Drawing up the prospectus

Part

PR Prospectus Rules

Chapter

Drawing up the prospectus

Printed on: 06/07/2024

Rulebook at: 01/01/2006

PR 2

Drawing up the prospectus

PR 2.1

General contents of prospectus

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General contents of prospectus

PR 2.1.1

Sections 87A(2), (3) and (4) of the Act provide for the general contents of a prospectus:

(2)

The necessary information is the information necessary to enable investors to make an informed assessment of -

(a)

the assets and liabilities, financial position, profits and losses, and prospects of the issuer of the transferable securities and of any guarantor; and

(b)

the rights attaching to the transferable securities.

(3)

The necessary information must be presented in a form which is comprehensible and easy to analyse.

(4)

The necessary information must be prepared having regard to the particular nature of the transferable securities and their issuer.

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Summary

PR 2.1.2

Sections 87A(5) and (6) of the Act set out the requirement for a summary to be included in a prospectus:

(5)

The prospectus must include a summary (unless the transferable securities in question are ones in relation to which prospectus rules provide that a summary is not required).

(6)

The summary must, briefly and in non-technical language, convey the essential characteristics of, and risks associated with, the issuer, any guarantor and the transferable securities to which the prospectus relates.

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When a summary is not required

PR 2.1.3

In accordance with section 87A(5) of the Act, a summary is not required for a prospectus relating to non-equity transferable securities that have a denomination of at least 50,000 Euros(or an equivalent amount) if the prospectus relates to an admission to trading. [Note: article 5.2 PD]

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Contents of summary

PR 2.1.4

Article 24 of the PD Regulation provides for how the contents of the summary are to be determined:

Content of the summary of prospectus and base prospectus

The issuer, the offeror or the person asking for admission to trading on a regulated market shall determine on its own the detailed content of the summary to the prospectus or base prospectus referred to in [section 87A of the Act].

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PR 2.1.5

The summary should generally not exceed 2 500 words. [Note: recital 21 PD]

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PR 2.1.6

The summary must be in the language in which the prospectus was originally drawn up. [Note: article 19.2 PD]
Note: PR 4.1 sets out rules about the language in which the prospectus must be drawn up.
Note: Article 19.2 of the prospectus directive also allows the competent authority of a Host State to require that the summary be translated into its official language(s). The FSA as competent authority of a Host State requires a summary to be translated into English under PR 4.1.6 R.

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PR 2.1.7

The summary must also contain a warning to the effect that:

(1) it should be read as an introduction to the prospectus;

(2) any decision to invest in the transferable securities should be based on consideration of the prospectus as a whole by the investor;

(3) where a claim relating to the information contained in a prospectus is brought before a court, the plaintiff investor might, under the national legislation of the EEA States, have to bear the costs of translating the prospectus before the legal proceedings are initiated; and

(4) civil liability attaches to those persons who are responsible for the summary including any translation of the summary, but only if the summary is misleading, inaccurate or inconsistent when read together with the other parts of the prospectus. [Note: article 5.2 PD]

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PR 2.2

Format of prospectus

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Format of prospectus

PR 2.2.1

A prospectus may be drawn up as a single document or separate documents. [Note: PD article 5.3]

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PR 2.2.2

(1) A prospectus composed of separate documents must divide the required information into a registration document, a securities note and a summary.

(2) The registration document must contain the information relating to the issuer. The securities note must contain the information concerning the transferable securities to be offered or to be admitted to trading. [Note: article 5.3 PD]

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PR 2.2.3

The registration document accompanied by the securities note (updated if applicable in accordance with PR 2.2.5 R) and the summary shall be considered to constitute a valid prospectus. [Note: article 9.4 PD]

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Prospectuses consisting of separate documents

PR 2.2.4

An issuer, offeror or person requesting admission who already has a registration document approved by the FSA is required to draw up only the securities note and the summary when transferable securities are offered or a request is made for admission to trading. [Note: article 12.1 PD]

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PR 2.2.5

If PR 2.2.4 R applies, the securities note must provide information that would normally be provided in the registration documentifthere has been a material change or recent development which could affect investor's assessments since the latest updated registration document, or any supplementary prospectus, was approved. The securities note and summary shall be subject to a separate approval. [Note: article 12.2 PD]

