Related provisions for CREDS 3A.5.9

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COLL 6.7.3GRP
(1) This section assists in securing the statutory objective of protecting consumers through requirements which govern the payments out of scheme property and charges imposed on investors when buying or selling units.(2) The requirements clarify the nature of permitted charges and payments and ensure the disclosure for unitholders of any increases in charges and payments to the authorised fund manager.(3) The prospectus should make adequate provision for payments from an authorised
COLL 6.7.8GRP
(1) To introduce a new charge for the sale or redemption of units, or any new category of remuneration for its services or increase the rate stated in the prospectus, the authorised fund manager will need to comply with COLL 4.2.5 R (Table: contents of prospectus) and COLL 4.3 (Approvals and notifications).(2) A redemption charge may be expressed in terms of amount or percentage. It may also be expressed as diminishing over the time during which the unitholder has held the units
LR 13.5.9RRP
A listed company must provide investors with all necessary information to understand the context and relevance of non-statutory figures, including a reconciliation to statutory equivalents.
LR 13.5.11RRP
A listed company that provides a summary of financial information in a class 1 circular must include in the circular a statement that investors should read the whole document and not rely solely on the summarised financial information.
DEPP 6.5A.2GRP
(1) The FCA2 will determine a figure that reflects the seriousness of the breach. In many cases, the amount of revenue generated by a firm from a particular product line or business area is indicative of the harm or potential harm that its breach may cause, and in such cases the FCA2 will determine a figure which will be based on a percentage of the firm’s revenue from the relevant products or business areas. The FCA2 also believes that the amount of revenue generated by a firm
DEPP 6.5A.3GRP
(1) The FCA2 may increase or decrease the amount of the financial penalty arrived at after Step 2, but not including any amount to be disgorged as set out in Step 1, to take into account factors which aggravate or mitigate the breach. Any such adjustments will be made by way of a percentage adjustment to the figure determined at Step 2.2(2) The following list of factors may have the effect of aggravating or mitigating the breach:(a) the conduct of the firm in bringing (or failing
PR 2.2.5RRP
If PR 2.2.4 R applies, the securities note must provide information that would normally be provided in the registration document where1 there has been a material change or recent development which could affect an investor's assessment1 since the latest updated registration document was approved, unless such information is provided in a supplementary prospectus1. The securities note and summary shall be subject to a separate approval. [Note: article 12.2 PD]
PR 2.2.10EURP

Articles 25 and 26 of the PD Regulation provide for the format of prospectuses and base prospectuses:

Format of the prospectus

25.1

Where an issuer, an offeror or a person asking for the admission to trading on a regulated market chooses, according to [PR 2.2.1 R] to draw up a prospectus as a single document, the prospectus shall be composed of the following parts in the following order:

(1)

a clear and detailed table of contents;

(2)

the summary provided for in [section 87A(5) of the Act];

(3)

the risk factors linked to the issuer and the type of security covered by the issue;

(4)

the other information items included in the schedules and building blocks according to which the prospectus is drawn up.

2.

Where an issuer, an offeror or a person asking for the admission to trading on a regulated market chooses, according to [LR 3.1.1 R], to draw up a prospectus composed of separate documents, the securities note and the registration document shall be each composed of the following parts in the following order:

(1)

a clear and detailed table of contents;

(2)

as the case may be, the risk factors linked to the issuer and the type of security covered by the issue;

(3)

the other information items included in the schedules and building blocks according to which the prospectus is drawn up.

3.

In the cases mentioned in paragraphs 1 and 2, the issuer, the offeror or the person asking for admission to trading on a regulated market shall be free in defining the order in the presentation of the required information items included in the schedules and building blocks according to which the prospectus is drawn up.

4.

Where the order of the items does not coincide with the order of the information provided for in the schedules and building blocks according to which the prospectus is drawn up, the [FCA] may ask the issuer, the offeror or the person asking for the admission to trading on a regulated market to provide a cross reference list for the purpose of checking the prospectus before its approval. Such list shall identify the pages where each item can be found in the prospectus. [see PR 3.1.1 R (3)2]

2

5.

Where the summary of a prospectus must be supplemented according to [section 87G of the Act], the issuer, the offeror or the person asking for admission to trading on a regulated market shall decide on a case-by-case basis whether to integrate the new information in the original summary by producing a new summary, or to produce a supplement to the summary.

If the new information is integrated in the original summary, the issuer, the offeror or the person asking for admission to trading on a regulated market shall ensure that investors can easily identify the changes, in particular by way of footnotes.

2In any case, a new filing of final terms and summary of the individual issue annexed thereto corresponding to offers made prior to the production of a new summary or a supplement to the summary shall not be required.

Format of the base prospectus and its related final terms

26.1

Where an issuer, an offeror or a person asking for the admission to trading on a regulated market chooses, according to [PR 2.2.7 R] to draw up a base prospectus, the base prospectus shall be composed of the following parts in the following order:

(1)

a clear and detailed table of contents;

(2)

the summary provided for in [section 87A of the Act];

(3)

the risk factors linked to the issuer and the type of security or securities covered by the issue(s);

(4)

the other information items included in the schedules and building blocks according to which the prospectus is drawn up.

2.

Notwithstanding paragraph 1, the issuer, the offeror or the person asking for admission to trading on a regulated market shall be free in defining the order in the presentation of the required information items included in the schedules and building blocks according to which the prospectus is drawn up. The information on the different securities contained in the base prospectus shall be clearly segregated.

3.

Where the order of the items does not coincide with the order of the information provided for by the schedules and building blocks according to which the prospectus is drawn up, the [FCA] may ask the issuer, the offeror or the person asking for admission to trading on a regulated market to provide a cross reference list for the purpose of checking the prospectus before its approval. Such list should identify the pages where each item can be found in the prospectus. [see PR 3.1.1 R (3)2]

2

4.

In case the issuer, the offeror or the person asking for admission to trading on a regulated market has previously filed a registration document for a particular type of security and, at a later stage, chooses to draw up base prospectus in conformity with the conditions provided for in [PR 2.2.7 R], the base prospectus shall contain:

(1)

the information contained in the previously or simultaneously filed and approved registration document which shall be incorporated by reference, following the conditions provided for in Article 28 of this Regulation;

(2)

the information which would otherwise be contained in the relevant securities note less the final terms where the final terms are not included in the base prospectus.

