SUP 15.7 Form and method of notification

Form of notification: oral or written

SUP 15.7.1RRP

A notification required from a firm under any notification rule must be given in writing, and in English, and must be submitted on the form specified for that notification rule, or if no form is specified, on the form inSUP 15 Ann 4 R3 (Notification form), and must give the firm's Firm Reference Number unless:2

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  1. (1)

    the notification rule states otherwise; or

  2. (2)

    the notification is provided solely in compliance with Principle 11 (see SUP 15.3.7 G).

SUP 15.7.2GRP

A firm should have regard to the urgency and significance of a matter and, if appropriate, should also notify its usual supervisory contact at the FCA4 by telephone or by other prompt means of communication, before submitting a written notification. Oral notifications should be given directly to the firm's usual supervisory contact at the FCA.4 An oral notification left with another person or left on a voicemail or other automatic messaging service is unlikely to have been given appropriately.2

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SUP 15.7.3GRP

The FCA4 is entitled to rely on any information it receives from a firm and to consider any notification received as being made by a person authorised by the firm to do so. A firm should therefore consider whether it needs to put procedures in place to ensure that only appropriate employees make notifications to the FCA4 on its behalf.

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Method of notification

SUP 15.7.4RRP

Unless stated in the notification rule, or on the relevant form (if specified), a written notification required from a firm under any notification rule must be:2

  1. (1)

    given to or addressed for the attention of the firm's usual supervisory contact at the FCA4 and

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  2. (2)

    delivered to the FCA4 by one of the methods in SUP 15.7.5AR6.

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SUP 15.7.5R

[deleted]7

SUP 15.7.5ARRP

7Methods of notification

Method of delivery

1.

Post to the appropriate address in SUP 15.7.6A G

2.

Leaving the notification at the appropriate address in SUP 15.7.6A G and obtaining a time-stamped receipt

3.

Electronic mail to an address for the firm's usual supervisory contact at the FCA and obtaining an electronic confirmation of receipt

4.

Hand delivery to the firm's usual supervisory contact at the FCA

5.

Fax to a fax number for the firm's usual supervisory contact at the FCA and receiving a successful transmission report for all pages of the notification

6.

Online submission via the FCA's website at www.fca.org.uk.

SUP 15.7.6G

[deleted]71

SUP 15.7.6AGRP

7The current published address of the FCA for postal submission or hand delivery of notifications is:

  1. (1)

    The Financial Conduct Authority

    12 Endeavour Square5

    London, E20 1JN5

    if the firm's usual supervisory contact at the FCA is based in London, or

  2. (2)

    The Financial Conduct Authority

    Quayside House 127

    Fountainbridge

    Edinburgh EH3 8DJ

    if the firm's usual supervisory contact at the FCA is based in Edinburgh.7

SUP 15.7.7GRP

If the firm or its group is subject to lead supervision arrangements by the FCA4 the firm or group may give or address a notice under SUP 15.7.4 R(1) to the supervisory contact at the FCA4 designated as lead supervisor, if the firm has chosen to make use of the lead supervisor as a central point of contact (see SUP 1.5).

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SUP 15.7.8GRP

If a firm is a member of a group which includes more than one firm, any one undertaking in the group may notify the FCA4 on behalf of all firms in the group to which the notification applies. In this way, that undertaking may satisfy the obligation of all relevant firms in the group to notify the FCA.4 Nevertheless, the obligation to make the notification remains the responsibility of the individual firm itself. See also SUP 15.7.3 G.

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SUP 15.7.9GRP

Firms wishing to communicate with the FCA4 by electronic mail or fax should obtain the appropriate address or number from the FCA4 appropriate regulator.7

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Timely notification

SUP 15.7.10RRP

If a notification rule requires notification within a specified period:

  1. (1)

    the firm must give the notification so as to be received by the FCA4 no later than the end of that period; and

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  2. (2)

    if the end of that period falls on a day which is not a business day, the notification must be given so as to be received by the FCA4 no later than the first business day after the end of that period.

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SUP 15.7.11GRP

If a notification rule does not require notification within a specified period, the firm should act reasonably in deciding when to notify.

Underwriting agents: notification to the Society of Lloyd's

SUP 15.7.12R
  1. (1)

    [deleted]7

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  2. (2)

    [deleted]7

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SUP 15.7.13G

[deleted]7

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SUP 15.7.14GRP

The FCA4 has made arrangements with the Society of Lloyd's with respect to the monitoring of underwriting agents. Underwriting agents should check whether these arrangements provide for any notifications required under this chapter to be sent to the Society instead of to the FCA.4 [For further details see the FCA's4 website.]

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Consequences of breach of form and method rules

SUP 15.7.15GRP

If a firm fails to comply with the rules in this section then the notification is invalid and there may be a breach of the rule that required the notification to be given.

Service of Notices Regulations

SUP 15.7.16GRP

The Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Service of Notices) Regulations 2001 (SI 2001/1420) contain provisions relating to the service of documents on the FCA4. They do not apply to notifications required under notification rules because of the specific rules in this section.

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