DEC 2

Statutory notice procedure: Warning notice and decision notice procedure

DEC 2.1

Warning notice and decision notice procedure: Introduction

DEC 2.1.1

See Notes

handbook-guidance
The Act and certain other enactments requires the FSA, when proposing to exercise its powers in certain circumstances, to use the warning notice and decision notice procedure.

DEC 2.1.2

See Notes

handbook-guidance
The circumstances to which the warning notice and decision notice procedure in DEC apply are set out in DEC 2 Annex 1 G. Three flowcharts are provided in DEC 2 Annex 2 G to DEC 2 Annex 4 G. These illustrate:
(1) the procedure for giving warning notices and decision notices in the case of applications for Part IV permission, applications for approval under section 59 of the Act (Approval for particular arrangements), applications for variation of permission, and for certain other applications (see DEC 2 Annex 2 G);
(2) the procedure for giving warning notices and decision notices in non-application cases (see DEC 2 Annex 3 G); and
(3) the procedure for giving warning notices and decision notices in the case of notifications of a change in control (see DEC 2 Annex 4 G).

DEC 2.1.3

See Notes

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DEC 1.2.3 G includes a summary of the purpose of warning notices and decision notices.

DEC 2.2

Warning notice procedure

DEC 2.2.1

See Notes

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Under the circumstances listed in DEC 2 Annex 1 G, if FSA staff consider that action is appropriate, they will recommend to the relevant decision maker that a warning notice be given. A specimen warning notice for enforcement cases is at DEC 2 Annex 5 G.

DEC 2.2.2

See Notes

handbook-guidance
After considering the staff recommendation, the decision maker may:
(1) decide not to take further action (with or without a private warning (see ENF 11.3(Private warnings)); or
(2) decide to give a warning notice to the person concerned.

DEC 2.2.3

See Notes

handbook-guidance
In the case of a proposed refusal of an application for approval under section 59 of the Act, the FSA must send a warning notice to all interested parties. Under section 62(5) of the Act (Applications for approval: procedure and right to refer to Tribunal), the interested parties in relation to an application for approval, are:
(1) the applicant;
(2) the person in respect of whom the application is made ('A');
(3) the person by whom A's services are to be retained, if not the applicant.

DEC 2.2.4

See Notes

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Under regulation 22 of the OEIC Regulations, in the case of a warning notice concerning a proposed change in respect of an ICVC, the notice must be given to the depositary as well as the ICVC. The only exception is if the proposal is to replace the depositary or any director.

DEC 2.2.5

See Notes

handbook-guidance
If the FSA decides to give a warning notice to a person, in accordance with section 387 of the Act (Warning notices), the warning notice must:
(1) state the action which the FSA proposes to take;
(2) be in writing;
(3) give the FSA's reasons for the proposed action;
(4) state whether section 394 of the Act (Access to FSA material) applies (see DEC 2.4); and
(5) if that section applies, describe its effect and state whether any secondary material exists to which the person concerned must be allowed access under it.

DEC 2.2.6

See Notes

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If the FSA decides to take no further action and the FSA had previously informed the person concerned that it intended to recommend action, the FSA will communicate this decision promptly to the person concerned.

DEC 2.2.7

See Notes

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The warning notice will contain a statement that the person concerned is entitled to make representations to the FSA. The notice must specify a reasonable period, of at least 28 days from receiving (see DEC 5.3) the warning notice, within which the person to whom it is given may make representations.

DEC 2.2.8

See Notes

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The procedures for making representations are set out in DEC 4.4.

DEC 2.2.9

See Notes

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The warning notice will contain (where appropriate) a statement that the mediation scheme is available. The applicability of the FSA's mediation scheme is described in DEC App 1.

DEC 2.3

Decision notice procedure

DEC 2.3.1

See Notes

handbook-guidance
The decision maker will consider any representations made in accordance with DEC 4.4 in relation to a warning notice which has already been given. A decision will be stated in a decision notice or (where appropriate) a notice of discontinuance or other written notice. The decision notice sets out the terms of the decision. A specimen decision notice for enforcement cases is at DEC 2 Annex 6 G.

DEC 2.3.2

See Notes

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In accordance with section 388 of the Act (Decision notices), the decision notice must:
(1) be in writing;
(2) give the FSA's reasons for its decision to take the action to which the decision notice relates;
(3) state whether section 394 of the Act (Access to FSA material) applies (see DEC 2.4);
(4) if that section applies, describe its effect and state whether any secondary material exists to which the person concerned must be allowed access under it; and
(5) give an indication of:
(a) any right given by the Act to have the matter referred to the Tribunal; and
(b) the procedure on referring a case to the Tribunal.

DEC 2.3.3

See Notes

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In the case of a proposed refusal of an application for approval under section 59 of the Act, the FSA must give a decision notice to all interested parties (see DEC 2.2.3 G).

