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Matched Legal Cases: ['ART 1', 'ART 2', 'ART 3', 'ART 4', 'ART 5', 'ART 6', 'ART 7', 'ART 8', 'ART 9', 'ART 10', 'ART 11', 'ART 12', 'ART 1', 'ART 2', 'ART 3', 'ART 4', 'art 6', 'art 8', 'ART 5', 'art 5', 'ART 6', 'art 8']

COLLECTIVE INVESTMENT LAW DIFC LAW No. 2 of PDF
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1 COLLECTIVE INVESTMENT LAW DIFC LAW No. 2 of
2 TABLE OF CONTENTS PART 1: GENERAL Title Legislative Authority Application of the Law Date of enactment and commencement Commencement Interpretation Administration of the Law General power to make Rules Consultation Waivers and Modifications of the Rules... 2 PART 2: DEFINITIONS... 3 Chapter 1: Collective Investment Funds Arrangements constituting a Collective Investment Fund Arrangements not constituting a Collective Investment Fund... 3 Chapter 2: Types of Funds and relevant criteria Domestic and Foreign Funds External Domestic Fund Types of Domestic Funds Domestic Fund criteria Specialist classes of Domestic Funds Additional matters Definition of an Offer of Units... 6 PART 3: ROLES AND FUNCTIONS OF THE FUND MANAGER AND TRUSTEE... 8 Chapter 1: General prohibitions Fund Manager Trustee... 9 Chapter 2: Duties and functions Fund Manager s general duties and functions Trustee s duties and functions General powers including delegations and outsourcing Chapter 4: Retirement or removal of the Fund Manager Retirement or removal of a Fund Manager PART 4: ESTABLISHMENT AND OPERATION OF DOMESTIC FUNDS Chapter 1: Requirements applicable to all Domestic Funds Permitted form of a Domestic Fund General requirements Chapter 2: Registration requirement applicable to Public Funds Registration requirement Providing information in relation to the application Rejection of an application Granting registration Withdrawal of registration Reinstatement Chapter 3: Notification requirement applicable to Private and Exempt Funds Notification requirement... 17
3 Chapter 4: Alterations to a Domestic Fund Alterations Rejection of proposed alteration Chapter 5: Suspension of dealings in an open-ended Domestic Fund Suspension of dealings in Units PART 5: GOVERNANCE OF DOMESTIC FUNDS Chapter 1: Fund s systems and controls Systems and controls requirement Chapter 2: Oversight of Public Funds Requirements relating to oversight arrangements Powers and functions of the persons providing oversight function Duties of a person providing oversight functions Independence PART 6: AUDITORS OF DOMESTIC FUNDS Appointment and removal of auditors Auditor's reports Auditors' duties Resignation of an auditor Co-operation with auditors Obligation of disclosure to the DFSA PART 7: MARKETING OF DOMESTIC AND FOREIGN FUNDS Chapter 1: General Applicable laws Marketing prohibition Chapter 2: Marketing of Domestic Fund Prospectus requirement Prospectus content Publicity Chapter 3: Marketing of Foreign Funds Marketing of Foreign Funds Recognition and designation Chapter 4: Misconduct in relation to Domestic and Foreign Funds Misleading and deceptive statements Defences to misconduct Liability for misleading statements PART 8: TRANSFER SCHEMES AND WINDING UP OF DOMESTIC FUNDS Application of this Part to Protected Cell Companies Transfer schemes When a Domestic Fund may be wound up Winding up required by a Fund s Constitution Winding up at direction of Unitholders Winding up if the Fund s purpose has been accomplished or cannot be accomplished Winding up by order of the Court Unclaimed or undistributed property Reinstatement of a Domestic Fund PART 9: DFSA POWERS IN RELATION TO A FUND Powers of supervision Stop orders PART 10: THE REGULATORY APPEALS COMMITTEE Jurisdiction... 40
4 PART 11: THE FINANCIAL MARKETS TRIBUNAL Jurisdiction of the Financial Markets Tribunal PART 12: MISCELLANEOUS Fees Filing of material with the DFSA SCHEDULE Interpretation Rules of interpretation Legislation in the DIFC Defined Terms... 44
5 PART 1: GENERAL 1. Title and repeal This Collective Investment Law 2010 repeals and replaces the Collective Investment Law 2006 ( the Previous Law ) and may be cited as the Collective Investment Law 2010 ( this Law ). Except where otherwise provided in the Rules, anything done or omitted to be done pursuant to or for the purposes of the Previous Law is deemed to be done or omitted to be done pursuant to or for the purposes this Law. Without limiting the generality of Article 1, such repeal shall not affect: (i) (ii) any right, privilege, remedy, obligation or liability accrued to or incurred by any person; or any investigation or legal or administrative proceeding commenced or to be commenced in respect of any right, remedy, privilege, obligation or liability, under the Previous Law and, any such investigation or legal or administrative proceeding may be instituted, continued or enforced, including any penalty, fine or forfeiture, under this Law. (d) The DFSA may, by Rules, prescribe any transitional or saving provisions as are necessary or deemed necessary to give effect to, or to facilitate, the transition from the Collective Investment Law 2006 to this Law. 2. Legislative Authority This Law is made by the Ruler of Dubai. 3. Application of the Law This Law applies in the jurisdiction of the Dubai International Financial Centre. 4. Date of enactment and commencement This Law is enacted on the date specified in the Enactment Notice in respect of this Law. 5. Commencement This Law comes into force on the date specified in the Enactment Notice in respect of this Law. 6. Interpretation The Schedule contains interpretative provisions and a list of defined terms used in this Law. 7. Administration of the Law This Law and any legislation made for the purposes of this Law is administered by the DFSA. 1