5.

The final terms shall be presented in the form of a separate document or be included in the base prospectus. The final terms shall be prepared in an easily analysable and comprehensible form.2

2

The items of the relevant securities note schedule and its building blocks, which are included in the base prospectus shall not be reproduced in the final terms.2

2

The issuer, the offeror or the person asking for admission to trading on a regulated market may include any of the additional information set out in Annex XXI in the final terms.2

2

2A clear and prominent statement shall be inserted in the final terms indicating:

(a)

that the final terms have been prepared for the purpose of Article 5(4) of Directive 2003/71/EC and must be read in conjunction with the base prospectus and its supplement(s);

(b)

where the base prospectus and its supplement(s) are published in accordance with Article 14 of Directive 2003/71/EC;

(c)

that in order to get the full information both the base prospectus and the final terms must be read in conjunction;

(d)

that a summary of the individual issue is annexed to the final terms.

The final terms may include the signature of the legal representative of the issuer or the person responsible for the prospectus according to the relevant national law or the signature of both.

5a

The final terms and the summary of the individual issue shall be drawn up in the same language respectively as the approved version of the form of the final terms of the base prospectus and as the summary of the base prospectus.

When the final terms are communicated to the competent authority of the host Member State or, if there is more than one host Member State, to the competent authorities of the host Member States, in accordance with Article 5(4) of Directive 2003/71/EC, the following language rules shall apply to the final terms and the annexed summary:

(a)

where the summary of the base prospectus is to be translated pursuant to Article 19 of Directive 2003/71/EC, the summary of the individual issue annexed to the final terms shall be subject to the same translation requirements as the summary of the base prospectus;

(b)

where the base prospectus is to be translated pursuant to Article 19 of Directive 2003/71/EC, the final terms and the summary of the individual issue annexed thereto, shall be subject to the same translation requirements as the base prospectus.

The issuer shall communicate those translations, together with the final terms, to the competent authority of the host Member State or, if there is more than one host Member State, to the competent authorities of the host Member States.

6.

Where a base prospectus relates to different securities, the issuer, the offeror or the person asking for admission to trading on a regulated market shall include a single summary in the base prospectus for all securities. The information on the different securities contained in the summary, however, shall be clearly segregated.

7.

Where the summary of a base prospectus must be supplemented according to [section 87G of the Act], the issuer, the offeror or the person asking for admission to trading on a regulated market shall decide on a case-by-case basis whether to integrate the new information in the original summary by producing a new summary, or by producing a supplement to the summary.

If the new information is integrated in the original summary of the base prospectus by producing a new summary, the issuer, the offeror or the person asking for admission to trading on a regulated market shall ensure that investors can easily identify the changes, in particular by way of footnotes.

8.

Issuers, offerors or persons asking for admission to trading on a regulated market may compile in one single document two or more different base prospectuses.
43
PERG 7.3.1GRP
6(1) Article 53(1) of the Regulated Activities Order (Advising on investments) deals with giving advice in relation to a security, a structured deposit or a relevant investment.9(2) A summary can be found in PERG 8.24 (Advising on investments). PERG 8.25 to PERG 8.30B give more detail.9(3) As described in PERG 8.24, for certain firms, the regulated activity only covers giving personal recommendations.9
PERG 7.3.4GRP
In the FCA's view, for a person to be carrying on the business of advising on investments or advising on a home finance transaction1 he will usually need to be doing so with a degree of regularity and for commercial purposes – that is to say, he will normally be expecting to gain some kind of a direct or indirect financial benefit. But, in the FCA's view it is not necessarily the case that advice provided free of charge will not amount to a business. Advice is often given 'free'
PERG 5.8.2GRP
For advice to fall within article 53(1)2, it must:(1) relate to a particular contract of insurance (that is, one that a person may enter into);(2) be given to a person in his capacity as an investor or potential investor;(3) be advice (that is, not just information); and(4) relate to the merits of a personbuying, selling, subscribing for or underwriting (or exercising any right to do so) a contract of insurance or rights to or interests in life policies.
PERG 5.8.6GRP
For the purposes of article 53(1)2, advice must be given to a person in that person’s’3 capacity as an investor or potential investor (which, in the context of contracts of insurance, will mean as policyholder or potential policyholder). So, article 53(1)2 will not apply where advice is given to persons who receive it as:(1) an adviser who will use it only to inform advice they give3 to others; or(2) a journalist or broadcaster who will use it only for journalistic purposes
SYSC 19B.1.6RRP
An AIFM must ensure that its remuneration policy is in line with the business strategy, objectives, values and interests of the AIFM and the AIFs it manages or the investors of such AIFs, and includes measures to avoid conflicts of interest.[Note: paragraph 1(b) of Annex II of AIFMD]
SYSC 19B.1.17RRP
(1) Subject to the legal structure of the AIF and the instrument constituting the fund, an AIFM must ensure that a substantial portion, and in any event at least 50% of any variable remuneration, consists of units or shares of the AIF concerned, or equivalent ownership interests, or share-linked instruments or equivalent non-cash instruments. However, if the management of AIFs accounts for less than 50% of the total portfolio managed by the AIFM, the minimum of 50 % does not apply.(2)
SUP App 3.9.5GRP

3Table 2: MiFIDinvestment services and activities

Part II RAO Activities13

Part III RAO Investments

A MiFIDinvestment services and activities

1.

Reception and transmission of orders in relation to one or more financial instruments

Article 252

Article 76-81, 82B,12 83-85, 89

2.

Execution of orders on behalf of clients

Article 14, 21

A Article 76-81,82B,12 83-85, 89

3.

Dealing on own account

Article 14

Article 76-81, 82B,12 83-85, 89

4.

Portfolio management

Article 37 (14, 21, 25 - see Note 1) 2

Article 76-81, 82B,12 83-85, 89

5.

Investment advice

Article 53(1)10

Article 76-81, 82B,12 83-85, 89

6.

Underwriting of financial instruments and/or placing of financial instruments on a firm commitment basis

Article 14, 21

Article 76-81, 82B,12 83-85, 89

7.

