1.        Introduction and Background

It is important to identify and effectively manage conflicts of interest which arise or may arise in the course of providing a service and carrying out regulated activities, as their existence may lead to material risk of damage to a client’s interests.  This document sets out Lendahand Ethex Limited (“Lendahand Ethex”)’s policy for the management of such conflicts of interest.    Lendahand Ethex is a company limited by shares which is an appointed representative of ShareIn Limited who are authorised and regulated by the FCA. Lendahand Ethex are appointed for the arranging (bringing about) deals in investments, making arrangements with a view to transactions in investments, and agreeing to carry on a regulated activity.  The company is a 50:50 joint venture between Ethex Investment Club Limited (‘Ethex’) and Hands-On BV (‘Lendahand’).  The company has no employees.  Where ‘staff’ are referenced in this document it refers to employees of Ethex and Lendahand who work for the company under contract. The firm provides services to its clients collectively referred to here as the “Clients” as set out below:

In drafting this policy, Lendahand Ethex has considered the points raised by the FCA in the paper issued in November 2012 “Conflicts of interest between asset managers and their clients:  Identifying and mitigating the risks”.  Lendahand Ethex has taken this opportunity to examine its policies and procedures to ensure they remain fit for purpose and address, where potentially relevant, the issues raised by the FCA in its paper in a way which is proportionate to the scale and complexity of its business.  Both the policy and the register of conflicts of interest will be reviewed on at least an annual basis. This document does not intend to create third party rights or duties or form part of any contractual agreement between the firm and any client.  This policy may be amended and updated at any time if any material change occurs and will be reviewed on at least an annual basis. If at any time you are in doubt as to how to act in a given situation where you are faced with an actual or potential conflict of interest you should notify Senior Management.

2.        FCA Rules

The Financial Conduct Authority (“FCA”) sets out obligations in SYSC 10, COBS 12 and Principle 8 to which this document is prepared. Whilst the FCA rules are important to be adhered to by all of Lendahand Ethex’s staff, they are non-exhaustive, and certain other additional rules may apply to readers who are members of professional associations, or by virtue of their job role.  Failure to follow any of the rules whether by express breach, or failure to follow any of the spirit of identifying, mitigating and managing conflicts of interest may also be a breach of an employment contract.  Disciplinary action may be taken by Lendahand Ethex, or in serious cases by the FCA, or the Department for Business, Innovation, and Skills.

3.        Conflicts of Interest

The services that Lendahand Ethex provides to its clients could potentially give rise to conflicts of interest entailing a material risk of damage to the interests of one or more clients.  This document aims to set out these potential conflicts and the procedures that are in place to be followed and measures to be adopted in order to manage such conflicts. Conflicts of interest may occur between a customer and Lendahand Ethex, including its employees or any persons directly or indirectly linked to the firm, or between two or more clients.   Treating Customers Fairly is central to the core values of Lendahand Ethex.  There is an embedded culture that understands what acceptable and unacceptable behaviour is. As such, conflicts of interest and the identification / management / mitigation thereof are central to this philosophy and culture.
Definition
 An actual or potential conflict may arise when, in the exercise of its activities and services, the interests of:

Lendahand Ethex (including its managers, employees or any person directly or indirectly linked to them by the control); or
its associates;
 
And the interest of its clients, are directly or indirectly in competition, and which could significantly prejudice the client’s interests.

4.        Identifying situations where a conflict may arise

The circumstances giving rise to conflicts of interest include all cases where there is a conflict between the:
Interests of Lendahand Ethex, an individual member of staff, certain persons directly or indirectly connected to Lendahand Ethex; and the duty that Lendahand Ethex owes to a client; or
Differing interests of two or more clients, as Lendahand Ethex owes a separate duty to each of them.
Conflicts of interests could prejudice a client in various ways, whether or not Lendahand Ethex suffers any financial loss and independently of whether the actions or the motivations of the employees involved are intentional.  For the purposes of identifying the types of conflicts of interest that arise, or may arise, Lendahand Ethex must take into account, as a minimum whether the firm, a relevant person (e.g. an employee or a director, or a person who is directly involved in the provision of services to the firm under an outsourcing agreements) or a person directly of indirectly linked by control to the firm:
Is likely to make a financial gain, or avoid a financial loss, at the expense of the client;
Has an interest in the outcome of the service to, or a transaction carried out for, a client which differs from the client’s interest;
Has a financial or other incentive to favour one client (or group of clients) over the interests of another;
Carries on the same or similar business as the client; and/or
Receives an inducement from a third party in the execution of the service provided to the client, other than the standard commission/fee for that service.

