COND 1
Introduction
COND 1.1
Application
- 01/12/2004
Who?
COND 1.1.1
See Notes
COND applies to every firm, except that:
- (1) for an incoming EEA firm or an incoming Treaty firm only threshold conditions 1, 3, 4 and 5 apply and only in so far as relevant to:
- (a) an application for a top-up permission under Part IV of the Act (that is, permission to carry on regulated activities in addition to those permitted through the incoming firm's authorisation under Schedule 3 (EEA Passport Rights) or 4 (Treaty Rights) to the Act); and
- (b) the exercise of the FSA's own-initiative power under section 45 of the Act (Variation etc on the FSA's own initiative) in relation to the top-up permission;
- (2) COND also applies to an applicant for Part IV permission;
- (3) threshold conditions 3, 4 and 5 do not apply to a Swiss General Insurance Company; and
- (4) COND 2.6 (Additional conditions) is only relevant to non-EEA insurers.
- 03/09/2001
COND 1.1.2
See Notes
- 03/09/2001
What?
COND 1.1.3
See Notes
COND applies in relation to all of the regulated activities for which a firm has, or will have, permission, except as stated in COND 1.1.1 G (1).
- 03/09/2001
Where?
COND 1.1.4
See Notes
COND applies in relation to all of the regulated activities wherever they are carried on, except as stated in COND 1.1.1 G (1).
- 03/09/2001
COND 1.2
Purpose
- 01/12/2004
COND 1.2.1
See Notes
COND gives guidance on the threshold conditions set out in or under Schedule 6 to the Act (Threshold conditions). The threshold conditions represent the minimum conditions which a firm is required to satisfy, and continue to satisfy, in order to be given and to retain Part IV permission.
- 03/09/2001
Applications for Part IV permission or variation of Part IV permission
COND 1.2.2
See Notes
- (1) Under section 41(2) of the Act (The threshold conditions), in giving or varying a Part IV permission or imposing or varying any requirement, the FSA must ensure that the firm concerned will satisfy, and continue to satisfy, the threshold conditions in relation to all of the regulated activities for which it has or will have permission.
- (2) If, however, the applicant for permission is an incoming firm seeking top-up permission, or variation of top-up permission, under Part IV of the Act (Permission to carry on regulated activities), then under paragraphs 6 and 7 of Schedule 6 to the Act, the FSA will have regard only to satisfaction of threshold conditions 1, 3, 4 and 5, as relevant to the regulated activities for which the applicant has, or will have, Part IV permission.
- 03/09/2001
Exercise of the FSA's own-initiative power
COND 1.2.3
See Notes
- (1) If, among other things, a firm is failing to satisfy any of the threshold conditions, or is likely to fail to do so, section 45 of the Act (Variation etc. on the FSA's own initiative) states that the FSA may exercise its own-initiative power . Use of the FSA's own-initiative power is explained in SUP 7 (Individual requirements), ENF 3 (Variation of Part IV permission on the FSA's own initiative) and ENF 5 (Cancellation of Part IV permission on the FSA's own initiative and withdrawal of authorisation).
- (2) If, when exercising its own-initiative power under section 45(1) of the Act, the FSA varies a firm's permission, or imposes or varies a requirement, then, under section 41(1) of the Act, the FSA must ensure that the firm concerned will satisfy, and continue to satisfy, the threshold conditions in relation to all of the regulated activities for which it has or will have permission. However, section 41(2) of the Act states that the duty imposed by section 41(1) of the Act does not prevent the FSA taking such steps as it considers necessary in relation to a particular firm in order to secure its regulatory objective of consumer protection.
- (3) The FSA can also exercise its own-initiative power under section 45 of the Act in relation to the top-up permission of an incoming firm. But this is only on the grounds that the incoming firm is failing, or likely to fail, to satisfy threshold conditions 1, 3, 4 or 5 in relation to that permission.
- 03/09/2001
Approval of acquisitions or increases of control
COND 1.2.4
See Notes
- (1) Under section 186(3) of the Act (Objection to acquisition of control), in deciding whether the approval requirements for a proposed acquisition or increase of control are satisfied, the FSA must have regard, in relation to the control that the acquirer:
- (a) has over the firm; or
- (b) will have over the firm if the proposal which has been notified to the FSA is carried out;
- to its general duty to ensure that the firm will continue to satisfy the threshold conditions.
