CHAPTER III

OPERATING CONDITIONS FOR AIFMs
SECTION 8

Delegation of AIFM functions
...

General principles
Article 75
When delegating the task of carrying out one or more functions on their behalf, AIFMs shall comply, in particular, with the following general principles:
1. the delegation structure does not allow for the circumvention of the AIFM’s responsibilities or liability;
2. the obligations of the AIFM towards the AIF and its investors are not altered as a result of the delegation;
3. the conditions with which the AIFM must comply in order to be authorised and carry out activities in accordance with the UK provisions which implemented Directive 2011/61/EU are not undermined;
4. the delegation arrangement takes the form of a written agreement concluded between the AIFM and the delegate;
5. the AIFM ensures that the delegate carries out the delegated functions effectively and in compliance with applicable law and regulatory requirements and must establish methods and procedures for reviewing on an ongoing basis the services provided by the delegate. The AIFM shall take appropriate action if it appears that the delegate cannot carry out the functions effectively or in compliance with applicable laws and regulatory requirements;
6. the AIFM supervises effectively the delegated functions and manages the risks associated with the delegation. For this purpose the AIFM shall have at all times the necessary expertise and resources to supervise the delegated functions. The AIFM shall set out in the agreement its right of information, inspection, admittance and access, and its instruction and monitoring rights against the delegate. The AIFM shall also ensure that the delegate properly supervises the performance of the delegated functions, and adequately manages the risks associated with the delegation;
7. the AIFM ensures that the continuity and quality of the delegated functions or of the delegated task of carrying out functions are maintained also in the event of termination of the delegation either by transferring the delegated functions or the delegated task of carrying out functions to another third party or by performing them itself;
8. the respective rights and obligations of the AIFM and the delegate are clearly allocated and set out in the agreement. In particular, the AIFM shall contractually ensure its instruction and termination rights, its rights of information, and its right to inspections and access to books and premises. The agreement shall make sure that sub-delegation can take place only with the consent of the AIFM;
9. where it concerns portfolio management, the delegation is in accordance with the investment policy of the AIF. The delegate shall be instructed by the AIFM how to implement the investment policy and the AIFM shall monitor whether the delegate complies with it on an ongoing basis;
10. the AIFM ensures that the delegate discloses to the AIFM any development that may have a material impact on the delegate’s ability to carry out the delegated functions effectively and in compliance with applicable laws and regulatory requirements;
11. the AIFM ensures that the delegate protects any confidential information relating to the AIFM, the AIF affected by the delegation and the investors in that AIF;
12. the AIFM ensures that the delegate establishes, implements and maintains a contingency plan for disaster recovery and periodic testing of backup facilities while taking into account the types of delegated functions.

Objective reasons for delegation
Article 76
1
The AIFM shall provide the FCA with a detailed description, explanation and evidence of the objective reasons for delegation. When assessing whether the entire delegation structure is based on objective reasons within the meaning of rule 3.10.2(2)(a) of the Investment Funds sourcebook the following criteria shall be considered:
a
optimising of business functions and processes;
b
cost saving;
c
expertise of the delegate in administration or in specific markets or investments;
d
access of the delegate to global trading capabilities.
2
Upon request by the FCA, an AIFM shall provide further explanations and provide documents proving that the entire delegation structure is based on objective reasons.

Features of the delegate
Article 77
1
A delegate shall have sufficient resources and shall employ sufficient personnel with the skills, knowledge and expertise necessary for the proper discharge of the tasks delegated to it and have an appropriate organisational structure supporting the performance of the delegated tasks.
2
Persons who effectively conduct the activities delegated by the AIFM shall have sufficient experience, appropriate theoretical knowledge and appropriate practical experience in the relevant functions. Their professional training and the nature of the functions they have performed in the past shall be appropriate for the conduct of the business.
3
Persons who effectively conduct the business of the delegate shall not be deemed of sufficiently good repute if they have any negative records relevant both for the assessment of good repute and for the proper performance of the delegated tasks or if there is other relevant information which affects their good reputation. Such negative records shall include but shall not be limited to criminal offences, judicial proceedings or administrative sanctions relevant for the performance of the delegated tasks. Special attention shall be given to any offences related to financial activities, including but not limited to obligations relating to the prevention of money laundering, dishonesty, fraud or financial crime, bankruptcy or insolvency. Other relevant information shall include information such as that indicating that the person is not trustworthy or honest.
Where the delegate is regulated in respect of its professional services within the United Kingdom, factors referred to in the first subparagraph shall be deemed to be satisfied when the relevant supervisory authority has reviewed the criterion of ‘good repute’ within the authorisation procedure unless there is evidence to the contrary.

