Legalize / United Kingdom / Public General Act

Building Societies Act 1986

Type Public General Act

Publication 1986-07-25

Last updated 2025-01-06

State In force

Department Statute Law Database

Source legislation.gov.uk

articles 16

Reform history JSON API

Adoption of powers and alteration of rules

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Default powers

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Registration with existing authorities

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A building society which, at the commencement date for section 5, was registered under the Building Societies Act (Northern Ireland) 1967 or registered or deemed to be registered in Northern Ireland under the enactments repealed by that Act shall be treated, for the purposes of this Act, as registered with the central office immediately before the commencement of that section.

Authorisation under existing enactments

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(1) A building society which, at the commencement date for section 9 is authorised to raise money and accept deposits under—

(a) the Building Societies (Authorisation) Regulations 1981, or

(b) the Building Societies (Authorisation) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1982,

shall be treated, whether or not the requirements of subsection (4) of section 9 would be fulfilled in its case, at the commencement of that section as authorised for the purposes of this Act (in particular Part VI).

(2) The central office shall record in the public file of each building society to which sub-paragraph (1) above applies the fact that, by virtue of that sub-paragraph, the society is to be treated as authorised for the purposes of this Act.

Anticipation of powers: declaratory provision

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(1) It is hereby declared that every building society has had, as from 19th December 1985, power, for the purposes of any power conferred by this Act on building societies or building societies of its description, to do such things, subject to sub-paragraph (2) below, as are reasonably necessary to enable it—

(a) to decide whether or not, and to what extent, to exercise (and in the case of an adoptable power to adopt) the power, and

(b) if it decides to exercise the power, to exercise it as from the date when it becomes exercisable by the society.

(2) Sub-paragraph (1)(b) above does not authorise a society—

(a) to make contracts, other than conditional contracts, for the acquisition of land, the acquisition of a business or the acquisition of shares in any company if that company offers the public any service or facility within the power,

(b) to issue invitations to members of the society or the public to apply for any power to be exercised for their benefit, or

and, in this sub-paragraph, “conditional”, in relation to contracts with respect to the exercise of a power, means conditional on the power’s becoming exercisable by the society.

(3) The power conferred by this paragraph, and activities carried on under it, for the purposes of an adoptable power are not to be treated as included in, or in activities comprised in, that adoptable power for the purposes of paragaph 8 of this Schedule.

Unlawful anticipation of powers

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(1) Where a building society adopts any adoptable power under paragraph 2 or 3 above—

(a) it shall, by virtue of this paragraph, assume an obligation, enforceable as provided in pararaph 9 below, not to exercise that power until the date on which the memorandum of its powers takes effect as respects that power, and

(b) it shall send to the central office, with the documents required by paragraph 2(1) or 3(1) above a declaration as respects that power made on behalf of the society which satisfies the requirements of this paragraph.

(2) The obligation assumed by virtue of this paragraph on the adoption of a power does not extend to the exercise of any power included in the adoptable power which the society has under the law in force at any time before the registration takes effect.

(3) A declaration, to satisfy the requirements of this paragraph, must be made by the chairman of the board of directors of the society, by one other director and by the chief executive of the society and it must either—

(a) state that, to the best of the knowledge and belief of the declarants, after due enquiry, the society has not, or has not with the permitted qualification, carried on any activity comprised in the power during the period which began one year before the specified date (or with 1 April 1986, if later) and expired with the date of the meeting at which the power was adopted, or

(b) state that, to the best of the knowledge and belief of the declarants, after due enquiry, the society, with specified exceptions, has not, or has not with the permitted qualification, carried on any activity comprised in the power during the period which began one year before the specified date (or with 1 April 1986, if later) and expired with the date of the meeting at which the power was adopted.

(4) The qualification of the statement so required which is permitted is that in so far as the society has, at any time during the said period, carried on any activity comprised in the power to which the statement relates, the society had the power to carry on that activity at that time under the law in force at that time.

(5) The exceptions to the statement so required must not include activities of the society which constitute significant excesses of its powers during the said period; and a declaration specifying activities as exceptions to the statement so required must also state the opinion of the declarants that the activities are believed not to constitute significant excesses of the society’s powers during the period to which the declaration relates.

Penalty for breach of undertaking

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If, in breach of the obligation assumed by virtue of paragraph 8 above, a building society exercises any power to which the obligation extends, then—

(a) the society shall be liable on conviction on indictment or on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding, on summary conviction, the statutory maximum, and

(b) every officer of the society who is also guilty of the offence shall be liable, on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum.

Penalty for false declaration

10

If the statement in a declaration made for the purposes of paragraph 8 above is false, then, any person who made the statement knowing it to be false or reckless as to whether it was true or false shall be liable—

(a) on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or to a fine or both, and

(b) on summary conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum or both.

Powers of central office

11

(1) The central office, on receiving from a building society the declaration required by and the other documents referred to in paragraph 8 above, shall refer to the Commission for its determination the questi on whether or not the memorandum of the society’s powers is to be registered.

(2) On a reference to the Commission of the question whether or not the memorandum of a society’s power is to be registered—

(a) if the declaration contains the statement specified in paragraph 8(3)(a) above and the Commission has no reasonable cause to believe that the society in question has carried on any activity comprised in the power to which the obligation imposed by paragraph 8 above extends at any time during the period which begin one year before the specified date (or with 1st April 1986, if later) and expired on the date on which it considers the reference, the Commission shall direct the central office to register the memorandum, and

(b) in any other case, the Commission may, as it thinks fit, direct the central office to register, or not to register, the memorandum.

(3) The Commission, in deciding, in a case falling within sub-paragraph (2)(b) above, whether or not to direct the registration of the memorandum of a society’s powers may have regard to all the circumstances of the case.

(4) No registration of a memorandum shall be effected by the central office under paragraph 2(2) or 3(2) above before the expiry of the period of 21 days beginning with the date on which it receives the declaration required by and the other documents referred to in paragraph 8 above.

(5) If the central office, in pursuance of a direction of the Commission under sub-paragraph (2) above, refuses registration of the memorandum of a society’s powers under sub-paragraph (1) above it shall serve on the society a notice—

(a) recording its refusal,

(b) specifying the activity which is believed to constitute a breach of the society’s obligation, and

(c) directing the society to make an application to the Commission under section 38 for a determination under that section whether the activity was or was not within the powers of the society at the time specified under sub-paragraph (b) above,

and shall send a copy of the notice to the Commission.

(6) The central office shall comply with any direction as regards the registration of the memorandum of the society’s powers given to it by the Commission consequent on the Commission’s determination of the society’s powers under section 38.

(7) Nothing in the foregoing provisions of this Schedule implies that it is improper for any of the following, that is to say—

(a) the Chief Registrar or any assistant registrar of the central office,

(b) the assistant registrar of friendly societies for Scotland,

(d) the Commission,

to give to a building society or building societies generally an indication of the action the Commission might or might not take in exercising its functions under this paragraph; and no decision of the Commission under this paragraph shall be liable to be set aside by reason of the indication having been given.

(8) In this paragraph “the specified date” has the same meaning as in paragraph 2 or, as the case may be, 3 above.

Permissible securities for advances

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(1) Until provision is made by an order under section 10(6) prescribing the descriptions of equitable interests in land which may be taken as security for advances secured on land, building societies may advance money on the security of an equitable interest in land in England and Wales or Northern Ireland in addition to a mortgage of the freehold or leasehold estate where the lease or a related instrument includes provision entitling the leaseholder to acquire a beneficial interest of any extent in the freehold or a greater leasehold interest and the right to acquire that interest is assigned as additional security.