Placing of financial instruments without a firm commitment basis

Article 21, 25

Article 76-81, 82B,12 83-85, 89

8.

Operation of Multilateral Trading Facilities

Article 25D5 (see Note 2)

5

Article 76-81, 82B,12 83-85, 89

12 9.

Operation of an OTF

Article 25DA (see Note 3)

Article 77, 77A, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82B, 83-85, 89

Ancillary services

Part II RAO Activities

Part III RAO Investments

1.

Safekeeping and administration of financial instruments for the account of clients, including custodianship and related services such as cash/collateral management

Article 40, 45, 64

Article 76-81, 82B,12 83-85, 89

2.

Granting credits or loans to an investor to allow him to carry out a transaction in one or more of the relevant instruments where the firm granting the credit or loan is involved

3.

Advice to undertakings on capital structure, industrial strategy and related matters and advice and services relating to mergers and the purchase of undertakings

Article 14, 21, 25, 53(1)10, 64

Article 76-80, 82B,12 83-85, 89

4.

Foreign exchange services where these are connected with the provision of investment services

Article 14, 21, 25, 53(1)10, 64

Article 83-85, 89

5.

Investment research and financial analysis or other forms of general recommendation relating to transactions in financial instruments

Article 53(1)10, 64 (see Note 4)13

Article 76-81, 82B,12 83-85, 89

6.

Services related to underwriting

Article 25, 53(1)10, 64

Article 76-81, 82B,12 83-85, 89

7.

Investment services and activities as well as ancillary services of the type included under Section A or B of Annex I related to the underlying of the derivatives included under Section C 5, 6, 7 and 10-where these are connected to the provision of investment or ancillary services.

Article 14, 21, 25, 25D,5 37, 53(1)10, 64

5

Article 83 and 84

Note 1. A firm may also carry on these other activities when it is managing investments.2

Note 2. A firm operating an MTF under article 25D5 does not need to have a permission covering other regulated activities, unless it performs other regulated activities in addition to operating an MTF.

5

Note 3. A firm operating an OTF under article 25DA does not need to have a permission covering other regulated activities, unless it performs other regulated activities in addition to operating an OTF.12

13Note 4: A firm which provides investment research and financial analysis or other forms of general recommendation relating to transactions in financial instruments does not need permission under article 53(1) of the Regulated Activities Order if it is appropriately authorised (see article 53(1) to (1D) of the Regulated Activities Order).

SUP App 3.9.5AGRP

Table 2ZA: AIFMD activities

Part II RAO Activities

Part III RAO Investments

1.

AIFM management functions.

Article 51ZC

N/A (activity relates to property of any kind)

2.

Management of portfolios of investments, including those owned by pension funds and institutions for occupational retirement in accordance with article 19(1) of Directive 2003/41/EC, in accordance with mandates given by investors on a discretionary client-by-client basis (Note 2).

Articles 14, 21, 25, 37, 40 (arranging only), 64

Articles 76 to 81, 82B,12 83 to 85, 89

3.

Investment advice (Note 2).

Articles 53(1)10, 64

Articles 76 to 81, 82B,12 83 to 85, 89

4.

Safe-keeping and administration in relation to shares or units of collective investment undertakings.

Articles 40, 45, 64

Articles 76 to 81, 82B,12 83 to 85, 89

5.

Reception and transmission or orders in relation to financial instruments.

Articles 25(1), 64

Articles 76 to 81,82B,12 83 to 85, 89

Note 1. See FUND 1.4.2 R to FUND 1.4.4 R for further information in relation to the activities that full-scope UK AIFMs are able to perform.

Note 2. See FUND 1.4.5 G for the position with respect to assets which are not financial instruments.
COLL 6.6B.17RRP
The depositary must ensure that the cash flows of each UCITS scheme are properly monitored and that:(1) all payments made by, or on behalf of, investors upon the subscription of units of the scheme have been received; (2) all cash of the scheme has been booked in cash accounts which are: (a) opened in the name of:(i) the scheme; or(ii) the authorised fund manager, acting on behalf of the scheme; or(iii) the depositary acting on behalf of the scheme; and(b) at:(i) a central bank;
COLL 6.6B.26RRP
A depositary may delegate custody tasks in relation to UCITS custodial assets to an entity in a third country even though that entity does not satisfy the conditions in COLL 6.6B.25R(4)(b)(i) if: (1) the law of that third country requires those UCITS custodial assets to be held in custody by a local entity; (2) no local entity satisfies the conditions in COLL 6.6B.25R(4)(b)(i);(3) the depositary delegates its functions to such a local entity only: (a) to the extent required by
COLL 4.7.2RRP
(1) An authorised fund manager must6 draw up a short document in English containing key investor information6 for investors:6(a) in each UCITS scheme which it manages (a key investor information document); and6(b) in each KII-compliant NURS which it manages (a NURS-KII document).6(2) The words "key investor information" must be clearly stated in the key investor information document and NURS-KII document6.(3) Key investor information must include appropriate information about
COLL 4.7.6GRP
(1) Section 90ZA of the Act (Liability for key investor information) provides that a person will not incur civil liability solely on the basis of the key investor information document, including any translation of it, unless it is misleading, inaccurate or inconsistent with the relevant parts of the prospectus.(2) Article 20 of the KII Regulation prescribes the wording of a warning to investors that must be included in the "practical information" section of the key investor information
COLL 4.5.8ABEURP

16

Transparency of collective investment undertakings in periodical reports

1.

UCITS management companies, UCITS investment companies, and AIFMs shall inform investors on the use they make of SFTs and total return swaps in the following manner:

(a)

for UCITS management companies or UCITS investment companies in the half-yearly and annual reports referred to in Article 68 of Directive 2009/65/EC;

(b)

for AIFMs in the annual report referred to in Article 22 of Directive 2011/61/EU.

2.

The information on SFTs and total return swaps shall include the data provided for in Section A of the Annex.

