What does it mean to be a Professional Investor (PI)?
Under the Securities and Futures Ordinance (the "SFO"), you may be categorised as a Professional Investor (“PI”) by reason of you being a category of person falling under the definition of "professional investor" in Part 1 of Schedule 1 to the SFO and the Securities and Futures (Professional Investor) Rules. A PI may generally have access to a wider range of financial products and services.To be eligible to be treated as a PI, you must first meet eligibility criteria (please refer to "How do I qualify for PI Status?" below) and you must opt in to be treated as a PI.PIs are assumed to be better informed, and better able to access resources to protect their own interests. PIs therefore, require less regulatory protection. Investors who agree to be treated as PIs, therefore, forgo the benefit of certain regulatory safeguards. Investors should consult a professional adviser if they do not understand any consequences of being a Professional Investor. If you choose to be treated as an PI, this status will apply to all your account(s), investments, holdings, and dealings with StashAway going forward.
As you are being treated as a Professional Investor, we would not in relation to you be required to fulfill certain regulatory requirements under the SFO and the Code of Conduct for Persons Licensed by or Registered with the Securities and Future Commission (the “Code”). Therefore, we would be exempt from the provisions as set out in paragraph 15.5 of the Code. Please note the consequences of being treated as a Professional Investor:
a) Information about our Company
We are not required to provide you with information about our business or the identity and status of employees and others acting on our behalf with whom you will have contact.
b) Prompt confirmation
Should we effect a transaction for you, we are not required afterwards to confirm promptly with you the essential features of that transaction.
c) NASDAQ – Amex Pilot Program
If you wish to deal through the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong in securities admitted to trading on the Exchange under the NASDAQ – Amex Pilot Program, we are not required to provide you with documentation about the Program.