- (2) The FSA must also have regard to the threshold conditions in imposing any conditions on its approval of an acquisition or increase of control (section 185(2) of the Act (Conditions attached to approval)). See SUP 11.7.3 G (Acquisition or increase of control: procedures).
- 03/09/2001
COND 1.3
General
- 01/12/2004
An overview of the threshold conditions is given in COND 1 Annex 1 G.
COND 1.3.1
See Notes
The guidance in COND 2 explains each
threshold condition in Part I of Schedule 6 (threshold conditions) to the Act and how the
FSA
will interpret it in practice. An overview of the threshold conditions is given in COND 1 Annex 1 G. This guidance is not, however, exhaustive and is written in very general terms. A firm will need to have regard to the obligation placed upon the
FSA
under section 41 (the threshold conditions) of the Act; that is, the
FSA
must ensure that the firm will satisfy, and continue to satisfy, the
threshold conditions in relation to each regulated activity for which it has, or will have, permission.
- 03/09/2001
COND 1.3.2
See Notes
- (1) The FSA will consider whether a firm satisfies, and will continue to satisfy, the threshold conditions in the context of the size, nature, scale and complexity of the business which the firm carries on or will carry on if the relevant application is granted.
- (2) In relation to threshold conditions 4 and 5, the FSA will consider whether a firm is ready, willing and organised to comply, on a continuing basis, with the requirements and standards under the regulatory system which apply to the firm, or will apply to the firm, if it is granted Part IV permission , or a variation of its permission. These matters will also be considered if the FSA is exercising its own-initiative power (see COND 1.2.3 G). Guidance to firms on the implications of this is given under each of those threshold conditions.
- 03/09/2001
COND 1.3.3
See Notes
Although the
FSA
may consider that a matter is relevant to its assessment of a firm, the fact that a matter is disclosed to the
FSA
, for example in an application, does not necessarily mean that the firm will fail to satisfy the
threshold conditions. The
FSA
will consider each matter in relation to the regulated activities for which the firm has, or will have, permission, having regard to the regulatory objectives set out in section 2 of the Act (The FSA's general duties). A firm should disclose each relevant matter but, if it is appropriate to do so, it is encouraged to discuss it with the
FSA
. This will enable the
FSA
to consider fully how material or significant the matter is and how it affects the ability of the firm to satisfy, and continue to satisfy, the
threshold conditions
(see also COND 2.3.5 G, COND 2.4.4 G (3) and COND 2.5.4 G (3)).
- 03/09/2001
Statutory quotations
COND 1.3.4
See Notes
- (1) For ease of reference, the threshold conditions in or under Schedule 6 to the Act have been quoted in full in COND 2.
- (2) As these provisions impose obligations, they are printed in bold type. The use of bold type is not intended to indicate that these quotations are rules made by the FSA .
- (3) Where words have been substituted for the text of these provisions the substitutions are enclosed in square brackets ([ ]). However, none of the changes made by the FSA in these quotations for the purpose of the text in COND can supersede or alter the meaning of the statutory provision concerned.
- 03/09/2001
COND 1 Annex 1
Introduction
- 01/12/2004
See Notes
- 19/01/2003
COND 1 Annex 2
Overview of the threshold conditions (COND 1.3.1 G) applicable to Non-EEA Insurers
- 01/12/2004
See Notes
- 03/09/2001
COND 2
COND 2
COND 2.1
Threshold condition 1: Legal status
- 01/12/2004
COND 2.1.1
See Notes
Paragraph 1, Schedule 6 to the Act
| (1) | If the regulated activity concerned is the effecting or carrying out of contracts of insurance the authorised person must be a body corporate (other than a limited liability partnership), a registered friendly society or a member of Lloyd's. | |
| (2) | If the person concerned appears to the [FSA] to be seeking to carry on, or to be carrying on, a regulated activity constituting accepting deposits or issuing electronic money, it must be- | |
| (a) | a body corporate; or | |
| (b) | a partnership. | |
- 01/02/2004
COND 2.1.2
See Notes
Section 40(1) of the Act (Application for permission) allows an application to be made to the FSA for Part IV permission by an individual, a body corporate, a partnership or an unincorporated association. However, in the case of the regulated activities of accepting deposits and effecting or carrying out contracts of insurance, article 1 of the Banking Consolidation Directive the First Non-Life Directive and of the First Life Directive place further limits on the legal forms a firm may take. The Act implements the provisions of the directives and extends some of these limits to firms that are outside the scope of the directives.