6 8. General power to make Rules (1) The DFSA Board of Directors may, and where required under this Law shall, make Rules for the purposes of this Law pursuant to the power conferred under Article 23 of the Regulatory Law (2) Where any legislation made under this Law purports to be made in the exercise of a particular power or powers, it shall be taken also to be made in the exercise of all powers under which it may be made. 9. Consultation The DFSA shall publish draft Rules in the manner prescribed under Article 24 of the Regulatory Law Waivers and Modifications of the Rules The DFSA may, by written notice, provide that one or more provisions of the Rules either: shall not apply in relation to a person; or shall apply to a person with such modifications as are set out in the written notice; as provided for in Article 25 of the Regulatory Law
7 PART 2: DEFINITIONS Chapter 1: Collective Investment Funds 11. Arrangements constituting a Collective Investment Fund (1) A Collective Investment Fund ( Fund ) is, subject to Article 12, any arrangements with respect to property of any description, including money, where: the purpose or effect of the arrangements is to enable persons taking part in the arrangements (whether by becoming owners of the property or any part of it or otherwise) to participate in or receive profits or income arising from the acquisition, holding, management or disposal of the property or sums paid out of such profits or income; the arrangements must be such that the persons who are to participate ( Unitholders ) in the arrangements do not have day-to-day control over the management of the property, whether or not they have the right to be consulted or to give directions; and the arrangements have either or both of the following characteristics: (i) (ii) the contributions of the Unitholders and the profits or income out of which payments are to be made to them are pooled; or the property is managed as a whole by or on behalf of the Fund Manager. (2) If the arrangements provide for such pooling as is mentioned in Article 11(1)(i) in relation to separate parts of the property, the arrangement is not to be regarded as constituting a single Fund unless the Unitholders are entitled to exchange rights in one part for rights in another. 12. Arrangements not constituting a Collective Investment Fund The DFSA may, by Rules, specify when arrangements or types of arrangements that meet the definition of a Fund in Article 11(1) do not constitute a Fund. Chapter 2: Types of Funds and relevant criteria 13. Domestic and Foreign Funds (1) A Fund is either a Domestic Fund or a Foreign Fund. (2) A Fund is a Domestic Fund if it is either: established or domiciled in the DIFC; or an External Fund as defined in Article 14(1). (3) A Fund that does not meet the Domestic Fund criteria in Article 13(2) is a Foreign Fund. 3
8 14. An External Fund (1) An External Domestic Fund is a Fund which is: established or domiciled in a jurisdiction other than the DIFC; and managed by a Fund Manager which is an Authorised Firm. (2) The requirements relating to Domestic Funds do not apply to an External Fund except to the extent otherwise provided in this Law or the Rules. 15. Types of Domestic Funds (1) A Domestic Fund shall be one of the following types of Fund: a Public Fund; a Private Fund; or an Exempt Fund. (2) The DFSA may treat any type of Domestic Fund referred to in Article 15(1) as a specialist class of a Domestic Fund pursuant to Article Domestic Fund criteria (1) A Domestic Fund shall, subject to Article 16(5), be constituted as a Public Fund if: it has, or intends to have, more than 100 Unitholders; some or all of its Units are offered to investors by way of a public offer; or its Unitholders include Retail Clients. (2) A Domestic Fund may be constituted either as a Private Fund or as an Exempt Fund only if that Fund meets the relevant criteria in Article 16(3) or (4). (3) A Domestic Fund meets the Private Fund criteria, subject only to Article 16(6), if: it has, or intends to have, 100 or fewer Unitholders; its Units are offered to persons only by way of a private placement; and all its Unitholders are persons who meet the criteria to be classified as Professional Clients. (4) A Domestic Fund meets the Exempt Fund criteria, subject only to Article 16(6), if: it has, or intends to have, 100 or fewer Unitholders; its Units are offered to persons only by way of a private placement; 4
9 (d) all its Unitholders are persons who meet the criteria to be classified as Professional Clients; and the initial subscription to be paid by a person to become a Unitholder is at least US$50,000. (5) Nothing in this Law or the Rules shall prevent a Fund that meets the criteria to be a Private Fund or an Exempt Fund being constituted as a Public Fund. (6) A Domestic Fund does not cease to be a Private Fund or an Exempt Fund under Article 16(3) or (4) merely because one or more Units in that Fund is registered in the name of a person who does not meet the criteria to be a Unitholder of that particular type of Fund as a result of: inheritance from a registered Unitholder of the Fund; or any legal action brought for or against a registered Unitholder. (7) The DFSA shall, by Rules, prescribe: the relevant criteria for a person to be classified as a Retail Client or a Professional Client; what activities constitute a public offer or a private placement; and any other requirements or matters which the DFSA considers necessary to give effect to the requirements or intent of the provisions in this chapter. 17. Specialist classes of Domestic Funds (1) The DFSA may, by Rules, prescribe the circumstances in which any type of a Domestic Fund is to be treated as a specialist class of a Domestic Fund. (2) Without limiting the generality of Article 17(1), the DFSA may, by Rules, prescribe: the circumstances in which a Domestic Fund will be treated as an Islamic Fund; the requirements applicable to such a Fund, including the appointment where appropriate of a Shari a Supervisory Board; and any requirements relating to a Shari a Supervisory Board appointed to an Islamic Fund such as its formation, membership, conduct and operation. 18. Additional matters (1) The DFSA may, by Rules, apply additional criteria, requirements or conditions to: a particular type of a Domestic Fund; a specialist class of a Domestic Fund; or 5
