Related provisions for COBS 18.10.2
81 - 100 of 117 items.
1A firm must prepare:2(1) a key features document for each non-PRIIP packaged product8, cash-deposit ISA, cash-only lifetime ISA7 and cash-deposit CTF it produces2; and2(2) a key features illustration for each non-PRIIP packaged product8 it produces;2in good time before 2those documents have to be provided.
A firm must prepare the Solvency II Directive information6 for each life policy it effects:6(1) in a clear and accurate manner and in writing; and6(2) 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 law applicable;6in good time before that information has to be provided. [Note: article 185(1) and (6) of the Solvency II
A firm is not required to prepare:(1) a document, if another firm has agreed to prepare it; or(2) a key features document for:(a) a unit in a regulated collective investment scheme8; or 3(b) [deleted]833(c) [deleted]8(d) a stakeholder pension scheme, or personal pension scheme that is not a personal pension policy, if the information appears with due prominence in another document; or(e) an interest in an investment trust savings scheme; or8(3) 2 a key features illustration:32(a)
(1) A transaction may be unsuitable for a client because of the risks of the designated investments involved, the type of transaction, the characteristics of the order or the frequency of the trading.(2) In the case of managing investments, a transaction might also be unsuitable if it would result in an unsuitable portfolio.[deleted]5
(1) A series of transactions that are each suitable when viewed in isolation may be unsuitable if the recommendation or the decisions to trade are made with a frequency that is not in the best interests of the client.(2) A firm should have regard to the client's agreed investment strategy in determining the frequency of transactions. This would include, for example, the need to switch a client within or between packaged products.[deleted]5
When a firm is making a personal recommendation to a retail client about income withdrawals, uncrystallised funds pension lump sum payments3 or purchase of short-term annuities, it should consider all the relevant circumstances including:(1) the client's investment objectives, need for tax-free cash and state of health;(2) current and future income requirements, existing pension assets and the relative importance of the plan, given the client’s financial circumstances;(3) the
When considering the suitability of a particular investment product which is linked directly or indirectly to any form of loan, mortgage or home reversion plan, a firm should take account of the suitability of the overall transaction. The firm should also have regard to any applicable suitability rules in MCOB.
(1) Firms should note that restrictions and specific requirements apply to the retail distribution of certain investments:212(a) non-mainstream pooled investments are subject to a restriction on financial promotions (see section 238 of the Act and COBS 4.12);(b) non-readily realisable securities are subject to a restriction on direct offer financial promotions (see COBS 4.7);(c) contingent convertible instruments and CoCo funds are subject to a restriction on sales and on promotions
1A firm that communicates a projection for an in-force packaged product which is not a financial instrument:(1) must include a standardised deterministic projection; (2) may also include a stochastic projection2 except that the most prominent projection must be a standardised deterministic projection; and2must follow the projectionrules in COBS 13 Annex 2.
