The structured products industry has been criticized for a lack of transparency, particularly when it comes to the fees embedded in notes sold to retail investors, and it is hoped the new guidelines will encourage issuers to be more open and give investors more confidence to buy equity-linked and other structured products.
The principles include guidance on product transparency, risk disclosure, fees and costs, potential conflicts of interest, client appropriateness and suitability, and oversight and compliance. They complement a set of guidelines issued in July 2007 that laid out principles for managing the provider-distributor...
