Related provisions for COBS 11.4.4

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COBS 4.1.1RRP
1This chapter applies to a firm:(1) communicating with a client in relation to its designated investment business (other than MiFID, equivalent third country or optional exemption business)10;(1A) 10communicating with a client in relation to its MiFID, equivalent third country or optional exemption business;(2) communicating or approving a financial promotion other than:(a) a financial promotion of qualifying credit, a home purchase plan or a home reversion plan; or(b) a financial
COBS 4.1.1ARRP
6COBS 4.4.3R applies to a firm with respect to the activity of issuing electronic money.
COBS 4.1.2GRP
(1) 4This chapter applies in relation to an authorised professional firm in accordance with COBS 18 (Specialist regimes).(2) This chapter applies, to a limited extent, in relation to communicating or approving a financial promotion that relates to a deposit if the deposit is a structured deposit, cash deposit ISA or cash deposit CTF.
COBS 4.1.3GRP
A firm is required to comply with the financial promotion rules in relation to a financial promotioncommunicated by its appointed representative even where the financial promotion does not require approval because of the exemption in article 16 of the Financial Promotion Order (Exempt persons).[Note: see section 39 of the Act]
COBS 4.1.4GRP
(1) In COBS 4.3.1 R,9 the defined term9 "financial promotion" includes:1199(a) in relation to MiFID, equivalent third country or optional exemption business, all communications that are marketing communications within the meaning of MiFID; and11(b) in relation to insurance distribution, all communications that are marketing communications within the meaning of IDD.11(2) In the case of MiFID, equivalent third country or optional exemption business9, certain requirements in this
COBS 4.1.5GRP
9A firm communicating with an eligible counterparty should have regard to the application of COBS to eligible counterparty business (COBS 1 Annex 1 Part 1).
COBS 4.1.6GRP
Approving a financial promotion without communicating it (which includes causing it to be communicated)3 is not MiFID, equivalent third country or optional exemption business9. Communicating a financial promotion to a person, such as a corporate finance contact or a venture capital contact, who is not a client within the meaning of COBS 3.2.1 R (1), COBS 3.2.1 R (2) or COBS 3.2.1 R (4) in respect of the MiFID, equivalent third country or optional exemption business9 to which
COBS 4.1.7GRP
A reference in this chapter to MiFID, equivalent third country or optional exemption business9 includes a reference to communications that occur before an agreement to perform services in relation to MiFID, equivalent third country or optional exemption business9.[Note: see recital 169 to the MiFID Org Regulation9]
COBS 4.1.8RRP
(1) In relation to communications by a firm to a client in relation to its designated investment business this chapter applies in accordance with the general application rule and the rule on business with UKclients from an overseas establishment (COBS 1 Annex 1 Part 2 paragraph 2.1R).(2) In addition, the financial promotion rules apply to a firm in relation to:(a) the communication of a financial promotion to a person inside the United Kingdom;(b) the communication of a cold call
COBS 4.1.9GRP
[deleted]12
COBS 4.1.10GRP
Firms should note the territorial scope of this chapter is also affected by:(1) the disapplication for financial promotions originating outside the United Kingdom that are not capable of having an effect within the United Kingdom (section 21(3) of the Act (Restrictions on financial promotion)) (see the defined term “excluded communication”);(2) the exemptions for overseas communicators (see the defined term “excluded communication”); and(3) the rules on financial promotions with
COBS 21.3.-1RRP
4The rules in this section apply to linked long-term contracts of insurance where the investment risk is borne by a policyholder who is a natural person.
COBS 21.3.1RRP
An insurer must not contract to provide benefits under linked long-term contracts of insurance4 that are determined:4(1) wholly or partly, or directly or indirectly, by reference to fluctuations in any index other than an approved index;(2) wholly or partly by reference to the value of, or the income from, or fluctuations in the value of, property other than any of the following:(a) approved securities;(b) listed securities; (c) permitted unlisted securities; (d) permitted land
COBS 21.3.1ARRP
4A firm must classify the types of property listed in COBS 21.3.1R (2)(a) to (2)(m)7 according to their economic behaviour ahead of their legal form.
COBS 21.3.2GRP
(1) Nothing in these rules prevents a firm making allowance in the value of any permitted link or conditional permitted link7 for any notional tax loss associated with the relevant linked assets for the purposes of fair pricing.3(2) In the FCA's5 view the Consumer Prices Index, as well as the Retail Prices Index, is a national index of retail prices and so may be used as an approved index for the purposes of COBS 21.3.1R (1).3
COBS 21.3.6RRP
4A money-market instrument will be regarded as normally dealt in on the money market if it:(1) has a maturity at issuance of up to, and including, 397 days; or(2) has a residual maturity of up to, and including, 397 days; or(3) undergoes regular yield adjustments in line with money market conditions at least every 397 days; or(4) undergoes regular yield adjustments in line with money market conditions at least every 397 days.
COBS 21.3.7RRP
(1) 4A money-market instrument will be regarded as liquid if it can be sold at limited cost in an adequately short timeframe.(2) A money-market instrument will be regarded as having a value which can be accurately determined at any time if accurate and reliable valuations systems, which fulfil the following criteria, are available:(a) enabling the firm to calculate a net asset value in accordance with the value at which the instrument held in the portfolio could be exchanged between
COBS 21.3.8GRP
4A firm should assess the liquidity of a money-market instrument in accordance with CESR's UCITS eligible assets guidelines, with respect to UK provisions which implemented6 article 4(1) of the UCITS eligible assets Directive.
COBS 21.3.9RRP
4A permitted stock lending transaction is one which, for a Solvency II firm, satisfies the requirements in COBS 21.3.11 R to COBS 21.3.12 R and, for an insurer which is not a Solvency II firm, satisfies INSPRU 3.2.36A R to INSPRU 3.2.42 G.
COBS 21.3.10RRP
4The specific method of stock lending permitted is an arrangement of the kind described in section 263B of the Taxation of Chargeable Gains Act 1992, under which the lender transfers securities to the borrower other than by way of sale and the borrower is to transfer those securities, or securities of the same type and amount, back to the lender at a later date. In accordance with good market practice, a separate transaction by way of transfer of assets is also involved for the
COBS 21.3.11RRP
(1) 4The stock lending arrangement is of the kind described in section 263B of the Taxation of Chargeable Gains Act 1992 (without extension by section 263C), and:(a) all the terms of the agreement under which securities are to be reacquired by the firm for the account of the unit-linked fund are in a form which is acceptable to the firm and in accordance with good market practice;(b) the counterparty is:(i) an authorised person; or(ii) a person authorised in an EEA State6; or(iii)
COBS 21.3.12RRP
(1) 4Collateral is adequate for the purposes of this section only if it is:(a) transferred to the firm or the firm's agent;(b) at least equal in value, at the time of the transfer to the firm or its agent, to the value of the securities transferred by the firm; and(c) in the form of one or more of:(i) cash;(ii) a certificate of deposit;(iii) a letter of credit;(iv) a readily realisable security;(v) commercial paper with no embedded derivative content;(vi) a qualifying money market
COBS 21.3.13RRP
4A permitted derivatives contract is one which:(1) for a Solvency II firm, is effected or issued:(a) on or under the rules of a regulated market; or(b) off-market with an approved counterparty; andsatisfies COBS 21.3.14 G; and(2) for an insurer which is not a Solvency II firm, satisfies INSPRU 3.2.5 R to INSPRU 3.2.35A G with the exception of INSPRU 3.2.18 R; and(3) in each of (1) and (2) the provisions are applied in relation to assets covering liabilities in respect of linked
COBS 21.3.14GRP
4Solvency II firms5 are also required to comply with the PRA Rulebook Solvency II Firms Investment and ensure that the use of derivative contracts is adequately covered. Firms are also referred to the rules in COLL 5.3 (Derivative Exposure) in relation to the use of derivatives in investment funds and the further guidance from CESR and its successor body, ESMA, which represent good practice in this area.
COBS 11.3.1RRP
(1) A firm (other than a UCITS management company3 providing collective portfolio management services)1 which is authorised to execute orders on behalf of clients must implement procedures and arrangements which provide for the prompt, fair and expeditious execution of client orders, relative to other orders or the trading interests of the firm.[Note: paragraph 1 of article 28(1)3 of MiFID](2) These procedures or arrangements must allow for the execution of otherwise comparable
COBS 11.3.2RRP
[deleted]311
COBS 11.3.3GRP
For the purposes of the provisions of this section, orders should not be treated as otherwise comparable if they are received by different media and it would not be practicable for them to be treated sequentially. [Note: recital 1103 to the MiFID Org Regulation3]
COBS 11.3.4RRP
Where a management company3 executes the order itself in the course of providing collective portfolio management services,1 it must take all reasonable steps to ensure that any clientfinancial instruments or client funds received in settlement of that executed order are promptly and correctly delivered to the account of the appropriate UCITS scheme3. [Note:3 article 27(1) third paragraph of the UCITS implementing Directive]11
COBS 11.3.5RRP
[deleted]311
COBS 11.3.6GRP
Without prejudice to the Market Abuse Regulation2, for the purposes of the provision3 on the misuse of information (see COBS 11.3.5AEU3), any use by a firm of information relating to a pending client order in order to deal on own account in the financial instruments to which the client order relates, or in related financial instruments, should be considered a misuse of that information. However, the mere fact that market makers or bodies authorised to act as counterparties confine
COBS 11.3.7RRP
[deleted]311
COBS 11.3.8RRP
[deleted]311
COBS 11.3.9RRP
[deleted]311
COBS 11.3.10RRP
[deleted]311
COBS 11.3.11RRP
[deleted]3
COBS 11.3.12GRP
For the purposes of the provisions of this section, the reallocation of transactions should be considered as detrimental to a client if, as an effect of that reallocation, unfair precedence is given to the firm or to any particular person. [Note: recital 109 3 to the MiFID Org Regulation3]
COBS 11.3.13GRP
In this section, carrying out client orders includes:(1) the execution of orders on behalf of clients;(2) the placing of orders with other entities for execution that result from decisions to deal in financial instruments on behalf of clients when providing the service of portfolio management or collective portfolio management;1(3) the transmission of client orders to other entities for execution when providing the service of reception and transmission of orders.
COBS 12.2.1RRP
[deleted]2
COBS 12.2.2GRP
[deleted]2
COBS 12.2.3RRP
[deleted]2
COBS 12.2.4GRP
[deleted]2
COBS 12.2.5RRP
[deleted]2
COBS 12.2.5AGRP
[deleted]2
COBS 12.2.6GRP
[deleted]2
COBS 12.2.7GRP
[deleted]2
COBS 12.2.8GRP
[deleted]2
COBS 12.2.9GRP
[deleted]2
COBS 12.2.10RRP
[deleted]2
COBS 12.2.11GRP
[deleted]2
COBS 12.2.12GRP
[deleted]2
COBS 12.2.13GRP
[deleted]2
COBS 19.6.1RRP
This section applies to an operator of a qualifying scheme.
COBS 19.6.2RRP
The restrictions on administration charges in COBS 19.6.4 R do not apply in relation to a default arrangement under which, at any time before benefits come into payment, those benefits accruing to the member involve, or involve an option to have, a promise by or to be obtained from a third party about the rate or amount of those benefits.
COBS 19.6.3GRP
(1) In this section, where express agreement is required by a rule, the FCA would expect firms to take active steps to obtain the informed, active consent of the affected member(s) of the qualifying scheme, and to have that consent in writing in a durable medium, capable of being produced or reproduced when requested by the FCA. (2) The FCA does not consider the following to amount to express agreement (this list is not exhaustive):(a) a member receiving a communication stating
COBS 19.6.4RRP
A firm, for a default arrangement within a qualifying scheme, may only make, impose or otherwise facilitate payment of an administration charge1 by way of an accrued rights charge or a combination charge structure where:(1) the limits in COBS 19.6.6 R are not exceeded; or(2) the firm has obtained appropriate express agreement to exceed the limits and the following conditions are satisfied:(a) the express agreement contains an acknowledgement by the member that the administration
COBS 19.6.5GRP
The effect of COBS 19.6.4R (2)(c) is that a firm may not seek express agreement from a member to charges in excess of the limits for services which are obligatory under law, or form part of the core operation of the scheme. Such core services include, for example, designing and implementing an investment strategy, investing contributions to the scheme (to the extent that this would incur administration charges1), holding investments relating to scheme members and transferring
COBS 19.6.6RRP
The limits on administration charges are as follows: (1) for a qualifying scheme which uses only an accrued rights charge, 0.75% of the value of those accrued rights; (2) for a qualifying scheme which uses a combination charge scheme:(a) for the flat-fee charge element, £25 annually;(b) for the contribution percentage charge element, 2.5% of the contributions annually; (c) for the associated accrued rights charge, the limits as set out in column 2 of the table in COBS 19.6.7
COBS 19.6.7RRP