DEC 2.3.4

See Notes

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In the case of a decision notice concerning a notification of a proposed change in respect of an ICVC, the FSA must give a decision notice to the depositary as well as to the ICVC, if the depositary received the warning notice (see DEC 2.2.4 G).

DEC 2.3.5

See Notes

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The decision maker may decide to take action different from that proposed in the warning notice. However, under section 388(2) of the Act, that action must be made under the same Part of the Act as the action proposed in the warning notice.

Further decision notice

DEC 2.3.6

See Notes

handbook-guidance
Under section 388(3) of the Act, following the giving of a decision notice but before the FSA takes action to which the decision notice relates, the FSA may give the person concerned a further decision notice relating to different action concerning the same matter. Under section 388(4) of the Act, the FSA can only do this if the person receiving the further decision notice gives his consent. In these circumstances the following procedure will apply:
(1) FSA staff will recommend to the decision maker that a further decision notice be given, either before or after obtaining the person's consent;
(2) the decision maker will consider whether the action proposed in the further decision notice is appropriate in the circumstances;
(3) if the decision maker decides that the action proposed is inappropriate, he will decide not to give the further decision notice. In this case, the original decision notice will stand and the person's rights in relation to that notice will be unaffected. If the person's consent has already been obtained, the FSA will notify him of the decision not to give the further decision notice;
(4) if the decision maker decides that the action proposed is appropriate then, subject to the person's consent being (or having been) obtained, a further decision notice will be given;
(5) a person who had the right to refer the matter to the Tribunal under the original decision notice will have that right under the further decision notice. The time period in which the reference to the Tribunal may be made will begin from the date on which the further decision notice is given.

DEC 2.3.7

See Notes

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For the purpose of establishing whether the person receiving the further decision notice gives his consent, the FSA will normally require consent in writing. If the person concerned is an individual, the FSA will normally require a letter or signed memorandum from him recording his consent. If the person concerned is a body corporate or partnership, the FSA will normally require a letter or signed memorandum on behalf of the body corporate or partnership stating its consent.

Notice of discontinuance

DEC 2.3.8

See Notes

handbook-guidance
If the FSA decides not to take action proposed in a warning notice or the action to which a decision notice relates, section 389 of the Act (Notices of discontinuance) requires the FSA to give a notice of discontinuance to the person to whom the warning notice or decision notice was given. (Section 389 of the Act does not apply if the discontinuance of the proceedings results in the granting of an application made by the person to whom the warning notice (or decision notice) was given.)

DEC 2.3.9

See Notes

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A notice of discontinuance:
(1) must identify what proceedings are being discontinued (section 389(3)); and
(2) must state that the FSA may publish information about the matter if the person to whom the notice of discontinuance is given consents (section 391(2)).

DEC 2.3.10

See Notes

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Where the FSA is required to give a person a copy of a notice of discontinuance (see DEC 2.4.10 G), the copy must be accompanied by a statement that the FSA may publish information about the matter, so far as relevant to the person to whom the copy is given, if that person consents.

Final notice

DEC 2.3.11

See Notes

handbook-guidance
Under section 390 of the Act (Final notices), the FSA must give a final notice to the person to whom it has given a decision notice:
(1) if the matter was not referred to the Tribunal within the period of 28 days of the date when the decision notice was given, or within any other period that may be prescribed in the Tribunal rules, in which case the FSA will give a final notice at the same time as it takes the action to which the decision notice relates;
(2) if the matter was referred to the Tribunal within the period of 28 days of the date when the decision notice was given, or within any other period that may be prescribed in the Tribunal rules, in which case the FSA will give a final notice at the same time as it takes action in accordance with any directions given by the Tribunal or the Court under section 137 of the Act (Appeal on a point of law).

DEC 2.3.12

See Notes

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A final notice sets out the terms of the statement, order, penalty or other action, and will give details of the date when the action takes effect.

DEC 2.4

Third party rights and access to FSA material

DEC 2.4.1

See Notes

handbook-guidance
Sections 393 (Third party rights) and 394 (Access to FSA material) of the Act confer additional procedural rights relating to third parties and to disclosure of FSA material. These rights apply in certain warning notice and decision notice cases referred to in section 392 of the Act (Application of sections 393 and 394). The cases in which these additional rights apply are identified in DEC 2 Annex 1 G by asterisks; these are generally cases in which the warning notice or decision notice is given on the FSA's own initiative rather than in response to an application or notification made to the FSA.

Access to FSA material

DEC 2.4.2

See Notes

handbook-guidance
If section 394 of the Act (Access to FSA material) applies and the FSA gives a person a warning notice or decision notice, it must under section 394(1) allow that person ('A') access to:
(1) the material on which the FSA relied in taking the decision which gave rise to the obligation to give the warning notice (or the decision notice); and
(2) any secondary material, which, in the opinion of the FSA, might undermine that decision.

