Guidance on passporting issues

Part

SUP Supervision manual

Chapter

Guidance on passporting issues

Printed on: 06/11/2024

Rulebook at: 06/05/2011

SUP App 3

Guidance on passporting issues

SUP App 3.1

Application

01/12/2004

SUP App 3.1.1

This appendix applies to all firms when passporting.

01/07/2003

SUP App 3.2

Purpose

01/12/2004

SUP App 3.2.1

The purpose of this appendix is to give guidance:

(1) to UK firms on some of the issues that arise when carrying on passported activities(see SUP App 3.5and SUP App 3.6);

(2) to all firms on the relationship between regulated activities and activities passported under the Single Market Directives (see SUP App 3.9and SUP App 3.10).

14/01/2005

SUP App 3.3

Background

01/12/2004

The Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union

SUP App 3.3.1

(1) The Treaty establishes in EU law the rights of freedom of establishment and freedom to provide services in the EU.

(2) The Treaty lays down central principles governing the legal framework for freedom of establishment and the free movement of services in the EU. There are, however, a number of areas where the legal position is not clear. This includes, for example, identifying whether a service is provided through an establishment, where the issues involved are complex. Therefore, this Appendix is intended to provide guidance but cannot be regarded as comprehensive. Ultimately, the construction of the Treaty and relevant Directive provisions is a matter for the European Court of Justice.

01/12/2009

SUP App 3.3.2

The Treaty provides the framework for the provision of banking, insurance business, investment business, UCITS management services and insurance mediation, while the Single Market Directives clarify the rights and freedoms within that framework.

14/01/2005

EU and EEA

SUP App 3.3.3

The agreement on the European Economic Area, signed at Oporto on 2 May 1992, extends certain EU legislation to those EEA States that are not Member States of the EU.

01/12/2009

Interpretative communications

SUP App 3.3.4

In 1997, the European Commission published an interpretative communication (Freedom to provide services and the interests of the general good in the Second Banking Directive (97/C 209/04)) (the text of this directive and the First Banking Directive is now consolidated in the Banking Consolidation Directive). The European Commission's objective in publishing this communication was to explain and clarify the EU rules. The European Commission deemed it desirable "to restate in a Communication the principles laid down by the Court of Justice and to set out its position regarding the application of these Principles to the specific problems raised by the Second Banking Directive".

01/12/2009

SUP App 3.3.5

In 2000, the European Commission published a further interpretative communication (Freedom to provide services and the general good in the insurance sector (2000/C43/03)). This allowed the European Commission to publicise its own interpretation of the rules on the freedom to provide services.

01/07/2003

SUP App 3.3.6

(1) The European Commission has not produced an interpretative communication on MiFID. It is arguable, however, that the principles in the communication on the Second Banking Directive can be applied to investment services and activities. This is because Chaper II of Title II of MiFID (containing provisions relating to operating conditions for investment firms) also applies to the investment services and activities of firms operating under the Banking Consolidation Directive.
(2) The European Commission has not produced an interpretative communication on either the Insurance Mediation Directive or on the UCITS Directive.

01/11/2007

SUP App 3.3.7

In giving its views, communications made by the European Commission have the status of guidance and are not binding on the national courts of EEA States. This is because it is the European Court of Justice that has ultimate responsibility for interpreting the Treaty and secondary legislation. Accordingly, the communications "do not prejudge the interpretation that the Court of Justice ..., which is responsible in the final instance for interpreting the Treaty and secondary legislation, might place on the matter at issue." (European Commission interpretative communication: Freedom to provide services and the general good in the insurance sector (C(99) 5046). However, the Courts may take account of European Commission communications when interpreting the Treaty and secondary legislation.

01/12/2009

SUP App 3.3.8

Firms should also note that European Commission communications do not necessarily represent the views taken by all EEA States.

