Back Link Text Only Rich Text Print Custom print

  • Part 6: Part 6: Controllers

    • Article 34 - Scope of application

      (1) This Part applies to:
      (A) Persons who acquire, or change their level or type of control over an Authorised Firm; and
      (B) Authorised Firms who are the subject of such acquisition or change of control
      in both cases being an Authorised Firm(s) to which Article 34(2) relates.
      (2) The Authorised Firms to which Article 34(1) shall apply are:
      (A) QFC Entities which are Authorised Firms;
      (B) other Authorised Firms to which this Part applies pursuant to a condition, restriction or requirement to that effect imposed by the Regulatory Authority under Part 5.

    • Article 35 - Approval of Regulatory Authority

      No Person may assume control, or assume an increased level of control, over an Authorised Firm unless the Regulatory Authority shall have first given its approval in accordance with the following provisions of this Part.

    • Article 36 - Obligation to notify the Regulatory Authority

      (1) Where a Person proposes to:
      (A) acquire control over an Authorised Firm; or
      (B) to increase, decrease or change his existing level or type of control or to cease to have control over an Authorised Firm,
      a Controller Notice must be submitted to the Regulatory Authority in accordance with the following provisions.
      (2) Subject to Article 36(3), the Controller Notice must be submitted by the Authorised Firm in question not less than 30 days in advance of the proposed acquisition of or change in control or, where this is not reasonably practicable, immediately upon becoming aware of the proposed or actual acquisition of or change in control.
      (3) Where the Authorised Firm is:
      (A) not aware of the acquisition of or change in control; or
      (B) is not able to obtain sufficient information to submit the Controller Notice,
      the Controller Notice must instead be submitted by the Person who is proposing to acquire or change, or has acquired or changed, control. In the case of (B) above, the Authorised Firm shall promptly upon becoming aware of the acquisition or change or proposed acquisition or change, notify the Regulatory Authority of all relevant information in its possession about the acquisition or change or proposed acquisition or change and notify the Person in question of his obligations under this Part.
      (4) The Authorised Firm must have in place systems and controls aimed at ensuring that it is advised of and monitors any acquisition of or change in control to which this Part applies.
      (5) A Controller Notice shall be given to the Regulatory Authority and shall include such information and be accompanied by such documents, and be signed or executed by such Persons and in such manner as the Regulatory Authority may reasonably require.
      (6) The Regulatory Authority may require the Authorised Firm or Person submitting a Controller Notice to provide such additional information or documents as it reasonably considers necessary in order to enable it to determine what action it should take in response to the Controller Notice.
      (7) The Regulatory Authority shall not be obliged to confirm receipt of the Controller Notice.
      (8) Article 108 of these Regulations (Notices and other Information) shall apply in respect of each Controller Notice.
      Amended by QFC Reg 2010-2 (as from 9th December 2010)

    • Article 37 - Acquiring and changing control

      (1) For the purposes of this Part, a Person acquires control over an Authorised Firm where he first:
      (A) holds 10% or more of the shares in the Authorised Firm, or is entitled to exercise or control the exercise of 10% or more of the voting power in the Authorised Firm;
      (B) holds 10% or more of the shares in a Parent Entity of the Authorised Firm or is entitled to exercise or control the exercise of 10% or more of the voting power in a Parent Entity of the Authorised Firm; or
      (C) is able to exercise significant influence over the management of the Authorised Firm or a Parent Entity of the Authorised Firm by virtue of his shareholding or voting power, or by contractual or other arrangements.
      (2) The Regulatory Authority may issue Rules specifying the levels and type of control, and of change in control which will give rise to a notification requirement under Article 36 or require approval under Article 35.
      (3) For the purposes of this Article:
      (A) shares -
      (i) in relation to an Authorised Firm or relevant Parent Entity with a share capital, means allotted shares;
      (ii) in relation to an Authorised Firm or relevant Parent Entity with capital but no share capital, means rights to share in the capital of the Authorised Firm or relevant Parent Entity; and
      (iii) in relation to an Authorised Firm or relevant Parent Entity without capital, means interests conferring any right to share in the profits, or liability to contribute to the losses, of the Authorised Firm or relevant Parent Entity; or giving rise to any obligation to contribute to the debts or expenses of the Authorised Firm or relevant Parent Entity in the event of a winding-up; and
      (B) voting power, in relation to an Authorised Firm or relevant Parent Entity which does not have general meetings at which matters are decided by the exercise of voting rights, means the right under the constitution of the Authorised Firm or relevant Parent Entity to direct the overall policy of the Authorised Firm or relevant Parent Entity or alter the terms of its constitution.
      (4) References in this Part to a change of control include any of the matters referred to in Article 36(1)(B) and reference to a Person acquiring or changing control shall be to a Person acquiring or changing control either alone or together with one or more Associate(s).

