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 |
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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. |