“Omnibus accounts”, which may also be called “nominee” or house accounts, are used when an Intermediary acquires the Shares on behalf of its customers (i.e., the investors). In such cases, the Shares are usually acquired in the name of the Intermediary, but there may be cases where the Intermediary establishes an account with the PV that specifies sub-accounts on behalf of the investors. Even in such cases, the customers of the Intermediary would not be treated as customers of the PV.
3.1. IntroductionThere is no one approach to CDD that can, as a matter of general principle, be adopted by all PVs, due to the variety of characteristics of PVs and due to the different distribution channels through which Shares may be offered to investors as described above
In general terms, CDD commonly includes:
- identification and verification of the identity of the investor and the beneficial owner;
- understanding the purpose of the investment (which may be self-evident in the case of certain specific products and services); and
- conducting ongoing due diligence on investors and scrutiny of their transactions.
Reflecting the lower risk of money laundering described above, simplified CDD measures may be applied in many cases when accepting investors into a PV.
To determine the appropriate level of CDD required in the context of any particular PV, the PV should consider the following factors:
- Investor Risk - The type of investors it will deal with e.g. whether the investors will be financial institutions or otherwise regulated or public companies (including publicly traded companies and government entities – but see below on country risk) (all lower risk of money laundering) compared with complex and non-transparent investors e.g. trusts, foundations or other private investment vehicles (higher risk of money laundering). Similarly, given the nature of the investors to which the PV is directed, retirement pension funds will generally undertake simplified CDD on investors;
- Country Risk - The breadth of distribution of its Shares (e.g. direct distribution to investors resident in the same jurisdiction as the PV will generally involve a lower risk of money laundering when compared to direct distribution to investors resident in a large number of different countries or even distribution globally);
- Condition Risk - The characteristics of the PV itself. Some PVs entail higher risk of money laundering (e.g. funds allowing redemption without limitation of time, amounts, etc.); and
- Value Risk - The amounts of any investment (which may be affected by any minimum investment requirements) and any restrictions on methods of payment of subscriptions (e.g. a PV receiving comparatively small investments and restricting subscriptions and redemptions to funds transferred to it from (or by it to) accounts with financial institutions held in the name of the relevant investor will generally present lower risk of money laundering).
In a direct relationship, the PV should perform risk-based CDD on the investor.
In an indirect relationship, the PV should consider the level of due diligence that should be performed on the Intermediary, as described in Section 4, taking into account the regulatory environment in the relevant jurisdiction, and the Intermediary’s responsibilities in respect of AML policies, procedures, and controls. Depending upon the outcome of the PV's due diligence on the Intermediary, (and also depending on the requirements of local law), the PV should determine the level of CDD (if any) that it should undertake on the investor. Where the PV considers it necessary to perform its own CDD measures on the investor, but is unable successfully to do so, the investment should not be accepted by the PV.
3.2. Identification of Investors and Verification of IdentityThe PV (or the Intermediary in cases described in Section 4) should take reasonable measures to identify and verify the identity of the investor.
The extent of identification procedures undertaken by the PV should be risk-based, reflecting the nature of the investor, the PV and/or the particular transaction. In lower risk situations, simplified identification procedures may be applied.
The identity of investors must be verified at least in accordance with applicable laws and regulations. Appropriate verification methodologies may include documentary or non- documentary (e.g. electronic database screening) methods and/or include cross-checks to verify information via reporting agencies, public databases, or other reliable sources (e.g. ensuring that tax identification or social security number information is valid and corresponds to the investor). Appropriate verification methodologies may also include checking that funds are received from an account held in the name of the investor with an appropriately regulated financial institution.
Where they are required to be obtained, identification documents should be current at the time of account opening.
The PV should normally have obtained all required documentary (or non-documentary) evidence of the identity of the investor by the time of account opening. In cases where the documentation is not provided promptly and remains incomplete, then on any redemption request (and subject to applicable law and regulation), the PV should retain the redemption proceeds and should not accept any further transactions as long as the required documentary evidence has not been received. In addition, in such cases, the PV should also consider making a suspicious activity report to the appropriate authorities.
3.3. Beneficial OwnershipA PV should apply a risk-based approach (taking into account the factors mentioned at Section 3.1) in determining whether identification of the beneficial owner and/or enhanced due diligence (see Section 3.4) is required on an investor.
The PV should identify the beneficial owner only where this is reasonable and practicable taking into account the particular circumstances of the investment (type of investor, product, transactions etc.) and the PV's overall risk based approach and where it is apparent that the investor is acting on behalf of another party.
3.4. Enhanced Due DiligenceEnhanced due diligence on investors will generally be required only in the context of situations (identified based on the factors outlined at Section 3.1) involving an investor that appears to present a particularly higher risk of exposure to money laundering.
In identifying these situations, a PV should also consider issues of country risk and investor risk (investor risk include particularly situations where investors are “Politically Exposed Persons”).
The management of the PV should review investors that present higher risks and are subject to enhanced due diligence.