    • Article 38 - Decision of the Regulatory Authority

      (1) The Regulatory Authority may:
      (A) unconditionally approve the Person having or increasing or proposing to have or increase the control for which a Controller Notice would be required under Article 36;
      (B) approve such Person subject to such conditions as the Regulatory Authority thinks fit; or
      (C) refuse to give its approval.
      (2) The Regulatory Authority shall seek to make its determination within 30 days of receipt of all the required information and shall notify the Authorised Firm in question (or where the Controller Notice has been submitted by another Person, both the Authorised Firm and that other Person) of its determination promptly once the determination has been made.
      (3) In reaching its determination, the Regulatory Authority may consult with such parties, including competent authorities outside the QFC, as it considers appropriate.
      (4) The Regulatory Authority may only grant unconditional approval if it is satisfied that:
      (A) the Person acquiring or increasing the control is a fit and proper Person to have the control in question; and
      (B) the conditions in Article 29(5)(A) and (B) (Close Links) have been met; and
      (C) granting such approval would be consistent with the Regulatory Objectives.
      (5) The Regulatory Authority may, on its own initiative:
      (A) cancel or vary a condition imposed under this Article;
      (B) withdraw an approval, or impose conditions on it, where it has reason to believe that the criteria set out in Article 38(4) are no longer satisfied.
      (6) The rights of the Regulatory Authority set out in Article 38(1) shall apply notwithstanding the fact that a Controller Notice has not been submitted (in contravention of the requirements set out in Article 36), or has not been submitted in accordance with the requirements of Article 36.
      (7) Any determination or decision made by the Regulatory Authority pursuant to Article 38(1) or (5) or Article 39(1)(A) may be referred to the Appeals Body by the Authorised Firm to which the proposed or actual acquisition of or change in control relates.

    • Article 39 - Improperly acquired shares

      (1) If a Person has acquired, or has continued to hold, any shares in contravention of a determination or decision of the Regulatory Authority pursuant to Article 38(1) or (5) the Regulatory Authority may:
      (A) withdraw the Authorisation of the Authorised Firm pursuant to Article 31(2)(C) (unless that Person has ceased to hold any shares or have control); or
      (B) apply to the Tribunal for an order:
      (i) restricting the transfer of any shares to which the obligations in Article 36 relate;
      (ii) restricting the voting rights exercisable in respect of such shares;
      (iii) restricting the issuing and transfer of further shares which may have been agreed to be issued or transferred;
      (iv) requiring that, except in a liquidation, no payment be made of any sums of whatever nature due in respect of such shares; or
      (v) requiring the sale of any such shares (in which event the sale proceeds less the costs of sale and any costs incurred by the Regulatory Authority in respect of obtaining such order shall be paid into the Tribunal for the benefit of the Persons beneficially interested in them),
      and such other order ancillary to or necessary for the implementation of the above as the Tribunal shall think fit.

    • Article 40 - Annual reporting of Persons having control over an Authorised Firm

      (1) An Authorised Firm must submit to the Regulatory Authority an annual report on the Persons having control over it within four months of its financial year end.
      (2) The Authorised Firm's annual report on the Persons having control over it must include:
      (A) the name of each Person having control; and
      (B) the level and type of control.