On November 28, 2018, the FCA published its final document, entitled "FCA Mission: Approach to Authorisation," explaining the purpose of authorization and the FCA's approach to it. The paper sets out details of the FCA's approach to: (i) evaluating whether firms meet the requisite Threshold Conditions and assessing whether individuals are "fit and proper;" (ii) how the FCA uses authorization to promote competition; and (iii) revoking authorization.
The final Approach to Authorisation includes a feedback statement to the consultation which ran from December 11, 2017 to March 12, 2018. The FCA notes that it has made clarifications on the following:
- the assessment of authorization applications for individuals with key roles in solo-regulated and dual-regulated firms;
- the assessment of drivers of behavior that can create culture likely to cause harm;
- situations where the FCA may revoke authorization, registration and approval;
- the role of the Regulatory Decisions Committee;
- the provision of support to firms to promote competition; and
- measurement of the FCA's operational performance and the effectiveness of its approach.
The FCA has also included an improved set of its public commitments to firms.
The "FCA Mission: Approach to Authorisation" is available at: https://www.fca.org.uk/publication/corporate/our-approach-authorisation-final-report-feedback-statement.pdf and the FCA's Mission is available at: https://www.fca.org.uk/publications/corporate-documents/our-mission.
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