FAQs: IBCE Account Migration

Overview: 

This is an important document regarding the proposed transfer of your account from IBLUX to IBCE that requires your attention. Please read the entirety of this document ahead of taking any action referred to in the Covering Letter sent to you via email.

Background: 

Please take time to read this FAQs, which summarises some of the key changes to the regulatory framework which will be brought about by the Proposed Transfer (as described below) and provides answers to some of the more general questions that you may have. The FAQs should be read in conjunction with the Covering Letter and the documents that are attached to the Covering Letter. If you require any further information, please get in touch with us using the contact details provided in the Covering Letter.

This FAQs is split into three parts.
 
  • Part A sets out key information in relation to the Proposed Transfer (as described below).
  • Part B covers key legal and regulatory topics that arise as a result of the Proposed Transfer (as described below).
  • Part C aims to answer any other questions that you may have and provides some further and more practical information in relation to what will and will not be changing following the Proposed Transfer (as described below).
 
PART A – THE PROPOSED TRANSFER
 
1.     What is the situation currently and why do things have to change?
 
Interactive Brokers Luxembourg SARL was granted authorisation by the Luxembourg Financial Sector Supervisory Commission (Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier, CSSF) to operate as an investment firm in November 2019. At that time, the CSSF imposed a limit of 10,000 accounts on IBLUX, which we accepted with the hope that this limit would be relaxed. As time has passed, we have recognised that our initial aspiration to grow a European business via IBLUX no longer makes sense since the bulk of Interactive Brokers’ European business has moved to other Interactive Brokers entities over the past four months in recognition of Brexit. Therefore, in the coming months, we will cease IBLUX’s regulated business, and as a result, we will need to make some changes in relation to which legal entity does business with you.
 
2.     What are the “changes” envisaged above?
 
We propose to transfer the business that you currently conduct with IBLUX to our affiliate, Interactive Brokers Central Europe Zrt. (“IBCE”). In other words, it is our intention that all of your accounts, investments and services currently provided to you by IBLUX will instead be provided by IBCE (for convenience we will refer to this as the “Proposed Transfer”).
 
3.     When will the Proposed Transfer occur?
 
The Proposed Transfer will occur soon after 30th June 2021. We will alert you just before processing the transfer of your account.
 
4.     Who is IBCE? What sort of a firm is it?
 
IBCE, an investment service provider, is licensed and authorized by the Central Bank of Hungary. IBCE’s regulatory status and profile is very similar to IBLUX’s. This is because both IBCE and IBLUX are authorised pursuant to the second Markets in Financial Instruments Directive (Directive 2014/65/EU). This is an EU-wide piece of legislation the purpose of which is to, as much as possible, harmonise how investment firms are regulated across the EU.
 
This does not mean there are not some differences between the legislation that applies to your relationship with IBLUX at present and that which will apply once your account is transferred to IBCE. We explain this in more detail in Part B of this FAQs.
 
5.     What are IBCE’s legal details?
 
Interactive Brokers Central Europe Zrt. is registered as a private company limited by shares (registration number 01-10-141029) and is listed in the Register of Companies maintained by the Metropolitan Court of Registration. Its registered address is Budapest, Madách Imre út 13-14, 1075, phone number is +36 80 088400, and email address is ibce@interactivebrokers.com. 
 
6.     Who will regulate IBCE and what are their contact details?
 
The Central Bank of Hungary will be the competent regulator for IBCE (in the same way that the Luxembourg Financial Sector Supervisory Commission (“CSSF”) is the competent regulator for IBLUX).  The Central Bank of Hungary’s contact details are set out below: 
 
Location
Central Bank of Hungary
1054 Budapest
Szabadság tér 9.
Hungary
 
Postal Address 
Magyar Nemzeti Bank
BKKP Pf. 777
 
Client Service, client complaints  
Address: 1013 Budapest, Krisztina krt. 39.
Phone:  +36 80 203 776
 
7.     Where does IBCE fit with respect to the broader Interactive Brokers group?
 
IBCE is a wholly-owned subsidiary that sits within the broader Interactive Brokers Group.
 
8.     What does the Proposed Transfer mean for me? Will there be any material impacts?
 
We do not anticipate any material impacts for you as a result of the Proposed Transfer. Nonetheless, it is very important that you read this FAQs carefully and in full and make sure that you understand what the changes are for you.
 
9.     What do I have to do if I want to continue doing business with Interactive Brokers?
 
If you would like to continue to do business with Interactive Brokers, we require your cooperation and action.
 
Specifically, we need you to consent and agree to the Customer Agreement and other Documents available under the Important Information section of the Proposed Transfer process and to the regulatory matters outlined in the Covering Letter, the Important Information and Consent sections of the Proposed Transfer process. You can do this by following the instructions in the Covering Letter.
 
To be clear, you do not have to consent to the Proposed Transfer if you feel that you may be adversely affected by it. However, you should be aware that if you decide to decline or do nothing, IBLUX will not be able to keep servicing your account after its license is relinquished. As part of the process, your account may be restricted, and your account may be forced closed. You have the ability to transfer the positions in your account to another broker within 30 days of receiving the communication inviting you to transfer your account. If you wish to decline, please follow the instructions in the Covering Letter.
 
In either case, we ask that you read the entirety of this FAQs and the Covering Letter before deciding to consent to or decline the Proposed Transfer.
 
10.What happens next?
 
If you consent to the transfer, please complete all actions detailed in the Covering Letter and we will prepare your account for the Proposed Transfer.  Following the Proposed Transfer, IBCE will write to you with further information about your new relationship with them.
 
PART B – LEGAL AND REGULATORY CHANGES THAT YOU SHOULD BE AWARE OF
 
1.     What terms and conditions will govern my relationship with IBCE following the Proposed Transfer? Are these different to the ones that currently apply?
 
Trades that you conduct after the Proposed Transfer will be governed by the new Customer Agreement between you and IBCE. A copy of the new Customer Agreement is available in the Important Information section of the Proposed Transfer process. Please see the response to Question A3 above in relation to the timing for the Proposed Transfer.
 
2.     What conduct of business rules (including best execution) will apply to my relationship with IBCE? Are there any material differences that will apply to my relationship with IBCE compared to those that apply to my existing relationship with IBLUX?
 
The Luxembourg conduct of business rules currently apply to your account with IBLUX. These rules are based heavily on the recast Markets in Financial Instruments Directive, the Markets in Financial Regulation and various delegated directives and regulations (collectively, “MiFID”).  
 
Similar to the Luxembourg conduct of business rules, the Hungarian conduct of business rules are based on MiFID.
 
3.     How will my investments that I custody with IBCE be held from a legal/regulatory perspective? Are there any material differences that will apply to my relationship with IBCE compared to those that apply to my existing relationship with IBLUX?
 
Luxembourg custody rules currently apply to your accounts with IBLUX. These rules are based heavily on MiFID.  
 
Going forward, Hungarian custody rules will apply to your relationship with IBCE.  Like the Luxembourg custody rules, the Hungarian conduct of business rules are based on MiFID.  
 
4.     How am I protected against loss? Are there any material differences that will apply to my relationship with IBCE compared to those that apply to my existing relationship with IBLUX?
 
After the Proposed Transfer, the Hungarian Investor Protection Fund according to Act CXX of 2001 on the Capital Market may protect your assets from loss, at an amount up to a maximum of EUR 100,000, should IBCE default and be unable to meet its obligations to you. 
 
Hungary's compensation scheme is similar to the compensation scheme you have access to in Luxembourg. The purpose of the Fund is to pay compensation to you in the event that:
  • The Central Bank of Hungary initiates liquidation proceedings of IBCE, or
  • A court orders the liquidation of IBCE. 
IBCE is a member of the Fund (please see https://bva.hu/en/ipf/ipf-members/). 
 
The compensation provided by the Fund covers claims arising from contracts entered into within the agreement with IBCE of brokerage activity, securities custody, securities account management and client account management activities performed by IBCE.
 
You can only make a claim after a firm goes out of business and its assets have been liquidated and distributed to those who are owed money. Please check the details of the schemes for any limits that apply – not all losses will be covered as there are maximum levels of compensation. The Fund will pay you compensation for the amount you have lost up to a maximum of EUR 100,000.
 
The amount paid by the Fund is:
  • 100% up to the limit of the EUR equivalent of one million forints (EUR 2,800 on 12th May 2021),
  • Above one million forints: 1 million forints and 90% of the part above one million forints to a maximum of EUR 100,000.
 
5.     How do I make a complaint to IBCE? Are there any material differences that will apply to my relationship with IBCE compared to those that apply to my existing relationship with IBLUX? What if my complaint relates to something that happened while I was a customer of IBLUX?
 
The General Business Rules of IBCE sets out how to lodge a complaint with IBCE.  The complaints handling procedures are materially similar to those that apply to your existing relationship with IBLUX. If the substance of your complaint relates to something that happened prior to the Proposed Transfer, then you should address your complaint to IBLUX.  
 
6.     After the Proposed Transfer, will I still have access to the CSSF to file a complaint?
In case of a complaint, investors should follow the complaints procedure as referred to in the Customer Agreement. Once the Proposed Transfer has taken place, the CSSF will cease to have jurisdiction over any complaints that you may have in respect of IBLUX. However, please be aware that Hungary has a dispute resolution scheme operated by the Central Bank of Hungary in the form of the Financial Arbitration Board (“FAB”). The FAB is a free and independent statutory dispute resolution scheme for financial services. You may be eligible to make a complaint to the FAB if you are a retail customer.  Details of FAB can be found on https://www.mnb.hu/en/hungarian-financial-arbitration-board
 
The FAB can be contacted at: 
 
Postal Address
Financial Arbitration Board
1525 Budapest
Pf. 172
 
Email
 
7.     How will my personal data be processed and protected? Are there any material differences that will apply to my relationship with IBCE compared to those that apply to my existing relationship with IBLUX in this context?
 
Your data will be processed and protected in accordance with the Interactive Brokers Group Privacy Policy which can be found at: https://www.interactivebrokers.com/en/index.php?f=305. There will be no material change.
 
PART C – OTHER PRACTICAL QUESTIONS AND NEXT STEPS
 
1.     Who should I contact before the Proposed Transfer takes place and after the Proposed Transfer if I have any questions in the ordinary course?
 
Generally speaking, you should contact IBLUX with any questions that you may have prior to the Proposed Transfer, and you should contact IBCE with any questions that you may have following the Proposed Transfer taking place.  Regardless of who you contact at Interactive Brokers, we will ensure your query is promptly dealt with and we will help you to connect with the right person or department.
 
2.     Will the range of products offered be the same?
 
The differences in the offerings are as follows: 
 
  • Metals CFDs are offered by IBCE but spot and OTC metals futures are not.
  • Trading securities and derivatives in all the same markets you can now but if you trade outside of the Allowed Deposit Currencies (see #7) and the transaction results in a long cash balance we will auto-convert to your base currency.  If the transaction results in a short cash balance there will be no further action by IBCE as you can borrow in all available IBKR global currencies.
For further information please see “IBCE Multi-Currency Account Foreign Exchange Restrictions Disclosure”.
 
3.     Will the range of services be the same?
 
These are the changes to the services you are currently offered: 
  • GFIS investment research will not be available to clients of IBCE, but we plan to offer the service in the future. However, GFIS market data and news service offerings are unaffected.
 
4.     I currently trade OTC derivatives with IBLUX – what will happen to my open positions?
 
Your open positions will be transferred to IBCE and you will face IBCE rather than IBLUX. You will no longer have any legal relationship with IBLUX in relation to those positions. Please follow the link to the PRIIPs KID landing page in the Covering Letter.
 
5.     What happens to any security I have granted to IBLUX as part of a margin loan?
 
If you have granted security or collateral to IBLUX this will transfer to IBCE upon the Proposed Transfer taking place. You will be presented with two new contracts for your existing margin loan:
  • Investment Loan Framework contract
  • Securities Lending Framework contract
These will operate similarly to your existing margin loan account with the only difference being you will pay service fees to IBCE for entering into the stock borrow transaction on your behalf instead of paying interest.  This may have tax consequences depending on your country of residence.
 
6.     Will I have access to the same trading platform or be subject to any software changes following migrations?
 
The migration will have no impact upon the software you use to trade or administer your account. The technology will remain the same as it is today.
 
7.     Will all account balances be transferred at the same time and what is the timing?
 
IBCE will support a limited number of deposit currencies.  The following ten cash deposit currencies, the “Allowed Deposit Currencies” are:
 
  • EUR, USD, GBP, CHF, DKK, NOK, SEK, HUF, CZK and PLN
You will be required to nominate a base currency from the Allowed Deposit Currencies and if you hold long cash balances in other currencies, you will be required to convert those balances to one of the Allowed Deposit Currencies before migration.
 
In accordance with the client asset protection rules in Hungary, client funds must be protected in the same form that they were received by the broker.  This contrasts with your previous broker, IBLUX, whose regulatory client asset rules allowed them to protect your funds in equivalent value in another currency.   
 
Short currency balances are unaffected.  You may borrow in any currency that the IBKR group offers.
 
All cash balances, with the exception of accruals (e.g., interest, dividends) will be transferred at the same time. Once accruals have been settled and posted to cash, they will automatically be swept to IBCE. Once all accruals have been swept, your current account at IBLUX will be closed and inaccessible for trading purposes. You will still be able to access this closed account via the Client Portal for purposes of viewing and printing historical statements.
 
8.     Will all security, derivative, and commodity positions be transferred at the same time?
 
All positions will be transferred to your new account at the same time except for OTC metals futures and spot metals.  You will be requested to trade out of those positions before conversion to an IBCE account.
 
9.     What will happen to my current account following migration? 
 
Your current account will close once all accruals have been posted to cash and transferred to the migrated account.  Once closed, it will be inaccessible for trading purposes, however, it will remain accessible via an account selector from the Client Portal for purposes of viewing and printing historical statements.
 
10.    Will IBKR’s commissions and fees change when my account is migrated? 
 
IBKR commissions and fees do not vary by the broker your account is maintained with.
 
There are changes to the interest and fees on cash balances. IBCE will not pay interest on credit balances as Hungarian law that governs investment service companies prohibits the payment of interest.  IBCE will charge a currency handling fee for cash balances in currencies that have negative interest rates.
 
11.    Will my trading permissions change when my account is migrated? 
 
No. Your trading permissions will not change when your account is migrated for products that IBCE supports.
 
12.    Will open orders (e.g., Good-til-Canceled) be carried over when my account is migrated? 
 
Open orders will not be carried over to the new account, and we recommend that clients review their orders immediately following the migration to ensure that the open orders are consistent with their trading intentions.
 
13.    Will I receive a single, combined annual activity statement at year end? 
 
No.  Separate daily, monthly, and annual activity statements will be provided for each of your IBLUX and IBCE accounts covering activity during the period each was open. Activity statements will be posted to the Client Portal under the Reports/Tax Docs menu option and you will need to toggle between the two accounts to access their respective statements.
 
14.    Will the current cost basis of positions be carried over when my account is migrated? 
 
Yes, this migration will have no impact upon the cost basis of your positions.
 
