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Crown Dependencies’ Recognised Auditor Regulatory Sanctions Procedure

The FRC is responsible for promoting high quality corporate governance and reporting to foster investment. We set the UK Corporate Governance and Stewardship Codes as well as UK standards for accounting, auditing and actuarial work. We represent UK interests in international standard-setting. We also monitor and take action to promote the quality of corporate reporting and auditing. We operate independent disciplinary arrangements for accountants and actuaries, and oversee the regulatory activities of the accountancy and actuarial professional bodies.

The FRC does not accept any liability to any party for any loss, damage or costs howsoever arising, whether directly or indirectly, whether in contract, tort or otherwise from any action or decision taken (or not taken) as a result of any person relying on or otherwise using this document or arising from any omission from it.

© The Financial Reporting Council Limited 2016 The Financial Reporting Council Limited is a company limited by guarantee. Registered in England number 2486368. Registered Office: 8th Floor, 125 London Wall, London EC2Y 5AS

Contents

Part 1 Preliminaries

1. Citation and commencement

1.1This Procedure shall be known as the Crown Dependencies' Recognised Auditor Sanctions Procedure of the FRC adopted by the FRC Board on 10 December 2014 and shall have effect from 1 April 2016.1

2. Interpretation

2.1In this Procedure:-

"AQR" means the Audit Quality Review team of the FRC;

"AQR Committee" means the Audit Quality Review Committee of the FRC established under the Articles of Association;

"Articles of Association" means the Articles of Association of the FRC;

"Audit Work” has the same meaning as in the Rules;

"Conduct Committee" means the Conduct Committee of the FRC established under the Articles of Association;

“Convener” means the Convener appointed by the Nominations Committee who shall be responsible for the appointment of Independent Sanctions Tribunals;

"Executive" means the FRC executive staff;

"FRC" means the Financial Reporting Council Limited, a company limited by guarantee incorporated in England and Wales, number 2486368 and any other body which takes over functions of the FRC;

"ICAEW" means the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales;

"Independent Sanctions Tribunal" means an Independent Sanctions Tribunal of the FRC appointed by the Convener in accordance with paragraph 14.2 of this Procedure;

"Market Traded Company” has the same meaning as in the Rules;

"Nominations Committee" means the Nominations Committee of the FRC established under the Articles of Association;

"Panel" means the Panel appointed in accordance with paragraph 14.1 of this Procedure;

"Recognised Auditor” has the same meaning as in the Rules;

"Register" has the same meaning as in the Rules;

"Registrar" has the same meaning as in the Rules;

"Registration” means a Recognised Auditor's entry on the Register;

"Regulatory Framework for Auditing" means:

  1. the Auditing Standards, as defined in the Rules;
  2. the Ethical Standards, as defined in the Rules;
  3. the Quality Control Standards, as defined in the Rules;
  4. the Rules;
  5. any other legislation, standards, regulations, rules, bye-laws or other documents from time to time in force and relevant to the performance and quality of auditing of Market Traded Companies;

"Regulatory Penalty” means a fine of an amount determined by the AQR Committee or the Independent Sanctions Tribunal;

"Rules" means the Crown Dependencies' Audit Rules issued by the ICAEW;

"Sanction" means one of the types of sanction set out in paragraph 4.2 of this Procedure;

"Scheme" means The Accountancy Scheme of the FRC;

"Terms of Reference" means the Terms of Reference of the AQR Committee as determined by the FRC Board;

"Undertakings" means the written undertakings as referred to in paragraph 4.5 of this Procedure.

2.2Words and expressions have the meanings given in the Interpretation Act 1978 of the United Kingdom Parliament unless defined in this Procedure. The definitions in this Procedure take precedence.

2.3In this Procedure words importing the singular number include the plural number and vice versa. Words importing the masculine gender include the feminine and neuter. Headings do not affect the interpretation of this Procedure. This Procedure will be governed by, and interpreted according to, the law of England and Wales.

2.4Any reference to a statute includes: that statute as amended from time to time; any statute re-enacting or replacing it; and any statutory instruments, regulations or rules made under that statute or any statute re-enacting or replacing it.

2.5Any reference to regulations, bye-laws, rules, standards or other documents includes reference to any related guidance, and will apply to any re-enactment, re-issue or amendment of those regulations, bye-laws, rules, standards or other documents.

