SUP 10A.6 FCA governing functions

1. (1)

   Every firm will have one or more persons responsible for directing its affairs. These persons will be performing the FCA governing functions and will be required to be FCA-approved persons unless the application provisions in SUP 10A.1, or the particular description of an FCA controlled function, provide otherwise. For example, each director of a company incorporated under the Companies Acts will perform an FCA governing function. However, if the firm is a PRA-authorised person, the governing functions apply in the manner set out in (2) and (3). Note that for the purposes of SUP 10A (and SYSC, APER, COCON and DEPP) a large non-directive insurer is treated as and included in the definition of a Solvency II firm3.

   2
2. (2)

   3For a Solvency II firm, the FCA governing functions CF1, CF2a, CF2b, CF5 and (for large non-directive insurers only) CF6 may apply and for a small non-directive insurer, the FCA governing functions CF1, CF3, CF5 or CF6 may apply. These functions will apply3 if the person carrying out the function is not approved to carry out a PRA controlled function or the other conditions in SUP 10A.11.12R (minimising overlap with the PRA approved persons regime) are not satisfied.2

3. (3)

   For a Solvency II firm and a small non-directive insurer3, if the person is approved to carry out a PRA controlled function and the conditions in SUP 10A.11.12R are satisfied, the relevant FCA function is instead absorbed into the PRA controlled function that the person is approved for (by virtue of its inclusion in PRA Rulebook: Solvency II firms: Insurance – Senior Insurance Management Functions3, 2.5; Non-Solvency II firms: Non-Solvency II firms – Senior Insurance Management Functions, 2.6 and Non-Solvency II firms: Large Non-Solvency II firms – Senior Insurance Management Functions, 2.5)3.

   2

A sole trader does not fall within the description of the governing functions.

1. (1)

   2As explained in more detail in the rest of this section, a number of FCA governing functions do not apply to a PRA-authorised person.

2. (2)

   However, (1) does not apply to an FCA governing function under SUP 10A.1.15R to SUP 10A.1.16BR (Appointed representatives). The FCA governing functions continue to apply for appointed representatives of a PRA-authorised person.

3. (3)

   For example, the chief executive function does not apply to a PRA-authorised person. A PRA controlled function applies instead.

4. (4)

   However, the chief executive function may apply to someone who is the chief executive of an appointed representative of a PRA-authorised person.

5. (5)

   See SUP 10A.1.15R to SUP 10A.1.16BR and SUP 10A.4.2R for the main rules that deal with what controlled functions apply to appointed representatives.

1. (1)

   The effect of SUP 10A.6.3 R is that a person who is approved to perform an FCA governing function will not have to be specifically FCA-approved to perform the systems and controls function or the significant management function or the part of the customer function specified in SUP 10A.10.7R (7). However, a person who is approved to perform an FCA governing function will have to be additionally FCA-approved before he can perform any of the FCA required functions or the customer function (except the part specified in SUP 10A.10.7R (7)).

2. (2)

   SUP 10A.6.3 R does not apply to the non-executive director function. It does not apply to the director function if the only part of that function that the FCA-approved person is performing is the function described in SUP 10A.6.8 R.

See MIPRU 2.2 for how the FCA's approved persons regime is adjusted for a firm carrying on insurance distribution activity4.2

Examples of where SUP 10A.6.8 R might apply include (but are not limited to):

1. (1)

   a chairman of an audit committee of a parent undertaking or holding company of a UK firm where that audit committee is working for that UK firm (that is, functioning as the audit committee for the group); or

2. (2)

   a director (other than a non-executive director) of a parent undertaking or holding company of a UK firm exercising significant influence by way of his involvement in taking decisions for that UK firm; or

3. (3)

   an individual (such as a senior manager) of a parent undertaking or holding company of a UK firm who is responsible for and/or has significant influence in setting the objectives for and the remuneration of executive directors of that UK firm; or

4. (4)

   an individual who is a director (other than a non-executive director) or a senior manager of a parent undertaking or holding company of a UK firm who is accustomed to influencing the operations of that UK firm, and acts in a manner in which it can reasonably be expected that an executive director or senior manager of that UK firm would act; or

5. (5)

   an individual of an overseas firm which maintains an establishment in the United Kingdom from which regulated activities are carried on, where that individual has responsibilities for those regulated activities which are likely to enable him to exercise significant influence over the UK branch.

A director can be a body corporate and may accordingly require approval as an FCA-approved person in the same way as a natural person may require approval.

1. (1)

   The director function applies in relation to a PRA-authorised person, as set out below3.

