PERG 2.7 Activities: a broad outline

The following paragraphs describe the various specified activities. The exclusions relating to activities are dealt with in PERG 2.8 and PERG 2.9.

Whether or not accepting deposits is a regulated activity depends on the use to which the money is put. The activity is caught if money received by way of deposit is lent to others or if any other activity of the person accepting the deposit is financed wholly (or to a material extent) out of the capital of, or interest on, money received by way of deposit.

Guidance on the regulated activity of issuing e-money is given in PERG 3.

The activities of effecting a contract of insurance or carrying out a contract of insurance are separate regulated activities, each requiring authorisation. But this only applies where they are carried on by a person who is acting as principal. This means that the activities of agents, such as loss adjusters, will not constitute this regulated activity. The activities of some agents may, however, be regulated as insurance mediation activities (see PERG 5 (Guidance on insurance mediation activities)).

In addition, certain other activities carried on in relation to rights under contracts of insurance are regulated activities. These are where the activity is carried on in relation to:

1. (1)

   life policies, where the regulated activities concerned are:

   1. (a)

      dealing in investments as principal (see PERG 2.7.5 G);

   2. (b)

      managing investments (see PERG 2.7.8 G);

   3. (c)

      safeguarding and administering investments (see PERG 2.7.9 G); and

   4. (d)

      agreeing to carry on any of those activities (see PERG 2.7.21 G); and

2. (2)

   rights under any contract of insurance, where the regulated activities concerned are:

   1. (a)

      dealing in investments as agent (see PERG 2.7.5 G);

   2. (b)

      arranging (bringing about) deals in investments and making arrangements with a view to transactions in investments (see PERG 2.7.7A G);

   3. (c)

      assisting in the administration and performance of a contract of insurance (see PERG 2.7.8A G);

   4. (d)

      advising on investments (see PERG 2.7.15 G); and

   5. (e)

      agreeing to carry on any of those activities (see PERG 2.7.21 G).

PERG 5

(Insurance mediation

activities) has more guidance on these regulated activities where they are insurance mediation activities.

In relation to securities or life policies (or rights or interests in either), dealing as principal is only a regulated activity if certain conditions are satisfied (see PERG 2.8.4G (1)).

Both the activities of dealing in investments as principal and dealing in investments as agent are defined in terms of 'buying, selling, subscribing for or underwriting' certain investments. These investments are:

1. (1)

   for dealing in investments as principal, securities or contractually based investments (except rights under a funeral plan contract); and

2. (2)

   for dealing in investments as agent, securities and relevant investments (except rights under a funeral plan contract).

Because of the different nature of the specified investments in relation to which these activities are carried on, 'buying' and 'selling' are defined terms that have an extended meaning. For example, some of the specified investments listed in PERG 2.6 are particular things that can be bought and sold in the ordinary meaning of the words. Others fall outside the ordinary meaning of 'buy' and 'sell' because their transfer involves an assumption of a potential liability under a bilateral contract (contracts for differences are an example of this). To deal with the possible range of circumstances, 'buying' is defined in the Regulated Activities Order to include acquiring for valuable consideration. 'Selling' is defined to include disposing for valuable consideration and 'disposing' is itself given a specified meaning that covers a range of possible transactions according to the nature of the investment being transferred (including, for example, surrendering a life insurance contract).

[not used]

There are eight3 arranging activities that are regulated activities under the Regulated Activities Order. These are:

1. (1)

   arranging (bringing about) deals in investments which are securities, relevant investments or the underwriting capacity of a Lloyd's syndicate or membership of a Lloyd's syndicate (article 25(1));

2. (2)

   making arrangements with a view to transactions in investments which are securities, relevant investments or the underwriting capacity of a Lloyd's syndicate or membership of a Lloyd's syndicate (article 25(2));

3. (3)

   arranging (bringing about) regulated mortgage contracts, which includes arranging for another person to vary the terms of a regulated mortgage contract entered into by him as borrower 3after1 31 October 2004 (article 25A(1));

   13
4. (4)

   making arrangements with a view to regulated mortgage contracts (article 25A(2));3

   3
5. (5)

   arranging (bringing about) a home reversion plan, which includes arranging for another person to vary the terms of a home reversion plan entered into by him as the original reversion provider (and not merely as a person to whom the rights or obligations or the interest in land may be transferred) or as reversion occupier on or after 6 April 2007 (article 25B(1));3