01/07/2003

E-Commerce

SUP App 3.3.9

The E-Commerce Directive covers services provided at a distance by means of electronic equipment for the processing (including digital compression) and storage of data. The services would normally be provided in return for remuneration and must be provided at the individual request of a recipient (see recital 17 of the E-Commerce Directive). The Directive implements the country of origin approach to regulation. This approach makes firms subject to the conduct of business requirements of the EEA State from which the service is provided. This is subject to certain derogations (see SUP App 3.3.11 G).

01/07/2003

SUP App 3.3.10

The E-Commerce Directive does not affect the responsibilities of Home State under the Single Market Directives. This includes the obligation of a Home State regulator to notify the Host State regulator of a firm's intention to establish a branch in, or provide cross border services into, the other EEA State.

01/07/2003

SUP App 3.3.11

There are, however, general derogations from the internal market provisions under article 3(3) of the E-Commerce Directive. The derogations include consumer contracts, the permissibility of unsolicited e-mail and certain insurance services (both life and non-life). Where these derogations apply, the EEA States in which the recipients of the service are based may continue to be able to impose their own requirements.

01/07/2003

Notification of establishing a branch or of providing cross border services

SUP App 3.3.13

The Single Market Directives require credit institutions, insurance undertakings (other than reinsurance undertakings), MiFID investment firms , UCITS management companies and insurance intermediaries to make a notification to the Home State before establishing a branch or providing cross border services.
SUP 13.5 (Notices of intention) sets out the notification requirements for a firm seeking to establish a branch or provide cross border services. As firms will note, the decision whether a passport notification needs to be made will be a matter of interpretation. The onus is on firms to comply with the requirements of the Act and, where relevant, the laws of other EEA States. So, in cases of doubt, firms should obtain their own legal advice on the specific issues involved.

06/03/2009

SUP App 3.3.14

Blanket notification is the practice of the Home State regulator notifying all Host State regulators in respect of all activities regardless of any genuine intention to carry on the activity. This practice is discouraged by the FSA . However, a firm may be carrying on activities in the United Kingdom or elsewhere in a way that necessarily gives rise to a real possibility of the provision of services in other EEA States. In such cases, the firm should consider with its advisers whether it should notify the relevant authorities and include that possibility in its business plan.

14/01/2005

SUP App 3.6

Freedom to provide services

01/12/2004

SUP App 3.6.1

Article 56 (Services) of the Treaty grants to EEA nationals established in one EEA State the freedom to provide cross border services to other EEA States.

01/12/2009

How services may be provided

SUP App 3.6.2

Under the Treaty, the freedom to provide services within the EC may be exercised in three broad ways:

(1) where the provider of a service moves temporarily to another EEA State in order to provide the service;

(2) where the service is provided without either the provider or the recipient moving (in this situation the provision, and receipt, of the service may take place by post, telephone or fax, through computer terminals or by other means of remote control);

(3) where the recipient of a service moves temporarily to another EEA State in order to receive (or, perhaps, commission the receipt of) the service within that State.

01/07/2003

SUP App 3.6.3

Under the Single Market Directives, however, EEA rights for the provision of services are concerned only with services provided in one of the ways referred to in SUP App 3.6.2 G (1) and (2) (How services may be provided).

01/11/2007

Place of supply

SUP App 3.6.5

In the opinion of the European Commission (and in the wording of the Single Market Directives) "only activities carried on within the territory of another Member State should be the subject of prior notification" (Commission interpretative communication: Freedom to provide services and the interests of the general good in the Second Banking Directive (97/C 209/04)). In determining, for the purposes of notification, whether a service is to be provided 'within' another EEA State, it is necessary to determine the place of supply of the service.

01/07/2003

SUP App 3.6.6

An insurance undertaking that effects contracts of insurance covering risks or commitments situated in another EEA State should comply with the notification procedures for the provision of services within that EEA State. The location of risks and commitments is found by reference to the rules set out in paragraph 6 of schedule 12 to the Act, which derive from article 1 of the Consolidated Life Directive and article 2 of the Second Non-Life Directive. It may be appropriate for insurers to take legal advice as to how these rules are interpreted and applied in other EEA States. The need to passport may arise because of only one of the risks covered by an insurance policy. This includes, for example, where a policy covers a number of property risks and one of those properties is in another EEA State.