[Note: article 13(1) and 13(2) of the Securities Financing Transactions Regulation and article 3 for relevant definitions]
COLL 4.5.15RRP
(1) 4The authorised fund manager of a UCITS scheme which is a feeder UCITS must:(a) where requested by an investor, provide copies of the annual and half-yearly long reports of its master UCITS free of charge; and(b) file copies of the annual and half-yearly long reports of its master UCITS with the FCA .(2) Except where an investor requests paper copies or the use of electronic communications is not appropriate, the annual and half-yearly long reports of its master UCITS may
PERG 2.6.11AGRP
6Alternative finance investment bonds (defined in article 77A of the Regulated Activities Order and referred to in the Handbook as alternative debentures) are a form of Sharia compliant bond (known as sukuk in the plural or sakk in the singular) which are intended to be regulated in an equivalent manner to conventional debt securities, where appropriate. Sukuk arrangements allow assets to be held for the benefit of investors in certificates issued by a company. The benefits
PERG 2.6.11HGRP
  1. (1)

    The main provision within the definition of alternative debenture arrangements that seeks to ensure that only instruments that display the characteristics of a debt security can be alternative debentures is set out at PERG 2.6.11CG (5). It provides that the amount of additional payments under the arrangements must not exceed an amount which would, at the time the bond is issued, be a reasonable commercial return on a loan of capital. Where the return is not fixed at the outset, it is the maximum possible amount of the additional payments that must be considered in deciding this question. The following example demonstrates how this condition should be approached.

    2. Example

    ABC Ltd is a property development company. It wishes to increase its portfolio on a short-term basis. It issues 5-year sukuk to investors and uses the proceeds to buy the head lease of a commercial property. The rental income from the lease is distributed to investors in proportion to their holdings without a cap on the level of return. After 5 years, the head lease is sold on at a profit and the proceeds shared between investors.

    In this example, the investors participate directly in the success or failure of the underlying property business. The sakk is not really in the nature of a debt instrument. It is unlikely to be an alternative debenture as:

    • additional payments under the arrangements would exceed a reasonable commercial return on a loan of the capital.

      Further, where the return is not fixed at the outset, it is the maximum possible amount of the additional payments that must be considered. Here, the issue terms of the sukuk impose no upper limit on the amount of the periodic distributions: a sakk holder subscribing 1,000 may, in a year, get back 200 or 2,000 or nothing depending on the rental market. The maximum potential return is clearly in excess of a reasonable commercial return on a loan of 1,000; and

    • the arrangements have not been admitted to an official list or admitted to trading on a regulated market or recognised investment exchange (see PERG 2.6.11CG (6)).
  2. (2)

    If, in the above example, investors returns were capped at 500 per sakk per year, then this is the amount that must be considered in deciding whether the return exceeds a reasonable commercial return on a loan, even where the amounts actually received turn out to be far lower.

  3. (3)

    In applying the reasonable commercial return test, the sakk should be compared to a hypothetical loan to the issuer on similar terms and carrying similar risks. For example, a conventional security convertible into shares will normally carry a lower rate of interest because the conversion right has a value. The return on an exchangeable or convertible sakk should be measured against the return on an equivalent exchangeable or convertible debt security.

  4. (4)

    The risk to investors in sukuk may vary slightly from that of a conventional bond in some instances. This may be due to the fact that sukuk holders only have recourse to the bond assets or some other structural feature which results in the risk profile being higher. In such instances it may be justifiable for the rate of return to be slightly higher than that of a conventional loan.

  5. (5)

    As with any financial instrument, the pricing of sukuk will depend on the issuers view of the market at the time of issue and reasonable commercial return may vary depending on the issuer and the economic circumstances prevalent at the time of issue.

COLL 5.6.10ARRP
(1) 21A non-UCITS retail scheme that is not a feeder NURS may, if the conditions in (2) to (5) are met, invest in units of:(a) a feeder UCITS; or(b) a feeder NURS; or(c) a schemededicated to units in a single property authorised investment fund; or(d) a schemededicated to units in a recognised scheme.(2) (a) The relevant master UCITS must comply with COLL 5.2.13R(2), (3) and (4) as if it were the second scheme for the purpose of that rule.(b) The relevant qualifying master scheme,
COLL 5.6.10BGRP
21When determining whether an investment is no less advantageous for COLL 5.6.10AR(5)(b), an authorised fund manager should have regard in particular to: (1) the risk profile of the non-UCITS retail scheme; (2) the total costs borne by the non-UCITS retail scheme; and (3) the benefits to investors of investing in units of one or more schemes permitted under COLL 5.6.10AR (1)(a) to (d).
BIPRU 7.2.48HGRP
3Originators, investors and sponsors of securitisations in the trading book will have to meet the requirements of BIPRU 9.3.1A R, BIPRU 9.3.15 R to BIPRU 9.3.20 R and BIPRU 9.15.
BIPRU 7.2.48IGRP
(1) 3Subject to BIPRU 7.2.48J G, BIPRU 9.15.9 R and BIPRU 9.15.10 R, where the investor, originator or sponsor of a securitisation fails to meet any of the requirements in BIPRU 9.3.18 R to BIPRU 9.3.20 R (Disclosure requirements) and BIPRU 9.15.11 R to BIPRU 9.15.16 R (investor due diligence requirements) in any material respect by reason of its negligence or omission, the appropriate regulator will use its powers under section 55J (Variation etc. on the Authority's own initiative)
SUP 13.7.14GRP
9If a UKfirm has exercised an EEA right deriving from AIFMD to provide cross-border services to market an AIF, regulation 17A(3) states that it must not make a material change to any of the following:(1) the programme of operations identifying the AIF the AIFM intends to market and information on where the AIF is established;(2) the AIF rules or instruments of incorporation; (3) the depositary of the AIF;(4) the description of, or information on, the AIF available to investors;(5)
COLL 12.3.5RRP
An EEA UCITS management company that manages a UCITS scheme must comply with the rules of the FCAHandbook which relate to the constitution and functioning of the UCITS scheme (the fund application rules), as follows:(1) the setting up and authorisation of the UCITS scheme (COLL 1 (Introduction), COLL 2 (Authorised fund applications), COLL 3 (Constitution), COLL 6.5 (Appointment and replacement of the authorised fund manager and the depositary), COLL 6.6 (Powers and duties of
PERG 9.4.3GRP
In the FCA's view, it is the very existence of the body corporate that is the collective investment scheme. There are a number of statutory references that support this view. For example, it is clear that paragraph 21 of the Schedule to the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Collective Investment Schemes) Order 2001 (SI 2001/1062) (Arrangements not amounting to a collective investment scheme) is drafted on the basis that it is the body corporate itself that is (or would
PR 2.3.1EURP

Articles 3 to 23 of the PD Regulation provide for the minimum information to be included in a prospectus:

Note: the Annexes (including schedules and building blocks) referred to in these articles are set out for information in PR App 3.