This is the table referred to in COBS 19.6.6 R.

Contribution percentage charge rate (%)

Accrued rights charge rate (%)

1 or lower

0.6

Higher than 1 but no higher than 2

0.5

Higher than 2 but no higher than 2.5

0.4

Flat-fee charge (£)

Accrued rights charge rate (%)

10 or less

0.6

More than 10 but no more than 20

0.5

More than 20 but no more than 25

0.4

COBS 19.6.8ERP
(1) To ensure that administration charges1 are within the limits set out in COBS 19.6.6 R:(a) a firm should calculate the value of accrued rights in an accrued rights charge as the arithmetic mean over a 12-month period of membership of the qualifying scheme, using at least four evenly-distributed reference points over that period;(b) a firm should calculate the value of contributions in a contribution percentage charge over a 12-month period of membership of the qualifying scheme
COBS 19.6.9RRP
(1) A firm must not make any administration charge,1 or otherwise make or facilitate any payment or provide any non-monetary benefit, in respect of any service provided by a third party in connection with a qualifying scheme which would have the effect of decreasing the value of the accrued rights of any member of that scheme.22(2) The restriction in (1) does not apply where the firm has obtained express agreement from the relevant member to such a payment.
COBS 19.6.11RRP
2A firm must not impose greater administration charges1 on a member of a qualifying scheme whose workplace pension contributions ceased on or after 6 April 2016 than those imposed on a member for whom such contributions are still being made.
COBS 19.6.12GRP
2The effect of COBS 19.6.11 R is to prohibit active member discounts within automatic enrolment schemes.
COBS 5.2.1RRP
This section applies to a firm1carrying on 1an electronic commerce activity1from an establishment in the United Kingdom, with or for a person in the United Kingdom3. 1
COBS 5.2.2RRP
A firm must make at least the following information easily, directly and permanently accessible to the recipients of the information society services it provides:(1) its name;(2) the geographic address at which it is established;(3) the details of the firm, including its e-mail address, which allow it to be contacted rapidly and communicated with in a direct and effective manner;(4) an appropriate statutory status disclosure statement (GEN 4 Annex 1 R or GEN 4 Annex 1A R as appropriate4),
COBS 5.2.3RRP
If a firm refers to price, it must do so clearly and unambiguously, indicating whether the price is inclusive of tax and delivery costs.[Note: article 5(2) of the E-Commerce Directive]
COBS 5.2.4RRP
A firm must ensure that commercial communications which are part of, or constitute, an information society service, comply with the following conditions:(1) the commercial communication must be clearly identifiable as such;(2) the person on whose behalf the commercial communication is made must be clearly identifiable;(3) promotional offers must be clearly identifiable as such, and the conditions that must be met to qualify for them must be easily accessible and presented clearly
COBS 5.2.5RRP
An unsolicited commercial communication sent by e-mail by a firm3 must be identifiable clearly and unambiguously as an unsolicited commercial communication as soon as it is received by the recipient. [Note: article 7(1) of the E-Commerce Directive]
COBS 5.2.6RRP
A firm must (except when otherwise agreed by parties who are not consumers):(1) give an ECA recipient at least the following information, clearly, comprehensibly and unambiguously, and prior to the order being placed by the recipient of the service:(a) the different technical steps to follow to conclude the contract;(b) whether or not the concluded contract will be filed by the firm and whether it will be accessible;(c) the technical means for identifying and correcting input
COBS 5.2.7RRP
For the purposes of COBS 5.2.6 R (3), an order and an acknowledgement of receipt are deemed to be received when the parties to whom they are addressed are able to access them. [Note: article 11(1) of the E-Commerce Directive]
COBS 5.2.8RRP
Contractual terms and conditions provided by a firm to an ECA recipient must be made available in a way that allows the recipient to store and reproduce them. [Note: article 10(3) of the E-Commerce Directive]
COBS 5.2.9RRP
The requirements relating to the placing and receipt of orders (COBS 5.2.6 R) do not apply to contracts concluded exclusively by exchange of e-mail or by equivalent individual communications. [Note: article 10(4) and 11(3) of the E-Commerce Directive]
COBS 6.1.1RRP
(1) 1This section applies to a firm that carries on designated investment business, other than MiFID, equivalent third country or optional exemption business or insurance distribution activities7,6 for 6 a retail client.(2) [deleted]6
COBS 6.1.2RRP
If a firm provides basic advice on stakeholder products in accordance with the basic advicerules, this section does not apply to that service.
COBS 6.1.4RRP
A firm must provide a client6 with the following general information, if relevant:(1) the name and address of the firm, and the contact details necessary to enable a client to communicate effectively with the firm;(2) [deleted]6(3) the methods of communication to be used between the firm and the client including, where relevant, those for the sending and reception of orders;(4) a statement of the fact that the firm is authorised by the FCA or the PRA, as applicable8;(5) [deleted]6(6)
COBS 6.1.6RRP
(1) A firm that manages investments for a client must establish an appropriate method of evaluation and comparison such as a meaningful benchmark, based on the investment objectives of the client and the types of designated investments included in the client portfolio, so as to enable the client to assess the firm's performance.(2) If a firm proposes to manage investments for a client6, the firm must provide the client with such of the following information as is applicable:(a)
COBS 6.1.7RRP
(1) A firm that holds designated investments or client money for a client6 subject to the custody chapter or the client money chapter must provide that client with the following information:444(a) if applicable,(i) that the designated investments or client money of that client may be held by a third party on behalf of the firm;(ii) the responsibility of the firm under the applicable national law for any acts or omissions of the third party; and(iii) the consequences for the client
COBS 6.1.9RRP
A firm must provide a client6 with information on costs and associated charges including, if applicable:(1) the total price to be paid by the client in connection with the designated investment or the designated investment business6,including all related fees, commissions, charges and expenses, and all taxes payable via the firm or, if an exact price cannot be indicated, the basis for the calculation of the total price so that the client can verify it. The commissions charged
COBS 6.1.11RRP
(1) A firm must provide a client with the information required by this section in good time before the provision of designated investment business6 unless otherwise provided by this rule.(2) A firm may instead provide that information immediately after starting to provide designated investment business6 if:(a) the firm was unable to comply with (1) because, at the request of the client, the agreement was concluded using a means of distance communication2 which prevented the firm
COBS 6.1.13RRP
Except where expressly provided, a firm must provide the information required by this section in a durable medium or via a website (where it does not constitute a durable medium) where the website conditions are satisfied.6
COBS 6.1.14RRP
(1) A firm must notify a client in good time about any material change to the information provided under this section which is relevant to a service that the firm is providing to that client.(2) A firm must provide this notification in a durable medium if the information to which it relates was given in a durable medium.6
COBS 6.1.15GRP
(1) A firm need not treat each of several transactions in respect of the same type of financial instrument as a new or different service and so does not need to comply with the disclosure rules in this chapter in relation to each transaction.6(2) But a firm should ensure that the client has received all relevant information in relation to a subsequent transaction, such as details of product charges that differ from those disclosed in respect of a previous transaction.
COBS 6.1.16RRP
(1) A firm6must make available to a client, who has used or intends to use the firm’s6 services, information necessary for the identification of the compensation scheme if the firm is a participant firm8.(2) The information under (1) must include the amount and scope of the cover offered by the compensation scheme8.(3) A firm must provide, on the client's request, information concerning the conditions governing compensation and the formalities which must be completed to obtain