(2) Until such provision is made, section 17(10) shall have effect with the substitution of a reference to an equitable interest of the description specified in sub-paragraph (1) above for the reference to an equitable interest specified in an order under section 10(6).

(3) On the making of the first order under section 10(6) this paragraph shall cease to have effect.

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Until provision is made by an order under section 12(3) prescribing indemnities given by a local authority as a description of additional security for the purposes of section 11(4)(c), an indemnity given under section 442 of the Housing Act 1985, under section 31 of the Tenants’ Rights, Etc. (Scotland) Act 1980 or under Article 156 of the Housing (Northern Ireland) Order 1981 shall be such a security; and on the making of the first order under section 12(3) this paragraph shall cease to have effect.

Existing business names

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Directors in office

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(1) Except as provided in this paragraph, an existing director shall be treated for the purposes of sections 60 and 61 as having been duly elected a director on the date of his appointment as a director or, as the case may be, of his most recent re-appointment to that office before the commencement date.

(2) An existing director who holds office as director by virtue of holding some other position in the society shall, except in a case within sub-paragraph (4) below, be treated for the purposes of sections 60 and 61 as having been duly elected a director at the commencement date.

(3) If the term of office of an existing director would, in accordance with the terms on which he holds office, expire on an earlier date than is provided for by sub-paragraph (1) above, he shall vacate office on that earlier date.

(4) An existing director who has attained the normal retirement age, or the compulsory retirement age (if any), as the case may be, before the commencement date shall retire from office at the first annual general meeting of the society after the commencement date.

(5) If, at the commencement date, an existing director, other than a director falling within sub-paragraph (2) above, has held office since the date of his appointment or most recent re-appointment for a period longer than is provided for in section 60(11)(a), he shall retire from office at the first annual general meeting of the society after the commencement date.

(6) In this paragraph—

“the commencement date” means the commencement date for sections 60 and 61;

“existing director” means any director of a building society in office immediately before the commencement date; and

“the compulsory retirement age” and “the normal retirement age” have the meanings given in section 60(8).

Existing financial years

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Qualifying assets

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For the purposes of the application of section 118 by reference to the annual accounts of a building society prepared before the first financial year for which accounts under Part VIII of this Act are prepared, the reference to the total commercial assets of a society shall have effect as a reference to the amount in the last balance sheet prepared under the Building Societies Act 1962 which represents the total assets constituted by mortgage debts outstanding to the society.

Provision of conveyancing services for building societies

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SCHEDULE 21

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Recognition of institutions

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Grant and revocation of recognition

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Recording of recognised status

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Delegation of functions

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Supplementary provisions as to recognition rules

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Restrictions on conveyancing by unqualified persons not to apply in case of recognized institutions

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Legal professional privilege

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Modification of enactments relating to conveyancing

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Penalty for pretending to be a recognised institution

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Offences committed by bodies corporate and unincorporated associations

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Power of Lord Chancellor to make recognition rules in the case of sole practitioners

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Restrictions on conveyancing by unqualified persons not to apply to recognised practitioners in relation to acts done by their employees

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Penalty for pretending to be a recognised practitioner

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The Building Societies Commission.

Making loans

Functions of the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority in relation to building societies.

6A

(1) For the purposes of this Act a loan is secured on land if it is secured by—

(a) a mortgage of a legal estate in land in England and Wales or Northern Ireland;

(b) a heritable security over land in Scotland; or

(1A) For the purposes of this Act a loan is also secured on land if—

(a) it was secured before IP completion day by a qualifying security over land in an EEA country or territory other than the United Kingdom, and

(b) it continues to be secured by a qualifying security over that land.

(2) For the purposes of this Act a loan is also secured on land if—

(a) it is secured by a mortgage of an equitable interest in land in England and Wales or Northern Ireland;

(b) the equitable interest is an equitable interest in land of a description, and is created in circumstances, prescribed in an order made by the . . . Treasury; and

and an order under this subsection may apply in relation to securities held by or on behalf of building societies or connected undertakings of a description specified in the order, or securities held by or on behalf of all such societies or undertakings other than those of a description so specified.

(3) For the purposes of this Act—

(a) a loan shall be treated as secured by a mortgage of a legal estate in registered land in England and Wales or Northern Ireland notwithstanding that the loan is made before the mortgagor is registered as proprietor of the estate; and

(b) a loan shall be treated as secured by a heritable security over land in Scotland notwithstanding that the loan is made before title to that land has been transferred to the debtor in the heritable security.

(4) The Treasury may, by order provide for any provisions of this Act to have effect in relation to loans secured on land outside the United Kingdom with such modifications as appear to them to be appropriate.

(5) An order under subsection (2) or (4) above may make such incidental, supplementary and transitional provision as appears to the Treasury to be necessary or expedient.

(6) The power to make an order under subsection (2) or (4) above is exercisable by statutory instrument which shall be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.

(7) In this section and section 6B—

“EEA country or territory” means a country or territory in the European Economic Area;

“qualifying security”, in relation to a loan and land in the Isle of Man, the Channel Islands, Gibraltar or in an EEA country or territory, means a security over the land which—acknowledges, and requires repayment of, the loan; andsecures repayment of the loan on the land;...

(8) In this Act “land”, in the expression “loan secured on land”, means—

(a) land in—

(i) the United Kingdom;

(ii) the Isle of Man, the Channel Islands, Gibraltar; or

(iii) an EEA country or territory; and

(b) in so far as land in any other country or territory is, under any provision of this Act, land on which loans may be secured, land in that other country or territory.

6B

(1) For the purposes of this Act a loan which is owed to a building society or a subsidiary undertaking of a building society and is secured on residential property or other land is fully secured on the land if—

(a) the principal of, and interest accrued on, the loan does not exceed the value of the requisite security; and

(b) no, or no more than one, mortgage of the land which has priority over the society’s or undertaking’s mortgage is outstanding in favour of an outside person.

(2) Where a mortgage of the residential property or other land which has priority over the society’s or undertaking’s mortgage is outstanding, the principal of the loan secured or, in the case of a loan by instalments, intended to be secured by that mortgage shall be deducted from the value of the requisite security for the purposes of subsection (1)(a) above.

(3) Where the loan is secured on residential property or other land in the United Kingdom, any outstanding charge over the land which—

(a) in the case of land in England and Wales, is registered in the appropriate local land charges register;

(b) in the case of land in Scotland, is recorded in the Register of Sasines, or registered in the Land Register, under section 108 of the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 or Schedule 9 to the Housing (Scotland) Act 1987;

(c) in the case of land in Northern Ireland, is registered in the statutory charges register under section 87 of, and Schedule 11 to, the Land Registration Act (Northern Ireland) 1970,

shall be disregarded for the purposes of subsections (1)(b) and (2) above.

(4) Where, on the occasion on which a building society or a subsidiary undertaking of a building society makes or acquires a loan which is secured on land, the society or undertaking is satisfied that the loan is—

(a) a loan which is fully secured on residential property;

(b) a loan which is not so secured but is fully secured on land; or

the loan shall be treated as such a loan for the purposes of this Act until such time (if any) as subsection (7) below applies.

(5) Subsection (4) above shall have effect in relation to a loan which the society or undertaking makes by two or more payments on different dates as if—

(a) the reference to the occasion on which the society or undertaking makes the loan were a reference to the occasion on which it makes the first of the payments;

(b) other references to the loan were references to it in its intended maximum amount; and

(6) Where a building society or a subsidiary undertaking of a building society makes or acquires a loan which is secured on land, the society or undertaking shall be deemed to be satisfied as mentioned in paragraph (c) of subsection (4) above until such time (if any) as it is satisfied as mentioned in paragraph (a) or (b) of that subsection.