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PR 2.2.6

An issuer, offeror or person requesting admission may choose to file a registration document without approval. If it does so, the entire documentation, including updated information, is subject to approval. [Note: article 12.3 PD]

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Base prospectus

PR 2.2.7

The prospectus can, at the choice of the issuer, offeror or person requesting admission, consist of a base prospectus containing all relevant information concerning the issuer and the transferable securities to be offered or to be admitted to trading if it relates to one of the following types of transferable securities:

(1) non-equity transferable securities, including warrants in any form, issued under an offering programme; or

(2) non-equity transferable securities issued in a continuous or repeated manner by credit institutions:

(a) where the sums deriving from the issue of the transferable securities, under national legislation, are placed in assets which provide sufficient coverage for the liability deriving from transferable securities until their maturity date;

(b) where, in the event of the insolvency of the related credit institution, the said sums are intended, as a priority, to repay the capital and interest falling due, without prejudice to the provisions of Directive 2001/24/EC on the reorganisation and winding up of credit institutions. [Note: article 5.4 PD]

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PR 2.2.8

The information given in the base prospectus must be supplemented, if necessary, in accordance with section 87G of the Act (supplementary prospectus), with updated information on the issuer and on the transferable securities to be offered or to be admitted to trading. [Note: article 5.4 PD]

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PR 2.2.9

If the final terms of the offer are not included in eitherthe base prospectus or a supplementary prospectus:

(1) the final terms must be provided to investors and filed with the FSA , and made available to the public, in accordance with PR 3.2.4 R to PR 3.2.6 R the PD Regulation as soon as practicable after each offer is made and, if possible, before the offer begins;

(2) the base prospectus must disclose the criteria and/or the conditions in accordance with which the above elements will be determined or, in the case of price, the maximum price. [Note: article 5.4 PD]

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PR 2.2.10

Articles 25 and 26 of the PD Regulation provide for the format of prospectuses and base prospectuses:

Format of the prospectus

25.1

Where an issuer, an offeror or a person asking for the admission to trading on a regulated market chooses, according to [PR 2.2.1 R] to draw up a prospectus as a single document, the prospectus shall be composed of the following parts in the following order:

(1)

a clear and detailed table of contents;

(2)

the summary provided for in [section 87A(5) of the Act];

(3)

the risk factors linked to the issuer and the type of security covered by the issue;

(4)

the other information items included in the schedules and building blocks according to which the prospectus is drawn up.

Where an issuer, an offeror or a person asking for the admission to trading on a regulated market chooses, according to [LR 3.1.1 R], to draw up a prospectus composed of separate documents, the securities note and the registration document shall be each composed of the following parts in the following order:

(1)

a clear and detailed table of contents;

(2)

as the case may be, the risk factors linked to the issuer and the type of security covered by the issue;

(3)

the other information items included in the schedules and building blocks according to which the prospectus is drawn up.

In the cases mentioned in paragraphs 1 and 2, the issuer, the offeror or the person asking for admission to trading on a regulated market shall be free in defining the order in the presentation of the required information items included in the schedules and building blocks according to which the prospectus is drawn up.

Where the order of the items does not coincide with the order of the information provided for in the schedules and building blocks according to which the prospectus is drawn up, the [FSA] may ask the issuer, the offeror or the person asking for the admission to trading on a regulated market to provide a cross reference list for the purpose of checking the prospectus before its approval. Such list shall identify the pages where each item can be found in the prospectus. [see LR 3.1.1R(3)]

Where the summary of a prospectus must be supplemented according to [section 87G of the Act], the issuer, the offeror or the person asking for admission to trading on a regulated market shall decide on a case-by-case basis whether to integrate the new information in the original summary by producing a new summary, or to produce a supplement to the summary.

If the new information is integrated in the original summary, the issuer, the offeror or the person asking for admission to trading on a regulated market shall ensure that investors can easily identify the changes, in particular by way of footnotes.

Format of the base prospectus and its related final terms

26.1

Where an issuer, an offeror or a person asking for the admission to trading on a regulated market chooses, according to [PR 2.2.7 R] to draw up a base prospectus, the base prospectus shall be composed of the following parts in the following order:

(1)

a clear and detailed table of contents;

(2)

the summary provided for in [section 87A of the Act];

(3)

the risk factors linked to the issuer and the type of security or securities covered by the issue(s);

(4)

the other information items included in the schedules and building blocks according to which the prospectus is drawn up.

