EQ Investors (‘EQ’) is committed to providing clients with the best possible outcome when executing client transactions.
EQ is subject to the Financial Conduct Authority (‘FCA’) relevant requirements as set out in COBS 11.2.A.2 which states:
‘A firm must take all sufficient steps to obtain, when executing orders, the best possible results for its clients taking into account the execution factors.
The execution factors to be taken into account are price, costs, speed, likelihood of execution and settlement, size, nature or any other consideration relevant to the execution of an order’.
The FCA also states that firms must have appropriate arrangements and processes in place to ensure the prompt, fair and expeditious execution of client orders specifically, EQ must ensure that:
In order to do this, we are required to establish effective arrangements and review them at least annually.
It is our policy to provide our clients with the most appropriate advice at all times, taking into account their financial objectives, goals, needs and aspirations.
We owe a duty of best execution in all circumstances when receiving and transmitting orders for the sale and purchase of financial instruments.
Before we make a recommendation to our clients, we must consider each of the various factors outlined below:
In most cases, we seek to recommend the most cost- effective products/ providers/ method of meeting the client’s aims and objectives, but we will consider their views and take them into account. We will make recommendations from time to time where other factors mean that the most cost-effective method may not be the most appropriate and give advice accordingly.
In most cases, we seek to recommend the most cost effective method of meeting the client’s aims and objectives, but we will consider their views and take them into account. We will make recommendations from time to time where other factors mean that the most cost-effective method to provide advice may not be the most appropriate and give advice accordingly.
In most cases, we seek to recommend the most time effective method of meeting the client’s aims and objectives, but we will consider their views and take them into account. We will make recommendations from time to time where other factors mean that the most time effective method to provide the advice may not be the most appropriate and give advice accordingly.
At all times we will consider the size and nature of the transaction and by taking these factors into account will seek to recommend the most appropriate advice.
At all times we will consider if the client’s needs will be best met with the use of a platform or where they may be better met using a non-platform or other service provider solution.
At all times we will consider the other relevant factors pertaining to a client’s needs and objectives so that we can deliver the most appropriate advice at all times.
We typically transmit or place the order via a third-party platform (an online investment administration service), directly with a fund manager or with a stockbroker, to execute orders.
Orders placed by EQ Investors Ltd. are transmitted to third party custodians for execution.
If a client has given instructions that price is not the most important factor in executing their instructions, EQ will make every effort to comply with their instructions but cannot guarantee this. This may be due to either the nature of the order, or the type of financial instrument they wish to trade in.
We will make all decisions as to where the orders are placed in relation to the execution venue. We will therefore not accept specific instructions from clients regarding the venue where their order is executed. However in exceptional circumstances we will consider our client’s specific requests.
Our terms and conditions with our counterparties (e.g. third party brokers) provide that they will make all reasonable efforts to provide best execution when we instruct transactions through them.
EQ operates a policy of fair allocation which states that purchases and sales should be fairly allocated across all clients unless there are reasons for acting differently. When we arrange deals in collective investment schemes (e.g. Unit Trusts, OEICs and Investment Trusts), we may deal directly with the fund manager and/or the operator of the collective investment scheme or may arrange the deal through a third party such as a ‘fund supermarket’ (an online transaction service).
We may aggregate orders on behalf of more than one client provided it is possible to secure best execution for all customers involved.
When arranging a market transaction for more than one client, each client’s intended allocation must be noted.
In the case of new issue placings, applications from employees and their connected parties shall be treated on the same basis as clients unless the total applied for by employees and their connected parties exceeds 20% of the total applied for by EQ. If staff applications are in excess of 20% of the total then the staff applied for excess is scaled in its entirety until it is reduced to 20% of the total.
For discretionary managed transactions, it is possible that an allocation can be deemed to be too small, impractical or uneconomic for clients. Where this arises, the allocation can be applied to other clients.
Some categories of client might be considered to be a higher priority from an investment management perspective than other categories of client. For example, clients with higher cash weightings and greater sector/geographic imbalances may have a greater need for a higher allocation of a purchase order. Conversely, clients with heavily overweight positions may have a greater need for a disproportionate allocation in a sale order.
Employees must deal with client orders promptly, fairly and in due turn while having regard for dealing priority requirements.
Ordinarily, trade confirmations shall be sent to clients on the Pershing platform as soon as practicably possible unless the client has requested that they do not wish to receive contract notes.
It is EQ policy that its charging structure will not influence either the selection of execution venues, or the order flow that follows as a result of the execution process.
EQ will ensure appropriate controls and procedures are put in place to ensure we obtain the best possible results for you when arranging execution of orders. These processes will be periodically monitored.
We will also review this execution policy and our order execution arrangements at least annually and whenever there is a significant change that affects our ability to continue to obtain the best possible results for our clients.
All of our relevant employees are made aware of this policy to highlight and emphasise the importance of “Best Execution”.
Having fully considered all of the above execution factors, we will fully disclose all costs in a manner that is fair, clear and not misleading so that a client can fully understand the nature and cost of the services we will provide to them.
We will aggregate the information about all costs and charges per platform to allow the client to understand the overall cost and the cumulative effect on the return of the investment expressed as both a monetary amount and a percentage.
Costs and charges will include the cost of financial instruments/funds, platform/provider, product charge, cost of advice and fees paid to EQ. An itemised breakdown will be provided if requested by the client. The above information will be provided at the outset and at least annually.
We will formally review this policy at least annually, or whenever a material change occurs that affects our ability to continue to obtain the best possible outcome for client orders, in order.to assess its effectiveness in achieving the best possible result for our clients.
This review should:
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