15.    Will the migrated account retain the same configuration as the current account? 
 
The configuration of the account following migration will match that of the current account to the extent permissible by regulation. This includes attributes such as margin capability, market data, additional users, and alerts. In limited instances, an account will be migrated to a jurisdiction where the full scope of product eligibility cannot be offered. Client’s holding restricted products may migrate and maintain or close such positions but won’t be allowed to increase the position.
 
16. Will my login credentials change?
 
No. Your username, password, and any 2-factor authentication process in place for your existing account will remain active following migration. You will, however, be assigned a new account ID for your migrated account.
 
 

 

FAQs: IBIE Account Migration

Overview: 

This is an important document regarding the proposed transfer of your account from IBLUX to IBIE that requires your attention. Please read the entirety of this document ahead of taking any action referred to in the Covering Letter sent to you via email.

Background: 

Please take time to read this FAQs, which summarises some of the key changes to the regulatory framework which will be brought about by the Proposed Transfer (as described below) and provides answers to some of the more general questions that you may have. The FAQs should be read in conjunction with the Covering Letter and the documents that are attached to the Covering Letter. If you require any further information, please get in touch with us using the contact details provided in the Covering Letter.

This FAQ is split into three parts.
 
  • Part A sets out key information in relation to the Proposed Transfer (as described below).
  • Part B covers key legal and regulatory topics that arise as a result of the Proposed Transfer (as described below).
  • Part C aims to answer any other questions that you may have and provides some further and more practical information in relation to what will and will not be changing following the Proposed Transfer (as described below).
 
PART A – THE PROPOSED TRANSFER
 
1.     What is the situation currently and why do things have to change?
 
Interactive Brokers Luxembourg SARL was granted authorisation by the Luxembourg Financial Sector Supervisory Commission (Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier, CSSF) to operate as an investment firm in November 2019. At that time, the CSSF imposed a limit of 10,000 accounts on IBLUX, which we accepted with the hope that this limit would be relaxed. As time has passed, we have recognised that our initial aspiration to grow a European business via IBLUX no longer makes sense since the bulk of Interactive Brokers’ European business has moved to other Interactive Brokers entities over the past four months in recognition of Brexit. Therefore, in the coming months, we will cease IBLUX’s regulated business, and as a result, we will need to make some changes in relation to which legal entity does business with you.
 
2.     What are the “changes” envisaged above?
 
We propose to transfer the business that you currently conduct with IBLUX to our Irish affiliate, Interactive Brokers Ireland Limited (“IBIE”).  In other words, it is our intention that all of your accounts, investments and services currently provided to you by IBLUX will instead be provided by IBIE (for convenience we will refer to this as the “Proposed Transfer”).
 
3.     When will the Proposed Transfer occur?
 
The Proposed Transfer will occur soon after 30th June 2021. We will alert you just before processing the transfer of your account.
 
4.     Who is IBIE? What sort of a firm is it?
 
IBIE was granted authorisation by the Central Bank of Ireland to operate as an investment firm in December 2020. IBIE’s regulatory status and profile will be very similar to IBLUX’s. This is because both IBIE and IBLUX are authorised pursuant to the second Markets in Financial Instruments Directive (Directive 2014/65/EU). This is an EU-wide piece of legislation the purpose of which is to, as much as possible, harmonise how investment firms are regulated across the EU.
 
This does not mean there are not some differences between the legislation that applies to your relationship with IBLUX at present and that which will apply once your account is transferred to IBIE.  We explain this in more detail in Part B of this FAQs.
 
5.     What are IBIE’s legal details?
 
Interactive Brokers Ireland Limited is registered as a private company limited by shares (registration number 657406) and is listed in the Register of Companies maintained by the Irish Companies Registration Office. Its registered address is 10 Earlsfort Terrace, Dublin 2, D02 T380, Ireland.  We are still finalising IBIE’s day-to-day contact details, and we will be in touch with these details in due course. 
 
6.     Who will regulate IBIE and what are their contact details?
 
As set out above the Central Bank of Ireland is the competent regulator for IBIE (in the same way that the Luxembourg Financial Sector Supervisory Commission (“CSSF”) is the competent regulator for IBLUX).  The Central Bank of Ireland’s contact details are set out below:
 
Location
The Central Bank of Ireland
New Wapping Street
North Wall Quay
Dublin 1
D01 F7X3
 
Contact Numbers
Phone: +353 (0)1 224 6000
Fax: +353 (0)1 224 5550
 
Postal Address
Central Bank of Ireland
P.O. Box 559
Dublin 1
 
Public Helpline
E-mail: enquiries@centralbank.ie
Lo-Call: 1890 777 777
Phone: +353 (0)1 224 5800
 
7.     Where does IBIE fit with respect to the broader Interactive Brokers group?
 
IBIE is a wholly-owned subsidiary that sits within the broader Interactive Brokers Group.
 
8.     What does the Proposed Transfer mean for me? Will there be any material impacts?
 
We do not anticipate any material impacts for you as a result of the Proposed Transfer.  Nonetheless, it is very important that you read this FAQs carefully and in full and make sure that you understand what the changes are for you.
 
9.     What do I have to do if I want to continue doing business with Interactive Brokers?
 
If you would like to continue to do business with Interactive Brokers, we require your cooperation and action.
 
Specifically, we need you to consent and agree to the Customer Agreement and other Documents available under the Important Information section of the Proposed Transfer process and to the regulatory matters outlined in the Covering Letter, the Important Information and Consent sections of the Proposed Transfer process.  You can do this by following the instructions in the Covering Letter.
 
To be clear, you do not have to consent to the Proposed Transfer if you feel that you may be adversely affected by it. However, you should be aware that if you decide to decline or do nothing, IBLUX will not be able to keep servicing your account after its license is relinquished. As part of the process, your account may be restricted, and your account may be forced closed. You have the ability to transfer the positions in your account to another broker within 30 days of receiving the communication inviting you to transfer your account. If you wish to decline, please follow the instructions in the Covering Letter.
 
In either case, we ask that you read the entirety of this FAQs and the Covering Letter before deciding to consent to or decline the Proposed Transfer.
 
10.What happens next?
 
If you consent to the transfer, please complete all actions detailed in the Covering Letter and we will prepare your account for the Proposed Transfer.  Following the Proposed Transfer, IBIE will write to you with further information about your new relationship with them.
 
PART B – LEGAL AND REGULATORY CHANGES THAT YOU SHOULD BE AWARE OF
 
1.     What terms and conditions will govern my relationship with IBIE following the Proposed Transfer? Are these different to the ones that currently apply?
 
Trades that you conduct after the Proposed Transfer will be governed by the new Customer Agreement between you and IBIE.  A copy of the new Customer Agreement is available in the Important Information section of the Proposed Transfer process.  Please see the response to Question A3 above in relation to the timing for the Proposed Transfer.
 
2.     What conduct of business rules (including best execution) will apply to my relationship with IBIE? Are there any material differences that will apply to my relationship with IBIE compared to those that apply to my existing relationship with IBLUX?
 
The Luxembourg conduct of business rules currently apply to your account with IBLUX. These rules are based heavily on the recast Markets in Financial Instruments Directive, the Markets in Financial Regulation and various delegated directives and regulations (collectively, “MiFID”).  
 
Similar to the Luxembourg conduct of business rules, the Irish conduct of business rules are based on MiFID.
 
3.     How will my investments that I custody with IBIE be held from a legal/regulatory perspective? Are there any material differences that will apply to my relationship with IBIE compared to those that apply to my existing relationship with IBLUX?
 
Luxembourg custody rules currently apply to your accounts with IBLUX. These rules are based heavily on MiFID.  
 
Going forward, Irish custody rules will apply to your relationship with IBIE.  Like the Luxembourg custody rules, the Irish conduct of business rules are based on MiFID.  Please consult the Client Assets Key Information Document attached in the Important Information section in relation to the Irish custody regime.
 
4.     How am I protected against loss? Are there any material differences that will apply to my relationship with IBIE compared to those that apply to my existing relationship with IBLUX?
 
Ireland’s compensation scheme is similar to the compensation scheme you have access to in Luxembourg. The purpose of the Irish Investor Compensation Scheme is to pay compensation to you (subject to certain limits) if you have invested money or investment instruments in either of the following cases:
 
  • A firm goes out of business and cannot return your investments or money; and
  • A Central Bank of Ireland determination or a court ruling has been made under the Investor Compensation Act 1998;
 
The Investor Compensation Company DAC (ICCL) administers the scheme. IBIE will be a member of the scheme.
 
The scheme covers investment products including:
 
  • Public and private company shares
  • Units in collective investment schemes
  • Life insurance policies (including unit-linked funds)
  • Non-life insurance policies
  • Tracker bonds
  • Futures and options
 
Usually, you can only make a claim after a firm goes out of business and its assets have been liquidated and distributed to those who are owed money. Please check the details of the schemes for any limits that apply – not all losses will be covered as there are maximum levels of compensation.  The ICCL will pay you compensation for 90% of the amount you have lost, up to a maximum of €20,000.
 
5.     How do I make a complaint to IBIE? Are there any material differences that will apply to my relationship with IBIE compared to those that apply to my existing relationship with IBLUX? What if my complaint relates to something that happened while I was a customer of IBLUX?
 
The new Customer Agreement sets out how to lodge a complaint with IBIE.  The complaints handling procedures are materially similar to those that apply to your existing relationship with IBLUX.  If the substance of your complaint relates to something that happened prior to the Proposed Transfer, then you should address your complaint to IBLUX.  
 
6.     After the Proposed Transfer, will I still have access to the CSSF to file a complaint?
 
In case of a complaint, investors should follow the complaints procedure as referred to in the Customer Agreement.  Once the Proposed Transfer has taken place, the CSSF will cease to have jurisdiction over any complaints that you may have in respect of IBLUX.  However, please be aware that Ireland has a dispute resolution scheme in the form of the Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman (“FSPO”). The FSPO is a free and independent statutory dispute resolution scheme for financial services.  You may be eligible to make a complaint to the FSPO if you are an “eligible complainant”.  Details of who are “eligible complainants” can be found on www.fspo.ie. The FSPO can be contacted at:
 
Postal Address
Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman
Lincoln House,
Lincoln Place
Dublin 2
D02 VH29
 
Telephone
+353 (0)1 567 7000
 
Email
 
7.     How will my personal data be processed and protected? Are there any material differences that will apply to my relationship with IBIE compared to those that apply to my existing relationship with IBLUX in this context?
 
Your data will be processed and protected in accordance with the Interactive Brokers Group Privacy Policy which can be found at: https://www.interactivebrokers.com/en/index.php?f=305. There will be no material change.
 
PART C – OTHER PRACTICAL QUESTIONS AND NEXT STEPS
 
1.     Who should I contact before the Proposed Transfer takes place and after the Proposed Transfer if I have any questions in the ordinary course?
 
Generally speaking, you should contact IBLUX with any questions that you may have prior to the Proposed Transfer, and you should contact IBIE with any questions that you may have following the Proposed Transfer taking place.  Regardless of who you contact at Interactive Brokers, we will ensure your query is promptly dealt with and we will help you to connect with the right person or department.
 
2.     Will the range of products offered be the same?
 
IBIE will offer the same range of products as IBLUX plus some additional products such as (i) Bonds; (ii) OTC Precious Metals, and (iii) OTC Metal Futures. IBIE will also offer the ability to participate in the Stock Yield Enhancement Programme. Please review the Stock Yield Enhancement Programme Agreement if you are interested in participating.
 
 
3.     I currently trade OTC derivatives with IBLUX – what will happen to my open positions?
 
Your open positions will be transferred to IBIE and you will face IBIE rather than IBLUX.  You will no longer have any legal relationship with IBLUX in relation to those positions.  Please follow the link to the PRIIPs KID landing page in the Covering Letter to consult the applicable Key Investor Information Document.
 
4.     What happens to any security I have granted to IBLUX as part of a margin loan?
 
If you have granted security or collateral to IBLUX this will transfer to IBIE upon the Proposed Transfer taking place.
 
We do not anticipate you needing to take any steps to reflect the change in beneficiary, although we may need to take some administrative steps of our own to update security registers with the change in details. This should, however, not affect our priority or otherwise affect the date from which the security is valid.
 
5.     Will I have access to the same trading platform or be subject to any software changes following migrations?
 
The migration will have no impact upon the software you use to trade or administer your account. The technology will remain the same as it is today.
 
6.     Will all account balances be transferred at the same time?
 
All balances, with the exception of accruals (e.g., interest, dividends) will be transferred at the same time.  Once accruals have been posted to cash, they will automatically be swept to the migrated account.  
 
7.     What will happen to my current account following migration? 
 
Once all accruals have been swept, your current account will be closed and inaccessible for trading purposes.  You will still be able to access this closed account via the Client Portal for purposes of viewing and printing archived activity and tax statements.
 
8.     Will IBKR’s commissions and fees change when my account is migrated? 
 
No. IBKR commissions and fees do not vary by the broker your account is maintained with.
 
9.     Will my trading permissions change when my account is migrated? 
 
No. Your trading permissions will not change when your account is migrated.
 
10. Will open orders (e.g., Good-til-Canceled) be carried over when my account is migrated? 
 
Open orders will not be carried over to the new account, and we recommend that clients review their orders immediately following the migration to ensure that the open orders are consistent with their trading intentions.
 
11. Will I receive a single, combined annual activity statement at year end? 
 
No. You will receive an annual statement of your existing account which will cover the period starting 1 January 2020 through the date of migration and a second annual statement for your new account which will cover the period starting from the migration date through the end of the year.
 
12. Will the current cost basis of positions be carried over when my account is migrated? 
 
Yes, this migration will have no impact upon the cost basis of your positions.
 
13. Will the migrated account retain the same configuration as the current account? 
 
The configuration of the account following migration will match that of the current account to the extent permissible by regulation. This includes attributes such as margin capability, market data, additional users, and alerts. In limited instances, an account will be migrated to a jurisdiction where the full scope of product eligibility cannot be offered. Client’s holding restricted products may migrate and maintain or close such positions but won’t be allowed to increase the position.
 
14. Will my login credentials change?
 
No. Your username, password, and any 2-factor authentication process in place for your existing account will remain active following migration. You will, however, be assigned a new account ID for your migrated account.
 
 

 

Preguntas frecuentes: migración de cuentas a IBCE en torno al Brexit

Overview: 

Este es un documento importante respecto de la transferencia propuesta de su cuenta de IBUK e IBLLC a IBCE que requiere de su atención. Lea el documento completo antes de tomar una decisión respecto de las cuestiones incluidas en la carta de presentación que se le envió por correo electrónico.

 

Background: 

Lea las siguientes preguntas frecuentes cuidadosamente, ya que contiene un resumen de algunos de los cambios claves en el marco normativo vinculados a la Transferencia Propuesta (tal como de describe a continuación) y brinda respuestas a algunas de las interrogantes más generales que pueda tener. Estas preguntas deberían leerse junto con la carta de presentación y los documentos que le enviamos adjuntos a la carta de presentación. En caso de necesitar más información, contacte con nosotros utilizando la información de contacto proporcionada en la carta de presentación. Estas preguntas frecuentes reemplazan a las anteriores puestas a su disposición bajo el título "Preguntas frecuentes: el Brexit y la migración de cuentas" (“preguntas frecuentes originales”) debido a que refleja información actualizada, y le pedimos que las lea detenidamente. Con el alcance de las posibles discrepancias entre estas preguntas frecuentes y las preguntas frecuentes originales, utilice como referencia la información contenida en estas preguntas.

