2(1)This paragraph applies where—
(a)a UK company appoints a person as managing director or chief executive of the company;
(b)a person becomes a controller of such a company otherwise than by virtue of an appointment in relation to which section 60 above has effect; or
(c)a person who is a controller of such a company acquires a notifiable holding in the company,
in contravention of subsection (1)(a) of section 60, 61 or 61A above; and references in this paragraph to the person in breach shall be construed accordingly.
(2)The Secretary of State—
(a)may serve the person in breach with a notice of objection at any time within three months after he becomes aware of the contravention; and
(b)for the purpose of deciding whether to serve the person in breach with such a notice or with a notice imposing conditions under paragraph 3 below, may require that person by notice in writing to provide such information or documents as the Secretary of State may reasonably require.
(3)Before serving a notice of objection under sub-paragraph (2) above, the Secretary of State shall serve on the person in breach and, in a case falling within sub-paragraph (1)(a) above, on the person appointed as managing director or chief executive a preliminary written notice—
(a)stating that he is considering serving a notice of objection on the person in breach; and
(b)specifying the matters mentioned in sub-paragraph (5) below as respects which he is not satisfied.
(4)A person served with a preliminary notice under sub-paragraph (3) above may, within the period of one month from the date of service of that notice—
(a)make written representations to the Secretary of State; and
(b)if that person so requests, oral representations to an officer of the Department of Trade and Industry appointed for that purpose by the Secretary of State.
(5)The Secretary of State shall not serve a notice of objection under sub-paragraph (2) above unless it appears to him—
(a)that the person appointed is or may not be a fit and proper person to be the managing director or chief executive of the company or, as the case may be, that the person in breach is not or may not be a fit and proper person to be a controller of the company or to retain the notifiable holding in the company; or
(b)that the interests of policy holders and potential policy holders of the company are or may in some other manner be jeopardised by that person’s ability to influence the company.
(6)Where representations are made in accordance with this paragraph the Secretary of State shall take them into consideration before serving a notice of objection.
(7)The Secretary of State shall not be obliged to disclose to the person in breach any particulars of the ground on which he is considering the service of a notice of objection.
(8)The period mentioned in sub-paragraph (2)(a) above shall be deemed not to expire until fourteen days after the end of the period within which representations may be made in accordance with this paragraph.
(9)After a notice of objection has been served on a company in relation to a person who is a managing director or chief executive, the company shall forthwith remove that person from that office.