01/12/2009

SUP App 3.6.7

In respect of banking services, the European Commission believes that "...to determine where the activity was carried on, the place of provision of what may be termed the 'characteristic performance' of the service i.e. the essential supply for which payment is due, must be determined" (Commission interpretative communication: Freedom to provide services and the interests of the general good in the Second Banking Directive (97/C 209/04)). In the FSA's view, this requires consideration of where the service is carried out in practice.

01/07/2003

SUP App 3.6.8

The FSA is of the opinion that UK firms that are credit institutions and MiFID investment firms should apply the 'characteristic performance' test (as referred to in SUP App 3.6.7 G ) when considering whether prior notification is required for services business. Firms should note that other EEA States may take a different view. Some EEA States may apply a solicitation test. This is a test as to whether it is the consumer or the provider that initiates the business relationship.

02/11/2007

SUP App 3.6.9

In the case of a UK firm conducting portfolio management, for example, this would mean looking at where the investment decisions and management are actually carried on in order to determine where the service is undertaken. Similarly, a UK stockbroker that receives orders by telephone from a customer in France for execution on a UK exchange may be deemed to be dealing or receiving and transmitting orders within the territory of the United Kingdom. In such a case, whether the firm solicited the overseas investor would be irrelevant.

01/07/2003

SUP App 3.6.10

Where, however, a credit institution or MiFID investment firm:

(1) intends to send a member of staff or a temporarily authorised intermediary to the territory of another EEA State on a temporary basis to provide financial services; or

(2) provides advice, of the type that requires notification under either MiFID or the Banking Consolidation Directive, to customers in another EEA State;

the firm should make a prior notification under the freedom to provide services.

01/11/2007

Temporary activities

SUP App 3.6.11

The key distinction in relation to temporary activities is whether a firm should make its notification under the freedom of establishment in a Host State, or whether it should notify under the freedom to provide services into a Host State. It would be inappropriate to discuss such a complex issue in guidance of this nature. It is recommended that, where a firm is unclear on the distinction, it should seek appropriate advice. In either case, where a firm is carrying on activities in another EEA State under a Single Market Directive, it should make a notification.

01/12/2009

Monitoring procedures

SUP App 3.6.15

The FSA considers that, in order to comply with Principle 3:Management and control (see PRIN 2.1.1 R), a firm should have appropriate procedures to monitor the nature of the services provided to its customers. Where a UK firm has non-resident customers but has not notified the EEA State in which the customers are resident that it wishes to exercise its freedom to provide services, the FSA would expect the firm's systems to include appropriate controls. Such controls would include procedures to prevent the supply of services covered by the Single Market Directives in the EEA State in which the customers are resident if a notification has not been made and it is proposed to provide services otherwise than by remote communication. In respect of insurance business, the insurer's records should identify the location of the risk at the time the policy is taken out or last renewed. That will, in most cases, remain the location of the risk thereafter, even if, for example, the policyholder changes his habitual residence after that time.

01/07/2003

Membership of regulated markets

SUP App 3.6.25

(1) The FSA is of the opinion that where a UK firm becomes a member of:

(a) a regulated market that has its registered office or, if it has no registered office, its head office, in another EEA State; or
(b) an MTF operated by a MiFID investment firm or a market operator in another EEA State,

the same principles as in the 'characteristic performance' test should apply. Under this test, the fact that a UK firm has a screen displaying the regulated market's or the MTF's prices in its UK office does not mean that it is dealing within the territory of the Home State of the regulated market or of the MTF.
(2) In such a case, we would consider that:

(a) the market operator operating the regulated market or the MTF is providing a cross-border service into the UK and so, provided it has given notice to its Home State regulator in accordance with articles 42(6) or 31(5) MiFID, it will be exempt from the general prohibition in respect of any regulated activity carried on as part of the business of the regulated market or of operating an MTF (see section 312A of the Act);
(b) the MiFID investment firm operating the MTF is providing a cross-border service into the UK and so needs to comply with SUP 13A.