3. Conduct Committee

3.1The Conduct Committee shall have power to:-

  1. provide the AQR Committee, the Convener and any Independent Sanctions Tribunal with guidance concerning the exercise of their duties under this Procedure, who shall have regard to any such guidance issued;
  2. authorise any Tribunal to employ any person whose services may reasonably be required to assist the Tribunal; and
  3. authorise the remuneration of the members of any Tribunal, the Convener and any other persons.

Part 2 Regulatory Action

4. Liability to Sanctions or Undertakings

4.1A Recognised Auditor shall be liable to a Sanction under this Procedure where they have failed to comply with the Regulatory Framework for Auditing and:-

  1. Their continued registration or their continued registration without restrictions or conditions could adversely affect a Market Traded Company or any other person; and / or
  2. it is necessary to impose a Sanction to ensure that their Audit Work is undertaken, supervised and managed effectively.

4.2The Sanctions to which a Recognised Auditor shall be liable to under paragraph 4.1 are:

  1. Restrictions and/or Conditions;
  2. Regulatory Penalty;
  3. Suspension of Registration2;
  4. Withdrawal of Registration3.

4.3During a period of suspension a Recognised Auditor:

  1. Need not resign from any appointment as a Recognised Auditor;
  2. May accept re-appointment as a Recognised Auditor;
  3. Must not accept any new appointments; and
  4. May only sign audit reports with the permission of the relevant Registrar.

4.4Under this Procedure any Sanction on a Recognised Auditor shall be effected by way of a direction from the AQR Committee or Independent Sanctions Tribunal (as appropriate) to the ICAEW to implement the Sanction, and the ICAEW shall implement that Sanction on the Recognised Auditor as if it were a Sanction which the ICAEW had determined under the Rules.

4.5As an alternative to the Sanctions listed in paragraph 4.2, the AQR Committee or the Independent Sanctions Tribunal (as appropriate) may accept written Undertakings from a Recognised Auditor.

Part 3 Action by the AQR Committee

5. Consideration by the AQR Committee

5.1Where

  1. the AQR's findings on inspection are such that its proposed report to the AQR Committee indicates that the Recognised Auditor may have failed to comply with the Regulatory Framework for Auditing and/or includes any recommendation for sanction, or
  2. the AQR Committee receives a report from the AQR which, in the opinion of the AQR Committee, indicates that a Recognised Auditor has failed to comply with the Regulatory Framework for Auditing and the criteria in paragraph 4.1 may be satisfied,

the AQR shall write to the Recognised Auditor and invite the Recognised Auditor to make any representations in writing within 14 days.

5.2The AQR Committee shall receive and consider the report from the AQR together with any representations from the Recognised Auditor and shall decide whether there has been a failure to comply with the Regulatory Framework for Auditing and, if so, whether the criteria in paragraph 4.1 are met.

5.3Where the AQR Committee decides that the criteria set out in paragraph 4.1 are not met it shall take no further action against the Recognised Auditor and shall:

  1. notify the Recognised Auditor;
  2. notify the ICAEW; and
  3. notify the relevant Registrar.

5.4Where the AQR Committee decides that the criteria set out in paragraph 4.1 are met it shall invite the Recognised Auditor to agree a Sanction.

5.5 1. Where the AQR Committee receives a report from the AQR and / or further information which indicates that the conduct of a Recognised Auditor should be considered in accordance with the provisions of the Scheme or the disciplinary procedures of the ICAEW, the AQR Committee shall send a copy of the AQR report and / or further information to the Conduct Committee. 2. In the event of a referral to the Conduct Committee under paragraph (a) above and where the substance of the matter referred is the same as the matter under consideration by the AQR Committee any further consideration by the AQR Committee will be stayed until such time as the Conduct Committee have made a decision. In the event that the Conduct Committee decides to commence an investigation under the Scheme or refers the matter to the disciplinary procedures of the ICAEW, no further action will be taken under this Procedure.

5.6The AQR Committee may, to the extent necessary to make a decision under this Procedure, request any additional information, held in whatever form (including electronic) from the AQR and / or the Recognised Auditor. Any such information will be provided to the AQR or the Recognised Auditor as applicable and, if appropriate, representations will be invited on that information before it is considered by the AQR Committee.

6. Notice of proposed Sanction

6.1Where the AQR Committee decides to invite the Recognised Auditor to agree a Sanction it shall send a written notice to the Recognised Auditor in accordance with paragraph 6.2, and shall enclose a copy of this Procedure with the notice.

