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What you need to do if there is a new controller of your business either through purchase of shares, dividends or influence.
Published: 17 May 2021
Last updated: 23 December 2022
This version was printed or saved on: 1 December 2023
Online version: https://www.gamblingcommission.gov.uk/licensees-and-businesses/guide/change-of-corporate-control
Overview: ## Controller
Under Section 102 of the Gambling Act 2005 (opens in a new tab), a change of corporate control takes place when a person (or other legal entity) either directly or indirectly:
See Section 422 of Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (FSMA) (opens in a new tab) for the full definition of controller.
In summary, it is when there is a new "controller" of the company. For example, if a major investor joins the company or a new significant member joins a partnership. A person is considered a new controller if they hold:
The holding of shares or voting power by a person in the licensed operator includes any shares or voting power held by another person if they and the other person are acting together:
In relation to licensee without capital, interests:
(a) it includes in relation to a person (H):
i. voting power held by a third party with whom H has concluded an agreement, which obliges H and the third party to adopt, by concerted exercise of the voting power they hold, a lasting common policy towards the management of the undertaking in question.
ii. voting power held by a third party under an agreement concluded with H providing for the temporary transfer for consideration of the voting power in question.
iii. voting power attaching to shares which are lodged as collateral with H, provided that H controls the voting power and declares an intention to exercise it.
iv. voting power attaching to shares in which H has a life interest.
v. voting power which is held, or may be exercised within the meaning of subparagraphs (i) to (iv), by a F2 controlled undertaking of H.
vi. voting power attaching to shares deposited with H which H has discretion to exercise in the absence of specific instructions from the shareholders.
vii. voting power held in the name of a third party on behalf of H.
viii. voting power which H may exercise as a proxy where H has discretion about the exercise of the voting power in the absence of specific instructions from the shareholders.
(b) in relation to an undertaking which does not have general meetings at which matters are decided by the exercise of voting rights, means the right under the constitution of the undertaking to direct the overall policy of the undertaking or alter the terms of its constitution.
If you have any questions as to whether a change of control has taken place, you should seek independent legal advice.
Changes of control must be reported as a key event as soon as possible and not later than within 5 working days.
Within 5 weeks of the change occurring you must either surrender the licence or apply for the licence to continue to have effect or it will be revoked.
If you want to apply for the licence to continue to have effect, you must complete a Change of Corporate Control form, and pay the appropriate fee. You must email the completed form and supporting documents to licensing@gamblingcommission.gov.uk. Do not post them to us and do not email them to a Licensing team member email address.
Incoming individuals who have or are expected to become controller of the licensed operator, if not already approved by the Commission will be required to submit an Annex A or Personal Management Licence (PML) application.
Make sure you read the guidance notes on this page before you start to fill out the form.
Change of corporate control applications typically take around 12 weeks to process, providing full information is submitted.
Make sure you read the guidance notes for the information you must send in with the application. If any information is missing, it will delay the application.
Source of funds evidence is usually required for the funds used to acquire the controlling interest and any intended ongoing investment in the Licensee. This is a general overview of when and what source of funds evidence is required but we assess each application on a case-by-case basis according to risk so the type and level of evidence may differ between applications.
We consider there are three main categories of funding:
Regulated means by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) in the United Kingdom (UK) and FCA equivalent in other jurisdictions, for example the United States equivalent would be the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
We would not normally require source of funds evidence in relation to the origin of monies when an operator takes out a loan from a UK regulated bank, but if an investor borrows from a UK regulated bank to invest in an operator, we will normally undertake source of funds checks on the period when the monies were in the investor’s control. If any bank is buying shares in the operator, we will undertake source of funds checks on the bank, as explained on this page.
These are typically private investors who are investing their own money. We require source of funds evidence if the individual has provided £50,000 (or equivalent in foreign currency) or more of the funding for the acquisition or ongoing investment. Evidence of the individual’s source of funds will depend on what the source of funds is but examples include bank statements, investment portfolio statements and P60s.
These investors are typically entities that are using their own money to fund the investment. For these investors we need to know when they were created or incorporated, what jurisdiction they are registered in and we require source of funds evidence if they have been:
Typically for established entities the latest set of filed financial statements can be sufficient evidence. For recently established entities, evidence of how the entity has been funded is required.