(7) Where at any time, in the case of a loan treated as falling within paragraph (a), (b) or (c) of subsection (4) above, the society or undertaking—

(a) is satisfied—

(i) on a revaluation that the value of the requisite security has changed;

(ii) on notice given to it by the borrower that there has been a change in the use of the land;

(iii) that so much of the mortgage debt as represents the principal of the loan has changed;

(iv) that the principal of the loan secured by a prior mortgage has changed or has been repaid; or

(v) that the relative priority of the mortgage of the land on which the loan is secured has changed;

(b) is also satisfied that the change or repayment is such that, if it were to make a loan equal to the mortgage debt at that time, the loan would instead be a loan falling within another of those paragraphs; and

the loan shall be treated as such a loan for the purposes of this Act until such time (if any) as this subsection again applies.

(8) In this section—

“outside person”, in relation to a building society or a subsidiary undertaking of a building society, means any person other than the following, namely—the society;a subsidiary undertaking of the society;a lending syndicate of which the society or such an undertaking is a member; andtrustees of a trust under which the society or such an undertaking is a beneficiary;

“the requisite security”, in relation to a loan secured on residential property or other land, means—the security constituted by the legal estate in, or the heritable or qualifying security over, the land; orin a case where an equitable interest in land in England and Wales or Northern Ireland is or is also taken as security, that constituted by that security or, as the case may be, the combined securities;

“trust” includes arrangements—which have effect under the law of a country or territory outside the United Kingdom; andunder which persons acting in a fiduciary capacity hold and administer property on behalf of other persons,and “beneficiary” and “trustees”, in relation to such arrangements, shall be construed accordingly.

(9) In the application of subsections (1), (2) and (7) above to residential property or other land in Scotland , the Isle of Man, the Channel Islands, Gibraltar or another country or territory other than the United Kingdom, references to a mortgage of the land shall be construed as references to a heritable or, as the case may require, qualifying security over the land.

Discharge of mortgages.

6C

Schedule 2A to this Act, which contains supplementary provisions as to the discharge of mortgages, shall have effect.

Loans fully secured on land.

Restrictions on powers

9A

(1) Subject to subsections (2) to (4) below, a building society shall not do, and shall secure that each of its subsidiary undertakings does not do, any of the following things, namely—

(a) act as a market maker in securities, commodities or currencies;

(b) trade in commodities or currencies; and

but a contravention of this subsection shall not invalidate any transaction or other act.

(2) No transaction entered into by a building society, or a subsidiary undertaking of a building society, shall be taken into account for the purposes of subsection (1)(a) above if—

(a) it relates only to securities or currencies or both and the amount or value of the consideration given by the society or undertaking does not exceed £100,000; or

(b) it is entered into in the society’s or undertaking’s capacity as the manager of a collective investment scheme.

(3) No transaction so entered into shall be taken into account for the purposes of subsection (1)(b) above if—

(a) it relates only to currencies and the amount or value of the consideration given by the society or undertaking does not exceed £3 million; or

(b) it is ancillary or incidental to another transaction entered into by the society or undertaking.

(4) Nothing in subsection (1)(c) above shall apply in relation to any transaction entered into by a building society, or a subsidiary undertaking of a building society, if—

(a) it is entered into in the society’s or undertaking’s capacity as the manager of a collective investment scheme;

(b) it is entered into for the purpose of limiting the extent to which the society, or a connected undertaking of the society, will be affected by changes in any of the following factors, namely—

(i) interest rates;

(ii) exchange rates;

(iii) any index of retail prices;

(iv) any index of residential property prices; . . .

(v) any index of the prices of securities; and

(vi) the ability or willingness of one or more persons to pay or repay a sum or sums owing at law or in equity to the society or a connected undertaking of the society;...

(c) it involves a derivative investment falling within paragraph (d) of the definition in subsection (9) below and it is entered into for the purpose of limiting the extent to which any person will be affected by changes in any interest or exchange rate applicable to—

(i) a loan owed by him to;

(ii) shares held by him in; or

(iii) a deposit of his with,

the society, or a connected undertaking of the society ; or

(d) it is entered into in order to comply with an obligation imposed by a recognised clearing house or an EEA central counterparty pursuant to Article 37 of Regulation (EU) No 648/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 4 July 2012 on OTC derivatives, central counterparties and trade repositories.

(5) Nothing in subsection (1)(c) above shall apply in relation to any transaction entered into by a subsidiary undertaking of a building society, if it is entered into in the undertaking’s capacity—

(a) as a person who has permission under Part 4A of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 to effect or carry out contracts of long-term insurance, ...

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(6) A building society shall also do all that is reasonably practicable to secure that neither it nor any of its subsidiary undertakings (either alone or with any or any others of those undertakings)—

(a) holds at any time more than 5 per cent of the issued share capital; or

(b) is at any time entitled to exercise, or to control the exercise of, more than 5 per cent of the voting power at any general meeting,

of an undertaking which is, at that time, doing any of the things which the society is prohibited from doing by subsection (1) above, or an undertaking whose subsidiary undertaking is, at that time, doing any of those things.

(7) The monetary limit in subsection (2) or (3) above refers to the time when the transaction is entered into; and where the amount or value of the consideration there referred to is not in sterling, it shall be converted at the rate of exchange prevailing at that time.

(8) For the purposes of subsection (2) or (3) above, two or more transactions which form part of a larger transaction or series of transactions shall be treated as a single transaction.

(9) In this section—

“collective investment scheme” has the same meaning as in the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000;

“commodity” means any produce of agriculture, forestry or fisheries, or any mineral, either in its natural state or having undergone only such processes as are necessary or customary to prepare the produce or mineral for the market;

“derivative investment”means an investment of the following kinds—instruments giving entitlements to investments;options;futures;contracts for differences;

“EEA central counterparty” has the meaning given in section 285(1)(c) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000;”

“market maker” means, subject to subsection (10) below, a person who holds himself out as willing at all normal times to buy or sell at a price specified by him securities, commodities or currencies of a particular description;

“recognised clearing house” has the meaning given in section 285(1)(b) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000;”.

“securities” means shares, stock, debentures, debenture stock, loan stock, bonds, units of a collective investment scheme and other securities of any description.

(9A) Subsection (5) and the definition of “derivative investment” in subsection (9) must be read with—

(a) section 22 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000;

(b) any relevant order under that section; and

(10) A building society, or subsidiary undertaking of a building society, shall not by reason of holding itself out as willing to issue its own securities be regarded for the purposes of this section as acting as a market maker in such securities.

(11) The Treasury may by order vary subsections (1) to (10) above by adding to or deleting from them any provision or by varying any provision contained in them.

(12) The Treasury may by order—

(a) substitute for the amount specified in subsection (2) or (3) above, or for the percentage specified in subsection (6) above, such other amount or percentage as they think appropriate; or

(b) vary subsection (4)(b) above by adding to or deleting from it any reference to a factor or by varying any reference to a factor contained in it.

(13) An order under subsection (11) or (12) above may make—

(a) different provision for different cases or purposes; and

(b) such supplementary, transitional and saving provision as appears to the Treasury . . .to be necessary or expedient;

and the power to make such an order is exercisable by statutory instrument.

(14) No order shall be made under subsection (11) above unless a draft of the order has been laid before and approved by a resolution of each House of Parliament.

(15) A statutory instrument containing an order under subsection (12) above shall be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.

Mergers; provisions supplementing ss. 93 and 94.

9B

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Transfer regulations.

Rights of second-named joint shareholders.

14A

(1) Subject to subsection (2) below, a building society may participate in syndicated lending—

(a) as a member of the lending syndicate, or

(b) as a person whose rights as a participant arise under an arrangement with a member of the lending syndicate (“a sub-participant”).

