Explanatory Notes

Banking (Special Provisions) Act 2008

2008 CHAPTER 2

21st February 2008

Commentary on Clauses and Schedules

Transfer of property etc

Section 6: Transfer of whole or part of undertaking

26.Where the Treasury is satisfied that it is desirable for one of the purposes set out in section 2, the Treasury may, by order under section 6, transfer property, rights and liabilities of a deposit-taker (rather than its securities). They may be transferred to a company wholly owned by the Bank of England or the Treasury, or to any other body corporate (subsection (1)). The property, rights and liabilities to be transferred may be specified in the order, or by reference to the whole or a part of the business of the institution concerned, or by identifying the manner in which they are to be determined (subsection (2)).

27.As with the powers in section 3, these powers may be used not only to transfer the business of a deposit-taker (or part of it) into public ownership, but also to effect a direct transfer to the private sector. Subsequent orders may also be made for supplementary or consequential purposes, or where it is later considered desirable to transfer other property, rights and liabilities for the purposes set out in section 2. As with section 3 orders, subsequent orders under section 6 may deal with supplementary or consequential matters without making a further transfer, and may transfer property to a different person (subsections (4) and (5)). A second or subsequent order may also transfer back property, rights and liabilities transferred by an earlier order (subsection (6)).