The name game

The UK market has been beset by debate over whether the counterparty to a product should be named in the marketing material. Usually, only a minimum rating is revealed, but this practice has been criticised since Lehman Brothers went bankrupt. As we await an adjudication from the UK Financial Services Authority, Richard Jory asks: 'Does the counterparty need to be named in the third party offering material of UK retail structured products?'

Colin Jackson - Director, Baronworth Investment Services, Essex

In the uncertain economic climate, naming the counterparty in the marketing literature would be of enormous benefit to both the adviser and the investing client but it seems as though sometimes this is just not possible. For example, the provider may not select the counterparty until after the literature has been produced.

In this event, the adviser should find out from the provider who the counterparty is together with its Standard &