Article 3

Minimum information to be included in a prospectus

A prospectus shall be drawn up by using one or a combination of the schedules and building blocks set out in this Regulation.2

2

A prospectus shall contain the information items required in Annexes I to XVII and Annexes XX to XXX depending on the type of issuer or issues and securities involved. Subject to Article 4a(1), a competent authority shall not require that a prospectus contains information items which are not included in Annexes I to XVII or Annexes XX to XXX.3

1223

In order to ensure conformity with the obligation referred to in Article 5(1) of Directive 2003/71/EC, the competent authority of the home Member State, when approving a prospectus in accordance with Article 13 of that Directive, may, on a case by case basis, require the information provided by the issuer, the offeror or the person asking for admission to trading on a regulated market to be completed, for each of the information items.2

2

2Where the issuer, the offeror or the person asking for the admission to trading on a regulated market is required to include a summary in a prospectus, in accordance with Article 5(2) of Directive 2003/71/EC, the competent authority of the home Member State, when approving the prospectus in accordance with Article 13 of that Directive, may, on a case by case basis, require certain information provided in the prospectus, to be included in the summary.

3[Note: See transitional provisions in Regulation (EU) No 862/2012]

Article 4

Share registration document schedule

1.

For the share registration document information shall be given in accordance with the schedule set out in Annex I.

2.

The schedule set out in paragraph 1 shall apply to the following:

(1)

shares and other transferable securities equivalent to shares;

(2)

other securities which comply with the following conditions:

(a)

they can be converted or exchanged into shares or other transferable securities equivalent to shares, at the issuer’s or at the investor’s discretion, or on the basis of the conditions established at the moment of the issue, or give, in any other way, the possibility to acquire shares or other transferable securities equivalent to shares, and

(b)

provided that these shares or other transferable securities equivalent to shares are or will be issued by the issuer of the security and are not yet traded on a regulated market or an equivalent market outside the Community at the time of the approval of the prospectus covering the securities, and that the underlying shares or other transferable securities equivalent to shares can be delivered with physical settlement.

1Article 4a

Share registration document schedule in cases of complex financial history or significant financial commitment

1.

Where the issuer of a security covered by Article 4(2) has a complex financial history, or has made a significant financial commitment, and in consequence the inclusion in the registration document of certain items of financial information relating to an entity other than the issuer is necessary in order to satisfy the obligation laid down in Article 5(1) of Directive 2003/71/EC, those items of financial information shall be deemed to relate to the issuer. The competent authority of the home Member State shall in such cases request that the issuer, the offeror or the person asking for admission to trading include those items of information in the registration document.

Those items of financial information may include pro forma information prepared in accordance with Annex II. In this context, where the issuer has made a significant financial commitment any such pro forma information shall illustrate the anticipated effects of the transaction that the issuer has agreed to undertake, and references in Annex II to “the transaction” shall be read accordingly.

2.

The competent authority shall base any request pursuant to the first subparagraph of paragraph 1 on the requirements set out in item 20.1 of Annex I, item 15.1 of Annex XXIII, item 20.1 of Annex XXV, item 11.1 of Annex XXVII and item 20.1 of Annex XXVIII as regards the content of financial information and the applicable accounting and auditing principles, subject to any modification which is appropriate in view of any of the following factors:2

2

(a)

the nature of the securities;

(b)

the nature and range of information already included in the prospectus, and the existence of financial information relating to an entity other than the issuer in a form that might be included in a prospectus without modification;

(c)

the facts of the case, including the economic substance of the transactions by which the issuer has acquired or disposed of its business undertaking or any part of it, and the specific nature of that undertaking;

(d)

the ability of the issuer to obtain financial information relating to another entity with reasonable effort.

Where, in the individual case, the obligation laid down in Article 5(1) of Directive 2003/71/EC may be satisfied in more than one way, preference shall be given to the way that is the least costly or onerous.

(3)

Paragraph 1 is without prejudice to the responsibility under national law of any other person, including the persons referred to in Article 6(1) of Directive 2003/71/EC, for the information contained in the prospectus. In particular, those persons shall be responsible for the inclusion in the registration document of any items of information requested by the competent authority pursuant to paragraph 1.

(4)

For the purposes of paragraph 1, an issuer shall be treated as having a complex financial history if all of the following conditions apply:

(a)

its entire business undertaking at the time that the prospectus is drawn up is not accurately represented in the historical financial information which it is required to provide under item 20.1 of Annex I, item 15.1 of Annex XXIII, item 20.1 of Annex XXV, item 11.1 of Annex XXVII and item 20.1 of Annex XXVIII;2

2

(b)

that inaccuracy will affect the ability of an investor to make an informed assessment as mentioned in Article 5(1) of Directive 2003/71/EC; and

(c)

information relating to its business undertaking that is necessary for an investor to make such an assessment is included in financial information relating to another entity.

(5)

For the purposes of paragraph 1, an issuer shall be treated as having made a significant financial commitment if it has entered into a binding agreement to undertake a transaction which, on completion, is likely to give rise to a significant gross change.

In this context, the fact that an agreement makes completion of the transaction subject to conditions, including approval by a regulatory authority, shall not prevent that agreement from being treated as binding if it is reasonably certain that those conditions will be fulfilled.

In particular, an agreement shall be treated as binding where it makes the completion of the transaction conditional on the outcome of the offer of the securities that are the subject matter of the prospectus or, in the case of a proposed takeover, if the offer of securities that are the subject matter of the prospectus has the objective of funding that takeover.