6. (6)

   making arrangements with a view to a home reversion plan (article 25B(2));3

7. (7)

   arranging (bringing about) a home purchase plan, which includes arranging for another person to vary the terms of a home purchase plan entered into by him as home purchaser on or after 6 April 2007 (article 25C(1)); and3

8. (8)

   making arrangements with a view to a home purchase plan (article 25C(2)).3

The activity of arranging (bringing about) deals in investments is aimed at arrangements that would have the direct effect that a particular transaction is concluded (that is, arrangements that bring it about). The activity of making arrangements with a view to transactions in investments is concerned with arrangements of an ongoing nature whose purpose is to facilitate the entering into of transactions by other parties. This activity has a potentially broad scope and typically applies in one of two scenarios. These are where a person provides facilitiesof some kind:8

1. (1)

   to enable or assist investors to deal with or through a particular firm (such as the arrangements made by introducers); or8

2. (2)

   to facilitate the entering into of transactions directly by the parties (such as multilateral trading facilities of any kind other than those excluded under article 25(3) of the Regulated Activities Order, exchanges, clearing houses and service companies (for example, persons who provide communication facilities for the routing of orders or the negotiation of transactions)).8

8It is of note, however, that the regulated activity of making arrangements with a view to transactions in investments is not limited to arrangements that are participated in by investors. It is also not necessary that both the buyer and the seller under the transaction that is being arranged should participate in the arrangements. So, arrangements may come within the activity if they are participated in only by product companies with a view to their issuing investments. A person may be carrying on this regulated activity even if he is only providing part of the facilities for bringing about a transaction.

8It is also the FSA's view that certain arrangements may come within the activity even though the parties may have already committed to the transaction using other arrangements. This would typically apply to a clearing house whose clearing and settlement facilities may be seen to be made with a view to the members of the clearing house, as participants in its arrangements, entering into transactions (usually through an investment exchange) which must be cleared through the clearing house to be completed. The clearing house is providing an essential part of the market infrastructure that is necessary to support trading activities. The same principle applies outside the markets context. So for example if a company that wishes to raise capital from private investors tells the potential investors, in order to increase their confidence, that all aspects of paying for and issuing shares will be handled by a particular firm, that firm may come within article 25(2) when it provides those services.

8In the FSA's view, it is generally the case that providers of back office administration services do not carry out the regulated activity of making arrangements with a view to transactions in investments. This is based essentially on the fact that providers of back office administration services aim to assist a broker firm to deal with the aftermath of transactions it has entered into on behalf of its clients. The broker firm has assumed full responsibility to its clients for completing their transactions, thus enabling the view to be taken that the firm to whom it outsources functions is making arrangements to assist the broker to complete transactions rather than with a view to the broker entering into trades as agent for its clients. The provider of back office services does not carry out the regulated activity of making arrangements with a view to transactions in investments because the transaction has already been entered into by the time of its involvement.

1. (1)

   8The scope of article 25(2) of the Regulated Activities Order (the subject of PERG 2.7.7B G) was considered by the High Court in the case of Watersheds Limited v. David Da Costa and Paul Gentlemen. The judgement suggests that the activity of introducing does not itself constitute a regulated activity for the purposes of article 25(2) of the Regulated Activities Order. The FSA has considered whether the judgement necessitates any change to the views expressed in PERG 2.7.7B G and elsewhere in PERG. It appears to the FSA that the judgement should be considered in the light of the case to which it relates.

2. (2)

   Also, the court does not seem to have had the benefit of a relevant argument. The Regulated Activities Order provides an exclusion which has the effect of removing certain arrangements for making introductions from the scope of article 25(2) of the Regulated Activities Order. This exclusions can be found in article 33 of the Regulated Activities Order (guidance on this can be found in PERG 8.33 and PERG 5.6.17 G to PERG 5.6.21 G). This exclusions would not be necessary if all introductions were outside the scope of article 25(2) of the Regulated Activities Order. Support for this can also be found in the fact that article 25A(2) is very similar to article 25(2) and there is an exclusion from it for certain introductions. The exclusion is in article 33A of the Regulated Activities Order and guidance on it can be found in PERG 4.5.10 G and the following paragraphs. For these reasons, the FSA remains of the view that article 25(2) of the Regulated Activities Order includes certain types of arrangements for making introductions whilst recognising that the judgement in the Watersheds case introduces an element of doubt.