10 a Foreign Fund. (2) Without limiting the generality of Article 18(1), the additional criteria, requirements or conditions relating to a Fund that the DFSA may specify include: the type of legal structure or arrangement that must be used by a specialist class of Funds; whether or not a Fund must be an open-ended or closed-ended Fund, or a listed or unlisted Fund; and any criteria, requirements or conditions that apply to any person carrying on any function relating to a Fund and whether or not that person does so under a delegation or outsourcing arrangement entered into with the Fund Manager or if applicable the Trustee of the Fund. 19. Definition of an Offer of Units (1) An Offer of a Unit of a Fund constitutes any one or more of the activities specified in Article 19(2) and such activities may also be referred to as marketing of Units of Funds. (2) A person is to be regarded as making an Offer of a Unit if he: makes an offer to another person which, if accepted, would give rise to a contract for the issue or sale of Units by him or by another person with whom he has made arrangements for the issue or sale of the Units; or invites another person to make an offer which, if accepted by him, would give rise to a contract for the issue or sale of Units by him or by another person with whom he has made arrangements for the issue or sale of the Units, whether or not the offer or invitation referred to in Article 19(2) or is made by way of a financial promotion of the Units. (3) For the purposes of Article 19(2), a financial promotion includes an advertisement or any other form of promotion, marketing or inducement inviting a person to: enter into an agreement; offer to enter into an agreement; or exercise any rights conferred by a Unit to acquire, dispose of, underwrite or convert a Unit. (4) In Article 19(3), the financial promotion may be communicated in any manner including, but not limited to, the following: orally; 6
11 electronically; or in writing. (5) For the purposes of Article 19(2) and (3), where a Fund Manager of a Listed Fund discloses information in accordance with the requirements of the Markets Law 2004 or the Rules made for the purposes of that law, disclosure of such information is not a financial promotion provided the disclosure of the information does not: include an express invitation or offer; or expressly encourage a person; to engage in any of the activities specified in Article 19(2) or. 7
12 PART 3: ROLES AND FUNCTIONS OF THE FUND MANAGER AND TRUSTEE Chapter 1: General prohibitions 20. Fund Manager (1) A person shall not manage a Domestic Fund unless: that person is: (i) (ii) or a body corporate; and an Authorised Firm whose Licence authorises it to act as the Fund Manager of the particular type or specialist class of the Fund; the person is an External Fund Manager. (2) For the purposes of this Law, any other DFSA administered law and any rules made for the purposes of those laws, the person who manages a Fund, subject to Article 20(3), is the person who: is legally accountable to the Unitholders in the Fund for the management of the Fund, including the property held for or within the Fund ( Fund Property ); and establishes, manages or otherwise operates or winds up the Fund. (3) The DFSA may, by Rules, prescribe when a person who engages in any of the activities specified in Article 20(2) is not managing a Fund. (4) A person referred to in Article 20(1) or is a Fund Manager and a reference to a Fund Manager in this Law or in any other DIFC Law or any legislation made for the purposes of such laws includes both persons, unless otherwise provided. (5) A person is an External Fund Manager if that person: is a body corporate; manages a Domestic Fund: (i) (ii) which is not an External Fund; and which is excluded from the Financial Services Prohibition under Article 41(9) of the Regulatory Law 2004; and manages the Fund in : (i) from a place of business in a Recognised Jurisdiction or a jurisdiction otherwise acceptable to the DFSA; and 8
13 (iii) in accordance with any additional requirements prescribed by the DFSA for the purposes of this Article. 21. Trustee (1) A person shall not act as a Trustee of a Domestic Fund which is an Investment Trust unless that person is either: a body corporate which is an Authorised Firm with a Licence authorising it to act as a Trustee or to Provide Custody; or a person regulated and supervised by a Financial Services Regulator in a Recognised Jurisdiction with respect to its custody or depository services. (2) A person does not breach the prohibition in Article 21(1) where that person acts under a sub-custody arrangement entered into between that person and a person referred to in Article 21(1) or. Chapter 2: Duties and functions 22. Fund Manager s general duties and functions (1) A Fund Manager of a Domestic Fund shall: (d) manage the Fund including the Fund Property in accordance with the Fund s Constitution and its most recent Prospectus; perform the functions conferred on it by the Fund s Constitution and by or under this Law; comply with any conditions or restrictions imposed by the DFSA including those on its Licence or in respect of the Fund; and comply with any requirements or limitations imposed under this Law or Rules made for the purposes of this Law including any limits relating to financial interests it or any of its associates may hold in a Fund, for which it acts as the appointed Fund Manager. (2) In exercising its powers and carrying out its duties, a Fund Manager shall: (d) act honestly; exercise the degree of care and diligence that a reasonable person would exercise if he were in the Fund Manager s position; act in the best interests of the Unitholders and, if there is a conflict between the Unitholders interests and its own interests, give priority to the Unitholders interests; treat the Unitholders who hold interests of the same class equally and Unitholders who hold interests of different classes fairly; 9