- 03/09/2001
COND 2.1.3
See Notes
The words "or issuing electronic money" in paragraph 1(2) of Schedule 6 to the Act were added by the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Regulated Activities) (Amendment) Order 2002 with effect from 27 April 2002.
- 27/04/2002
COND 2.2.1
See Notes
Paragraph 2, Schedule 6 to the Act.
| (1) | Subject to sub-paragraph (3), if the person concerned is a body corporate constituted under the law of any part of the United Kingdom - | |
| (a) | its head office, and | |
| (b) | if it has a registered office, that office, must be in the United Kingdom. | |
| (2) | If the person concerned has its head office in the United Kingdom but is not a body corporate, it must carry on business in the United Kingdom. | |
| (3) | If the regulated activity concerned is an insurance mediation activity, sub-paragraph (1) does not apply. | |
| (4) | If the regulated activity concerned is an insurance mediation activity, the person concerned - | |
| (a) | if he is a body corporate constituted under the law of any part of the United Kingdom, must have its registered office, or if it has no registered office, its head office, in the United Kingdom; | |
| (b) | if he is a natural person, is to be treated for the purposes of subparagraph (2), as having his head office in the United Kingdom if his residence is situated there. | |
| (5) | "Insurance mediation activity" means any of the following activities - | |
| (a) | dealing in rights under a contract of insurance as agent; | |
| (b) | arranging deals in rights under a contract of insurance; | |
| (c) | assisting in the administration and performance of a contract of insurance; | |
| (d) | advising on buying or selling rights under a contract of insurance; | |
| (e) | agreeing to do any of the activities specified in sub-paragraph (a) to (d). | |
| (6) | Paragraph (5) must be read with - | |
| (a) | section 22; | |
| (b) | any relevant order under that section; and | |
| (c) | Schedule 2. | |
- 01/08/2004
COND 2.2.2
See Notes
Threshold condition 2(1) and (2) (Location of offices), implement the requirements of article 6 of the Post BCCI Directive and
threshold condition
2(3) and (4) implements article 2.9 of the Insurance Mediation Directive, although the Act extends
threshold condition
2 to firms which are outside the scope of the Single Market Directives and the UCITS Directive.
- 01/02/2004
COND 2.2.3
See Notes
Neither the Post BCCI Directive, the Insurance Mediation Directive nor the Act define what is meant by a firm's 'head office'. This is not necessarily the firm's place of incorporation or the place where its business is wholly or mainly carried on. Although the FSA will judge each application on a case-by-case basis, the key issue in identifying the head office of a firm is the location of its central management and control, that is, the location of:
- 01/02/2004
COND 2.2A
Threshold condition 2A: Appointment of claims representatives
- 01/12/2004
COND 2.2A.1
See Notes
Paragraph 2A, Schedule 6 to the Act
| Appointment of claims representatives | |||
| 2A | (1) | If it appears to the Authority that - | |
| (a) | the regulated activity that the person concerned is carrying on, or is seeking to carry on, is the effecting or carrying out of contracts of insurance, and | ||
| (b) | contracts of insurance against damage arising out of or in connection with the use of motor vehicles on land (other than carrier's liability) are being, or will be, effected or carried out by the person concerned, | ||
| that person must have a claims representative in each EEA State other than the United Kingdom. | |||
| (2) | For the purposes of sub-paragraph (1)(b), contracts of reinsurance are to be disregarded. | ||
| (3) | A claims representative is a person with responsibility for handling and settling claims arising from accidents of the kind mentioned in Article 1(2) of the fourth motor insurance directive. | ||
| (4) | In this paragraph "fourth motor insurance directive" means Directive 2000/26/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 May 2000 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to insurance against civil liability in respect of the use of motor vehicles and amending Council Directives 73/239/EEC and 88/357/EEC." | ||
- 01/08/2004
COND 2.2A.2
See Notes
Threshold condition 2A (Appointment of claims representatives), provides that if it appears to the FSA that any person is seeking to carry on, or carrying on, motor vehicle liability insurance business, that person must have a
claims representative
in each EEA State other than the United Kingdom.