COBS 16.3.1RRP
(1) If a firm is managing investments on behalf of a client, it must provide the client with a periodic statement in a durable medium unless:3(a) 3such a statement is provided by another person; or(b) 3all of the conditions in (1A) are satisfied.(1A) 3The conditions are that:(a) 3the firm provides the client with access to an online system which qualifies as a durable medium;(b) 3the online system provides the client with easy access to:(i) 3up-to-date valuations of the client’sdesignated
COBS 16.3.2RRP
(1) In the case of a retail client, the periodic statement must be provided once every six months, except in the following cases:(a) if the retail client so requests, the periodic statement must be provided every three months;(b) if the retail client elects to receive information about executed transactions on a transaction-by-transaction basis (COBS 16.3.3 R) and there are no transactions in derivatives or other securities giving the right to acquire or sell a transferable security
COBS 16.3.3RRP
(1) If the client elects to receive information about executed transactions on a transaction-by-transaction basis, a firmmanaging investments must provide promptly to the client, on the execution of a transaction, the essential information concerning that transaction in a durable medium.(2) If the client is a retail client, the firm must send the client3 a notice confirming the transaction and containing such of the information identified in column (1) of the table in COBS 16
COBS 16.3.4GRP
In accordance with COBS 2.4.9 R, a firm may dispatch a periodic statement to an agent, other than the firm or an associate of the firm, nominated by the client in writing.
COBS 16.3.5RRP
For the purposes of calculating the unit price in the trade confirmation information or periodic information, where the order is executed in tranches, the firm may supply the client with information about the price of each tranche or the average price. If the average price is provided, the firm must supply the retail client with information about the price of each tranche upon request.3
COBS 16.3.6RRP
(1) If a firm:(a) manages investments for a retail client; or(b) operates a retail client account that includes an uncovered open position in a contingent liability transaction,it must report to the retail client any losses exceeding any predetermined threshold, agreed between it and the retail client.(2) The firm must report:(a) no later than the end of the business day in which the threshold is exceeded; or(b) if the threshold is exceeded on a non-business day, the close of
COBS 16.3.7RRP
For the purposes of this section, a contingent liability transaction is one that involves any actual or potential liability for the client that exceeds the cost of acquiring the instrument.3
COBS 16.3.8RRP
[intentionally blank]
COBS 16.3.9GRP
When providing a periodic statement to a retail client, a firm should consider whether to include:(1) the collateral value in respect of any contingent liability transaction in the client's portfolio during the relevant period; and(2) option account valuations in respect of each open option written by the client in the client's portfolio at the end of the relevant period; stating:(a) the share, future, index or other investment involved;(b) the trade price and date for the opening
COBS 16.3.11RRP
A firm must make, and retain, a copy of any periodic statement for a period of at least three years3 from the date of despatch.3
COBS 4.10.1GRP
The rules in SYSC 3 (and also for Solvency II firms, the PRA Rulebook: Solvency II firms: Conditions Governing Business)1 and SYSC 4 require a firm that communicates with a client in relation to designated investment business, or communicates or approves a financial promotion, to put in place systems and controls or policies and procedures, or an effective internal control system,1 in order to comply with the rules in this chapter.
COBS 4.10.2RRP
(1) Before a firmapproves a financial promotion for communication by an unauthorised person, it must confirm that the financial promotion complies with the financial promotion rules.(2) If, at any time after a firm has complied with (1), a firm becomes aware that a financial promotion no longer complies with the financial promotion rules, it must withdraw its approval and notify any person that it knows to be relying on its approval as soon as reasonably practicable.(3) When approving
COBS 4.10.3GRP
(1) Section 21(1) of the Act (Restrictions on financial promotion) prohibits an unauthorised person from communicating a financial promotion, in the course of business, unless an exemption applies or the financial promotion is approved by a firm. Many of the rules in this chapter apply when a firmapproves a financial promotion in the same way as when a firmcommunicates a financial promotion itself.(2) A firm may also wish to approve a financial promotion that it communicates itself.
COBS 4.10.4RRP
A firm must not approve a financial promotion to be made in the course of a personal visit, telephone conversation or other interactive dialogue.
COBS 4.10.5RRP
If a firmapproves a financial promotion in circumstances in which one or more of the financial promotion rules, or the prohibition on approval of promotions for collective investment schemes in section 240(1) of the Act (Restriction on approval), are expressly disapplied, the approval must be given on terms that it is limited to those circumstances.
COBS 4.10.6GRP
For example, if a firmapproves a financial promotion for communication to a professional client or an eligible counterparty, the approval must be limited to communication to such persons.
COBS 4.10.7GRP
If an approval is limited, and an unauthorised personcommunicates the financial promotion to persons not covered by the approval, the unauthorised person may commit an offence under the restriction on financial promotion in the Act (section 21). A firm giving a limited approval may wish to notify the unauthorised person accordingly.
COBS 4.10.8GRP
If a firm continues to communicate a financial promotion when the financial promotion no longer complies with the rules in this chapter, it will breach those rules.
COBS 4.10.9GRP
A financial promotion which is clearly only relevant at a particular date will not cease to comply with the financial promotion rules merely because the passage of time has rendered it out-of-date; an example would be a dated analyst's report.
COBS 4.10.11GRP
A firm should inform anyone relying on its confirmation of compliance if it becomes aware that the financial promotion no longer complies with the rules in this chapter.
COBS 3.7.1RRP
A firm must allow a professional client or an eligible counterparty to request re-categorisation as a client that benefits from a higher degree of protection. [Note: second paragraph of article 30(2)1 of, and the second paragraph of section I of annex II to, MiFID1]
COBS 3.7.2GRP
It is the responsibility of a professional client or eligible counterparty to ask for a higher level of protection when it deems it is unable to properly assess or manage the risks involved. [Note: third paragraph of section I and fourth paragraph of section II.2 of annex II to MiFID1]
COBS 3.7.3RRP
[deleted]1
COBS 3.7.4RRP
[deleted]1
COBS 3.7.5RRP
(1) If, in relation to MiFID or equivalent third country business a per se professional client1 requests treatment as a retail client, the client will be classified as a retail client if it enters into a written agreement with the firm to the effect that it will not be treated as a professional client or eligible counterparty for the purposes of the applicable conduct of business regime.(2) This agreement must specify the scope of the re-categorisation, such as whether it applies
COBS 3.7.6GRP
(1) In accordance with Principle 7 (communications with clients) if a firm at its own initiative re-categorises a client in accordance with this section, it should notify that client of its new category under this section.(2) If the firm already has an agreement with the client, it should also consider any contractual requirements concerning the amendment of that agreement.
COBS 3.7.7GRP
The ways in which a client may be provided with additional protections under this section include re-categorisation:(1) on a general basis; or(2) on a trade by trade basis; or(3) in respect of one or more specified rules; or(4) in respect of one or more particular services or transactions; or(5) in respect of one or more types of product or transaction. [Note: second paragraph of article 30(2)1 of MiFID]
COBS 3.7.8GRP
Re-categorising a client as a retail client under this section does not necessarily mean it will become an eligible complainant under DISP.
COBS 9.4.1RRP
