The Financial Conduct Authority has published a Policy Statement and final Guidance on how it will enforce the "duty of responsibility". The "duty of responsibility" came into force to replace the much-criticised so-called "presumption of guilt" for UK senior managers on May 10, 2016. The new duty applies to persons performing senior management functions at UK banks, building societies, credit unions, investment firms designated by the Prudential Regulation Authority and incoming branches of overseas firms. Under this duty, the FCA and the PRA can take enforcement action against Senior Managers if they are responsible for the management of any activities in their firm in relation to which their firm contravenes a regulatory requirement and they do not take such steps as a person in their position could reasonably be expected to take to avoid the contravention occurring or continuing. The burden of proof lies with the regulators to prove a contravention. The Guidance applied from May 3, 2017.

View the Policy Statement.

The Banking Standards Board has published the Statement of Good Practice 1 on the Certification Regime: fitness and propriety assessment principles and Supporting Guidance for the Statement of Good Practice. The BSB was launched in April 2015 to help raise standards of behavior and competence in the banking sector. The Certification Regime, part of the regulatory reforms introduced in the UK to strengthen individual accountability, requires firms to certify that all individuals in roles which pose a risk of significant harm are "fit and proper". The first certification process was due to be completed by March 7, 2017 and thereafter firms must conduct assessments on an ongoing basis. 

Read more. 

The OCC issued a revised version of the “Changes in Directors and Senior Executive Officers” booklet of the Comptroller’s Licensing Manual. This revised booklet replaces the prior version which was issued in October 2009, and incorporates updated regulations that became effective July 1, 2015, addressing changes in directors and senior executive officers of national banks, federal savings associations, and federal branches of non-US banks. Specifically, the revised booklet explains when prior notice for changes in directors and senior executive officers is required, provides institutions with information regarding the contents of complete notices and addresses the 90-day review period.

View the updated booklet.
 

The European Banking Authority published final draft Regulatory Technical Standards on the cooperation and exchange of information between national regulators where an authorized payment institution would like to provide payment services in a Member State other than its home Member State (so-called passporting) under the Payment Services Directive (also known as PSD2). The Directive aims to make payments between Member States as secure, easy and efficient as those made within a Member State. PSD2 focuses on electronic payments and payment services within the EU, regulating new types of payment services and payment services providers, which are currently unregulated, and stimulating competition in the electronic payments market. The RTS aim to ensure that information about those entities that carry out business in EU Member States is exchanged between national regulators in a consistent way, that there is clarity for payment institutions about their regulatory requirements and specifies the information that is to be shared between national regulators. The EBA consulted on draft RTS in late 2015 and, having taken feedback into account, has made certain amendments to the final draft RTS, including removing some of the information requirements on payment institutions relating to governance arrangements and internal control mechanisms, outsourcing and the agent structural organization. In addition, the EBA has now provided separate templates for when a payment institution or e-money institution is using an agent or when a distributor is used. 

Read more.

The European Central Bank published for consultation draft Guidance on the fit and proper assessment of members of management bodies of significant banks. The ECB is responsible for direct prudential supervision of certain significant banks based in the Eurozone as part of the Single Supervisory Mechanism. The purpose of the draft Guidance is to outline how the ECB will evaluate the qualifications, skills and proper standing of a candidate for becoming a member of a management body. The draft Guidance builds on the current draft guidance under the Capital Requirements Directive and the revised Markets in Financial Instruments Directive published by the European Securities and Markets Authority and the European Banking Authority on October 28, 2016. The assessment criteria for the fitness and proprietary of members of the management body are outlined in the draft Guidance. The criteria include experience, reputation, conflicts of interest and independence of mind, time commitment and collective suitability. The draft Guidance provides information on the purpose, scope and type of interviews conducted by the ECB of appointees. The draft Guidance highlights how a decision is taken by the ECB after every fit and proper assessment and the various types of decisions that may be taken. The draft Guidance also notes that under the SSM Regulation, the ECB has the power to remove, at any time, members from the management body of a significant supervised entity who do not fulfill the fit and proper requirements, which is provided for in the SSM Regulation. The ECB is seeking feedback on its draft Guidance by January 20, 2017.

View the draft Guidance.

The European Banking Authority launched a consultation on draft revised Guidelines on internal governance for credit institutions and investment firms. The EU Capital Requirements Directive imposes governance requirements on banks and investment firms which include, amongst other things, requirements to have robust governance arrangements, to establish a risk committee and nomination committee and to have adequate risk management processes and internal controls. CRD requires the EBA to develop Guidelines on internal governance. The proposed new Guidelines set out the internal governance arrangements, processes and mechanisms that firms must implement to ensure effective management of the firm. The Guidelines will apply to a firm's governance arrangements, including their organizational structure and processes to identify, manage, monitor and report risks that they may be exposed to, taking into account the three lines of defense model. The EBA's current Guidelines on internal governance, published on September 27, 2011, will be repealed when the new Guidelines enter into force. Responses to the consultation are due by January 28, 2017.

View the consultation paper and proposed revised Guidelines.

View the current Guidelines.