 

Discusiones: 

Estas preguntas frecuentes se dividen en tres partes. 

  • La Parte A establece la información clave con relación a la Transferencia Propuesta (tal como se indica a continuación).
  • La Parte B cubre los aspectos legales y normativos claves como resultado de la transferencia propuesta (tal como se indica a continuación).
  • La Parte C está destinada a responder otras preguntas que pueda tener, así como a proporcionar más información práctica con relación a lo que cambiará y lo que no luego de la Transferencia Propuesta (tal como se indica a continuación). 

 

PARTE A: LA TRANSFERENCIA PROPUESTA

 1. ¿Cuál es la situación actual y por qué deben realizarse cambios?

Como bien sabe, actualmente, su relación con Interactive Brokers se encuentra a cargo de nuestra entidad con sede en el Reino Unido, más concretamente Interactive Brokers (U.K.) Limited (“IBUK”) y los servicios que le proporcionamos son servicios de IBUK y, dependiendo del producto con el que opere, de nuestra filial en EE. UU., de Interactive Brokers LLC (“IBLLC”).  Actualmente, IBUK utiliza lo que se conoce como un pasaporte de servicios financieros para poder prestar sus servicios en Europa continental. Nuestra hipótesis de trabajo es que, al finalizar el periodo de transición del Brexit a fines de este año, IBUK perderá esta capacidad y, a partir del 1.º de enero de 2021, Interactive Brokers deberá realizar algunos cambios con relación a la entidad legal con la que deberá operar. 

 

2. ¿Cuáles son los "cambios" a los que se refiere el apartado anterior?

Hemos establecido una nueva entidad legal de Interactive Brokers en Hungría, Interactive Brokers Central Europe Zrt.  (“IBCE”).  Proponemos transferir sus negocios actuales con IBUK e IBLLC a IBCE.  En otras palabras, nuestra intención es que todas sus cuentas, inversiones y servicios actualmente proporcionados por IBUK e IBLLC pasen a ser servicios que proporcione IBCE de manera singular (a fines prácticos, nos referiremos a esta migración como la “Transferencia Propuesta”).

 

3. ¿Cuándo tendrá lugar la Transferencia Propuesta? 

Nos comunicaremos por escrito nuevamente antes de realizar la Transferencia Propuesta. 

 

4. ¿Quién es IBCE? ¿Qué tipo de empresa es?

IBCE, una empresa proveedora de servicios de inversión, tiene licencia otorgada y está autorizada por el Banco Central de Hungría.  El estado normativo y perfil de IBCE es muy similar al de IBUK.  Esto se debe a que tanto IBCE como IBUK están autorizadas conforme con la segunda Directiva sobre Mercados de Instrumentos Financieros (Directiva 2014/65/UE). Esta es una ley aplicable en toda la UE cuyo propósito es, en la mayor medida posible, armonizar el modo en el que se regulan las empresas de inversiones en la UE 

Esto no quiere decir que las normativas sean idénticas entre sí en lo que respecta a las normativas que se aplican para su relación actual con IBUK e IBLLC y las que se aplicarán una vez que se transfiera su cuenta a IBCE.  Explicaremos esto en más detalle en la Parte B de estas preguntas frecuentes. 

 

5. ¿Cuál es la información legal sobre IBCE? 

Interactive Brokers Central Europe Zrt. está registrada como sociedad limitada (número de registro 01-10-141029) en el Registro de Sociedades del Tribunal de Registro Metropolitano. La dirección registrada es Madách Imre út 13-14, 1075, Budapest.

 

6. ¿Quién regulará a IBCE y cuál es su información de contacto? 

El Banco Central de Hungría será el regulador competente para IBCE (del mismo modo en que la Financial Conduct Authority es el regulador competente para IBUK).  A continuación le proporcionamos la información de contacto del Banco Central de Hungría: 

Ubicación

Banco Central de Hungría

1054 Budapest

Szabadság tér 9.

Hungría

 

Dirección de correo postal

Magyar Nemzeti Bank

BKKP Pf. 777

 

Atención al cliente y reclamaciones 

Dirección: 1013 Budapest, Krisztina krt. 39.

Correo electrónico: ugyfelszolgalat@mnb.hu

Teléfono:  +36 80 203 776

 

 7. ¿En dónde se ubica IBCE en Interactive Brokers Group? 

IBCE es una subsidiaria de propiedad absoluta que forma parte de Interactive Brokers Group.

 

8. ¿Qué significa la Transferencia Propuesta para mí? ¿Se producirá un impacto significativo? 

Es probable que la Transferencia Propuesta tenga un impacto significativo si actualmente negocia productos que se verán restringidos luego de la transferencia.  Es muy importante que lea estas preguntas cuidadosamente en su totalidad, y que se asegure de que entiende lo que significan estos cambios para usted.

 

9. ¿Qué debo hacer si deseo seguir operando con Interactive Brokers? 

Si desea continuar operando con Interactive Brokers, necesitamos de su cooperación y participación. 

Más concretamente, necesitamos que preste su consentimiento y acepte la Transferencia Propuesta y el acuerdo de cliente, así como demás documentos disponibles en la sección Información importante del proceso de la Trasferencia Propuesta y las cuestiones normativas que se detallan en la carta de presentación, y en las secciones Información importante y Consentimiento del proceso de la Transferencia Propuesta.. Puede hacer esto si sigue las instrucciones en la carta de presentación. 

Para aclarar esto, no tiene la obligación de prestar su consentimiento para la Transferencia Propuesta si se siente afectado negativamente.  Sin embargo, debería tener en cuenta que, si usted decide rechazarla, es posible que IBUK no pueda continuar prestando sus servicios una vez finalizado el periodo de transición del Brexit.  Si esto sucede, su cuenta quedará restringida para abrir nuevas operaciones o transferir nuevos activos.  Siempre tiene la posibilidad de transferir su cuenta a otro bróker.  Si desea rechazar la transferencia, siga las instrucciones que se indican en la carta de presentación. 

En cualquier caso, le solicitamos que lea estas preguntas frecuentes y la carta de presentación antes de decidir aceptar o rechazar la Transferencia Propuesta.

 

10. ¿Qué sucede ahora? 

Si presta su consentimiento para realizar la transferencia, complete todas las acciones que se indican en la carta de presentación y prepararemos su cuenta para la Transferencia Propuesta.  Luego de la Transferencia Propuesta, IBCE se comunicará por escrito con usted para proporcionarle más información acerca de su nueva relación con ellos.

 

PARTE B: CAMBIOS LEGALES Y NORMATIVOS QUE DEBERÍA CONSIDERAR

 

1. ¿Qué términos y condiciones regirán su relación con IBCE luego de la Transferencia Propuesta? ¿Son distintos de los términos y condiciones que se aplican actualmente? 

Las operaciones que realice luego de la Transferencia Propuesta se regirán por el nuevo acuerdo de cliente entre usted e IBCE.  En la sección Información importante del proceso de la Transferencia Propuesta podrá encontrar una copia del nuevo acuerdo de cliente.  Consulte la respuesta a la pregunta A3 arriba con relación a los tiempos para la Transferencia Propuesta.

 

2. ¿Qué normas de conducta comercial (incluyendo mejor ejecución) se aplicarán para mi relación con IBCE? ¿Existen diferencias significativas que se apliquen para mi relación con IBCE en comparación con mi relación existente con IBUK? 

Existen algunos cambios que debería considerar, los cuales explicaremos a continuación. 

Si opera con IBUK sobre una base de "gestión" (en otras palabras, negocia opciones sobre índices, futuros y opciones sobre futuros e IBUK gestiona sus cuentas y custodia sus activos), las normas de conducta comercial de Financial Conduct Authority se aplican actualmente para su caso.  Estas normas se basan principalmente en la segunda Directiva sobre Mercados de Instrumentos Financieros, la Directiva sobre mercados de Instrumentos Financieros y varias directivas y normas delegadas (conjuntamente, “MiFID”).  Con relación a la mejor ejecución, cuando correspondiere, IBUK deberá tomar todos los pasos necesarios para alcanzar el mejor resultado posible para usted cuando ejecutemos su orden. 

En caso de que actualmente realice negocios con IBUK sobre una base de "introducción" (en otras palabras, negocia productos fuera de aquellos mencionados en el apartado anterior y tiene una relación con IBUK y su filial en EE. UU., IBLLC), se aplicará en su caso una mezcla de normas de conducta comercial. Por ejemplo, respecto de la introducción de sus negocios con IBLLC, se aplicarán las normas de conducta comercial de Financial Conduct Authority (consultar arriba al respecto).  Una vez que se introduzca a IBLLC, las normas y normativas relevantes de Securities and Exchange Commission de EE. UU. y Commodity Futures Trading Commission de EE UU. (entre otras) se aplicarán para la función de IBLLC (lo que incluye sus obligaciones con relación a la mejor ejecución y custodia). 

Tenga en consideración que, en términos generales, es probable que sus negocios se dividan entre estos dos escenarios (en otras palabras, parte de sus negocios se realizan sobre una base de "gestión" mientras que parte de estos se realizan sobre una base de "introducción"). 

En adelante, la distinción entre negocios "gestionados" o de "introducción" no se aplicarán y, en cada caso indicado arriba, las normas de conducta comercial de Hungría se aplicarán exclusivamente para su relación con IBCE.  Al igual que las normas de Financial Conduct Authority del Reino Unido, las reglas de conducta comercial de Hungría se fundamentan en las directivas MiFID, y las obligaciones de IBCE con relación a la mejor ejecución reflejan aquellas que se aplican actualmente a IBUK. 

En nuestra opinión, mientras que las normas que se apliquen para nuestra relación cambien, no consideramos dichos cambios como cambios significativos o que puedan resultar en un menor grado de protección para usted.

 

3. ¿Cómo se mantendrán mis inversiones en custodia con IBCE desde una perspectiva legal o normativa? ¿Existen diferencias significativas que se apliquen para mi relación con IBCE en comparación con mi relación existente con IBUK? 

Las normas que se aplican actualmente dependen de la naturaleza de los negocios que mantiene actualmente con IBUK (consulte la pregunta B2 arriba).  Cuando realice negocios "gestionados" con IBUK, se aplicarán las normas de Financial Conduct Authority sobre activos de clientes (o "CASS").  Estas normas se basan principalmente en las directivas MiFID.  Cuando realice negocios "de introducción" con IBUK e IBLLC, serán las normas estadounidenses sobre custodia las que se aplicarán para sus activos en custodia. 

En adelante, la distinción entre negocios "gestionados" o de "introducción" no se aplicarán y, en cada caso indicado arriba, las normas de custodia Hungría se aplicarán exclusivamente para su relación con IBCE.  Al igual que las normas de Financial Conduct Authority del Reino Unido, las reglas de conducta comercial de Hungría se fundamentan en las directivas MiFID. 

 

4. ¿Cómo estoy protegido contra las pérdidas? ¿Existen diferencias significativas que se apliquen para mi relación con IBCE en comparación con mi relación existente con IBUK? 

Actualmente, sus activos elegibles están protegidos contra pérdidas con Securities Investor Corporation de EE. UU. por un máximo de hasta 500 000 USD (condicionado a un sublímite de efectivo de 250 000 USD) o bien con Financial Services Compensation Scheme del Reino Unido por un máximo de hasta 50 000 GBP (el régimen que se aplique dependerá del segmento relevante de su cuenta IBUK. tal como se explica arriba en la respuesta del apartado B2).  Luego de la Transferencia Propuesta, el Fondo de Protección para Inversores de Hungría, conforme con la ley CXX de 2001 sobre Mercados de Capitales, podrá proteger sus activos contra pérdidas hasta un máximo de 100 000 EUR en caso de que IBCE no cumpla con sus obligaciones para con usted. 

El sistema de indemnización de Hungría es similar al sistema de indemnización al cual tiene acceso en el Reino Unido.   El propósito del Fondo es indemnizarlo en cualquiera de los siguientes casos:

  • el Banco Central de Hungría inicie un procedimiento de liquidación para IBIE o
  • un tribunal ordene la liquidación de IBCE. 

 IBCE es un miembro del Fondo. 

La indemnización proporcionada por el Fondo cubre las reclamaciones derivadas de los contratos celebrados dentro del acuerdo con IBCE de la actividad bursátil, custodia de valores, gestión de cuentas de valores, y actividades derivadas de la gestión de cuentas de cliente realizadas por IBCE.

Solo podrá realizar una reclamación luego de que la empresa cese en sus actividades comerciales y sus activos se hayan liquidado y distribuido entre sus acreedores. Verifique la información sobre los límites de los sistemas que pueden aplicarse; no todas las pérdidas podrán recuperarse, ya que existen niveles máximos establecidos para las indemnizaciones.   El fondo pagará una indemnización por las pérdidas hasta un máximo de 10 000 EUR. La cantidad que pagará el fondo es la siguiente:

  • 100 % hasta el límite del equivalente en EUR a un millón HUF (2800 EUR al 12 de diciembre de 2020),
  • por encima de un millón HUF: 1 millón HUF y 90 % del excedente de un millón HUF hasta un máximo de 100 000 EUR.

 

5. ¿Cómo realizo una queja sobre IBCE? ¿Existen diferencias significativas que se apliquen para mi relación con IBCE en comparación con mi relación existente con IBUK? ¿Qué sucede si mi queja se relaciona con algo que sucedió mientras era cliente de IBUK? 

Las Normas Comerciales Generales de IBCE establecen cómo presentar una queja con IBCE.  Los procedimientos de gestión de quejas son muy similares a aquellos que se aplican para su relación existente con IBUK.  Si el fundamento de su queja se relaciona con algo que ha tenido lugar antes de la Transferencia Propuesta, debería dirigir su queja a IBUK.  IBUK continuará siendo una empresa de inversión autorizada luego del Brexit.  Su información de contacto actual seguirá siendo la misma en caso de que necesite contactar con ellos.

 

6. Luego de la Transferencia Propuesta, ¿tendré aún acceso al Defensor de servicios financieros? 

En caso de una queja, los inversores deberían seguir el procedimiento para la presentación de quejas al cual se hace referencia en el acuerdo de cliente.  Tal como se explicó en las preguntas frecuentes originales, una vez que la Transferencia Propuesta haya tenido lugar, el Defensor de servicios financieros del Reino Unido ya no tendrá jurisdicción sobre las quejas que pueda tener respecto de IBUK. Sin embargo, tenga en cuenta que Hungría tiene un programa de resolución de controversias operador por el Banco Central de Hungría que funciona como un Tribunal de Arbitraje Financiero (“Financial Arbitration Board, FAB”). Este tribunal es un programa de resolución de controversias legal gratuito e independiente para servicios financieros. Puede ser elegible para presentar una queja ante el FAB si usted es un cliente minorista.  Puede encontrar más información sobre el FAB en el siguiente enlace: https://www.mnb.hu/en/hungarian-financial-arbitration-board

 Puede contactar con el FAB a través de los siguientes medios de contacto: 

Dirección de correo postal

Tribunal de arbitraje financiero

1525 Budapest

Pf. 172

 

Correo electrónico

ugyfelszolgalat@mnb.hu

 

7. ¿Cómo se procesarán y protegerán mis datos personales? ¿Existen diferencias significativas que se apliquen para mi relación con IBCE en comparación con mi relación existente con IBUK en este contexto? 

Consulte las preguntas frecuentes originales para obtener más información. En resumen, no existirán cambios significativos.

 

PARTE C: OTRAS CUESTIONES PRÁCTICAS Y PASOS A SEGUIR

 

1. ¿A quién debería contactar antes de que tenga lugar la Transferencia Propuesta y luego de la transferencia si tengo dudas en algún momento? 

Normalmente, debería contactar con IBUK en caso de tener dudas respecto de cuestiones anteriores a la Transferencia Propuesta y debería contactar con IBCE para todas las cuestiones que le sigan a la Transferencia Propuesta.  Sin importar a quien contacte en Interactive Brokers, le aseguremos que su consulta se trate diligentemente y lo ayudaremos a conectarse con la persona o el departamento adecuados.

 

2. ¿El rango de productos ofrecido será el mismo? 

IBCE e IBUK ofrecen el mismo rango de productos para todas las categorías, excepto metales y fórex. Las diferencias en la oferta son las siguientes: 

  • IBCE ofrece CFD sobre metales, pero no ofrece futuros al contado ni futuros sobre metales extrabursátiles.
  • Actualmente, puede negociar valores y derivados en las mismas bolsas, pero si negocia fuera de las divisas permitidas para depósito (ver el apartado 7), y la operación resulta en un saldo de efectivo en lago, lo convertiremos automáticamente a su divisa base. Si la operación resulta en un saldo en efectivo en corto, IBCE no tomará ninguna medida, ya que puede tomar préstamos en todas las divisas internacionales de IBKR disponibles.
  • Las negociaciones de divisas en efectivo en IBCE deberán estar conectadas con una operación de servicios de inversión, y sus flujos de efectivo resultantes. Para cumplir con esta normativa, ya no podrá negociar divisas sobre una base especulativa. 

Para obtener más información, consulte la “Declaración sobre las restricciones de los mercados de divisas para cuentas en varias divisas de IBCE”.

 

3. ¿La oferta de servicios será la misma? 

Existen dos cambios en los servicios que se le ofrecen actualmente: 

  • IBCE ofrece financiación para valores y operaciones con productos básicos, pero no permitirá la retirada de fondos tomados en préstamo.  Podrá retirar el efectivo que no se necesite para mantener sus posiciones abiertas.  En caso de que desee retirar fondos adicionales, puede vender las posiciones y retirar el producido.
  • Las investigaciones para inversiones de GFIS no estarán disponibles para los clientes de IBCE; sin embargo, las ofertas de datos de mercado y el servicio de noticias de GFIS seguirán ofreciéndose sin modificaciones.

 

4. Actualmente negocio derivados extrabursátiles con IBUK; ¿qué sucederá con mis posiciones abiertas? 

Sus posiciones abiertas se transferirán a IBCE y usted se comunicará con IBCE en lugar de con IBUK.  Ya no tendrá una relación legal con IBUK con respecto de dichas posiciones.  Le proporcionaremos por separado un documento con información clave del inversor (KID) actualizado (siga el enlace a la página de inicio del documento en PRIIPs en la carta de presentación).

 

5. ¿Qué sucederá con los valores que le haya entregado a IBUK/IBLLC como parte de un préstamo de margen 

Si le ha proporcionado un valor o garantía a IBUK/IBLLC, se transferirá a IBCE luego de que tenga lugar la Transferencia Propuesta. Se le presentarán dos contratos nuevos para su préstamo de margen existente:

  • Contrato de préstamo de inversión
  • Contrato marco de préstamo de valores

Estos funcionarán de forma similar a su cuenta de margen de préstamo actual, con la única diferencia que pagará tarifas por servicios a IBCE para realizar la operación de préstamo de acciones en su nombre en lugar de pagar intereses.  Esto podrá tener consecuencias fiscales dependiendo de su país de residencia.

 

6. ¿Tendré acceso a la misma plataforma de negociación o estará condicionada a cambios en el software luego de las migraciones? 

La migración no tendrá un impacto sobre el software que utiliza para negociar o administrar su cuenta.  La tecnología seguirá siendo la que usa hoy en día.

 

7. ¿Se transferirán todos los saldos de cuenta al mismo tiempo, y cuál es el plazo? 

IBCE admitirá una cantidad limitada de divisas para depósito.  Las siguientes seis divisas para depósitos en efectivo, o las "Divisas permitidas para depósito" son:

  • EUR, USD, GBP, HUF, CZK, PLN 

Se le pedirá denominar una divisa base de las divisas permitidas para depósito, y, si mantiene saldos de efectivo en largo en otras divisas, se le pedirá convertir esos saldos a una de las divisas permitidas para depósitos antes de la migración.

 

De acuerdo con las normas sobre la protección de activos de clientes en Hungría, los fondos de los clientes deberán estar protegidos de la misma forma en la que fueron recibidos por el bróker.  Esto contrasta con su bróker anterior, IBUK o IBL, cuyas normas regulatorias sobre los activos de clientes les permitían proteger sus fondos por un valor equivalente en otra divisa.  

Los saldos de divisas en corto permanecerán sin modificaciones.  Podrá tomar préstamos en cualquier divisa que ofrezca el grupo IBKR.

Todos los saldos en efectivo, con la excepción de los devengos (p. ej., intereses, dividendos) se transferirán al mismo tiempo. Una vez que los devengos se hayan liquidado y depositado en efectivo, se transferirán automáticamente a IBCE. Una vez que los devengos se hayan transferido, su cuenta corriente en IBUK o IBLLC se cerrará y no estará disponible para negociar. Aún tendrá acceso a esta cuenta cerrada a través de Client Portal para ver e imprimir extractos del historial.

 

 

8. ¿Se transferirán las posiciones en valores, derivados y productos básicos al mismo tiempo? 

Todas las posiciones se transferirán a su nueva cuenta al mismo tiempo, excepto por los futuros sobre metales extrabursátiles y metales al contado.  Se le solicitará cerrar esas posiciones antes de la conversión a una cuenta de IBCE.

 

9. ¿Qué sucederá en mi cuenta corriente luego de la migración? 

Su cuenta corriente se cerrará una vez que todos los devengos se hayan registrado en efectivo y transferido a la cuenta migrada.  Una vez cerrada, no se podrá acceder para fines de negociación. Sin embargo, quedará accesible mediante un selector de cuenta de Client Portal a los fines de visualizar e imprimir extractos históricos.

 

10. ¿Cambiarán las comisiones, intereses y tarifas al migrar mi cuenta? 

Las comisiones y tarifas de IBKR para la negociación de productos no cambian en virtud del bróker con el cual mantiene su cuenta.

Existen cambios en los intereses y las tarifas sobre saldos de efectivo. IBCE no pagará intereses sobre saldos de efectivo, debido a que las leyes de Hungría que regulan a las empresas de servicios de inversión prohíben el pago de intereses; sin embargo, IBCE cobrará una comisión por la gestión de divisas para los saldos de efectivo en divisas que tengan tipos de interés negativos.

 

11. ¿Cambiarán mis permisos de negociación cuando se haya migrado mi cuenta? 

No. Sus permisos de negociación no cambiarán cuando se migre su cuenta para los productos que admita IBCE. Tal como se desarrolló en el apartado 2 arriba, los futuros sobre metales extrabursátiles y los futuros sobre metales al contado no estarán disponibles.

 

12. ¿Se transferirán las órdenes abiertas (p. ej., Good-til-Canceled) cuando se migre mi cuenta? 

Las órdenes abiertas no se transferirán a la nueva cuenta; sin embargo, le recomendamos a nuestros clientes que revisen sus órdenes inmediatamente luego de la migración para asegurarse de que las órdenes abiertas coincidan con sus intenciones de negociación.

 

13. ¿Estaré condicionado por la norma de negociación de patrón diario ("PDT") de EE. UU. una vez que se migre mi cuenta?? 

No. Ya no estará condicionado a la norma PDT.

 

14. ¿Recibiré un extracto de actividad anual único combinado que refleje la actividad tanto en mi cuenta IBUK como en mi cuenta IBCE? 

No.  Se proporcionarán extractos de actividad diarios, mensuales y anuales individuales para cada una de sus cuentas, IBUK e IBCE, que cubrirán la actividad durante el periodo en el que se abrió cada una. Los extractos de actividad se cargarán en Client Portal en la opción del menú Informes/Documentos Fiscales, y deberá cambiar entre las dos cuentas para acceder a sus extractos respectivos.

 

15. ¿Se transferirá la base del coste actual de las posiciones cuando se migre mi cuenta? 

Sí, esta migración no tendrá un impacto sobre la base del coste de sus posiciones.

 

16. ¿Retendrá la cuenta migrada la misma configuración que la cuenta actual? 

La configuración de la cuenta luego de la migración coincidirá con el de la cuenta actual, dentro del alcance permitido por las leyes.  Esto incluye atributos como la capacidad de margen, los datos de mercado, usuarios adicionales y alertas.  Los clientes que mantengan productos restringidos (con la excepción de futuros sobre metales extrabursátiles y metales al contado) podrán migrar dichas posiciones, pero no tendrán permitido aumentar las posiciones.

Los futuros sobre metales extrabursátiles y metales al contado deberán cerrarse en su cuenta actual de IBUK.

 

17. ¿Cambiarán mis credenciales para el inicio de sesión? 

No.  Su nombre de usuario, contraseña y proceso de autenticación en dos factores existentes para su cuenta actual seguirán activos luego de la migración. Sin embargo, se le asignará un nuevo id. de cuenta para su cuenta migrada.

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FAQS: IBCE Brexit Account Migration

Overview: 

This is an important document regarding the proposed transfer of your account from IBUK and IBLLC to IBCE that requires your attention. Please read the entirety of this document ahead of taking any action referred to in the Covering Letter sent to you via email.

 

Background: 

Please take time to read this FAQs, which summarises some of the key changes to the regulatory framework which will be brought about by the Proposed Transfer (as described below) and provides answers to some of the more general questions that you may have. The FAQs should be read in conjunction with the Covering Letter and the documents that are attached to the Covering Letter. If you require any further information, please get in touch with us using the contact details provided in the Covering Letter. This FAQs supersedes the one previously made available to you titled “FAQs: Brexit Account Migration” (“Original FAQs”) as it reflects new information, and we ask that you read it carefully. To the extent there is any inconsistency between this FAQs and the Original FAQs, please rely on the information contained in this FAQs.

 

Discussion: 

This FAQs is split into three parts. 

  • Part A sets outs key information in relation to the Proposed Transfer (as described below).
  • Part B covers key legal and regulatory topics that arise as a result of the Proposed Transfer (as described below).
  • Part C aims to answer any other questions that you may have and provides some further and more practical information in relation to what will and will not be changing following the Proposed Transfer (as described below). 

 

PART A – THE PROPOSED TRANSFER

 1. What is the situation currently and why do things have to change?

As you will be aware, at present, your relationship with Interactive Brokers is led by our entity based in the United Kingdom, specifically Interactive Brokers (U.K.) Limited (“IBUK”) and the services provided to you are provided by IBUK and, depending on the products you do business in, our US affiliate Interactive Brokers LLC (“IBLLC”).  At present IBUK utilises what is known as a financial services passport to be able to perform its part of the service provision across continental Europe. Our working assumption is that following the end of the Brexit transitional period later this year, IBUK will lose its financial services passport and that from 1 January 2021 Interactive Brokers will need to make some changes in relation to which legal entity does business with you. 

 

2. What are the “changes” envisaged above?

We have established a new Interactive Brokers legal entity in Hungary, namely, Interactive Brokers Central Europe Zrt.  (“IBCE”).  We propose to transfer the business that you currently conduct with IBUK and IBLLC to IBCE.  In other words, it is our intention that all of your accounts, investments and services currently provided to you by IBUK and IBLLC will instead be singularly provided by IBCE (for convenience we will refer to this as the “Proposed Transfer”).

 

3. When will the Proposed Transfer occur? 

We will write to you again ahead of the Proposed Transfer. 

 

4. Who is IBCE? What sort of a firm is it?

IBCE, an investment service provider, is licensed and authorized by the Central Bank of Hungary.  IBCE’s regulatory status and profile is very similar to IBUK’s.  This is because both IBCE and IBUK are authorised pursuant to the second Markets in Financial Instruments Directive (Directive 2014/65/EU). This is an EU-wide piece of legislation the purpose of which is to, as much as possible, harmonise how investment firms are regulated across the EU. 

This does not mean there are not some differences between the legislation that applies to your relationship with IBUK and IBLLC at present and that which will apply once your account is transferred to IBCE.  We explain this in more detail in Part B of this FAQs. 

 

5. What are IBCE’s legal details? 

Interactive Brokers Central Europe Zrt. is registered as a private company limited by shares (registration number 01-10-141029) and is listed in the Register of Companies maintained by the  Metropolitan Court of Registration. Its registered address is Budapest, Madách Imre út 13-14, 1075.

 

6. Who will regulate IBCE and what are their contact details? 

The Central Bank of Hungary will be the competent regulator for IBCE (in the same way that the Financial Conduct Authority is the competent regulator for IBUK).  The  Central Bank of Hungary’s contact details are set out below: 

Location

Central Bank of Hungary

1054 Budapest

Szabadság tér 9.

Hungary

 

Postal Address

Magyar Nemzeti Bank

BKKP Pf. 777

 

Client Service, client complaints 

Address: 1013 Budapest, Krisztina krt. 39.

E-mail: ugyfelszolgalat@mnb.hu

Phone:  +36 80 203 776

 

 7. Where does IBCE fit with respect to the broader Interactive Brokers Group? 

IBCE is a wholly-owned subsidiary that sits within the broader Interactive Brokers Group.

 

8. What does the Proposed Transfer mean for me? Will there be any material impacts? 

The Proposed Transfer may have a material impact if you currently trade products that you will be restricted from trading following the transfer.  It is very important that you read these FAQs carefully, and in full, and make sure that you understand what the changes are for you.

 

9. What do I have to do if I want to continue doing business with Interactive Brokers? 

If you would like to continue to do business with Interactive Brokers, we require your cooperation and action. 

Specifically, we need you to consent and agree to the Proposed Transfer and the Customer Agreement and other Documents available under the Important Information section of the Proposed Transfer process and to the regulatory matters outlined in the Covering Letter, the Important Information and Consent sections of the Proposed Transfer process.  You can do this by following the instructions in the Covering Letter. 

To be clear, you do not have to consent to the Proposed Transfer if you feel that you may be adversely affected by it.  However, you should be aware that if you decide to decline, IBUK may not be able to keep servicing your account at the end of the Brexit transition period.  If that happens, your account will be restricted from opening new transactions or transferring new assets.  You always have the ability to transfer your account to another broker.  If you wish to decline, please follow the instructions in the Covering Letter. 

In either case, we ask that you read the entirety of this FAQs and the Covering Letter before deciding to consent to or decline the Proposed Transfer.

