Information Regarding IBUK ISA (Individual Savings Account)

1.       What is an ISA and what benefits does it offer me?

An ISA (Individual Savings Account) is a tax-free savings or investment account that gives you the opportunity to save or invest a certain amount of money every year, without having to pay tax on any growth in your investments or savings. There are 4 types of adult ISA available (stocks & shares ISA, cash ISA, innovative finance ISA , and lifetime ISA).  The interest on cash accumulates on a tax-free basis, as does income and capital gains made on investments.


A stocks and shares ISA lets you invest in “qualifying instruments” such as stocks and shares, funds, etc. A stocks and shares ISA is not an investment in its own right.  The best way to think of a stocks and shares ISA is as a ‘wrapper’ with which you can shelter your savings and investments from both Income Tax and Capital Gains Tax. The IBUK Stocks and Shares ISA lets you choose from a range of investments to invest in (see below section 10 ‘What can I invest in?’). You can select and manage your IBUK Stocks and Shares ISA yourself or arrange for your financial advisor to do so on your behalf (see below section 8 ‘Can I appoint a financial advisor to manage, on a discretionary basis, my IBUK Stocks and Shares ISA?’).


When deciding which type of ISA to open, you should consider the pros and cons of each so that you can choose the type that best fits with your personal needs, circumstances and financial goals. We offer stocks and shares ISAs only.


Tax treatments depend on your individual circumstances and may change in the future.

 

2.       What ISA types are offered at IBUK?

Interactive Brokers (U.K.) Limited (IBUK) only offers stocks and shares ISAs (including, Junior Stocks and Shares ISA). IBUK does not offer cash ISAs (including, Junior cash ISA).

 

3.       Who is eligible for an IBUK Stocks and Share ISA?

In accordance with HMRC regulations, any individual who is a resident for tax purposes in the UK and over the age of 18 is eligible to open a stocks and share ISA.


Click on the link for additional details:

https://www.gov.uk/tax-foreign-income/residence

 

4.       How many ISAs can I have?

There is no overall limit on the number of ISA accounts, but you can only subscribe to one type of each ISA in the same tax year. This means if you have already subscribed to a Stocks & Shares ISA with a different provider in the current tax year, you cannot also subscribe to an Interactive Brokers Stocks & Shares ISA.

 

5.       What is a flexible Stocks and Shares ISA?

ISA flexibility refers to whether you’re able to withdraw from your ISA without affecting your annual allowance. A flexible stocks and shares ISA allows the individual to withdraw funds from their stocks and shares ISA and put them back into it, within the same tax year, without affecting their annual ISA allowance.

 

6.       Does IBUK offer a flexible Stocks and Shares ISA?

No, an IBUK Stocks and Shares ISA isn't flexible. That means you can take money out, but it'll count towards your annual ISA allowance if you pay it back in the same tax year.

https://www.gov.uk/tax-foreign-income/residence

 

7.       Can you lose your money paid into a Stocks and Shares ISA?

The value of investments you hold in your IBUK Stocks and Shares ISA and the income received from them can fall as well as rise. As a result, you may get back less than you invested. Past performance is not an indication of future performance, and some investments need to be held for the long term to achieve a return. The IBUK Stocks and Shares ISA is an execution only service, Interactive Brokers does not provide investment advice.  If you need advice about whether an investment is suitable, you need to consult a suitably qualified financial advisor.

 

8.       Can I appoint a financial advisor to manage, on a discretionary basis, my IBUK Stocks and Shares ISA?

Yes, you can appoint a financial advisor to manage your IBUK Stocks and Shares ISA on your behalf. Click on the link for additional details:

https://ibkr.info/node/134

 

9.       Can I trade on margin under the IBUK  Stocks and Shares ISA?

No. You can only open an IBUK Stocks and Shares ISA under a GBP cash account type. A cash account requires that all transactions are made with available cash or long positions.

 

10.   What can I invest in?

Under a stocks and shares ISA you can invest in any of the following investments (also known as 'qualifying investments'):

  • Shares;
  • Securities issued by Companies;
  • Recognised UCITS;
  • Depository Receipts, American Depository Receipts and American Depository Shares.

Full details can be found on the HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) website

Please Note: Ineligible investments

·       ISA accounts cannot hold non-qualifying investments.