The European Banking Authority and the European Securities and Markets Authority launched a joint consultation on proposed Guidelines on the Assessment of the Suitability of the Members of Management Body and Key Function Holders. The revised Markets in Financial Instruments Directive and the Capital Requirements Directive require firms to assess the suitability of members of their management body. Firms subject to CRD must all assess the suitability of all key function holders that have a significant influence over the direction of the firm. The proposed Guidelines provide criteria for assessing the individual and collective knowledge, skills, experience, reputation, honesty, integrity and independence of members of the management body. The proposed Guidelines also include a framework for assessing whether individual members of management commit sufficient time to performing their duties, set out how diversity should be taken into account in the selection process for members of the management body and provide for appropriate financial and human resources to be allocated to induction and training.

View the consultation paper.

The US Securities and Exchange Commission voted to propose amendments to the proxy rules to require parties in a contested election to use universal proxy cards that would include the names of all board of director nominees. The proposal gives shareholders the ability to vote by proxy for their preferred combination of board candidates, similar to voting in person.

The proposed rules would require proxy contestants to provide shareholders with a proxy card that includes the names of both management and dissident director nominees. The rules would apply to all non-exempt solicitations for contested elections other than those involving registered investment companies and business development companies. In addition, the proposed rules would require management and dissidents to provide each other with notice of the names of their nominees, establish a filing deadline and a minimum solicitation requirement for dissidents, and prescribe presentation and formatting requirements for universal proxy cards.

To further facilitate shareholder voting in director elections, the SEC also voted to propose amendments to the proxy rules to ensure that proxy cards specify the applicable shareholder voting options in all director elections and require that proxy statements disclose the effect of a shareholder’s election to withhold its vote.

Comments should be received on or before January 9, 2017.

View proposed rule.

The Bank of England published a consultation paper proposing the introduction of a draft Code of Practice and Supervisory Statement on governance in recognized payment system operators. The final Code and the Supervisory Statement will contain the minimum governance requirements and expectations for recognized payment system operators to meet. Recognized payment systems include Bacs, CREST, CHAPS, LINK and Faster Payment Services. The Principles for financial market infrastructures, developed by the Committee on Payment and Settlement Systems and the International Organization of Securities Commissions, form the basis of the draft Code although the Bank has also taken into account other sources such as the UK Corporate Governance Code. Amongst other things, the draft Code would require a recognized payment system operator to be a systemic risk manager (by promoting the safety and efficiency of the payment system and supporting the stability of the financial system), review its performance annually and document its governance policies and procedures. It would also set out the requirements for composition of the board and expectations on governance arrangements. It is not intended that the Code would apply to a recognized payment system that is operated by a recognized clearing house or central securities depository because those entities are already subject to similar requirements under the European Market Infrastructure Regulation or the Central Securities Depositories Regulation.  The Bank of England is proposing that the Code be implemented 12 months after publication of the final version. The consultation closes on December 2, 2016.

View the consultation paper. 

The Prudential Regulation Authority and the Financial Conduct Authority launched a consultation proposing amendments to the Senior Manager & Certification Regime. Most of the changes result from the legislative changes made in the Bank of England and Financial Services Act 2016. However, the regulators are also proposing some other changes which they consider appropriate having had the opportunity to assess the SM&CR in practice.

Read more. 

The Prudential Regulation Authority and the Financial Conduct Authority launched separate consultations on proposals to extend some of their whistleblowing requirements to UK branches of non-EEA banks. The proposals do not apply to UK branches of EEA banks. The regulators are proposing that non-EEA banks should be required to inform their employees about the regulators' whistleblowing services. Moreover, any non-EEA banking group that has both a UK subsidiary and a UK branch should inform branch staff about the subsidiary's whistleblowing arrangements. The PRA is also proposing that all insurers should inform employees about whistleblowing procedures. Since September 7, 2016, UK banks, building societies and credit unions with assets of £250 million or greater, PRA-designated investment firms, insurance and reinsurance firms within the scope of Solvency II or regulated by the Society of Lloyd's, as well as Lloyd's managing agents, have been required to implement internal whistleblowing procedures.They must also inform employees of the internal procedures and the whistleblowing services provided by the PRA and FCA and to ensure that employment contracts and settlement agreements do not deter employees from whistleblowing. Responses to the consultation are requested by January 9, 2017. The final rules are expected to apply from September 2017.

View the PRA's consultation paper.

View the FCA's consultation paper.

The Prudential Regulation Authority and the Financial Conduct Authority published revised rules on regulatory references for banking and insurance firms subject to the Senior Manager and Certification Regime and the Senior Insurance Manager Regime, respectively. Regulatory references are employment references passed between firms when an individual moves roles.

Read more. 

The Financial Conduct Authority published a discussion paper about how and why the legal function currently falls within the Senior Manager & Certification Regimes and whether it should continue to do so. In the lead up to implementation of the SM&CR in March 2016, the FCA became aware of significant uncertainty amongst firms as to whether an individual responsible for the management of a firm's legal function would require approval as a Senior Manager. Where heads of legal are responsible for compliance, there is a clear need to register, but the position is less clear for heads of legal who do not hold this additional function.

Read more. 