01/11/2007

SUP App 3.6.26

Firms are reminded of their rights, under article 33 of MiFID , to become members of, or have access to, the regulated markets in other Member States.

01/12/2009

SUP App 3.6.27

Firms should note that, in circumstances where the FSA takes the view that a notification would not be required, other EEA States may take a different view.

01/07/2003

SUP App 3.9

Mapping of MiFID, Banking Consolidation Directive, UCITS Directive and Insurance Mediation Directive to the Regulated Activities Order

01/11/2007

SUP App 3.9.1

The following Tables 1, 2, 2A and 2B provide an outline of the regulated activities and specified investments that may be of relevance to firms considering undertaking passported activities under the Banking Consolidation Directive, MiFID, the UCITS Directive and the Insurance Mediation Directive. The tables may be of assistance to UK firms that are thinking of offering financial services in another EEA State and to EEA firms that may offer those services in the United Kingdom.

01/11/2007

SUP App 3.9.2

The tables provide a general indication of the investments and activities specified in the Regulated Activities Order that may correspond to categories provided for in the Banking Consolidation Directive, MiFID, the UCITS Directive or the Insurance Mediation Directive. The tables do not provide definitive guidance as to whether a firm is carrying on an activity that is capable of being passported, nor do the tables take account of exceptions that remove the effect of articles. Whether a firm is carrying on a passported activity will depend on the particular circumstances of the firm. If a firm's activities give rise to potential passporting issues, it should obtain specialist advice on the relevant issues.

01/11/2007

SUP App 3.9.3

In considering the issues raised in the tables, firms should note that:

(1) article 64 of the Regulated Activities Order (Agreeing to carry on specific kinds of activity) applies in respect of agreeing to undertake the specified activity; and

(2) article 89 of the Regulated Activities Order (Rights to or interests in investments) applies in respect of rights to and interests in the types of investments to which the category applies.

01/07/2003

SUP App 3.9.4

Activities set out in Annex I of the BCD

Table 1: BCD activities

Part II RAO Activities

Part III RAO Investments

Acceptance of deposits and other repayable funds from the public

Article 5

Article 74

Lending

Article 61, 64

Article 88

Financial leasing

Money transmission services

Issuing and administering means of payment (eg credit cards, travellers' cheques and bankers' drafts)

Guarantees and commitments

Trading for own account or for account of customers in:
(a) money market instruments
(b) foreign exchange
(c) financial futures and options
(d) exchange and interest rate instruments
(e) transferable securities

Article 14, 21, 25 (see Note 1), 64
Article 14, 21, 25, 64
Article 14, 21, 25, 64
Article 14, 21, 25, 64
Article 14, 21, 25, 64

Article 77, 78, 80, 83-85, 89
Article 83-85, 89
Article 83-85, 89
Article 83-85, 89
Article 76-81, 89

Participation in share issues and the provision of services relating to such issues

Article 14, 21, 25, 53, 64

Article 76-81, 89

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

Article 14, 21, 25, 53, 64

Article 76-80, 83-85, 89

10.

Money broking

Article 25, 64

Article 77, 78, 89

11.

Portfolio management and advice

Article 14, 21, 25, 37, 53, 64

Article 76-81, 83-85, 89

12.

Safekeeping and administration of securities

Article 40, 45, 64

Article 76-81, 83-85, 89

13.

Credit reference services

14.