 

10. What happens next? 

If you consent to the transfer, please complete all actions detailed in the Covering Letter and we will prepare your account for the Proposed Transfer.  Following the Proposed Transfer, IBCE will write to you with further information about your new relationship with them.

 

PART B – LEGAL AND REGULATORY CHANGES THAT YOU SHOULD BE AWARE OF

 

1. What terms and conditions will govern my relationship with IBCE following the Proposed Transfer? Are these different to the ones that currently apply? 

Trades that you conduct after the Proposed Transfer will be governed by the new Customer Agreement between you and IBCE.  A copy of the new Customer Agreement is available in the Important Information section of the Proposed Transfer process.  Please see the response to Question A3 above in relation to the timing for the Proposed Transfer.

 

2. What conduct of business rules (including best execution) will apply to my relationship with IBCE? Are there any material differences that will apply to my relationship with IBCE compared to those that apply to my existing relationship with IBUK? 

There are some changes to be aware of, which we explain below. 

If you do business with IBUK on a “carried” basis (in other words, you trade index options, futures and futures options and IBUK carries your account and custodies your assets) then the Financial Conduct Authority’s conduct of business rules currently apply to you.  These rules are based heavily on the recast Markets in Financial Instruments Directive, the Markets in Financial Regulation and various delegated directives and regulations (collectively, “MiFID”).  In relation to best execution, where it applies, IBUK must take all sufficient steps to achieve the best possible result for you when we execute your order. 

If you currently do business with IBUK on an “introduced” basis (in other words, you trade products outside of those mentioned in the previous paragraph and you have a relationship with both IBUK and its US affiliate, IBLLC) a mix of conduct of business rules will currently apply to you. For instance, with respect to the introduction of your business to IBLLC, the Financial Conduct Authority’s conduct of business rules will apply (see above in relation to these).  Once introduced to IBLLC, the relevant U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission rules and regulations (among others) will apply to IBLLC’s role (including its obligations in relation to best execution and custody). 

Please note that it is of course possible that your business is split across these two scenarios (in other words some of your business is conducted on a “carried” basis while some of it is conducted on an “introduced” basis). 

Going forward, the distinction between “carried” and “introduced” business will no longer apply and in each case set out above, Hungarian conduct of business rules will exclusively apply to your relationship with IBCE.  Similar to the UK Financial Conduct Authority’s rules, the Hungarian conduct of business rules are based on MiFID and IBCE’s obligations in relation to best execution will largely mirror those that currently apply to IBUK. 

In our view, while the rules that apply to our relationship will change, we do not consider such changes to be material or to result in a lesser degree of protection being afforded to you.

 

3. How will my investments that I custody with IBCE be held from a legal/regulatory perspective? Are there any material differences that will apply to my relationship with IBCE compared to those that apply to my existing relationship with IBUK? 

The rules that currently apply depends on the sort of business that you presently have with IBUK (please see the response to Question B2 above).  Where you conduct “carried” business with IBUK, the Financial Conduct Authority’s client asset (or “CASS”) rules will apply.  These rules are based heavily on MiFID.  Where you conduct “introduced” business with IBUK and IBLLC, the US custody rules will apply to your custody assets. 

Going forward, as set out above, the distinction between “carried” and “introduced” business will no longer apply and in each case set out above, Hungarian custody rules will exclusively apply to your relationship with IBCE.  Like the UK Financial Conduct Authority’s rules, the Hungarian conduct of business rules are based on MiFID. 

 

4. How am I protected against loss? Are there any material differences that will apply to my relationship with IBCE compared to those that apply to my existing relationship with IBUK? 

Currently, your eligible assets are protected from loss either under the US Securities Investor Protection Corporation at an amount of up to USD 500,000 (subject to a cash sublimit of USD 250,000) or the UK Financial Services Compensation Scheme at an amount up to £50,000 (which regime applies depends on the relevant segment of your IBUK account, as explained in the response to Question B2 above).  After the Proposed Transfer, the Hungarian Investor Protection Fund according to Act CXX of 2001 on the Capital Market may protect your assets from loss, at an amount up to a maximum of EUR 100,000, should IBCE default and be unable to meet its obligations to you. 

Hungary's compensation scheme is similar to the compensation scheme you have access to in the UK,   The purpose of the Fund is to pay compensation to you in the event that:

  • the Central Bank of Hungary initiates liquidation proceedings of IBCE , or
  • a court orders the liquidation of IBCE. 

 IBCE is a member of the Fund. 

The compensation provided by the Fund covers claims arising from contracts entered into within the agreement with IBCE of brokerage activity, securities custody, securities account management and client account management activities performed by IBCE.

You can only make a claim after a firm goes out of business and its assets have been liquidated and distributed to those who are owed money. Please check the details of the schemes for any limits that apply – not all losses will be covered as there are maximum levels of compensation.   The Fund will pay you compensation for the amount you have lost up to a maximum of EUR 100,000. The amount paid by the Fund is:

  • 100% up to the limit of the EUR equivalent of one million forints (EUR 2,800 on 12th December 2020),
  • above one million forints: 1 million forints and 90% of the part above one million forints to a maximum of EUR 100,000.

 

5. How do I make a complaint to IBCE? Are there any material differences that will apply to my relationship with IBCE compared to those that apply to my existing relationship with IBUK? What if my complaint relates to something that happened while I was a customer of IBUK? 

The General Business Rules of IBCE sets out how to lodge a complaint with IBCE.  The complaints handling procedures are materially similar to those that apply to your existing relationship with IBUK.  If the substance of your complaint relates to something that happened prior to the Proposed Transfer, then you should address your complaint to IBUK.  IBUK will remain authorised as an investment firm post-Brexit.  Its current contact information will stay the same should you need to contact IBUK.

 

6. After the Proposed Transfer, will I still have access to the Financial Ombudsman Service? 

In case of complaint, investors should follow the complaints procedure as referred to in the Customer Agreement.  As explained in the Original FAQs, once the Proposed Transfer has taken place, the UK Financial Ombudsman Service will cease to have jurisdiction over any complaints that you may have in respect of IBUK.  However, please be aware that Hungary has a dispute resolution scheme operated by the Central Bank of Hungary in the form of the Financial Arbitration Board (“FAB”). The FAB is a free and independent statutory dispute resolution scheme for financial services. You may be eligible to make a complaint to the FAB if you are a retail customer.  Details of FAB can be found on https://www.mnb.hu/en/hungarian-financial-arbitration-board

 The FAB can be contacted at: 

Postal Address

Financial Arbitration Board

1525 Budapest

Pf. 172

 

Email

ugyfelszolgalat@mnb.hu

 

7. How will my personal data be processed and protected? Are there any material differences that will apply to my relationship with IBCE compared to those that apply to my existing relationship with IBUK in this context? 

Please see the Original FAQs for further information. In summary there will be no material change.

 

PART C – OTHER PRACTICAL QUESTIONS AND NEXT STEPS

 

1. Who should I contact before the Proposed Transfer takes place and after the Proposed Transfer if I have any questions in the ordinary course? 

Generally speaking, you should contact IBUK with any questions that you may have prior to the Proposed Transfer, and you should contact IBCE with any questions that you may have following the Proposed Transfer taking place.  Regardless of who you contact at Interactive Brokers, we will ensure your query is promptly dealt with and we will help you to connect with the right person or department.

 

2. Will the range of products offered be the same? 

IBCE and IBUK offer the same range of products for all categories except metals and forex. The differences in the offerings are as follows: 

  • Metals CFDs are offered by IBCE but spot and OTC metals futures are not.
  • Trading securities and derivatives in all the same markets you can now but if you trade outside of the Allowed Deposit Currencies (see #7) and the transaction results in a long cash balance we will auto-convert to your base currency.  If the transaction results in a short cash balance there will be no further action by IBCE as you can borrow in all available IBKR global currencies.
  • Foreign exchange spot trades at IBCE must be connected to an investment service transaction and its resulting cash flows.  To comply with this regulation, you will no longer be able to trade currencies on a speculative basis. 

For further information please see  “IBCE Multi-Currency Account Foreign Exchange Restrictions Disclosure”.

 

 

3. Will the range of services be the same? 

There are two changes to the services you are currently offered: 

  • IBCE offers financing for securities and commodities trades but cannot support withdrawals of borrowed funds.  You will be free to withdraw any free cash not needed to support your open positions.  If you would like to withdraw additional funds, you can sell positions and withdraw the proceeds.
  • GFIS investment research will not be available to clients of IBCE; however GFIS market data and news service offerings are unaffected.

 

4. I currently trade OTC derivatives with IBUK – what will happen to my open positions? 

Your open positions will be transferred to IBCE and you will face IBCE rather than IBUK.  You will no longer have any legal relationship with IBUK in relation to those positions.  We will separately provide you with an updated Key Investor Information Document (please follow the link to the PRIIPs KID landing page in the Covering Letter).

 

5. What happens to any security I have granted to IBUK/IBLLC as part of a margin loan? 

If you have granted security or collateral to IBUK/IBLLC, this will transfer to IBCE - upon the Proposed Transfer taking place. You will be presented with two new contracts for your existing margin loan:

  • Investment Loan contract
  • Securities Lending Framework contract

These will operate similarly to your existing margin loan account with the only difference being you will pay service fees to IBCE for entering into the stock borrow transaction on your behalf instead of paying interest.  This may have tax consequences depending on your country of residence.

 

6. Will I have access to the same trading platform or be subject to any software changes following migrations? 

The migration will have no impact upon the software you use to trade or administer your account.  The technology will remain the same as it is today.

 

7. Will all account balances be transferred at the same time and what is the timing? 

IBCE will support a limited number of deposit currencies.  The following ten cash deposit currencies, the “Allowed Deposit Currencies” are:

  • EUR, USD, GBP, CHF, DKK, NOK, SEK, HUF, CZK and PLN

You will be required to nominate a base currency from the Allowed Deposit Currencies and if you hold long cash balances in other currencies, you will be required to convert those balances to one of the Allowed Deposit Currencies before migration.

 

In accordance with the client asset protection rules in Hungary, client funds must  be protected in the same form that they were received by the broker.  This contrasts with your previous broker, IBUK and/or IBL, whose regulatory client asset rules allowed them to protect your funds in equivalent value in another currency.  

Short currency balances are unaffected.  You may borrow in any currency that the IBKR group offers.

All cash balances, with the exception of accruals (e.g., interest, dividends) will be transferred at the same time. Once accruals have been settled and posted to cash, they will automatically be swept to IBCE. Once all accruals have been swept, your current account at IBUK or IBLLC will be closed and inaccessible for trading purposes. You will still be able to access this closed account via the Client Portal for purposes of viewing and printing historical statements.

 

8. Will all security, derivative and commodity positions be transferred at the same time? 

All positions will be transferred to your new account at the same time except for OTC metals futures and spot metals.  You will be requested to trade out of those positions before conversion to an IBCE account.

 

9. What will happen to my current account following migration? 

Your current account will close once all accruals have been posted to cash and transferred to the migrated account.  Once closed, it will be inaccessible for trading purposes, however, it will remain accessible via an account selector from the Client Portal for purposes of viewing and printing historical statements.

 

10. Will IBKR’s commissions, interest and fees change when my account is migrated? 

IBKR commissions and fees on trading products do not vary by the broker your account is maintained with.

There are changes to the interest and fees on cash balances. IBCE will not pay interest on credit balances as Hungarian law that governs investment service companies prohibits the payment of interest.  IBCE will charge a currency handling fee for cash balances in currencies that have negative interest rates.

 

11. Will my trading permissions change when my account is migrated? 

No. Your trading permissions will not change when your account is migrated for products that IBCE supports. As discussed in (2) above, spot metals and OTC metal futures will not be available.

 

12. Will open orders (e.g., Good-til-Canceled) be carried over when my account is migrated? 

Open orders will not be carried over to the new account and we recommend that clients review their orders immediately following the migration to ensure that the open orders are consistent with their trading intentions.

 

13. Will I be subject to the U.S. Pattern Day Trading ("PDT") Rule once my account is migrated? 

No. You will no longer be subject to the PDT rule.

 

14. Will I receive a single, combined annual activity statement reflecting the activity in both my IBUK and IBCE accounts? 

No.  Separate daily, monthly and annual activity statements will be provided for each of your IBUK and IBCE accounts covering activity during the period each was open. Activity statements will be posted to the Client Portal under the Reports/Tax Docs menu option and you will need to toggle between the two accounts to access their respective statements.

 

15. Will the current cost basis of positions be carried over when my account is migrated? 

Yes, this migration will have no impact upon the cost basis of your positions.

 

16. Will the migrated account retain the same configuration as the current account? 

The configuration of the account following migration will match that of the current account to the extent permissible by regulation.  This includes attributes such as margin capability, market data, additional users, and alerts.  Client’s holding restricted products (with the exception of OTC metals futures and spot metals), may migrate such positions but won’t be allowed to increase the position.

OTC metals futures and spot metals must be closed in your current IBUK account.

 

17. Will my login credential change? 

No.  Your username, password, and any 2-factor authentication process in place for your existing account will remain active following migration. You will, however, be assigned a new account ID for your migrated account.

Interactive Brokers Luxembourg SARL – MiFID Categorisation

Introduction
 
The European Union legislative act known as the Markets in Financial Instruments Directive, or MiFID, as amended by MiFID II, requires Interactive Brokers Luxembourg SARL (IBLUX) to classify each Client according to their knowledge, experience and expertise: "Retail", "Professional" or "Eligible Counterparty".
 
In accordance with MiFID II rules, IBLUX categorises most clients as Retail clients, providing them with a higher degree of protection.
 
Only those clients that are either regulated entities or funds managed by regulated fund managers, are categorised as Per Se Professional Clients.
 
The main differences in regulatory protections afforded to Professional Clients as compared with Retails Clients are:
 
1. Description of the nature and risks of packaged investments: A firm that offers an investment service with another service or product or as a condition of the same agreement with a retail client must: (i) inform retail clients if the risks resulting from the agreement are likely to be different from the risks associated with the components when taken separately; and (ii) provide retail clients with an adequate description of the different components of the agreement and the way in which its interaction modifies the risks. The above requirements do not apply in respect of professional clients. However, IBLUX will not make such differentiation apart from the case specified under point 3 below.
 
2. Investor protection measures on the provision of Contracts for Differences (“CFDs”): The European Securities and Markets Authority (“ESMA”) introduced product intervention measures on the provision of CFDs to retail investors. The measures include: (i) New leverage limits on the opening of a position, which may vary according to the volatility of the underlying asset; (ii) A margin close out rule on an account basis that standardises the percentage of margin at which providers are required to close out one or more open CFDs; (iii) Negative balance protection on a per account basis; (iv) A restriction on the incentives offered to trade CFDs; and (v) A standardised risk warning, including the percentage of losses on a CFD provider’s retail investor accounts. The above requirements do not apply in respect of professional clients.
 
3. Communication with clients: A firm must ensure that its communications with all clients are fair, clear and not misleading. However, the way in which a firm may communicate with professional clients (about itself, its services and products, and its remuneration) may be different from the way in which the firm communicates with retail clients. A firm’s obligations in respect of the level of details, medium and timing of the provision of information are different depending on whether the client is a retail or professional client. The requirements to deliver certain product-specific documents, such as Key Information Documents (“KID”) for Packaged Retail and Insurance-based Investment Products (“PRIIPs”), are not applied to professional clients.
 