6.2The notice of proposed Sanction must:

  1. state the reasons why the AQR Committee considers the Recognised Auditor has failed to comply with the Regulatory Framework for Auditing;
  2. set out the proposed Sanction and the reasons why the AQR Committee considers such a Sanction is appropriate;
  3. invite the Recognised Auditor to make representations and / or accept the proposed Sanction in writing within 21 days;
  4. inform the Recognised Auditor that, subject to the consideration of any representations made, if the proposed Sanction is not accepted the matter shall be referred to the Independent Sanctions Tribunal for adjudication; and
  5. explain the extent to which any accepted Sanction will be communicated to others / published.

6.3The AQR Committee may in its absolute discretion extend the period in which the Recognised Auditor can respond to the notice.

6.4The AQR Committee shall send a copy of the written notice to the ICAEW and the relevant Registrar.

7. Acceptance of Sanction or Undertakings

7.1Having regard to any further information or representations which it has received, the AQR Committee may decide:-

  1. no further action should be taken against the Recognised Auditor; or
  2. an amended or lesser Sanction is appropriate; or
  3. it is appropriate to accept written Undertakings from the Recognised Auditor.

7.2Where no further action is taken pursuant to paragraph 7.1(a) the AQR Committee shall notify in writing the Recognised Auditor, the ICAEW and the relevant Registrar.

7.3Where:-

  1. within the period stated in the notice, or as extended under paragraph 6.3, the Recognised Auditor accepts in writing the proposed Sanction; or
  2. the AQR Committee decides an amended or lesser Sanction under paragraph 7.1(b),

the AQR Committee shall make a direction in writing to the ICAEW requiring it to take the necessary steps to impose the Sanction, as if it were a Sanction which the ICAEW had determined under the Rules. In the case of a Regulatory Penalty the monies shall be paid to and retained by the ICAEW, and in the event of non-payment by the Recognised Auditor, shall be enforced by the ICAEW.

7.4The AQR Committee shall publish details of the Sanction as soon as practicable and in such manner as it thinks fit unless this would not, in the opinion of the AQR Committee, be in the public interest.

7.5Where the AQR Committee accepts written Undertakings from the Recognised Auditor, the Executive will monitor compliance with those Undertakings and report to the AQR Committee and the ICAEW as appropriate.

8. Variation or revocation of Sanction

8.1The AQR Committee may at any time, with the agreement of the Recognised Auditor, make a direction to the ICAEW to vary or revoke:-

  1. a Restriction and / or Condition; or
  2. a period of Suspension previously recommended to the relevant Registrar determined in accordance with paragraph 7.3.4

Part 4 Action by the Independent Sanctions Tribunal

9. Referral to the Independent Sanctions Tribunal

9.1Where:

  1. the Recognised Auditor fails to respond to the AQR Committee within the period stated in the notice, or as extended under paragraph 6.3; or
  2. the Recognised Auditor does not agree a Sanction with the AQR Committee; or
  3. the AQR Committee does not accept written Undertakings offered by the Recognised Auditor;
  4. the AQR Committee shall send notice to the Recognised Auditor that the matter is being referred to the Independent Sanctions Tribunal to consider in accordance with paragraph 12.

9.2The AQR Committee shall send a copy of the notice of referral to the Convener, the ICAEW and to the relevant Registrar.

10. Appointment of the Independent Sanctions Tribunal

10.1Upon receipt of a copy of the notice of referral, the Convener shall, as soon as practicable, appoint an Independent Sanctions Tribunal in accordance with paragraph 14 to consider the matter.

11. Notice of Hearing

11.1As soon as reasonably practicable after a matter has been referred to an Independent Sanctions Tribunal the Secretary to the Tribunal shall serve a notice of hearing on the Recognised Auditor.

11.2The notice of hearing shall:

  1. set out the alleged failure(s) to comply with the Regulatory Framework for Auditing;
  2. specify the date, time and venue of the hearing;
  3. inform the Recognised Auditor of his right to attend the hearing and to be represented at the hearing;
  4. inform the Recognised Auditor of the power of the Independent Sanctions Tribunal to proceed in his absence;
  5. inform the Recognised Auditor of his right to adduce evidence and to call and cross examine witnesses; and
  6. inform the Recognised Auditor of the Sanctions which the Independent Sanctions Tribunal can direct to be imposed on the Recognised Auditor.

11.3The notice of hearing shall give not less than 21 days' notice of the date and venue of the hearing.

12. Consideration by the Independent Sanctions Tribunal

12.1Subject to this Procedure, the procedure adopted by an Independent Sanctions Tribunal to deal with the matter shall have regard to any guidance issued by the Conduct Committee.