1A firm must provide a suitability report to a retail client if the firm makes a personal recommendation to the client and the client:(1) acquires a holding in, or sells all or part of a holding in:(a) a regulated collective investment scheme;(b) an investment trust where the relevant shares have been or are to be acquired through an investment trust savings scheme;(c) an investment trust where the relevant shares are to be held within an ISA which has been promoted as the means
COBS 9.4.2RRP
If a firm makes a personal recommendation in relation to a life policy, it must provide the client with a suitability report.[Note: first and third paragraphs of article 20(1) of the IDD8]
COBS 9.4.3RRP
The obligation to provide a suitability report does not apply:(1) if the firm, acting as an investment manager for a retail client, makes a personal recommendation relating to a regulated collective investment scheme;(2) if the client is habitually resident outside the United Kingdom10 and the client is not present in the United Kingdom at the time of acknowledging consent to the proposal form to which the personal recommendation relates;(3) [deleted]8(4) if the personal recommendation
COBS 9.4.4RRP
A firm must provide the suitability report to the client:(1) in the case of a life policy, before the contract is concluded8; (2) in the case of a personal pension scheme or stakeholder pension scheme that is not a life policy8, where the rules on cancellation (COBS 15) require notification of the right to cancel, no later than the fourteenth day after the contract is concluded;11(2A) in the case of a pension transfer or pension conversion, in good time before the transaction
COBS 9.4.5RRP
[deleted]8
COBS 9.4.6RRP
In the case of telephone selling of a life policy, when the only contact between a firm and its client before conclusion of a contract is by telephone, the suitability report must be given in accordance with COBS 7.4.8[Note: article 23(7) of the IDD8]
COBS 9.4.7RRP
The suitability report must, at least:(1) specify, on the basis of the information obtained from the client,8 the client's demands and needs;(2) explain why the firm has concluded that the recommended transaction is suitable for the client having regard to the information provided by the client; 8(3) explain any possible disadvantages of the transaction for the client; and8(4) in the case of a life policy, include a personalised recommendation explaining why a particular life
COBS 9.4.8RRP
8A firm must ensure the details are modulated according to the complexity of the transaction or the proposed contract of insurance and the type of client.[Note: article 20(2) of the IDD8]
COBS 9.4.9RRP
If a firm is providing a suitability report in the course of insurance distribution activity8, the information must be in accordance with COBS 7.4.8[Note: article 23 of the IDD8]
COBS 9.4.10GRP
When a firm is making a personal recommendation to a retail client about income withdrawals or purchase of short-term annuities or making uncrystallised funds pension lump sum payments,6 explanation of possible disadvantages in the suitability report should include the risk factors involved in entering into an income withdrawal, purchase of a short-term annuity or making uncrystallised funds pension lump sum payments6. These may include:(1) the capital value of the fund may be
COBS 4.6.1RRP
(1) Subject to (2) and (3), this section applies to a firm in relation to:1(a) [deleted]61222(b) the communication or approval of a financial promotion,61where such information or financial promotion is addressed to, or disseminated in such a way that it is likely to be received by, a retail client.1(2) This section does not apply to a firm communicating in relation to its MiFID, equivalent third country or optional exemption business633(3) This6 section does not apply in relation
COBS 4.6.2RRP
A firm must ensure that information that contains an indication of past performance of relevant business, a relevant investment or a financial index, satisfies the following conditions:(1) that indication is not the most prominent feature of the communication;(2) the information includes appropriate performance information which covers the6 preceding five years, or the whole period for which the investment has been offered, the financial index has been established, or the service
COBS 4.6.3GRP
The obligations relating to describing performance should be interpreted in the light of their purpose and in a way that is appropriate and proportionate taking into account the means of communication and the information the communication is intended to convey. For example, a periodic statement in relation to managing investments that is sent in accordance with the rules on reporting information to clients (see COBS 16) may include past performance as its most prominent featu
COBS 4.6.4GRP
If a financial promotion includes information referring to the past performance of a packaged product that is not a financial instrument2, a firm will comply with the rule on appropriate performance information (COBS 4.6.2R (2)) if the financial promotion includes, in the case of a scheme, unit-linked life policy, unit-linked personal pension scheme or unit-linked stakeholder pension scheme (other than a unitised with-profits life policy or stakeholder pension scheme) past performance
COBS 4.6.4BGRP
(1) The firm should present the information referred to in COBS 4.6.4 G no less prominently than any other past performance information.(2) This guidance does not apply to a prospectus, key investor information document4 or NURS-KII document5 drawn up in accordance with COLL.
COBS 4.6.5GRP
(1) In relation to a packaged product (other than a scheme, a unit-linked life policy, unit-linked personal pension scheme or a unit-linked stakeholder pension scheme (that is not a unitised with-profits life policy or stakeholder pension scheme)), the information should be given on:(a) an offer to bid basis (which should be stated) if there is an actual return or comparison of performance with other investments; or(b) an offer to offer, bid to bid or offer to bid basis (which
COBS 4.6.6RRP
A firm must ensure that information that contains an indication of simulated past performance of relevant business, a relevant investment or a financial index, satisfies the following conditions:(1) it relates to an investment or a financial index;(2) the simulated past performance is based on the actual past performance of one or more investments or financial indices which are the same as, substantially the same as,6 or underlie, the investment concerned;(3) in respect of the
COBS 4.6.7RRP
(1) A firm must ensure that information that contains an indication of future performance of relevant business, a relevant investment, a structured deposit or a financial index, satisfies the following conditions:(a) it is not based on and does not refer to simulated past performance;(b) it is based on reasonable assumptions supported by objective data;(c) where6 the indication is based on gross performance, the effect of commissions, fees or other charges is disclosed6; (ca)
COBS 4.6.8GRP
A firm should not provide information on future performance if it is not able to obtain the objective data needed to comply with the rule on future performance. For example, objective data in relation to EIS shares may be difficult to obtain.
COBS 4.6.9RRP
(1) 1A firm that communicates to a client a projection for a packaged product which is not a financial instrument2must ensure that the projection complies with the projectionsrules in COBS 13.4, COBS 13.5 and COBS 13 Annex 2.2(2) A firm must not communicate a projection for a highly volatile product to a client unless the product is a financial instrument.
COBS 6.4.1RRP
1This section applies to a firm when it sells or arranges the sale of a packaged product to a retail client and the firm's services to sell or arrange are not in connection with the provision of a personal recommendation2.2
COBS 6.4.2GRP
[deleted]8
COBS 6.4.3RRP
(1) If a firm sells or arranges the sale of a packaged product to a retail client, and subsequently if the retail client requests it, the firm must disclose to the client in cash terms9. 2(a) any commission receivable by it or any of its associates in connection with the transaction; (b) if the firm is also the product provider, any commission or commission equivalent payable in connection with the transaction; and (c) if the firm or any of its associates is in the same immediate
COBS 6.4.4GRP
Where a firm is required to disclose the value of commission equivalent, the value will be at least as high as the amount of any commission.
COBS 6.4.4ARRP
3If the firm or its associate is the pure protection contractinsurer, it may comply with COBS 6.4.3R (1)(b) and (c) by disclosing to the consumer an indicative adviser charge as an alternative to a commission equivalent.
COBS 6.4.4BRRP
3The indicative adviser charge must be at least reasonably representative of the cost of the5 services associated with making the personal recommendation in relation to the pure protection contract.