 

11. What is a non-qualifying investment in an IBUK ISA (Individual Savings Account)?

Examples of non-qualifying investments include warrants or delisted securities. On occasion a corporate action (on a qualifying investment) may result in your IBUK ISA account holding a non-qualifying investment.

 

12. What happens to non-qualifying investments held in an IBUK ISA (Individual Savings Account)?

Where such a situation arises, HMRC regulations require IBUK to remove the non-qualifying investments from the ISA account within 30 calendar days. To do this IBUK will open a non-ISA account in your name if you do not have one already open and you may be asked to complete that application.

Once the non-ISA account is opened, IBUK will transfer the non-qualifying investments to ensure we continue to operate your ISA account in accordance with HMRC regulations. If you already have a non-ISA account with IBUK, then the non-qualifying investments will be transferred to your existing account.

 

13.   What exchanges does IBUK support?

HMRC recognised exchanges supported by IBUK:

Country

Exchange

Australia

The Australian Stock Exchange (and any of its stock exchange subsidiaries)

Austria

Vienna Stock Exchange

Belgium

NYSE Euronext Brussels

Canada

Toronto Stock Exchange

Montreal Stock Exchange

Toronto Venture Exchange (TSX Venture Exchange)

France

MATIF
MONEP

Germany

Frankfurt Stock Exchange

Stuttgart Stock Exchange

Hong Kong

Hong Kong Stock Exchange

Italy

Italian Stock Exchange (Borsa Italia)

Japan

Tokyo Stock Exchange

Osaka Stock Exchange

Lithuania

NASDAQ OMX Vilnius

Mexico

Mexico Stock Exchange

Poland

Warsaw Stock Exchange

Singapore

Singapore Exchange Limited

South Korea

Korea Exchange

Spain

Spanish Stock Exchange (Bolsa de Valores in Madrid)

Switzerland

Swiss Stock Exchange (SIX Swiss Exchange)

United Kingdom

London Stock Exchange

United States of America

BATs Exchange Inc

Chicago Board Options Exchange

Chicago Stock Exchange

International Securities Exchange

National Stock Exchange

New York Stock Exchange

NYSE ARCA

NASDAQ OMX PHLX

NASDAQ

 

14.   What is the ISA Allowance for 2022/2023 tax year?

Tax year runs from 6 April to the following 5 April. Each tax year’s ISA subscription limit is specific to that year and can be checked on the HMRC website. 

For the 2022/23 tax year the annual ISA allowance is £20,000 per person. Any of the ISA allowance that goes unused in the current tax year cannot be rolled over to the subsequent tax year. You can divide this cash allowance across multiple ISAs, provided that not more than 1 of each type of ISA is subscribed to in any given tax year. NB.  If you are already subscribed to another stocks and shares ISA in the current tax year, you are not permitted to subscribe to our stocks and shares ISA for the remainder of the tax year.

NB. For each tax year, you can check (via the funding page in Client Portal) how much you have subscribed to your IBUK Stocks and Shares ISA and the maximum amount that you can contribute to your IBUK stocks and shares ISA in that tax year, assuming you have not contributed to another ISA away from Interactive Brokers.

15.   How do I make subscriptions to my IBUK Stocks and Shares ISA?

You can make one-off payments (wire transfers deposits) as and when you choose, but the combined total of all payments (or subscriptions) must not exceed any given annual tax year allowance (see section 12. What is the ISA Allowance for 2022/2023 tax year?).

Interactive Brokers accepts wire transfers only, and there is a minimum subscription amount of £1. Your IBUK Stocks and Shares ISA can only have GBP cash. 

16.   Can I fund my ISA via Internal Transfer from my existing Interactive Brokers account?

Yes, as long as the existing account is an individual account in the same name, an internal transfer can be requested to fund your ISA account.

17.   Can I check the tax-year to date contributions i have made into my ISA account?

Yes, if you create a deposit notification for a fund transfer, before selecting "Get Transfer Instructions" on the final page there is a contribution tracker showing how much you have contributed so far during the current tax year.

18.   What happens if I exceed my ISA allowance?

 If you have accidentally paid too much into your ISAs you won’t get any tax relief on the excess payments you’ve made. The ISA allowance is a combined annual limit across all adult ISA types (e.g. stock & shares ISA, cash ISA, innovative Finance ISA , and lifetime ISAs).