The Financial Stability Board published a second progress report on its workplan to reduce misconduct risk. The workplan was first agreed in May 2015 and the FSB published its first progress report in November 2015. The workplan involves: (i) reviewing the effectiveness of reforms to compensation tools in reducing the risk of misconduct; (ii) examining whether the global standards of conduct in the fixed income, commodities and currency (FICC) markets need to be improved; and (iii) reforming the major financial benchmarks. The FSB's second progress report sets out the progress made to date as well as the expected dates for finalization of some of the work. By the end of 2016, the International Organization of Securities Commissions will publish final guidance for benchmark administrators on the content of the statements of compliance that administrators will be conducting a follow-up review of WM/Reuters 4 pm London Closing Spot Rate. The report also noted current reforms to the key IBOR benchmarks with a final report to be released in the course of 2017. Other items that are in the pipeline include publishing recommendations on the application of regulatory compensation tools to reduce misconduct risk by the end of 2017 and a wide-ranging FX Global Code for the wholesale foreign exchange market is expected to be finalized by May 2017. 

View the progress report.

The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development published a progress report on the implementation of the G20/OECD Principles of Corporate Governance. The Principles were endorsed by G20 Leaders at their summit in Antalya on November 15-16, 2015 and are one of the Key Standards for Sound Financial Systems adopted by the Financial Stability Board. The progress report provides an update on the main developments that have helped jurisdictions to implement the Principles, including translations of the Principles into languages other than the official languages of the OECD. It also discusses the review and update of the methodology used by the OECD to assess the implementation of the Principles, as well as containing information on the FSB peer review of the implementation of the relevant Principles. The review will assess how FSB member jurisdictions have implemented the Principles for publicly listed financial institutions, such as banks, insurers, asset managers and financial holding companies.  The final version of the Methodology is expected to be adopted in November 2016. The OECD intends to continue with its thematic peer reviews and the next peer review is expected to launch in the first half of 2017. 

View the progress report.

The UK Prudential Regulation Authority published an open letter to all firms subject to the Capital Requirements Regulation reminding firms of the requirement in the PRA Rulebook to have in place a policy promoting diversity on the management body. The letter follows a report by the European Banking Authority on Benchmarking Diversity Practices published on July 8, 2016. The PRA cited the report which highlighted that, of UK firms surveyed, only 15% had a policy to promote diversity on their management body. The PRA is also interested in how firms have promoted diversity among Senior Managers.

View the letter.

View the General Organisational Requirements.

View the EBA Report. 

The Financial Stability Board launched its thematic peer review regarding the implementation of the G20/Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD) Principles of Corporate Governance. These Principles have been designated as one of the FSB’s key standards for sound financial systems. The Principles cover governance frameworks, disclosure and transparency, rights and equitable treatment of shareholders, key ownership functions and responsibilities. The objective of the peer review, as outlined in the terms of reference, is to understand and assess how FSB member jurisdictions have applied the principles to publicly listed regulated financial institutions (banks, insurers, asset managers and financial holding companies). The FSB is seeking feedback on, for example, the design of corporate governance frameworks and whether they promote transparent and fair markets, the protection of shareholders rights and how corporate governance structures can facilitate equitable treatment for all shareholders. The review is limited to those Principles which apply to listed regulated financial institutions, but it is hoped that it may allow for a more in-depth analysis of particular topics which are relevant for the FSB's broader remit.

The feedback is due by September 9, 2016 with a final report expected to be published in early 2017.

View the FSB terms of reference.

View the G20/OECD Principles of Corporate Governance.

The US Federal Reserve Board, the FDIC and the OCC issued frequently asked questions (FAQs) regarding the process for how financial institutions they regulate may begin to submit self-assessments of their diversity policies and practices starting with year-end 2015. Section 342 of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act requires the federal financial regulatory agencies to develop standards for assessing the diversity policies and practices of its regulated institutions, which became effective on June 10, 2015. The standards provide a framework for regulated institutions to assess and establish or strengthen their diversity policies and practices. Financial institutions are strongly encouraged to disclose on their websites their diversity policies and practices, as well as information related to their self-assessments, to maximize transparency, and to provide their policies, practices and self-assessment information to their primary federal financial regulator.

View FAQs.

The Bank of England and Financial Services Act 2016 (Commencement No. 3) Regulations 2016 were made. The Regulations bring a majority of the provisions in The Bank of England and Financial Services Act 2016 into force. Such provisions cover topics such as financial stability strategy, Financial Policy Committee: status and membership, Monetary Policy Committee: membership and procedure, audit, activities indemnified by Treasury, appointment of Financial Conduct Authority chief executive, Treasury recommendations to the Financial Conduct Authority, administration of senior managers regime, rules of conduct, decisions causing a financial institution to fail: meaning of insolvency, enforceability of agreements relating to credit, illegal money lending and banks authorized to issue banknotes in Scotland and Northern Ireland. 

The provisions will enter into force on July 6, 2016.

View the Regulations.

Two pieces of secondary legislation brought the revised provisions published on May 5th in the Bank of England and Financial Services Act 2016 on senior manager misconduct into force. The revised provisions replace the presumption of responsibility for a senior manager when a breach of regulatory provisions occurs in the area that he is responsible for (originally brought in by the Financial Services (Banking Reform) Act 2013), with a duty of responsibility. For a senior manager to be found guilty of misconduct by one of the UK regulators, the Prudential Regulation Authority and/or Financial Conduct Authority will need to prove that a senior manager did not take reasonable steps to prevent the contravention by his firm from occurring or continuing.

