Privacy Notice

INTRODUCTION

The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), which came into effect on 25 May 2018, replaced previous data protection laws and introduced new rules for handling personal data. Its purpose is to enhance transparency regarding how personal information is collected, stored, and used, giving individuals greater control over their data.
This Privacy Notice explains how MeritKapital UK Limited processes your personal data, outlines your rights under the GDPR, and provides details on how we collect and use your information.

WHO WE ARE

MeritKapital UK Limited (hereinafter referred to as “MKUK,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) is a company registered in England and Wales under company number 09779913. We are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) under FRN: 720609.
Principal place of business and registered office:

9–10 Domingo Street, London, EC1Y 0TA, United Kingdom
Telephone: +44 20 3950 5971
Email: info@meritkapital.co.uk
Website: www.meritkapital.co.uk

MKUK gathers and processes your personal data in accordance with this Privacy Notice and applicable data protection laws. This notice outlines your rights and obligations and explains how, why, and when we collect and process your personal data. We are registered with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) as a data controller under registration number ZA219257.
Data Protection Officer Contact:

Post: 9–10 Domingo Street, London, EC1Y 0TA, United Kingdom
Email: compliance@meritkapital.co.uk
Telephone: +44 203 865 0430

WHAT CATEGORIES OF PERSONAL DATA DO WE COLLECT?

Personal data refers to any information relating to an identified or identifiable individual. It does not include anonymous data. We may collect the following types of personal data:

  • Full name (first, maiden, and last)
  • Date of birth
  • Home address
  • Email address / Skype ID
  • Telephone / Mobile number
  • Nationality
  • Passport / ID card / Driver’s licence
  • National Insurance Number / Personal Tax Reference
  • Tax information (e.g., Tax Identification Number)
  • Employment status
  • Utility bills or other proof of address
  • Bank statements

HOW DO WE COLLECT PERSONAL DATA?

We collect and process personal data received directly from you when:

  • You apply for our services
  • You enter a contract with us
  • You complete a client application form
  • You contact us via telephone, email, post, or electronic means

We may also lawfully obtain personal data from third parties such as other service providers, or from public sources, including:

  • Registrar of Companies
  • Regulatory bodies
  • Bankruptcy databases
  • Published articles

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

We collect information from:

  • Client and customer onboarding forms
  • Counterparty questionnaires
  • Identification documents (e.g., passports, national ID cards)
  • Proof of address (e.g., utility bills)
  • Bank statements
  • Third-party service providers (e.g., compliance and AML screening platforms)

LAWFUL BASIS FOR PROCESSING PERSONAL DATA

MKUK processes your personal information to fulfil statutory, regulatory, and contractual obligations. We do not collect unnecessary personal data and process your information only as described in this notice. Under GDPR, we rely on the following lawful bases for processing personal data:

  • Legal Obligation: To comply with laws and regulations including AML, CTF, tax laws, FATCA, CRS, and obligations from supervisory authorities.
  • Contract: To establish, manage, and fulfil our contractual relationship with you.
  • Legitimate Interests: Where processing is necessary for our legitimate business interests, provided these are not overridden by your rights and freedoms.

HOW WE USE YOUR PERSONAL DATA

MKUK treats your privacy with the utmost importance and does not sell or share your personal data without your consent, unless required by law.

Your data may be used:

  • To meet legal and regulatory obligations
  • For business, accounting, and tax purposes
  • To fulfil our contractual commitments
  • To detect, prevent, and investigate fraud or other illegal activities
  • To protect our legal rights and manage regulatory or legal claims
  • To perform KYC and AML checks, including automated identity verification

INTERNATIONAL TRANSFERS OF DATA

Personal data may be transferred outside the European Economic Area (EEA) to jurisdictions that may not offer the same level of data protection. In such cases, we ensure:

  • Transfers are necessary for our operations
  • Your data is protected using appropriate safeguards (e.g., standard contractual clauses approved by the European Commission)

YOUR RIGHTS UNDER GDPR

You have the following rights regarding your personal data:

  • Right to access – Request access to your personal data
  • Right to rectification – Correct incomplete or inaccurate data
  • Right to data portability – Receive your data in a commonly used format and transfer it to another controller
  • Right to object – Object to processing based on legitimate or public interest
  • Right to restriction – Restrict processing under certain circumstances
  • Right to withdraw consent – Withdraw your consent at any time

To exercise your rights, contact us at: compliance@meritkapital.co.uk

We may require verification of your identity to process your request securely.

DATA RETENTION

MKUK retains personal data only as long as necessary. In compliance with legal obligations, we retain your information for a minimum of seven (7) years, after which it is securely destroyed. A strict review and retention policy is in place.

CONSEQUENCES OF NOT PROVIDING YOUR PERSONAL DATA

Providing your personal data is necessary for us to establish and maintain a relationship with you. Without it, we may not be able to offer our services. We may also request further information to confirm your identity and protect your data.

CHANGES TO THIS PRIVACY NOTICE

We may update this Privacy Notice periodically to reflect changes in our privacy practices or applicable laws. The latest version will always be available on our website: www.mk.com. We encourage you to review it regularly.

LODGING A COMPLAINT

MKUK processes personal data in accordance with this notice and applicable laws. If you are dissatisfied with how we handle your personal data, you have the right to lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO):

Information Commissioner’s Office

Address: Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5AF
Telephone: 0303 123 1113
Email: casework@ico.org.uk
Website: https://ico.org.uk