- 19/01/2003
COND 2.3
Threshold condition 3: Close links
- 01/12/2004
COND 2.3.1
See Notes
Paragraph 3, Schedule 6 to the Act.
| (1) | If the person concerned ("A") has close links with another person ("CL"), the [FSA] must be satisfied- | |
| (a) | that those links are not likely to prevent the [FSA's] effective supervision of A; and | |
| (b) | if it appears to the [FSA] that CL is subject to the laws, regulations or administrative provisions of a territory which is not an EEA State ("the foreign provisions"), that neither the foreign provisions, nor any deficiency in their enforcement, would prevent the [FSA's] effective supervision of A. | |
| (2) | A has close links with CL if: | |
| (a) | ||
| (b) | CL is a subsidiary undertaking of A; | |
| (c) | CL is a parent undertaking of a subsidiary undertaking of A; | |
| (d) | CL is a subsidiary undertaking of a parent undertaking of A; | |
| (e) | CL owns or controls 20% or more of the voting rights or capital of A; or | |
| (f) | A owns or controls 20% or more of the voting rights or capital of CL. | |
| (3) | "Subsidiary undertaking" includes all the instances mentioned in Article 1(1) and (2) of the Seventh Company Law Directive in which an entity may be a subsidiary of an undertaking. | |
- 01/08/2004
COND 2.3.2
See Notes
Threshold condition 3 (Close links) implements requirements of the Post BCCI Directive, but the Act extends this condition to firms from outside the EEA and other firms which are outside the scope of the Single Market Directives and the UCITS Directive.
- 03/09/2001
COND 2.3.3
See Notes
In assessing this threshold condition, factors which the FSA will take into consideration include, among other things, whether:
- (1) it is likely that the FSA will receive adequate information from the firm, and those persons with whom the firm has close links, to enable it to determine whether the firm is complying with the requirements and standards under the regulatory system and to identify and assess the impact on the regulatory objectives in section 2 of the Act (The FSA's general duties); this will include consideration of whether the firm is ready, willing and organised to comply with Principle 11 (Relations with regulators and the rules in SUP on the provision of information to the FSA ;
- (2) the structure and geographical spread of the firm, the group to which it belongs and other persons with whom the firm has close links, might hinder the provision of adequate and reliable flows of information to the FSA ; factors which may hinder these flows include the fact there may be branches or connected companies in territories which supervise companies to a different standard or territories with laws which restrict the free flow of information, although the FSA will consider the totality of information available from all sources;
- (3)
- (4) it is possible to assess with confidence the overall financial position of the group at any particular time; factors which may make this difficult include lack of audited consolidated accounts for a group, if companies in the same group as the firm have different financial years and accounting dates and if they do not share common auditors.
- 03/09/2001
COND 2.3.4
See Notes
When assessing whether the firm will satisfy and continue to satisfy this threshold condition, the FSA will have regard to all relevant matters, whether arising in the United Kingdom or elsewhere.
- 03/09/2001
COND 2.3.5
See Notes
The FSA will take into account relevant matters only in so far as they are significant (see COND 1.3.3 G). In determining the weight to be given to any relevant matter, the FSA will consider its significance in the context of its ability to supervise the firm adequately, having regard to the regulatory objectives in section 2 of the Act. In this context, a series of matters may be significant when taken together, even though each of them in isolation might not give serious cause for concern.