Safe custody services

Note 1: The services and activities provided for in Sections A and B of Annex I of MiFID when referring to the financial instruments provided for in Section C of Annex I of that Directive are subject to mutual recognition according to the BCD from 1 November 2007.See the table at SUP App 3.9.5 G below for mapping of MiFID investment services and activities.For further details relating to this residual category, please see the "Banking Consolidation Directive"section of the passporting forms entitled "Notification of intention to establish a branch in another EEA State" and "Notification of intention to provide cross border services in another EEA State".

01/11/2007

SUP App 3.9.5

Services set out in Annex I to MiFID

Table 2: MiFID investment services and activities

Part II RAO Investments

Part III RAO Investments

A MiFID investment services and activities

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

Article 25

Article 76-81, 83-85, 89

Execution of orders on behalf of clients

Article 14, 21

A Article 76-81, 83-85, 89

Dealing on own account

Article 14

Article 76-81, 83-85, 89

Portfolio management

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

Article 76-81, 83-85, 89

Investment advice

Article 53

Article 76-81, 83-85, 89

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

Article 14, 21

Article 76-81, 83-85, 89

Placing of financial instruments without a firm commitment basis

Article 21, 25

Article 76-81, 83-85, 89

Operation of Multilateral Trading Facilities

Article 25B (see Note 2)

Article 76-81, 83-85, 89

Ancillary services

Part II RAO Activities

Part III RAO Investments

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, 83-85, 89

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

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, 64

Article 76-80, 83-85, 89

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

Article 14, 21, 25, 53, 64

Article 83-85, 89

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

Article 53, 64

Article 76-81, 83-85, 89

Services related to underwriting

Article 25, 53, 64

Article 76-81, 83-85, 89

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, 25B, 37, 53, 64

Article 83 and 84

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

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

01/11/2007

SUP App 3.9.6

Activities set out in Article 5(2) and (3) of the UCITS Directive

Table 2A: UCITS Directive activities

Part II RAO Activities

Part III RAO Investments

The management of UCITS in the form of unit trusts / common funds or of investment companies; this includes the function mentioned in Annex II of the UCITS Directive (see Note 2).

Articles 14, 21, 25, 37, 51, 53, 64

Articles 76-81, 83-85, 89

Managing portfolios of investments, including those owned by pension funds, in accordance with mandates given by investors on a discretionary, client-by-client basis, where such portfolios include one or more of the instruments listed in Section C of Annex I to MiFID .

Articles 14, 21, 25, 37, 53, 64

Articles 76-81, 83-85, 89

Investment advice concerning one or more of the instruments listed in Section Cof Annex I to MiFID .

Articles 53, 64

Articles 76-81, 83-85, 89

Safekeeping and administration services in relation to units of collective investment undertakings.

Articles 40, 45, 64

Articles 76-81, 83-85, 89

Note 1. A UCITS management company can only exercise passport rights under the UCITS Directive (article 2(1)(h) of MiFID ). A UCITS management company can only be authorised to carry on the non-core services set out in rows (3) and (4) of Table 2A if it is also authorised to carry on the activity set out in row (2) of the table.

Note 2. The functions set out in Annex 2 to the UCITS Directive are:

Investment management.

Administration:

legal and fund management accounting services;

customer inquiries;

valuation and pricing (including tax returns);

regulatory compliance monitoring;

maintenance of unit-holder register;

distribution of income;

unit issues and redemptions;

contract settlements (including certificate dispatch);

record keeping.

Marketing.

01/11/2007

SUP App 3.9.7

Activities set out in Article 2(3) of the IMD

Table 2B: Insurance Mediation Directive Activities

Part II RAO Activities

Part III RAO Investments

Introducing, proposing or carrying out other work preparatory to the conclusion of contracts of insurance.

Articles 25, 53 and 64

Articles 75, 89 (see Note 1)

Concluding contracts of insurance

Articles 21, 25, 53 and 64

Articles 75, 89

Assisting in the administration and performance of contracts of insurance, in particular in the event of a claim.

Articles 39A, 64

Articles 75, 89

Note 1. Rights to or interests in life policies are specified investments under Article 89 of the Regulated Activities Order, but rights to or interests in general insurance contracts are not.

