Financial Services and Markets Act 2000, section 112

Effect of order sanctioning business transfer scheme

Part VII Control of Business Transfers

(1)If the court makes an order under section 111(1), it may by that or any subsequent order make such provision (if any) as it thinks fit—

(a)for the transfer to the transferee of the whole or any part of the undertaking concerned and of any property or liabilities of [F847the transferor concernedF847] ;

(b)for the allotment or appropriation by the transferee of any shares, debentures, policies or other similar interests in the transferee which under the scheme are to be allotted or appropriated to or for any other person;

(c)for the continuation by (or against) the transferee of any pending legal proceedings by (or against) [F847the transferor concernedF847] ;

(d)with respect to such incidental, consequential and supplementary matters as are, in its opinion, necessary to secure that the scheme is fully and effectively carried out.

(2)An order under subsection (1)(a) may—

(a)transfer property or liabilities whether or not [F847the transferor concernedF847] otherwise has the capacity to effect the transfer in question;

(b)make provision in relation to property which was held by [F847the transferor concernedF847] as trustee;

(c)make provision as to future or contingent rights or liabilities of [F847the transferor concernedF847] , including provision as to the construction of instruments (including wills) under which such rights or liabilities may arise;

(d)make provision as to the consequences of the transfer in relation to any [F888occupational pension scheme (within the meaning of section 150(5) of the Finance Act 2004)F888] operated by or on behalf of [F847the transferor concernedF847] .

[F889 (2A)Subsection (2)(a) is to be taken to include power to make provision in an order—

(a)for the transfer of property or liabilities which would not otherwise be capable of being transferred or assigned;

(b)for a transfer of property or liabilities to take effect as if there were—

(i)no such requirement to obtain a person's consent or concurrence, and

(ii)no such contravention, liability or interference with any interest or right,

as there would otherwise be (in the case of a transfer apart from this section) by reason of any provision falling within subsection (2B).

(2B)A provision falls within this subsection to the extent that it has effect (whether under an enactment or agreement or otherwise) in relation to the terms on which [F847 the transferor concernedF847] is entitled to the property or subject to the liabilities in question.

(2C)Nothing in subsection (2A) or (2B) is to be read as limiting the scope of subsection (1).F889]

(3)If an order under subsection (1) makes provision for the transfer of property or liabilities—

(a)the property is transferred to and vests in, and

(b)the liabilities are transferred to and become liabilities of,

the transferee as a result of the order.

(4)But if any property or liability included in the order is governed by the law of any country or territory outside the United Kingdom, the order may require [F847the transferor concernedF847] , if the transferee so requires, to take all necessary steps for securing that the transfer to the transferee of the property or liability is fully effective under the law of that country or territory.

(5)Property transferred as the result of an order under subsection (1) may, if the court so directs, vest in the transferee free from any charge which is (as a result of the scheme) to cease to have effect.

(6)An order under subsection (1) which makes provision for the transfer of property is to be treated as an instrument of transfer for the purposes of [F890section 770(1) of the Companies Act 2006F890] and any other enactment requiring the delivery of an instrument of transfer for the registration of property.

(7)F891. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(8)If the court makes an order under section 111(1) in relation to an insurance business transfer scheme, it may by that or any subsequent order make such provision (if any) as it thinks fit—

(a)for dealing with the interests of any person who, within such time and in such manner as the court may direct, objects to the scheme;

(b)for the dissolution, without winding up, of [F847the transferor concernedF847] ;

(c)for the reduction, on such terms and subject to such conditions (if any) as it thinks fit, of the benefits payable under—

(i)any description of policy, or

(ii)policies generally,

entered into by [F847the transferor concernedF847] and transferred as a result of the scheme.

F892 (9). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(10)The transferee must, if an insurance or banking business transfer scheme [F893or ring-fencing transfer schemeF893] is sanctioned by the court, deposit two office copies of the order made under subsection (1) with the [F894appropriate regulatorF894] within 10 days of the making of the order.

(11)But the [F895appropriate regulatorF895] may extend that period.

(12) “Property” includes property, rights and powers of any description.

(13) “Liabilities” includes duties.

(14) “Shares” and “debentures” have the same meaning as in [F896 the Companies Acts (see sections 540 and 738 of the Companies Act 2006 ). F896]

(15) “Charge” includes a mortgage (or, in Scotland, a security over property).

Definitions used in section 112

the transferor concerned

(2) In this Part, “the transferor concerned”—

(a)in the case of an insurance business transfer scheme, is to be read in accordance with section 105(2);

(b)in the case of a banking business transfer scheme, is to be read in accordance with section 106(2);

(c)in the case of a reclaim fund business transfer scheme, means the reclaim fund to whose business the scheme relates.

(d)in the case of a ring-fencing transfer scheme, means the body to whose business the scheme relates.

Defined in s.103A(2) · see it in the full Act
policy

(2) In this Act “policy” and “policyholder”, in relation to a contract of insurance, have such meaning as the Treasury may by order specify.

Defined in s.424(2) · see it in the full Act
the appropriate regulator

(1) In this Part “the appropriate regulator” means—

(a)in relation to a ring-fencing transfer scheme or a scheme (other than a ring-fencing transfer scheme) in respect of which the transferor concerned is a PRA-authorised person, the PRA;

(b)in any other case, the FCA.

Defined in s.103A(1) · see it in the full Act
appropriate regulator

(11) The FCA is the “appropriate regulator” in the case of a contravention of any other requirement , other than a case falling within paragraph 26 of Schedule 17A .