- 03/09/2001
Meaning of "parent undertaking" and "subsidiary undertaking"
COND 2.3.6
See Notes
- 03/09/2001
COND 2.3.7
See Notes
- (1) For the purposes of threshold condition 3 (Close links) and except in relation to an incorporated friendly society, an undertaking is a parent undertaking of another undertaking (a subsidiary undertaking) if any of the following apply to it:
- (a) it holds a majority of the voting rights in the subsidiary undertaking; or
- (b) it is a member of the subsidiary undertaking and has the right to appoint or remove a majority of its board of directors; or
- (c) it has the right to exercise a dominant influence over the subsidiary undertaking through:
- (i) provisions contained in the subsidiary undertaking's memorandum or articles; or
- (ii) a control contract; or
- (d) it is a member of the subsidiary undertaking and controls alone, under an agreement with other shareholders or members, a majority of the voting rights in the subsidiary undertaking; or
- (e) it has a participating interest (as defined in section 260 of the Companies Act 1985(Participating interests)) in the subsidiary undertaking and:
- (i) actually exercises a dominant influence over it; or
- (ii) it and the subsidiary undertaking are managed on a unified basis; or
- (f) it is a parent undertaking of a parent undertaking of the subsidiary undertaking; or
- (g) it is an individual and would be a parent undertaking if it were an undertaking; or
- (h) it is incorporated in or formed under the law of another EEA State and is a parent undertaking within the meaning of any rule of law in that State for purposes connected with implementation of the Seventh Company Law Directive.
- (2) A flowchart of COND 2.3.7 G (1) is set out in COND 2 Annex 1.
- 03/09/2001
COND 2.3.8
See Notes
- (1) In relation to COND 2.3.7 G (1)(b) and (d), an undertaking is treated as a member of another undertaking if any of its subsidiary undertaking is a member of that undertaking, or if any shares in that other undertaking are held by a person acting on behalf of the undertaking or any of its subsidiary undertakings.
- (2) In relation to COND 2.3.7 G (1)(e), a 'participating interest' means an interest held by an undertaking in the shares of another undertaking which it holds on a long-term basis, for the purpose of securing a contribution to its activities by the exercise of control or influence arising from or related to that interest. A holding of 20% or more of the shares of an undertaking is presumed to be a participating interest unless the contrary is shown. Examples of interests of a temporary nature which do not constitute participating interests for the purpose of this control relationship include market-makers' holdings in a trading book.
- (3) Section 260(4) of the Companies Act 1985states that an interest held on behalf of an undertaking is treated as held by it. Thus, if the chain of ownership includes a trust, the FSA will treat the trustees as legal owners when determining whether it considers there to be a close link. The beneficiaries or settlors of a trust (or both) may also come within the scope of these provisions, depending on the terms of the trust. However, the FSA will consider each case on its merits.
- 03/09/2001
COND 2.3.9
See Notes
The provisions of Schedule 10A to the Companies Act 1985 (Parent and subsidiary undertakings supplementary provisions) explain and supplement the provisions of section 258 in Part VII of the Companies Act 1985 (outlined in COND 2.3.7 G (1)(a) to (f)).
- 03/09/2001
COND 2.3.10
See Notes
Section 420(3) of the Act (Parent and subsidiary undertaking) (supplemented by paragraph 3(3) of Schedule 6 to the Act) states that an incorporated friendly society is a parent undertaking of another body corporate (a subsidiary undertaking) if it has the following relationship to it:
- (1) it holds a majority of the voting rights in the subsidiary undertaking; or
- (2) it is a member of the subsidiary undertaking and has the right to appoint or remove a majority of the subsidiary undertaking's board of directors; or
- (3) it is a member of the subsidiary undertaking and controls alone, under an agreement with other shareholders or members, a majority of the voting rights in it.
- 03/09/2001
COND 2.3.11
See Notes
For the purposes of this threshold condition 3 (Close links), an undertaking is a subsidiary undertaking of another undertaking if:
- (1) the other undertaking (its parent) is a member of the undertaking;
- (2) a majority of the undertaking's board of directors who have held office during the financial year and during the preceding financial year have been appointed solely as a result of the exercise of the parent's voting rights; and
- (3) no one else is the parent undertaking of the undertaking under COND 2.3.7 G (1)(a) or COND 2.3.10 G (1).