12.2A Recognised Auditor may, either voluntarily or at the invitation of the Independent Sanctions Tribunal at any stage during a hearing before it, make an admission in respect of any alleged particulars of fact and / or any alleged failures to comply with the Regulatory Framework for Auditing and such admissions shall constitute proof before an Independent Sanctions Tribunal against the Recognised Auditor making the admission.

12.3In coming to a decision the Independent Sanctions Tribunal may take into account any evidence it considers relevant, whether or not such evidence would be admissible in a court.

12.4After considering a matter, the Independent Sanctions Tribunal shall, in relation to the

12.5Recognised Auditor, either:-

  1. make a finding in respect of some or all of the alleged failures to comply with the Regulatory Framework for Auditing forming the subject matter of the case, or
  2. dismiss the case.

12.6Where the Independent Sanctions Tribunal makes a finding in relation to a Recognised Auditor that he has failed to comply with the Regulatory Framework for Auditing then:-

  1. It may determine such Sanction against the Recognised Auditor as is contained within paragraph 4.2 as it considers appropriate; or
  2. It may accept any written Undertakings offered by the Recognised Auditor;
  3. In addition to any Sanction determined or Undertaking accepted, it may include an order that the Recognised Auditor be required to pay the whole or part of the costs of the hearing. The amount to be paid by the Recognised Auditor and the time for payment shall be determined by the Independent Sanctions Tribunal.
  4. It may make no determination against the Recognised Auditor or no determination except for the payment of costs, if it considers that to be appropriate in all the circumstances.

12.7The Independent Sanctions Tribunal shall make a report, which shall be signed by its Chairman, setting out its decision and reasons and any related determinations made and send it to the AQR Committee.

12.8The AQR Committee shall send a copy of the Independent Sanctions Tribunal's report to:

  1. the Recognised Auditor concerned;
  2. the ICAEW; and
  3. the relevant Registrar.

12.9The decision of the Independent Sanctions Tribunal in relation to a Recognised Auditor and any determination against a Recognised Auditor shall take effect 14 days after the date on which the finding / determination is notified in writing to the Recognised Auditor.

12.10The AQR Committee shall:

  1. make a direction in writing to the ICAEW requiring it to take the necessary steps to impose any Sanction determined by the Independent Sanctions Tribunal, as if it were a Sanction which the ICAEW had determined under the Rules.
  2. inform the Conduct Committee of the outcome of the Independent Sanctions Tribunal; and
  3. where a Sanction has been determined by the Independent Sanctions Tribunal, publish the determination of such Sanction as soon as practicable and in such manner as it thinks fit unless this would not, in the opinion of the AQR Committee, be in the public interest.

12.11Where the Independent Sanctions Tribunal accepts a written Undertaking from the Recognised Auditor the Executive will monitor compliance with any such Undertaking and report to the AQR Committee and the ICAEW as appropriate.

12.12In the case of an order for payment of costs, the monies shall be paid to the FRC within the time for payment stipulated by the Independent Sanctions Tribunal.

Part 5 AQR Committee Meetings

13. AQR Committee

13.1The FRC Board shall appoint a member of the Conduct Committee to be the Chair of the AQR Committee and the Conduct Committee shall appoint up to 5 other members to the AQR Committee, including but not limited to other members of the Conduct Committee.

13.2The persons appointed to the AQR Committee shall include, but not be limited to, persons having accounting (including auditing) expertise and experience.

13.3No member of the AQR Committee shall be an officer of the ICAEW.

13.4 & 13.5The FRC Company Secretary or his / her nominee shall act as secretary to the AQR Committee.

13.6The quorum for AQR Committee meetings shall be 3 committee members

13.7Meetings of the AQR Committee will be in private.

13.8Only the following may attend a meeting of the AQR Committee:

  1. members of the AQR Committee
  2. the secretary to the AQR Committee
  3. any person whose role is to advise or inform the AQR Committee on its duties, powers or procedures and the law;
  4. a representative of the relevant Registrar (as an observer); and
  5. any other person permitted by the AQR Committee.

Part 6 Independent Sanctions Tribunal hearings

14. Independent Sanctions Tribunal

14.1The Nominations Committee shall from time to time appoint a committee of not less than four persons to appoint a Panel of persons to serve as members of an Independent Sanctions Tribunal. The committee shall include at least one lawyer and at least one accountant (who shall not be in practice) but will not include any member of the Conduct Committee.