Defined in s.380(11) · see it in the full Act
securities

(a) section 102A(1), (2) and (6) (meaning of “securities” and “issuer”);

Defined in Sch.10A para.8(6) · see it in the full Act

Cases considering section 112 (43)

Mercantile Indemnity Company Limited & Ors, Re

[2025] EWHC 3396 (Ch) · 23 December 2025

Section 112 supplied the basis for ancillary orders needed to secure the full and effective implementation of the sanctioned scheme, including dissolution without winding up. (see paras [91]-[96]) Section 112(1)(d) empowered the court to make incidental, consequential and supplementary orders necessary to secure that the scheme was fully and effectively carried out. (see para [92]) Section 112(2A) was identified as one of the provisions giving statutory recognition to the width of the court’s ancillary powers. (see paras [92]-[94]) Section 112(8)(b) authorised dissolution of Mercantile and Rombalds without winding up, subject to the timing conditions specified in the order. (see paras [92], [95]-[96])

Sainsbury's Bank Plc, Re

[2025] EWHC 1062 (Ch) · 1 May 2025

Applies the power to make incidental, consequential and supplementary orders necessary to secure that the scheme is fully and effectively carried out. The power was used for conventional continuity and related matters (see paras [86]-[88]). Confirms that the court’s ancillary powers include the statutory provision introduced by section 112(2), which refines the earlier framework for ancillary orders (see para [86]). Confirms that the statutory framework recognises and refines the width of the court’s ancillary powers. The provision was relevant to the conventional orders sought (see paras [86]-[88]).

CASLP Limited, Re

[2025] EWHC 309 (Ch) · 14 January 2025Defines

Section 112(8) empowers the court, following an order under section 111(1), to make provision for the dissolution without winding up of the transferor to an insurance business transfer scheme. (see paras [4]-[6]) Section 112(8)(b) permits dissolution without winding up where the court is satisfied that no assets or liabilities remain, or could become assets or liabilities of the transferor in the future. The provision was applied to dissolve CASLP. (see paras [1], [6], [9])

23 more judgments, and what each says about section 112, are in the case-law panel in the full Act.

Explanatory note

213.This section makes it clear that any order of the court sanctioning a business transfer scheme may include any necessary provisions to ensure that any transfer is able to take proper effect.  Accordingly, the court will be able to order either that all rights and liabilities of and against the firm whose business is being transferred become rights and liabilities of the transferee firm, or that appropriate measures are taken to extinguish or reduce such rights and liabilities.

214.A reduction may be necessary, for example, where a firm is insolvent and the transfer of business is part of a “rescue” proposal. In other cases, rights and liabilities may not be suitable for transfer and so alternative arrangements may be required, for example in the case where a bank had a taken a floating charge over the assets of the firm in relation to a credit facility, where neither would be relevant to the ongoing business after the transfer.

215.These arrangements are consistent with the previous arrangements under Schedule 2C to the ICA 1982 and relevant companies and insolvency legislation.

All the explanatory notes for the Act

Amendments and notes

13 notes from legislation.gov.uk

Amendments

  1. F847Words in Pt. 7 substituted (1.3.2014) by Financial Services (Banking Reform) Act 2013 (c. 33), s. 148(5), Sch. 1 para. 2; S.I. 2014/377, art. 2(1)(a), Sch. Pt. 1
  2. F888Words in s. 112(2)(d) substituted (6.4.2006) by The Taxation of Pension Schemes (Consequential Amendments) Order 2006 (S.I. 2006/745), art. 17
  3. F889S. 112(2A)-(2C) inserted (30.6.2008) by The Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Amendments to Part 7) Regulations 2008 (S.I. 2008/1468), reg. 2(1)
  4. F890Words in s. 112(6) substituted (6.4.2008) by The Companies Act 2006 (Consequential Amendments etc) Order 2008 (S.I. 2008/948), arts. 1(2), 3(1), Sch. 1 para. 211(3)(a) (with arts. 6, 11, 12)
  5. F891S. 112(7) repealed (6.4.2008) by The Companies Act 2006 (Consequential Amendments etc) Order 2008 (S.I. 2008/948), arts. 1(2), 3, Sch. 1 para. 211(3)(b), Sch. 2 (with arts. 6, 11, 12)
  6. F892S. 112(9) omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/632), regs. 1(3), 33(2) (with transitional provisions in S.I. 2019/710, regs. 1(4), 36, Sch. para. 3); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1) this amendment is subject to savings and/or transitional provisions, see the commentary.
  7. F893Words in s. 112(10) inserted (1.3.2014) by Financial Services (Banking Reform) Act 2013 (c. 33), s. 148(5), Sch. 1 para. 11; S.I. 2014/377, art. 2(1)(a), Sch. Pt. 1
  8. F894Words in s. 112(10) substituted (1.4.2013) by Financial Services Act 2012 (c. 21), s. 122(3), Sch. 6 para. 5 (with Sch. 20); S.I. 2013/423, art. 3, Sch.
  9. F895Words in s. 112(11) substituted (1.4.2013) by Financial Services Act 2012 (c. 21), s. 122(3), Sch. 6 para. 5 (with Sch. 20); S.I. 2013/423, art. 3, Sch.
  10. F896S. 112(14): words substituted (6.4.2008) for paras. (a)(b) by The Companies Act 2006 (Consequential Amendments etc) Order 2008 (S.I. 2008/948), arts. 1(2), 3(1), Sch. 1 para. 211(3)(c) (with arts. 6, 11, 12)

Modifications

  1. C327S. 112 applied (1.12.2001) by S.I. 2001/3626, arts. 1, 3(a)
  2. C328S. 112 modified (31.12.2020) by The Financial Services (Miscellaneous) (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/710), reg. 1(3), Sch. para. 4, 5, 6(3); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
  3. C329S. 112(1) modified (1.12.2001) by S.I. 2001/3639, arts. 1(1), 4 (with art. 2)