 

19.   What should I do if I exceed my ISA allowance?

 In the event you oversubscribe to your ISA (in other words your ISA annual allowance was exceeded), you should not attempt to correct the mistake by withdrawing the excess funds from an ISA (including, but not limited to, your IBUK Stocks and Shares ISA). Instead, you should call HMRC’s ISA helpline to explain the situation and inform them about the oversubscription. HMRC will advise you on the next steps.   NB. The ISA allowance for the tax year 2022/2023 is GBP 20,000 (this is a combined limit across all 4 types of ISA (stock & shares ISA, cash ISA, innovative finance ISA , and lifetime ISAs).

 

20.   What is the annual fee for the IBUK Stocks and Shares ISA?

 There is no annual ISA fee at IBUK. Other costs and charges apply, see below section 19 for more information.

 

21.   What are the charges for the IBUK Stocks and Shares ISA?

  • £3 per month minimum activity fee. (e.g. if you generate 2 pounds of commission in a particular month, you would be charged the remaining balance of 1 pounds as a minimum activity fee. Generate 3 or more pounds in consolidated commission from linked accounts in a month and there will be no fee.)
  • One free withdrawal per month. Thereafter, £7 withdrawal fee is applicable.

Click here for an overview of our commissions:

https://www.interactivebrokers.co.uk/en/index.php?f=39753&p=stocks

 

22.   What transactions are allowed and what transactions are not allowed in an ISA?

 a)       Example of allowed transactions

An individual subscribes £15,000 into a stocks and shares ISA, £3,000 into a cash ISA and £2,000 into a lifetime ISA. No more than 1 of each type of ISA was subscribed to in the tax year, and the annual ISA allowance of £20,000 was not exceeded.

 b)      Example of disallowed transactions

An individual subscribes £10,000 into one stocks and shares ISA, £2,000 into another stocks and shares ISA, and the remaining £8,000 into a cash ISA. While the individual did not exceed the annual ISA allowance of £20,000, they subscribed funds into more than 1 stocks and shares ISA.

 

23.   How do I transfer my stocks and shares ISA from my current ISA manager to IBUK?

Position/in-specie transfers are now available from certain ISA managers. When requesting a transfer in the client portal supported providers will have a position transfer option within the form.

You will need to submit a transfer instruction to Interactive Brokers (go to Client Portal, Transfer & Pay, then Transfer Existing ISA), and if, in IBUK’s discretion IBUK decides to accept the transfer, IBUK will instruct your existing ISA manager to transfer your investments (where IBUK supports such investments) and/or cash into your IBUK Stocks and Shares ISA. Where IBUK does not support all your investments held at your existing ISA Manager, you can either liquidate these investments yourself prior to submitting your transfer instruction to IBUK via Client Portal (any cash proceeds of such liquidation will be transferred into your IBUK Stocks and Shares ISA) or you can instruct IBUK (as part of your transfer instruction via Client Portal) to do so on your behalf.

Note Interactive Brokers does not support partial transfers, only full account transfer requests can be made.

 

24.   How do I transfer an ISA out of IBUK to another provider?

Any transfer out request from IBUK must be requested via the receiving ISA provider. The requesting broker can email a client-signed transfer form to isa-transfer@interactivebrokers.com or the client may attach a completed form to a web ticket.

 

25.   What are the Transfer Charges?

Interactive Brokers does not charge for transfers (the transferring ISA manager may charge you for transferring investments or cash proceeds to us).

 

26.   Can I cancel my IBUK Stocks and Shares ISA?

You have a legal right to cancel your IBUK Stocks and Shares ISA if you change your mind but there are timelimits on doing so, see below section 25 for more information.

 

27.   How can I cancel my IBUK Stocks and Shares ISA?

 If you want to cancel your IBUK Stocks and Shares ISA, you must do so within 14 days from the date you receive our email confirming the establishment of your IBUK Stocks and Shares ISA (a cancellation must be requested from the Client Portal).

 Cancellation rights will also apply to the receipt of transfer payments.  You have 14 days from the date you receive our email acknowledging the transfer to exercise your right to cancel (a cancellation must be requested from the Client Portal). NB. If you cancel the transfer of your stocks and shares ISA from another ISA manager to IBUK, that ISA manager may not agree to accept the stocks and shares ISA back. This may result in that stocks and shares ISA being closed, and the tax benefits being lost.