(6)

For the purposes of paragraph 5 of this Article, and of item 20.2 of Annex I, item 15.2 of Annex XXIII and item 20.2 of Annex XXV, a significant gross change means a variation of more than 25%, relative to one or more indicators of the size of the issuer's business, in the situation of an issuer.2

2

Recital 9

Pro forma financial information is needed in case of significant gross change, i. e. a variation of more than 25% relative to one or more indicators of the size of the issuer's business, in the situation of an issuer due to a particular transaction, with the exception of those situations where merger accounting is required.

Article 5

Pro-forma financial information building block

For pro-forma financial information, information shall be given in accordance with the building block set out in Annex II.

Pro forma financial information should be preceded by an introductory explanatory paragraph that states in clear terms the purpose of including this information in the prospectus.

Article 6

Share securities note schedule

1.

For the share securities note information is necessary to be given in accordance with the schedule set out in Annex III.

2.

The schedule shall apply to shares and other transferable securities equivalent to shares5

53.

Where shares with warrants give the right to acquire the issuer’s shares and these shares are not admitted to trading on a regulated market, the information required by the schedule set out in Annex XII except item 4.2.2 shall also be given.

[Note: See transitional provisions in Regulation (EU) No 759/2013]5

Article 7

Debt and derivative securities registration document schedule for securities with a denomination per unit of less than EUR 100 0002

2

For the debt and derivative securities registration document concerning securities which are not covered in Article 4 with a denomination per unit of less than EUR 100 0002 or, where there is no individual denomination, securities that can only be acquired on issue for less than EUR 100 0002 per security, information shall be given in accordance with the schedule set out in Annex IV.

22

Article 8

Securities note schedule for debt securities with a denomination per unit of less than EUR 100 0002

2

1.

For the securities note for debt securities with a denomination per unit of less than EUR 100 0002 information shall be given in accordance with the schedule set out in Annex V.

2

2.

The schedule shall apply to debt where the issuer has an obligation arising on issue to pay the investor 100% of the nominal value in addition to which there may be also an interest payment.5

53.

Where debt securities are exchangeable or convertible into shares already admitted to trading on a regulated market, the information required by item 4.2.2 of the schedule set out in Annex XII shall also be given.

54.

Where debt securities are convertible or exchangeable into shares which are or will be issued by the issuer of the debt security or by an entity belonging to its group and these underlying shares are not already admitted to trading on a regulated market, information on the issuer of the underlying shares shall also be given in accordance with items 3.1 and 3.2 of the schedule set out in Annex III or, as the case may be, of the proportionate schedule set out in Annex XXIV.

55.

Where debt securities with warrants give the right to acquire the issuer’s shares and these shares are not admitted to trading on a regulated market, the information required by the schedule set out in Annex XII except item 4.2.2 shall also be given.

[Note: See transitional provisions in Regulation (EU) No 759/2013]5

Article 9

Guarantees building block

For guarantees information shall be given in accordance with the building block set out in Annex VI.

2Item 3 of Annex VI shall not apply where a Member State acts as guarantor.

Article 10

Asset backed securities registration document schedule

For the asset backed securities registration document information shall be given in accordance with the schedule set out in Annex VII.

Article 11

Asset backed securities building block

For the additional information building block to the securities note for asset backed securities information shall be given in accordance with the building block set out in Annex VIII.

Article 12

Debt and derivative securities registration document schedule for securities with a denomination per unit of at least EUR 100 0002

2

For the debt and derivative securities registration document concerning securities which are not covered in Article 4 with a denomination per unit of at least EUR 100 0002 or, where there is no individual denomination, securities that can only be acquired on issue for at least EUR 100 0002 per security, information shall be given in accordance with the schedule set out in Annex IX.

22

Article 13

Depository receipts schedule

For depository receipts issued over shares information shall be given in accordance with the schedule set out in Annex X.

Article 14

Banks registration document schedule

1.

For the banks registration document for debt and derivative securities and those securities which are not covered by article 4 information shall be given in accordance with the schedule set out in Annex XI.

2.

The schedule set out in paragraph 1 shall apply to credit institutions as defined in point (a) of Article 1(1) of Directive 2000/12/EC as well as to third country credit institutions which do not fall under that definition but have their registered office in a state which is a member of the OECD.

These entities may also use alternatively the registration document schedules provided for under in Articles 7 and 12.

Article 15

Securities note schedule for derivative securities

1.

For the securities note for derivative securities information shall be given in accordance with the schedule set out in Annex XII.

2.

The schedule shall apply to securities which are not in the scope of application of the other securities note schedules referred to in articles 6, 8 and 16, except for the cases mentioned in article 6(3), Article 8(3) and (5) and article 16 (3) and (5). The schedule shall apply to certain securities where the payment and/or delivery obligations are linked to an underlying.5

5

[Note: See transitional provisions in Regulation (EU) No 759/2013]5

Article 16

Securities note schedule for debt securities with a denomination per unit

of at least EUR 100 0002

2

1.

For the securities note for debt securities with a denomination per unit of at least EUR 100 0002 information shall be given in accordance with the schedule set out in Annex XIII.

2

2.

The schedule shall apply to debt where the issuer has an obligation arising on issue to pay the investor 100% of the nominal value in addition to which there may be also an interest payment.5

53.

Where debt securities are exchangeable or convertible into shares already admitted to trading on a regulated market, the information required by item 4.2.2 of the schedule set out in Annex XII shall also be given.

54.

Where debt securities are convertible or exchangeable into shares which are or will be issued by the issuer of the debt security or by an entity belonging to its group and these underlying shares are not already admitted to trading on a regulated market, information on the issuer of the underlying shares shall also be given in accordance with items 3.1 and 3.2 of the schedule set out in Annex III or, as the case may be, of the proportionate schedule set out in Annex XXIV.

55.

Where debt securities with warrants give the right to acquire the issuer’s shares and these shares are not admitted to trading on a regulated market, the information required by the schedule set out in Annex XII except item 4.2.2 shall also be given.

[Note: See transitional provisions in Regulation (EU) No 759/2013]5

Article 17

Additional information building block on the underlying share

1.

For the additional information on the underlying share, the description of the underlying share shall be given in accordance with the building block set out in Annex XIV.

In addition, if the issuer of the underlying share is an entity belonging to the same group, the information required by the schedule referred to in Article 4 shall be given in respect of that issuer.