View the Order.

View the Regulations. 

The Bank of England and Financial Services Act 2016 was passed by the UK Parliament. The Act includes amendments to the Senior Manager and Certification Regime and extends the SM&CR to all UK authorized firms. The amendments include removing the presumption of responsibility for a senior manager when a breach of regulatory provisions occurs in the area that he is responsible for, replacing it with a duty of responsibility. In addition, the UK regulators are granted specific powers to take enforcement action against all non-executive directors of firms for their misconduct. The extension of the SM&CR follows from the recommendations of the Fair and Effective Markets Review, published in June 2015, that the regime should be extended to wholesale participants in the fixed income, currency and commodity markets.  

Certain provisions of the Act came into effect immediately. The provisions on senior management will come into effect once HM Treasury adopts regulations providing for the effective date. It is not yet known when the extension to all UK authorized firms will occur but the UK regulators have mentioned 2018 in the past. 

View the Act.

View HM Treasury’s press release.

View the Bank of England’s press release.

You might like to view our client note. 

US Securities and Exchange Commission Chair Mary Jo White discussed the importance of strong governance and investor protection in the wake of developments and innovation in technology and financial markets. Specifically, Chair White discussed the importance of pre-IPO companies making accurate disclosures, and in particular the implications and potential consequences of the increase in so-called "unicorns" which are private start-up firms with valuations that exceed $1 billion. White also remarked on the need to protect investors that are investing under new SEC rules for capital raising under the JOBS Act -Regulation D, Regulation A+ and Regulation Crowdfunding - all of which are designed to allow smaller companies to access the capital markets. White noted that implicit in improving investor protection are strong financial controls and corporate governance, topics which are particularly important for private pre-IPO companies particularly as they go public and grow, often exponentially. Tools such as ensuring relevant expertise on boards and implementing investor protections while pre-IPO companies are private can help mitigate against the risks faced by rapidly growing start-ups. Finally, White noted that the SEC is closely monitoring developments and related investor protection issues in digital finance or fintech, namely blockchain technology, automated investment advice (robo-advisors) and online marketplace lending platforms.

View Chair White’s speech. 

The Prudential Regulation Authority published a Policy Statement and Supervisory Statement on board responsibilities. The Policy is relevant to all PRA-regulated firms - banks, insurers, designated investment firms, building societies, friendly societies and credit unions. The Supervisory Statement provides PRA guidance on aspects of corporate governance to which the PRA attaches particular importance and to which the PRA may devote particular attention in the course of its supervision. The list, which is not definitive, includes firm strategy, culture, risk appetite and management, board composition, roles of executive and non-executive directors, board time and resources, management information and transparency, succession planning, remuneration, subsidiary boards and board sub-committees. The Supervisory Statement notes that specific accountabilities of individual directors established by the Senior Managers Regime are additional and complementary to the collective responsibility shared by directors as members of the board.

View the policy statement.

View the supervisory statement. 

The Prudential Regulation Authority and the Financial Conduct Authority published final rules removing certain requirements under the Senior Manager and Certification Regimes. The regulators consulted earlier this year on the proposed amendments which are necessary as a result of the proposed changes to the regime that have been proposed by the UK Government, including extending the regime to all financial services firms, removing the obligation on a firm to notify the PRA or FCA when it knows or suspects that a senior manager or certified person has failed to comply with the conduct rules and replacing the presumption of responsibility with a duty of responsibility. It remains to be seen whether Parliament will approve the equivalent changes that have been proposed by the Government to legislation. An amending Order, published in December 2015, stops the above-mentioned notification requirement and the presumption of responsibility from coming into force on March 7, 2016 – the date when the remainder of the new Regime will come into effect. The regulators' rules and forms have been amended to reflect this position. The PRA has also made changes to the definition of 'significant risk taker' which sets the parameters of its Certification Regime. The amendment aims to align the definition of SRT with a 'material risk taker' under the Remuneration rules.
 
View the FCA Policy Statement and final rules.
 
View the PRA Policy Statement and final rules.

The Prudential Regulation Authority and Financial Conduct Authority jointly published a Policy Statement on the implementation of the Senior Manager and Certification Regimes, Senior Insurance Managers Regime and the requirements of the PRA on regulatory references. The Policy Statement, amongst other things, sets out a first set of PRA rules on the provision of regulatory references by firms under the SM&CR and SIMR, i.e., employment references passed between firms when an individual moves roles. These PRA rules are set out in Appendix 1 of the Policy Statement and will apply from March 7, 2016. The rules are largely a continuation of the existing requirements under the Approved Persons Regime and should be read and applied together with the FCA's equivalent requirements. The FCA's Policy Statement was published on February 4, 2016 and sets out the feedback received on the PRA and FCA's joint consultation on regulatory references. A second set of rules are expected to be published at a later date and will cover the areas on which feedback received by the PRA is still under consideration.
 
View the PRA and FCA's Policy Statement.
 
View the FCA's Policy Statement.