COBS 6.4.4CGRP
3An indicative adviser charge is likely to be reasonably representative of the cost of the5 services associated with making the personal recommendation if:(1) the total5 expected5 costs associated with making a personal recommendation and distributing the pure protection contract will:5(a) be recovered through indicative adviser charges; and5(b) not be recovered by charges for, or profits from, other services (such as manufacturing and administering the pure protection contract);5(2)
COBS 6.4.5RRP
(1) A firm must make the disclosure required by the rule on disclosure of commission or equivalent (COBS 6.4.3 R) as close as practicable to the time that it sells or arranges the sale of a packaged product.2(2) The firm must make the disclosure:(a) in a durable medium; or(b) when a retail client does not make a written application to enter into a transaction, orally. In these circumstances, the firm must give written confirmation as soon as possible after the date of the transaction,
COBS 6.4.6ERP
(1) When determining the value of cash payments, benefits and services under the rule on disclosure of commission equivalent (COBS 6.4.3 R), a firm should follow the provisions of COBS 6 Annex 6.(2) Compliance with this evidential provision may be relied on as tending to establish compliance with COBS 6.4.3 R; and(3) Contravention of this evidential provision may be relied on as tending to establish contravention of COBS 6.4.3 R.
COBS 10.2.1RRP
(1) When providing a service to which this chapter applies, a firm must ask the client to provide information regarding his knowledge and experience in the investment field relevant to the specific type of product or service offered or demanded so as to enable the firm to assess whether the service or product envisaged is appropriate for the client.(2) When assessing appropriateness, a firm must determine whether the client has the necessary experience and knowledge in order to
COBS 10.2.2RRP
The information regarding a client's knowledge and experience in the investment field includes, to the extent appropriate to the nature of the client, the nature and extent of the service to be provided and the type of product or transaction envisaged, including their complexity and the risks involved, information on:(1) the types of service, transaction and designated investment with which the client is familiar;(2) the nature, volume, frequency of the client's transactions in
COBS 10.2.3RRP
A firm must not encourage a client not to provide information required for the purposes of its assessment of appropriateness.2
COBS 10.2.4RRP
A firm is entitled to rely on the information provided by a client unless it is aware that the information is manifestly out of date, inaccurate or incomplete.2
COBS 10.2.5GRP
When assessing appropriateness, a firm may use information it already has in its possession.
COBS 10.2.6GRP
Depending on the circumstances, a firm may be satisfied that the client's knowledge alone is sufficient for him to understand the risks involved in a product or service. Where reasonable, a firm may infer knowledge from experience.
COBS 10.2.7GRP
If, before assessing appropriateness, a firm seeks to increase the client's level of understanding of a service or product by providing information to him, relevant considerations are likely to include the nature and complexity of the information and the client's existing level of understanding.
COBS 10.2.8GRP
If a firm is satisfied that the client has the necessary experience and knowledge in order to understand the risks involved in relation to the product or service, there is no duty to communicate this to the client. If the firm does so, it must not do so in a way that amounts to making a personal recommendation unless it complies with the rules in COBS 9 (Suitability (including basic advice) (non-MiFID provisions))2.
COBS 11.1.1RRP
1This chapter3 applies 3to a firm.3(1) [deleted]3(2) [deleted]3
COBS 11.1.2RRP
Save as may be provided in the relevant sections, in6 this chapter, provisions marked “UK”7 apply to a firm which is not a MiFID investment firm3 as if they were rules.
COBS 11.1.3RRP
[deleted]62
COBS 11.1.4RRP
The section on personal account dealing applies to the designated investment business of a firm in relation to activities carried on from an establishment in the United Kingdom.
COBS 11.1.5GRP
[deleted]765555
COBS 11.1.6RRP
3The section on best execution (COBS 11.2A6) does not apply to a firm when:(1) executing orders: or(2) placing orders with other entities for execution: or(3) transmitting orders to other entities for execution;in relation to a spread-bet which is not a financial instrument, where the firm has not made a personal recommendation in relation to that spread-bet.
COBS 11.1.7RRP
4The section on best execution (COBS 11.2 or COBS 11.2B, as applicable6) does not apply to a firm when, acting in the capacity of operator of a regulated collective investment scheme, it purchases or sells units in that scheme.
COBS 2.4.1RRP
This section applies to a firm that is conducting designated investment business or ancillary activities or, in the case of MiFID, equivalent third country or optional exemption business3, other ancillary services.
COBS 2.4.2GRP
This section is not relevant to, nor does it affect:32(1) 3the question of who is the firm’s counterparty for prudential purposes; or(2) 3any obligation a firm may owe to any other person under the general law; or(3) 3any obligation imposed on a firm by article 26 of MiFIR or MiFID RTS 225.
COBS 2.4.3RRP
(1) If a firm (F) is aware that a person (C1) with or for whom it is providing services is acting as agent for another person (C2) in relation to those services, C1, and not C2, is the client of F in respect of that business.(2) Paragraph (1) does not apply if:(a) F has agreed with C1 in writing to treat C2 as its client; or(b) C1 is neither a firm nor an overseas financial services institution1 and the main purpose of the arrangements between the parties is the avoidance of duties
COBS 2.4.4RRP
(1) This rule applies if a firm (F1), in the course of performing MiFID or equivalent third country business, receives an instruction to provide3 an investment or ancillary service on behalf of a client (C) through another firm (F2), if F2 is:(a) a MiFID investment firm or a third country investment firm; or(b) an investment firm that is:(i) a firm5; and(ii) subject to equivalent relevant requirements.(2) F1 may rely upon:(a) any information about C transmitted to it by F2; and(b)
COBS 2.4.5GRP
(1) If F1 is required to perform a suitability assessment or an appropriateness assessment under COBS 9A3 or COBS 10A3, it may rely upon a suitability assessment performed by F2, if F2 was subject to the requirements for assessing suitability in COBS 9A3 (excluding the basic advicerules) 5in performing that assessment.(2) If F1 is required to perform an appropriateness assessment under COBS 10A3, it may rely upon an appropriateness assessment performed by F2, if F2 was subject
COBS 2.4.6RRP
(1) This rule applies if the applicable4rule on reliance on other investment firms or insurance distributors (COBS 2.4.4 R and COBS 2.4.5AR4) does not apply.(2) A firm will be taken to be in compliance with any rule in this sourcebook that requires it to obtain information to the extent it can show it was reasonable for it to rely on information provided to it in writing by another person.
COBS 2.4.7ERP
(1) In relying on COBS 2.4.6 R, a firm should take reasonable steps to establish that the other person providing written information is not connected with the firm and is competent to provide the information.(2) Compliance with (1) may be relied upon as tending to establish compliance with COBS 2.4.6 R.(3) Contravention of (1) may be relied upon as tending to establish contravention of COBS 2.4.6 R.
COBS 2.4.8GRP
It will generally be reasonable (in accordance with COBS 2.4.6R (2)) for a firm to rely on information provided to it in writing by an unconnected authorised person or a professional firm, unless it is aware or ought reasonably to be aware of any fact that would give reasonable grounds to question the accuracy of that information.
COBS 2.4.9RRP
Any information that a rule in COBS or CASS requires to be sent to a client may be sent to another person on the instruction of the client so long as the recipient is not connected to the firm.
COBS 2.4.10RRP
In the case of business that is not MiFID or equivalent third country business, if a rule in COBS or CASS requires information to be sent to a client, a firm need not send that information so long as it takes reasonable steps to establish that it has been or will be supplied by another person.
COBS 21.2.1RRP
For the purposes of determining policyholder benefits, a1firm must ensure that the values of its permitted links and conditional permitted links4 are determined fairly and accurately.1