14 (e) not improperly make use of information acquired through being the Fund Manager in order to: (i) (ii) gain an advantage for itself or another person; or cause detriment to the Unitholders in the Fund; (f) ensure that Fund Property is: (i) (ii) clearly identified as Fund Property; and held separately from the property of the Fund Manager and the property of any other Fund it manages; (g) report to the DFSA any breach of this Law or relevant provisions of any other law administered by the DFSA, or of any Rules made under those laws, that: (i) (ii) relates to the Fund; and has had, or is likely to have, a materially adverse effect on the interests of Unitholders; as soon as practicable after it becomes aware of the breach; (h) in the case of a Fund Manager referred to in Article 20(1), report to the DFSA any breach of any other laws or requirements that apply to that Fund Manager in its home jurisdiction, that: (i) (iii) relates to the Fund; and has had, or is likely to have, a materially adverse effect on the interests of Unitholders; as soon as practicable after it becomes aware of the breach; (i) (j) comply with any other duty or obligation as may be prescribed by or under this Law or any other legislation administered by the DFSA; and carry out or comply with any other duty, not inconsistent with any DIFC Law, that is conferred on the Fund Manager by the Fund s Constitution. (3) Every officer, employee or agent of the Fund Manager shall: not make improper use of information acquired through being such an officer, employee or agent of the Fund Manager in order to: (i) (ii) gain an advantage for himself or another person; or cause detriment to Unitholders in the Fund; 10
15 (d) not make improper use of his position as such an officer, employee or agent to gain, directly or indirectly, an advantage for himself or for any other person or to cause detriment to the Unitholders in the Fund; comply with any other duty or obligation as may be prescribed by or under this Law or any other legislation administered by the DFSA; and carry out or comply with any other duty, not inconsistent with any DIFC Law, that is conferred on him by the Fund s Constitution. (4) A Fund Manager shall take reasonable steps to ensure that its officers, employees and agents comply with their obligations referred to in Article 22(3). 23. Trustee s duties and functions The Trustee of an Investment Trust shall carry out its functions and duties in respect of the Fund in accordance with this Law, the Investment Trust Law 2006 and any rules made for the purposes of these laws. 24. General powers including delegations and outsourcing (1) A Fund Manager of a Domestic Fund shall have all the powers that are required or necessary for it to carry out its functions and discharge its duties as set out under the Fund s Constitution and the most recent Prospectus in accordance with this Law, any other DFSA administered law, or rules made for the purposes of those laws. (2) A Fund Manager may, subject to any restriction in the Domestic Fund s Constitution and subject to any Rules made for the purposes of this Article, delegate any of its activities or outsource any of its functions, to another person (a service provider ). (3) Where the Fund Manager delegates an activity or outsources a function, the Fund Manager remains responsible to Unitholders for any acts or omissions of the service provider as if they were the acts or omissions of the Fund Manager even where the service provider acted fraudulently or outside the scope of its authority or engagement. Chapter 4: Retirement or removal of the Fund Manager 25. Retirement or removal of a Fund Manager (1) A Fund Manager may voluntarily retire as the Fund Manager of a Domestic Fund only where: a replacement Fund Manager has been appointed to the Fund in accordance with the requirements in this Law and Rules made for the purposes of this Law; or upon an application made by the Fund Manager or Trustee of the Fund to a Court, the Court has appointed a temporary Fund Manager to the Fund. (2) The DFSA, a Unitholder or a Trustee of a Domestic Fund may make an application to a Court for the removal of the Fund Manager where the Fund Manager: 11
16 no longer meets the requirements of this Law or the Rules; or engages, or has engaged in, any activities that may constitute misconduct, default or breach of any duty of the Fund Manager. (3) The Court may, upon application made under Article 25(2), make one or more of the following orders: an order for the appointment of a temporary Fund Manager; an order for the winding up of the Fund pursuant to this Law; or any other order as the Court considers just and equitable and in the interests of the Fund and of its Unitholders. (4) The DFSA shall make Rules prescribing the manner and circumstances in which the Unitholders may approve the appointment of a new Fund Manager, or seek a Court order for the replacement of the existing Fund Manager or any other matter relevant or necessary to give effect to the provisions in this Article. 12
17 PART 4: ESTABLISHMENT AND OPERATION OF DOMESTIC FUNDS Chapter 1: Requirements applicable to all Domestic Funds 26. Permitted form of a Domestic Fund (1) Every Domestic Fund shall be one of the following: an Investment Company; an Investment Partnership; or an Investment Trust. (2) In Article 26(1), an Investment Company includes a Protected Cell Company. (3) The DFSA may, by Rules, prescribe: (i) (ii) which of the forms referred to in Article 26(1) may be used by a specialist class of Domestic Funds; and any additional criteria, requirements or conditions applicable to such a Fund. 27. General requirements (1) Every Domestic Fund shall have: a written Constitution which complies with the Rules; a purpose that is reasonably capable of being successfully carried into effect; an auditor appointed to it in accordance with Part 6; (d) (e) (f) if it is an Investment Trust, a Trustee appointed to the Fund in accordance with the requirements in the Investment Trust Law 2006; if it is not an Investment Trust, an eligible person with whom the legal title to the Fund Property is registered; and in the case of an open-ended Fund, single pricing for the purposes of redemption and re-issue or sale of Units in the Fund where the price of a Unit is calculated by reference to the net asset value of the property of the Fund to which the Units relate and in accordance with the Rules. (2) Any provision in the Constitution of a Domestic Fund is void in so far as it would have the effect of exempting the Fund, the Fund Manager and if appointed, the Trustee from liability for any failure to discharge their obligations under this Law, the Regulatory Law 2004, the Law Regulating Islamic Financial Business 2004, the Investment Trust Law 2006 or any rules made for the purposes of these laws. 13
