Friendly Societies Act 1992

Section 85.

SCHEDULE 15U.K. Amalgamations, Transfers of Engagements and Conversion: Supplementary

Part IU.K. Provision of Information to Members

Statements relating to amalgamations and transfersU.K.

1(1)A friendly society which desires—U.K.

(a)to amalgamate under section 85 above; or

(b)to transfer its engagements to any person, or to undertake to fulfil the engagements of another friendly society, under section 86 above;

shall, subject to sub-paragraph (2) below, send a statement concerning the matters specified in paragraph 2 below to every member entitled (when the statements are sent) to vote on any resolution required by section 85, 86 or 90.

(2)Sub-paragraph (1) above does not apply, in the case of a friendly society desirous of undertaking to fulfil another society’s engagements, where the [F1appropriate authority] has consented under section 86(3)(b) or 90(2)(b) above to its proceeding by resolution of the committee of management.

(3)The statement referred to in sub-paragraph (1) above shall be sent so as to arrive no later than 14 days (or such longer period as the rules may require for notice of any resolution required by section 85, 86 or 90 above) before—

(a)the meeting at which any such resolution is to be moved; or

(b)where proxy voting is permitted, such earlier date as may be specified by the society, under its rules, as the final date for the receipt of [F2appointments of proxies] to vote at the meeting.

(4)If it appears to the [F1appropriate authority] that it is impractical to include the summary mentioned in paragraph 2(1)(d) below in the statement referred to in sub-paragraph (1) above, the [F1appropriate authority] may direct that the summary shall be sent separately from that statement within such period as the [F1appropriate authority] may specify in the direction.

2(1)The matters of which a statement required by paragraph 1 above is to give particulars are the following, namely—U.K.

(a)the financial position of the society and that of every other society or person participating in the amalgamation or transfer;

(b)any interest of the members of the committee of management of the society in the amalgamation or transfer;

(c)the compensation or other consideration (if any) proposed to be paid to or in respect of—

(i)the members of the committee of management or other officers of the society; and

(ii)the officers of every other society or person participating in the amalgamation or transfer;

(d)in the case of a transfer, a summary of any actuary’s report which the society is directed to furnish to the [F3appropriate authority] under section 88 above; and

(e)any other matter which the [F3appropriate authority] requires in the case of the particular amalgamation or transfer.

(2)No statement shall be sent unless its contents, so far as they concern the matters specified in this paragraph, have been approved by the [F3appropriate authority].

[F4(3)The PRA must consult the FCA before approving a statement under sub-paragraph (2).]

Statements relating to conversion of society into companyU.K.

3(1)A friendly society which desires to convert into a company under section 91 above shall send a statement concerning—U.K.

(a)such matters as may be prescribed in regulations made by the F5. . . Treasury; and

(b)such other matters as may be required by the [F6appropriate authority] in the case of the particular conversion;

to every member entitled (when the statements are sent) to vote on any resolution required by subsection (2) of that section.

(2)Regulations under sub-paragraph (1) above may include among the prescribed matters any alternatives to a proposed conversion which may be available.

4U.K.The statement referred to in paragraph 3 above shall be sent so as to arrive no later than 14 days (or such longer period as the rules may require for notice of any resolution required by section 91 above) before—

(a)the meeting at which any such resolution is to be moved; or

(b)where proxy voting is permitted, such earlier date as may be specified by the society, under its rules, as the final date for the receipt of [F7appointments of proxies] to vote at the meeting;

but no such statement may be sent unless its contents, so far as they concern the matters mentioned in that paragraph, have been approved by the [F8appropriate authority].

[F94ZA.U.K.The PRA must consult the FCA before approving a statement under paragraph 4.]

[F104A.(1)A society is to be regarded as sending a member—U.K.

(a)the statement required by paragraph 1; or

(b)the statement required by paragraph 3,

if it makes the statement available to the member on a website; and the end date for the purposes of section 119AB(4)(b) is the day falling 28 days after the later of the two dates referred to in section 119AB(4)(a).

(2)If the statement is absent from a website for part of the period referred to in section 119AB(4), and the absence is disregarded for the purposes of section 119AB(5), that absence does not invalidate—

(a)the proceedings of a meeting of the society,

(b)a subsequent amalgamation of the society,

(c)a transfer of engagements by or to the society, or

(d)a conversion of the society into a company.]

Part IIU.K. Confirmation by [F11appropriate authority]

Applications for confirmationU.K.

5(1)An application by a friendly society for confirmation by the [F12appropriate authority]—U.K.

