Consultation closed
05/07/2018
Policy Statement: PS19/4
04/02/2019
04/02/2019
This policy statement sets out our final rules and guidance to address some of the findings of the asset management market study, focused on fund objectives and the presentation of benchmarks.
This second set of remedies is part of a package of measures which we have introduced to address weaknesses identified by our asset management market study.
This policy statement responds to the feedback we received to CP18/9 (PDF), explaining the changes we have made to our proposals as a result and sets out final rules and guidance.
CP18/9 sought views on changes to address our concern that fund objectives are not as clear or specific as they should be, and that fund benchmarks may not always be presented consistently and appropriately.
The new rules and guidance:
The new Handbook rules and guidance related to benchmarks will come into force in 3 months for new funds and in 6 months for existing funds. Our rules on performance fees also come into force in 6 months. We expect fund managers to take our guidance on fund objectives into consideration when reviewing fund documentation from the date of publication of this policy statement.
UK authorised fund managers (in respect of their management of authorised funds).
It will also interest others in the investment management industry, including delegated portfolio managers, depositaries of authorised funds, and retail and professional investors, including advisers.
We set out final Handbook text in Appendix 1 and non-Handbook guidance in Appendix 2. The new Handbook rules and guidance covered in the 'benchmarks' section will come into force on 7 May 2019 for new funds and on 7 August 2019 for existing funds. Our rules on performance fees come into force on 7 August 2019. In addition, we are clarifying how Chapter 4 of the Conduct of Business sourcebook (COBS 4) applies to the key investor information document. This change will come into force on 4 February 2019.
We expect AFMs to take our guidance on fund objectives into consideration when reviewing fund documentation from the date of publication.