8In determining whether particular arrangements fall within the scope of Article 25(2) of the Regulated Activities Order, it may be necessary to consider the purpose of the arrangements. Further guidance on this can be found in PERG 8.32.3G. Although this guidance is in relation to the activities of publishers, broadcasters, website operators and telephone marketing services, the principle is not limited to those activities.

8In the FSA's view, a mere passive display of literature advertising investments would not amount to the article 25(2) activity. Further guidance on this point can be found in PERG 5.6.4 G. Although this guidance is in relation to contracts of insurance, the principle is not limited to them.

Further guidance on the arranging activities as they relate to home finance transactions and contracts of insurance is in PERG 4.5 (Arranging regulated mortgage contracts), PERG 14.3 and PERG 14.4 (Guidance on home reversion and home purchase activities)3 and PERG 5.6 (The regulated activities: arranging deals in, and making arrangements with a view to transactions in, contracts of insurance) respectively.

5Guidance on the MiFID investment service of operating a multilateral trading facility is given in PERG 13, Q24. So far as the regulated activity of operating a multilateral trading facility is concerned, this does not comprise the activities of dealing in investments as agent, dealing in investments as principal, or arranging deals in investments. Where a firm carries on one or more of these activities in addition to operating a multilateral trading facility, these are separate regulated activities for which it requires permission.

The regulated activity of managing investments includes several elements.

1. (1)

   First, a person must exercise discretion. Non-discretionary portfolio management (where the manager buys and sells, as principal or agent, on the instructions of some other person) is not caught by this activity, although it may be caught by a different regulated activity such as the activity of dealing in investments as principal or dealing in investments as agent. The discretion must be exercised in relation to the composition of the portfolio under management and not in relation to some other function (such as proxy voting) carried on by the manager.

2. (2)

   Second, the property that is managed must belong beneficially to another person. This excludes from the regulated activity the management by a person of his own property. But discretionary management of assets by a person acting in his capacity as trustee will be caught even though he is the legal owner of the assets.

3. (3)

   Third, the property that is managed must consist of (or include) securities or contractually based investments. Alternatively, discretionary management will generally be caught if it is possible that the property could consist of or include such securities or investments. This is the case even if there never has been any investment in securities or contractually based investments, as long as there have been representations that there would be.

The activity of assisting in the administration and performance of a contract of insurance is a regulated activity that is identified in the Insurance Mediation Directive. Further guidance on this activity is in PERG 5.7 (The regulated activities: assisting in the administration and performance of a contract of insurance).

The activity of safeguarding and administering investments belonging to another is regulated, as is providing a service under which a person undertakes to arrange on a continuing basis for others actually to carry out the safeguarding and administering. In each case, both the elements of safeguarding and administering must be present before a person will be said to carry on the activity.

1. (1)

   Safeguarding is acting as custodian of the property, for example, holding any documents evidencing the investments such as the share certificate (although it is worth noting that there is express provision that an uncertificated investment may be safeguarded and administered).

2. (2)

   Administration covers services provided to the owner or manager of the property, such as settlement of sale transactions relating to an investment, dealing with income arising from the investment and carrying out corporate actions such as voting. The nature of administration services must be such that the custodian has no discretion (otherwise he is likely to be caught by the regulated activity of managing investments (see PERG 2.7.8 G)).

The property that is safeguarded and administered must belong beneficially to another person. It must consist of (or include) securities or contractually based investments. Alternatively, safeguarding and administration will generally be caught if it is possible that the property could consist of (or include) such securities or investments. This is the case even if the property in question has never consisted of (or included) such securities or investments, as long as there have been representations that it would do.

The regulated activities relating to sending dematerialised instructions relate to the operation of the system for electronic transfer of title to securities or contractually based investments. This is the system maintained under the Uncertificated Securities Regulations 2001 (SI 2001/3755) (and currently operated by CREST). Sending instructions on behalf of another is a regulated activity, as is causing such instructions to be sent if the person causing the sending is a system-participant, as defined in those Regulations. A system-participant is the person who has the computer and network connection to CREST.