14.2An Independent Sanctions Tribunal shall be appointed from the Panel by the Convener and shall be composed as follows:-

  1. Each Independent Sanctions Tribunal shall consist of three or five persons as the Conduct Committee in their absolute discretion thinks fit.
  2. The Chairman of the Independent Sanctions Tribunal must be a lawyer (former member of the judiciary, a barrister, an advocate or a solicitor).
  3. A three person Independent Sanctions Tribunal must comprise in addition to the Chairman:-
    1. A lay person; and
    2. An accountant.
  4. A five person Independent Sanctions Tribunal must comprise in addition to the Chairman:-
    1. At least two lay persons; and
    2. Up to two accountants.
  5. For the purposes of (c) and (d) above an accountant means a Member of a professional accountancy body and a lay person means a person who is not a Member of a professional accountancy body;
  6. No serving member of the governing body, any committee or tribunal of, or any officer or employee of, the ICAEW shall be appointed to an Independent Sanctions Tribunal. However, former members of the governing bodies, committees or tribunals and former officers or employees of the ICAEW shall not be precluded from such appointment provided that at least two years have elapsed since the termination of the appointment or employment.
  7. No person who is a member, director or officer of the FRC, or of any subsidiary company of the FRC, or a member appointed to any committee of the FRC or any subsidiary company of the FRC, shall be appointed to an Independent Sanctions Tribunal. A former member, committee member, director or officer as aforesaid shall not be precluded from such appointment provided that at least two years have elapsed since the termination of the appointment or employment.
  8. No person who has been concerned with the investigation or with any earlier proceedings relevant to the matter shall be appointed to an Independent Sanctions Tribunal.

14.3The Conduct Committee will appoint a secretary to an Independent Sanctions Tribunal to administer the Tribunal.

14.4Subject to paragraph 12.1, if more than one Independent Sanctions Tribunal is appointed to hear cases arising out of the same matter, any of the members appointed to one of the Independent Sanctions Tribunals may be appointed to the other or others.

14.5Hearings before the Independent Sanctions Tribunal will be in private.

14.6Only the following may attend a hearing of the Independent Sanctions Tribunal:

  1. members of the Independent Sanctions Tribunal;
  2. the secretary to the Independent Sanctions Tribunal;
  3. the Recognised Auditor and any representative appointed for the purposes of the Independent Sanctions Tribunal;
  4. a representative of the FRC appointed by the Executive for the purposes of the Independent Sanctions Tribunal;
  5. any witnesses called by either party;
  6. any witnesses called by either party;
  7. a representative of the relevant Registrar (as an observer); and
  8. anyone else the Independent Sanctions Tribunal permits.

14.7 1. The FRC shall act as complainant before an Independent Sanctions Tribunal and shall bring evidence against the Recognised Auditor in respect of the subject matter of the case before the Independent Sanctions Tribunal. 2. Every Independent Sanctions Tribunal shall give any Recognised Auditor the subject of a hearing before it an opportunity to hear the evidence against him or it, to cross-examine witnesses called by the FRC, to call witnesses and lead evidence in his or its defence and to make representations orally or in writing to the Independent Sanctions Tribunal. 3. Any such Recognised Auditor shall be entitled to be represented at all hearings of the Independent Sanctions Tribunal. 4. Any witnesses called by the Recognised Auditor, including the Recognised Auditor in the case of sole practitioners, may be cross-examined by the FRC

14.8The Independent Sanctions Tribunal may decide any issue of fact or law and draw any inference of fact which it considers is supported by the evidence.

14.9The Independent Sanctions Tribunal may exclude from a hearing any evidence which, in its opinion, it is necessary to exclude in order to:-

  1. ensure fairness between the parties; and
  2. preserve the interests of justice.

14.10All Independent Sanctions Tribunals shall be conducted in accordance with the laws of England and Wales.

15. Standard of Proof

15.1The standard of proof to be applied by an Independent Sanctions Tribunal is the civil standard of proof.

16. Pre-hearing directions

16.1Subject to the provisions of this Procedure, at any time before a hearing the Chairman of the relevant Independent Sanctions Tribunal may give such pre-hearing directions as are necessary or desirable for securing the just, expeditious and economical disposal of the case.

17. Postponement

17.1A session of a hearing shall be postponed if (whether by reason of incapacity or otherwise):-

  1. The Chairman is unable to be present; or
  2. There shall not be present at least three members of the Independent Sanctions Tribunal including one lay member (who is not an accountant) and one accountant.

