Regulation and supervision

Regulation and supervision in the UK

UBS's operations in the UK are regulated by the Financial Services Authority (FSA), which establishes a regime of rules and guidance governing all relevant aspects of financial services businesses.

The FSA has established a risk-based approach to supervision and has a wide variety of supervisory tools available to it, including regular risk assessments, on-site inspections (which may relate to an industry-wide theme or be firm-specific) and the ability to commission reports by skilled persons (who may be the firm's auditors, IT specialists, lawyers or other consultants as appropriate). The FSA also has an extremely wide set of sanctions which it may impose under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000, broadly similar to those available to US regulators.

Some of UBS's subsidiaries and affiliates are also regulated by the London Stock Exchange and other UK securities and commodities exchanges of which UBS is a member. The business is also subject to the requirements of the UK Panel on Takeovers and Mergers where relevant.

Financial services regulation in the UK is conducted in accordance with European Union directives which require, among other things, compliance with certain capital adequacy standards, customer protection requirements and conduct of business rules (such as MiFID). These directives apply throughout the European Union and are reflected in the regulatory regimes of the various member states. The standards, rules and requirements established under these directives are broadly comparable in scope and purpose to the regulatory capital and customer protection requirements imposed under applicable US law.