18 (3) The DFSA shall, for the purposes of Article 27(1)(e), by Rules, prescribe the criteria that a person must meet to be considered eligible and such Rules may permit the Fund Manager to be considered eligible for the purposes of a particular type of, or a specialist class of, a Domestic Fund. (4) If, in the opinion of the DFSA, the name of a Fund or of a Sub-Fund of a Fund conflicts with the name of another Fund or is undesirable or misleading, it may direct the Fund Manager to change the name of the Fund or the Sub-Fund. Chapter 2: Registration requirement applicable to Public Funds 28. Registration requirement (1) Every Domestic Fund which is a Public Fund shall be registered with the DFSA. (2) The DFSA shall register a Public Fund if the Fund meets all the requirements in the Law. (3) The application for the registration of a Public Fund shall be made to the DFSA by the Fund Manager or, if the Fund is an Investment Trust, jointly by the Fund Manager and the Trustee, of that Fund. (4) Such an application shall: be accompanied by the Fund s Constitution and Prospectus both of which shall be in accordance with the requirements of this Law and any Rules; and comply with any other requirements prescribed by the DFSA in relation to such Funds, including the applications. (5) The DFSA shall, by Rules, prescribe the requirements which an application for registration must meet before such an application can be accepted by the DFSA. 29. Providing information in relation to the application (1) The DFSA may require the Fund Manager, and if relevant the Trustee, to provide additional information reasonably required for the DFSA to be able to make a decision with regard to the application. (2) If, at any time between the filing of an application for registration and the grant of a registration, the Fund Manager or, if appointed, the Trustee becomes aware of any material change, error or omission reasonably likely to be relevant to the application under consideration, it shall inform the DFSA in writing of such change without delay. 30. Rejection of an application (1) The DFSA may, in its discretion, refuse to grant an application for registration of a Public Fund. 14
19 (2) Upon refusing to grant registration, the DFSA shall, without undue delay, inform the Fund Manager and, if appointed, the Trustee in writing of such refusal and, where requested by the Fund Manager or Trustee, the reasons for such refusal. 31. Granting registration (1) The DFSA shall grant the registration to come into effect on a specified date. (2) Where the DFSA registers a Public Fund, it shall, without undue delay, inform the Fund Manager and, if relevant, the Trustee in writing of: that decision; and the date on which the registration shall come into effect. 32. Withdrawal of registration (1) The DFSA may, subject to Article 32(2), withdraw the registration of a Public Fund where one or more of the following circumstances apply: (d) (e) (f) (g) (h) the Fund is not operating or has been wound up; any information provided to the DFSA by the Fund Manager or, if appointed, the Trustee, is false or misleading in a material particular or materially misleading; the Fund Manager or, if appointed, the Trustee has contravened a requirement imposed on it by or under this Law or the Investment Trust Law 2006; the Fund Manager or, if appointed, the Trustee or member of the Fund s Governing Body has not complied with a direction issued by the DFSA under the Law; a person other than a member of the Fund s Governing Body, Shari a Supervisory Board, the Trustee or a person providing oversight functions is exercising significant influence over the Fund, the Fund Manager or any member of the Fund s Governing Body; the Fund Manager is no longer fit and proper to manage the Fund or is incapable of acting as the Fund Manager of the Fund in compliance with the Law or Rules or the terms of its Constitution; the Trustee is no longer fit and proper to act as Trustee of the Fund or is incapable of acting as Trustee of the Fund in compliance with this Law or Rules or the terms of its Constitution and the Investment Trust Law 2006; the Fund Manager or, if appointed, the Trustee requests the DFSA to withdraw the registration of the Fund on the grounds that the Unitholders have passed a Special Resolution approving the Fund to be deregistered; 15
20 (i) (j) the Fund Manager is no longer authorised under its Licence to manage the Fund; or in the case of a an External Fund Manager, that person ceases to meet the requirements in Article 20(5). (2) The DFSA may withdraw the registration of a Fund under Article 32(1) only if it considers that: the withdrawal is in the interests of the Unitholders of the Fund; or appropriate steps have been taken or may reasonably be taken to protect the interests of the Unitholders. (3) Where the DFSA has withdrawn, or proposes to withdraw, a registration under this Article, it may, by written notice, direct the Fund Manager, or if appointed, the Trustee to take such steps as the DFSA considers necessary or desirable to protect the interests of Unitholders in the Fund. (4) Unless the DFSA withdraws the registration of the Fund upon an application made by the Fund Manager or where relevant the Trustee or on the grounds the Fund Manager is no longer authorised under its Licence to manage the Fund, the DFSA shall only do so if it has given the relevant Fund Manager and, if appointed, the Trustee a suitable opportunity to make representations in person and in writing to the DFSA in relation to the proposed withdrawal and the DFSA has informed the Fund Manager or where relevant the Trustee in writing of its response to any such representation. (5) Upon deciding to withdraw a registration, the DFSA shall, without undue delay, inform the Fund Manager and where relevant the Trustee in writing of: its decision; the date on which the withdrawal of registration shall come into effect; and if requested by the Fund Manager or the Trustee, the reasons for its decision. (6) The Court may order the DFSA to withdraw the registration of a Public Fund. 33. Reinstatement (1) Where a Public Fund has been deregistered, an application for the reinstatement of the Fund may be made to the Court by: a person aggrieved by the deregistration; or a person who was winding up the Fund. (2) Upon such application, the Court may, if it is satisfied that it is just and equitable to do so: make an order that the DFSA reinstate the registration of the Fund: and 16
