Brexit - Fulfillment of the requirements for UK financial institutions under Decree Law 25 March 2019, n. 22Communication no longer relevant or applicable following ratification of the withdrawal agreement

The British Parliament has repeatedly rejected, on 15 January and on 12 and 29 March 2019, the Agreement on the withdrawal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from the European Union ('Brexit'), and notwithstanding the postponement of the deadline to 31 October granted by the European Council the prospects for ratification of the Agreement remain highly uncertain. Hence, there is a concrete possibility that the withdrawal – on 31 October, or at a later date if a further postponement is agreed upon – may occur in the absence of transitional provisions regulating the relations between the United Kingdom and the European Union. In view of this possibility, the Italian Government has enacted Decree Law 22/2019 of 25 March 2019, subsequently converted into law and amended by Parliament (Law 41 of 20 May 2019, published in the Gazzetta Ufficiale of 24 May 2019) which provides for a transitional regime to prevent abrupt business discontinuity for both markets and intermediaries in the event of a 'no-deal Brexit'.

The provisions are differentiated according to the type of intermediary involved, taking into account the applicable European and national laws and regulations. UK banks and UK electronic money institutions operating in Italy through a branch ('branching electronic money institutions') which intend to continue operations in Italy after Brexit must formally notify the Bank of Italy; UK investment firms intending to continue operating must notify Consob. UK payment institutions, electronic money institutions operating either under the free provision of services or through a network of agents ('non-branching electronic money institutions'), and asset management companies are required to cease operating in Italy as of the date of withdrawal and will have six months for the orderly closure of their activities. UK banks and branching electronic money institutions may also choose to terminate their operations in Italy.

In particular the Decree Law provides for different transitional provisions for:

1. UK banks and branching electronic money institutions that intend to continue operating in Italy (UK investment firms that intend to continue operating in Italy should refer to Consob).
   
   Pursuant to Article 3(6) of Decree Law 22/2019, UK banks and branching electronic money institutions which intend to continue operating in Italy after the date of withdrawal, in relation to all or part of the activities previously carried out, shall notify the Bank of Italy at least three business days prior to the date of withdrawal. The notification must be transmitted using the templates attached to this communication (Annexes A1 and A2 for banks; Annexes B1 and B2 for branching electronic money institutions). Annexes A1 and B1 must be signed by the legal representative authorized to act on behalf of the financial institution. The intention to continue to operate shall also be communicated to the relevant UK supervisory authority.
   
   The templates must be sent via e-mail to the addresses provided in the Annexes within the time limit indicated above. The electronic notification shall be followed by the delivery of the printed form through certified mail to the Bank of Italy.
   
   The banks and branching electronic money institutions that have notified their intention to continue operating in Italy will be allowed, for the time and under the conditions provided for by Decree Law 22/2019, to continue carrying out only the activities indicated in their notification, with the exception of deposit taking on a cross-border basis which will be restricted during the transition period to the activities necessary to manage pre-existing contracts for their duration.
   
   No later than six months after the start of the transition period, the banks and branching electronic money institutions that have notified their intention to continue operating in Italy may apply – in accordance with the provisions set forth in the Consolidated Banking Law and in the Consolidated Law on Finance – for a license to operate as third-country banks or third-country electronic money institutions if they intend to operate beyond the transition period of 18 months. Failure to submit such application shall trigger a run-off period of six months, by the end of which the financial institution will have ceased to operate in Italy.
   
   
2. UK banks and branching electronic money institutions that intend to cease operations, and UK payment institutions, non-branching electronic money institutions and asset management companies that are required to cease operations (UK investment firms that intend to cease operations should refer to Consob).
   
   Pursuant to Article 4 of Decree Law 22/2019, within 15 days of the withdrawal date banks and branching electronic money institutions that intend to cease operations in Italy after the date of withdrawal shall notify the Bank of Italy of how they plan to ensure the orderly termination of their activities. The same requirement shall apply to payment institutions, non-branching electronic money institutions and asset management companies.
   
   The notification must be transmitted using the templates attached to this communication (Annexes C1 and C2 for banks; Annexes D1 and D2 for payment institutions and electronic money institutions; Annexes E1 and E2 for asset management companies. Annexes C1, D1, and E1 must be signed by the legal representative of the intermediary).
   
   The intention to cease operations must also be communicated to the relevant UK supervisory authorities.
   
   The templates must be sent via e-mail to the addresses provided in the Annexes within the time limit indicated above. The electronic notification shall be followed by the delivery of the printed form through certified mail to the Bank of Italy.
   
   Pursuant to Article 4 of Decree Law 22/2019, the above-mentioned plans for the orderly termination of activities in Italy shall also be disclosed to the Italian customers and to the relevant business counterparties of the financial institution.
   
   To this end, the banks and branching electronic money institutions that intend to cease operations, and payment institutions, non-branching electronic money institutions and asset management companies shall act as follows:
   
   • financial institutions that have already informed their customers of their intention to cease operations, pursuant to the Bank of Italy's communication of 19 February 2019 shall not provide further notice; nonetheless, within 15 days of the withdrawal date, these financial institutions shall liaise with their relevant business counterparties and inform them of any foreseen consequences stemming from their decision to cease operations in Italy (see below);
   • within 15 days of the withdrawal date, financial institutions other than those referred to above shall send their Italian customers detailed information about the impact of Brexit and the measures the institution will take to ensure the orderly termination of activities. In particular, these financial institutions shall provide at a minimum specific information on: i) the expected effects on existing contracts caused by the termination of activities, with particular regard to the effects on current lending facilities as regulated under Article 4(5) of Decree Law 22/2019; ii) the consequences of any potential corporate restructuring related to Brexit, with particular regard to any planned transfer and/or sale of businesses in whole or in part; iii) the possibility of making recourse to an alternative dispute resolution mechanism in light of Article 7 of Decree Law 22/2019; and, iv) where appropriate, the effects relating to deposit insurance guarantee schemes also in light of Article 8 of Decree Law 22/2019 (see Annex F). All communications shall be written in clear and plain language. Addressees shall also be given contact details for further information and assistance and up-to-date information about the competent complaints office when deemed relevant.
   The above disclosure to customers and business counterparties shall also be provided by UK banks and branching electronic money institutions that do not apply for a license as third-country banks or third-country electronic money institutions pursuant to Article 3 of Decree Law 22/2019. Provided that the six-month termination period starts upon the expiry of the term for submitting an application as a third-country institution (see Article 4(3) of Decree Law 22/2019), the disclosure to customers shall be sent at least 15 days prior to the expiration of such term.

UK banks and investment firms that, on the date of entry into force of Decree Law 22/2019, are authorised to participate in government bond auctions are exempted from the notification; with the exception of the activity of collecting deposits, for which notification is necessary, they may continue to operate without having to submit a notification.

The table below provides a guide to the Decree Law.