4. Depreciation in value reporting: A firm that holds a retail client account that includes positions in leveraged financial instruments or contingent liability transactions must inform the retail client, where the initial value of each instrument depreciates by 10 per cent and thereafter at multiples of 10 per cent. The above requirements do not apply in respect of professional clients.
 
5. Appropriateness: When assessing appropriateness for non-advised services, a firm may be required to determine whether the client has the necessary experience and knowledge in order to understand the risks involved in relation to the product or service offered or demanded. Where such an appropriateness assessment requirement applies in respect of a client, the firm may assume that a professional client has the necessary experience and knowledge in order to understand the risks involved in relation to those particular investment services or transactions, or types of transaction or product, for which the client is classified as a professional client. A firm may not make such an assumption for a retail client and must determine that a retail client does have the necessary level of experience and knowledge.
 
IBLUX provides non-advised services and is not required to request information or adhere to the assessment procedures for a professional client when assessing the appropriateness of a given service or product as with a retail client, and IBLUX may not be required to give warnings to the professional client if it cannot determine appropriateness with respect to a given service or product.
 
6. The Ombudsman: The services of the Ombudsman may not be available to professional clients, unless they are, for example, consumers, small businesses or individuals acting outside of their trade, business, craft or profession.
 
7. Compensation: IBLUX is a member of the Luxembourg investor compensation scheme (Système d’indemnisation des investisseurs, SIIL). The SIIL provides cover for claims resulting from IBLUX inability to meet its obligations to clients in accordance with applicable legal and contractual conditions. The SIIL covers, under the legal conditions place investments up to an amount of 20,000 EURO or equivalent regardless of the number of accounts held by a client.
 
Re-categorisation as Professional Client
 
IBLUX allows its Retail Clients to request to be re-categorised as Professional Clients. Clients are notified of their Client Category and can check it at any time from Account Management, under Settings> Account Settings> MiFID Client Category. From this same screen, Clients can also request to change their MiFID Category.
 
IBLUX will consider re-categorising Retail Clients to Professional Clients in two instances:
 
1. Per Se Professional Clients can notify IBLUX that they consider that they should have been categorised as Per Se Professionals under the MiFID II rules, because at least one of the following conditions applies:

(i) authorised or regulated to operate in the financial markets; or

(ii) a large undertaking meeting two of the following size requirements on a company basis:

(a) balance sheet total of EUR 20,000,000;
(b) net turnover of EUR 40,000,000;
(c) own funds of EUR 2,000,000;

(iii) an institutional investor whose main activity is to invest in financial instruments. This includes entities dedicated to the securitisation of assets or other financing transactions.
 
2. IBLUX may treat Clients as Elective Professional Clients if, based on an assessment of the Client’s expertise, experience, and knowledge, IBLUX is reasonably assured that, in light of the nature of the transactions or services envisaged, the Client is capable of making its own investment decisions and understand the risks involved. Clients who do not meet the requirements to be categorised as Per Se Professional Clients can still request to be categorised as Elective Professional Clients.
 
To obtain such re-categorisation, Retail Clients must provide evidence that they satisfy at least two (2) of the following criteria:
 
1. Over the last four (4) quarters, the Client conducted trades in financial instruments in significant size at an average frequency of ten (10) per quarter.
 
To determine the significant size IBLUX considers the following:
 
a. During the last four quarters, there were at least forty (40) trades; and
b. During each of the last four (4) quarters, there was at least one (1) trade; and
c. The total notional value of the top forty (40) trades of the last four (4) quarters is greater than EUR 200,000; and
d. The account has a net asset value greater than EUR 50,000.
 
Trades in Spot FX are not considered for the purpose of this calculation.
 
2. The Client holds a portfolio of financial instruments (including cash) that exceeds EUR 500,000 (or equivalent);
 
3. The Client is an individual accountholder or a trader of an organisation account who works or has worked in the financial sector for at least one year in a professional position which requires knowledge of products it trades in.
 
Upon review and verification of the information and supporting evidence provided, IBLUX will re-categorise clients if all relevant conditions are met to satisfaction.

Retail Clients requesting to be re-categorised as Professional Accounts must read and understand the warning provided by IBLUX before the relevant request is submitted.
 
Re-categorisation as Retail Client 
 
Professional Clients can request IBLUX to be re-categorised as Retail Clients, from the same Account Management page described above (under Settings> Account Settings> MiFID Client Category).
 
With the sole exception of regulated entities or funds managed by regulated fund managers, which are categorised as Per Se Professional Clients, IBLUX accepts all such requests.
 
THIS INFORMATION IS GUIDANCE FOR INTERACTIVE BROKERS FULLY DISCLOSED CLEARED CUSTOMERS ONLY.
 
NOTE: THE INFORMATION ABOVE IS NOT INTENDED TO BE A COMPREHENSIVE, EXHAUSTIVE NOR A DEFINITIVE INTERPRETATION OF THE REGULATION, BUT A SUMMARY OF IBLUX’S APPROACH TO CLIENT CATEGORISATION AND RE-CATEGORISATION POLICY.

Preguntas frecuentes: el Brexit y la migración de cuentas

INTRODUCCIÓN

Interactive Brokers Group ('IB') y su filial en el Reino Unido, Interactive Brokers (U.K.) Limited ('IBUK'), han estado realizando planes para el fin del período de transición del Brexit, actualmente programado para el 31 de diciembre de 2020, y hemos estado preparando acuerdos alternativos para nuestros clientes europeos. Nuestra prioridad es asegurar una transición sin problemas, y la continuación de la prestación de servicios de corretaje a nuestros clientes con mínimas interrupciones y mínimos cambios. Los clientes que se vean afectados por este evento recibirán notificaciones en donde se detallen los cambios y los cronogramas. A continuación se incluye una lista con preguntas frecuentes respecto de la migración de cuentas propuesta de IBUK a uno de nuestros otros brókeres europeos.

Preguntas frecuentes 

P: ¿Qué acciones está tomando IBKR para asegurar la continuidad de los servicios de corretaje cuando comience la transición hacia el Brexit el 1 de enero de 2021?

R: En 2018 IBKR constituyó Interactive Brokers Luxembourg SARL ('IBLUX'), la cual recibió autorización normativa en noviembre de 2019. Además, nos encontramos en el proceso de la creación de dos brókeres adicionales con base en la Unión Europea: Interactive Brokers Ireland Limited ('IBIE') e Interactive Brokers Central Europe Befektetési ZRt ('IBCE').

Nuestra intención es migrar a todos los clientes afectados por el Brexit a uno de estos tres brókeres con base en la Unión Europea (los 'brókeres de la UE') antes del 31 de diciembre de 2020.  La migración a IBIE e IBCE está condicionada a la obtención de la autorización regulatoria de la autoridad nacional competente correspondiente.

 

P: ¿A cuál de las cuentas de bróker de IBKR se migrará mi cuenta?

R: La decisión final respecto de cuáles serán las cuentas que se migrarán a IBLUX, IBIE o IBCE no se ha tomado aún.  Estimamos que la mayoría de nuestros clientes con base en Europa Occidental se migrarán a IBIE, los clientes con base en Europa Central y del Este a IBCE, y un grupo selecto de clientes a IBLUX. Otros de los factores que se tendrán en cuenta son el tipo de cuenta y las posiciones de los clientes.

Todos los clientes recibirán una comunicación en donde se especificará el bróker que se ha programado para su migración antes del envío de la solicitud de migración.

 

P: ¿Cuáles son los clientes que se ven afectados por este plan de migración?

R: Los clientes afectados incluyen las personas residentes en la Unión Europea o cuentas de entidades constituidas dentro de un país de la Unión Europea. La mayoría de estas cuentas reciben actualmente servicios de Interactive Brokers (U.K.) Limited ('IBUK').

 

P: ¿Cómo se presta el consentimiento?

R: Recibirá un correo electrónico en donde se le solicitará que inicie sesión en Client Portal una vez que estemos listos para migrar su cuenta. Una vez que inicie sesión, se le proporcionarán las declaraciones y los acuerdos de cliente necesarios respecto de los cuales puede prestar su consentimiento de forma electrónica. Los clientes que no respondan al correo electrónico inicial recibirán una serie de correos electrónicos recordatorios.

 

P: ¿Qué sucede si no hago nada?

R: En caso de no responder a nuestra solicitud de proporcionar su consentimiento, su cuenta se verá condicionada a las mismas restricciones de negociación y transferencia que se aplicarían si no hubiera autorizado la transferencia. Su cuenta permanecerá condicionada a los términos y condiciones de su acuerdo actual (lo que incluye las comisiones y las políticas de margen) hasta que se haya migrado al bróker europeo designado, se haya transferido a un bróker fuera de IBKR, o se haya cerrado.

 

P: ¿Qué sucede si no presto mi consentimiento para la transferencia?

R: En caso de no prestar consentimiento para la transferencia de su cuenta al bróker de la UE designado, su cuenta podrá quedar restringida para la apertura de nuevas transacciones o para la transferencia de fondos y/o posiciones adicionales. Estas restricciones no le permitirán transferir su cuenta fuera de IBKR.

 

P: ¿Cambiarán mis credenciales para el inicio de sesión?

R: No. Su nombre de usuario, contraseña y proceso de autenticación en dos factores existentes para su cuenta seguirán activos luego de la migración. Sin embargo, se le asignará un nuevo id. de cuenta para su cuenta migrada.

 

P: ¿Tendré acceso a la misma plataforma de negociación o quedaré condicionado a cambios en el software luego de la migración?

R: La migración no tendrá un impacto sobre el software que utiliza para negociar o administrar su cuenta. La tecnología seguirá siendo la que usa hoy en día.

 

P: ¿Se transferirán todos los saldos en las cuentas al mismo tiempo?

R: Todos los saldos, con la excepción de los devengados (p. ej., intereses y dividendos) se transferirán al mismo tiempo. Los devengados se transferirán una vez realizado el efectivo. En el caso de los intereses, los devengados normalmente se revierten y el efectivo puede registrarse dentro de la primera semana del mes luego del devengo. En el caso de los dividendos, el devengo se revierte y el efectivo de compensación se registra en la fecha en la que el emisor paga el dividendo.

 

P: ¿Qué sucederá en mi cuenta corriente luego de la migración?

R: Su cuenta corriente se cerrará una vez que todos los devengos se hayan registrado en efectivo y transferido a la cuenta migrada. Una vez cerrada, no se podrá acceder para fines de negociación. Sin embargo, quedará accesible mediante un selector de cuenta de Client Portal a los fines de visualizar e imprimir extractos históricos.

 

P: ¿Cambiarán las comisiones y tarifas de IBKR cuando se migre mi cuenta?

R: No. Las comisiones y tarifas de IBKR no varían de acuerdo al bróker con el cual se mantiene su cuenta.

 

P: ¿Cambiarán mis permisos de negociación cuando se migre mi cuenta?

R: Sus permisos de negociación permanecerán inalterados, excepto por las cuentas migradas a las cuentas de IBLUX, las cuales quedarán restringidas para la negociación de fórex apalancados debido a restricciones regulatorias. Si bien no anticipamos restricciones similares aplicables a las cuentas de IBIE e IBCE, le notificaremos en caso de que surjan cambios antes de que le solicitemos su consentimiento para migrar las cuentas.

 

P: ¿Se transferirán las órdenes abiertas (p. ej., Good-til-Canceled) cuando se migre mi cuenta?

R: Las órdenes abiertas se transferirán a la nueva cuenta; sin embargo, le recomendamos a nuestros clientes que revisen sus órdenes inmediatamente luego de la migración para asegurarse de que las órdenes abiertas coincidan con sus intenciones de negociación.

 

P: ¿Estaré condicionado por la regla de negociación de patrón diario de EE. UU. una vez que se migre mi cuenta?

R: Las cuentas que se mantengan con IBUK están condicionadas a la regla de negociación de patrón diario de EE. UU. (PDT) debido a que IBL, un bróker estadounidense, es el que introduce y transfiere las cuentas. La regla PDT restringe las cuentas con patrimonios inferiores a 25,000 USD a no más de 3 negociaciones por día dentro de cualquier periodo de 5 días hábiles.

Debido a que IBL no introducirá las cuentas migradas a IBLUX, IBIE o IBCE, no quedarán condicionadas a la regla PDT.

 

P: ¿Recibiré un único extracto de actividad anual combinado al finalizar el año?

R: No.  Recibirá un extracto anual para su cuenta existente que cubrirá el periodo comprendido entre el 1 de enero de 2020 hasta la fecha de migración, y un segundo extracto anual para su nueva cuenta, el cual cubrirá el periodo comprendido entre la fecha de migración hasta el 31 de diciembre de 2020.

 

P: ¿Se transferirá la base de coste actual de las posiciones cuando se migre mi cuenta?

R: Sí, esta migración no tendrá un impacto sobre la base del coste de sus posiciones.

 

P: ¿Retendrá la cuenta migrada la misma configuración que la cuenta actual?

R: La configuración de la cuenta luego de la migración coincidirá con la cuenta actual, dentro del alcance permitido por las leyes. Esto incluye atributos como la capacidad de margen, datos de mercado, usuarios adicionales y alertas.  En ciertas instancias, una cuenta podrá migrarse a una jurisdicción en donde no pueda ofrecerse el alcance completo de la elegibilidad del producto. Los clientes que mantengan productos restringidos pueden migrarse y mantenerse, o pueden cerrar estas posiciones, pero no se les permitirá aumentar la posición.

 

P: ¿Qué sucede si IBKR no recibe las aprobaciones normativas necesarias para migrar las cuentas al 31 de diciembre de 2020?

R: Mientras esté aprobado, IBLUX se encuentra condicionado a las limitaciones del tamaño permitido de sus negocios, y las licencias para IBIE o IBCE son necesarias para completar la migración antes del 31 de diciembre de 2020. En caso de que la decisión sea que ninguna de las dos reciba la licencia a tiempo, se contactará a los clientes para explicarles cómo se manejará su cuenta al finalizar el período de transición del Brexit.

 

P: ¿Puedo continuar tratando las reclamaciones con el servicio del ombudsman financiero del Reino Unido luego de la migración?

R: Los clientes de IBUK son elegibles para presentar reclamaciones no resultas por IBUK para su satisfacción, tratadas por el servicio del ombudsman financiero del Reino Unido. Una vez que su cuenta se haya migrado a IBLUX, IBIE o IBCE, el servicio del ombudsman financiero del Reino Unido ya no se aplicará, y le proporcionaremos la información respecto de todo servicio que lo reemplace. Deberá tener en cuenta que la migración no afectará nuestro procesamiento interno de reclamaciones.

 

P: ¿Cómo afectará la migración a la protección de datos?

R: La migración de su cuenta de IBUK  a IBLUX, IBIE o IBCE no afectará el modo en el que protegemos sus datos personales, de conformidad con las leyes de protección de datos. IBLUX, IBIE e IBCE asumirán, cada uno, la responsabilidad de la protección de datos, y continuarán cumpliendo nuestros altos estándares existentes para la protección de sus datos personales.