 

28.   How safe is your IBUK Stocks and Shares ISA?

IBUK is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), and is approved by HMRC to act as an ISA manager (including in respect of stocks and shares ISAs).

Under our client terms, and in accordance with the FCA rules relating to client money and assets (Assets), IBUK will be responsible for holding and protecting your Assets. IBUK is required to separate your Assets from its own resources. IBUK is not permitted to use your Assets to carry out its business activities.

In the unlikely event that IBUK became insolvent, an administrator would be appointed to return your money/assets to you. If there is any shortfall, eligible claims will be covered by the UK Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS). The FSCS is an independent body set up by the UK Government to pay compensation if a UK firm, such as IBUK is in default and cannot meet any valid claims against it.  FSCS claims are limited to £85,000 per client. Please note, the FSCS applies to designated investments and may not cover all investments or transactions (and in particular these protections don’t apply to investment losses).  For more information on the FSCS see www.fscs.org.uk.

 

29.   How can I file a complaint with IBUK?

 Customers are actively encouraged to use the WebTicket system for prompt attention.

 A copy of our Complaints Procedure is available here https://www.interactivebrokers.com/en/index.php?f=292 You can also direct your ISA specific complaints via email to isa@interactivebrokers.co.uk (Please note that in order to ensure that your complaint is flagged and given the required attention, Interactive Brokers kindly asks you to state "COMPLAINT" in the subject header field of the email).

 

30.   Are Corporate Actions allowed under my IBUK Stocks and Shares ISA?

Allowed to participate but cannot exceed the annual ISA subscription limit. If it were to exceed the subscription limit, the shares should be transferred to a non-ISA account (see above sections 17 ‘What should I do if I exceed my ISA allowance?’.

 

31. FX Handling and your IBUK Stocks and Shares ISA

Interactive Brokers will automatically convert currencies when trading non-GBP denominated securities. To do this, Interactive Brokers will engage in “spot” currency transactions on your behalf in order to settle your buy orders or convert the proceeds of a sell order. For opening orders Interactive Brokers will base the exchange rate off the spot exchange rate at the time of trade plus our 0.03% fee. For closing orders any non GBP balances will be closed at the end of the trading day at the closing exchange rate of the day plus our 0.03% fee.

The below example illustrates the cost in GBP of a $1,000 USD Trade

Example GBP/USD Spot Rate: 1.3432/1.3433

Order Type

FX Conversion Rate inc 0.03% fee

Cost of $1000 USD Trade

Buy

1.3430

£744.61

Sell

1.3435

£744.31

 

32. What if I have additional questions?

Our customer services team are on hand to help via phone or email.  If you have any questions about your IBUK Stocks and Shares ISA, please contact our dedicated ISA Support team who are available 8am to 6pm GMT Monday to Friday, excluding public holidays.  

 

为个人账户添加(非雇员)使用者

Overview: 

个人账户持有人可以为其IBKR账户添加多个使用者。账户持有人会想要在自己名下添加第二使用者以便能同时打开两个TWS会话(一个是普通访问,一个是通过API连接)。根据有限委托授权协议,账户持有人最多可向5名(非雇员)个人(如家庭成员)提供访问权限。每名个人都可以访问第二使用者。

每种情况下,第二使用者都会有唯一的用户名,登录客户端和交易平台时需要用到。下方为添加(非雇员)个人使用者的步骤说明(为个人账户持有人添加第二使用者的步骤说明,请参见KB1004)。

Background: 

添加非雇员使用者步骤如下: 