(2) Subsection (1) above only applies if—

(a) the syndicated lending is appropriately secured, and

(b) where the society’s participation is as a sub-participant, the society’s rights as such a participant are appropriately secured.

(3) The Commission may, with the consent of the Treasury, by order—

(a) make provision with respect to what constitutes appropriate security for the purposes of subsection (2)(a) or (b) above;

(b) make provision with respect to the classification, for the purposes of the requirements of this Part for the structure of commercial assets, of a society’s participation under this section in syndicated lending; and

(c) provide for the application of the provisions of this Part, with such modifications as appear to the Commission to be appropriate, to a society’s participation under this section in syndicated lending.

(4) The power conferred by subsection (3) above shall be exercisable by statutory instrument subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.

(5) A building society may only exercise the power conferred by this section if it has adopted it.

Protection of interests of beneficiaries in the case of trustee account holders.

Rights of second-named joint shareholders.

25A

Protection of interests of beneficiaries in the case of trustee account holders.

27A

Rights of second-named joint shareholders.

Consequences of false declaration.

29A

Protection of interests of beneficiaries in the case of trustee account holders.

36A

(1) Where by virtue of section 36(12) the powers conferred by this section become exercisable in relation to a building society, the appropriate authority may issue a prohibition order directed to the society.

(2) A prohibition order under this section is an order—

(a) prohibiting, subject to the saving or transitional provisions of the order, the continuance or, as the case may be, the carrying on of the activity specified in the order after a date so specified, either absolutely or unless conditions so specified are complied with; and

(b) requiring, subject to the saving or transitional provisions of the order, the disposal within a period specified in the order of all assets acquired or otherwise in its possession by virtue of the activity.

(3) A disposal of assets in pursuance of a prohibition order shall vest the assets in the transferee but without prejudice to any claim against the society by a person who had an interest in the assets.

(4) The saving or transitional provisions which may be included in a prohibition order shall be such as appear to the appropriate authority to be just having regard to—

(a) the interests of shareholders of and depositors with the society; and

(b) the interests of other persons who will be affected by the order.

(5) If the appropriate authority proposes to issue a prohibition order under this section it must give the society a warning notice.

(5A) If the appropriate authority decides to issue a prohibition order under this section it must give the society a decision notice, and may issue the order at the same time as or after giving the decision notice.

(5B) A warning notice or decision notice about a prohibition order under this section must set out the terms of the order which the appropriate authority proposes (or has decided) to make, including any saving or transitional provisions to be included in it.

(5C) Part XXVI of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (notices) is to be treated as applying in respect of warning notices and decision notices given under this section as it applies in respect of warning notices and decision notices given under that Act, subject to subsection (5D) below.

(5D) In the application of Part XXVI of that Act in respect of warning notices and decision notices given under this section—

(a) section 388(1)(e) is to be omitted,

(b) section 388(2) (which makes provision for the type of action to which a decision notice may relate if it was preceded by a warning notice) is to be read as if, for the word “Part”, there were substituted the word “ section ”,

(d) for the purposes of section 391 (publication) a decision notice given under this section is to be treated as if it were a final notice rather than a decision notice.

(5E) The PRA must consult the FCA about the terms of the prohibition order in question before giving a warning notice or a decision notice under this section.

(6) If the appropriate authority issues a prohibition order under this section it shall serve the order on the society....

(7) A prohibition order so . . . issued shall, subject to subsection (11) below, take effect on the date specified in the order.

(8) A copy of any order issued under subsection (6) above shall also be served on each director and on the chief executive of the society.

(9) The requirement of subsection (8) above, so far as it relates to directors, is satisfied by serving a copy on each director whose appointment has been officially notified and the non-receipt of a copy by a director or the chief executive does not affect the validity of the order.

(9A) The PRA must give the FCA a copy of any order issued under this section.

(9B) The FCA must keep a copy of any order issued under this section in the public file of the society.

(10) Subject to subsection (11) below, a prohibition order shall remain in force until revoked by the appropriate authority .

(11) The appropriate authority may suspend or revoke a prohibition order so far as it relates to an asset the disposal of which appears to it, on the application of the society, to be impracticable.

(12) If a society contravenes a prohibition order issued against it under this section—

(a) the power conferred on the appropriate authority by section 37(1) shall become exercisable in relation to the society; and

(b) the appropriate authority may exercise that power or certify the contravention in writing to the High Court, or do both of those things;

but the contravention shall not invalidate any transaction or other act.

(13) On receiving such a certification, the High Court—

(a) may inquire into the case; and

(b) after hearing any witnesses who may be produced against or on behalf of the society and after hearing any statement which may be offered in defence, may punish the society in like manner as if it had been guilty of contempt of the court.

(14) Where a contravention of a prohibition order which is so certified is proved to have been committed with the consent or connivance of, or to be attributable to any neglect on the part of, any officer of the society he, as well as the society, may be punished in like manner as if he had been guilty of contempt of the court.

(15) In the application of this section to a building society whose principal office is in Scotland, references to the High Court shall be read as references to the Court of Session.

42A

42B

(1) If, with respect to a building society which has a permission under Part 4A of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 to accept deposits, the appropriate authority considers it expedient to do so in order to protect the investments of shareholders or depositors, it may either—

(a) direct the society, within a specified period, to transfer all its engagements to one or more other building societies under section 94;

(aa) direct the society, within a specified period, to transfer its business under section 97 to an existing or specially formed company that is a subsidiary of another mutual society by a transfer to which provision made by order under section 3 of the 2007 Act (transfers to subsidiaries of other mutuals) applies;or

(b) direct the society, within a specified period, to transfer its business under section 97 to an existing company that is not a subsidiary of another mutual society .

(1A) In this section—

(a) “the 2007 Act” means the Building Societies (Funding) and Mutual Societies (Transfers) Act 2007;

(b) “mutual society” has the same meaning as in section 3 of that Act.

(2) If it appears to the appropriate authority that a society has failed to comply with a direction under subsection (1), the appropriate authority may exercise its power under section 55J (variation or cancellation on initiative of regulator), section 55L (imposition of requirements by FCA) or section 55M (imposition of requirements by PRA) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 in relation to the society ....

(2A) Subsection (2) does not affect the appropriate authority ’s ability to exercise that power, in relation to the society, on any other ground.

(3) Where the appropriate authority —

(a) gives a building society a direction under subsection (1)(a) above; or

(b) does not give a building society such a direction solely because the society is already seeking to transfer all its engagements to one or more other building societies under section 94,

the appropriate authority may, if it considers it expedient to do so in order to protect the investments of shareholders or depositors, direct that, instead of resolving to transfer its engagements by the two resolutions required by section 94(2) (with or without the additional resolution required by section 94(3)), the society may resolve to do so by a resolution of the board of directors.

(4) Where the appropriate authority —

(a) gives a building society a direction under subsection (1)(aa) or (b) above; or

(b) does not give a building society such a direction solely because the society is already seeking to transfer its business to an existing company , or to a specially formed company that is a subsidiary of another mutual society, under section 97,

the appropriate authority may, if it considers it expedient to do so in order to protect the investments of shareholders or depositors, direct that, instead of approving the transfer and the terms of the transfer by the two resolutions required by section 97(4)(c), the society may approve the transfer and those terms by a resolution of the board of directors.

(5) A direction under subsection (3) or (4) above—

(a) shall be in writing;

(b) may be given subject to such limitations or conditions as the appropriate authority may think fit; and

(c) unless renewed by a further direction, shall cease to have effect at the end of the period of 90 days beginning with the day on which it is given.

(5A) The PRA must consult the FCA before giving a direction under this section.