DEC 2.4.3

See Notes

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However, the duty under section 394(1) is qualified in the following ways:
(1) under section 394(2), the FSA does not have to allow A access to material that is excluded material;
(2) under section 394(2)(a) and (b), the FSA does not have to allow A access to material if this:
(a) relates to a case involving a person other than A; and
(b) was taken into account in A's case only for the purpose of comparison with other cases;
(3) under section 394(3), the FSA may refuse A access to particular material to which it would otherwise have to allow him access if, in the FSA's opinion, allowing him access to the material would not be in the public interest or would not be fair, having regard to:
(a) the likely significance of the material to the person concerned in relation to the matter about which he has been given a notice; and
(b) the potential prejudice to the commercial interests of a person (other than A) which would be caused by the material's disclosure.

DEC 2.4.4

See Notes

handbook-guidance
If under section 394(2) the FSA does not allow A access to material because it is excluded material consisting of a protected item, it must give A written notice of the existence of the protected item and of the FSA's decision not to allow him access to it (section 394(4)).

DEC 2.4.5

See Notes

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If under section 394(3) the FSA refuses to allow A access to particular material, it must give him written notice of the refusal and the reasons for it (section 394(5)).

DEC 2.4.6

See Notes

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If the FSA receives a request for access to material, the FSA may within a reasonable period after the request was made:
(1) provide facilities for the inspection and photocopying of the material that it considers it is required to disclose; or
(2) provide a photocopy of the material.
The FSA will provide the first photocopy of the material free of charge, but will charge for subsequent copies it provides to the same person.

Third party rights

DEC 2.4.7

See Notes

handbook-guidance
If section 393 (Third party rights) applies and any of the reasons given in the warning notice relate to a matter which:
(1) identifies a person ("the third party") other than the person to whom the warning notice is given; and
(2) in the FSA's opinion is prejudicial to the third party;
then the FSA must give the third party, in accordance with section 393 of the Act, a copy of the warning notice.

DEC 2.4.8

See Notes

handbook-guidance
A copy of the warning notice will not be given if the FSA considers that this would be impracticable, or the FSA has already given the third party a separate warning notice about the same matter. Similarly, a copy of the warning notice will not be given if the FSA gives the third party such a notice at the same time as it gives the warning notice which identifies him.

DEC 2.4.9

See Notes

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DEC 2.4.7 G and DEC 2.4.8 G apply similarly in relation to a decision notice.

DEC 2.4.10

See Notes

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The FSA must give a copy of the notice of discontinuance, decision notice or final notice (as appropriate) to a third party who has been given a copy of the warning notice or decision notice (section 393(14), 393(5) and 390(1) of the Act).

DEC 2.4.11

See Notes

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If the FSA gives a copy of a warning notice or decision notice to a third party, the copy must be accompanied by an indication of the third party's right under section 393(9) to refer the case to the Tribunal and the procedure on such a referral.

DEC 2.4.12

See Notes

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If the FSA gives a copy of a warning notice or decision notice to a third party, the provisions about access to FSA material also apply to the third party (DEC 2.4.2 G to DEC 2.4.6 G). Under section 393(12), the material that the FSA must disclose under section 394 is material that relates to the matter that identifies the third party.

DEC 2 Annex 1

Statutory notice procedure: Warning notice and decision notice procedure

See Notes

handbook-guidance

List of warning notices and decision notices under the Act (other than Part VI)and certain other enactments

DEC 2 Annex 2

Statutory notice procedure: Warning notice and decision notice procedure

See Notes

handbook-guidance
The FSA's decision making procedure for applications concerning Part IV permission, applications for approval under section 59 of the Act, and for certain other applications involving warning and decision notices

DEC 2 Annex 3

Statutory notice procedure: Warning notice and decision notice procedure

See Notes

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The FSA's decision making procedure in non-application cases involving warning and decision notices

DEC 2 Annex 4

Statutory notice procedure: Warning notice and decision notice procedure

See Notes

handbook-guidance
The FSA's decision making procedure on notification of a change in control involving warning and decision notices

DEC 2 Annex 5

Specimen Warning Notice

See Notes

handbook-guidance
This annex consists only of one or more forms or templates. Forms and templates are to be found through the 'Forms' link under Useful Links section at www.fsahandbook.info or on the Handbook CD-ROM.

DEC 2 Annex 6

Specimen Decision Notice

See Notes

handbook-guidance
This annex consists only of one or more forms or templates. Forms and templates are to be found through the 'Forms' link under Useful Links section at www.fsahandbook.info or on the Handbook CD-ROM.