222(1) 5A firm that communicates a projection for a packaged product which falls within (2) must ensure that the projection is either a standardised deterministic projection or a stochastic projection in accordance with COBS 13 Annex 2.(2) This rule applies to a packaged product which is:(a) not a financial instrument or an in-force packaged product; and(b) either: (i) a non-PRIIPpackaged product for which a key features illustration is not required to be provided; or(ii) a PRIIP
A firm that communicates a projection of benefits for a packaged product which is not a financial instrument, as part of a combined projection where other benefits being projected include those for a financial instrument or structured deposit, is not required to comply with the projection rules in COBS 13.4, COBS 13.5 and COBS 13 Annex 2 to the extent that the combined projection4 complies with the future performance requirements in either:4(1) 4article 44(6) of the MiFID Org
The general requirement that communications be fair, clear and not misleading will nevertheless mean that a firm that elects to comply with the future performance rule in COBS 4.6.7 R, or, if applicable, the requirement in article 44(6) of the MiFID Org Regulation (see COBS 4.5A.14EU),4 will need to explain how the combined projection differs from other information that has been or could be provided to the client, including a projection provided under the projectionrules in COBS
1When a firm prepares documents or information in accordance with this chapter, the firm should consider the rules on providing product information (COBS 14). Those rules require a firm to provide the product information in a durable medium or via a website that meets the website conditions (if the website is not a durable medium). [Note: article 29(4) of the MiFID implementing Directive]
3When a firm prepares documents or information for a life policy, personal pension or stakeholder pension in accordance with this chapter, the firm should: (1) consider the rules on communicating with clients (COBS 4). Those rules require a firm to ensure that a communication is fair, clear and not misleading. In particular, a firm should:(a) take into account its target market's understanding of financial services when preparing documents and information;(b) present information
A key features document and a key features illustration2must also:(1) (if it is a key features document) 2be produced and presented to at least the same quality and standard as the sales or marketing material used to promote the relevant product;(2) (if it is a key features document) 2display the firm's brand at least as prominently as any other;(3) (if it is a key features document or a key features illustration which does not form an integral part of the key features document)
When a firm prepares a suitability report it must:(1) (in the case of a personal pension scheme), explain why it considers the personal pension scheme to be at least as suitable as a stakeholder pension scheme; and(2) (in the case of a personal pension scheme, stakeholder pension scheme or2FSAVC) explain why it considers the personal pension scheme, stakeholder pension scheme or2FSAVC to be at least as suitable as any facility to make additional contributions to an occupational
When a firm promotes a personal pension scheme, including a group personal pension scheme, to a group of employees it must:(1) be satisfied on reasonable grounds that the scheme is likely to be at least as suitable for the majority of the employees as a stakeholder pension scheme; and(2) record why it thinks the promotion is justified.
(1) 4An operator should ensure that it is aware of, and acts fully in accordance with, any attachment or earmarking orders made in respect of any members of that scheme by a court.(2) In particular, an operator should be mindful of its obligations under an attachment order to give notices to other parties, including transferee operators and relevant former spouses, where relevant events occur, such as transfers and significant reductions in benefits.(3) A firm, when advising a
(1) A firm must make a record of the form of each notice provided and each agreement entered into under this chapter. This record must be made at the time that standard form is first used and retained for the relevant period after the firm ceases to carry on business with clients who were provided with that form.(2) A firm must make a record in relation to each client of:(a) the categorisation established for the client under this chapter, including sufficient information to support
If an intermediate Unitholder receives a reasonable request from an authorised fund manager for information relating to the beneficial owners of the units of a scheme that it operates which the authorised fund manager reasonably needs for the purposes of liquidity management, the intermediate Unitholder must provide that information to the authorised fund manager as soon as is reasonably practicable.
Examples of information which may be reasonably requested by an authorised fund manager include:(1) a breakdown of the total number of units held by the intermediate Unitholder in each scheme to indicate the number of units attributable to individual beneficial owners; and(2) information about the types of distribution channel which have been used to sell the units to the relevant beneficial owners.
A3firm to which SYSC 9 applies 3is required to keep orderly records of its business and internal organisation (see SYSC 9, General rules on record-keeping). Other firms are 3 required to take reasonable care to establish and maintain such systems and controls as are appropriate to their 3business (see SYSC 3, Systems and controls). The records may be expected to reflect the different effect of the rules in this chapter depending on whether the client is a retail client or a professional
A1firm must retain its records relating to suitability for a minimum of the following periods:(1) if relating to a pension transfer, pension conversion, 4pension opt-out or FSAVC, indefinitely;(2) if relating to a life policy,2personal pension scheme2or stakeholder pension scheme, five years; and5(3) [deleted]5(4) in any other case, three years.
(1) If the client elects not to provide the information to enable the firm to assess appropriateness, or if he provides insufficient information regarding his knowledge and experience, the firm must warn the client that such a decision will not allow the firm to determine whether the service or product envisaged is appropriate for him.(2) This warning may be provided in a standardised format.1
1If a client requests a firm (F) to transfer the title to a retail investment product which is held by F directly, or indirectly through a third party, on that client's behalf to another person (P), and F may lawfully transfer the title to that retail investment product to P, F must execute the client's request within a reasonable time and in an efficient manner.