 

P: ¿Cómo se verá afectada la protección de mi cuenta?

R: La protección de los seguros disponibles para nuestros clientes en el caso de incumplimiento por parte del bróker es normalmente menos favorable en la UE en comparación con el Reino Unido o EE. UU..

Actualmente, siempre que se cumplan los requisitos de elegibilidad, los clientes de IBUK pueden obtener protección con relación a los servicios de inversiones de conformidad con el esquema de compensación de servicios financieros del Reino Unido (UK Financial Services Compensation Scheme, UK FSCS) por un monto de hasta £50,000. Debido a que los clientes de IBUK son transferidos por nuestro bróker estadounidense, IBL, el segmento de valores de su cuenta podrá ser elegible para el seguro que proporciona la Securities Investor Protection Corporation (SIPC) por un monto de hasta 500,000 USD (condicionado a un sublímite de efectivo de 250,000 USD).

Bajo los brókeres en la UE, IBLUX, IBIE e IBCE, los reclamantes elegibles pueden tener derecho a reclamar una compensación por hasta un máximo de 20,000 EUR. Se proporcionará más información sobre el esquema aplicable, la cobertura y la elegibilidad de las reclamaciones junto con nuestra solicitud de transferencia.  

De acuerdo con la capitalización general de Interactive Brokers Group de 8.25 mil millones USD, junto con las políticas de margen prudentes, implementadas en todos nuestros brókeres, las cuales incluyen verificaciones de crédito previas a la aceptación de órdenes y la liquidación automática de cuentas que no cumplen con los requisitos de margen, creemos que esta migración no tendrá un impacto sobre la seguridad y solidez en general de los activos de nuestros clientes.

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Regla Free Riding

En una cuenta en efectivo, un inversor debe pagar la compra de un valor (es decir, la operación debe liquidarse) antes de vender ese valor. Si un inversor compra un valor y luego vende el mismo valor sin pagarlo en su totalidad a la fecha de liquidación, se considera que el inversor está cometiendo una violación del tipo "free riding". La implementación por parte de IBKR de la regla "free riding" utiliza un control al final del día para determinar si se cerró una posición con anterioridad a su fecha de liquidación. Este control al final del día por parte de IBKR considerará el cierre de una posición antes de su liquidación como una violación del tipo "free riding" y aplicará automáticamente una restricción de "efectivo por adelantado" en la cuenta durante los próximos 90 días.

Estos son algunos de los ejemplos que se considerarían una violación de este tipo en Interactive Brokers:

Ejemplo A:

1) En la fecha de la transacción, la cuenta ha liquidado efectivo por 10,000 USD

2) En la fecha de la transacción, la cuenta compra ABC por 10,000 USD

3) Al día siguiente de la fecha de la transacción, la cuenta vende ABC y compra 10,000 USD de XYZ

4) El cliente vende las acciones de XYZ sin depositar fondos suficientes para pagar la compra de XYZ en su totalidad

 

Ejemplo B:

1) En la fecha de la transacción, la cuenta ha pagado totalmente las acciones de ABC y no hay exceso de efectivo

2) En la fecha de la transacción, la cuenta vende 10,000 USD de ABC

3) En la fecha de la transacción, la cuenta compra 10,000 USD de XYZ

4) Al día siguiente de la fecha de la transacción, la cuenta vende las acciones de XYZ sin depositar fondos suficientes para pagar la compra de XYZ en su totalidad

 

El proceso de control al final del día considerará ambos escenarios como violaciones del tipo "free riding", las cuales restringirán la cuenta y le permitirá solo comprar utilizando los fondos liquidados durante 90 días. IB ha aplicado ciertos controles para ayudar a evitar las violaciones del tipo "free riding". Su valor total en efectivo incluye los fondos liquidados y no liquidados y podrá realizar una nueva orden cuando sus fondos disponibles (ELV - margen inicial) tengan un valor positivo (dado que esto representa su capital en efectivo liquidado totalmente después de una operación de cierre). La verificación en tiempo real para el capital en efectivo liquidado totalmente se lleva a cabo durante la verificación de crédito cuando se introduce una nueva orden.

Los titulares de cuenta que deseen tener acceso a los fondos no liquidados antes de la fecha de liquidación pueden hacerlo si solicitan una cuenta de tipo margen. Con una cuenta de tipo margen, los fondos no liquidados se pueden emplear para la negociación pero no se pueden extraer hasta que se realice la liquidación. Los titulares de cuenta que mantienen una cuenta en efectivo pueden solicitar una promoción a una cuenta de margen siguiendo los pasos que se especifican a continuación:

  1. Inicie sesión en Client Portal.
  2. Haga clic en el menú Usuario (el icono de perfil en la esquina superior derecha) y luego en Gestionar cuenta.
  3. En la sección Configuración, haga clic en el icono Configurar (engranaje) y vaya a Tipo de cuenta para solicitar una promoción de efectivo a margen.

Tenga en cuenta lo siguiente:

  • Las solicitudes serán revisadas por los departamentos de riesgo y cumplimiento normativo de IBKR. La aprobación normalmente tarda de 24 a 48 horas.
  • Si recientemente cambió de una cuenta de margen a una cuenta en efectivo, las regulaciones del mercado exigen un período de espera de 30 días antes de que su cuenta vuelva a ser elegible para ser de tipo margen.

 

IBKR Australia Account Types and Products Offerings

Interactive Brokers Australia Pty Ltd (“IBKR Australia”), which holds an Australian Financial Services License (“AFSL” No. 453554), has been established. IBKR Australia is headquartered in Sydney and has been set up to provide services to our Australian clients. IBKR Australia clients, products and services have some unique characteristics when compared to the Interactive Brokers (“IBKR”) global account and product suite. The purpose of this document is to outline these characteristics of the IBKR Australia offering.

Account Types

IBKR Australia offers both cash accounts and margin accounts to all types of clients, including Individual / Joint account holders as well as trust account holders and corporate clients.

For Self-Managed Superannuation Fund (“SMSF”) account holders, IBKR Australia only offers cash accounts.

Natural Person v Non-Natural Person

Under IBKR Australia clients will be categorised as either natural persons or non-natural persons.

A natural person client would include individuals / joint account holders, as well as trusts with at least one natural person trustee. A non-natural person client would include corporate entities as well as trusts with only non-natural person trustees.

Australian Regulatory Status

Under IBKR Australia clients will be classified as either a retail, wholesale or professional investor. All new clients of IBKR Australia default to being classified as a retail investor unless they produce the required documentary evidence to enable IBKR Australia to treat them as a wholesale or professional investor.

Refer to this link for information regarding Australian regulatory status under IBKR Australia.

Please click [Here] to download the wholesale investor booklet, and click [Here] to download the professional investor booklet.

Cash Accounts

IBKR Australia offer three different types of cash accounts:

  • Investment account
  • Trading account
  • SMSF account (only available to Self-Managed Superannuation Fund)

Investment Account: Similar to the IBLLC Cash account model, the IBKR Australia Investment account does not allow you to short securities or to borrow funds, i.e. your account cannot have a debit balance. Moreover, only a limited number of options strategies will be available. This account is not eligible for reduced intraday Futures margin.

This account is available for all clients except SMSF clients.

Trading Account: While this is also a cash account that does not permit you to have a debit balance, you will be permitted to short stock and trade any of the available option strategies in the Trading Account, provided that you have the requisite trading experience and expertise, which is outlined [Here]. Further, Trading Accounts enable you to trade with unsettled funds.

If you currently have an Investment Account, you can submit a change of account type to change to a Trading Account by logging into the Client Portal and clicking the User menu (head and shoulders icon in the top right corner) followed by Manage Account. Under Configuration, click the Configure tool next to Account Type. This may take 2-3 business days to review.

This account is available for all clients except SMSF clients.

SMSF: This is only available to SMSF clients. This is a cash account that does not permit you to short securities or to borrow funds, i.e. your account cannot have a debit balance. Moreover, only a limited number of options strategies will be available. This account is not eligible for reduced intraday Futures margin.

The options strategies that are available in the Investment Account and the SMSF account are as follows:

  • Long Call or Put
  • Covered Calls
  • Short Put
  • Call Spread; exdate(long) >= exdate(short)
  • Put Spread; exdate(long) >= exdate(short)
  • Long / Short Butterfly
  • Iron Condor

Margin Accounts

IBKR Australia offers margin accounts that will provide all clients excluding SMSF clients with the ability to create portfolios to the maximum degree of risk taking/leverage allowed by IBKR Australia. Please note that margin accounts offered by IBKR Australia may be different from client to client depending on various factors. Please refer to this link for more information regarding margin accounts offered by IBKR Australia.

CFD Product Offering

As a client of IBKR Australia, provided that you have the requisite trading experience and expertise, which is outlined [Here], you will be able to trade all of exchange traded products available (including local and global stocks, options, futures, bonds, ETFs etc.) through IBKR’s award winning trading platform and software.

In addition, IBKR Australia issue Contracts for Difference (“CFDs”) over global shares, indices, metals and FX. These are only available to IBKR Australia clients. For further information on IBKR Australia's products and services, please see our website.

Refer to this link for information on IBAU’s share CFDs.

Refer to this link for information on IBAU’s index CFDs.

Refer to this link for information on IBAU's metal CFDs.

Refer to this link for information on IBAU’s FX CFDs.

Please note that the Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC) enacted new rules applicable to retail clients trading CFDs, effective 29 March 2021. Wholesale or Professional Investor clients are unaffected.  Refer to this link for more information.  

 

FX Offering

IBKR Australia can only support currencies in AUD, USD, HKD, EUR and GBP and you can convert between these currencies. If you have cash balances in currencies other than IBA supported currencies (AUD, USD, HKD, EUR or GBP) these will to be converted into your nominated base currency.

IBAU clients, when permissioned, can trade in any market available across the IBKR network, even those outside the 5 supported currencies above. However, upon your instruction for any market outside the 5 supported currencies, IBKR Australia will automatically execute Forex conversions to ensure non-supported cash balances be cleared.

For example, if an IBKR Australia client using a Cash account wishes to buy JPY denominated securities, as long as the client has sufficient available funds (for a cash account) or sufficient equity (for a margin account), the trade is permitted. To settle the trade, IBKR Australia will convert the existing cash balances into JPY. Similarly at a later date, if the same client wishes to sell their JPY denominated securities, IBKR Australia would automatically convert the JPY proceeds to the base currency by day end, once again leaving no residual JPY cash balances.

If an IBKR Australia client using a margin account has any positive or negative cash balances (if permitted) outside of the 5 supported currencies, it will be automatically converted to base currency by day end.

ASX24

In order to ensure continued compliance with our regulatory obligations, IBKR Australia will NOT accept any other form of collateral except cash for the purposes of determining whether you can trade or hold ASX24 products. If the margin requirements of ASX24 products cannot be met using cash, your account will be subject to automated liquidation.

 

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Interactive Brokers (U.K.) Limited – Clasificación MiFID

Introducción

En el acto legislativo de la Unión Europea conocido como 'Directiva sobre Mercados de Instrumentos Financieros', o MiFID, por sus siglas en inglés, enmendado por el MiFID II, se requiere que Interactive Brokers (U.K.) Limited (IBUK) clasifique sus clientes en función de su conocimiento y experiencia entre 'clientes particulares', 'clientes profesionales' o 'contrapartes elegibles'. 

De conformidad con el reglamento de la Financial Conduct Authority, IBUK categoriza la mayoría de los clientes como 'particulares', lo que les ofrece un mayor grado de protección.
 
Solo aquellos clientes que son o entidades reguladas o fondos gestionados por gestores de fondos regulados se clasifican como clientes profesionales per se.

Las principales diferencias respecto de las regulaciones legales entre los clientes profesionales y los clientes particulares son las siguientes:

1. Descripción de la naturaleza y los riesgos de los paquetes de inversión: Las empresas que ofrezcan servicios de inversión conjuntamente con otro servicio o producto, como condición para el mismo acuerdo con un cliente minorista, deben cumplir lo siguiente: (i) informar a los clientes minoristas si los riesgos asociados a dicho acuerdo serán diferentes de los riesgos asociados a los componentes considerados por separado; y (ii) proporcionar a los clientes minoristas una descripción detallada de los diferentes componentes del acuerdo y del modo en el que la interacción entre ellos modifica los riesgos. Dichos requisitos no se aplican a los clientes profesionales. No obstante, IBUK no realizará dicha distinción excepto en el caso especificado en el punto 3 que figura más adelante.

2. Medidas para la protección de los inversores sobre la provisión de contratos por diferencia (CFD): La Asociación Europea de Valores y Mercados (AEVM) ha establecido medidas de intervención de productos para la provisión de CFD a los clientes minoristas. Entre estas medidas se incluyen las siguientes: (i) nuevos límites de apalancamiento en la apertura de una posición, los cuales variarán en función de la volatilidad del mercado subyacente; (ii) una norma de liquidación de la garantía por cuenta, la cual estandariza el porcentaje de margen al que los proveedores están obligados a liquidar uno o más CFD abiertos; (iii) protección ante saldos negativos para las cuentas;
(iv) restricciones en los incentivos ofrecidos para negociar CFD; y (v) una advertencia de riesgo estandarizada en la que se incluye el porcentaje de pérdidas de las cuentas de inversores minoristas del proveedor de CFD. Dichos requisitos no se aplican a los clientes profesionales.

3. Comunicación con los clientes: Las empresas deben asegurarse de que sus comunicaciones con los clientes son imparciales, transparentes y correctas. No obstante, la manera en la que una empresa se comunica con sus clientes (acerca de la empresa, sus servicios y productos y sus remuneraciones) puede variar entre los clientes minoristas y profesionales. Las obligaciones de la empresa en lo que se refiere a la elaboración de detalles, el medio utilizado y el calendario de la provisión de información varía en función de los clientes minoristas o profesionales. Los requisitos para proporcionar documentos sobre determinados productos específicos como, por ejemplo, documentos de información clave (KID) para productos de inversión minorista empaquetados y productos de inversión basados en seguros (PRIIP), no se aplican a los clientes profesionales.

4. Notificación sobre la depreciación en el valor: Las firmas que dispongan de cuentas de clientes minoristas con posiciones en instrumentos financieros apalancados u operaciones causantes de pasivo contingente deben informarles en los casos en los que el valor inicial de cada instrumento se deprecie un 10 por ciento y posteriormente a múltiplos del 10 por ciento. Dichos requisitos no se aplican a los clientes profesionales.

5. Idoneidad de los servicios: Al examinar la idoneidad de los servicios sin asesoramiento, puede que se requiera que la empresa determine si el cliente tiene experiencia y conocimientos suficientes para entender los riesgos que conllevan los productos o servicios ofrecidos o solicitados. Cuando dicho requisito de evaluación de la idoneidad se aplique a un cliente, la empresa podrá suponer que el cliente profesional dispone de la experiencia y conocimiento necesarios para comprender los riesgos que conllevan estos servicios u operaciones de inversión concretos, o los tipos de transacciones o productos, para los que el cliente es clasificado como cliente profesional. La empresa no hará la misma suposición para los clientes minoristas, y debe evaluar si dichos clientes minoristas disponen del nivel de conocimientos y experiencia necesarios.
 

