Pensions Act 2004

152Duty to assume responsibility following reconsideration

(1)This section applies where an application is made in respect of a scheme in accordance with section 151.

(2)The Board must assume responsibility for the scheme in accordance with this Chapter if it is satisfied that the value of the assets of the scheme at the reconsideration time is less than the aggregate of—

(a)the amount quoted in the protected benefits quotation accompanying the application,

(b)the amount at that time of the liabilities of the scheme which are not liabilities to, or in respect of, members of the scheme, and

(c)the estimated costs of winding up the scheme at that time.

(3)Where the Board makes a determination for the purposes of subsection (2), it must issue a determination notice and give a copy of that notice to—

(a)the trustees or managers of the scheme, and

(b)the Regulator.

(4)In subsection (3) “determination notice” means a notice which is in the prescribed form and contains such information about the determination as may be prescribed.

(5)But where the Board is satisfied of the matters mentioned in subsection (2), it is not required to assume responsibility for the scheme under subsection (2) until the determination notice issued under subsection (3) becomes binding.

(6)For the purposes of subsection (5) a determination notice is not binding until—

(a)the period within which the issue of the notice may be reviewed by virtue of Chapter 6 has expired, and

(b)if the issue of the notice is so reviewed—

(i)the review and any reconsideration,

(ii)any reference to the PPF Ombudsman in respect of the issue of the notice, and

(iii)any appeal against his determination or directions,

has been finally disposed of and the notice has not been revoked, varied or substituted.

(7)Where a determination notice issued under subsection (3) becomes binding, the Board must as soon as reasonably practicable give a notice to that effect together with a copy of the binding notice to—

(a)the trustees or managers of the scheme, and

(b)the Regulator.

(8)A notice under subsection (7) must be in the prescribed form and contain such information as may be prescribed.

(9)The Board may—

(a)for the purposes of subsection (2), obtain its own valuation of the assets of the scheme as at the reconsideration time (within the meaning of section 151), and

(b)for the purposes of subsection (2)(b), obtain its own valuation of the liabilities of the scheme as at that time;

and where it does so, subsections (9)(b), (10) and (11) of section 151 apply in relation to the valuation as they apply in relation to the scheme accounts (within the meaning of that section).

(10)Regulations under subsection (4) of section 143, and guidance under subsection (6) of that section, apply for the purposes of this section in relation to the estimated costs within subsection (2)(c) as they apply for the purposes of section 143 in relation to protected liabilities within section 131(1)(c).

(11)In this section references to the assets of the scheme do not include assets representing the value of any rights in respect of money purchase benefits under the scheme rules.

(12)This section is subject to sections 146 and 147 (refusal to assume responsibility for a scheme).