21 give any directions it thinks just for putting the Fund and other persons in the same position, as far as possible, as if the Fund had not been deregistered. Chapter 3: Notification requirement applicable to Private and Exempt Funds 34. Notification requirement (1) The Fund Manager of a Private Fund or Exempt Fund shall notify the DFSA at least 14 days prior to the initial, and in the case of if a closed-ended Fund any subsequent, Offer to issue Units in the Fund (2) Such a notification must be made in the manner prescribed in the Rules and include the name of the Fund and the type of Fund and any further details required under such Rules. (3) If a Domestic Fund can no longer meet the Private Fund or Exempt Fund criteria in Article 16(3) or (4) as applicable, the Fund Manager of that Fund shall apply either for the registration of the Fund as a Public Fund under Article 28 or for the winding up of that Fund as provided under Part 8 of this Law. Chapter 4: Alterations to a Domestic Fund 35. Alterations (1) Subject to Article 35(6): changes to a Domestic Fund s Constitution or Prospectus in respect of investment, borrowing or gearing powers may be made; or the Fund Manager, the Trustee, a member of the Governing Body or the auditor of a Fund may be replaced; If, an appropriate Special Resolution has been passed, by the Unitholders at a meeting convened by the Unitholders solely for that purpose. (2) Any other materially significant changes not falling within Article 35(1), such as, replacing a member of the Shari a Supervisory Board or changes to the Constitution or Prospectus which may adversely affect the Unitholders may be made in relation to a Fund if an appropriate ordinary resolution has been passed by a simple majority of the Unitholders at a meeting convened for that purpose. (3) If the Fund Manager and if appointed, the Trustee, consider on reasonable grounds that the change is not one that falls within Article 35(1) or (2) and will not adversely affect Unitholders rights, such change may be made by the Fund Manager without recourse to the Unitholders other than to notify them after the change has been effected. (4) The DFSA may, by Rules, prescribe further requirements applicable for any changes to the Fund including the changes referred to in this Article. 17
22 (5) The Fund Manager of a Domestic Fund shall give notice in writing to the DFSA of any proposal specified in Article 35(1). Any such notice given to the DFSA shall be accompanied by a certificate signed by the Fund Manager and if appointed, the Trustee, of the Fund to the effect that the proposed change will not affect compliance with this Law or any Rules made under this law. (6) Effect is not to be given to any proposal notified to the DFSA under Article 35(5) unless the DFSA has, by notice in writing, given its approval to the proposal. (7) An approved change must not be made to the trust deed of an Investment Trust except by a deed, expressed to be supplemental to the trust deed, entered into jointly by the Fund Manager and the Trustee. 36. Rejection of proposed alteration (1) The DFSA may in its absolute discretion refuse to grant approval of a proposed alteration. (2) Upon refusing to grant approval, the DFSA shall, in writing and without undue delay, inform the Fund Manager, if appointed, the Trustee, and the Domestic Fund as is appropriate, of such refusal and, where requested by the Fund, the reasons for such refusal. Chapter 5: Suspension of dealings in an open-ended Domestic Fund 37. Suspension of dealings in Units (1) The Fund Manager may, in the case of an open-ended Domestic Fund, temporarily suspend the issue, cancellation, sale and redemption of Units ( dealings in Units ) in the Fund where: due to exceptional circumstances it is in the interest of the Unitholders in the Fund to do so; and if there is an appointed Trustee: (i) (ii) it has obtained the prior agreement of the Trustee for the suspension of dealings in Units; or in the event that no agreement can be reached with the Trustee, upon request to the DFSA, the DFSA has issued a stop order under Article 69. (2) The Fund Manager shall continue the suspension of dealings in Units only for so long as it reasonably believes that the suspension is in the interests of the Unitholders of the Fund. (3) Upon suspension of dealings in Units, the Fund Manager shall, in writing, notify the DFSA immediately, and the Unitholders as soon as practicable, of the suspension and its reasons for doing so. 18
23 (4) This Article and Rules made for the purposes of this Article apply to an open-ended cell of a Protected Cell Company as if that cell were an open-ended Fund. (5) The DFSA may, by Rules, prescribe any additional requirements or matters relating to the suspension of dealings in Units in an open-ended Domestic Fund. 19
