Financial Services and Markets Act 2000, section 138A

Modification or waiver of rules

PART 9A Rules and Guidance

(1)Either regulator may, on the application or with the consent of a person who is subject to rules made by that regulator, direct that all or any of those rules—

(a)are not to apply to that person, or

(b)are to apply to that person with such modifications as may be specified in the direction.

(2)Subsection (1) does not apply to—

[F1114 (za)rules made by either regulator under section 64A (rules of conduct);F1114]

(a)rules made by either regulator under section 137O (threshold condition code);

(b)rules made by the FCA under section 247 (trust scheme rules) [F1115 , section 248 (scheme particulars rules), section 261I (contractual scheme rules) or section 261J (contractual scheme particulars rules)F1115] ;

[F1116 (c)rules made by the FCA under section 309Z1 (rules of conduct).F1116]

(3)An application must be made in such manner as the regulator may direct.

(4)A regulator may not give a direction unless it is satisfied that—

(a)compliance by the person with the rules, or with the rules as unmodified, would be unduly burdensome or would not achieve the purpose for which the rules were made, and

(b)the direction would not adversely affect the advancement of any of the regulator's objectives.

(5) In subsection (4)(b) “objectives”, in relation to the FCA, means operational objectives.

(6)A direction may be given subject to conditions.

(7)The regulator may—

(a)revoke a direction, or

(b)vary it on the application, or with the consent, of the person to whom it relates.

(8) “Direction” means a direction under this section.

Read section 138A in the full Act → Definitions (4) Cases (5)

Definitions used in section 138A

regulator

“regulator” has the meaning given in section 3A(2);

Defined in s.417(1) · see it in the full Act
rule

“rule” means a rule made by the FCA or the PRA under this Act;

Defined in s.417(1) · see it in the full Act
Specified

(5) “Specified” means specified in an order made by the Treasury.

Defined in s.22(5) · see it in the full Act
the FCA

(2) The Financial Conduct Authority is in this Act referred to as “the FCA”.

Defined in s.1A(2) · see it in the full Act

“the FCA” means the Financial Conduct Authority;

Defined in s.417(1) · see it in the full Act

Cases considering section 138A (5)

SVS Securities Plc, Re The Investment Bank Special Administration Regulations 2011

[2020] EWHC 1501 (Ch) · 7 May 2020Disapplies

Provides the FCA’s power to waive specified regulatory requirements. The FCA waiver removed the need for specific client consent to transfer pooled client money. (see paras [48]-[50])

Pritchard Stockbrokers Ltd, Re

[2019] EWHC 137 (Ch) · 6 February 2019

Confirms the FCA’s power, on application or with consent, to direct that client money rules apply with specified modifications. The FCA used that power to authorise the modified distribution structure. (see paras [20]-[23])

Worldspreads Ltd, Re Investent Bank Special Administration Regulations 2011

[2015] EWHC 1719 (Ch) · 19 June 2015

The court recorded that the FCA used this power to modify the CASS 7A rules for Worldspreads, enabling the proposed final distribution subject to safeguards. (see para [17])

What each judgment says about section 138A is in the case-law panel in the full Act.

Amendments and notes

28 notes from legislation.gov.uk

Amendments

  1. F1114S. 138A(2)(za) inserted (25.7.2014) by Financial Services (Banking Reform) Act 2013 (c. 33), s. 148(5), Sch. 3 para. 8; S.I. 2014/1819, art. 2(4)(b)
  2. F1115Words in s. 138A(2)(b) substituted (6.6.2013) by The Collective Investment in Transferable Securities (Contractual Scheme) Regulations 2013 (S.I. 2013/1388), regs. 1, 3(4) (with reg. 24)
  3. F1116S. 138A(2)(c) inserted (29.6.2023 for specified purposes) by Financial Services and Markets Act 2023 (c. 29), s. 86(1)(e), Sch. 10 para. 7 text inserted for certain specified purposes only, see the commentary.

