In this act Article 20 of 26
Article 20 — Criteria and factors for the purposes of EBA temporary product intervention powers (Article 41(2) of Regulation (EU) No 600/2014)
Financial servicesLevel 2Delegated RegulationMiFIRIn forceOfficial source
1.For the purposes of Article 41(2)(a) of Regulation (EU) No 600/2014, EBA shall assess the relevance of all factors and criteria listed in paragraph 2, and take into consideration all relevant factors and criteria in determining when the marketing, distribution or sale of certain structured deposits or structured deposits with certain specified features or a type of financial activity or practice creates a significant investor protection concern or a threat to the orderly functioning and integrity of financial markets or to the stability of the whole or part of the financial system in the Union.
For the purposes of the first subparagraph, EBA may determine the existence of a significant investor protection concern or a threat to the orderly functioning and integrity of financial markets or to the stability of the whole or part of the financial system of the Union based on one or more of those factors and criteria.
2.The factors and criteria to be assessed by EBA to determine whether there is a significant investor protection concern or a threat to the orderly functioning and integrity of financial markets or to the stability of the whole or part of the financial system in the Union shall be the following:
— the type of the underlying or reference assets and the degree of transparency of the underlying or reference assets;
— the degree of transparency of costs and charges associated with the structured deposit, financial activity or financial practice and, in particular, the lack of transparency resulting from multiple layers of costs and charges;
— the complexity of the performance calculation, taking into account in particular whether the return is dependent on the performance of one or more underlying or reference assets which are in turn affected by other factors or whether the return depends not only on the values of the underlying or reference assets at the initial and maturity or interest payment dates, but also on the values during the lifetime of the product;
— the nature and scale of any risks;
— whether the structured deposit or service is bundled with other products or services; or
— the complexity of any terms and conditions;
— the notional value of an issuance of structured deposits;
— the number of clients, investors or market participants involved;
— the relative share of the product in investors' portfolios;
— the probability, scale and nature of any detriment, including the amount of loss potentially suffered;
— the anticipated duration of the detrimental consequences;
— the volume of the issuance;
— the number of institutions involved;
— the growth of the market or sales;
— the average amount invested by each client in the structured deposit; or
— the coverage level defined in Directive 2014/49/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council;
— whether the client is a retail client, a professional client or an eligible counterparty;
— clients' skills and abilities, including level of education, experience with similar financial products or selling practices;
— clients' economic situation, including income, wealth;
— clients' core financial objectives, including pension saving, home ownership financing;
— whether the product or service is being sold to clients outside the intended target market or where the target market has not been adequately identified; or
— the eligibility for coverage by a deposit guarantee scheme;
— the type and transparency of the underlying;
— any hidden costs and charges;
— the use of techniques drawing clients' attention but not necessarily reflecting the suitability or overall quality of the product or service;
— the type and transparency of risks;
— the use of product names or of terminology or other information that is misleading by implying product features that do not exist; or
— whether the identity of deposit takers which might be responsible for the client's deposit, is disclosed;
— the leverage inherent in the product;
— the leverage due to financing; or
— the fact that the value of any underlying is no longer available or reliable;
— the structuring costs of such structured deposits, activity or practice and other costs;
— the disparity in relation to the issuer's risk retained by the issuer; or
— the risk-return profile;
— the fact that early withdrawal is not allowed; or
— any other barriers to exit;
— the use of hidden or secondary charges; or
— charges that do not reflect the level of service provided;
— the degree of innovation related to the structure of the structured deposit, financial activity or financial practice, including embedding and triggering;
— the degree of innovation relating to the distribution model or length of the intermediation chain;
— the extent of innovation diffusion, including whether the structured deposit, financial activity or financial practice is innovative for particular categories of clients;
— innovation involving leverage;
— the lack of transparency of the underlying; or
— the past experience of the market with similar structured deposits or selling practices;
— the communication and distribution channels used;
— the information, marketing or other promotional material associated with the investment;
— the assumed investment purposes; or
— whether the decision to buy is a secondary or tertiary following an earlier purchase;
— the financial situation of the issuer or any guarantor; or
— the transparency of the business situation of the issuer or guarantor;
— any fraud or dishonesty;
— misconduct in, or misuse of information, in relation to a financial market;
— handling the proceeds of crime;
— the financing of terrorism; or
— facilitating money laundering;