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Financial Services and Markets Bill - continued        House of Commons
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  PART XXVI
  MISCELLANEOUS
 
Third countries: Community measures
Directions.     357. - (1) For the purpose of implementing a third country decision, the Treasury may direct the Authority to-
 
 
    (a) refuse an application for permission under Part IV made by a body incorporated in, or formed under the law of, any part of the United Kingdom;
 
    (b) defer its decision on such an application either indefinitely or for such period as may be specified in the direction;
 
    (c) give a notice of objection to a person who has served a notice of control to the effect that he proposes to acquire a 50% stake in a UK authorised person; or
 
    (d) give a notice of objection to a person who has acquired a 50% stake in a UK authorised person without having served the required notice of control.
      (2) A direction may also be given in relation to-
 
 
    (a) any person falling within a class specified in the direction;
 
    (b) future applications, notices of control or acquisitions.
      (3) The Treasury may revoke a direction at any time.
 
      (4) But revocation does not affect anything done in accordance with the direction before it was revoked.
 
      (5) "Third country decision" means a decision of the Council or the Commission under-
 
 
    (a) Article 7(5) of the investment services directive;
 
    (b) Article 9(4) of the second banking coordination directive;
 
    (c) Article 29b(4) of the first non-life insurance directive; or
 
    (d) Article 32b(4) of the first life insurance directive.
Interpretation of section 357.     358. - (1) For the purposes of section 357, a person ("the acquirer") acquires a 50% stake in a UK authorised person ("A") on first falling within any of the cases set out in subsection (2).
 
      (2) The cases are where the acquirer-
 
 
    (a) holds 50% or more of the shares in A;
 
    (b) holds 50% or more of the shares in a parent undertaking ("P") of A;
 
    (c) is entitled to exercise, or control the exercise of, 50% or more of the voting power in A; or
 
    (d) is entitled to exercise, or control the exercise of, 50% or more of the voting power in P.
      (3) In subsection (2) "the acquirer" means-
 
 
    (a) the acquirer;
 
    (b) any of the acquirer's associates; or
 
    (c) the acquirer and any of his associates.
      (4) "Associate", "shares" and "voting power" have the same meaning as in section 367.
 
Consequences of a direction under section 357.     359. - (1) If the Authority refuses an application for permission as a result of a direction under section 357(1)(a)-
 
 
    (a) section 49 does not apply in relation to the refusal; but
 
    (b) the Authority must notify the applicant of the refusal and the reasons for it.
      (2) If the Authority defers its decision on an application for permission as a result of a direction under section 357(1)(b)-
 
 
    (a) the time limit for determining the application mentioned in section 47(1) or (2) stops running on the day of the deferral and starts running again (if at all) on the day the period specified in the direction (if any) ends or the day the direction is revoked; and
 
    (b) the Authority must notify the applicant of the deferral and the reasons for it.
      (3) If the Authority gives a notice of objection to a person as a result of a direction under section 357(1)(c) or (d)-
 
 
    (a) sections 161 and 163 have effect as if the notice was a notice of objection within the meaning of Part XI; and
 
    (b) the Authority must state in the notice the reasons for it.
EFTA firms.     360. - (1) If a third country decision has been taken, the Treasury may make a determination in relation to an EFTA firm which is a subsidiary undertaking of a parent undertaking which is governed by the law of the country to which the decision relates.
 
      (2) "Determination" means a determination that the firm concerned does not qualify for authorisation under Schedule 3 even if it satisfies the conditions in paragraph 13 or 14 of that Schedule.
 
      (3) A determination may also be made in relation to any firm falling within a class specified in the determination.
 
      (4) The Treasury may withdraw a determination at any time.
 
      (5) But withdrawal does not affect anything done in accordance with the determination before it was withdrawn.
 
      (6) If the Treasury make a determination in respect of a particular firm, or withdraw such a determination, they must give written notice to that firm.
 
      (7) The Treasury must publish notice of any determination (or the withdrawal of any determination)-
 
 
    (a) in such a way as they think most suitable for bringing the determination (or withdrawal) to the attention of those likely to be affected by it; and
 
    (b) on, or as soon as practicable after, the date of the determination (or withdrawal).
      (8) "EFTA firm" means a firm, institution or undertaking which-
 
 
    (a) is an EEA firm as a result of paragraph 5(a), (b) or (d) of Schedule 3; and
 
    (b) is incorporated in, or formed under the law of, an EEA State which is not a member State.
      (9) "Third country decision" has the same meaning as in section 357.
 
 
International obligations
International obligations.     361. - (1) If it appears to the Treasury that any action proposed to be taken by a relevant person would be incompatible with Community obligations or any other international obligations of the United Kingdom, they may direct that person not to take that action.
 
      (2) If it appears to the Treasury that any action which a relevant person has power to take is required for the purpose of implementing any such obligations, they may direct that person to take that action.
 
      (3) A direction under this section-
 
 
    (a) may include such supplemental or incidental requirements as the Treasury consider necessary or expedient; and
 
    (b) is enforceable, on an application made by the Treasury, by injunction or, in Scotland, by an order for specific performance under section 45 of the Court of Session Act 1988.
      (4) "Relevant person" means-
 
 
    (a) the Authority;
 
    (b) any person exercising functions conferred by Part VI on the competent authority;
 
    (c) any recognised investment exchange (other than one which is an overseas investment exchange);
 
    (d) any recognised clearing house (other than one which is an overseas clearing house);
 
    (e) a person included in the list maintained under section 276; or
 
    (f) the scheme operator of the ombudsman scheme.
 
Gaming contracts
Gaming contracts.     362. - (1) No contract to which this section applies is void or unenforceable because of-
 
 
    (a) section 18 of the Gaming Act 1845, section 1 of the Gaming Act 1892 or Article 170 of the Betting, Gaming, Lotteries and Amusements (Northern Ireland) Order 1985; or
 
    (b) any rule of the law of Scotland under which a contract by way of gaming or wagering is not legally enforceable.
      (2) This section applies to any contract-
 
 
    (a) entered into by either or each party by way of business; and
 
    (b) the making or performance of which by either party constitutes a regulated activity falling within paragraph 2 of Schedule 2.
 
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Prepared 14 December 1999