COBS 21.2.1ARRP
1An insurer must not contract to provide benefits under linked long-term contracts of insurance that are determined wholly or partly, directly or indirectly, by reference to fluctuations in any index or wholly or partly by reference to the value of, or the income from, or fluctuations in the value of, property other than in accordance with the rules in this section.
COBS 21.2.1BGRP
1Insurers3effecting linked long-term contracts of insurance are obliged to comply with the requirements on investments in the PRA Rulebook Solvency II Firms Investments.
COBS 21.2.4RRP
A firm must notify its linked policyholders of the risk profile and investment strategy for the linked fund:(1) at inception;4(2) before making any material changes; and4(3) (in relation to conditional permitted links) at other appropriate times, taking into account a policyholder’s needs.4
COBS 21.2.4ARRP
1A firm that has entered into a reinsurance contract in respect of its linked long-term insurance business must nevertheless discharge its responsibilities under its linked long-term insurance contracts, as if no reinsurance contract had been effected.
COBS 21.2.4BGRP
To comply with the requirements of COBS 21.2.4A R, a firm should:(1) disclose to policyholders the implications of any credit-risk exposure they may face in relation to the solvency of the reinsurer; and(2) suitably monitor the way the reinsurer manages the business in order to discharge its continuing responsibilities to policyholders.
COBS 21.2.8RRP
A firm must notify the FCA1 in writing as soon as it becomes aware of any failure to meet the requirements of COBS 21, or of the PRA Rulebook Solvency II Firms Investments or the PRA Rulebook: Non-Solvency II firm sector2 to the extent applicable to linked long-term contracts of insurance.111
COBS 21.2.9GRP
In considering what action to take in response to written notification of a failure to meet the requirements of this section, the FCA2 will have regard to the extent to which the relevant circumstances are exceptional and temporary and to any other reasons for the failure.
COBS 20.4.1RRP
A firm must:(1) on request, provide its PPFM, or the PPFM applicable to specified with-profits funds:(a) free of charge to its with-profits policyholders; or(b) for a reasonable charge to any person who is not its with-profits policyholder; and(2) if the firm publishes its PPFM on its website, prominently signpost its location there.
COBS 20.4.2RRP
A firm must send its with-profits policyholders who are affected by any change in its PPFM, written notice, setting out any:(1) proposed changes to the with-profits principles, three months in advance of the effective date; and(2) changes to the with-profits practices, within a reasonable time.
COBS 20.4.3RRP
A firm need not give the notice required if the change to its PPFM:(1) is necessary to correct an error or omission; or(2) would improve clarity or presentation without materially affecting the PPFM's substance; or(3) is immaterial.
COBS 20.4.4RRP
[deleted]422
COBS 20.4.7RRP
A firm must produce an annual report to its with-profits policyholders, which must:(1) state whether, throughout the financial year to which the report relates, the firm believes it has complied with its obligations relating to its PPFM and setting out its reasons for that belief;(2) address all significant relevant issues, including the way in which the firm has:(a) exercised, or failed to exercise, any discretion that it has in the conduct of its with-profits business; and(b)
COBS 20.4.8GRP
The following documents should be annexed to the annual report in this section:(1) the report to with-profits policyholders made by a with-profits actuary in respect of each financial year (see SUP 4.3.16AR(4)); and(2) any statement or report provided by the person or committee who provides the independent judgement under the firm's governance arrangements for its with-profits business.
COBS 20.4.9GRP
In preparing the annual report to with-profits policyholders, a firm should take advice from a with-profits actuary.
COBS 20.4.10GRP
A firm should make the annual report available to with-profits policyholders within six months of the end of the financial year to which it relates. A firm should notify its with-profits policyholders in any annual statements how copies of the report can be obtained.
COBS 16.6.1RRP
3(1) This section applies to a long-term insurer, unless, at the time of application, the client, other than an EEA ECA recipient, was habitually resident outside the United Kingdom and he was not present in the United Kingdom7.3(2) In addition, COBS 16.6.8 R applies to an operator of a personal pension scheme or stakeholder pension scheme in relation to a retail client who elects to make income withdrawals.3
COBS 16.6.2RRP
4(1) The policyholder must be informed if during the term of a life policy entered into on or after 1 July 1994 there is any change in the following information:4(a) the policy conditions;4(b) the name of the insurer, its legal form or the address of its head office and, where appropriate, of the agency or branch which concluded the contract; and4(c) the information in (8) to (13) of COBS 13 Annex 1 (The Solvency II Directive information) in the event of a change in the policy
COBS 16.6.3RRP
If a life policy entered into on or after 1 July 1994 provides for the payment of bonuses and the amounts of bonuses are unspecified, the long-term insurer must, in every calendar year except the first, either:(1) notify the policyholder in writing of the amount of any bonus which has become payable under the contract, and which has not previously been notified under this rule; or(2) give the policyholder in writing sufficient information to enable him to determine the amount
COBS 16.6.3ARRP
4If a firm provides figures, on or after 1 January 2016, about the potential future development of bonuses under a with-profits policy it must inform the policyholder annually in writing of any differences between the actual bonuses payable to date and the figures previously provided.[Note: article 185(5) of the Solvency II Directive]
COBS 16.6.4RRP
(1) When a firm provides information in accordance with this section, it must provide the information in a durable medium, unless (2) applies.(2) If the contract is being made by telephone, the firm may give the information orally to the customer. If the customer enters into the contract, a written version of the required information must be sent to the customer within five business days of the contract being entered into.
COBS 16.6.5RRP
Where a life policy is effected jointly, the information required by this section may be sent to the first named client.
COBS 16.6.6RRP
A firm must make an adequate record of information provided to a customer under this section and retain that record for a minimum period after the information is provided of five years.
COBS 16.6.7RRP
1At each anniversary of the date on which a long-term care insurance contract which is based on single premium investment bonds was entered into, the insurer must:(1) provide the retail client with a table based on the format of COBS 13 Annex 3 2.2R containing at least the current fund value and projected future policy values (as in column "What you might get back"); (2) where it is the case, inform the retail client of the possibility that future policy values may be insufficient
COBS 16.6.8RRP
1At intervals of910 no longer than 12 months, beginning on910 the date a retail client first910 takes a pension commencement lump sum or an uncrystallised funds pension lump sum payment, or first makes an income withdrawal910, the relevant operator of a personal pension scheme or stakeholder pension scheme3must:563(1) provide the retail client with such information as is necessary for3 the retail client to review the decision8, including where relevant the information required
COBS 16.6.9GRP
5The information provided to the retail client in COBS 16.6.8R(1) is likely to be sufficient for the client to review the decision8 if it contains at least one of the following (in addition to the information required by COBS 16.6.8AR and COBS 16.6.10R, as relevant)910:(1) the information required by COBS 13 Annex 2 2.9R (Additional requirements: drawdown pensions and regular uncrystallised funds pension lump sum payments); or(2) the effect of any significant one-off withdrawals
COBS 4.12.3RRP
(1) 3A firm must not communicate or approve an invitation or inducement to participate in, acquire, or underwrite a non-mainstream pooled investment where that invitation or inducement is addressed to or disseminated in such a way that it is likely to be received by a retail client. (2) The restriction in (1) is subject to COBS 4.12.4 R and does not apply to units in unregulated collective investment schemes, which are subject to a statutory restriction on promotion in section
COBS 4.12.4RRP
  1. (1)