1The
purpose of this chapter is to:2(1) 2set out specific requirements 2relating to the production and
dissemination of investment research and non-independent research; and(2) 3provide guidance on matters in the 3Market Abuse Regulation relating to the disclosures
to be made in, and about, 3investment recommendations.2333
The EEA
territorial scope rule modifies the general rule of
application to the extent necessary to be compatible with European law (see
paragraph 1.1 of Part 2 of COBS
1 Annex 1). This means that COBS 12.24 also applies4 to passported activities carried
on by a UKMiFID
investment firm from a branch in
another EEA state, but does4 not
apply to the United Kingdombranch of an EEAMiFID investment firm in relation to its MiFID business.
1When
an insurer or managing
agent receives a claim under a long-term
care insurance contract, it must respond promptly by providing
the policyholder, or the person acting on the policyholder's behalf,
with:(1) a claim form (if it requires one
to be completed);(2) a summary of its claims handling
procedure; and(3) appropriate information about the
medical criteria that must be met, and any waiting periods that apply, under
the terms of the policy.
As soon as reasonably practicable after
receipt of a claim, the insurer or managing agent must tell the policyholder, or the person acting
on the policyholder's behalf:(1) (for each part of the claim it
accepts), whether the claim will be settled by paying the policyholder,
providing goods or services to the policyholder or
paying another person to provide
those goods or services; and(2) (for each part of the claim it
rejects), why the claim has been rejected and whether any future
(1) A person to whom a firm provides, intends to provide or has provided:(a) a service in the course of carrying on a regulated activity; or(b) in the case of MiFID or equivalent third country business, an ancillary service,is a "client" of that firm.4(2) A "client" includes a potential client.(3) In relation to the financial promotion rules, a person to whom a financial promotion is or is likely to be communicated is a "client" of a firm that communicates or approves it.(4) A
1(1) A corporate finance contact or a venture capital contact is not a client under the first limb of the general definition. This is because a firm does not provide a service to such a contact. However, it will be a client under the third limb of the general definition for the purposes of the financial promotion rules if the firmcommunicates or approves a financial promotion that is or is likely to be communicated to such a contact. 1(2) Communicating or approving a financial
(1) If a firm provides services to a person that is acting as an agent, the identity of its client will be determined in accordance with the rule on agents as clients (see COBS 2.4.3 R).(2) In relation to a firm establishing, operating or winding up a personal pension scheme or a stakeholder pension scheme, a member or beneficiary of that scheme is a client of the firm.(3) If a firm that does not fall within (2) provides services to a person that is acting as the trustee of a
(1) 1This section applies to a firm in relation to a communication to a client, including an excluded communication, that is a marketing communication within the meaning of the UCITS Directive.(2) This section does not apply to:(a) image advertising; or(b) the instrument constituting the fund2, the prospectus, the key investor information3 or the periodic reports and accounts of either a UCITS scheme or an EEA UCITS scheme.2[Note: recital (58) of the UCITS Directive]
(1) A firm must ensure that a marketing communication that comprises an invitation to purchase units in a UCITS scheme or EEA UCITS scheme and that contains specific information about the scheme:(a) makes no statement that contradicts or diminishes the significance of the information contained in the prospectus and the key investor information document or EEA key investor information document for the scheme;(b) indicates that a prospectus exists for the scheme and that the key
A firm must ensure that a marketing communication (other than a key investor information document or EEA key investor information document) relating to a feeder UCITS contains a statement that the feeder UCITS permanently invests at least 85% in value of its assets in units of its master UCITS.[Note: article 63(4) of the UCITS Directive]
COBS does not apply to an authorised professional firm with respect to its non-mainstream regulated activities, except that:(1) the fair, clear and not misleading rule applies;(2) the financial promotion rules apply as modified below;(3) the rules in the following parts of COBS which implement the IDD apply in relation to insurance distribution activities:3(a) COBS 2.1.1R, COBS 2.2A and COBS 2.3A (Conduct of business obligations);3(b) COBS 4 (Communicating with clients, including