  1. 登录客户端。
  2. 点击使用者菜单(右上角的小人图标),然后点击管理账户
  3. 使用者和访问权限面板将显示在配置数据栏右侧,列出您账户已经添加好的所有使用者。
  4. 点击配置(齿轮)图标打开使用者和访问权限界面。
  5. 此处有两个面板:使用者面板显示的是您账户已添加的个人,以及其与主要账户持有人的关系;使用者角色面板显示的是您已创建的所有使用者角色。
  6. 使用右侧的图标添加、编辑或删除使用者。
  7. 添加使用者和分配访问权限分几个界面进行。完成一个界面后,点击继续以进入下一个界面。如果想对上一个界面进行调整,点击返回
    1. 在第一个界面,输入使用者相关的信息,包括用户名、密码、姓名、与主要账户持有人的关系以及电邮地址。
    2. 在下一个界面,选择使用者角色(如有已保存的角色)。使用者角色会自动将先前配置好的一系列访问权限应用到新的使用者身上。如果是这样,您可以跳过剩下的界面,直接进入检查确认界面。
    3. 后面的每个界面都会让您授予新使用者访问某组特定功能的权利。在每个界面点击对应框授予使用者访问相应功能的权利。
  8. 最后一个界面可供您检查新使用者的所有相关信息,包括访问权限。新使用者分配的权限将是已勾选状态,显示为绿色;而没有分配到的权限将是被划掉状态。如果没有问题,点击继续。如还需要更改,点击返回
  9. 如果没有参与安全登录系统使用双因素验证,您将收到一封包含确认码的电子邮件。输入通过电邮发送给您的确认码,然后点击继续。如果没有收到确认码,点击请求确认码以让系统重新向您的邮箱发送确认码。
  10. 点击确定保存新的使用者,该使用者将显示在使用者和访问权限面板。

 

重要注意事项:

1. 根据市场数据供应商要求,市场数据服务是特定于使用者的,因此所有订阅的用户名均会被收取市场数据订阅费用。

2. 账户持有人可以在使用者和访问权限下点击用户名旁边的删除链接删除使用者。

FAQs: IBCE Pre-Migration Action item Guide

Overview: 

As previously noted, IBKR will cease IBLUX’s regulated business, and as a result, will need to make some changes in relation to which legal entity does business with you. It is our intention that all of your accounts, investments and services currently provided to you by IBLUX will instead be provided by IBCE.

Prior to the Proposed Transfer occurring, certain action items must be completed in the Client Portal. These action items may include:

- Submission of Proof of Identity documentation

- Submission of Proof of Address documentation

- Completion of Identity Verification Selfie task

- Investment Portfolio Changes

Please carefully review this FAQ in order to complete the necessary action items and facilitate the Proposed Transfer. For more information on this transfer, please review the FAQs for IBCE.

How do I access pending items in Client Portal?

Follow the below procedure to access pending items in Client Portal:

  1. Log in to Client Portal.
  2. Click the Notifications (bell) icon in the top right corner. The number on the icon shows you how many total unread notifications you have.
  3. A drop-down menu will open showing your Pending Items, Corporate Actions and Messages.
  4. Click Pending Items.
  5. You can open and view any pending item to see the details of the item. Click the View button for the pending item you want to view.

 

What documents are acceptable for these tasks?

Acceptable documents for Proof of Identity and Proof of Address action items include the following:

Document Category Acceptable Documents (only one document per category is needed)

Proof of Identity of the Account Holder

Please provide a current and valid document (or documents) that contains the following: full name, date and place of birth, clear photograph, signature of the holder, document number, expiration date, and country of issue. If the information required is on multiple pages, please provide copies of all of those pages.

• Passport

• National Identity Card

• Driver’s License

Proof of Residential Address of the Account Holder

The document must clearly list the applicant's name and the relevant address and must be less than six months old unless otherwise specified. Please provide a scanned version of a hard copy bill.

• Utility Bill: For example, a bill for electricity, gas, water, landline telephone, home broadband, or TV. Mobile phone bills are not acceptable forms of proof of address.

• Council tax bill

• Home insurance bill

• Bank, mortgage or brokerage statement

• Signed and stamped letter from your bank on the bank’s letterhead confirming address

• Credit card statement (not older than six weeks)

• Government issued letters or statements: For example, we would accept a property tax bill, confirmation of residential address from the local authorities or a pension statement. Must be on official government letterheaded paper.

• Resident permit

• Driver’s license or national identity card: If you use your driver's license or national identification card as proof of identity, it cannot also be used as proof of address.

• For HUNGARY only: ADDRESS CARD which shows the current residential address.

 

What Investment Portfolio Changes do I need to make?

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.

Metals CFDs are offered by IBCE but spot and OTC metals futures are not. You will be requested to trade out of those positions before conversion to an IBCE account.

FAQs: IBIE Pre-Migration Action item Guide

Overview: 

As previously noted, IBKR will cease IBLUX’s regulated business, and as a result, will need to make some changes in relation to which legal entity does business with you. It is our intention that all of your accounts, investments and services currently provided to you by IBLUX will instead be provided by IBIE.

