The Financial Conduct Authority (“FCA”) Handbook rules and guidance categorise clients as retail or elective professional. In line with Regulatory expectations and Consumer Duty requirements, Capital Index (UK) Ltd professional account is for professional accounts only.


Professional Client accounts offer additional features, such as higher leverage, which are not available to retail clients. Client categorisation may be changed upon written request, provided the relevant requirements are met.


In order to qualify you must satisfy at least two out of the three criteria set out below. Please confirm which of the following criteria apply to you.


Please tick all that apply


*Significant sized trades are classified as having a notional value of £10,000 for equities and £50,000 for Forex, Indices and Commodities or equivalent in local base currency.

By submitting this query I wish to request a re-categorisation of my client profile held with Capital Index (UK) Limited and be treated as an Elective Professional Client in respect to all my existing accounts.

I understand that my client profile and the information provided by me in support of my re-categorisation request will be reviewed according to Capital Index (UK) Limited’s policies in order to ensure that I have sufficient expertise, experience and knowledge to be able to make my own investment decision and to understand the risks involved. Should my circumstances change, I bear the responsibility to notify Capital Index (UK) Limited immediately.

Your query will be escalated to the relevant team and we will contact you to discuss this. You will be asked to provide supporting evidence based on the answers given above.

By choosing to categorised as a Professional Client you will lose some of the regulatory protections afforded to Retail Clients. Please see the below table for some of the main changes in the way your account will be treated.

Protections you will retain Protections you will lose
Unless you specifically agreed otherwise in writing, Capital Index (UK) Limited will continue segregating your funds in our Client Money bank accounts in accordance with the Client Money Rules. As a Professional Client your account will not be eligible for negative balance protection. You will have an obligation to make additional payments if your account falls into negative balance, meaning you can lose more than your deposits.
You have the right to request to be re-categorised as a Retail Client at any time. Unlike a Retail Client, Capital Index (UK) Limited will not be required to restrict leverage offered to you in line with FCA restrictions. Higher leverage can mean higher losses if the markets move against you.
As an individual, you are eligible for Financial Services Compensation Scheme protection https://www.fscs.org.uk/ As a Professional Client, Capital Index (UK) Limited may assume your level of knowledge and experience when assessing whether our products are appropriate for you.
As an individual (consumer) you are able to use the Financial Services Ombudsman should you not be satisfied with the outcome of a complaint to us (please see our
Complaints Procedure). 		Capital Index (UK) Limited will not be required to provide you with written risk warnings and notices in relation to transactions in complex financial instruments.

In line with the MiFID rules (section II.2 of annex II), where Capital Index (UK) Ltd becomes aware that the professional client classification criteria are not met by the client, appropriate action may be taken to address the heightened level of risk that the client is exposed to and mitigate potential losses. Such action may include Capital Index (UK) Ltd, at its own discretion, changing the categorisation of a client from professional client to retail client.

Capital Index (UK) Ltd will inform the client via a written notification whenever a change in categorisation occurs, notifying the client about the change in degree of protection.