24 PART 5: GOVERNANCE OF DOMESTIC FUNDS Chapter 1: Fund s systems and controls 38. Systems and controls requirement (1) A Fund Manager of a Domestic Fund shall establish and maintain systems and controls including but not limited to financial and other risk controls to ensure sound management of the Fund: in accordance with the Fund s Constitution, its most recent Prospectus, this Law and the Rules made for the purposes of this Law; and taking account of the risks to which the Fund may be exposed, due to the nature, scale and complexity of the Fund s investments and operations. (2) The DFSA may, by Rules, prescribe any additional requirements relating to systems and controls that must be established and implemented by the Fund Manager of certain types of, or specialist classes of, Domestic Funds. Chapter 2: Oversight of Public Funds 39. Requirements relating to oversight arrangements (1) A Fund Manager of a Domestic Fund which is, or is to be, a Public Fund shall: establish and maintain one of the permitted oversight arrangements prescribed in the Rules; and ensure that a person appointed to carry out the oversight function for the Fund meets: (i) (ii) the independence criteria set out in Article 42 of this Law; and any additional suitability criteria prescribed in Rules made for the purposes of this Article. (4) The DFSA may, in its absolute discretion, at any time object to a particular oversight arrangement or an individual appointed to carry out the oversight function for a Fund and require the Fund Manager to appoint a replacement. (5) The DFSA shall notify the Fund Manager of such objection in writing and, where requested by the Fund Manager, the reasons for such objection. 40. Powers and functions of the persons undertaking the oversight function (1) The Fund Manager shall ensure that each person undertaking the oversight function for the Fund is appointed with the necessary powers and resources to discharge its duties and functions and is required to: monitor whether the Fund Manager is: 20
25 (i) (ii) managing the Fund in accordance with the Constitution and the most recent Prospectus of the Fund and any investments and borrowing limitations or other restrictions imposed on the Fund under this Law or any Rules made for the purposes of this Law; and complying with any terms and conditions on the Fund Manager s Licence, particularly with respect to the management of the Fund; and (d) assess whether the Fund Manager s systems and controls, particularly those relating to risk management and compliance, operate as intended and remain adequate; report to the Fund Manager on its findings, including any actual or potential breaches or inadequacies in relation to the matters specified in Article 40(1) and, as soon as such breaches or inadequacies are identified or suspected; and report to the DFSA if: (i) (ii) the Fund Manager has failed, or appears likely to fail, to take appropriate action to rectify or remedy a matter reported to it within 30 days of that matter being so reported; and that person believes that the matter has had, or is likely to have, a materially adverse impact on the interests of the Unitholders of the Fund. (2) The DFSA may, by Rules, prescribe any additional matters or requirements relating to the oversight function or persons providing the oversight function for a Public Fund, including any period shorter than the period referred to in Article 40(1)(d) for reporting certain matters to the DFSA. 41. Duties of a person providing oversight functions (1) Each person appointed to provide the oversight function to a Fund shall: (d) act honestly; exercise the degree of care and diligence that a reasonable person would exercise if he were in that person s position; act in the best interests of the Unitholders in the Fund and, if there is a conflict between the Unitholders interests and his own interests, give priority to the Unitholders interests; not make improper use of his position, or information acquired in that position, in order to: (i) gain an improper advantage for himself or another person; or 21
26 (ii) cause detriment to Unitholders in the Fund; (e) (f) (g) disclose to the Fund s auditor any information relevant for the auditor to discharge its obligations; comply with any other duty or obligation as the DFSA may prescribe under this Law or any other legislation administered by the DFSA, and carry out or comply with any other duty, not inconsistent with DIFC Law, that is conferred on him by the Fund s Constitution. (2) A person providing the oversight function for a Fund is to take all reasonable steps to assist the DFSA in exercising its powers under Part 5 of the Regulatory Law (3) Without limiting the application of any provision of this Law and any Rules made for the purposes of this Law, a person providing oversight function does not contravene any duty to which that person is subject where that person gives to the DFSA: a notification as required under this chapter; or any other information or opinion in relation to any such matter; 42. Independence if the person is acting in good faith and reasonably believes that the notification, information or opinion is relevant to any functions of the DFSA. (1) A person providing the oversight function meets the independence criteria specified in Article 39(1)(i) if, subject to Article 42(3), he: (d) (e) is not, and has not been in the previous 2 years, an employee or an executive director or officer of the Fund Manager or a body corporate in the same group (a related body corporate ); is not, and has not been in the previous 2 years, involved in material business dealings, or in a professional capacity, with the Fund Manager or a related body corporate; is not a member of a partnership or a trustee of a trust that is, or has been in the previous 2 years, substantially involved in business dealings, or in a professional capacity, with the Fund Manager or a related body corporate; does not have a material interest in the Fund Manager or a related body corporate; is not a relative or de facto spouse of a person who has a material interest in the Fund Manager or a related body corporate of a kind described in Article 42(1) and to (d); and 22
27 (f) if he is a person acting for the Trustee of the Fund where the latter is appointed for providing the oversight function, meets the independence criteria set out in Article 19 of the Investment Trust Law (2) A person does not cease to be independent for the purposes of this Article merely by virtue of being appointed as a person providing the oversight function for a Fund. (3) The DFSA may, by Rules, prescribe when a legal entity appointed as the person providing the oversight function to a Fund may or may not meet the independence criteria for the purposes of this Article. 23