- 03/09/2001
COND 2.3.12
See Notes
The guidance in COND 2.3 is not comprehensive and is not a substitute for consulting the relevant legislation, for example the Companies Act 1985, the Companies (Northern Ireland) Order 1986, the Friendly Societies Act 1992 and the Seventh Company Law Directive, or obtaining appropriate professional advice.
- 03/09/2001
COND 2.4
Threshold condition 4: Adequate resources
- 01/12/2004
COND 2.4.1
See Notes
Paragraph 4, Schedule 6 to the Act
| (1) | The resources of the person concerned must, in the opinion of the [FSA], be adequate in relation to the regulated activities that he seeks to carry on, or carries on. | ||
| (2) | In reaching that opinion, the [FSA] may- | ||
| (a) | take into account the person's membership of a group and any effect which that membership may have; and | ||
| (b) | have regard to- | ||
| (i) | the provision he makes and, if he is a member of a group, which other members of the group make in respect of liabilities (including contingent and future liabilities); and | ||
| (ii) | the means by which he manages and, if he is a member of a group, which other members of the group manage the incidence of risk in connection with his business. | ||
- 01/08/2004
COND 2.4.4
See Notes
- (1) When assessing whether a firm will satisfy and continue to satisfy threshold condition 4, the FSA will have regard to all relevant matters, whether arising in the United Kingdom or elsewhere.
- (2) Relevant matters may include but are not limited to:
- (a) whether there are any indications that the firm may have difficulties if the application is granted (see COND 2.4.6 G), at the time of the grant or in the future, in complying with any of the FSA's prudential rules (see the relevant part of IPRU or PRU);
- (b) whether there are any indications that the firm will not be able to meet its debts as they fall due;
- (c)
- (i) been adjudged bankrupt; or
- (ii)
- (iii) been the subject of a receiving or administration order; or
- (iv) had a bankruptcy or winding-up petition served on it; or
- (v) had its estate sequestrated; or
- (vi) entered into a deed of arrangement or an individual voluntary agreement (or in Scotland, a trust deed) or other composition in favour of its creditors, or is doing so; or
- (vii) within the last ten years, failed to satisfy a judgment debt under a court order, whether in the United Kingdom or elsewhere;
- (d) whether the firm has taken reasonable steps to identify and measure any risks of regulatory concern that it may encounter in conducting its business (see COND 2.4.6 G) and has installed appropriate systems and controls and appointed appropriate human resources to measure them prudently at all times.; see SYSC 3.1 (Systems and Controls) and, SYSC 3.2 (Areas covered by systems and controls); and
- (e) whether the firm has conducted enquiries into the financial services sector in which it intends to conduct business (see COND 2.4.6 G) that are sufficient to satisfy itself that:
- (i) it has access to adequate capital, by reference to the FSA's prudential requirements, to support the business including any losses which may be expected during its start-up period; and
- (ii) Client money, deposits, custody assets and policyholders' rights will not be placed at risk if the business fails.
- (3) In the context of threshold condition 4 (Adequate resources), the FSA will only take into account relevant matters which are material (see COND 1.3.3 G). The FSA will consider the materiality of each relevant matter in relation to the regulated activities for which the firm has, or will have, permission, having regard to the regulatory objectives in section 2 of the Act (The FSA's general duties). It should be noted that a series of matters may be significant when taken together, even if each of them in isolation might not be significant.
- (4) In making its assessment, the FSA will consider the individual circumstances of each firm on a case-by-case basis.
- 01/06/2004
COND 2.4.5
See Notes
In complying with
SYSC 3.1.1 R (Systems and controls), a firm should plan its business appropriately so that it is able to identify, measure and manage the likely risks of regulatory concern it will face (SYSC 3.2.17 G (Business strategy)).
- 03/09/2001
COND 2.5
Threshold condition 5: Suitability
- 01/12/2004
COND 2.5.1
See Notes
Paragraph 5, Schedule 6 to the Act
| The person concerned must satisfy the [FSA] that he is a fit and proper person having regard to all the circumstances, including- | |
| (a) | his connection with any person; |
| (b) | the nature of any regulated activity that he carries on or seeks to carry on; and |
| (c) | the need to ensure that his affairs are conducted soundly and prudently. |
- 01/08/2004
COND 2.5.2
See Notes
- (1) Threshold condition 5 (Suitability), requires the firm to satisfy the FSA that it is 'fit and proper' to have Part IV permission having regard to all the circumstances, including its connections with other persons, the range and nature of its proposed (or current) regulated activities and the overall need to be satisfied that its affairs are and will be conducted soundly and prudently (see also PRIN and SYSC).
