REGS BIBLE Chapter 4 Flashcards
What type of client is a local authority/municipality classified as?
A RC
Can opt up to Elective PC if they meet certain requirements
Which PCs can never opt up to be an ECP?
Other institutional investors (SPVs)
Elective PCs
What are the 6 per se PCs?
Supranationals
Governments
CBs
Authorised/Regulated firms
Large undertakings
Other institutional investors
What are the MiFID requirements to be considered a Large Undertaking?
Balance sheet: 20m euros
Net turnover: 40m euros
Own funds: 2m euros
(must satisfy at least 2)
What are the non-MiFID requirements to be considered a Large Undertaking?
- company, partnership or unincorporated association with called up share capital/net assets at least £5m
- Trustee of an occupational pension scheme w at least 50 employees and £10m assets under management
- Company meeting 2 of the following:
Balance sheet 12.5m euros
Net turnover 25m euros
Avg number of employees 250
What tests are carried out for elective PCs?
Qualitative (for all business) - assess experience, expertise and knowledge
Quantitative (for MiFID business only) - must meet 2 of the following:
- Avg trade frequency 10 per quarter over previous 4 quarters
- Portfolio > 500k euros
- works/worked in financial sector for 1 year or more in professional capacity
What is the procedure for opting up to elective PC?
- written intent from client to be classified as PC
- written warning to client explaining lost protection
- written client consent to lost protection
What type of business does the ECP classification relate to?
ECP business:
- dealing on own account
- execution of orders on behalf of client
- transmission of orders
What are the per se ECPs?
- authorised/regulated firm
- Government, CB, Supranational
Who has responsibility for accuracy of information provided by a MiFID firm?
The MiFID firm providing the information
Who has responsibility for accuracy of information provided by a non-MiFID firm?
The firm receiving the information
What are the conditions of relying on information from non-MiFID firms?
- information must be in writing
- non-MiFID firm must be independent
- non-MiFID firm must be competent
What section of FSMA 2000 relates to financial promotions?
S21
What is max penalty for breach of S21 FSMA 2000?
Max 2 years/unlimited fine
Which PRIN does S21 FSMA 2000 link with?
6
7
12
Who can communicate financial promotions under S21?
- authorised persons
- unauthorised persons (eg. appointed rep) if content approved by authorised person
What are the conditions for financial promotions produced by third parties?
- confirm that an authorised firm has approved the promotion
- only communicate the promotion to those it was intended
- promotion has not ceased to be fair, clear and not misleading
What are the 5 exceptions to FCA COBS rules on communications?
- exempt under Financial Promotions Order (FPO)
- From outside the UK and cannot have effect within the UK
- Subject to Takeover code or any similar code (eg. prospectus directives)
- Personal quotes/illustrations
- One-off promotions that are not cold calls
What are the 3 requirements for Prospectus rules on financial promotions?
- must be identified as a promotion
- must state where prospectus can be obtained
- must be consistent w prospectus
What are the COBS rules when communicating financial promotions to RCs?
- Name of firm included
- Details accurate and fair
- Comprehensible
- Does not obscure important items, statements, warnings (focus on capital at risk products)
- fair clear not misleading (amplifies PRIN 6 and 7)
Who do communications rules apply to?
All clients
However communications of financial promotions apply only to RCs
How long must a firm keep records on confirmation of trades for MiFID vs non-MiFID business?
MiFID - 5 years from dispatch
non-MiFID - 3 years from dispatch
What are the 6 COBS communication requirements on Past Performance?
- must not be most prominent feature
- cover at least 5 yrs (or life of investments) in complete 12month periods
- reference periods and sources clearly shown
- must state it is not an indicator of future performance
- currency stated + warning of currency risk
- disclose effect of fees and commissions if gross performance shown
What are the COBS communication requirements on Simulated Past Performance?
- must be based on actual performance of similar investment/index
- must comply with 6 rules on past performance
What are the 6 COBS communication requirements on Future Performance?
- cannot be based on simulated past
- assumptions must be reasonable
- disclose effects of fees and commissions
- warn that forecasts are not reliable indicators
Who does the COBS rules on Direct Offers pertain to?
RCs
What requirements does COBS lay out for Direct Offers?
Must contain sufficient information to allow client to make informed decision - providing information on:
- the firm and its services
- safekeeping of client investments and money
- costs and charges
what do non-MiFID businesses additionally have to provide when making direct offers?
Additional info to allow understanding of nature and risks of investment
who do the rules on past/simulated past/future performance pertain to?
RCs
What are the rules for unwritten promotions to RCs?
CITE
Identify (caller, employer, purpose of call)
End call - Ask whether RC wishes to continue and end call when asked
Contact point - provide client who has appointment w contact point in event of cancellation
Time - call at appropriate time of day
Who can conduct unwritten financial promotions?
Authorised persons only
under what conditions are cold calls permitted?
- when made to existing client who envisages call
- for a generally marketable packaged product (not high volatility fund)
- services (relating to readily realisable securities excluding warrants)
What counts as packaged products?
CLIPS
- CIS (regulated)
- Life policy
- Investment trust savings scheme
- Personal pension
- Stakeholder pension
What clients must be provided with a ‘client agreement’ ?
RC and PC (so all customers)
under what circumstances may a firm provide a client agreement immediately after the customer is bound by the agreement?
when it was impossible to supply the agreement earlier as the agreement was concluded via distanced communications
Which business is excluded from client agreement rule?
insurance business where firm acts as principal
What information must be disclosed to all clients under COBS?
- name and address of firm
- method/language of communications
- name and contact details of competent authority
- whether firm is acting through appointed rep
- nature, frequency and timing of performance reports
- conflicts of interest policy (for common platform firms)
to whom does the Retail Distribution Review apply to ?
RCs
What does the RDR dictate?
Firms making personal recommendations relating to any retail investment product must be either independent or restricted
Advisers must inform client whether they are independent or restricted
what is the difference between an independent vs restricted adviser?
independent: owe duty of care and fiduciary duty to client
restricted: owe duty of care and fiduciary duty to firm
What comes under retail investment products according to the RDR?
- Life policies (including investment bonds)
- Units in regulated and unregulated CIS
- Interest in an Investment trust savings scheme
- stakeholder/group stakeholder pension
- personal pension(including self invested)/group personal pension
- share in investment trust
- structured capital at risk products
- any other product packaged in order to change features of the product
Are commissions from product provider permitted when advising?
No
What two options do consumers have to pay advisers?
- pay upfront
- deducted from investment over time
can remuneration be agreed via website?
Yes - via durable medium or website
When should adviser status and fees be disclosed?
Before providing a service or the client is bound by any agreement
What products are KIDs for?
PRIIPs (Packaged Retail and Insurance-based Investment products)
What 4 things come under PRIIPs?
- Investment funds
- Insurance-based investment products
- retail structured securities
structured term deposits
What does a KIID relate to?
UCITS schemes