Delegation of portfolio or risk management
Article 78
1
This Article shall apply where the delegation of portfolio management or risk management is concerned.
2
The following entities shall be deemed to be authorised or registered for the purpose of asset management and subject to supervision in accordance with regulation 26(1)(a) and (2) of the AIFM Regulations 2013, and rules 3.10.2(2)(c) and 3.10.7G of the Investment Funds sourcebook:
a
management companies authorised under FSMA;
b
investment firms authorised under FSMA with permission under Part 4A of that Act to carry out the regulated activity of managing investments under article 37 of the Regulated Activities Order 2001;
c
credit institutions authorised under FSMA with permission under Part 4A of that Act to carry out the regulated activity of managing investments under article 37 of the Regulated Activities Order 2001;
d
external AIFMs authorised under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000;
e
third country entities authorised or registered for the purpose of asset management and effectively supervised by a competent authority in those countries.
3
Where the delegation is conferred on a third-country undertaking the following conditions shall be fulfilled in accordance with rules 3.10.2(2)(d) of the Investment Funds sourcebook:
a
a written arrangement shall exist between the FCA and the supervisory authorities of the undertaking to which delegation is conferred;
b
with respect to the undertaking to which delegation is conferred, the arrangement referred to in point (a) allows the FCA to:
1. obtain on request the relevant information necessary to carry out their supervisory tasks as provided for in the UK provisions which implemented Directive 2011/61/EU;
2. obtain access to the documents relevant for the performance of their supervisory duties maintained in the third country;
3. carry out on-site inspections on the premises of the undertaking to which functions were delegated. The practical procedures for on-site inspections shall be detailed in the written arrangement;
4. receive as soon as possible information from the supervisory authority in the third country for the purpose of investigating apparent breaches of the requirements of the UK provisions which implemented Directive 2011/61/EU and its implementing measures;
5. cooperate in enforcement in accordance with the national and international law applicable to the supervisory authority of the third country and the EU competent authorities in cases of breach of the requirements of the UK provisions which implemented Directive 2011/61/EU and its implementing measures ....

Effective supervision
Article 79
A delegation shall be deemed to prevent the effective supervision of the AIFM where:
1. the AIFM, its auditors and the FCA do not have effective access to data related to the delegated functions and to the business premises of the delegate, or the FCA are not able to exercise those rights of access;
2. the delegate does not cooperate with the FCA in connection with the delegated functions;
3. the AIFM does not make available on request to the FCA all information necessary to enable authorities to supervise the compliance of the performance of the delegated functions with the requirements of the UK provisions which implemented Directive 2011/61/EU and its implementing measures.

Conflicts of interest
Article 80
1
In accordance with rule 3.10.6(2) of the Investment Funds sourcebook, the criteria to assess whether a delegation conflicts with the interests of the AIFM or the investor in the AIF shall at least include:
a
where the AIFM and the delegate are members of the same group or have any other contractual relationship, the extent to which the delegate controls the AIFM or has the ability to influence its actions;
b
where the delegate and an investor in the relevant AIF are members of the same group or have any other contractual relationship, the extent to which this investor controls the delegate or has the ability to influence its actions;
c
the likelihood that the delegate makes a financial gain, or avoids a financial loss, at the expense of the AIF or the investors in the AIF;
d
the likelihood that the delegate has an interest in the outcome of a service or an activity provided to the AIFM or the AIF;
e
the likelihood that the delegate has a financial or other incentive to favour the interest of another client over the interests of the AIF or the investors in the AIF;
f
the likelihood that the delegate receives or will receive from a person other than the AIFM an inducement in relation to the collective portfolio management activities provided to the AIFM and the AIFs it manages in the form of monies, goods or services other than the standard commission or fee for that service.
2
The portfolio or risk management function may be considered to be functionally and hierarchically separated from other potentially conflicting tasks only where the following conditions are satisfied:
a
persons engaged in portfolio management tasks are not engaged in the performance of potentially conflicting tasks such as controlling tasks;
b
persons engaged in risk management tasks are not engaged in the performance of potentially conflicting tasks such as operating tasks;
c
persons engaged in risk management functions are not supervised by those responsible for the performance of operating tasks;
d
the separation is ensured throughout the whole hierarchical structure of the delegate up to its governing body and is reviewed by the governing body and, where it exists, the supervisory function of the delegate.
3
Potential conflicts of interest shall be deemed properly identified, managed, monitored and disclosed to the investors of the AIF only if:
a
the AIFM ensures that the delegate takes all reasonable steps to identify, manage and monitor potential conflicts of interest that may arise between itself and the AIFM, the AIF or the investors in the AIF. The AIFM shall ensure that the delegate has procedures in place corresponding to those required under Articles 31 to 34;
b
the AIFM ensures that the delegate discloses potential conflicts of interest as well as the procedures and measures to be adopted by it in order to manage such conflicts of interest to the AIFM which shall disclose them to the AIF and the investors in the AIF in accordance with Article 36.