(6) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(7) In Schedule 8A to this Act—

(a) Part I (which contains provisions modifying sections 94 to 96 and Schedule 16 to this Act) shall apply where a direction is given under subsection (3) above; and

(b) Part II (which contains provisions modifying sections 97 to 100 and Schedule 17 to this Act) shall apply where a direction is given under subsection (4) above.

(8) The Treasury may make regulations for the purpose of specifying, as prescribed matters—

(a) the matters of which statements under paragraph 3 of Schedule 8A to this Act are to give particulars; and

(b) the matters of which statements under paragraph 9 of that Schedule are to give particulars.

(9) The power to make regulations under this section is exercisable by statutory instrument which shall be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.

42C

(1) A direction under section 42B(1) . . . may be varied by a further direction; and a direction may be revoked by the appropriate authority by a notice in writing to the building society concerned.

(1A) If the appropriate authority is the PRA, it must consult the FCA before varying or revoking a direction.

(2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(3) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

43A

43B

General functions of Commission

Consequences of false declaration.

45AA

45A

46A

(1) If the appropriate authority proposes—

(a) to give a direction to a society under section 36(3), (5), (6), (7) or (10), or

(b) to give a direction to a society under section 42B(1), other than a direction varying a previous direction with the agreement of the society concerned,

it must give the society a warning notice.

(2) The warning notice must set out the terms of the direction which the appropriate authority proposes to give.

(3) If the appropriate authority decides—

(a) to give a direction to a society under section 36(3), (5), (6), (7) or (10), or

(b) to give a direction to a society under section 42B(1), other than a direction varying a previous direction with the agreement of the society concerned,

it must give the society a decision notice.

(4) The decision notice must set out the terms of the direction which the appropriate authority has decided to give.

(5) A society to whom a decision notice is given under this section may refer the matter to the Upper Tribunal.

(6) Part XXVI of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (notices) is to be treated as applying in respect of warning notices and decision notices given under this section as it applies in respect of warning notices and decision notices given under that Act, subject to subsection (8) below.

(7) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(8) In the application of Part XXVI of that Act in respect of warning notices and decision notices given under this section—

(a) section 388(1)(e)(i) (which requires a decision notice to indicate any right given under that Act to refer a decision to the Tribunal) is to be read as if, for the words “this Act”, there were substituted “ the Building Societies Act 1986 ”;

(b) section 388(2) (which makes provision for the type of action which may be proposed in a decision notice which was preceded by a warning notice) is to be read as if, for the word “Part”, there were substituted “ section ”;

(i) for the words “an order” there were substituted “ a direction ”, and

(ii) for the words “the order”, in both places where they appear, there were substituted “ the direction ”; and

(d) section 392 (application of sections 393 (third party rights) and 394 (access to appropriate authority material)) is to be read—

(i) as if paragraph (a) of that section contained a reference to a warning notice given under subsection (1) above, and

(ii) as if paragraph (b) of that section contained a reference to a decision notice given under subsection (3) above.

Power to amend, etc. to assimilate to company law.

Determination of appeals.

52A

(1) Any member, servant or agent of the Commission may, on producing if required evidence of his authority, enter any premises occupied by a person on whom a notice has been served under section 52 for the purpose of—

(a) obtaining there the information, documents or other material or explanations required by that notice; and

(b) facilitating the exercise by the Commission of the powers conferred by subsection (5) of that section.

(2) Subject to subsection (3) below, any member, servant or agent of the Commission may, on producing if required evidence of his authority, enter any premises occupied by any person on whom a notice could be served under section 52 for the purpose of obtaining there such information, documents or other material or explanations as—

(a) are specified in the authority; and

(b) are information, documents or other material or explanations that could have been required by such a notice.

(3) The Commission shall not authorise any person to act under subsection (2) above unless it has reasonable cause to believe that if a notice under section 52 were served it would not be complied with or that any documents or other material to which it would relate would be removed, tampered with or destroyed.

(4) Any person who intentionally obstructs a person exercising rights conferred by this section shall be liable on summary conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale or both.

Confidentiality of certain information obtained by Commission.

Directors: supplementary provisions as to elections, etc.

66A

(1) This section applies where a building society enters into a transaction the parties to which include—

(a) a director of the society; or

(b) a person connected with such a director,

and the board of directors, in connection with the transaction, exceed any limitation on their powers by reason of anything included in the society’s constitution, that is to say, its memorandum and rules.

(2) The transaction is voidable at the instance of the society.

(3) Whether or not it is avoided, any such party to the transaction as is mentioned in subsection (1)(a) or (b) above, and any director of the society who authorised the transaction, is liable—

(a) to account to the society for any gain which he has made directly or indirectly by the transaction, and

(b) to indemnify the society for any loss or damage resulting from the transaction.

(4) Nothing in the above provisions shall be construed as excluding the operation of any other enactment or rule of law by virtue of which the transaction may be called in question or any liability to the society may arise.

(5) The transaction ceases to be voidable if—

(a) restitution of any money or other asset which was the subject-matter of the transaction is no longer possible, or

(b) the society is indemnified for any loss or damage resulting from the transaction, or

(c) rights acquired bona fide for value and without actual notice of the directors’ exceeding their powers by a person who is not party to the transaction would be affected by the avoidance, or

(d) the transaction is ratified by the society in general meeting, by ordinary or special resolution or otherwise as the case may require.

(6) A person other than a director of the society is not liable under subsection (3) above if he shows that at the time the transaction was entered into he did not know that the directors were exceeding their powers.

(7) This section does not affect the operation of sub-paragraph (1) of paragraph 17 of Schedule 2 in relation to any party to the transaction not within subsection (1)(a) or (b) above.

But where a transaction is voidable by virtue of this section and valid by virtue of that sub-paragraph in favour of such a person, the court may, on the application of that person or of the society, make such order affirming, severing or setting aside the transaction, on such terms, as appear to the court to be just.

(8) In this section “transaction” includes any act; and the reference in subsection (1) above to limitations under the society’s constitution includes limitations deriving—

(a) from a resolution of the society passed at a general or special meeting or on a postal or electronic ballot; or

(b) from any agreement between the members of the society.

83A

90A

For the purpose of—

(a) enabling voluntary arrangements to be approved in relation to building societies,

(b) enabling administration orders to be made in relation to building societies, and

(c) making provision with respect to persons appointed in England and Wales , Scotland or Northern Ireland as receivers and managers , or receivers, of building societies’ property,

the enactments specified in paragraph 1(2) of Schedule 15A to this Act shall apply in relation to building societies with the modifications specified in that Schedule.

Power of court to declare dissolution of building society void.

New business

Acquisition or establishment of a business.

92A

(1) A building society—

(a) in order to acquire, or allow a subsidiary undertaking to acquire, a business to which subsections (3) and (4) below apply; or

(b) in order to establish, or allow such an undertaking to establish, a business to which subsections (3) and (5) below apply,

must resolve so to do by an ordinary resolution; but a failure to comply with this subsection shall not invalidate any transaction or other act.

(2) In order to be effective for the purposes of subsection (1) above, an ordinary resolution of a building society must be passed by a majority of the members of the society entitled to vote on such a resolution and voting either—

(a) in person or by proxy on a poll on the resolution at a meeting of the society; or

(b) in a postal or electronic ballot on the resolution;

and in a case falling within paragraph (a) above, a form for the appointment of a proxy shall be sent to each person entitled to notice of the meeting.

(3) This subsection applies to a business which is proposed to be acquired or established if, in the opinion of the board of directors of the society—

(a) the greater part of the income of the business is or will be derived from activities having no connection with loans secured on residential property;

(b) the greater part of the resources of the business are or will be devoted to such activities; or

(4) This subsection applies to a business which is proposed to be acquired if X is not less than 15 per cent of Y where—

X = the amount or value of the consideration to be given for the shares, voting rights or assets proposed to be acquired;

Y = the amount of the society’s own funds as at the relevant date.