Prior to the Proposed Transfer occurring, certain action items must be completed in the Client Portal. These action items may include:

- Submission of Proof of Identity documentation

- Submission of Proof of Address documentation

- Completion of Identity Verification Selfie task

- Investment Portfolio Changes

Please carefully review this FAQ in order to complete the necessary action items and facilitate the Proposed Transfer. For more information on this transfer, please review the FAQs for IBIE.

How do I access pending items in Client Portal?

Follow the below procedure to access pending items in Client Portal:

  1. Log in to Client Portal.
  2. Click the Notifications (bell) icon in the top right corner. The number on the icon shows you how many total unread notifications you have.
  3. A drop-down menu will open showing your Pending Items, Corporate Actions and Messages.
  4. Click Pending Items.
  5. You can open and view any pending item to see the details of the item. Click the View button for the pending item you want to view.

 

What documents are acceptable for these tasks?

Acceptable documents for Proof of Identity and Proof of Address action items include the following:

Document Category Acceptable Documents (only one document per category is needed)

Proof of Identity of the Account Holder

Please provide a current and valid document (or documents) that contains the following: full name, date and place of birth, clear photograph, signature of the holder, document number, expiration date, and country of issue. If the information required is on multiple pages, please provide copies of all of those pages.

• Passport

• National Identity Card

• Driver’s License

Proof of Residential Address of the Account Holder

The document must clearly list the applicant's name and the relevant address and must be less than six months old unless otherwise specified. Please provide a scanned version of a hard copy bill.

• Utility Bill: For example, a bill for electricity, gas, water, landline telephone, home broadband, or TV. Mobile phone bills are not acceptable forms of proof of address.

• Council tax bill

• Home insurance bill

• Bank, mortgage or brokerage statement

• Signed and stamped letter from your bank on the bank’s letterhead confirming address

• Credit card statement (not older than six weeks)

• Government issued letters or statements: For example, we would accept a property tax bill, confirmation of residential address from the local authorities or a pension statement. Must be on official government letterheaded paper.

• Resident permit

• Driver’s license or national identity card: If you use your driver's license or national identification card as proof of identity, it cannot also be used as proof of address.

• For HUNGARY only: ADDRESS CARD which shows the current residential address.

 

What Investment Portfolio Changes do I need to make?

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.

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.
 
 

 

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.

常见问题解答:英国脱欧相关账户迁移

简介 

盈透证券集团(以下简称“IB”)及其英国子公司盈透证券(英国)有限公司(以下简称“IBUK”)一直在为英国脱欧过渡期结束(目前定于2020年12月31日)做筹划,致力于为我们的欧洲客户准备替代方案。我们的重点是把相关变化和影响降到最小,确保为客户提供的经纪服务能够无缝衔接过渡。此事件涉及的客户将会收到通知,通知中会说明相关的变化和时间线。下方为从IBUK到我们其它欧洲经纪公司的账户迁移相关常见问题及解答。

常见问题解答 

问:2021年1月1日英国脱欧开始后IBKR将采取什么措施确保经纪服务持续运行?

答:早在2018年,IBKR便设立了盈透证券卢森堡有限公司(以下简称“IBLUX”),并于2019年11月获得监管授权。此外,我们目前还在着手创建两家位于欧盟的经纪公司:盈透证券爱尔兰有限公司(以下简称“IBIE”)和盈透证券中欧有限公司(以下简称“IBCE”)。 

我们计划在2020年12月31日之前将所有受英国脱欧影响的客户迁移到这三家位于欧盟的经纪公司(以下简称“欧盟经纪公司”)。迁移到IBIE和IBCE还需要获得相关国家主管机关的监管授权。 

 

问:我们的账户要迁移到哪家IBKR经纪公司?

答:哪些账户要迁移到IBLUX、IBIE和IBCE这三家经纪公司中的哪一家尚未最终确定。我们预计大多数西欧客户会迁移到IBIE,中欧和东欧客户则迁移到IBCE,还有部分客户会迁移到IBLUX。这其中客户的账户类型和头寸也会纳入考虑。 

在最终发送迁移请求前,我们会向所有客户发送通知,详细说明其将被迁入的经纪公司。

 

问:此次迁移计划涉及哪些客户?