01/11/2007

SUP App 3.10

Mapping of Insurance Directives to the Regulated Activities Order

01/12/2004

Introduction

SUP App 3.10.1

The guidance in Table 3 describes in broad outline the relationship between:

(1) the insurance-related regulated activities specified in the Regulated Activities Order; and

(2) the activities within the scope of the Insurance Directives

06/10/2007

SUP App 3.10.2

This is a guide only and should not be used as a substitute for legal advice

in individual cases.

Table 3: Insurance Directive activities

Part II RAO Activities

Part III RAO Investments

1. Non-life insurance activities

Taking up and carrying on direct non-life insurance business

Article 10

Article 75

Classes 1 to 18 of directnon-life insurance business in Point A of the Annex to the First Directive

Corresponding paragraphs 1 to 18 of Schedule 1, Part I

2. Consolidated Life Directive activities

Taking up and carrying on direct life insurance business

Article 10

Article 75

Classes I to IX of direct life insurance business in the Annex 1 to the Consolidated Life Directive

Corresponding paragraphs I to IX of Schedule 1, Part II

01/07/2003

Meaning of contract of insurance

SUP App 3.10.3

The meaning of contract of insurance is set out in article 3(1) of the Regulated Activities Order (Interpretation). It does not include benefit-in-kind funeral plans, which are specified in article 60 of the Regulated Activities Order (plans covered by insurance or trust arrangements). Such funeral plans (to the extent that they are insurance) are also excluded from the Insurance Directives. It covers some contracts which might not otherwise be viewed as insurance in the United Kingdom (for example, contracts of guarantee). These contracts are also governed by the Insurance Directives. For the purpose of the Regulated Activities Order, a contract of insurance includes a contract of reinsurance as well as a contract of direct insurance.

01/07/2003

The Insurance Directives

SUP App 3.10.4

Article 1 of the First Non-Life Directive and article 2 of the Consolidated Life Directive provides that the Directives "concern the taking up and pursuit of the self-employed activity of direct insurance". By contrast, article 10 of the Regulated Activities Order (Effecting and carrying out contracts of insurance) also covers reinsurance.

01/07/2003

SUP App 3.10.5

Articles 2, 3 and 4 of the First Non-Life Directive and article 3 of the Consolidated Life Directive set out certain exclusions by reference to:

(1) types of insurance;

(2) types of insurer;

(3) particular conditions under which insurance activities are carried out.

(4) annual income; and

(5) particular identified institutions.

01/07/2003

SUP App 3.10.6

Some of the exclusions referred to mirror exclusions in the Regulated Activities Order. So, the exclusion for breakdown insurance in article 2(3) of the First Non-Life Directive is matched by a slightly narrower exclusion in article 12 of the Regulated Activities Order (Breakdown insurance). The separate treatment of benefit-in-kind funeral plans under the Regulated Activities Order (see SUP App 3.10.4 G) is matched by their exclusion on a slightly wider basis in article 3(5) of the Consolidated Life Directive. Other requirements from these Directives are also excluded from regulation by the Exemption Order.

01/07/2003

SUP App 3.10.7

Most of the exclusions under the Directives, however, are not excluded from being regulated activities. For example, article 3 of the Consolidated Life Directive and article 3 of the Non-Life Directive exclude certain mutual associations whose annual contribution income falls below a defined threshold. In the United Kingdom, these include certain smaller friendly societies commonly referred to as "non-directive friendly societies". The activities of such societies are regulated under the Act, on a "lighter basis" than the activities of other insurers.