   2
2. (2)

   3For a Solvency II firm or a small non-directive insurer3, the FCA director function may apply if the person carrying out the function is not approved to carry out a PRA controlled function or the other conditions in SUP 10A.11.12R (minimising overlap with the PRA approved persons regime) are not satisfied.2

Examples of where SUP 10A.6.13 R might apply include (but are not limited to):

1. (1)

   an individual who is a non-executive director of a parent undertaking or holding company who takes an active role in the running of the business of a UK firm, for example, as a member of a board or committee (on audit or remuneration) of that firm; or

2. (2)

   an individual who is a non-executive director of a parent undertaking or holding company having significant influence in setting and monitoring the business strategy of the UK firm; or

3. (3)

   an individual who is a non-executive director of a parent undertaking or holding company of a UK firm involved in carrying out responsibilities such as scrutinising the approach of executive management, performance, or standards of conduct of the UK firm; or

4. (4)

   an individual who is a non-executive director of a parent undertaking or holding company of a UK firm who is accustomed to influence the operations of the UK firm, and acts in a way in which it can reasonably be expected that a non-executive director of the UK firm would act; or

5. (5)

   an individual who is a non-executive director of an overseas firm which maintains a branch in the United Kingdom from which regulated activities are carried on where that individual has responsibilities for those regulated activities which are likely to enable him to exercise significant influence over the UK branch.

The non-executive director function does not apply in relation to a PRA-authorised person. PRA approval is required instead.

1. (1)

   2For a Solvency II firm, the chair of the nomination committee function and the chair of the with-profits committee function may not apply if the person carrying out the function is approved to carry out a PRA controlled function and the conditions in SUP 10A.11.12R (minimising overlap with the PRA approved persons regime) are satisfied.

2. (2)

   In that case, the relevant FCA function is instead absorbed into the PRA controlled function that the person is approved for (by virtue of its inclusion in PRA Rulebook: Solvency II firms: Senior Insurance Managers Regime, 2.5). 2

1. (1)

   This paragraph explains the basis on which the director function and the non-executive director function are applied to persons who have a position with the firm's parent undertaking or holding company under SUP 10A.6.8 R or SUP 10A.6.13 R.

2. (2)

   The basic position is set out in SUP 10A.3.4 G. As is the case with all controlled functions, SUP 10A.6.8 R and SUP 10A.6.13 R are subject to the overriding provisions in SUP 10A.3.1 R, which sets out the requirements of section 59(1) and (2) of the Act. This means that unless the firm has an arrangement permitting the performance of these roles by the persons concerned, these persons will not be performing these controlled functions. Therefore, the FCA accepts that there will be cases in which a person performing these roles will not require approval. However where there is such an arrangement the function may apply.

This function is having the responsibility, alone or jointly with one or more others, under the immediate authority of the governing body:

1. (1)

   for the conduct of the whole of the business (or relevant activities); or

2. (2)

   in the case of a branch in the United Kingdom of an overseas firm, for the conduct of all of the activities subject to the UK regulatory system.

For a branch in the United Kingdom of an overseas firm, the FCA would not normally expect the overseas chief executive of the firm as a whole to be FCA-approved for this function where there is a senior manager under him with specific responsibility for those activities of the branch which are subject to the UK regulatory system. In some circumstances, the person within the firm responsible for UK operations may, if the function is likely to enable him to exercise significant influence over the branch, also perform the chief executive function (see SUP 10A.7.4 G).

A person performing the chief executive function may be a member of the governing body but need not be. If the chairman of the governing body is also the chief executive, he will be discharging this function. If the responsibility is divided between more than one person but not shared, there is no person exercising the chief executive function. But if that responsibility is discharged jointly by more than one person, each of those persons will be performing the chief executive function.

Note that a body corporate may be a chief executive. If so, it will need to be approved (if the firm in question is an FCA-authorised person) to perform the chief executive function.

The chief executive function does not apply in relation to a PRA-authorised person. PRA approval is required instead.

Any apportionment referred to in SUP 10A.6.23R (3)(b) will have taken place under SYSC 2.1.1 R or SYSC 4.3.1 R and SYSC 4.4.3 R. The FCA may ask to see details of the apportionment but will not require, as a matter of course, a copy of the material which records this (see SYSC 2.2).

The effect of SUP 10A.1.17 R is that regulated activity in SUP 10A.6.23 R (and elsewhere) is to be taken as not including an activity that is a non-mainstream regulated activity. Therefore, a partner whose only regulated activities are incidental to his professional services, in a partnership whose principal purpose is to carry on other than regulated activities, need not be an FCA-approved person. What amounts to the principal purpose of the firm is a matter of fact in each case having regard to all the circumstances, including the activities of the firm as a whole. Any regulated activities which such a partner carries on are not within the description of the partner function.

The partner function does not apply in relation to a PRA-authorised person. PRA approval is required instead.

The director of unincorporated association function applies in relation to a PRA-authorised person as set out in SUP 10A.6.1G above3.

Typically a non-directive friendly Society will appoint a “committee of management” to direct its affairs. However, the governing arrangements may be informal and flexible. If this is the case, the FCA would expect the society to resolve to give responsibility for the carrying on of regulated activities to one individual who is appropriate in all the circumstances. That individual may, for example, have the title of chief executive or similar. The individual would have to be an FCA-approved person under SUP 10A.6.31 R.

In practice, the FCA expects that most non-directive friendly societies will be PRA-authorised persons. Where that is the case, the small friendly society function apply as set out in SUP 10A.6.1G above3.