The financial promotion rules do not apply to an authorised professional firm in relation to the communication of a financial promotion if:(1) the firm's main business is the practice of its profession (see IPRU(INV) 2.1.2R(3));(2) the financial promotion is made for the purposes of and incidental to the promotion or provision by the firm of its professional services or its non-mainstream regulated activities; and(3) the financial promotion is not communicated on behalf of another
(1) A firm is not required to ask its client to provide information or assess appropriateness if:(a) the service only consists of execution and/or the reception and transmission of client orders, with or without ancillary services, it relates to particular financial instruments and is provided at the initiative of the client;(b) the client has been clearly informed (whether the warning is given in a standardised format or not) that in the provision of this service the firm is
If a client engages in a course of dealings involving a specific type of product or service through the services of a firm, the firm is not required to make a new assessment on the occasion of each separate transaction. A firm complies with the rules in this chapter provided that it makes the necessary appropriateness assessment before beginning that service.1
1A firm which:2(1) arranges for retail clients to buy retail investment products or makes personal recommendations to retail clients in relation to retail investment products; and22(2) uses a platform service for that purpose;must take reasonable steps to ensure that it uses a platform service which presents its retail investment products without bias.
The provisions of COBS in the table do not apply in respect of any corporate finance business carried on by a firm which is MiFID or equivalent third country business:
COBS |
Description |
Adviser charging and remuneration |
|
Retail investment product provider requirements relating to adviser charging and remuneration |
|
| 3 | Describing advice services |
Disclosure of charges, remuneration and commission |
|
Suitability reports |
|
Special rules for providing basic advice on a stakeholder product |
|
| 2 | |
Guidance on contingent liability transaction |
|
Quotations for surrender values |
|
Life insurance contracts - communications to clients |
|
Information to be provided in accordance with COBS 16.2.1 R and 16.3 |
The provisions of COBS in the table are unlikely to be relevant to any corporate finance business carried on by a firm which is MiFID or equivalent third country business:
COBS |
Description |
Distance communications, except in relation to distance contracts concluded with consumers |
|
Insurance distribution8 |
|
Preparing product information |
|
Providing product information |
|
Cancellation, except cancellation and withdrawal rights in relation to distance contracts concluded with consumers |
|
Claims handling for long-term care insurance |
|
Trustee firms' regime |
|
Energy market activity and oil market activity |
|
Stock lending activity |
|
Pensions - supplementary provisions |
|
With-profits |
COBS 15 (Cancellation) is likely to be of limited application to corporate finance business. Distance contracts concluded with consumers in the course of corporate finance business will be exempt from COBS 15 if the price of the financial service is dependent on fluctuations in the financial market outside the firm's control.
The provisions of COBS in the table do not apply in relation to any stock lending activity carried on by a firm3:
COBS |
Subject |
Adviser charging and remuneration |
|
Retail investment product provider requirements relating to adviser charging and remuneration |
|
| 1 | Describing advice services |
Disclosure of charges, remuneration and commission |
|
Suitability reports |
|
Special rules for providing basic advice on a stakeholder product |
|
COBS 16A.4.53 |
Guidance on contingent liability transaction |
Quotations for surrender values |
|
Life insurance contracts - communications to clients |
|
Information to be provided in accordance with COBS 16.2.1 R and 16.3 |
The provisions of COBS in the table are unlikely to be relevant in relation to any stock lending activity carried on by a firm3:
COBS |
Description |
Distance communications, except in relation to distance contracts concluded with consumers |
|
Insurance distribution4 |
|
Preparing product information |
|
Providing product information |
|
Cancellation, except cancellation and withdrawal rights in relation to distance contracts concluded with consumers |
|
Claims handling for long-term care insurance |
|
Trustee firms' regime |
|
Energy market activity and oil market activity |
|
Pensions - supplementary provisions |
|
With-profits |