Professional client is a client who possesses the experience, knowledge and expertise to make its own investment decisions and properly assess the risks that it incurs. In order to be considered to be professional client, the client must comply with the following criteria:

I. Categories of Client who are Considered to be Professionals

The following shall all be regarded as professionals in all investment services and activities and financial instruments for the purposes of the Directive.

(1) Entities which are required to be authorised or regulated to operate in the financial markets. The list below shall be understood as including all authorised entities carrying out the characteristic activities of the entities mentioned: entities authorised by a Member State under a Directive, entities authorised or regulated by a Member State without reference to a Directive, and entities authorised or regulated by a third country:

(a) Credit institutions;

(b) Investment firms;

(c) Other authorised or regulated financial institutions;

(d) Insurance companies;

(e) Collective investment schemes and management companies of such schemes;

(f) Pension funds and management companies of such funds;