Part VI Official Listing
F1Powers exercisable in case of infringement of transparency obligation
89KPublic censure of issuer
(1)
If the F2FCA finds that an issuer of securities admitted to trading on a regulated market is failing or has failed to comply with an applicable transparency obligation, it may publish a statement to that effect.
(2)
If the F2FCA proposes to publish a statement, it must give the issuer a warning notice setting out the terms of the proposed statement.
(3)
If, after considering any representations made in response to the warning notice, the F2FCA decides to make the proposed statement, it must give the issuer a decision notice setting out the terms of the statement.
(4)
A notice under this section must inform the issuer of his right to refer the matter to the Tribunal (see section 89N) and give an indication of the procedure on such a reference.
(5)
In this section “transparency obligation” means an obligation under—
(a)
a provision of transparency rules, or
(b)
any other provision made in accordance with the transparency obligations directive.
(6)
In relation to an issuer whose home State is a member State other than the United Kingdom, any reference to an applicable transparency obligation must be read subject to section 100A(2).
89LPower to suspend or prohibit trading of securities
(1)
This section applies to securities admitted to trading on a regulated market.
(2)
If the F2FCA has reasonable grounds for suspecting that an applicable transparency obligation has been infringed by an issuer, it may—
(a)
suspend trading in the securities for a period not exceeding 10 days,
(b)
prohibit trading in the securities, or
(c)
make a request to the operator of the market on which the issuer's securities are traded—
(i)
to suspend trading in the securities for a period not exceeding 10 days, or
(ii)
to prohibit trading in the securities.
(3)
If the F2FCA has reasonable grounds for suspecting that a provision required by the transparency obligations directive has been infringed by a voteholder of an issuer, it may—
(a)
prohibit trading in the securities, or
(b)
make a request to the operator of the market on which the issuer's securities are traded to prohibit trading in the securities.
(4)
If the F2FCA finds that an applicable transparency obligation has been infringed, it may require the market operator to prohibit trading in the securities.
(5)
In this section “transparency obligation” means an obligation under—
(a)
a provision contained in transparency rules, or
(b)
any other provision made in accordance with the transparency obligations directive.
(6)
In relation to an issuer whose home State is a member State other than the United Kingdom, any reference to an applicable transparency obligation must be read subject to section 100A(2).
89MProcedure under section 89L
(1)
A requirement under section 89L takes effect—
(a)
immediately, if the notice under subsection (2) states that that is the case;
(b)
in any other case, on such date as may be specified in the notice.
(2)
If the F2FCA—
(a)
proposes to exercise the powers in section 89L in relation to a person, or
(b)
exercises any of those powers in relation to a person with immediate effect,
it must give that person written notice.
(3)
The notice must—
(a)
give details of the F2FCA's action or proposed action;
(b)
state the F2FCA's reasons for taking the action in question and choosing the date on which it took effect or takes effect;
(c)
inform the recipient that he may make representations to the F2FCA within such period as may be specified by the notice (whether or not he had referred the matter to the Tribunal);
(d)
inform him of the date on which the action took effect or takes effect;
(e)
inform him of his right to refer the matter to the Tribunal (see section 89N) and give an indication of the procedure on such a reference.
(4)
The F2FCA may extend the period within which representations may be made to it.
(5)
If, having considered any representations made to it, the F2FCA decides to maintain, vary or revoke its earlier decision, it must give written notice to that effect to the person mentioned in subsection (2).
F289NRight to refer matters to the Tribunal
A person—
(a)
to whom a decision notice is given under section 89K (public censure), or
(b)
to whom a notice is given under section 89M (procedure in connection with suspension or prohibition of trading),
may refer the matter to the Tribunal.
F389NA.Voting rights suspension orders
(1)
The court may, on the application of the FCA and in accordance with this section, make a voting rights suspension order in respect of a person who is a voteholder in relation to shares in a particular company which are admitted to trading on a regulated market and identified in the application.
(2)
A voting rights suspension order is an order which suspends the person’s exercise of voting rights attaching to the shares to which the order relates.
(3)
The court may make a voting rights suspension order in respect of a person only if it is satisfied—
(a)
that the person has contravened one or more relevant transparency provisions in respect of any of the shares identified in the application or any other shares in the same company which are admitted to trading on a regulated market, and
(b)
that the contravention is serious enough to make it appropriate to make the order.
(4)
For the purposes of subsection (3)(b), the court may, in particular, have regard to—
(a)
whether the contravention was deliberate or repeated;
(b)
the time taken for the contravention to be remedied;
(c)
whether the voteholder ignored warnings or requests for compliance from the FCA;
(d)
the size of the holding of shares to which the contravention relates;
(e)
any impact of the contravention on the integrity of the UK financial system;
(f)
the effect of the contravention on any company merger or takeover.
(5)
A voting rights suspension order may be made in relation to some or all of the shares to which the application relates.
(6)
A voting rights suspension order may be made for a specified period or an indefinite period.
(7)
A voting rights suspension order takes effect—
(a)
on the date specified in the order, or
(b)
if no date is specified, at the time it is made.
(8)
Where a voting rights suspension order has been made, the FCA, the person to whom it applies or the company which issued the shares to which it relates, may apply to the court for—
(a)
a variation of the order so as to alter the period for which it has effect or the shares in relation to which it has effect, or
(b)
the discharge of the order.
(9)
The FCA must consult the PRA before making an application to the court under this section in relation to—
(a)
a person who is a PRA-authorised person, or
(b)
shares issued by a PRA-authorised person.
(10)
The jurisdiction conferred by this section is exercisable—
(a)
in England and Wales and Northern Ireland, by the High Court, and
(b)
in Scotland, by the Court of Session.
(11)
In this section—
“relevant transparency provision” means—
(a)
a provision of the transparency rules which implements Article 9, 10, 12, 13 or 13a of the transparency obligations directive, or
(b)
a provision otherwise made in accordance with that directive which implements any of those Articles;
“voteholder” has the meaning given by section 89J(3).