These investors are regulated banks or entities investing their own money. When we consider what type of source of funds evidence is required, we group these investors into two categories – FCA regulated and overseas equivalent regulated.
For FCA regulated entities, we require its FCA reference number along with source of funds evidence if it is investing 10 percent or more of the total investment amount (that is, 10 percent of the total borrowed or 10 percent of the monies raised via the issue of new shares). Typically, these investors are established entities and the latest set of filed financial statements can be sufficient evidence.
For overseas equivalent regulated entities, we require its reference number with the regulator. If it is investing 5 percent or more of the total investment amount we also require source of funds evidence. Typically, these investors are established entities and the latest set of filed financial statements can be sufficient evidence.
These investors are regulated banks or entities acting as an intermediary for an investor or pool of investors (that is, the entity is not investing its own money). When we consider source of funds evidence, we group these investors into two categories – FCA regulated and overseas equivalent regulated.
For FCA regulated entities, we require its FCA reference number and, if it is investing 10 percent or more of the total investment amount, we require a schedule of the underlying investors.
For the underlying investors, we require source of funds evidence for:
For overseas equivalent regulated entities, we require its reference number with the regulator and, if it is investing 5 percent or more of the total investment amount, we require a schedule of the underlying investors.
For the underlying investors, we require source of funds evidence for:
The Commission’s application disclosure requirements for Trusts are the same as those for other entity types and/or individuals that are part of a licensee’s ownership structure.
However, it is important to note that whilst the disclosure requirements set out below are general principles of the information required to support an application, the Commission retains the right to request further information or documents when this is required.
Where the Trust’s ownership equates to 3 percent or above interest in the licensee, in your application, you must include:
We require an Annex A from those beneficiaries whose interest in the Trust equates to a 10 percent or more controlling interest in the applicant and/or licensee. The Annex A must be submitted online through our Apply for a personal licence service. If any beneficiary is under 18, then we do not require an Annex A from them.
If the beneficiary’s interest in the Trust equates to less than 10 percent but 3 percent or more, then we require the name, address, and date of birth of all beneficiaries which should be shown in the trust deed – if not, you must provide this information.
We require an Annex A from all Trustees where the Trust’s interest in the applicant and/or licensee equates to a 10 percent or more controlling interest in the applicant and/or licensee. The Annex A must be submitted online through our Apply for a personal licence service.
In the case of the Trustee being a company, we require an Annex A from the person or people in that company who have lead responsibility for matters relating to the Trust.
If the Trust’s interest in the licensee equates to equates to less than 10 percent but 3 percent or more, we require the name, address and date of birth of all Trustees which should be shown in the trust deed – if not, you must provide this information.
We will not usually require an Annex A from the Settlor. We require the name, address and date of birth of the Settlor which should be shown in the trust deed – if not, you must provide this information.
We will not usually require an Annex A from the Protector. We require the name, address and date of birth of the Protector which should be shown in the trust deed – if not, you must provide this information.
Section 103 of the Gambling Act 2005 (opens in a new tab) provides for this. An application can be made in respect of a person or entity who is expected to become a controller of a company.
When submitting the Change of Corporate Control application, you must pay the correct fee for the application at the same time. This can be paid by BACS or Faster Payments. Find out more about paying fees. The fee must be paid on the same date you email the application to us.
You can find out the application fee for your licence by using our Fee calculator service.
| Change | Fee |
|---|---|
| Due to share fluctuation only (the controller(s) must be known to the Commission, that is, they must hold an operating licence issued by the Commission or be a financial institution that is either regulated by the FCA or which has its registered/head office in an EEA state and is regulated by its home state regulator). | £160 |
| Where the new controller already holds an operating licence | 25 percent of standard application fee |
| Where the new controller is a financial institution that is either regulated by the FCA or which has its registered/head office in an EEA state and is regulated by its home state regulator. | 25 percent of standard application fee |
| Where the new controller does not hold an operating licence | 75 percent of standard application fee |
New controller in family owned
small-scale operator and:
|
£160 |
Regulation 34 (2) gives a provision for a reduced fee if a company is being inserted into the group structure and both the below conditions are met:
|
£160 |