2.

The additional information referred to in the first subparagraph of paragraph 1 shall only apply to those securities which comply with both of the following conditions:

(1)

they can be converted or exchanged into shares or other transferable securities equivalent to shares, at the issuer’s or at the investor’s discretion, or on the basis of the conditions established at the moment of the issue or give, in any other way, the possibility to acquire shares or other transferable securities equivalent to shares; and

(2)

provided that these shares or other transferable securities equivalent to shares are or will be issued by the issuer of the security, by an entity belonging to the group of that issuer or by a third party and are not yet traded on a regulated market or an equivalent market outside the Union at the time of the approval of the prospectus covering the securities, and that the underlying shares or other transferable securities equivalent to shares can be delivered with physical settlement.5

5

[Note: See transitional provisions in Regulation (EU) No 759/2013]5

Article 18

Registration document schedule for collective investment undertakings of the closed-end type

1.

In addition to the information required pursuant to items 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.1, 7, 9.1, 9.2.1, 9.2.3, 10.4, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17.2, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25 of Annex I, for the registration document for securities issued by collective investment undertakings of the closed-end type information shall be given in accordance with the schedule set out in Annex XV.

2.

The schedule shall apply to collective investment undertakings of the closed-end type holding a portfolio of assets on behalf of investors that:

(1)

are recognised by national law in the Member State in which it is incorporated as a collective investment undertaking of the closed end type; or

(2)

do not take or seek to take legal or management control of any of the issuers of its underlying investments. In such a case, legal control and/or participation in the administrative, management or supervisory bodies of the underlying issuer(s) may be taken where such action is incidental to the primary investment objective, necessary for the protection of shareholders and only in circumstances where the collective investment undertaking will not exercise significant management control over the operations of that underlying issuer(s).

Article 19

Registration document schedule for Member States, third countries and their regional and local authorities

1.

For the registration document for securities issued by Member States, third countries and their regional and local authorities information shall be given in accordance with the schedule set out in Annex XVI.

2.

The schedule shall apply to all types of securities issued by Member States, third countries and their regional and local authorities.

Article 20

Registration document schedule for public international bodies and for issuers of debt securities guaranteed by a member state of the OECD

1.

For the registration document for securities issued by public international bodies and for securities unconditionally and irrevocably guaranteed, on the basis of national legislation, by a state which is a member of the OECD information shall be given in accordance with the schedule set out in Annex XVII.

2.

The schedule shall apply to:

- all types of securities issued by public international bodies;

- to debt securities unconditionally and irrevocably guaranteed, on the basis of national legislation, by a state which is a member of the OECD.

3Article 20a

Additional information building block for consent given in accordance with Article 3(2) of Directive 2003/71/EC

1.

For the purposes of the third subparagraph of Article 3(2) of Directive 2003/71/EC, the prospectus shall contain the following:

(a)

the additional information set out in Sections 1 and 2A of Annex XXX where the consent is given to one or more specified financial intermediaries;

(b)

the additional information set out in Sections 1 and 2B of Annex XXX where the issuer or the person responsible for drawing up the prospectus chooses to give its consent to all financial intermediaries.

2.

Where a financial intermediary does not comply with the conditions attached to consent as disclosed in the prospectus, a new prospectus shall be required in accordance with the second paragraph of Article 3(2) of Directive 2003/71/EC.

[Note: See transitional provisions in Regulation (EU) No 862/2012]

Article 21

Combination of schedules and building blocks

1.

The use of the combinations provided for in the table set out in Annex XVIII shall be mandatory when drawing up prospectuses for the types of securities to which those combinations correspond according to this table. However, for securities not covered by those combinations further combinations may be used.

2.

The most comprehensive and stringent registration document schedule, i.e. the most demanding schedule in term of number of information items and the extent of the information included in them, may always be used to issue securities for which a less comprehensive and stringent registration document schedule is provided for, according to the following ranking of schedules:

(1)

share registration document schedule;

(2)

debt and derivative securities registration document schedule for securities with a denomination per unit of less than EUR 100 0002;

2

(3)

debt and derivative securities registration document schedule for securities with a denomination per unit at least EUR 100 0002.

2

23.

The issuer, the offeror and the person asking for admission to trading on a regulated market may choose to draw up a prospectus in accordance with the proportionate schedules set out in Annexes XXIII to XXIX instead of the schedules set out in Annexes I, III, IV, IX, X and XI as described in the second subparagraph provided that the respective conditions laid down in Articles 26a, 26b and 26c are fulfilled.

Where the issuer, the offeror and the person asking for admission to trading on a regulated market makes that choice:

(a)

the reference to Annex I in Annex XVIII shall be read as a reference to Annexes XXIII or XXV;

(b)

the reference to Annex III in Annex XVIII shall be read as a reference to Annex XXIV;

(c)

the reference to Annex IV in Annex XVIII shall be read as a reference to Annex XXVI;

(d)

the reference to Annex IX in Annex XVIII shall be read as a reference to Annex XXVII;

(e)

the reference to Annex X in Annex XVIII shall be read as a reference to Annex XXVIII;

(f)

the reference to Annex XI in Annex XVIII shall be read as a reference to Annex XXIX.

Article 22

Minimum information to be included in a base prospectus and its related final terms

1.

A base prospectus shall be drawn up using one or a combination of schedules and building blocks provided for in this Regulation according to the combinations for various types of securities set out in Annex XVIII.2

2

A base prospectus shall contain the information items required in Annexes I to XVII, Annex XX and Annexes XXIII to XXX depending on the type of issuer and securities involved. Competent authorities shall not require that a base prospectus contains information items which are not included in Annexes I to XVII, Annex XX or Annexes XXIII to XXX.3

223

In order to ensure conformity with the obligation referred to in Article 5(1) of Directive 2003/71/EC, the competent authority of the home Member State, when approving a base prospectus in accordance with Article 13 of that Directive, may, on a case by case basis, require the information provided by the issuer, the offeror or the person asking for admission to trading on a regulated market to be completed for each of the information items.2

2

2Where the issuer, the offeror or the person asking for the admission to trading on a regulated market is required to include a summary in a base prospectus, in accordance with Article 5(2) of Directive 2003/71/EC, the competent authority of the home Member State, when approving the base prospectus in accordance with Article 13 of that Directive, may, on a case-by-case basis, require certain information provided in the base prospectus to be included in the summary.