17.2If a session of a hearing can and does proceed in the absence of an Independent Sanctions Tribunal member, that member shall not participate in any further session or consideration of the matter and shall cease to be a member of the Independent Sanctions Tribunal for that case.

17.3If a session of a hearing is postponed pursuant to paragraph 17.1, or if for any other reason any of the Independent Sanctions Tribunal members may not be able to attend any session, and it appears to the members of the Independent Sanctions Tribunal that the facts resulting in the postponement will not change or may result in an unreasonable delay in the conduct of a hearing, this shall be reported to the Convener who, shall consider whether in all the circumstances it would be appropriate and consistent with ensuring a fair hearing of the matter to appoint a new Chairman, a new Independent Sanctions Tribunal member or a new Independent Sanctions Tribunal (as appropriate).

17.4In the case of an appointment of a new Independent Sanction Tribunal, any of the members of the original Independent Sanctions Tribunal may be appointed to the new Independent Sanctions Tribunal.

17.5The Convener shall notify the Recognised Auditor of any new Chairman, Independent Sanctions Tribunal member or Independent Sanctions Tribunal (as appropriate).

18. Voting

18.1Any matter to be decided by an Independent Sanctions Tribunal shall be decided by a majority of votes.

18.2No member of an Independent Sanctions Tribunal may abstain from voting on any issue before the Independent Sanctions Tribunal.

Part 7 General

19. Service

19.1Any notice, decision, order or other document which needs to be served on a Recognised Auditor or other person under this Procedure will be delivered by hand, or sent by first class post or by email and:

  1. if delivered by hand to the latest address given by the addressee, service will take effect immediately;
  2. if sent by first class post to the latest address given by the addressee, service will take effect two business days after posting;
  3. if sent by email to the latest email address notified by the addressee, service will take effect immediately.

20. Assessment of compliance

20.1When the AQR Committee or Independent Sanctions Tribunal has to decide if a Recognised Auditor has complied with a regulation, auditing standard or a quality control standard it must take into account any relevant guidance.

21. Disclosure of information

21.1All information and evidence obtained under this Procedure by the AQR Committee and the Independent Sanctions Tribunal, whether originally oral or in writing, will be confidential but may be disclosed to a relevant Registrar, any regulatory body or prosecuting authority, or any person, body or authority carrying out any role similar to that of regulation or prosecution, in any part of the world, to enable that person, body or authority to undertake those responsibilities or as otherwise required or allowed by law.

21.2A Recognised Auditor shall treat all information which is not in the public domain which comes to its knowledge in the course of proceedings under this Procedure as confidential.

21.3A Recognised Auditor shall only disclose information to persons other than their legal representative with the express consent of the AQR Committee.

22. Procedures

22.1When considering a matter before it, the AQR Committee and the Independent Sanctions Tribunal shall, for the purposes of this Procedure, accept any previous disciplinary finding, conviction, decision, sentence or judgment (including criminal and civil court decisions) as conclusive evidence of that prior matter.

22.2Subject to this Procedure, the AQR Committee and the Independent Sanctions Tribunal may, in carrying out their duties under this Procedure, decide on their own procedures.

23. Transitional Arrangements

23.1The provisions of this amended Procedure will have immediate effect.

23.2Any steps taken under a previous version of this Procedure shall be deemed to have been taken under this Procedure as amended by the Conduct Committee with effect from 1 April 2016.

24. Amendment and Termination of this Procedure

24.1This Procedure may be amended or terminated by the Conduct Committee by giving notice of not less than three months.

Financial Reporting Council 8th Floor 125 London Wall London EC2Y 5AS +44 (0)20 7492 2300 www.frc.org.uk

  1. This Procedure came into effect in its original form from 2 February 2015. ↩

  2. In this case, the AQR Committee or the Independent Sanctions Tribunal (as appropriate) would make a suspension recommendation to the relevant Registrar. Ultimately, all decisions relating to registrations lie with the relevant Registrar. ↩

  3. In this case, the AQR Committee or the Independent Sanctions Tribunal (as appropriate) would make a withdrawal recommendation to the relevant Registrar. Ultimately, all decisions relating to registrations lie with the relevant Registrar ↩

  4. Where the Sanction is the Suspension or Withdrawal of Registration following a recommendation of the AQR Committee, publication of the Sanction shall occur after the relevant Registrar has taken its decision to implement the Suspension or Withdrawal from Registration. ↩

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