The Financial Conduct Authority published a Policy Statement and final rules on the application of the Senior Manager and Certification Regimes to wholesale market activities, such as algorithmic and high-frequency trading. The SM&CR enters into force on March 7, 2016. The rules apply to banks, building societies, and investment firms designated by the Prudential Regulation Authority. The new rules extend the Certification regime to individuals who carry out two new significant harm functions: (i) the new "client dealing" function, which includes advising on investments other than non-investment insurance contracts and any associated dealing and arranging, acting as an investment manager or acting as a bidder's representative (this new function is subject to the FCA's new definition of "client" which aims to capture all clients including traditional retail clients); and (ii) "algorithmic trading". Under transitional rules, the Certification regime requires firms to identify the staff members that fall into the two new functions and train them on the new conduct rules by September 7, 2016. The commencement date for the requirement for firms to certify all staff that carry out significant harm functions remains March 7, 2017. 

Read more.

The Financial Conduct Authority published a statement on the application of the Senior Manager Regime to a firm's legal function. The SMR will come into effect on March 7, 2016. Firms are required, by February 8, 2016, to notify the FCA and the Prudential Regulation Authority of the individuals, currently Approved Persons, that will be transitioning to the new regime as Senior Managers. The FCA has become aware of significant uncertainty amongst firms as to whether an individual responsible for the firm's legal function would need to be approved as a Senior Manager. Where heads of legal are responsible for compliance, there is a clear need to register, but the position is less clear for heads of legal who do not hold this additional function. The FCA intends to consult further on this issue. In the interim, the FCA advises that firms that have sought to make decisions in good faith about whether an individual needs approval in their firm for this responsibility, based on the current rules and guidance, should not need to change their approach.
 
The PRA is encouraging firms to submit their grandfathering notifications in advance of the February 8 deadline on the basis that some firms that have already submitted the forms have had to re-submit their applications.
 
View the FCA statement.
 
View the PRA website.

The Prudential Regulation Authority and the Financial Conduct Authority published proposed changes to their notification rules and forms under the Senior Managers and Certification Regimes. The regulators are proposing the changes in light of the changes to the regime that have been proposed by the UK Government, including extending the Regime to all financial services firms, removing obligation on a firm to notify the PRA or FCA when it knows or suspects that a senior manager or certified person has failed to comply with the conduct rules and replacing the presumption of responsibility with a duty of responsibility. It remains to be seen whether Parliament will approve those changes proposed by the Government. An amending Order, published in December 2015, stops the above-mentioned notification requirement and the presumption of responsibility from coming into force on March 7, 2016 – the date when the remainder of the new Regime will come into effect. The regulators therefore intend to amend their rules and forms to reflect the position that those provisions of the Regime will not enter into force on March 7, 2016. The PRA has also published an updated Supervisory Statement to take into account the changes. The consultations close on February 8, 2016.
 
View the PRA consultation paper.
 
View the FCA consultation paper.
 
View the PRA's updated Supervisory Statement.

An amending Order was published which stops certain provisions of the Senior Manager & Certification Regime from coming into effect on March 7, 2016, the date from which the SM&CR becomes effective for banks, building societies, credit unions and investment firms designated by the Prudential Regulation Authority.  The provisions that will not come into effect on March 7, 2016 are: (i) the obligation on firms to notify the PRA or Financial Conduct Authority when it knows or suspects that a senior manager or certified person has failed to comply with the conduct rules; and (ii) the presumption of responsibility for senior managers. Certain changes to the regime have been proposed by the UK Government, including extending the regime to all financial services firms and replacing the presumption of responsibility with a duty of responsibility. It remains to be seen whether Parliament will approve those changes. In the meantime, the PRA advises firms to prepare for implementation of the regime on the basis that the above two provisions will not come into effect in March 2016.

View the Order.

View the PRA's related statement.

The Prudential Regulation Authority and the Financial Conduct Authority published their Policy Statements and final rules on the application of the UK Senior Managers and Certification regimes and new Conduct Rules to UK branches of EEA and non-EEA banks and PRA-designated investment firms. The PRA also published a related updated Supervisory Statement. Both of the regulators published near-final rules in August this year, pending legislation being adopted by Parliament which would formally extend the SM&CR to UK branches of such firms. That legislation has now come into force, allowing the regulators to publish their final rules. The PRA's final rules are the same as those published in August except for some minor corrections. The FCA's final rules for UK branches of EEA firms remain unchanged. The rules for UK branches of non-EEA firms have been amended following concerns about the wide extraterritorial reach of the FCA's proposed approach. The FCA will only apply the Certification regime and the Conduct Rules to individuals who perform significant harm functions for branches to individuals who are based in the UK. UK clients will no longer automatically be within scope. The FCA intends to keep the territorial scope of its rules under review and may amend the rules in the future if it considers it necessary to meet its objectives (although not before commencement of the regime in March 2016). The FCA has also confirmed that, in line with legislation, EEA firms that accept deposits or deal in investments as principal under a passport and which have a UK branch are caught by the SM&CR even if the firm undertakes deposit-taking a services passport and other (non-deposit-taking) activities through an establishment passport (i.e. if the UK branch does not undertake deposit-taking or proprietary trading).

Read more.

