Following a successful pilot, we’re expanding Early and High Growth Oversight, providing closer support for 300 newly authorised businesses by the end of 2022/23.
Firms can face challenges in meeting their regulatory obligations in the first few years after authorisation. In response, we have initiated a new approach called Early and High Growth Oversight. This provides enhanced supervision for firms as they get used to their regulatory status and supports them to understand their obligations so they can meet the standards we expect as they grow. It will also ensure that we can identify and address harm developing in newly authorised firms quicker.
During 2021-2022, we conducted a multi-firm review of 25 FCA solo-regulated firms which had experienced fast growth over a 3-year period. We assessed the impact of this rapid growth on their financial and non-financial resources. The review was based on business plans, internal capital adequacy assessment process (ICAAP) documents, wind-down plans and other documents submitted by firms.
Their risk management framework and governance arrangements (including staffing in second and third line of defence) have not kept pace with the growth in their business activities. While risk management practices at these firms may have been proportionate at authorisation, they had not evolved to scale with the business. This can result in an increased risk of poor outcomes for consumers.
Firms’ assessment of the adequacy of financial resources did not consider the growth in their underlying business resulting in financial resources assessments that were not commensurate with the size, business model and underlying risks. This can affect the financial resilience of firms, increasing the risk of disorderly firm failure.
Wind-down plans were inadequate following the fast growth of these firms, increasing risk of harm in the event of firm failure.
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