FCA steps up efforts to ensure firms are getting ready for a no-deal Brexit
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) is stepping up its efforts to ensure firms are aware of what they need to do prepare for the potential of a no-deal Brexit. Firms who have not prepared appropriately may risk an impact on their business.
To help firms prepare, the FCA will be running a series of digital adverts signposting to the FCA Brexit webpages and it has set up a dedicated telephone line (0800 048 4255).
This is the most recent phase of the regulator’s preparations for a no-deal. The regulator is urging all firms to consider the implications of a no-deal exit and finalise their preparations.
This is particularly relevant for firms that: are a UK business which does any business in the EEA, passport into the UK and have not notified the FCA for entry into the temporary permissions regime (TPR), have consumers in the EEA and transfer personal data from the EEA. 
Nausicaa Delfas, executive director at the FCA says: “The FCA has undertaken significant work to prepare for the UK’s departure from the EU. We have published extensive information on our Brexit pages and held events, reaching firms and trade organisations around the country.”
“We expect firms to ensure they are ready if there is a no-deal. If firms haven’t finalised their preparations, there is a risk they could be impacted. Firms should consult the information on our website.”
The FCA, working with the government, has put in place several measures to minimise the potential for disruption, for example TPR and temporary transitional powers.
Brexit will also result in the loss of passporting for UK firms doing business in the EEA. Whether firms need regulatory permissions to continue to do business in an EEA country will depend on the activity they are carrying on, the local law and the approach of the local authorities in that jurisdiction.
Firms should make themselves aware of any transitional regimes, with deadlines or registration requirements attached to them, that have been put in place by relevant EU member states. A list is available on the FCA website, but the FCA would draw particular attention to the Luxembourg transitional regime for existing contracts where firms must register by 15 September 2019.
Firms should also consider any regulatory changes that could apply in the event of no deal. For example, the Markets in Financial Instruments Directive (MiFID II) transaction reporting will change, and firms should be ready to implement this.
In the event of no-deal there will be several changes to the FCA Handbook, whilst the TPR will come into force. The FCA will become responsible for credit ratings agencies and trade repositories.
