Order Execution Policy

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1.      Introduction

Amius Limited (“Amius”) is required to take all sufficient steps to obtain the best possible result for its clients when executing orders for them (“Best Execution”). This means taking into account a range of sometimes conflicting execution factors to achieve the best possible outcome on a consistent basis rather than for every individual client order.

This Order Execution Policy (“Policy”) sets out the execution factors that Amius considers in order to achieve Best Execution of its client orders on a consistent basis. Clients are deemed to have consented to their transactions being handled in accordance with this Policy by signing the Terms of Business with us, or continuing to trade with Amius.

This Policy replaces and supersedes all previous versions and may be subject to periodic updates which will be published on our website.

2.     Scope

This policy applies to the receipt, transmission and execution of client orders where the order is for a “Financial Instrument” as defined under MiFID (and as set out in this Policy insofar as applicable to Amius).

The term “client order” should be understood to mean all orders in financial instruments, whether they are executed direct in the market or transmitted to another firm to execute on clients’ behalf. This includes all instructions to buy or sell financial instruments which give rise to contractual or agency obligations to our clients or where Amius act as agent or principal on a client’s behalf.

Amius will apply this Policy to Professional Clients[1] who “legitimately rely” on Amius to protect its interests in relation to the execution of the financial instrument which include:

  • Exchange traded derivatives;
  • OTC derivatives; and
  • Foreign exchange derivatives.

3.     When does best execution apply

Amius will consider the following factors to determine whether a Professional Client is “legitimately relying” on Amius to protect its interests:

  • Which party initiates the transaction – if Amius approach the client, they are more likely to place legitimate reliance on us. However, if you approach us on a Request for Quote (“RFQ”) basis, we expect that the majority of transactions will be out of scope for Best Execution;
  • The level of price transparency in the markets – the absence of available, transparent prices means the client is more likely to place legitimate reliance on Amius to achieve best execution;
  • The information we provide our clients – this includes information in our Terms of Business or any other agreement we reach which should clearly state whether or not best execution applies; and
  • “Shop around” convention – in certain markets, it is market practice or convention for a client to obtain quotes from a number of providers prior to executing a transaction. In this instance, it may be less likely to place “legitimate reliance” on Amius;

Neither this Policy nor best execution obligations apply to Eligible Counterparties.

4.     Execution Factors

When executing a client order (to which best execution applies), Amius will consider a number of execution factors as appropriate which include:

  • Price – the price a financial instrument is executed at;
  • Cost – the transaction costs including execution fees charged by a venue or broker as well as clearing and settlement costs;
  • Speed of Execution – the time it takes to execute a client transaction;
  • Size – the size of the transaction executed for a client and how this affects the price of execution;
  • Likelihood of execution and settlement – the likelihood that we will be able to complete a client transaction; and
  • Nature of the transaction – any particular characteristics which could affect how best execution is achieved

Amius will consider the differences in the client’s objectives when determining the applicability and weighted importance of these execution factors including:

  • The characteristics of the client;
  • The characteristics of the client order (including any element of specific instruction such as a market or limit order);
  • The characteristics of the financial instrument to which that order relates and whether it is executed on a regulated market or over-the-counter; and
  • The characteristics of the execution venue to which the order can be directed (including likelihood of execution and settlement and transaction costs).

The variety of financial instruments and client orders that Amius receives means that different execution factors could apply to each order. Please see section 7 for further details.

5.     Limited Application of Best Execution

There are circumstances when the Best Execution obligation applies on a limited basis, or at all:

  • Specific instruction – If you provide Amius with a specific instruction as to the execution of an order, Amius will execute the order (or the specific element of the order to which the instruction relates) in accordance with that instruction. In these circumstances, Amius will be deemed to have taken all sufficient steps to achieve the best possible result in respect of the part of the order to which the specific instruction relates. You accept that this may prevent Amius from taking the steps as set out in this Policy. 
  • Extreme or volatile situations – such events may lead to delays in executing your order or may lead to an order being executed at a substantially different price to the quoted bid or offer.
  • System failure – either at Amius or an execution venue which means we may have to execute your order in a different manner which may take longer.

6.     Execution Venues

When Amius deal as principal in bespoke OTC transactions it will be the only execution venue. However, when Amius provide execution only services, it will typically use one of the following venues to execute transactions:

  • Regulated markets;
  • Multilateral Trading Facilities;
  • Organised Trading Facilities;
  • Internal sources of liquidity;
  • Other market makers and liquidity providers;
  • Systematic Internalisers; or
  • Any entity based outside the EU who performs a similar function to those set out above.

Amius may execute all or part of your order outside of a Regulated Market or MTF. However we require your express consent to do so and we refer you to our Terms of Business in which we seek this from you. In the absence of your express consent , we are unable to undertake transaction outside a Regulated Market or MTF.