28 PART 6: AUDITORS OF DOMESTIC FUNDS 43. Appointment and removal of auditors (1) The Fund Manager of a Domestic Fund shall: for the purposes of Article 27(1) and subject to Article 43(7), appoint an auditor; and at each annual general meeting appoint an auditor to hold office from the conclusion of that meeting to the conclusion of the next annual general meeting; or at the beginning of each financial year appoint an auditor to hold office until the beginning of the next financial year. (2) The appointment of a firm as an auditor of a Domestic Fund is taken to be an appointment of all persons who are partners of the firm. (3) A Fund Manager and, if appointed, the Trustee shall ensure that at all times the Fund has an auditor. (4) The Fund Manager shall not appoint to a Domestic Fund an auditor under this Article unless: the auditor has, prior to the appointment, consented in writing to serve as the auditor for the Domestic Fund; the Fund Manager and, if appointed, the Trustee is not, on reasonable inquiry, aware of any matter which should preclude the auditor from giving its consent under Article 43(5); and the auditor is registered with the DFSA in accordance with Part 8 of the Regulatory Law (5) An auditor shall not consent to an appointment as an auditor of a Domestic Fund if: the auditor has, or may reasonably be perceived to have, a conflict of interest of a nature prescribed in the Rules; the auditor does not have, or may reasonably be perceived not to have, a requisite degree of independence from the Fund Manager and, if appointed, the Trustee or other members of the Governing Body of the Domestic Fund as prescribed in the Rules; or the auditor or any associate of the auditor in a firm or business undertaking has acted as an auditor of the Fund Manager and, if appointed, the Trustee within such earlier period or frequency as prescribed in the Rules. 24
29 (6) The Fund Manager of a Domestic Fund may, subject to Articles 43(7) and 46, at any time remove an auditor notwithstanding anything in any agreement between it and the auditor. (7) In the case of an Investment Trust, the Fund Manager must obtain the prior approval of the Trustee before carrying out any activities under Article 43 in relation to the appointment or removal of an auditor. (8) The Court may, on an application made by the DFSA, order the removal of an auditor of a Domestic Fund. (9) Nothing in this Article is to be taken as depriving an auditor removed under it of compensation or damages payable to the auditor in respect of the termination of appointment as auditor. 44. Auditor's reports (1) An auditor of a Domestic Fund must make an audit report. (2) The DFSA may make Rules in relation to: the functions to be carried out by an auditor when auditing a Domestic Fund s accounts; the scope of the auditor s audit report; and the scope of ad-hoc reports of the auditor. 45. Auditors' duties (1) An auditor shall, in preparing the audit report in relation to the accounts of a Domestic Fund, carry out such investigations as will enable the auditor to form an opinion as to the following matters: (d) whether proper accounting records have been kept by the Fund Manager and, if appointed, the Trustee in respect of the Domestic Fund; whether the Domestic Fund s accounts are in agreement with the accounting records and regulatory returns; whether the Domestic Fund s accounts have been prepared in compliance with the applicable accounting standards; and whether the accounts of the Domestic Fund represent a true and fair view of the financial condition and state of affairs of the Domestic Fund. (2) If the auditor is of the opinion that proper accounting records have not been kept, or that the accounts are not in agreement with the accounting records and returns, or that the accounts do not comply with applicable accounting standards, the auditor shall state that fact in the audit report. 25
30 (3) If the auditor fails to obtain all the information and explanations which, to the best of the auditor s knowledge and belief are necessary for the purposes of the audit, the auditor shall state that fact in the report. (4) An auditor shall disclose to the Trustee and the person providing oversight function of a Public Fund any information relevant to such person s role. 46. Resignation of an auditor (1) An auditor of a Domestic Fund may resign from office by depositing a notice in writing to that effect together with a statement under Article 46(2) at the Domestic Fund s registered office and with the DFSA; and any such notice operates to bring its term of office to an end on the date on which the notice is deposited, or on such later date as may be specified in it. (2) When an auditor ceases for any reason to hold office the auditor shall deposit at the Domestic Fund s and, if appointed, the Trustee s registered office and with the DFSA: a statement to the effect that there are no circumstances connected with the ceasing to hold office which the auditor considers should be brought to the notice of the Unitholders or creditors of the Domestic Fund; or if there are any circumstances as are mentioned above, a statement of the nature of such circumstances. (3) Where an auditor s statement falls within Article 46(2), the Fund Manager, or failing which, the other members of the Governing Body of the Domestic Fund or, if appointed the Trustee, shall provide to the DFSA any response to the auditor s statement along with a copy of that statement. 47. Co-operation with auditors (1) A Domestic Fund, any member of its Governing Body, any person providing oversight, any officer, employee or agent of the Domestic Fund, its Fund Manager or where appointed its Trustee, shall not knowingly or recklessly make to the auditor a statement (whether written or oral) which: conveys or purports to convey any information or explanation which the auditor requires, or is entitled to require, as auditor of the Domestic Fund; and is either: (i) (ii) false, misleading or deceptive in a material particular; or such that it omits information where the omission of such information is likely to mislead or deceive the auditor. 26