答:涉及的客户包括居住在欧盟的个人客户和在欧盟国家成立的实体客户。这些账户大部分都开立在盈透证券(英国)有限公司。

 

问:通过什么方式征求客户同意?

答:我们准备好迁移账户后,您会收到一封邮件让您登录客户端。登录后,您会看到相关披露文件和客户协议,您可以以电子方式在线表示同意。未对最开始的邮件作出回应的客户将会收到一系列后续提醒邮件。

 

问:如果我不做任何操作会怎么样?

答:如果未能作出回应表示同意,您的账户最终会受到交易和转账限制,就如同您不同意迁移一样。另外请注意,您的账户将继续适用当前协议的条款和条件(包括费用和保证金政策),直至完成迁移到指定欧盟经纪公司、迁移到IBKR以外的其它经纪公司或关闭。

 

问:如果我不同意迁移会怎么样?

答:如果您不同意将账户迁移到指定欧盟经纪公司,您的账户将受到限制、无法开展新的交易或转入更多资金和/或头寸。该等限制不会阻止您将账户迁出IBKR。 

 

问:我的登录信息会变更吗?

答:不会。您当前账户的用户名、密码和双因素验证程序在迁移后仍然有效。但是,迁移的账户会有新的账户号码。

 

问:迁移后我还可以访问现在的交易平台吗?会有什么软件方面的变化吗?

答:迁移不会对您用于交易和管理账户的软件造成任何影响。所有的技术都不会发生改变。

 

问:所有账户余额也会迁移吗?

答:除应计项目(如利息和股息)之外的所有余额也会一并迁移。应计项目会在实现现金后迁移。如果是利息,应计项目通常是逆向的,现金会在应计款项下一个月的第一周记入账户。如果是股息,应计项目是逆向的,抵消现金会在发行发支付股息的当天记入账户。

 

问:迁移后我当前的账户会怎么样?

答:所有应计项目都记入为现金并转入迁移账户后,您当前的账户便会关闭。关闭后,账户将无法用于交易。但是,您仍可以通过客户端的账户选择器访问此账户,查看或打印历史报表。

 

问:账户迁移后,IBKR的佣金费用会发生变化吗?

答:不会。IBKR的佣金和费用不会因您账户所在的经纪公司发生变化。

 

问:账户迁移后,我的交易许可会发生变化吗?

答:您的交易许可将保持不变,但迁移到IBLUX的账户由于监管限制将无法进行杠杆外汇交易。尽管目前看来IBIE和IBCE的账户没有类似限制,但如果政策调整,我们会在迁移前通知您。 

 

问:账户迁移后,未完成的定单(如取消前有效定单)会被保留下来吗?

答:未完成的定单将被转到新账户,但是,我们建议客户在迁移后立即对定单进行检查,确保定单符合其交易目的。

 

问:账户迁移后,我还受美国典型日内交易规则限制吗?

:在IBUK开立的账户由于最终是被引入美国经纪公司IBL并由IBL提供底层清算,因此适用美国典型日内交易(PDT)规则。根据PDT规则,资产低于25,000美元的账户任意5个工作日内日内交易不得超过3笔。 

而迁移到IBLUX、IBIE和IBCE的账户不再是引入IBL,因此不再适用PDT规则。

 

问:年末我会收到一份合并的年度报表吗?

答:不会。您会收到一份当前账户的年度报表(时间范围为2020年1月1日至迁移日)和一份迁移后新账户的年度报表(时间范围为迁移日至2020年12月31日)。

 

问:账户迁移后,当前账户内头寸的成本基础是否会保留到新账户?

答:是的。迁移不会影响您头寸的成本基础。

 

问:迁移后的新账户是否会保留当前账户的配置?

答:在法规允许的范围内,迁移后的账户配置会与当前账户的配置保持一致。这包括保证金、市场数据、多个使用者和警报等属性。在有限的情况下,账户会被迁移到无法支持全部产品的行政辖区。持有受限产品的客户可以进行迁移并维持或平仓该等产品的头寸,但无法增加新的头寸。 

 

问:如果IBKR在2020年12月31日前未能取得迁移所必需的监管许可会怎么样?

答:IBLUX已经获批,但在业务规模方面受到一定限制;因此要在2020年12月31日前完成迁移就必需要获得IBIE或IBCE的许可。如果确定这两家经纪公司都无法及时拿到许可,我们会联系客户解释英国脱欧过渡期结束后其账户的处理方案。

 

问:迁移后我还能继续向英国申诉服务机构(FOS)提交投诉吗?