Consent and notification of sub-delegation
Article 81
1
A subdelegation shall become effective where the AIFM demonstrates its consent to it in writing.
A general consent given in advance by the AIFM shall not be deemed consent in accordance with rules 3.10.4(1) of the Investment Funds sourcebook.
2
Pursuant to rule 3.10.4(2) of the Investment Funds sourcebook, the notification shall contain details of the delegate, the name of the competent authority where the sub-delegate is authorised or registered, the delegated functions, the AIFs affected by the sub-delegation, a copy of the written consent by the AIFM and the intended effective date of the sub-delegation.

Letter-box entity and AIFM no longer considered to be managing an AIF
Article 82
1
An AIFM shall be deemed a letter-box entity and shall no longer be considered to be the manager of the AIF at least in any of the following situations:
a
the AIFM no longer retains the necessary expertise and resources to supervise the delegated tasks effectively and manage the risks associated with the delegation;
b
the AIFM no longer has the power to take decisions in key areas which fall under the responsibility of the senior management or no longer has the power to perform senior management functions in particular in relation to the implementation of the general investment policy and investment strategies;
c
the AIFM loses its contractual rights to inquire, inspect, have access or give instructions to its delegates or the exercise of such rights becomes impossible in practice;
d
the AIFM delegates the performance of investment management functions to an extent that exceeds by a substantial margin the investment management functions performed by the AIFM itself. When assessing the extent of delegation, the FCA shall assess the entire delegation structure taking into account not only the assets managed under delegation but also the following qualitative criteria:
1. the types of assets the AIF or the AIFM acting on behalf of the AIF is invested in, and the importance of the assets managed under delegation for the risk and return profile of the AIF;
2. the importance of the assets under delegation for the achievement of the investment goals of the AIF;
3. the geographical and sectoral spread of the AIF’s investments;
4. the risk profile of the AIF;
5. the type of investment strategies pursued by the AIF or the AIFM acting on behalf of the AIF;
6. the types of tasks delegated in relation to those retained; and
7. the configuration of delegates and their sub-delegates, their geographical sphere of operation and their corporate structure, including whether the delegation is conferred on an entity belonging to the same corporate group as the AIFM.
2. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
3. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Words in Ch. 3 Section 8 heading omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Alternative Investment Fund Managers (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/328), regs. 1(3), 31(1) (as amended by S.I. 2019/325, regs. 1(3), 58); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
Words in Art. 75(c) inserted (31.12.2020) by The Alternative Investment Fund Managers (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/328), regs. 1(3), 31(2) (as amended by S.I. 2019/325, regs. 1(3), 58); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
Word in Art. 76(1) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Alternative Investment Fund Managers (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/328), regs. 1(3), 31(3)(a) (as amended by S.I. 2019/325, regs. 1(3), 58); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
Word in Art. 76(2) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Alternative Investment Fund Managers (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/328), regs. 1(3), 31(3)(a) (as amended by S.I. 2019/325, regs. 1(3), 58); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
Words in Art. 76(1) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Alternative Investment Fund Managers (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/328), regs. 1(3), 31(3)(b) (as amended by S.I. 2019/325, regs. 1(3), 58); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
Words in Art. 77(3) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Alternative Investment Fund Managers (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/328), regs. 1(3), 31(4) (as amended by S.I. 2019/325, regs. 1(3), 58); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
Words in Art. 78(2) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Alternative Investment Fund Managers (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/328), regs. 1(3), 31(5)(a)(i) (as amended by S.I. 2019/325, regs. 1(3), 58); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
Word in Art. 78(2)(a) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Alternative Investment Fund Managers (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/328), regs. 1(3), 31(5)(a)(ii) (as amended by S.I. 2019/325, regs. 1(3), 58); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
Words in Art. 78(2)(b) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Alternative Investment Fund Managers (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/328), regs. 1(3), 31(5)(a)(iii) (as amended by S.I. 2019/325, regs. 1(3), 58); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
