The Bearer Certificates (Collective Investment Schemes) Regulations 2020

PART 2 U.K. CONVERSION AND CANCELLATION OF EXISTING BEARER UNITS IN OTHER COLLECTIVE INVESTMENT SCHEMES ON OR BEFORE 1 JANUARY 2022

8.—(1) The operator of a collective investment scheme which is not an open-ended investment company may convert or cancel bearer units on or before 1 January 2022 in accordance with this Part. U.K.

(2) This Part applies as if it were contained within Part 17 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (“Part 17”) and accordingly-

(a) words and expressions used in Part 17 have the same meaning when used in this Part; and

(b) references in this Part to particular sections and their associated subsections are references to the relevant provisions of Part 17.

Commencement Information

I1 Sch. para. 8 in force at 1.1.2021, see reg. 1(2)

General definitions U.K.

9.  In this Part— U.K.

“the Gazette” means—

(a)

as respects companies registered in England and Wales, the London Gazette,

(b)

as respects companies registered in Scotland, the Edinburgh Gazette, and

(c)

as respects companies registered in Northern Ireland, the Belfast Gazette;

“outstanding bearer unit” means a bearer unit which has been issued by a collective investment scheme (except for collective investment schemes constituted by an open-ended investment company) before the surrender year and has not been cancelled;

“scheme” means a collective investment scheme other than one constituted by an open-ended investment company;

“the surrender year” means the year beginning with the end of 1 January 2021.

Commencement Information

I2 Sch. para. 9 in force at 1.1.2021, see reg. 1(2)

Right to convert bearer unit to registered unit U.K.

10.—(1) Subparagraphs (2) and (3) apply where, at a time in the surrender year, the person who is the bearer of an outstanding bearer unit delivers to the scheme— U.K.

(a) the instrument mentioned in section 241A relating to the unit,

(b) a request for the unit to be converted to a registered unit, and

(c) a statement of the person’s name and address.

(2) Delivery of the instrument to the scheme does not operate as a transfer of the unit.

(3) The operator of the scheme must—

(a) cancel the instrument,

(b) register the person as the holder of the unit, and

(c) prepare a certificate in respect of the unit as registered.

(4) Subparagraphs (2) and (3) do not apply in relation to outstanding bearer units of which the operator of the scheme is the bearer (but see paragraph 11).

(5) The operator of a scheme must exercise due diligence and take all reasonable steps to ensure that a certificate prepared in accordance with subparagraph (3)(c) is ready for delivery as soon as reasonably practicable.

Commencement Information

I3 Sch. para. 10 in force at 1.1.2021, see reg. 1(2)

Cancellation of bearer units held by the operator of the scheme U.K.

11.  Where the bearer of any outstanding bearer units is the operator of the scheme— U.K.

(a) the operator may not, after the start of the surrender year, transfer the shares to any person other than the scheme, and

(b) the operator must, as soon after the start of the surrender year as is reasonably practicable, transfer the shares to the scheme (so that the shares may be cancelled in accordance with paragraph 10).

Commencement Information

I4 Sch. para. 11 in force at 1.1.2021, see reg. 1(2)

Payment of dividends and other distributions during the surrender year U.K.

12.—(1) A dividend or other distribution paid in the surrender year in respect of an outstanding bearer unit must be paid by the operator into the account opened by the scheme in accordance with subparagraph (3). U.K.

(2) Where a unit is converted under paragraph 10, the person registered under paragraph 10(3) in respect of the unit is entitled to—

(a) any amounts paid into that account in respect of the unit under subparagraph (1), and

(b) any interest accrued on those amounts while held in that account.

(3) Where any payments are to be made under subparagraph (1) or paragraph 13 in respect of units of a particular scheme, the operator of the scheme must open a separate bank account for the purpose of receiving the payments, and must do so before the first of any such payments is to be made.

(4) The terms of the account must be such that its balance—

(a) bears interest at an appropriate rate, and

(b) can be withdrawn during banking hours without having to give prior notice.

Commencement Information

I5 Sch. para. 12 in force at 1.1.2021, see reg. 1(2)

Cancellation of bearer units still held at the end of the surrender year U.K.

13.—(1) Where a person is the bearer of an outstanding bearer unit immediately before the end of the surrender year, the operator of the scheme must— U.K.

(a) cancel the unit with effect from the end of that year, and

(b) pay the value (if any) of the unit into the account opened by the scheme in accordance with paragraph 12(3).

(2) The person is entitled to—

(a) any amounts paid into that account in respect of the unit under subparagraph (1) or paragraph 12(1), and

(b) any interest accrued on those amounts while held in that account.

(3) If after the surrender year the scheme receives the documentary evidence of title mentioned in section 241A(3) relating to the unit, the operator of the scheme may conclusively treat the person sending the documentary evidence of title as being the person entitled to those amounts and interest.

Commencement Information

I6 Sch. para. 13 in force at 1.1.2021, see reg. 1(2)

Right to amend governing documents U.K.

14.  The operator of a scheme may amend any provision which is contained in its governing documents (including any trust deed) which enables the scheme to issue bearer units. U.K.

Commencement Information

I7 Sch. para. 14 in force at 1.1.2021, see reg. 1(2)

Notifications U.K.

15.—(1) This paragraph applies to the operator of a scheme if, at the start of the surrender year, any persons other than the operator of the scheme are bearers of outstanding bearer units issued by the scheme. U.K.

(2) The operator of the scheme must, no later than 2 months after the start of the surrender year, give a notice to those persons—

(a) of their right during the surrender year to convert their bearer units into registered units,

(b) of what they need to do to exercise that right,

(c) of the operator’s duty to retain dividends and other distributions paid in the surrender year in respect of bearer units until the bearer units are converted or any proceeds of their cancellation are claimed,

(d) of the operator’s duty to cancel bearer units still outstanding at the end of the surrender year, and

(e) of how any proceeds of such cancelled units may be claimed.

(3) The notice must be given by being—

(a) published in the Gazette,

(b) communicated to each of the persons in the same way (if any) as the scheme normally communicates with that person for other purposes relating to the person’s bearer units in the company, and

(c) published in a prominent position on the scheme’s website (if it has one).

(4) The operator of the scheme must keep the notice as published on its website in a prominent position on its website until—

(a) the first anniversary of the end of the surrender year, or

(b) if earlier, the time when—

(i) the scheme no longer has any bearer units in issue, and

(ii) all amounts (if any) paid into the account opened by the scheme in accordance with paragraph 12(3) have been paid out in accordance with paragraphs 12(2) and 13(2) and (3).

(5) Subparagraphs (2) to (4) do not apply in relation to the operator of a scheme if, before it gives the notice that would be required by subparagraph (2), the scheme has ceased to have any bearer units in issue.

(6) The operator of a scheme which contravenes this paragraph commits an offence.

(7) A person guilty of an offence under subparagraph (6) is liable on summary conviction—

(a) in England and Wales, to a fine;

(b) in Scotland or Northern Ireland, to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale.

Commencement Information

I8 Sch. para. 15 in force at 1.1.2021, see reg. 1(2)