Notwithstanding paragraph 1, the issuer, the offeror or the person asking for admission to trading on a regulated market shall be free in defining the order in the presentation of the required information items included in the schedules and building blocks according to which the prospectus is drawn up. The information on the different securities contained in the base prospectus shall be clearly segregated.

Where the order of the items does not coincide with the order of the information provided for by the schedules and building blocks according to which the prospectus is drawn up, the [FSA] may ask the issuer, the offeror or the person asking for admission to trading on a regulated market to provide a cross reference list for the purpose of checking the prospectus before its approval. Such list should identify the pages where each item can be found in the prospectus. [see LR 3.1.1R(3)]

In case the issuer, the offeror or the person asking for admission to trading on a regulated market has previously filed a registration document for a particular type of security and, at a later stage, chooses to draw up base prospectus in conformity with the conditions provided for in [PR 2.2.7 R], the base prospectus shall contain:

(1)

the information contained in the previously or simultaneously filed and approved registration document which shall be incorporated by reference, following the conditions provided for in Article 28 of this Regulation;

(2)

the information which would otherwise be contained in the relevant securities note less the final terms where the final terms are not included in the base prospectus.

The final terms attached to a base prospectus shall be presented in the form of a separate document containing only the final terms or by inclusion of the final terms into the base prospectus.

In the case that the final terms are included in a separate document containing only the final terms, they may replicate some information which has been included in the approved base prospectus according to the relevant securities note schedule that has been used for drawing up the base prospectus. In this case the final terms have to be presented in such a way that they can be easily identified as such.

A clear and prominent statement shall be inserted in the final terms indicating that the full information on the issuer and on the offer is only available on the basis of the combination of base prospectus and final terms and where the base prospectus is available.

Where a base prospectus relates to different securities, the issuer, the offeror or the person asking for admission to trading on a regulated market shall include a single summary in the base prospectus for all securities. The information on the different securities contained in the summary, however, shall be clearly segregated.

Where the summary of a base prospectus must be supplemented according to [section 87G of the Act], the issuer, the offeror or the person asking for admission to trading on a regulated market shall decide on a case-by-case basis whether to integrate the new information in the original summary by producing a new summary, or by producing a supplement to the summary.

If the new information is integrated in the original summary of the base prospectus by producing a new summary, the issuer, the offeror or the person asking for admission to trading on a regulated market shall ensure that investors can easily identify the changes, in particular by way of footnotes.

Issuers, offerors or persons asking for admission to trading on a regulated market may compile in one single document two or more different base prospectuses.

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PR 2.3

Minimum information to be included in a prospectus

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Minimum information

PR 2.3.1

Articles 3 to 23 of the PD Regulation provide for the minimum information to be included in a prospectus:
Note: the Annexes (including schedules and building blocks) referred to in these articles are set out for information in PR App 3.

Article 3
Minimum information to be included in a prospectus

A prospectus shall be drawn up by using one or a combination of the following schedules and building blocks set out in Articles 4 to 20, according to the combinations for various types of securities provided for in Article 21.

A prospectus shall contain the information items required in Annexes I to XVII depending on the type of issuer and securities involved, provided for in the schedules and building blocks set out in Articles 4 to 20. A competent authority shall not request that a prospectus contains information items which are not included in Annexes I to XVII.

In order to ensure conformity with the obligation referred to in [section 87A(2) of the Act], the [FSA], when approving a prospectus in accordance with [section 87A of the Act], may require that the information provided by the issuer, the offeror or the person asking for admission to trading on a regulated market be completed, for each of the information items, on a case by case basis.

Article 4
Share registration document schedule

For the share registration document information shall be given in accordance with the schedule set out in Annex I.

The schedule set out in paragraph 1 shall apply to the following:

(1)

shares and other transferable securities equivalent to shares;

(2)

other securities which comply with the following conditions:

(a)

they can be converted or exchanged into shares or other transferable securities equivalent to shares, at the issuer's or at the investor's discretion, or on the basis of the conditions established at the moment of the issue, or give, in any other way, the possibility to acquire shares or other transferable securities equivalent to shares, and

(b)

provided that these shares or other transferable securities equivalent to shares are or will be issued by the issuer of the security and are not yet traded on a regulated market or an equivalent market outside the Community at the time of the approval of the prospectus covering the securities, and that the underlying shares or other transferable securities equivalent to shares can be delivered with physical settlement.