(5) This subsection applies to a business which is proposed to be established if X is not less than 15 per cent of Y where—

X = the aggregate of the following as estimated by the society, namely—

(a) the cost of acquiring, developing, adapting or repairing any premises required for the purposes of the business;

(b) the initial cost of acquiring any plant or equipment, or any intellectual property, so required;

(d) the cost of obtaining any professional advice required in connection with the establishment of the business;

(e) any other non-recurring items of expenditure to be incurred in that connection; and

(f) in the case of a business proposed to be established by a subsidiary undertaking, the amount of any capital to be provided by the society which will not be used for defraying items of expenditure falling within the foregoing paragraphs;

Y = the amount of the society’s own funds as at the relevant date.

(6) Where a business is proposed to be acquired or established by a syndicate whose members include a building society or subsidiary undertaking—

(a) subsection (1) above shall have effect as if the business were proposed to be acquired or (as the case may be) established by the society; and

(b) whichever of subsections (4) and (5) above is applicable shall have effect as if X were only so much of X as is referable to participation in the syndicate by the society or undertaking.

(7) For the purposes of subsections (1)(a) and (4) above, two or more proposed acquisitions by a building society or subsidiary undertaking which will form part of a larger acquisition or series of acquisitions shall be treated as a single acquisition.

(8) Nothing in this section shall apply in relation to a building society in so far as it undertakes, in accordance with section 94 and Schedule 16 to this Act, to fulfil engagements transferred to it in accordance with that section and that Schedule.

(9) In this section—

“initial”, in relation to any cost, means incurred, or likely in the directors’ opinion to be incurred, not later than 12 months after the establishment of the business;

“intellectual property” includes—any patent, know-how, trade mark, service mark, registered design, copyright or design right; andany licence under or in respect of any such right;

“the relevant date”, in relation to a building society, means—the date of the end of its last financial year or, failing that, the date of its establishment; orwhere it has been involved in a transfer of engagements, the date of that transfer,whichever is the later.

(10) The Treasury may by order substitute for the percentage specified in subsection (4) or (5) above such other percentage as appears to them to be appropriate; and an order under this subsection may make such supplementary, transitional and saving provision as appears to the Treasury to be necessary or expedient.

(11) The Treasury may by order vary subsections (5) and (9) above by adding to or deleting from them any provision or by varying any provision contained in them; and an order under this subsection may make—

(a) different provisions for different cases or purposes; and

(b) such supplementary, transitional and saving provision as appears to the Treasury to be necessary or expedient.

(12) The power to make an order under subsection (10) or (11) above is exercisable by statutory instrument which shall be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.

99A

(1) Subject to subsection (2) below, the terms of a transfer of business by a building society to the company which is to be its successor may include provision for any director or other officer of the society to receive increased emoluments in consequence of the transfer, whether by way of increased remuneration or the grant of share options or otherwise.

(2) An ordinary resolution approving any such provision must be put before a meeting of the society.

102A

(1) This section applies where the terms of a transfer of business by a building society to the company which is to be its successor include such provision as is mentioned in section 100(1).

(2) If—

(a) a person (“A”) held shares in the society throughout the requisite period;

(b) any shares in the society held by A were jointly held for any period (“the joint ownership period”) constituting the whole or part of the requisite period;

(d) no person who has priority over A for the purposes of this section held shares in the society throughout the requisite period,

the jointly held shares shall be treated for the purposes of subsections (8) and (9) of section 100 as having been held by A alone.

(3) The following persons shall have priority over A for the purposes of this section, namely—

(a) where A was not the first-named holder of the jointly held shares for any part of the joint ownership period—

(i) any person who was the first-named holder of those shares for the whole or part of that period; and

(ii) where A was the second-named holder of those shares for part only of that period, any person who was the second-named holder of those shares for a later part of that period; and

(b) where A was the first-named holder of the jointly held shares for part of the joint ownership period, any person who was the first-named holder of those shares for a later part of that period.

(4) If a person dies during the requisite period at a time when he is named in the records of the society as a joint holder of any shares jointly held, this section shall have effect in relation to any later time as if he had never been so named.

(5) In this section—

“the first-named holder”, in relation to any shares jointly held, means that one of the joint holders who is named first in the records of the society, that is to say, the person by whom alone, apart from this section, those shares would, by virtue of paragraph 7(5) of Schedule 2, be treated as held for the purposes of section 100;

“qualifying day” has the same meaning as in subsections (8) and (9) of section 100;

“the requisite period” means the period beginning two years before the end of the qualifying day and ending immediately before the vesting date;

“the second-named holder”, in relation to any shares jointly held, means that one of the joint holders who is named second in the records of the society;

“the vesting date” has the same meaning as in section 100.

Protection of interests of beneficiaries in the case of trustee account holders.

102B

(1) This section shall have effect (notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the rules of the society) where the terms of the transfer of the business of a building society to its successor include provision for a distribution to be made to its members, and where more than one distribution is provided for, shall have effect in relation to each of them.

(2) In this section “distribution” in relation to a society means—

(a) a distribution among members of the society of part of the funds of the society or its successor, other than a distribution within section 100(2)(b), or

(b) the conferring of rights in relation to shares in the successor on members of the society,

in consideration of the transfer.

(3) Subject to the following provisions of this section and section 102C, a trustee account holder shall be treated by the society and its successor as not being disentitled from sharing in the distribution—

(a) as such trustee account holder, and

(b) also in relation to another account which he may hold as a trustee account holder or in relation to another account which he may hold otherwise than as a trustee account holder,

by reason only of his holding more than one account; and the terms of the transfer of business in question shall comply with this subsection.

(4) A trustee account holder shall not be entitled to share in a distribution as such trustee account holder by virtue of any provision of this section if—

(a) the society has notified that account holder that he must make, in relation to any account as respects which he is a trustee account holder, a statutory declaration under the Statutory Declarations Act 1835 complying with subsection (5); but

(b) the trustee account holder does not give the society that declaration before such date as may be specified in the society’s notice to him.

(5) A statutory declaration complies with this subsection if the person making it declares in it—

(a) that he is a trustee account holder in respect of an account identified in the declaration,

(b) the name and address of each beneficiary for whom he holds the account,

(d) in a case where section 102D(8) applies, the names and addresses of all the trustee account holders of the account during the period referred to in that subsection.

(6) In any case, where in response to a notice under subsection (4) (and within the time specified in that notice), a person gives a society a statutory declaration complying or purporting to comply with subsection (5) that he is a trustee account holder as respects any account he holds with that society then, subject to section 102C, the society and its successor—

(a) shall treat him as such an account holder in respect of that account, and

(b) shall not be liable to any other person in respect of any distribution to him (whether or not the society makes any enquiry into his eligibility before making the distribution).

Consequences of false declaration.

102C

(1) Where it is shown, in relation to a person who has made a statutory declaration to a society purporting to comply with section 102B(5), that, at the time the declaration is made, he is not a trustee account holder in relation to the account in question, then—

(a) a distribution shall not be made to him in pursuance of section 102B if it is so shown before the distribution is made;

(b) if a distribution is made to him, he shall be liable—

(i) to repay to the society’s successor any funds, and to surrender to it any shares or rights to any shares, which he may have received as the holder of that account,

(ii) if any shares or rights to any shares are not surrendered, to pay the successor an amount equal to the relevant value of those shares or rights.