IBUK no proporciona servicios de asesoramiento y no está obligado a solicitar información o adherirse a los procedimientos de evaluación para los clientes profesionales al examinar la idoneidad de un servicio o producto concretos. 

6. Exclusión de responsabilidades: La capacidad de la empresa para excluirse o restringir cualquier deber o responsabilidad que deba a los clientes es menor según las reglas de la FCA en el caso de los clientes minoristas frente a los clientes profesionales.

7. Defensor de servicios financieros: El servicio del defensor de servicios financieros del Reino Unido no está a disposición de los clientes profesionales, excepto si son, por ejemplo, consumidores, pequeñas empresas o particulares que actúen al margen de su negocio, empresa o profesión.

8. Compensación: IBUK es miembro del UK Financial Services Compensation Scheme ('Plan de compensación de servicios financieros del Reino Unido'). Puede que sea elegible para reclamar una compensación en este plan si IBUK no puede cumplir con sus obligaciones. Esto dependerá del tipo de empresa y de las circunstancias de la reclamación; las compensaciones solo están disponibles para un determinado tipo de demandantes y reclamaciones en función del tipo de negocio. La elegibilidad a la compensación con este plan se determina en las reglas aplicables a dicho plan.
 

Clasificación como cliente profesional

IBUK permite que los clientes minoristas se clasifiquen como profesionales. Los clientes reciben una notificación sobre su categoría de cliente y pueden consultarla en cualquier momento en Gestión de cuenta, en Ajustes > Ajustes de cuenta > Categoría de cliente de MiFID. En esa misma página, los clientes pueden solicitar el cambio de clasificación de categoría MiFID.

IBUK examinará el cambio de clasificación de minoristas a profesionales en los dos casos siguientes:

1. Los clientes minoristas pueden notificar a IBUK que deberían haberse clasificado como profesionales per se, de conformidad con las normas de FCA, dado que cumplen uno de los requisitos siguientes:

(i) están autorizados o regulados a operar en los mercados financieros;

(ii) una grande empresa que cumple dos de los volúmenes siguientes:

(a) total del balance: 20 000 000 EUR;
(b) volumen de negocios neto: 40 000 000 EUR;
(c) fondos propios: 2 000 000 EUR;

(iii) un inversor institucional cuya actividad principal sea la inversión en instrumentos financieros. En este se incluyen las entidades dedicadas a las titulizaciones de activos u otras transacciones financieras.

2. IBUK puede considerar los clientes como clientes profesionales optativos si, basándose en una evaluación de la experiencia, competencias y conocimientos del cliente, IBUK está seguro de que el cliente es capaz de tomar sus propias decisiones de inversión y comprender los riesgos implicados a la luz de la naturaleza de las transacciones o de los servicios previstos. Los clientes que no cumplan los requisitos de clasificación como clientes profesionales per se pueden solicitar clasificarse como profesionales electivos.

Para obtener esta clasificación, los clientes minoristas deben facilitar pruebas de que cumplen con al menos dos (2) de los criterios siguientes:

1. Durante los últimos cuatro (4) trimestres, el cliente llevó a cabo operaciones en instrumentos financieros con un volumen significativo y con una frecuencia promedio de diez (10) por trimestre.

Para determinar el volumen 'significativo', IBUK tiene en cuenta lo siguiente:

a. durante los últimos cuatro trimestres, se produjeron un mínimo de cuarenta (40) operaciones;
b. durante cada uno de los cuatro (4) trimestres, se realizó un mínimo de una (1) operación;
c. el valor nocional de las principales cuarenta (40) operaciones en los últimos cuatro (4) trimestres es superior a 200 000 EUR; y
d. la cuenta dispone de un valor de activo neto superior a 50 000 EUR.

Las transacciones en Spot FX y metales OTC sin distribuir no se consideran a efectos de dichos cálculos.

2. El cliente dispone de una cartera de instrumentos financieros (incluyendo efectivo) que excede los 500 000 EUR (o equivalente);

3. El cliente es un titular de una cuenda individual o un operador de una cuenta de organización que trabaja o ha trabajado en el sector financiero durante al menos un año en una posición profesional en la que se requieren conocimientos necesarios de los productos negociados.

Tras la revisión y verificación de toda la información y pruebas facilitadas para su corrobación, IBUK clasificará los clientes en caso de que se cumplan todas las condiciones.

Los clientes minoristas que soliciten clasificarse como profesionales deben leer y entender las advertencias facilitadas por IBUK antes de presentar su solicitud.

Clasificación como cliente minorista Los clientes profesionales pueden solicitar a IBUK clasificarse como clientes minoristas en la página de Gestión de cuenta mencionada anteriormente (en Ajustes> Ajustes de cuenta> Categoría de cliente de MiFID).

IBUK acepta todo tipo de solicitudes, con la única excepción de las de las entidades reguladas o los fondos gestionados por gestores de fondos regulados, los cuales se clasifican como clientes profesionales per se.

ESTA INFORMACIÓN SE OFRECE COMO GUÍA UNICAMENTE PARA CLIENTES COMPENSADOS DE INTERACTIVE BROKERS.
NOTA: LA INFORMACIÓN MENCIONADA ANTERIORMENTE NO ES UNA GUÍA COMPLETA, EXHAUSTIVA NI UNA INTERPRETACIÓN DEFINITIVA DEL REGLAMENTO, SINO UN RESUMEN DE LA CLASIFICACIÓN DE CLIENTES Y LA POLÍTICA DE CLASIFICACIÓN DE IBUK

 

 

Interactive Brokers (U.K.) Limited – MiFID Categorisation

Introduction

The European Union legislative act known as the Markets in Financial Instruments Directive, or MiFID, as amended by MiFID II, requires Interactive Brokers (U.K.) Limited (IBUK) to classify each Client according to their knowledge, experience and expertise: "Retail", "Professional" or "Eligible Counterparty".

In accordance with the Financial Conduct Authority rules, IBUK categorises most clients as Retail clients, providing them with a higher degree of protection.

Only those clients that are either regulated entities or funds managed by regulated fund managers, are categorised as Per Se Professional Clients.

Professional Clients are entitled to a lower degree of protection under the UK regulatory regimes than Retail Clients. This notice contains, for information purposes only, a summary of the protections that a Retail Client might lose if they are to be treated as a Professional Client.

1. Description of the nature and risks of packaged investments: A firm that offers an investment service with another service or product or as a condition of the same agreement with a Retail Client must: (i) inform Retail Clients if the risks resulting from the agreement are likely to be different from the risks associated with the components when taken separately; and (ii) provide Retail Clients with an adequate description of the different components of the agreement and the way in which its interaction modifies the risks. The above requirements do not apply in respect of Professional Clients. However, IBUK will not make such differentiation apart from the case specified under point 3 below.

2. Retail investor protection measures on the provision of Contracts for Differences (“CFDs”): The regulatory measures include: (i) Leverage limits on the opening of a position, which vary according to the volatility of the underlying; (ii) A margin close out rule on a per account basis that standardises the percentage of margin (at 50%of the minimum required margin) at which providers are required to close out one or more open CFDs; (iii) Negative balance protection on a per account basis;(iv) A restriction on the incentives offered to trade CFDs; and (v) A standardised risk warning, including the percentage of losses on a CFD provider’s Retail investor accounts. These measures do not apply in respect of Professional Clients.

3. Communication with clients, including financial promotions: A firm must ensure that its communications with all clients are, and remain, fair, clear and not misleading. However, the simplicity and frequency in which a firm may communicate with Professional Clients (about itself, its services and products, and its remuneration) may be different to the way in which the firm communicates with Retail Clients. Regulations relating to restrictions on, and the required contents of, direct offer financial promotions do not apply to promotions to Professional Clients and such promotions need not contain sufficient information for Professional Clients to make an informed assessment of the investment to which they relate. A firm’s obligations in respect of the level of details, medium and timing of the provision of information are different depending on whether the client is a Retailor Professional Client. The requirements to deliver certain product-specific documents, such as Key Information Documents (“KIDs”) for Packaged Retail and Insurance-based Investment Products (“PRIIPs”), are not applied to Professional Clients.

4. Depreciation in value reporting to clients: A firm that holds a Retail Client account that includes positions in leveraged financial instruments or contingent liability transactions must inform the Retail Client, where the initial value of each instrument depreciates by 10 per cent and thereafter at multiples of 10 per cent. The above reporting requirements do not apply in respect of Professional Clients (i.e., these reports do not have to be produced for Professional Clients).

5. Appropriateness: For transactions where a firm does not provide the client with investment advice or discretionary management services (such as an execution-only trade), it may be required to assess whether the transaction is appropriate. When assessing appropriateness for non-advised services, a firm may be required to determine whether the client has the necessary experience and knowledge in order to understand the risks involved in relation to the product or service offered or demanded. Where such an appropriateness assessment requirement applies in respect of a Retail Client, there is a specified test for ascertaining whether the client has the requisite investment knowledge and experience to understand the risks associated with the relevant transaction. However, in respect of a Professional Client the firm is entitled to assume that a Professional Client has the necessary level of experience, knowledge and expertise in order to understand the risks involved in relation to those particular investment services or transactions, or types of transaction or product, for which the client is classified as a Professional Client. IBUK provides non-advised services and is not required to request information or adhere to the assessment procedures for a Professional Client when assessing the appropriateness of a given service or product as with a Retail Client, and IBUK may not be required to give warnings to the Professional Client if it cannot determine appropriateness with respect to a given service or product.

6. Information about costs and associated charges: A firm must provide clients with information on costs and associated charges for its services and/or products. The information provided may not be as comprehensive for Professional Clients as it must be for Retail Clients.

7. Dealing: When undertaking transactions for Retail Clients, the total consideration, representing the price of the financial instrument and the costs relating to execution, should be the overriding factor in any execution. For Professional Clients a range of factors may be considered in order to achieve best execution –price is an important factor, but the relative importance of other different factors, such as speed, costs and fees may vary. However, IBUK will not make such differentiation.

8. Difficulty in carrying out orders: In relation to order execution, firms must inform Retail Clients about any material difficulty relevant to the proper carrying out of orders promptly on becoming aware of the difficulty. This is not required in respect of Professional Clients. The timeframe for providing confirmation that an order has been carried out is more rigorous for Retail Clients’ orders than Professional Clients’ orders.

9. Share trading obligation: In respect of shares admitted to trading on a regulated market or traded on a trading venue, the firm may, in relation to the investments of Retail Clients, only arrange for such trades to be carried out on a regulated market, a multilateral trading facility, a systematic internaliser or a third-country trading venue. This is a restriction which may not apply in respect of trading carried out for Professional Clients (i.e., this restriction can be disapplied where trades in such shares are carried out for Professional Clients in certain circumstances).

10. Exclusion of liability: Firms’ ability to exclude or restrict any duty or liability owed to clients is narrower under the FCA rules in the case of Retail Clients than in respect of Professional Clients.

11. The Financial Services Ombudsman: The services of the Financial Ombudsman Service in the UK may not be avail-able to Professional Clients, unless they are, for example, consumers, small businesses or individuals acting outside of their trade, business, craft or profession.

12. Compensation: IBUK is a member of the UK Financial Services Compensation Scheme. You may be entitled to claim compensation from that scheme if IBUK cannot meet its obligations to you. This will depend on the type of business and the circumstances of the claim; compensation is only available for certain types of claimants and claims in respect of certain types of business. Eligibility for compensation from the Financial Services Compensation Scheme is not contingent on your categorisation but on how the firm is constituted. Eligibility for compensation from the scheme is determined under the rules applicable to the scheme (more information is available at https://www.fscs.org.uk/).

13. Transfer of financial collateral arrangements: As a Professional Client, the firm may conclude title transfer financial collateral arrangements with you for the purpose of securing or covering your present or future, actual or contingent or prospective obligations, which would not be possible for Retail Clients.

14. Client money: The requirements under the client money rules in the FCA Handbook (CASS) are more prescriptive and provide more protection in respect of Retail Clients than in respect of Professional Clients.

Re-categorisation as Professional Client

IBUK allows its Retail Clients to request to be re-categorised as Professional Clients. Clients are notified of their Client Category and can check it at any time from Account Management, under Settings> Account Settings> MiFID Client Category. From this same screen, Clients can also request to change their MiFID Category.

IBUK will consider re-categorising Retail Clients to Professional Clients in two instances:

1. Per Se Professional Clients can notify IBUK that they consider that they should have been categorised as Per Se Professionals under the FCA rules, because at least one of the following conditions applies:

(i) authorised or regulated to operate in the financial markets; or

(ii) a large undertaking meeting two of the following size requirements on a company basis:

(a) balance sheet total of EUR 20,000,000;
(b) net turnover of EUR 40,000,000;
(c) own funds of EUR 2,000,000;

(iii) an institutional investor whose main activity is to invest in financial instruments. This includes entities dedicated to the securitisation of assets or other financing transactions.

2. IBUK may treat Clients as Elective Professional Clients if, based on an assessment of the Client’s expertise, experience, and knowledge, IBUK is reasonably assured that, in light of the nature of the transactions or services envisaged, the Client is capable of making its own investment decisions and understand the risks involved. Clients who do not meet the requirements to be categorised as Per Se Professional Clients can still request to be categorised as Elective Professional Clients.

To obtain such re-categorisation, Retail Clients must provide evidence that they satisfy at least two (2) of the following criteria:

1. Over the last four (4) quarters, the Client conducted trades in financial instruments in significant size at an average frequency of ten (10) per quarter.

To determine the significant size IBUK considers the following:
   a. During the last four quarters, there were at least forty (40) trades; and
   b. During each of the last four (4) quarters, there was at least one (1) trade; and
   c. The total notional value of the top forty (40) trades of the last four (4) quarters is greater than EUR 200,000; and
   d. The account has a net asset value greater than EUR 50,000.

Trades in Spot FX and Unallocated OTC Metals are not considered for the purpose of this calculation.

2. The Client holds a portfolio of financial instruments (including cash) that exceeds EUR 500,000 (or equivalent);

3. The Client is an individual account holder or a trader of an organisation account who works or has worked in the financial sector for at least one year in a professional position which requires knowledge of products it trades in.

Upon review and verification of the information and supporting evidence provided, IBUK will re-categorise clients if all relevant conditions are met to satisfaction.

Retail Clients requesting to be re-categorised as Professional Accounts must read and understand the warning provided by IBUK before the relevant request is submitted.

Re-categorisation as Retail Client

Professional Clients can request IBUK to be re-categorised as Retail Clients, from the same Account Management page described above (under Settings> Account Settings> MiFID Client Category).

With the sole exception of regulated entities or funds managed by regulated fund managers, which are categorised as Per Se Professional Clients, IBUK accepts all such requests.

THIS INFORMATION IS GUIDANCE FOR INTERACTIVE BROKERS FULLY DISCLOSED CLEARED CUSTOMERS ONLY.
NOTE: THE INFORMATION ABOVE IS NOT INTENDED TO BE A COMPREHENSIVE, EXHAUSTIVE NOR A DEFINITIVE INTERPRETATION OF THE REGULATION, BUT A SUMMARY OF IBUK’S APPROACH TO CLIENT CATEGORISATION AND RE-CATEGORISATION POLICY.

 

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