Words in Art. 78(2)(c) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Alternative Investment Fund Managers (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/328), regs. 1(3), 31(5)(a)(iv) (as amended by S.I. 2019/325, regs. 1(3), 58); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
Words in Art. 78(3) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Alternative Investment Fund Managers (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/328), regs. 1(3), 31(5)(b)(i) (as amended by S.I. 2019/325, regs. 1(3), 58); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
Word in Art. 78(3)(a) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Alternative Investment Fund Managers (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/328), regs. 1(3), 31(5)(b)(ii) (as amended by S.I. 2019/325, regs. 1(3), 58); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
Word in Art. 78(3)(b) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Alternative Investment Fund Managers (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/328), regs. 1(3), 31(5)(b)(iii) (as amended by S.I. 2019/325, regs. 1(3), 58); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
Words in Art. 78(3)(b)(i) inserted (31.12.2020) by The Alternative Investment Fund Managers (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/328), regs. 1(3), 31(5)(b)(iv) (as amended by S.I. 2019/325, regs. 1(3), 58); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
Words in Art. 78(3)(b)(iv) inserted (31.12.2020) by The Alternative Investment Fund Managers (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/328), regs. 1(3), 31(5)(b)(v) (as amended by S.I. 2019/325, regs. 1(3), 58); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
Words in Art. 78(3)(b)(v) inserted (31.12.2020) by The Alternative Investment Fund Managers (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/328), regs. 1(3), 31(5)(b)(vi)(aa) (as amended by S.I. 2019/325, regs. 1(3), 58); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
Words in Art. 78(3)(b)(v) omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Alternative Investment Fund Managers (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/328), regs. 1(3), 31(5)(b)(vi)(bb) (as amended by S.I. 2019/325, regs. 1(3), 58); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
Words in Art. 78(2)(d) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Alternative Investment Fund Managers (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/328), regs. 1(3), 31(5)(a)(v) (as amended by S.I. 2019/325, regs. 1(3), 58); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
Word in Art. 79(a) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Alternative Investment Fund Managers (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/328), regs. 1(3), 31(6)(a) (as amended by S.I. 2019/325, regs. 1(3), 58); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
Word in Art. 79(b) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Alternative Investment Fund Managers (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/328), regs. 1(3), 31(6)(b) (as amended by S.I. 2019/325, regs. 1(3), 58); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
Word in Art. 79(c) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Alternative Investment Fund Managers (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/328), regs. 1(3), 31(6)(c)(i) (as amended by S.I. 2019/325, regs. 1(3), 58); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
Words in Art. 79(c) inserted (31.12.2020) by The Alternative Investment Fund Managers (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/328), regs. 1(3), 31(6)(c)(ii) (as amended by S.I. 2019/325, regs. 1(3), 58); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
Words in Art. 80(1) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Alternative Investment Fund Managers (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/328), regs. 1(3), 31(7) (as amended by S.I. 2019/325, regs. 1(3), 58); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
Words in Art. 81(1) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Alternative Investment Fund Managers (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/328), regs. 1(3), 31(8)(a) (as amended by S.I. 2019/325, regs. 1(3), 58); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
Words in Art. 81(2) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Alternative Investment Fund Managers (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/328), regs. 1(3), 31(8)(b) (as amended by S.I. 2019/325, regs. 1(3), 58); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
Words in Art. 82(1)(d) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Alternative Investment Fund Managers (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/328), regs. 1(3), 31(9)(a) (as amended by S.I. 2019/325, regs. 1(3), 58); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
Art. 82(2) omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Alternative Investment Fund Managers (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/328), regs. 1(3), 31(9)(b) (as amended by S.I. 2019/325, regs. 1(3), 58); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
Art. 82(3) omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Alternative Investment Fund Managers (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/328), regs. 1(3), 31(9)(b) (as amended by S.I. 2019/325, regs. 1(3), 58); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)