21a.

The base prospectus may contain options with regard to information categorised as Category A, Category B and Category C, required by the relevant securities note schedules and building blocks, and set out in Annex XX. The final terms shall determine which of these options is applicable to the individual issue, by referring to the relevant sections of the base prospectus or by replicating such information.

2.

The issuer, the offeror or the person asking for admission to trading on a regulated market may omit information items which are not known when the base prospectus is approved and which can only be determined at the time of the individual issue.

3.

The use of the combinations provided for in the table in Annex XVIII shall be mandatory when drawing up base prospectuses for the types of securities to which those combinations correspond according to this table. However, for securities not covered by those combinations further combinations may be used.

4.

The final terms attached to a base prospectus shall only contain the following:2

2

2(a)

within the various securities notes schedules according to which the base prospectus is drawn up, the information items in Categories B and C listed in Annex XX. When an item is not applicable to a prospectus, the item shall appear in the final terms with the mention "not applicable;

2(b)

on a voluntary basis, any “additional information” set out in Annex XXI;

2(c)

any replication of, or reference to options already provided for in the base prospectus which are applicable to the individual issue.

2The final terms shall not amend or replace any information in the base prospectus.

5.

In addition to the information items set out in the schedules and building blocks referred to in Articles 4 to 20 the following information shall be included in a base prospectus:

(1)

indication on the information that will be included in the final terms;2

2(1a)

a section containing a template, the "form of the final terms", which has to be filled out for each individual issue;

(2)

the method of publication of the final terms; if the issuer is not in a position to determine, at the time of the approval of the prospectus, the method of publication of the final terms, an indication of how the public will be informed about which method will be used for the publication of the final terms;

(3)

in the case of issues of non equity securities according to [PR 2.2.7R (1)], a general description of the programme.

6.

Only the following categories of securities may be contained in a base prospectus and its related final terms covering issues of various types of securities:

(1)

asset backed securities;

(2)

warrants falling under Article 17;

(3)

non-equity securities provided for under [PR 2.2.7R (2)];

(4)

all other non-equity securities including warrants with the exception of those mentioned in point (2).

In drawing up a base prospectus the issuer, the offeror or the person asking for admission to trading on a regulated market shall clearly segregate the specific information on each of the different securities included in these categories.

7.

Where an event envisaged under [section 87G(1) of the Act (Supplementary prospectus)] occurs between the time that the base prospectus has been approved and the final closing of the offer of each issue of securities under the base prospectus or, as the case may be, the time that trading on a regulated market of those securities begins, the issuer, the offeror or the person asking for admission to trading on a regulated market shall publish a supplement prior to the final closing of the offer or the admission of those securities to trading.

2Where the issuer needs to prepare a supplement concerning information in the base prospectus that relates to only one or several specific issues, the right of investors to withdraw their acceptances pursuant to Article 16(2) of Directive 2003/71/EC shall only apply to the relevant issues and not to any other issues of securities under the base prospectus.

2[Note: See transitional provisions in Regulation (EU) No 862/2012]3

5

Article 23

Adaptations to the minimum information given in prospectuses and base prospectuses

1.

Notwithstanding Articles 3 second paragraph and 22(1) second subparagraph, where the issuer’s activities fall under one of the categories included in Annex XIX, the [FCA], taking into consideration the specific nature of the activities involved, may ask for adapted information, in addition to the information items included in the schedules and building blocks set out in 4 to 20, including, where appropriate, a valuation or other expert’s report on the assets of the issuer, in order to comply with the obligation referred to in [sections 87A(2),(3) and (4) of the Act]. The [FCA] shall forthwith inform the Commission thereof.

In order to obtain the inclusion of a new category in Annex XIX a Member State shall notify its request to the Commission. The Commission shall update this list following the Committee procedure provided for in Article 24 of [the prospectus directive].

2.

By way of derogation of Articles 3 to 22, where an issuer, an offeror or a person asking for admission to trading on a regulated market applies for approval of a prospectus or a base prospectus for a security which is not the same but comparable to the various types of securities mentioned in the table of combinations set out in Annex XVIII, the issuer, the offeror or the person asking for admission to trading on a regulated market shall add the relevant information items from another securities note schedule provided for in Articles 4 to 20 to the main securities note schedule chosen. This addition shall be done in accordance with the main characteristics of the securities being offered to the public or admitted to trading on a regulated market.

3.

By way of derogation of Articles 3 to 22, where an issuer, an offeror or a person asking for admission to trading on a regulated market applies for approval of a prospectus or a base prospectus for a new type of security, the issuer, the offeror or the person asking for admission to trading on a regulated market shall notify a draft prospectus or base prospectus to the [FCA].

The [FCA] shall decide, in consultation with the issuer, the offeror or the person asking for admission to trading on a regulated market, what information shall be included in the prospectus or base prospectus in order to comply with the obligation referred to in [sections 87A(2),(3) and (4) of the Act]. The [FCA] shall forthwith inform the Commission thereof.

The derogation referred to in the first subparagraph shall only apply in case of a new type of security which has features completely different from the various types of securities mentioned in Annex XVIII, if the characteristics of this new security are such that a combination of the different information items referred to in the schedules and building blocks provided for in Articles 4 to 20 is not pertinent.

4.

By way of derogation of Articles 3 to 22, in the cases where one of the information items required in one of the schedules or building blocks referred to in 4 to 20 or equivalent information is not pertinent to the issuer, to the offer or to the securities to which the prospectus relates, that information may be omitted.
3
GEN 4.2.2GRP
There are other pre-contract information requirements outside this chapter, including:(1) for financial promotions, inthe financial promotion rules;55(2) for designated investment business, inCOBS 8 and COBS 8A14 (Client agreements), COBS 5 (Distance Communications), COBS 6 (Information about the firm, its services and remuneration), COBS 13 and 14 (which relate to product information)5 and CASS (Client assets);5(2A) for PRIIPs, a requirement under the PRIIPs Regulation to provide