(a)of an amalgamation under section 85 above,

(b)of a transfer of engagements of a friendly society under section 86 above, or

(c)of the conversion of a friendly society into a company under section 91 above,

shall be made in such manner as [F13the [F12appropriate authority] may direct].

(2)An application for confirmation of an amalgamation shall be made jointly by the friendly societies concerned.

[F14(3)The [F15appropriate authority] may, on the application or with the consent of a friendly society, direct in relation to any provision of regulations made for the purposes of sub-paragraph (1) above that the provisions shall not apply to the society, or shall apply to it with such modifications as may be specified in the direction.

F14(4)A direction under sub-paragraph (3) above may be subject to conditions.

F14(5)A direction under sub-paragraph (3) above may be revoked by the [F16appropriate authority] at any time; and the [F16appropriate authority] may at any time vary any such direction on the application or with the consent of the society to which it applies.

[F17(5A)The PRA must send the FCA a copy of any direction, variation or revocation it makes under this paragraph.]

F14(6)Where the [F18appropriate authority]—

(a)makes a direction under subsection (3) above, or

(b)revokes or varies such a direction,

[F19the FCA must] cause the direction, variation or revocation to be entered on a register kept by it for the purposes of this subsection.

F14(7)The register kept for the purposes of subsection (6) above shall be available for inspection on reasonable notice by members of the public.

F14(8)The [F20[F21FCA] shall keep] a copy of—

(a)any direction made F22... under subsection (3) above, and

(b)any revocation or variation of any such direction,

F23. . . in the public file of the society to which it relates.]

6(1)Where a friendly society applies for confirmation of an amalgamation, transfer or conversion, it shall publish a notice of the application—U.K.

(a)in one or more of the London Gazette, the Edinburgh Gazette or the Belfast Gazette, as the Commission directs, and,

(b)if it so directs, in one or more newspapers.

F24(1A). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(2)The notice shall—

(a)state that any interested party has the right to make representations to the [F25appropriate authority] with respect to the application;

(b)specify a date determined by the [F25appropriate authority] before which any written representations or notice of a person’s intention to make oral representation must be received by the [F25appropriate authority]; and

(c)specify a date determined by the [F25appropriate authority] as the day on which it intends to hear any oral representations.

(3)Where a friendly society participating in a transfer is required under section 88 above to furnish an actuary’s report, the society shall publish a notice in the manner required by sub-paragraph (1) above—

(a)stating that such a report has been obtained;

[F26(b)stating–

(i)the addresses of the offices of the society, F27...

F28(ii). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

7U.K.After the date specified in the notice in pursuance of paragraph 6(2)(b) above, the [F29appropriate authority] shall—

(a)determine the time and place at which oral representations may be made;

(b)give notice of that determination to the friendly society applying for confirmation and to any persons who have give notice of their intention to make oral representations; and

(c)send copies of any written representations received by the [F29appropriate authority] to that society;

and the [F29appropriate authority] shall allow that society an opportunity to comment on the written representations (whether at a hearing or in writing) before the expiration of such period as the [F29appropriate authority] specifies in a notice to the society.

Confirmation by [F30appropriate authority]: GeneralU.K.

8(1)Where an application is duly made for confirmation by the [F31appropriate authority] of an amalgamation, transfer of engagements or conversion, the [F31appropriate authority] shall confirm the amalgamation, transfer or conversion unless it is precluded from doing so by any of the following provisions of this Schedule.U.K.

(2)If it appears to the [F31appropriate authority], in relation to any amalgamation or transfer of engagements, that there is a substantial risk that the successor society or the person taking the transfer will not be able lawfully to carry out the engagements to be transferred to it under section 85(4) or 86(5) above, the [F31appropriate authority]—

(a)shall not confirm the amalgamation or transfer; and

(b)where it has confirmed the amalgamation or transfer, shall F32. . . withdraw its confirmation;

but it may not withdraw its confirmation on or after the transfer date for the amalgamation or transfer.

(3)For the purposes of sub-paragraph (2) above, the [F31appropriate authority] may have regard to any requirements of the law of a country or territory outside the United Kingdom which appear to the [F31appropriate authority] to be relevant.

9(1)Subject to sub-paragraph (3) below, the [F31appropriate authority] shall not confirm an amalgamation or transfer if it considers that—U.K.

(a)some information material to the members’ decision (including any decision on an affected members’ resolution under section 86 above) about the amalgamation or transfer was not made available to all the members eligible to vote;

(b)the vote on any resolution approving the amalgamation or transfer does not represent the views of the members eligible to vote; or

(c)some relevant requirement of this Act or the rules of any friendly society participating in the amalgamation or transfer was not fulfilled or not fulfilled as regards that society.