    3The restriction in COBS 4.12.3 R does not apply if the promotion falls within an exemption in the table in (5) below in accordance with (3)13.

  2. (2)

    A firm13 may communicate an invitation or inducement to participate in an unregulated collective investment scheme without breaching the restriction on promotion in section 238 of the Act if the promotion falls within an exemption in the table in (5) below in accordance with (3)13.

  3. (3)

    A promotion falls within an exemption in the table in (5) below if13:

    1. (a)

      it is made to or directed at only those recipients whom the firm has taken reasonable steps to establish are persons in the middle column of the table; and13

    2. (b)

      where the third column of the table refers to the need for a preliminary assessment of suitability, that assessment is undertaken before the promotion is made to or directed at the recipient13.

  4. (4)

    A firm may rely on more than one exemption in relation to the same invitation or inducement.

  5. (5)

    Title of Exemption

    Promotion to:

    Promotion of a non-mainstream pooled investment which is:

    1. Replacement products and rights issues

    A person who already participates in, owns, holds rights to or interests in, a non-mainstream pooled investment that is being liquidated or wound down or which is undergoing a rights issue. [See Note 1.]

    1. A non-mainstream pooled investment which is intended by the operator or manager to absorb or take over the assets of that non-mainstream pooled investment, or which is being offered by the operator or manager of that non-mainstream pooled investment as an alternative to cash on its liquidation;

    or

    2. Securities offered by the existing non-mainstream pooled investment as part of a rights issue.

    2. Certified high net worth investors

    An individual6 who meets the requirements set out in COBS 4.12.6 R, or a person (or persons) legally empowered to make investment decisions on behalf of such individual6.

    Any non-mainstream pooled investment the firm considers is likely to be suitable for that individual6, based on a preliminary assessment of the client's profile and objectives.

    [See COBS 4.12.5G (2).]

    3. Enterprise and charitable funds

    A person who is eligible to participate or invest in an arrangement constituted under:

    (1) the Church Funds Investment Measure 1958;

    (2) section 96 5or 100 of the Charities Act 2011;

    (3) section 25 of the Charities Act (Northern Ireland) 1964;

    (4) the Regulation on European Venture Capital Funds (‘EuVECAs’) or the RVECA Regulation (‘RVECAs’)1112; or

    (5) the Regulation on European Social Entrepreneurship Funds (‘EuSEFs’) or the SEF Regulation (‘SEFs’)1112.

    Any non-mainstream pooled investment which is such an arrangement.

    4. Eligible employees

    An eligible employee, that is, a person who is:

    (1) an officer;

    (2) an employee;

    (3) a former officer or employee; or

    (4) a member of the immediate family of any of (1) - (3), of an employer which is (or is in the same group as) the firm, or which has accepted responsibility for the activities of the firm in carrying out the designated investment business in question.

    1. A non-mainstream pooled investment, the instrument constituting which:

    A. restricts the property of the non-mainstream pooled investment, apart from cash and near cash, to:

    (1) (where the employer is a company) shares in and debentures of the company or any other connected company; [See Note 2.]

    (2) (in any case), any property, provided that the non-mainstream pooled investment takes the form of:

    (i) a limited partnership, under the terms of which the employer (or connected company) will be the unlimited partner and the eligible employees will be some or all of the limited partners; or

    (ii) a trust which the firm reasonably believes not to contain any risk that any eligible employee may be liable to make any further payments (other than charges) for investment transactions earlier entered into, which the eligible employee was not aware of at the time he entered into them; and

    B. (in a case falling within A(1) above) restricts participation in the non-mainstream pooled investment to eligible employees, the employer and any connected company.