The Financial Conduct Authority published its Policy Statement setting out guidance on how it intends to enforce the new individual accountability rules under the Senior Managers Regime, the Certification Regime and the new Conduct Rules. The FCA's guidance, which will apply from March 7, 2016 when the new rules come into force, amends the Enforcement Guide and the Decision Procedure and Penalties Manual. The Policy Statement includes the FCA's feedback to responses to its proposed guidance, including a confirmation that the FCA does not intend to add any additional guidance on the types of conduct it would consider as falling far below what would reasonably be expected of a senior manager when assessing whether to bring criminal proceedings against an individual alleging that his decision caused a firm to fail or to refer the matter to another prosecuting authority. The FCA considers that the FCA Handbook already contains enough guidance on the standards expected of senior managers. The FCA guidance does not include guidance on the presumption of responsibility for senior managers because the FCA intends to wait for the outcome of the Parliamentary debate on whether to approve the Government's proposal to replace the presumption of responsibility with a duty of responsibility.

View the guidance.

View our client note on the Government's proposals.

The final Review on the failure of HBOS plc was published by the Prudential Regulation Authority and the Financial Conduct Authority. The Review assesses the strategy adopted by HBOS, how HBOS failed (focusing on asset quality, reliance on wholesale funding and capital), the role of management, governance and the culture of HBOS and the Financial Services Authority's (the UK regulator at the time of the failure of HBOS) regulatory approach. The HBOS group was formed by the merger of the former Halifax Building Society and Bank of Scotland. Recommendations include: (i) a bank's Board is responsible for ensuring a firm has a sustainable business model and for embedding the principle of safety and soundness in a firm's culture. The Review notes that directors will have specific accountabilities for this under the Senior Managers Regime from March 7, 2016; (ii) the non-executive directors of a bank must have diverse  experience and the capacity to challenge key business issues; (iii) senior managers should proactively seek to identify threats to the safety and soundness of their firm and notify the regulators when issues arise; (iv) regulators must be willing and able to intervene where necessary, free from undue influence; (v) the UK regulators should understand the scope of oversight provided by a local regulator for globally active banks to understand the extent of the reliance that they can place on local regulatory authorities; and (vi) UK regulators should be aware of potential conflicts of interest arising from the composition of their boards.  

View the Review and related documents.

The final Report into the Financial Services Authority's enforcement actions following the failure of HBOS plc, prepared by Andrew Green Q.C., was published by the Prudential Regulation Authority and the Financial Conduct Authority. The Report assesses the reasonableness of the scope of the FSA's enforcement investigations in relation to the failure of HBOS from October 1, 2008 to September 12, 2012 and concludes that the scope was not reasonable, that the FSA's decision-making process was materially flawed and that the FSA should have conducted a wider investigation or series of investigations into the conduct of the HBOS Corporate Division and Mr Cummings, CEO of the Corporate Division at the relevant time. Recommendations include: (i) the regulators should have a system for pre-referral decision-making through which they identify and record the potential individuals that could be the subject of enforcement action related to an event/s, including reasons. One individual at the regulator/s should be made responsible for the pre-referral decision-making process; (ii) there should be an ongoing dialogue between Supervision and Enforcement, including discussions on the appropriateness of the scope of the investigation and any decisions should be recorded; (iii) the Memorandum of Appointment of Investigators issued to individuals by the regulators should include a summary of the potential breaches and an explanation of the matters that give rise to those alleged breaches; and (iv) the minutes of a regulators' Executive Committee meetings should be subject to review and approval. The Report also recommends that the PRA and FCA consider whether to investigate other former senior managers at HBOS with a view to prohibition proceedings.
 
View the report.

HM Treasury announced that certain amendments would be made to the Senior Manager and Certification Regime and that the SM&CR would be extended to all UK authorized firms. Amendments include: (i) removal of the presumption of responsibility for a senior manager when a breach of regulatory provisions occurs in the area that he is responsible for; and (ii) granting the regulators specific powers to take enforcement action against all non-executive directors of firms for their misconduct. The extension of the SM&CR follows from the recommendations of the Fair and Effective Markets Review in June 2015 that the regime should be extended to wholesale participants in the fixed income, currency and commodity markets.  Both the amendments and the extension will be effected through primary legislation in the form of the Bank of England and Financial Services Bill that has been laid before Parliament. However, secondary legislation will also be amended to ensure that the reverse burden of proof and the notification requirements for breach of regulatory rules do not come into effect when the SM&CR comes into effect, which will be on March 7, 2016. It is currently expected that the extension of the SM&CR to all other UK financial institutions will be implemented during 2018. 

View the policy paper.

You may wish to review our related client note.

The Prudential Regulation Authority and Financial Conduct Authority published Policy Statements and final rules on whistleblowing. The rules require firms to implement internal whistleblowing procedures, to inform employees of the internal procedures and the whistleblowing services provided by the PRA and FCA and to ensure that employment contracts and settlement agreements do not deter employees from whistleblowing. The rules will apply to UK banks, building societies and credit unions with assets of £250 million or greater, PRA-designated investment firms, insurance and reinsurance firms within the scope of Solvency II and the Society of Lloyd's and managing agents. UK branches of overseas firms are not in scope but the regulators will consider this further once the effectiveness of these new rules can be properly assessed. The scope of the new rules therefore captures those UK firms that fall within the Senior Manager and Certification Regimes which come into effect on March 7, 2016. Firms will have until September 7, 2016 to implement the new whistleblowing rules. However, firms will have to assign a senior manager who is a non-executive director as the whistleblowers' champion by March 7, 2016 and that individual will be responsible for overseeing the firm's implementation of the new whistleblowing rules.   