Generic Conflicts
Lendahand Ethex has identified the following circumstances in which general types of potential conflicts of interest may arise:
The firm or an associate undertakes designated investment business for other clients including its associates (and the clients of its associates);
A director or employee of the firm, or of an associate, is a director or partner of, holds or deals in securities of, or is otherwise interested in any company whose securities are held or dealt in on behalf of a client;
A director or employee of the firm, or of an associate, is involved in the management of any company whose securities are held or dealt in on behalf of a client;
A transaction is effected in bonds of a company of which the firm or an associate is the manager, operator, company director or adviser;
A transaction is effected in securities in respect of which the firm or an associate, director or employee of the firm or an associate, is contemporaneously trading or has traded on its/their own account or has either a long or short position;
The firm may, when acting as agent for a client, match an order of the client with an order of another client for whom it is acting as agent;

5.        Prevention and management

Lendahand Ethex has identified specific potential conflicts of interests which may arise in relation to its activities.  The general nature and/or source of these conflicts will be disclosed to clients before undertaking business in sufficient detail to enable the client to make an informed decision about the service in the context in which the conflict has arisen.  For each potential situation, Lendahand Ethex has analysed whether or not the risk is actual or potential for one or more of its clients. It is not always possible to prevent actual conflicts of interest from arising.  In that case Lendahand Ethex will try to manage the conflicts of interests by segregating duties or establishing Ethical Walls.  In most circumstances, Lendahand Ethex will decline to take on a new client where a direct conflict would result.  As a small organisation Lendahand Ethex recognises that segregating duties is not a realistic tool in managing conflicts.   If Lendahand Ethex considers developing new products or services or making other changes to its business model or operations, Senior management will consider whether any additional potential conflicts of interest arise. Senior management will update the Conflicts of Interest Policy and Register of Potential Conflicts of Interest as necessary on an ongoing basis and formally consider the continued adequacy of the arrangements annually.

Inducements including gifts and hospitality

Lendahand Ethex maintains business relationships with third parties who may remunerate Lendahand Ethex in the form of management and performance fees which can constitute monetary or non-monetary benefits thereby impairing Lendhand Ethex’s fiduciary duties to the client.  The FCA Rules classify these as inducements.  Gifts and hospitality could lead to potential conflicts of interest.  No employee may accept from, or give to, any person any gift or other benefit that cannot properly be regarded as justifiable in all circumstances.  Policies and procedures have been implemented to ensure that staff and their connected persons do not offer or accept gifts or inducements which may give the perception that decisions or actions are not impartial.  These include the requirement for gifts or hospitality, received or given, in excess of £50 but below £100 to be notified to Senior Management and, where the amount is above £100, written approval must be obtained from Senior Management.  All employees must act with the highest standards of integrity to avoid any allegations of conflicts of interest.  A record is kept of any gifts or hospitality received or given. Where an invitation to a hospitality event could be construed as being a business inducement, it must be declined and Senior Management informed. 

Personal account dealing

Employees may only undertake personal investment activities that do not breach applicable law or regulation, do not unduly distract from their employment responsibilities and do not create an unacceptable risk to the company’s reputation.  Transactions should also be free from business and ethical conflicts of interest.  Employees must never misuse proprietary or client confidential information in their personal dealings and must ensure that clients are never disadvantaged as a result of their dealings. 

Outside employment and business interests

No employee may engage in any additional occupation without the consent of the Company. In certain circumstances, consent may be withheld. Employees must not accept personal fiduciary appointments (such as trusteeships or executorships other than those resulting from family relationships) without first obtaining written approval from a Director.

5.1      Disclosure

In certain cases, Lendahand Ethex may disclose the general nature and/or source of potential or actual conflicts to its client in writing before undertaking business on its behalf so that the client can decide whether or not to accept these potential conflicts.  If it is not possible to avoid or manage a conflict of interest, Lendahand Ethex may have no choice but to decline to provide the service requested.

5.2      Remuneration and Oversight

The management oversight and determination of appropriate remuneration of members of staff is conducted by Lendahand Ethex’s Senior Management.  Remuneration for staff is based on the overall results of the firm and is not based on the success of any transaction. Staff are subject to appropriate management and supervision to ensure that Lendahand Ethex is able to demonstrate that it has appropriate and effective arrangements in place to ensure that conflicts of interest are properly managed.

6.        Record Keeping

Under SYSC 10.1.6 Lendahand Ethex must keep and regularly update a written record of the kinds of investment or ancillary services or activities carried out by or on behalf of the firm in which a conflict of interest entailing a material risk of damage to the interests of one or more clients has arisen or, in the case of an ongoing service or activity, may arise.  These records will be for a minimum of five years from the date of creation and are maintained on an ongoing basis by the Company Secretary.

7.        Reporting

Conflicts of Interest situations or potential conflicts situations should be reported to Senior Management immediately.