    2. Any non-mainstream pooled investment, provided that the participation of eligible employees is to facilitate their co-investment:

    (i) with one or more companies in the same group as their employer (which may include the employer); or

    (ii) with one or more clients of such a company.

    5. Members of the Society of Lloyd’s

    A person admitted to membership of the Society of Lloyd's or any person by law entitled or bound to administer his affairs.

    A scheme in the form of a limited partnership which is established for the sole purpose of underwriting insurance business at Lloyd's.

    6. Exempt persons

    An exempt person (other than a person exempted only by section 39 of the Act (Exemption of appointed representatives)) if the financial promotion relates to a regulated activity in respect of which the person is exempt from the general prohibition.

    Any non-mainstream pooled investment.

    7. Non-retail clients

    An eligible counterparty or a professional client.

    Any non-mainstream pooled investment in relation to which the client is categorised as a professional client or eligible counterparty.

    [See Note 4.]

    8. Certified sophisticated investors

    An individual6 who meets the requirements set out in COBS 4.12.7 R, including an individual who is legally empowered (solely or jointly with others) to make investment decisions on behalf of another person who is the firm'sclient6.

    Any non-mainstream pooled investment.

    9. Self-certified sophisticated investors

    An individual6 who meets the requirements set out in COBS 4.12.8 R, including an individual who is legally empowered (solely or jointly with others) to make investment decisions on behalf of another person who is the firm'sclient6.

    Any non-mainstream pooled investment the firm considers is likely to be suitable for that client, based on a preliminary assessment of the client's profile and objectives.

    [See COBS 4.12.5G (2)]

    10. Solicited advice

    Any person.

    Any non-mainstream pooled investment, provided the communication meets all of the following requirements:

    (a) the communication only amounts to a financial promotion because it is a personal recommendation on a non-mainstream pooled investment;

    (b) the personal recommendation is made following a specific request by that client for advice on the merits of investing in the non-mainstream pooled investment; and

    (c) the client has not previously received a financial promotion or any other communication from the firm (or from a person connected to the firm) which is intended to influence the client in relation to that non-mainstream pooled investment. [See Note 3.]

    11. Excluded communications

    Any person.

    Any non-mainstream pooled investment, provided the financial promotion is an excluded communication.[See COBS 4.12.12G, COBS 4.12.13G and COBS 4.12.13AG14.]

    12. [deleted]11

    13. US persons

    A person who is classified as a United States person for tax purposes under United States legislation or who owns a US qualified retirement plan.

    Any investment company registered and operated in the United States under the Investment Company Act 1940.

    The following Notes explain certain words and phrases used in the table above.

    Note 1

    Promotion of non-mainstream pooled investments to a category of person includes any nominee company acting for such a person.

    Note 2

    A company is 'connected' with another company if:

    • they are both in the same group; or
    • one company is entitled, either alone or with another company in the same group, to exercise or control the exercise of a majority of the voting rights attributable to the share capital, which are exercisable in all circumstances at any general meeting of the other company or of its holding company.

    Note 3

    A person is connected with a firm if it acts as an introducer or appointed representative for that firm or if it is any other person, regardless of authorisation status, who has a relevant business relationship with the firm.

    Note 4

    In deciding whether a promotion is permitted under the rules of this section or under section 238 of the Act, firms may use the client categorisation regime that applies to business other than MiFID or equivalent third country business. (This is the case even if the firm will be carrying on a MiFID activity at the same time as or following the promotion.)

COBS 4.12.5GRP
(1) 3Where a firm communicates any promotion of a non-mainstream pooled investment in the context of advice, it should have regard to and comply with its obligations under COBS 9 or 9A (as applicable)10. Firms should also be mindful of the appropriateness requirements in COBS 10 and 10A10 which apply to a wide range of non-advised services.(2) (a) The effect of COBS 4.12.4R(3)(b) is that where a13firm13 wishes to rely on exemptions 2 (certified high net worth investors) or11
COBS 4.12.6RRP
3A certified high net worth investor is an individual who has signed, within the period of twelve months ending with the day on which the communication is made, a statement in the following terms:“HIGH NET WORTH INVESTOR STATEMENTI make this statement so that I can receive promotional communications which are exempt from the restriction on promotion of non-mainstream pooled investments. The exemption relates to certified high net worth investors and I declare that I qualify as
COBS 4.12.7RRP
A certified sophisticated investor is an individual:(1) who has a written certificate signed within the last 36 months by a firm confirming he has been assessed by that firm as sufficiently knowledgeable to understand the risks associated with engaging in investment activity in non-mainstream pooled investments; and(2) who has signed, within the period of twelve months ending with the day on which the communication is made, a statement in the following terms:“SOPHISTICATED INVESTOR
COBS 4.12.8RRP
3A self-certified sophisticated investor is an individual who has signed, within the period of twelve months ending with the day on which the communication is made, a statement in the following terms:“SELF-CERTIFIED SOPHISTICATED INVESTOR STATEMENTI declare that I am a self-certified sophisticated investor for the purposes of the restriction on promotion of non-mainstream pooled investments. I understand that this means:(i) I can receive promotional communications made by a person
COBS 4.12.9GRP
(1) 3A firm which wishes to rely on any of the certified high net worth investor exemptions (see Part I of the Schedule to the Promotion of Collective Investment Schemes Order, Part I of Schedule 5 to the Financial Promotions Order and COBS 4.12.6 R) should have regard to its duties under the Principles and the client's best interests rule. In particular, the firm should take reasonable steps to ascertain that the retail client does, in fact, meet the income and net assets criteria
COBS 4.12.10GRP
(1) 3A firm which is asked to or proposes to assess and certify a retail client as a certified sophisticated investor (see article 23 of the Promotion of Collective Investment Schemes Order, article 50 of the Financial Promotions Order and COBS 4.12.7 R) should have regard to its duties under the Principles and the client's best interests rule. In particular, the firm should carry out that assessment with due skill, care and diligence, having regard to the generally complex nature
COBS 4.12.11GRP
(1) 3A firm which wishes to rely on any of the self-certified sophisticated investor exemptions (see Part II of the Schedule to the Promotion of Collective Investment Schemes Order, Part II of Schedule 5 to the Financial Promotions Order and COBS 4.12.8 R) should have regard to its duties under the Principles and the client's best interests rule. In particular, the firm should consider whether the promotion of the non-mainstream pooled investment is in the interests of the client
COBS 4.12.12GRP
(1) 3A firm which wishes to rely on one of the one-off promotion exemptions provided by the Promotion of Collective Investment Schemes or the Financial Promotion Order to promote a non-mainstream pooled investment to a retail client should have regard to its duties under the Principles and the client's best interests rule. In particular, the firm should consider whether the promotion of the non-mainstream pooled investment is in the interests of the client and whether it is fair
COBS 4.12.13GRP
(1) 3A firm which wishes to rely on the excluded communications exemption in COBS 4.12.4R (5) to promote units in a qualified investor scheme to a retail client should have regard to its duties under the Principles and the client's best interests rule. (2) As explained in COLL 8.1, qualified investor schemes are intended only for professional clients and retail clients who are sophisticated investors. Firms should note that, in the FCA's view, promotion of units in a qualified
COBS 4.12.14GRP
7In this section: (1) any requirement that a document is signed may be satisfied by an electronic signature or electronic evidence of assent; and(2) any references to writing should be construed in accordance with GEN 2.2.14R and its related guidance provisions.