View the PRA Policy Statement.
 
View the FCA Policy Statement.

The Financial Conduct Authority and Prudential Regulation Authority published a joint consultation paper on proposed changes to certain forms used by firms and individuals under the incoming Senior Managers Regime and current Approved Persons Regime. The consultation seeks views on proposed changes to two forms for the new SMR and two forms for the current APR regime. The proposed changes would modify the required disclosures required by individuals relating to ongoing investigations and past convictions, according to whether the individual will be a senior manager under the SMR or an approved person under the APR and allow the regulators to assess fitness and propriety appropriately. Other forms for which the regulators have no duty to consult on have also been amended with immediate effect, including Long Form A forms and Notifications for Change in Controller. Comments are due by October 19, 2015. The regulators intend to publish the revised forms before the end of 2015 and guidance notes on completing the forms for the Senior Managers Regime are also expected.

View the consultation paper.

On August 24, 2015, the US Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation released the Summer 2015 issue of Supervisory Insights. The current issue includes papers on strategic planning and corporate governance. The journal also includes an article titled "Bank Investment in Securitizations: The New Regulatory Landscape in Brief" which explains how banks can structure their investment decision process in order to comply with these new rules resulting from the enactment of the Dodd-Frank Act.

View the Supervisory Insight.

On August 24, 2015, the US Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation released the Summer 2015 issue of Supervisory Insights. The current issue includes papers on strategic planning and corporate governance. The journal also includes an article titled "Bank Investment in Securitizations: The New Regulatory Landscape in Brief" which explains how banks can structure their investment decision process in order to comply with these new rules resulting from the enactment of the Dodd-Frank Act.

View the letter.

The Prudential Regulation Authority and Financial Conduct Authority published near-final rules on the Senior Manager and Certification regime for UK branches of EEA and non-EEA banks and PRA-designated investment firms. The new rules for all UK firms and branches of non-UK firms come into effect on March 7, 2016. Firms must notify the regulators by February 8, 2016 as to which individuals will be senior managers under the new regime. The regulators cannot make final rules until related legislation has been passed later this year. However, to give non-UK firms as much time as possible to implement the required changes, the regulators have decided to publish the near-final rules now. Amongst the changes included in the near-final rules are: (i) replacement of the FCA Overseas Branch Senior Management function with a new Executive Director function and a new Other Local Responsibility function; (ii) revised FCA guidance on remote booking; and (iii) clarifications on when an individual located outside of the UK who is involved in the activities of the branch might need to become approved as a senior manager.

View the PRA’s Policy Statement.  

View the FCA’s Feedback Statement.

The Basel Committee on Banking Supervision published final updated Guidelines on Corporate Governance Principles for Banks. The Guidelines replace the guidance published by the Basel Committee in 2010 which had been produced as a result of the lessons learnt since the recent financial crisis. The revised guidance has been issued because the thematic review on risk governance that the Financial Stability Board undertook in 2013 showed that banks still need to improve risk governance frameworks, including enhancing the authority and independence of chief risk officers, and that national regulators need to improve their ability to assess the effectiveness of a bank’s risk governance and engage more frequently with the bank’s board and risk and audit committees.

View the revised Guidelines.

The PRA and Financial Conduct Authority published further Policy Statements, including feedback to proposals and final rules for the Senior Manager and Certification Regime which comes into effect next year. The PRA and FCA have now issued final rules on all aspects of the regime except for: (i) rules on regulatory references (the PRA will consider the recommendations made by the Fair and Effective Markets Review before making final rules before March next year); (ii) rules applicable to UK branches of non-EEA firms; and (iii) rules applicable to UK branches of EEA firms for which final legislation is required before the rules can be made. The FCA is also consulting on the extension of the certification regime to individuals involved in wholesale activity, responses to which are due by September 6, 2015. The regulators also intend to provide final guidelines on enforcement matters and senior management responsibility regarding whistleblowing. The Senior Manager and Certification Regime is due to come into effect from March 7, 2016.
 

View the PRA’s Policy Statement.

View the FCA’s Final Rules and Consultation Paper.

View the PRA simultaneously published a Supervisory Statement.

View Statement of Policy.
 

The Prudential Regulation Authority published a policy statement on ring-fencing rules concerning legal structure, governance and continuity of services and facilities. The policy statement applies to banks that are required to ring-fence their core activities, banking groups with core deposits exceeding £25 billion and financial and other institutions who deal with ring-fenced bodies. The document sets out the new rules and the new "Ring-Fenced Bodies" Part to the PRA Rulebook, all in near-final versions. A second consultation paper on ring-fencing will be published later in 2015. Final versions of all the rules and supervisory statements relating to ring-fencing will be published in the first half of 2016.

View the policy statement.