(2) Where subsection (1)(b) applies in relation to a person, he shall also be liable to pay to the successor interest (at the rate applicable to judgment debts or, as respects Scotland, to decrees of the Court of Session)—

(a) on any funds which he is liable to repay to the successor under sub-paragraph (i) of subsection (1)(b),

(b) on the relevant value of any shares or rights which are surrendered under that sub-paragraph, and

as from the day on which he received the funds, shares or rights until subsection (1)(b) is complied with in relation thereto.

(3) In subsections (1) and (2) “relevant value”, in relation to any shares or rights to any shares, means the market value of those shares on the first day on which they are quoted on the Stock Exchange Daily Official List, and section 272 of the Taxation of Chargeable Gains Act 1992 shall apply for the purposes of this subsection.

(4) Where the successor receives any payment in circumstances where subsection (1)(b) applies, the amount of the payment shall be treated as settlement of a debt due to the successor and accordingly not as an amount due to members of the society.

(5) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(6) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Provisions supplementary to sections 102B and 102C.

102D

(1) This section has effect for the purposes of sections 102B and 102C.

(2) “Trustee account holder”, in relation to any society, is a person who is the holder of an account as respects which all the conditions in subsection (4) are satisfied and which he holds in trust for another person, but subject to subsection (5).

(3) Any reference in this section or in sections 102B and 102C to the holder of an account (however expressed) includes a reference to a person to whom the society has advanced a loan secured on land.

(4) The conditions referred to in subsection (2) are—

(a) that he is a member of the society by virtue of holding that account;

(b) that the account holder—

(i) is the sole account holder or the representative joint holder (within the meaning of paragraph 7 of Schedule 2 to this Act), or

(ii) in the case of a borrowing member, is not a joint borrower or is the representative joint borrower (within the meaning of paragraph 8 of that Schedule);

(c) that it is not reasonably practicable for any one or more of the persons for whom he holds the account, by reason of ill-health or old age or any physical or mental incapacity or disability, to act in relation to the account himself.

(5) Where a person holds more than one account in trust for any other person or persons and the beneficiary or any of the beneficiaries in respect of two or more of those accounts (“the duplicate accounts”) are the same, then—

(a) the account holder shall not be a trustee account holder in respect of any of those duplicate accounts except the one which was first opened, and

(b) accordingly, section 102B(3) and (4) shall apply only in relation to that first opened duplicate account.

(6) “Beneficiary”, in relation to any account or any trustee account holder, is the person or any of the persons for whose benefit the account is held or for whose benefit the trustee account holder holds the account (as the case may be).

(7) Any beneficiary of any account who is a child shall be disregarded for the purposes of subsection (4) above unless he suffers ill-health or any physical or mental incapacity or disability which if suffered by an adult would prevent it being reasonably practicable for such an adult to act in relation to the account himself.

(8) In any case where—

(a) the identity of the trustee account holder changes during any period which is relevant to the distribution in question, and

(b) the account is not closed but continues to be held for the benefit of the same beneficiaries (disregarding any who have died),

the trustee account holders during that period shall be treated for the purpose of section 102B and the distribution as one person.

(9) Any reference to a person holding an account in trust for any other person includes a reference—

(a) to any person holding an account for another person in pursuance of any order, direction or authority made or given under the Mental Capacity Act 2005 or under Part VIII of the Mental Health (Northern Ireland) Order 1986;

(b) to an attorney holding an account for another person under—

(i) an enduring power of attorney or lasting power of attorney registered under the Mental Capacity Act 2005, or

(ii) an enduring power registered under the Enduring Powers of Attorney (Northern Ireland) Order 1987;

(i) to a curator bonis and a judicial factor holding an account for another person; and

(ii) to a person holding an account for another person under a factory and commission or power of attorney which continues to have effect by virtue of section 71 of the Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Scotland) Act 1990;

and references to a beneficiary shall be construed accordingly.

(10) Where rights to acquire shares are to be conferred on one or more members of the society by reference to more than one account, in accordance with the provisions of section 102B, those rights shall not, without more, be taken, for the purposes of section 100(8), to confer rights to acquire the shares in priority to other subscribers.

(11) The Treasury may make regulations prescribing—

(a) the time within which the notice required by section 102B(4)(a) must be given, and

(b) the minimum time which may be specified in the notice for the purposes of section 102B(4)(b),

but, if such regulations are not made, any such notice must be given in such time, and must specify such time, as will give the trustee account holder a reasonable opportunity to make the declaration and give it to the society in compliance with the notice.

(12) Regulations under subsection (11) shall be made by statutory instrument which shall be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.

104A

(1) For the purpose of securing the registration of charges created by building societies, the Secretary of State may, by order made with the concurrence of the Treasury ... , provide that such of the provisions of Part 25 of the Companies Act 2006 (company charges) as may be specified in the order shall apply in relation to building societies, and charges created by building societies, with such modifications as may be so specified.

(2) An order under this section may make different provision for different cases or different areas and may contain such incidental, supplemental and transitional provisions as may appear to the Secretary of State to be necessary or expedient.

(3) The power to make an order under this section is exercisable by statutory instrument which shall be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.

118A

Amendments, repeals, revocations and transitional and saving provisions.

Short title.

Restrictions on business names

10A

(1) This paragraph and paragraph 10B below apply where a building society carries on business under a name other than the following, namely—

(a) its registered name;

(b) its registered name with the omission of the words “Building Society”; and

(c) its registered name with an addition which merely indicates that the business is carried on in succession to a former building society with which it has merged.

(2) The society shall not, without the written approval of the FCA , carry on business under a name which—

(a) would be likely to give the impression that the business is connected with Her Majesty’s Government or with any local authority, or

(b) includes any word or expression for the time being specified in regulations made under sub-paragraph (3) below.

(3) The Treasury may, by regulations—

(a) specify words or expressions for the use of which as or as part of a business name the approval of the FCA is required by sub-paragraph (2) above, and

(b) in relation to any such word or expression, specify a Government department or other body for the purposes of sub-paragraph (4) below.

(4) Where the society proposes to carry on business under a name which is or includes any such word or expression, and a government department or other body is specified under sub-paragraph (3)(b) above in relation to that word or expression, the society shall—

(a) request (in writing) the relevant body to indicate whether (and if so why) it has any objections to the proposal, and

(b) submit to the FCA a statement that such a request has been made and a copy of any response received from the relevant body.

(5) For the purposes of this paragraph “local authority” means—

(a) any local authority within the meaning of the Local Government Act 1972, the Common Council of the City of London or the Council of the Isles of Scilly;

(b) any local authority within the meaning of the Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994;

Use of business names: required disclosure

10B

(1) Paragraph 9(2A) above shall have effect as if after the words “in legible characters” there were inserted the words “ which are reasonably prominent ”.

(2) The society shall in all documents mentioned in paragraph 9(2A) above state in legible characters an address in the United Kingdom at which service of any document relating in any way to the business will be effective.

(3) The society shall also in any premises where the business is carried on and to which the members of the society, the customers of the business or suppliers of any goods or services to the business have access, display in a prominent position so that it may easily be read by such persons a notice containing the society’s registered name and the address mentioned in sub-paragraph (2) above.

(4) The society shall secure that the registered name and the address mentioned in sub-paragraph (2) above is immediately given, by written notice, to any person with whom anything is done or discussed in the course of the business and who asks for the registered name or the address.

(5) The Treasury may, by regulations require a notice under sub-paragraph (3) or (4) above to be displayed or given in a specified form.

Use of business names: supplementary

10C

(1) A building society which contravenes paragraph 10A(2) above shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale.

(2) A building society which, without reasonable excuse, does not comply with paragraph 9(2A) or 10B(2), (3) or (4) above, or any regulations made under paragraph 10B(5) above, shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale.

