Building Societies Act 1986

30 (1) The transfer resolutions required for the purposes of section 97 for the approval by members of a building society of a transfer of its business are two resolutions, of which—

(a) one is passed as a borrowing members’ resolution, and

(b) the other (“the requisite shareholders’ resolution”) is passed in accordance with sub-paragraphs (2) to (5) below.

(2) In a case where the successor is to be a specially formed company, the requisite shareholders’ resolution—

(a) must be passed as a special resolution, and

(b) must be passed on a poll on which not less than 20 per cent. of the members of the society qualified to vote on a special resolution voted;

and the notice of the resolution required by sub-paragraph (a) or sub-paragraph (b) of paragraph 27(1) above, as the case may be, must specify that the resolution will not be effective unless both of the requirements specified in this sub-paragraph are fulfilled.

(3) Subject to any direction under sub-paragraph (5) below, in a case where the successor is to be an existing company, the requisite shareholders’ resolution must be passed as a special resolution and either—

(a) must be passed by not less than 50 per cent. of the members qualified to vote on a special resolution, or

(b) must be passed by the holders, being members qualified to vote on a special resolution, of shares in the society to a value, on the voting date, representing not less than 90 per cent. of the total value of the shares held on that date by the members so qualified to vote;

and, in either case, the resolution must be a resolution in relation to which the notice required by paragraph 27 above includes a statement specifying that the resolution will not be effective unless either of the above requirements is fulfilled has been duly given.

(4) If the Commission considers it expedient, in relation to a transfer of the business of a building society to an existing company, to do so for the purpose of protecting the investments of the shareholders of or depositors with the society, the Commission may give a direction under sub-paragraph (5) below.

(5) A direction under this sub-paragraph is a direction that, for the purposes of the transfer of business specified in the direction, the requisite shareholders’ resolution is to be effective if it is passed as a special resolution.

(6) The Treasury, after consultation with the Commission, may by order amend sub-paragraph (2)(b), (3)(a) or (3)(b) above so as to substitute for the percentage for the time being specified in the subparagraph such other percentage as it thinks appropriate.

(7) The power to make orders under sub-paragraph (6) above is exercisable by statutory instrument which shall be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.

(8) In this paragraph “voting date", with reference to a requisite shareholders’ resolution, has the same meaning as in paragraph 23(6) above.