Financial Crime Flashcards
Under what act is insider dealing a crime?
Criminal Justice Act 1993
** a serious offence but notoriously difficult to prosecute
Who oversees insider dealing legislation contained within the Criminal Justice Act 1993?
HMT
What 3 types of offences does insider dealing constitute?
- DEALING on the strength of information
- ENCOURAGING others to deal
- DISCLOSING of
Under the Criminal Justice Act 1993, what are the characteristics of inside information? (4)
- Specific or precise
- Not public
- Price sensitive
- From an inside source
What is as an insider? (2)
- Knows that the information is from an inside source
- Likely to deal on the strength of the information
What securities are not affected by insider dealing? (3)
- Packaged products
- UCITS
- OTC markets (commodity derivatives)
What type of securities are affected by insider dealing?
- Readily realisable products that are available on an RIE or through a professional intermediary (e.g. stockbroker)
What are the general defences for insider dealing? (3)
- Proper course of business and did not expect the recipient to deal
- Dealing was not for for profit or loss
- Information was already public even if it was only to one section of the public e.g. behind a paywall/for experts only at a fee
What are the special defences for insider dealing? (3)
- Stabilisation of prices
- Protecting market participants
- Market makers acting in good faith
How is insider dealing enforced by the FCA? (2)
- FCA works with RIEs
- FCA has the responsibility for prosecutions - power to interview people under caution, search premises and seize assets under warrant
Under was Act does the FCA has criminal powers?
FSMA 2000
What is the maximum penalty for insider dealing and misleading statements?
10 years in jail and unlimited fine
What is the minimum penalty for insider dealing and misleading statements?
£5,000 fine and 6 months in jail
What is considered a misleading statement? (3)
- Lies
- Misleading, false or deceptive statements
- Dishonesty and concealing material facts
What are 3 types of offences under the Financial Services Act 2012?
- S89: Misleading statements e.g. lying to persuade someone to deal, concealing relevant facts in takeover documents
- S90: Misleading impressions e.g. abusive squeezes, market rigging
- S91: Misleading statements in relation to benchmarks e.g. LIBOR
What are 2 defences for misleading statements?
- Reasonable belief that statement was not false or misleading
- Price stabilisation or control of information rules
Who initiates investigations and prosecutions?
FCA
What is the EU Benchmark Regulation (6)
- In response to LIBOR and EUIBOR scandals - manipulation of benchmarks
- Came into force in 2018
- Ensures benchmarks are robust and reliable
- Minimising conflicts of interest in benchmark setting process
- Introduces a code of conduct for benchmark creators, requiring robust methodologies and controls
- EU BMR was onshored and is now UK BMR