- (2) The FSA will also take into consideration anything that could influence a firm's continuing ability to satisfy this threshold condition. Examples include the firm's position within a UK or international group, information provided by overseas regulators about the firm, and the firm's plans to seek to vary its Part IV permission to carry on additional regulated activities once it has been granted that permission by the FSA.
- 03/09/2001
COND 2.5.3
See Notes
- (1) The emphasis of this threshold condition is on the suitability of the firm itself. The suitability of each person who performs a controlled function will be assessed by the FSA under the approved persons regime (see AUTH 6 (Approved persons), SUP 10 (Approved persons) and FIT). In certain circumstances, however, the FSA may consider that the firm is not suitable because of doubts over the individual or collective suitability of persons connected with the firm.
- (2) When assessing this threshold condition in relation to a firm, the FSA may have regard to any person appearing to it to be, or likely to be, in a relevant relationship with the firm, as permitted by section 49 of the Act (Persons connected with an applicant) (see COND 2.4.3 G).
- 03/09/2001
COND 2.5.4
See Notes
- (1) When determining whether the firm will satisfy and continue to satisfy threshold condition 5, the FSA will have regard to all relevant matters, whether arising in the United Kingdom or elsewhere.
- (2) Relevant matters include, but are not limited to, whether a firm:
- (a) conducts, or will conduct, its business with integrity and in compliance with proper standards;
- (b) has, or will have, a competent and prudent management; and
- (c) can demonstrate that it conducts, or will conduct, its affairs with the exercise of due skill, care and diligence.
- (3) The FSA will take into account relevant matters only to the extent that they are significant (see COND 1.3.3 G). In determining whether relevant matters are significant to the firm, the FSA will consider significance in the context of the suitability of the firm, having regard to the regulatory objectives in section 2 of the Act (The FSA's general duties); a series of matters may be significant when taken together, even if each of them in isolation may not be significant.
- (4) In making its assessment, the FSA will, therefore, consider the individual circumstances of each firm on a case-by-case basis.
- 03/09/2001
COND 2.5.5
See Notes
Where a firm is applying for Part IV permission or a substantial variation of that permission, the guidance in COND 2.4.6 G is relevant. For the purpose of threshold condition 5, however, the FSA would expect the firm's business plan or strategy plan to take into account the interests of consumers and demonstrate that it is ready, willing and organised to comply with the relevant requirements in the Handbook that apply to the regulated activity it is seeking to carry on.
- 03/09/2001
COND 2.5.6
See Notes
In determining whether a firm will satisfy, and continue to satisfy, threshold condition 5 in respect of conducting its business with integrity and in compliance with proper standards, the relevant matters, as referred to in COND 2.5.4 G (2), may include but are not limited to whether:
- (1) the firm has been open and co-operative in all its dealings with the FSA and any other regulatory body (see Principle 11 (Relations with regulators)) and is ready, willing and organised to comply with the requirements and standards under the regulatory system and other legal, regulatory and professional obligations; the relevant requirements and standards will depend on the circumstances of each case, including the regulated activities which the firm has permission, or is seeking permission, to carry on;
- (2) the firm has been convicted, or is connected with a person who has been convicted, of any unspent offence involving fraud, corruption, perjury, theft, false accounting or other dishonesty, money laundering, market abuse or insider dealing, offences under legislation relating to insurance, banking or other financial services, companies, insolvency, consumer credit or consumer protection or any significant tax offence; where relevant, any spent convictions excepted for this purpose under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 will be taken into consideration;
- (3) the firm has been the subject of, or connected to the subject of, any existing or previous investigation or enforcement proceedings by the FSA, the Society of Lloyd's or by other regulatory authorities (including the FSA's predecessors), clearing houses or exchanges, professional bodies or government bodies or agencies; the FSA will, however, take both the nature of the firm's involvement in, and the outcome of, any investigation or enforcement proceedings into account in determining whether it is a relevant matter;