The Prudential Regulation Authority published a consultation paper which includes a draft Supervisory Statement on the PRA’s expectations for board governance. The purpose of the Supervisory Statement would be to identify those aspects of board governance to which the PRA attaches particular importance and on which the PRA is likely to focus during the course of supervision. The draft Statement confirms the PRA’s view that the accountability of Senior Managers under the new Senior Manager Regime would be additional and complementary to the collective responsibility of the board members. The proposed Supervisory Statement would apply to all PRA-regulated firms—banks, insurance firms, certain large investment firms and credit unions. However, the PRA recognizes that different governance models apply depending on the nature and size of the firm and that the degree of supervisory attention may vary from firm to firm depending on the risk profile of the firm and the potential impact of failure of a firm. The PRA’s judgments on the adequacy of governance arrangements may also be influenced by a firm’s recovery and resolution strategy, including (i) the extent to which the PRA is satisfied that the board of a material subsidiary can demonstrate that it is capable of independent action; (ii) culture; (iii) management incentives and business goals of the firm; and (iv) the extent to which those may differ from the PRA’s statutory objectives. Responses to the consultation are due by September 14, 2015.

View the consultation paper.

The Prudential Regulation Authority published its policy statement and first set of final rules on strengthening individual accountability in banking and insurance. The policy statement implements the new Senior Managers Regime and Certification Regime for UK banks and certain investment firms as well as the Senior Insurance Managers Regime under Solvency II. The new SMR is created to support a change in culture for individuals who are subject to regulatory approval and requires firms to assign a variety of responsibilities to those individuals as well as assess their fitness and propriety regularly. The new Certification Regime will require relevant firms to assess the fitness and propriety of certain individuals of the firm who could cause significant harm to the institution or its customers. The rules include the Prescribed Responsibilities of Senior Managers and the scope of the PRA’s Certification Regime. Separately, the PRA and the Financial Conduct Authority are jointly consulting on proposed plans for extending and tailoring the SMR, Certification Regime and Conduct Rules to UK branches of non-EEA institutions, and this consultation is open until May 25, 2015. The new Senior Managers and Certification Regime will apply from March 7, 2016.

View the policy statement

The Prudential Regulation Authority and Financial Conduct Authority jointly published a consultation paper on strengthening accountability in banking, setting out the PRA and FCA’s proposed plans for extending and tailoring the Senior Manager’s Regime, Certification Regime and Conduct Rules to UK branches of nonEEA institutions. The proposals include: (i) incoming non-EEA branches to have their most senior individual approved by the PRA; (ii) senior managers of incoming branches to be subject to a set of PRA responsibilities which reflect areas subject to UK regulation; and (iii) for the scope of the PRA’s certification regime for incoming non-EEA branches to be identical to that of UK firms. The new Senior Managers and Certification Regime will apply from March 7, 2016. Comments on the consultation may be submitted until May 25, 2015.

View the consultation

The UK Government published its response following the consultation to extend the Senior Managers and Certification Regime to UK branches of non-UK firms. The response announces that the Senior Managers and Certification Regime will apply from March 7, 2016 and be extended to apply to UK branches of banks and insurers established outside of the UK. On March 4, 2015, related secondary legislation was enacted which implements the extension and other provisions of the regime more generally. Relevant firms will need to notify the PRA and the FCA by February 8, 2016 of the approved persons who are to be senior managers under the new regime. The regulators consulted on proposed rules for the Senior Managers and Certification Regime in 2014 as it applied to UK banks and insurers but have waited to implement final rules pending the decision on whether the regime would be extended to UK branches.

View the response document

View the secondary legislation part 1

View the secondary legislation part 2

The Prudential Regulation Authority and Financial Conduct Authority published a joint consultation paper on: (i) the approaches to non-executive directors in banking and certain insurance firms; and (ii) the application of the presumption of responsibility to senior managers in banking firms. The consultation revises the proposed approach of the regulators to NEDs in UK banks, PRA-designated investment firms as well as certain insurance firms, such that only certain specified NEDs are subject to pre-approval and inclusion in the Senior Managers Regime. The specified NEDs would be: (i) chairman; (ii) chair of the risk committee; (iii) chair of the audit committee; (iv) chair of the remuneration committee; (v) chair of the nomination committee; and (vi) senior independent director. This narrows down the scope of the SMR, the new system that aims to better define the lines of responsibility at financial institutions so that senior individuals in banks can be held to account more easily. The paper also consults on a draft PRA supervisory statement, with the aim of clarifying the responsibilities of NEDs that are in scope of the SMR and explaining how the presumption of responsibility will be applied in cases of non-compliance with regulatory requirements. The consultation closes on April 27, 2015.

View the consultation.

The Prudential Regulation Authority and Financial Conduct Authority jointly proposed measures seeking to formalize procedures for whistleblowing in the banking and insurance sectors. The proposals aim to encourage employees to blow the whistle when misconduct is suspected without fear of personal repercussions. The proposed new rules include: (i) ensuring that whistleblowing procedures are in place; (ii) encouraging employers to inform employees that they are able to blow the whistle; and (iii) ensuring that whistleblowers are protected from victimization. The consultation closes on May 22, 2015.

View the consultation.