(3) Where paragraph 10A above applies any legal proceedings brought by the society to enforce a right arising out of a contract made in the course of the business in respect of which the society was, at the time the contract was made, in breach of paragraph 9(2A) or 10B(2), (3) or (4) above shall be dismissed if the defendant (or, in Scotland, the defender) to the proceedings shows—

(a) that he has a claim against the plaintiff (pursuer) arising out of that contract which he has been unable to pursue by reason of the plaintiff’s (pursuer’s) breach of paragraph 9(2A) or 10B(2), (3) or (4) above, or

(b) that he has suffered some financial loss in connection with the contract by reason of the latter’s breach of paragraph 9(2A) or 10B(2), (3) or (4) above,

unless the court before which the proceedings are brought is satisfied that it is just and equitable to let the proceedings continue.

(4) Sub-paragraph (3) above is without prejudice to the right of any person to enforce such rights as he may have against another person in any proceedings brought by that person.

(5) Regulations made under paragraph 10A(3) or 10B(5) above shall be made by statutory instrument subject to annulment by resolution of either House of Parliament.

(6) Such regulations may contain such transitional provisions and savings as the Treasury think fit, and may make different provision for different cases or classes of case.

Capacity of society not limited by its memorandum

Power of directors to bind society

No duty to enquire as to capacity of society etc.

Special meeting on members’ requisition

20A

(1) On a members’ requisition, a building society shall—

(a) duly call a special meeting, and specify the meeting as such in the notice calling it; and

(b) if so required by the requisition, send to each member entitled to receive notice of the meeting a copy of a statement of not more than 500 words with respect to the matters to be dealt with at the meeting;

and where a meeting is so called no business shall be conducted at the meeting other than that stated in the notice calling it or (where applicable) that mentioned in sub-paragraph (8)(b) below.

(1A) Where a copy of a statement is required to be sent to a member under sub-paragraph (1)(b)—

(a) it may be sent to him electronically only if it is sent to an electronic address notified by the member for the purpose; but

(b) the requirement to send it shall also be treated as satisfied if the conditions set out in sub-paragraph (1B) are satisfied.

(1B) The requirements of this sub-paragraph are satisfied in the case of a statement if—

(a) the society and that member have agreed that information which is required to be sent to him may instead be accessed by him on a web site;

(b) the agreement applies to the statement in question;

(c) no later than one working day after the statement is first capable of being accessed on a web site that person is notified ... of—

(i) the publication of the statement on a web site,

(ii) the address of that web site,

(iii) the place on that web site where the statement may be accessed, and how it may be accessed; and

(d) a copy of the statement is published continuously on that web site throughout the period beginning (so far as practicable) at the same time as copies of the statement are sent to members in accordance with sub-paragraph (1)(b), and ending with the conclusion of the meeting.

(2) A members’ requisition is a requisition of not less than the requisite number of members of the society; and that number is 500 or such lesser number as may be specified in the rules of the society.

(3) The requisition—

(a) must state the objects of the meeting, be signed by the requisitionists and be deposited at the society’s principal office; and

(b) may consist of several documents in like form each signed by one or more requisitionists and each after the first deposited within three months of the date on which the first was deposited.

(4) Where the requisition consists of several documents, the date of its deposit shall be taken to be the date on which the document signed by the requisitionist making up the requisite number is deposited at the society’s principal office.

(5) The rules of the society may require a requisitionist—

(a) to state his full name and address;

(b) to fulfil one or other of the following conditions, namely—

(i) to have been a shareholding member for a specified period and to hold, or to have held at any time during that period, shares in the society to such value (not greater than the prescribed amount) as is specified in the rules; and

(ii) to have been a borrowing member for a specified period and to owe to the society, or to have owed to the society at any time during that period, a mortgage debt of such amount (not greater than the prescribed amount) as is so specified; and

(c) to identify a share or mortgage account with the society which will evidence the fact that he fulfils one or other of those conditions;

and in this sub-paragraph “specified period” means such period (not more than two years) before the date of the requisition as is specified in the rules.

(6) No objection may be made by virtue of such rules to the requisition or, where the requisition consists of several documents, to any of those documents unless it is made within 14 days of the requisition or document being deposited at the society’s principal office.

(7) The rules of the society may also require a sum of money, not exceeding £50 per requisitionist, to be deposited with the requisition; and, where any money is so deposited, it shall be forfeited to the society, or returned to the persons who deposited it, as provided by the rules.

(8) The rules shall not provide for any deposited money to be forfeited to the society except—

(a) where a quorum is not present within half an hour after the time appointed for the meeting; or

(b) where and to the extent that those eligible to vote at the meeting decide by ordinary resolution that the money should be applied to defray the whole or any part of the expenses of holding the meeting.

(9) If the rules of a building society so provide, sub-paragraph (1) above does not require the society—

(a) to call a special meeting if the only or main object of the meeting is to move a resolution in substantially the same terms as any resolution which has been defeated at a meeting or on a postal or electronic ballot during the period beginning with the third annual general meeting before the date on which the requisition is deposited at the society’s principal office; or

(b) to call a special meeting to be held during the period of four months beginning one month after the end of its financial year.

(10) Sub-paragraph (1)(b) above does not require the society to send copies of a statement to members entitled to receive notice of a meeting in any case where—

(a) publicity for the statement would be likely to diminish substantially the confidence in the society of investing members of the public; or

(b) the rights conferred by sub-paragraph (1)(b) above are being abused to seek needless publicity for defamatory matter or for frivolous or vexatious purposes;

and that provision shall not be taken to confer any rights on members, or to impose any duties on a building society, in respect of a statement which does not relate directly to the affairs of the society.

(11) Where sub-paragraph (1)(b) above requires copies of a statement to be sent to members entitled to receive notice of a meeting, the proceedings at the meeting are not invalidated by—

(a) the accidental omission to send a copy of the statement to a member entitled to receive one, or

(b) the non-receipt of such a copy by such a member.

(11A) Where, in a case in which sub-paragraph (1A)(b) is relied on for compliance with a requirement of sub-paragraph (1)(b)—

(a) a statement is published for a part, but not all, of the period mentioned in subparagraph (1B)(d), but

(b) the failure to publish it throughout that period is wholly attributable to circumstances which it would not be reasonable to have expected the society to prevent or avoid,

the failure shall not invalidate the proceedings at the meeting.

(12) The appropriate authority shall hear and determine any dispute arising under sub-paragraph (10)(a) above, whether on the application of the society or of any other person who claims to be aggrieved.

(13) The Treasury may, by order substitute—

(a) for the number specified in sub-paragraph (2) above; or

(b) for the sum specified in sub-paragraph (7) above,

such other number or sum as appears to them to be appropriate; and an order under this subsection may make such supplementary, transitional and saving provision as appears to the Treasury to be necessary or expedient.

(14) The power to make an order under sub-paragraph (13) above is exercisable by statutory instrument which shall be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.

Failure to comply with members’ requisition

20B

(1) This paragraph applies where a members’ requisition is deposited at a building society’s principal office and the society is not relieved of the obligation to call a special meeting by paragraph 20A(9)(a) above.

(2) Subject to sub-paragraph (5) below, if the society does not within 28 days from the date of the deposit of the requisition duly call a meeting to be held within 63 days from that date—

(a) the requisitionists, or any proportion of them exceeding one half, may themselves call a meeting to be held within five months from that date; and

(b) no business shall be conducted at a meeting so called other than that stated in the notice calling it or (where applicable) that mentioned in paragraph 20A(8)(b) above.

(3) A meeting called under sub-paragraph (2) above by requisitionists shall be called in the same manner, as nearly as may be, as that in which meetings are to be called by the society.

(4) If—

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