The regulated activities carried on in relation to a collective investment scheme generally are the establishing, operating or winding up a collective investment scheme. Acting as the depositary and acting as sole director of an open-ended investment company are also separate regulated activities. In all these cases, the activities are regulated where the schemes themselves are authorised schemes for the purposes of the UK product regulation regime under Part XVII of the Act (Collective investment schemes) as well as where the schemes are unregulated schemes. The process for applying for authorisation of a collective investment scheme is described in COLLG 2 (Authorised fund applications). Guidance on whether certain types of scheme (property and land investment schemes) may amount to collective investment schemes is set out in PERG 11 (Property investment clubs and land investment schemes).4

In addition, express provision is included in the Regulated Activities Order to make acting as trustee of an authorised unit trust scheme a regulated activity. The full picture for authorised schemes (that is, schemes that can be promoted to the public) is as follows:

1. (1)

   Acting as trustee of an authorised unit trust scheme is expressly included as a regulated activity.

2. (2)

   Acting as depositary of an open-ended investment company that is authorised under regulations made under section 262 of the Act (Open-ended investment companies), is a regulated activity.

3. (3)

   Acting as a sole director of such a company is a regulated activity.

4. (4)

   Managing an authorised unit trust scheme will amount to operating the scheme and so will be a regulated activity. A person acting as manager is also likely to be carrying on other regulated activities (such as dealing (see PERG 2.7.5 G) or managing investments (see PERG 2.7.8 G)).

5. (5)

   An open-ended investment company will, once it is authorised under regulations made under section 262 of the Act, become an authorised person in its own right under Schedule 5 to the Act (Persons concerned in Collective Investment Schemes). Under ordinary principles, a company operates itself and an authorised open-ended investment company will be operating the collective investment scheme constituted by the company. It is not required to go through a separate process of authorisation as a person because it has already undergone the process of product authorisation.

6. (6)

   Operators, trustees or depositaries of UCITS schemes constituted in other EEA States are also authorised persons under Schedule 5 of the Act if those schemes qualify as recognised collective investment schemes for the purposes of section 264 of the Act.

A person will carry on the activity of acting as trustee or depositary of a UCITS if they act as:

1. (1)

   trustee of an authorised unit trust scheme; or

2. (2)

   depositary of an investment company with variable capital or an authorised contractual scheme;

where, in either case, the scheme or company is a UCITS.

The regulated activities carried on in relation to pension schemes2 are establishing, operating or winding up a stakeholder pension scheme and establishing, operating or winding up a personal pension scheme.2 The identity of the operator of such a pension scheme depends on the facts. However, the scheme administrator will usually be the operator of the scheme either on its own or jointly with the scheme trustees. More detailed guidance on the scope of this activity is in PERG 12(Q4).2

This activity covers advice in the form of a recommendation given to a retail consumer. The recommendation must relate to a stakeholder product and certain conditions must be met. These conditions are based on the need for the adviser to make an assessment of the consumer's needs based on the answers that the consumer provides to a series of pre-scripted questions. A fuller description of the activity is given in PERG 2.7.14B G and explains what is meant by "retail customer". This activity is separate to the regulated activity of advising on investments (see PERG 2.7.15 G (Advising on investments)). The existence of this separate advising activity does not prevent a person from giving advice on stakeholder products in circumstances that do not satisfy the conditions set out in PERG 2.7.14B G. But such advice is likely to amount to advising on investments unless the stakeholder product is a deposit. Neither does the existence of the activity prevent a person from selling stakeholder products in any other manner provided the person has the appropriate permission.

A person ('P') carries on the regulated activity of providing basic advice on a stakeholder product when:

1. (1)

   P gives the advice:

   1. (a)

      to a person ('C') who does not receive the advice in the course of a business that he carries on; and

   2. (b)

      in the course of a business that P carries on;

2. (2)

   the advice is on the merits of C opening or buying a stakeholder product;

3. (3)

   the following conditions are met:

   1. (a)

      P asks C questions to enable P to assess whether a stakeholder product is appropriate for C;

   2. (b)

      if P, relying solely on the information provided by C in response to the questions referred to in (a), assesses that a stakeholder product is appropriate for C, P:

      1. (i)

         describes that product to C; and

      2. (ii)

         gives a recommendation of that product to C; and

4. (4)

   C has indicated to P that he has understood the description and recommendation referred to in (3)(b).