(2)Subject to sub-paragraph (3) below, the [F31appropriate authority] shall not confirm the conversion of a society if it considers that—

(a)some information material to the members’ decision about the conversion was not made available to all the members eligible to vote;

(b)the vote on any resolution approving the conversion does not represent the views of the members eligible to vote;

F33(c). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(d)some relevant requirement of this Act or the rules of the society was not fulfilled.

(3)The [F31appropriate authority] shall not be precluded from confirming an amalgamation, transfer or conversion by virtue only of the non-fulfilment of some relevant requirement of this Act or the rules of a friendly society if it appears to the [F31appropriate authority] that it could not have been material to the members’ decision about the amalgamation, transfer or conversion and the [F31appropriate authority] gives a direction that the failure is to be disregarded for the purposes of this paragraph.

10(1)Where the [F31appropriate authority] would be precluded—U.K.

(a)from confirming an amalgamation or transfer by reason of any of the defects specified in paragraph 9(1) above, or

(b)from confirming a conversion by reason of any of the defects specified in paragraph 9(2) above, [F34or

(c)from confirming a conversion by reason of paragraph 11 below,]

(2)A direction under this sub-paragraph is a direction requiring a friendly society—

(a)to take such steps to remedy the defect or defects, including the calling of a further meeting, [F35or (as the case may be) to remove the risk referred to in paragraph 11 below,] as are specified in the direction; and

(b)to furnish the [F31appropriate authority] with evidence that those steps have been taken;

and if the [F31appropriate authority] is satisfied that the steps have been taken and the defect or defects has or have been substantially remedied, [F36or (as the case may be) that the risk has been removed,] the [F31appropriate authority] shall confirm the amalgamation, transfer or conversion.

F37. . .U.K.

[F3811U.K.The [F39appropriate authority] shall not confirm an amalgamation, transfer of engagements or conversion unless it is satisfied that there is no substantial risk that the successor society, the proposed transferee, or the company into which the society is converted, will not have—

(a)such permission (if any) under [F40Part 4A] of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000, F41...

F42(b). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

as will enable it to carry on the business which it will have as a result of the amalgamation, transfer or conversion without contravening section 19 of that Act (the general prohibition).]

[F4311A.(1)The PRA must consult the FCA before confirming an amalgamation, transfer of engagements or a conversion.U.K.

(2)The PRA must notify the FCA if it makes any such confirmation.]

Confirmation of transfers of engagementsU.K.

12U.K.The [F44appropriate authority] shall not confirm a transfer unless it is satisfied—

(a)that all the engagements included in the transfer may be transferred under section 86 above to the transferee;

(b)that the transfer is in the interests of the members of each friendly society participating in the transfer; and

(c)where the transfer is not of all the engagements of the transferor, that the purposes of each friendly society participating in the transfer will, after the transfer, continue to include the carrying on of one or more activities falling within Schedule 2 to this Act.

[F4513U.K. 

(1)The [F46appropriate authority] shall not confirm a transfer in any case where the transferee is required by section 87 above to furnish the [F46appropriate authority] with a report unless it is satisfied (after taking the proposed transfer into account) either that the transferee will possess the margin of solvency required by rules made by the [F47appropriate authority under Part 9A] of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 or, where no margin of solvency is required by such rules, that the value of the transferee’s assets will exceed its liabilities.

(2)The [F46appropriate authority] shall not confirm a transfer of any engagements the fulfilment of which will constitute effecting or carrying out contracts of insurance in the United Kingdom unless it is satisfied (after taking the proposed transfer into account) either that the transferee will possess the margin of solvency required by rules made by the [F47appropriate authority under Part 9A] of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 or, where no margin of solvency is required by such rules, that the value of the transferee’s assets will exceed its liabilities.

(3)This paragraph does not apply to any transfer of engagements to which paragraph 15 or 15A below applies.

(4)The reference in sub-paragraph (2) to effecting or carrying out contracts of insurance must be read with—

(a)section 22 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000;

(b)any relevant order under that section; and

(c)Schedule 2 to that Act.]

[F4814U.K.The Commission shall not confirm a transfer of any engagements the fulfilment of which will constitute the carrying on in the United Kingdom of insurance business unless it is satisfied—

(a)that the proposed transferee will be able to fulfil the engagements without authorisation under Part I of the Insurance Companies Act 1982 or section 32 of this Act; or

(b)that there is no substantial risk that the proposed transferee will not have such authorisation as will permit it to fulfil them.]