Modifications

  1. C450S. 138A applied by S.I. 2008/2674, art. 29(2) (as amended) (1.4.2013) by The Financial Services Act 2012 (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Order 2013 (S.I. 2013/472), Sch. 2 para. 149(b)(aa)(ii)
  2. C451S. 138A modified by S.I. 2002/1775, reg. 3(2)(a) (as amended) (1.4.2013) by The Financial Services Act 2012 (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Order 2013 (S.I. 2013/472), Sch. 2 para. 77(4)(b)
  3. C452S. 138A applied by S.I. 2009/3226, art. 20(2) (as amended) (1.4.2013) by The Financial Services Act 2012 (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Order 2013 (S.I. 2013/472), Sch. 2 para. 182(a)(aa)(ii)
  4. C453S. 138A applied (with modifications) by S.I. 2008/432, art. 15(2) (as amended) (1.4.2013) by The Financial Services Act 2012 (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Order 2013 (S.I. 2013/472), Sch. 2 para. 136(d)(aa)(ii)
  5. C454S. 138A applied by S.I. 2008/2644, art. 27(2) (as substituted (1.4.2013) by The Financial Services Act 2012 (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Order 2013 (S.I. 2013/472), Sch. 2 para. 147(b)(aa)(ii))
  6. C455S. 138A applied by S.I. 2008/2666, art. 18(2) (as amended) (1.4.2013) by The Financial Services Act 2012 (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Order 2013 (S.I. 2013/472), Sch. 2 para. 148(b)(aa)(ii)
  7. C456S. 138A applied by S.I. 2008/2546, art. 37(2) (as amended) (1.4.2013) by The Financial Services Act 2012 (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Order 2013 (S.I. 2013/472), Sch. 2 para. 146(c)(aa)(ii)
  8. C457S. 138A applied (with modifications) by 2013 c. 13, Sch. 4 para. 9A(5)(6) (as inserted (26.10.2018) by The Financial Regulators Powers (Technical Standards etc.) (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2018 (S.I. 2018/1115), regs. 1(2), 10(5)(c))
  9. C458S. 138A applied (31.12.2020) by The Credit Rating Agencies (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/266), regs. 1(3), 4(2)(a) (with savings in S.I. 2019/680, reg. 11); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
  10. C459S. 138A modified (13.3.2023 at 8.00 a.m.) by The Amendments of the Law (Resolution of Silicon Valley Bank UK Limited) Order 2023 (S.I. 2023/319), arts. 1(2), 3(2) (as amended (23.6.2023) by S.I. 2023/694, arts. 1(2), 3(4))
  11. C460S. 138A applied (with modifications) (8.6.2023 for specified purposes, 7.10.2023 in so far as not already in force) by The Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) (Amendment) Order 2023 (S.I. 2023/612), art. 1(2), Sch. para. 10 (with art. 11)
  12. C461S. 138A applied in part (with modifications) (29.8.2023) by Regulation (EU) No. 648/2012, Art. 84c (as inserted by Financial Services and Markets Act 2023 (c. 29), s. 86(3), Sch. 2 para. 30 (with s. 2(3)); S.I. 2023/779, reg. 4(zz)(ii))
  13. C462S. 138A applied (30.1.2024 for specified purposes, 1.11.2024 in so far as not already in force) by The Securitisation Regulations 2024 (S.I. 2024/102), reg. 2(1)(e)(2), Sch. 1 para. 9(2)(b) (with reg. 52(3), Sch. 3); as amended by S.I. 2024/705, regs. 1(2), 2(2)
  14. C463S. 138A(1) modified by S.I. 2009/814, art. 9(2) (as amended) (1.4.2013) by The Financial Services Act 2012 (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Order 2013 (S.I. 2013/472), Sch. 2 para. 167(b)(ii)
  15. C464S. 138A(1)(6)(7) excluded by S.I. 2006/3221, reg. 8(2) (as amended) (1.4.2013) by The Financial Services Act 2012 (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Order 2013 (S.I. 2013/472), Sch. 2 para. 118(h)(iii) (with Sch. 2 para. 119)
  16. C465Ss. 138A(3)-(7) modified by S.I. 2001/1228, reg. 7(3)(4) (as amended) (1.4.2013) by The Financial Services Act 2012 (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Order 2013 (S.I. 2013/472), Sch. 2 para. 41(4)
  17. C466Ss. 138A(3)-(7) applied (with modifications) by S.R. 2004/335, reg. 7(3)(4) (1.4.2013) by The Financial Services Act 2012 (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Order 2013 (S.I. 2013/472), Sch. 2 para. 87(4)
  18. C467S. 138A(4) restricted by S.I. 2009/3226, art. 20(3) (as amended) (1.4.2013) by The Financial Services Act 2012 (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Order 2013 (S.I. 2013/472), Sch. 2 para. 182(a)(aa)(iii)
  19. C468S. 138A(4) restricted by S.I. 2008/432, art. 15(3) (as amended) (1.4.2013) by The Financial Services Act 2012 (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Order 2013 (S.I. 2013/472), Sch. 2 para. 136(d)(aa)(iii)
  20. C469S. 138A(4) restricted by S.I. 2008/2666, art. 18(3) (as amended) (1.4.2013) by The Financial Services Act 2012 (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Order 2013 (S.I. 2013/472), Sch. 2 para. 148(b)(aa)(iii)
  21. C470S. 138A(4) restricted by S.I. 2008/2546, art. 37(3) (as amended) (1.4.2013) by The Financial Services Act 2012 (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Order 2013 (S.I. 2013/472), Sch. 2 para. 146(c)(aa)(iii)
  22. C471S. 138A(4) excluded by S.I. 2006/3221, reg. 8(2) (as amended) (1.4.2013) by The Financial Services Act 2012 (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Order 2013 (S.I. 2013/472), Sch. 2 para. 118(h)(iii) (with Sch. 2 para. 119)
  23. C472S. 138A(4) restricted by S.I. 2008/2644, art. 27(3) (as amended) (1.4.2013) by The Financial Services Act 2012 (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Order 2013 (S.I. 2013/472), Sch. 2 para. 147(b)(aa)(ii)
  24. C473S. 138A(4) modified by S.I. 2009/814, art. 9(3)-(5) (as amended) (1.4.2013) by The Financial Services Act 2012 (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Order 2013 (S.I. 2013/472), Sch. 2 para. 167(b)(iii)(iv)
  25. C474S. 138A(4) restricted by S.I. 2008/2674, art. 29(3) (as amended) (1.4.2013) by The Financial Services Act 2012 (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Order 2013 (S.I. 2013/472), Sch. 2 para. 149(b)(aa)(iii)