Recital 9

Pro forma financial information is needed in case of significant gross change, i. e. a variation of more than 25% relative to one or more indicators of the size of the issuer's business, in the situation of an issuer due to a particular transaction, with the exception of those situations where merger accounting is required.

Article 5
Pro-forma financial information building block

For pro-forma financial information, information shall be given in accordance with the building block set out in Annex II.

Pro forma financial information should be preceded by an introductory explanatory paragraph that states in clear terms the purpose of including this information in the prospectus.

Article 6
Share securities note schedule

For the share securities note information is necessary to be given in accordance with the schedule set out in Annex III.

The schedule shall apply to shares and other transferable securities equivalent to shares

Article 7
Debt and derivative securities registration document schedule for securities with a denomination per unit of less than EUR 50 000

For the debt and derivative securities registration document concerning securities which are not covered in Article 4 with a denomination per unit of less than EUR 50 000or, where there is no individual denomination, securities that can only be acquired on issue for less than EUR 50 000per security, information shall be given in accordance with the schedule set out in Annex IV.

Article 8
Securities note schedule for debt securities with a denomination per unit of less than EUR 50 000

For the securities note for debt securities with a denomination per unit of less than EUR 50 000information shall be given in accordance with the schedule set out in Annex V.

The schedule shall apply to debt where the issuer has an obligation arising on issue to pay the investor 100% of the nominal value in addition to which there may be also an interest payment.

Article 9
Guarantees building block

For guarantees information shall be given in accordance with the building block set out in Annex VI.

Article 10
Asset backed securities registration document schedule

For the asset backed securities registration document information shall be given in accordance with the schedule set out in Annex VII.

Article 11
Asset backed securities building block

For the additional information building block to the securities note for asset backed securities information shall be given in accordance with the building block set out in Annex VIII.

Article 12
Debt and derivative securities registration document schedule for securities with a denomination per unit of at least EUR 50 000

For the debt and derivative securities registration document concerning securities which are not covered in Article 4 with a denomination per unit of at least EUR 50 000or, where there is no individual denomination, securities that can only be acquired on issue for at least EUR 50 000per security, information shall be given in accordance with the schedule set out in Annex IX.

Article 13
Depository receipts schedule

For depository receipts issued over shares information shall be given in accordance with the schedule set out in Annex X.

Article 14
Banks registration document schedule

For the banks registration document for debt and derivative securities and those securities which are not covered by article 4 information shall be given in accordance with the schedule set out in Annex XI.

The schedule set out in paragraph 1 shall apply to credit institutions as defined in point (a) of Article 1(1) of Directive 2000/12/EC as well as to third country credit institutions which do not fall under that definition but have their registered office in a state which is a member of the OECD.

These entities may also use alternatively the registration document schedules provided for under in Articles 7 and 12.

Article 15
Securities note schedule for derivative securities

For the securities note for derivative securities information shall be given in accordance with the schedule set out in Annex XII.

The schedule shall apply to securities which are not in the scope of application of the other securities note schedules referred to in Articles 6, 8 and 16, including certain securities where the payment and/or delivery obligations are linked to an underlying.

Article 16
Securities note schedule for debt securities with a denomination per unit
of at least EUR 50,000

For the securities note for debt securities with a denomination per unit of at least EUR 50 000information shall be given in accordance with the schedule set out in Annex XIII.

The schedule shall apply to debt where the issuer has an obligation arising on issue to pay the investor 100% of the nominal value in addition to which there may be also an interest payment.

Article 17
Additional information building block on the underlying share

For the additional information on the underlying share, the description of the underlying share shall be given in accordance with the building block set out in Annex XIV.

In addition, if the issuer of the underlying share is an entity belonging to the same group, the information required by the schedule referred to in Article 4 shall be given in respect of that issuer.

The additional information referred to in the first subparagraph of paragraph 1 shall only apply to those securities which comply with both of the following conditions:

(1)

they can be converted or exchanged into shares or other transferable securities equivalent to shares, at the issuer's or at the investor's discretion, or on the basis of the conditions established at the moment of the issue or give, in any other way, the possibility to acquire shares or other transferable securities equivalent to shares; and

(2)

provided that these shares or other transferable securities equivalent to shares are or will be issued by the issuer of the security or by an entity belonging to the group of that issuer and are not yet traded on a regulated market or an equivalent market outside the Community at the time of the approval of the prospectus covering the securities, and that the underlying shares or other transferable securities equivalent to shares can be delivered with physical settlement.

Article 18
Registration document schedule for collective investment undertakings of the closed-end type

In addition to the information required pursuant to items 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.1, 7, 9.1, 9.2.1, 9.2.3, 10.4, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17.2, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25 of Annex I, for the registration document for securities issued by collective investment undertakings of the closed-end type information shall be given in accordance with the schedule set out in Annex XV.

The schedule shall apply to collective investment undertakings of the closed-end type holding a portfolio of assets on behalf of investors that:

(1)

are recognised by national law in the Member State in which it is incorporated as a collective investment undertaking of the closed end type; or

(2)

do not take or seek to take legal or management control of any of the issuers of its underlying investments. In such a case, legal control and/or participation in the administrative, management or supervisory bodies of the underlying issuer(s) may be taken where such action is incidental to the primary investment objective, necessary for the protection of shareholders and only in circumstances where the collective investment undertaking will not exercise significant management control over the operations of that underlying issuer(s).

Article 19
Registration document schedule for Member States, third countries and their regional and local authorities

For the registration document for securities issued by Member States, third countries and their regional and local authorities information shall be given in accordance with the schedule set out in Annex XVI.

The schedule shall apply to all types of securities issued by Member States, third countries and their regional and local authorities.

Article 20
Registration document schedule for public international bodies and for issuers of debt securities guaranteed by a member state of the OECD

For the registration document for securities issued by public international bodies and for securities unconditionally and irrevocably guaranteed, on the basis of national legislation, by a state which is a member of the OECD information shall be given in accordance with the schedule set out in Annex XVII.

The schedule shall apply to:

- all types of securities issued by public international bodies;
- to debt securities unconditionally and irrevocably guaranteed, on the basis of national legislation, by a state which is a member of the OECD.

Article 21
Combination of schedules and building blocks

The use of the combinations provided for in the table set out in Annex XVIII shall be mandatory when drawing up prospectuses for the types of securities to which those combinations correspond according to this table. However, for securities not covered by those combinations further combinations may be used.

The most comprehensive and stringent registration document schedule, i.e. the most demanding schedule in term of number of information items and the extent of the information included in them, may always be used to issue securities for which a less comprehensive and stringent registration document schedule is provided for, according to the following ranking of schedules:

(1)

share registration document schedule;

(2)

debt and derivative securities registration document schedule for securities with a denomination per unit of less than EUR 50 000;

(3)

debt and derivative securities registration document schedule for securities with a denomination per unit at least EUR 50 000.

Article 22
Minimum information to be included in a base prospectus and its related final terms

A base prospectus shall be drawn up by using one or a combination of schedules and building blocks provided for in Articles 4 to 20 according to the combinations for various types of securities set out in Annex XVIII.

A base prospectus shall contain the information items required in Annexes I to XVII depending on the type of issuer and securities involved, provided for in the schedules and building blocks set out in Articles 4 to 20. A competent authority shall not request that a base prospectus contains information items which are not included in Annexes I to XVII.

In order to ensure conformity with the obligation referred to in [section 87A(2) of the Act], the [FSA], when approving a base prospectus in accordance with [section 87A of the Act], may require that the information provided by the issuer, the offeror or the person asking for admission to trading on a regulated market be completed, for each of the information items, on a case by case basis.

The issuer, the offeror or the person asking for admission to trading on a regulated market may omit information items which are not known when the base prospectus is approved and which can only be determined at the time of the individual issue.

The use of the combinations provided for in the table in Annex XVIII shall be mandatory when drawing up base prospectuses for the types of securities to which those combinations correspond according to this table. However, for securities not covered by those combinations further combinations may be used.

The final terms attached to a base prospectus shall only contain the information items from the various securities note schedules according to which the base prospectus is drawn up.

In addition to the information items set out in the schedules and building blocks referred to in Articles 4 to 20 the following information shall be included in a base prospectus:

(1)

indication on the information that will be included in the final terms;

(2)

the method of publication of the final terms; if the issuer is not in a position to determine, at the time of the approval of the prospectus, the method of publication of the final terms, an indication of how the public will be informed about which method will be used for the publication of the final terms;

(3)

in the case of issues of non equity securities according to [PR 2.2.7R (1)], a general description of the programme.

Only the following categories of securities may be contained in a base prospectus and its related final terms covering issues of various types of securities:

(1)

asset backed securities;

(2)

warrants falling under Article 17;

(3)

non-equity securities provided for under [PR 2.2.7R (2)];

(4)

all other non-equity securities including warrants with the exception of those mentioned in point (2).

In drawing up a base prospectus the issuer, the offeror or the person asking for admission to trading on a regulated market shall clearly segregate the specific information on each of the different securities included in these categories.

Where an event envisaged under [section 87G(1) of the Act (Supplementary prospectus)] occurs between the time that the base prospectus has been approved and the final closing of the offer of each issue of securities under the base prospectus or, as the case may be, the time that trading on a regulated market of those securities begins, the issuer, the offeror or the person asking for admission to trading on a regulated market shall publish a supplement prior to the final closing of the offer or the admission of those securities to trading.

Article 23
Adaptations to the minimum information given in prospectuses and base prospectuses

Notwithstanding Articles 3 second paragraph and 22(1) second subparagraph, where the issuer's activities fall under one of the categories included in Annex XIX, the [FSA], taking into consideration the specific nature of the activities involved, may ask for adapted information, in addition to the information items included in the schedules and building blocks set out in 4 to 20, including, where appropriate, a valuation or other expert's report on the assets of the issuer, in order to comply with the obligation referred to in [sections 87A(2),(3) and (4) of the Act]. The [FSA] shall forthwith inform the Commission thereof.

In order to obtain the inclusion of a new category in Annex XIX a Member State shall notify its request to the Commission. The Commission shall update this list following the Committee procedure provided for in Article 24 of [the prospectus directive].

By way of derogation of Articles 3 to 22, where an issuer, an offeror or a person asking for admission to trading on a regulated market applies for approval of a prospectus or a base prospectus for a security which is not the same but comparable to the various types of securities mentioned in the table of combinations set out in Annex XVIII, the issuer, the offeror or the person asking for admission to trading on a regulated market shall add the relevant information items from another securities note schedule provided for in Articles 4 to 20 to the main securities note schedule chosen. This addition shall be done in accordance with the main characteristics of the securities being offered to the public or admitted to trading on a regulated market.

By way of derogation of Articles 3 to 22, where an issuer, an offeror or a person asking for admission to trading on a regulated market applies for approval of a prospectus or a base prospectus for a new type of security, the issuer, the offeror or the person asking for admission to trading on a regulated market shall notify a draft prospectus or base prospectus to the [FSA].

The [FSA] shall decide, in consultation with the issuer, the offeror or the person asking for admission to trading on a regulated market, what information shall be included in the prospectus or base prospectus in order to comply with the obligation referred to in [sections 87A(2),(3) and (4) of the Act]. The [FSA] shall forthwith inform the Commission thereof.

The derogation referred to in the first subparagraph shall only apply in case of a new type of security which has features completely different from the various types of securities mentioned in Annex XVIII, if the characteristics of this new security are such that a combination of the different information items referred to in the schedules and building blocks provided for in Articles 4 to 20 is not pertinent.

By way of derogation of Articles 3 to 22, in the cases where one of the information items required in one of the schedules or building blocks referred to in 4 to 20 or equivalent information is not pertinent to the issuer, to the offer or to the securities to which the prospectus relates, that information may be omitted.

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Final offer price and amount of securities not included in prospectus

PR 2.3.2

If a prospectus for which approval is sought does not include the final offer price or the amount of transferable securities to be offered:

(1) the prospectus must disclose the criteria and/or the conditions in accordance with which the above elements will be determined or, in the case of price, the maximum price; and

(2) the final offer price and amount of transferable securities must as soon as practicable be filed with the FSA, and made available to the public, in accordance with PR 3.2.4 R to PR 3.2.6 R and the PD Regulation. [Note: article 8.1 PD]

Note: Sections 87A(7) and 87Q(1),(2) and (3) of the Act set out further provisions that apply if the final offer price or the amount of transferable securities to be offered are not included in a prospectus.

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PR 2.4

Incorporation by reference

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Incorporation by reference

PR 2.4.1

(1) Information may be incorporated in the prospectus by reference to one or more previously or simultaneously published documents that have been approved by the FSA or filed with or notified to it in accordance with the prospective directive or titles IV and V of CARD.

(2) In particular under paragraph (1), information may be incorporated by reference to information filed under PR 5.2 (Annual information update). [Note: article 11.1 PD]

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PR 2.4.2

Information under titles IV and V of CARD that may be incorporated by reference includes, for example, instruments of incorporation or statutes of a company, annual accounts and annual reports, equivalent information made available to markets in the United Kingdom, half yearly reports, listing particulars and supplementary listing particulars.
[Note: for full details refer to these titles of CARD]

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PR 2.4.3

Information incorporated by reference must be the latestavailable to the issuer, offeror or person requesting admission. [Note: article 11.1 PD]

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PR 2.4.4

The summary must not incorporate information by reference. [Note: article 11.1 PD]

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PR 2.4.5

When information is incorporated by reference, a cross reference list must be provided in the prospectus to enable investors to identify easily specific items of information. The cross reference list must specify where the information can be accessed by investors. [Note: article 11.2 PD]

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PR 2.4.6

Article 28 of the PD Regulation provides examples of information that may be incorporated by reference:

Arrangements for incorporation by reference

Information may be incorporated by reference in a prospectus or base prospectus, notably if it is contained in one the following documents:

(1)

annual and interim financial information;

(2)

documents prepared on the occasion of a specific transaction such as a merger or demerger;

(3)

audit reports and financial statements;

(4)

memorandum and articles of association;

(5)

earlier approved and published prospectuses and/or base prospectuses;

(6)

regulated information;

(7)

circulars to security holders.

The documents containing information that may be incorporated by reference in a prospectus or base prospectus or in the documents composing it shall be drawn up following the provisions of [PR 4.1 (Use of languages)].

If a document which may be incorporated by reference contains information which has undergone material changes, the prospectus or base prospectus shall clearly state such a circumstance and shall give the updated information.

The issuer, the offeror or the person asking for admission to trading on a regulated market may incorporate information in a prospectus or base prospectus by making reference only to certain parts of a document, provided that it states that the non-incorporated parts are either not relevant for the investor or covered elsewhere in the prospectus.

When incorporating information by reference, issuers, offerors or persons asking for admission to trading on a regulated market shall endeavour not to endanger investor protection in terms of comprehensibility and accessibility of the information.

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PR 2.5

Omission of information

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Equivalent information

PR 2.5.1

Without prejudice to the adequate information of investors, if, in exceptional cases, certain information referred to in the PD Regulation that is required to be included in a prospectus is inappropriate to the issuer's activity or to the legal form of the issuer or to the transferable securities to which the prospectus relates, the prospectus must contain information equivalent to the required information (unless there is no such information). [Note: article 8.3 PD]

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PR 2.5.2

Section 87B(1) of the Act sets out when the FSA may authorise the omission of information from a prospectus:

(1)

The [FSA] may authorise the omission from a prospectus of any information, the inclusion of which would otherwise be required, on the ground -

(a)

that its disclosure would be contrary to the public interest;

(b)

that its disclosure would be seriously detrimental to the issuer, provided that the omission would be unlikely to mislead the public with regard to any facts or circumstances which are essential for an informed assessment of the kind mentioned in section 87A(2); or

(c)

that the information is only of minor importance for a specific offer to the public or admission to trading on a regulated market and unlikely to influence an informed assessment of the kind mentioned in section 87A(2).

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Request to omit information

PR 2.5.3

A request to the FSA to authorise the omission of specific information must:

(1) be in writing from the applicant;

(2) identify the specific information concerned and the specific reasons for its omission; and

(3) state why in the applicant's opinion one or more of the grounds in section 87B(1) of the Act applies.

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