[F4915(1)This paragraph applies to any transfer of engagements (other than contracts of reinsurance) where–U.K.

(a)the effecting of the engagements constituted the carrying on of general business;

(b)the transferor is a friendly society to which section 37(3) above applies; and

(c)the transferee is–

(i)a friendly society to which section 37(2) or (3) above applies;

F50(ii). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F50(iii). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F51(iv). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

[F52(v)an insurance company whose head office is in Switzerland, which has permission under [F53Part 4A] of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 to effect or carry out contracts of insurance, which permission is not limited to reinsurance business;]

(vi)an insurance company whose margin of solvency is [F54supervised in accordance with rule 3.1 to 3.3 and rule 6.4 and 6.5 of the Third Country Branches Part of the Rulebook made by the Prudential Regulation Authority under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000.]

[F55(1A)For the purposes of sub-paragraph (1)(c)(vi), references to rules made by the Prudential Regulation Authority are to those rules as they have effect on IP completion day.]

(2)The [F56appropriate authority] shall not confirm the transfer unless–

F57(a). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(b)it is F58. . . satisfied that every policy included in the transfer evidences a contract which was entered into before the date of the application; [F59and]

(c)the relevant authority certifies that the transferee possesses the necessary margin of solvency after taking the proposed transfer into account; F60...

F61(d). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F62(3). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F63(4). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . .

F64(5). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . .

[F65(6)In this paragraph “the relevant authority" means—

F66(a). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(b)if the transferee falls within paragraph (1)(c)(v), the supervisory authority in Switzerland;

(c)if the transferee falls within paragraph (1)(c)(vi), the [F56appropriate authority] or other supervisory body responsible for the supervision;

(d) in any other case, the [F56 appropriate authority].]]

[F6715A(1)This paragraph applies to any transfer of engagements (other than contracts of reinsurance) where–U.K.

(a)the effecting of the engagements constituted the carrying on of long term business;

(b)the transferor is a friendly society to which section 37(3) above applies; and

(c)the transferee is–

(i)a friendly society to which section 37(2) or (3) above applies;

F68(ii). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F68(iii). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(iv). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(v)an insurance company whose margin of solvency is [F69supervised in accordance with rule 3.1 to 3.3 and rule 6.4 and 6.5 of the Third Country Branches Part of the Rulebook made by the Prudential Regulation Authority under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000.]

[F70(1A)For the purposes of sub-paragraph (1)(c)(v), references to rules made by the Prudential Regulation Authority are to those rules as they have effect on IP completion day.]

(2)The [F71appropriate authority] shall not confirm the transfer unless–

F72(a). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(b)the relevant authority certifies that the transferee possesses the necessary margin of solvency after taking the proposed transfer into account; F73...

F74(c). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F75(3). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F76(4). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . .

F77(5). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . .

[F78(6)In this paragraph “the relevant authority" means—

F79(a). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(b)if the transferee falls within paragraph (1)(c)(v), the [F71appropriate authority] or other supervisory body responsible for the supervision;

(c)in any other case, the [F71appropriate authority].]]

F80[16U.K.The Commission shall not confirm a transfer to a friendly society of engagements the fulfilment of which will constitute the carrying on in the United Kingdom of non-insurance business of any description unless it is satisfied that there is no substantial risk that the society will not be authorised under section 32 above to carry on non-insurance business of that description.]

F81...U.K.

F8116AU.K.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F8116BU.K.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Effect of failure to comply with relevant requirementsU.K.

17U.K.A failure to comply with a relevant requirement of this Act or any rules of a friendly society shall not invalidate any amalgamation, transfer of engagements or conversion; but a society which—

(a)participates in an amalgamation or transfer or converts into a company; and

(b)fails without reasonable excuse to comply with such a requirement;

shall be guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 4 on the standard scale.

InterpretationU.K.

[F8218F83(1). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .U.K.

(2)In this Part of this Schedule–

“policy" means a contract (other than a contract of reinsurance) the effecting of which by a friendly society to which section 37(2) or (3) above applies constituted the carrying on of insurance business of any class;

“policy holder" means a member whose contract with such a society is a contract the effecting of which by the society constituted the carrying on of insurance business (other than reinsurance business) of any class;

“relevant requirement", with reference to this Act or the rules of a friendly society, means a requirement of this Part of this Act or of any rules prescribing the procedure to be followed by the society in approving or effecting an amalgamation or transfer of engagements or its conversion into a company.

F84(3). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .]