocate the function of oversight in SYSC 4.4.5R (2). However, the systems and controls that must be overseen are those relating to matters which the appropriate regulator, as Host State regulator, is entitled to regulate (there is guidance on this in SUP 13A Annex 2). Those are primarily, but not exclusively, the systems and controls relating to the conduct of the firm's activities carried on from its UK branch. (3) Such a firm need not allocate the function of oversight to its chief executive; it must allocate it to one or more directors and senior managers of the firm or the firm'sgroup under SYSC 4.4.5 R, row (2). (4) An incoming EEA firm which has provision only for cross border services is not required to allocate either function if it does not carry on regulated activities in the United Kingdom; for example if they fall within the overseas persons exclusions in article 72 of the Regulated Activities Order. See also Questions 1 and 15. |
13 |
What about a firm that is a partnership or a limited liability partnership? |
The appropriate regulator envisages that most if not all partners or members will be either directors or senior managers, but this will depend on the constitution of the partnership (particularly in the case of a limited partnership) or limited liability partnership. A partnership or limited liability partnership may also have a chief executive (see Question 5). A limited liability partnership is a body corporate and, if a member of a group, will fall within SYSC 4.4.5 R, row (1) or (2). |
14 |
What if generally accepted principles of good corporate governance recommend that the chief executive should not be involved in an aspect of corporate governance? |
The Note to SYSC 4.4.5 R provides that the chief executive or other executive director or senior manager need not be involved in such circumstances. For example, the UK Corporate Governance Code5 recommends that the board of a listed company should establish an audit committee of independent,9 non-executive directors to be responsible (among other things) for overseeing the effectiveness9 of the audit process and the objectivity and independence of the external auditor9. That aspect of the oversight function may therefore be allocated to the members of such a committee without involving the chief executive. Such individuals may require approval under section 59 in relation to that function (see Question 1). 5 |
15 |
What about incoming electronic commerce activities carried on from an establishment in another EEA State with or for a person in the United Kingdom? |
SYSC does not apply to an incoming ECA provider acting as such. |
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 |