答:IBUK的客户可以将在IBUK未得到满意解决的投诉提交给英国金融申诉服务机构处理。但迁移到IBLUX、IBIE或IBCE之后,英国金融申诉服务机构将不再适用,我们会为您提供新的替代服务相关信息。请注意,迁移不会影响我司内部的投诉处理流程。

 

问:迁移对数据保护有什么影响?

答:账户从IBUK迁移到IBLUX、IBIE或IBCE并不会对我们根据数据保护规则对您个人信息实施保护的方式造成任何影响。IBLUX、IBIE和IBCE均会承担数据保护责任,继续按照我们一贯的高标准保护您的个人信息。 

 

问:我的账户保障会有什么影响?

答:在欧盟,发生经纪商违约的情况下客户的保险保障通常会不如在英国或美国。 

目前,如果满足资格要求,IBUK的客户在投资服务方面可享受英国金融服务补偿计划(以下简称“UK FSCS”)最高达50,000英镑的保障。由于IBUK的客户由我们的美国经纪公司IBL进行底层清算,其账户的证券账户段可以参加证券投资者保护公司(以下简称“SIPC”)的保险,保额最高达500,000美元(其中现金不超过250,000美元)。 

而在欧盟经纪公司,IBLUX、IBIE和IBCE的合资格索赔人最多可以申请20,000欧元的赔偿。有关具体方案、保险范围和索赔资格的更多信息会同迁移请求一并发送给您。  

鉴于盈透证券集团82.5亿美元的总资本以及在集团所有经纪公司推行的审慎保证金政策(包括接受定单前的预先信用检查以及对不满足保证金要求的账户进行自动平仓清算),我们相信此次迁移并不会对客户资产的总体安全稳健造成影响。

Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE -->

搭便车(“Free Riding”)交易相关规定

在现金账户中,投资者必须先付清买入证券所需资金(也就是说交易必须先完成结算)才能将证券卖出。如果投资者买入一只证券,然后在结算日前尚未全额支付款项的情况下便将其卖出,则会构成搭便车(“free riding”)违规交易。IBKR会在日末进行检查确定持仓是否在交易结算日之前平仓。这种日末监控程序会将结算日之前平仓视为搭便车违规,并会自动对违规账户应用为期90天的限制,限制期内,账户将只能用已结算资金交易。

会被盈透证券视作违规的搭便车交易示例

示例A:

1) T日,账户有已结算现金$10,000美元

2) T日,账户买入$10,000美元的ABC

3) T+1日,账户卖出ABC并买入$10,000美元的XYZ

4) 客户在没有存入足够全额支付买入XYZ所需资金的情况下卖出XYZ

 

示例B:

1) T日,账户有全额支付的ABC头寸,没有多余现金

2) T日,账户卖出$10,000美元的ABC

3) T日,账户买入$10,000美元的XYZ

4) T+1日,账户在没有存入足够全额支付买入XYZ所需资金的情况下卖出XYZ

 

日末监控程序会将这两种情景都视为搭便车违规交易,从而导致账户受到限制,90天内只能用已结算资金买入证券。IBKR也实施了一系列管控措施以帮助防止搭便车违规。您的总现金包含结算资金和未结算资金,而只有在可用资金(含贷款价值资产(ELV)减去初始保证金)为正数时(因为这表示您平仓交易后的完全结算现金)您才可以下达新的委托单。在您下达新的委托单时,完全结算现金的实时检查会在信用检查这一步完成。

想要在结算日前使用未结算资金的账户持有人可以申请保证金账户。在保证金账户中,未结算资金可以用于交易,但只有完成结算之后才能取出。现金账户持有人可以通过以下路径申请升级为保证金账户:

  1. 登录客户端
  2. 点击“使用者”菜单(右上角的小人图标),然后点击“管理账户”
  3. 在“配置”部分,点击“账户类型”对应的配置(齿轮)图标申请从现金账户升级为保证金账户。

请注意

  • 申请需经过IBKR风险与合规部门审批。审批通常需要24到48小时
  • 如果您近期刚将账户从保证金账户降级为现金账户,那么根据市场法规,您的账户30天后才能再升级为保证金账户。

 

Syndicate content