Amius will take sufficient steps to ensure that its commissions are not structured or charged in such a way so as to discriminate unfairly between execution venues. Subject to any specific client instruction, Amius will choose an execution venue where it judges this will give the best outcome for the particular client order. Amius also undertake periodic reviews to determine that brokers it uses are able to provide the appropriate level of expertise and experience when executing in that market.

 7.     Execution by Asset Class

This section provides further details about how we apply best execution to the various asset classes and, subject to specific instructions or market volatility, the execution factors we consider.

OTC derivatives

Amius trade OTC derivatives on a request for quote (RFQ) principal to principal basis without using a regulated market, MTF, OTF or other platform to facilitate the transaction. Amius are therefore the only execution venue in relation to the OTC derivatives we enter into.

The nature of the OTC derivatives orders are bespoke and highly customised to a particular client. Accordingly it will not always be possible to compare prices for this transaction or consider suitable alternative venues for executing the OTC transaction. It cannot also be assumed that clients have price transparency or can “shop around” for the best possible price. Amius will therefore assess the nature of the transaction and the client’s instructions to determine the relevant execution factors to be taken into account when executing the order.

In view of the nature of these OTC derivatives that Amius and its clients enter into, Amius consider cost and price to be important execution factors.

Price is sometimes referred to as the “basis” and is usually determined by the client (either specifically or by reference to an “at market” or “limit” order). Otherwise Amius will check the fairness of the price proposed to the client using market data and comparable or similar products where this information is available. Cost is disclosed to you in your ex-ante and ex-post reports.

Another key factor is speed of execution and Amius will always endeavour to execute your order in full as expeditiously as possible. However, for larger orders or in highly volatile market conditions, this may take a little longer and/or result in partial fills being obtained.

Exchange traded futures and options

Amius deal as agent when executing these transactions and rarely exercise their own discretion when executing exchange traded futures and options, instead acting on specific client instruction. In the rare circumstances where Amius do have discretion, our decision to deal on a particular trading venue may be driven by the fact that there are no alternative sources of dealing in the products traded. For example, if a client wishes to trade London Cocoa, ICE Futures Europe is currently the only venue for that product.

Where there is only one execution venue, then speed of execution will be the highest ranked execution factor. Where there is a choice of execution venue, price remains the primary factor, but Amius will, unless market conditions dictate, consider that time of execution, costs, order size, and likelihood of execution are also important execution factors.

Where possible, Amius will use a number of global exchanges to execute your order, including but not limited to:

Exchanges

  • ICE Futures Europe
  • ICE Futures US
  • London Metal Exchange
  • Euronext
  • Chicago Mercantile Exchange
  • Chicago Board of Trade

Exchange traded derivatives and FX counterparties

  • ADM Investor Services
  • Macquarie
  • Societe Generale
  • Sucden Financial
  • Wedbush
  • Terra Investimentos
  • Aurel BGC

Amius will also use other brokers as well as its own internal liquidity sources only where, applying the same factors as we apply to other execution venues, we have concluded that the internalisation of the order provides you with best execution. In these circumstances, Amius remains under an obligation to monitor the broker’s performance and this does not remove Amius’ obligation to obtain the best possible result for Amius’ client. Amius undertakes reasonable due diligence on third party brokers used by us to ensure they have the appropriate level of experience and expertise and will continue to assess the quality of execution over a period of time, in order to comply with our obligations under this Policy.

FX (forwards, swaps and options)

Amius deal as agent when executing FX transactions on your behalf and rarely exercise their own discretion. However, in the rare circumstances where there is no specific client instruction, price remains the primary factor and Amius will use its access to all available liquidity channels to achieve the best possible price for the client.

Amius will use other brokers, dealers and market makers to execute your order and price therefore remains the primary factor. However Amius will, unless market conditions dictate, consider the size of the transaction and how this may affect the price of execution, cost and speed of execution as important factors.

8.     Order Handling

Clients’ orders are generally placed over phone, instant messaging or email and will be confirmed to you in writing. Amius do not accept orders via any other electronic means or DMA.

All orders are promptly and accurately recorded and allocated. Amius will always carry out comparable orders sequentially, unless the characteristics of a particular order or the market conditions make this impractical or not in the best interests of the client.

9.     Disclosures, Monitoring and Review

Amius has set out a governance framework to monitor the effectiveness of its order execution arrangements as set out in this Policy and to correct any deficiencies identified. Amius will review the arrangement, including this Policy, at least annually or whenever a material change occurs. Amius will publish any material changes on its website. Amius will also publish the following best execution reports on its website:

  • RTS 27 – summarising the execution quality of our OTC transactions (to which this obligation applies); and
  • RTS 28 – publishing the top 5 execution venues by product type (which for our OTC transactions will always be Amius).

If you have any questions on this Policy, please feel free to contact your Relationship Manager or Amius Compliance – compliance@amius.com.

 

[1] Please refer to your Client Categorisation letter which states the categorisation we have afforded you in accordance with the Financial Conduct Authority regulations