- (4) the firm has contravened, or is connected with a person who has contravened, any provisions of the Act or any preceding financial services legislation, the regulatory system or the rules, regulations, statements of principles or codes of practice (for example the Society of Lloyd's Codes) of other regulatory authorities (including the FSA's predecessors), clearing houses or exchanges, professional bodies, or government bodies or agencies or relevant industry standards (such as the Non-Investment Products Code); the FSA will, however, take into account both the status of codes of practice or relevant industry standards and the nature of the contravention (for example, whether a firm has flouted or ignored a particular code);
- (5) the firm, or a person connected with the firm, has been refused registration, authorisation, membership or licence to carry out a trade, business or profession or has had that registration, authorisation, membership or licence revoked, withdrawn or terminated, or has been expelled by a regulatory or government body; whether the FSA considers such a refusal relevant will depend on the circumstances;
- (6) the firm has taken reasonable care to establish and maintain effective systems and controls for compliance with applicable requirements and standards under the regulatory system that apply to the firm and the regulated activities for which it has, or will have, permission (see SYSC 3.2.6 R to SYSC 3.2.8 R (Compliance));
- (7) the firm has put in place procedures which are reasonably designed to:
- (a) ensure that it has made its employees aware of, and compliant with, those requirements and standards under the regulatory system that apply to the firm and the regulated activities for which it has, or will have permission;
- (b) ensure that its approved persons (whether or not employed by the firm) are aware of those requirements and standards under the regulatory system applicable to them;
- (c) determine that its employees are acting in a way compatible with the firm adhering to those requirements and standards; and
- (d) determine that its approved persons are adhering to those requirements and standards;
- (8) the firm or a person connected with the firm has been dismissed from employment or a position of trust, fiduciary relationship or similar or has ever been asked to resign from employment in such a position; whether the FSA considers a resignation to be relevant will depend on the circumstances, for example if a firm is asked to resign in circumstance that cast doubt over its honesty or integrity; and
- (9) the firm or a person connected with the firm has ever been disqualified from acting as a director.
- 03/09/2001
COND 2.6
Additional conditions
- 01/12/2004
COND 2.6.1
See Notes
- 01/08/2004
COND 2.6.2
See Notes
The Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Variation of Threshold Conditions) Order 2001 (SI 2001/2507) imposes certain additional conditions on non-EEA insurers, as set out above.
- 03/09/2001
COND 2.6.3
See Notes
This order implements requirements under the Insurance Directives, and the Act extends these requirements to firms outside of the EEA.
- 03/09/2001
COND 2.6.4
See Notes
The effect of article 3(a) of the order is that a non-EEA insurer (including a Swiss General insurance company) must appoint an authorised UK representative.
- 03/09/2001
COND 2 Annex 1
The threshold conditions
- 01/12/2004
COND 2 Annex 1
See Notes
Close Links: is an undertaking the parent undertaking of another undertaking (COND 2.3.7G(2))
- 03/09/2001
Transitional Provisions and Schedules
COND TP 1
- 01/12/2004
COND Sch 1
Record keeping requirements
- 01/12/2004
COND Sch 1.1
See Notes
| There are no record keeping requirements in COND. |
- 01/12/2004
COND Sch 2
Notification requirements
- 01/12/2004
COND Sch 2.1
See Notes
| There are no notification rules in COND but guidance is given in COND 1.3.3 G on disclosure to the FSA in connection with applications. |
- 01/12/2004
COND Sch 3
Fees and other required payments
- 01/12/2004
COND Sch 3.1
See Notes
| There are no requirements for fees or other payments in COND. |
- 01/12/2004
COND Sch 4
Powers exercised
- 01/12/2004
COND Sch 4.1
See Notes
- 01/12/2004
COND Sch 5
Rights of action for damages
- 01/12/2004
COND Sch 5.1
See Notes
| There are no rules in COND. |
- 01/12/2004
COND Sch 6
Rules that can be waived
- 01/12/2004