01/07/2003

Territorial scope of the Regulated Activities Order and the Directives

SUP App 3.10.8

Under the Act and the Regulated Activities Order, the activities of effecting and carrying out contracts of insurance are treated as being carried on in the United Kingdom on the basis of legal tests under which the location of the risk is only one factor. If the risk is located in the United Kingdom, then (other relevant factors being taken into account) the activity will, in the vast majority of cases, also be viewed as carried on in the United Kingdom. There are exceptions, however, and overseas insurers may insure risks in the United Kingdom without carrying on business here and so without requiring to be regulated (although the financial promotion regime may apply). By contrast, under the Directives, the responsibility, as between EEA States, for regulating the conduct of passported insurance services is determined by reference to the location of the risk or commitment, as defined in article 1 of the Consolidated Life Directive and article 2 of the Second Non-Life Directive.

01/07/2003

SUP App 3.10.9

So, the effect of App 3.12.1 is that an insurer may be carrying on insurance business in the United Kingdom which is to be treated as a regulated activity under article 10 to the Regulated Activities Order (Effecting and carrying out contracts of insurance) in circumstances where the risks covered are treated as located in another EEA State. In that event, the insurer is required by Schedule 3 to the Act to passport into the State concerned and may be subject to conduct of business requirements in that State (see SUP 13.10 (Applicable provisions)).

01/07/2003

SUP App 3.10.10

An insurer authorised in another EEA State who is insuring UK risks and so passports on a services basis under the Insurance Directives into the United Kingdom(see ),may not be carrying on a regulated activity in the United Kingdom. But, if it passports into the United Kingdom, it will qualify for authorisation under paragraph 12 of Schedule 3 to the Act (Firms qualifying for authorisation). Where this is the case, the insurer will be subject to conduct of business requirements in the United Kingdom (see SUP 13A.6 (Which rules will an incoming EEA firm be subject to?)).

01/02/2006

Activities carried on by incoming EEA firms in connection with insurance business.

SUP App 3.10.11

Although the Insurance Directives are concerned with the regulated activities of effecting and carrying out contracts of insurance, an incoming EEA firm passported under the Insurance Directives will be entitled to carry on certain other regulated activities without the need for top-up permission. This is where the regulated activities are carried on for the purposes of or in connection with the incoming EEA Firm's insurance business. These regulated activities may include:

(1) dealing in investments as principal;

(2) dealing in investments as agent;

(3) arranging (bringing about) deals in investments;

(4) making arrangements with a view to transactions in investments;

(5) managing investments;

(6) safeguarding and administering investments;

(7) advising on investments;

(8) agreeing to carry on a regulated activity of the above kind.

14/01/2005

Financial promotion

SUP App 3.10.12

The financial promotion regime under section 21 of the Act (Restrictions on financial promotion) may also apply to EEA insurance undertakings regardless of whether they carry on a regulated activity in the United Kingdom or passport into the United Kingdom.

01/07/2003

Position of EEA insurers carrying out both direct and reinsurance business

SUP App 3.10.13

The Insurance Directives do not apply to the authorisation to carry on reinsurance. But, the Insurance Directives do not prevent insurance undertakings authorised under those Directives from carrying out reinsurance as well as direct insurance business. Article 13(2) of the First Non-Life Directive and article 10(2) of the Consolidated Life Directive state that financial supervision of insurance undertakings "shall include verification, with respect to the insurance undertaking's entire business, of its state of solvency, of the establishment of technical provisions and of the assets covering them". On that basis, an insurance undertaking authorised in another EEA State which carries on a mixed direct insurance and reinsurance business, and is, therefore, subject to the requirements of the Directives, will generally be treated as satisfying the conditions laid down by an EU instrument relating to the carrying on of the regulated activity of effecting or carrying out contracts of insurance. This is for the purpose of paragraph 3 of Schedule 4 to the Act (Exercise of treaty rights). The insurance undertaking will, therefore, generally be able to qualify for permission as a Treaty firm for its reinsurance business if it follows the procedure provided for by Schedule 4 (see SUP 13A.3.4 G to SUP 13A.3.11 G (Treaty Firms) ). This will be in addition to the insurance undertaking being an EEA firm under Schedule 3 of the Act for its direct insurance business.

01/12/2009