The regulated activity of advising on investments under article 53 of the Regulated Activities Order applies to advice on securities or relevant investments. It does not, for example, include giving advice about deposits, or about things that are not specified investments for the purposes of the Regulated Activities Order (such as interests under the trusts of an occupational pension scheme). Giving advice on certain other specified investments is, however, regulated under other parts of the Regulated Activities Order (see PERG 2.7.16A G and PERG 2.7.17G (2). Giving a person generic advice about specified investments (for example, invest in Japan rather than Europe) is not a regulated activity nor is giving information as opposed to advice (for example, listings or company news). However, the context in which something is communicated may affect its character; for example, if a person gives information on share price against the background that, when he does so, that will be a good time to sell, then this will constitute advising on investments.

The advice must also be given to someone who holds specified investments or is a prospective investor (including trustees, nominees or discretionary fund managers). This requirement excludes advice given to a person who receives it in another capacity. An example of this might be a tax professional to whom advice is given to inform the practice of his profession or advice given to an employer for the purposes of setting up a group personal pension scheme. Further guidance on the meaning of advising on investments is in PERG 8.24 (Advising on investments).

In certain circumstances, the activity of advising on investments can also amount to providing basic advice on a stakeholder product (see PERG 2.7.14A G (Providing basic advice on stakeholder products)).

Under article 53A of the Regulated Activities Order, giving advice to a person in his capacity as borrower or potential borrower is a regulated activity if it is advice on the merits of the person:

1. (1)

   entering into a particular regulated mortgage contract; or

2. (2)

   varying the terms of a regulated mortgage contract.

Advice on varying terms as referred to in (2) comes within article 53A only where the borrower entered into the regulated mortgage contract on or after 31 October 2004 and the variation varies the borrower's obligations under the contract. Further guidance on the scope of the regulated activity under article 53A is in PERG 4.6 (Advising on regulated mortgage contracts).

3Under article 53B of the Regulated Activities Order, giving advice to a person in his capacity as reversion occupier or reversion provider is a regulated activity if it is advice on the merits of the person:

1. (1)

   entering into a particular home reversion plan; or

2. (2)

   varying the terms of a home reversion plan.

Advice on varying terms as referred to in (2) only comes within article 53B where the plan was entered into by the person on or after 6 April 2007 and the variation varies his obligations under the plan. Where a person is entering into the plan as reversion provider purely as a result of rights or obligations, or the interest in land, being transferred to him, advice given to him on the merits of the transaction is only regulated where the plan was originally entered into on or after 6 April 2007. Further guidance on the scope of the regulated activity under article 53B is in PERG 14.3 (Guidance on home reversion and home purchase activities).

3Under article 53C of the Regulated Activities Order, giving advice to a person in his capacity as home purchaser is a regulated activity if it is advice on the merits of the person:

1. (1)

   entering into a particular home purchase plan; or

2. (2)

   varying the terms of a home purchase plan.

Advice on varying terms as referred to in (2) only comes within article 53C where the plan is entered into by the person on or after 6 April 2007 and the variation varies the person's obligations under the plan. Further guidance on the scope of the regulated activity under article 53C is in PERG 14.4 (Guidance on home reversion and home purchase activities).

Certain activities carried on in connection with business at Lloyds will be regulated. In addition to those already mentioned (arranging deals in the underwriting capacity of a Lloyd's syndicate or membership of a Lloyd's syndicate), there are three other regulated activities as follows.

1. (1)

   Managing the underwriting capacity of a Lloyd's syndicate as a managing agent at Lloyd's is a regulated activity. 'Managing agent' is defined in article 3(1) of the Regulated Activities Order.

2. (2)

   Advising on syndicate participation at Lloyd's, that is advising a person to become, or continue or cease to be, a member of a particular syndicate is also caught. Giving advice about syndicate participation (such as how members should use their capital within the market and arrange their syndicate participation) is a separate regulated activity to that of providing advice in relation to securities and contractually based investments (see PERG 2.7.15 G). Appropriate permission will be needed.

3. (3)

   Arranging deals in contracts of insurance written at Lloyd's is also a regulated activity for the Society of Lloyd's itself.

Entering as provider into a funeral plan contract is a regulated activity. The 'provider' is the person to whom the pre-payments are made and who undertakes to provide, or secure the provision of, the funeral at some future point. He may be the funeral director or a third party who arranges for another person to provide the funeral. Certain types of funeral plan contract are excluded (see PERG 2.8.14 G).

In addition, other activities carried on in relation to rights under certain funeral plan contracts are regulated (see PERG 2.7.5 G to PERG 2.7.11 G and PERG 2.7.15 G and PERG 2.7.16 G). This is because such rights are classified as contractually based investments.

Entering into as lender, and administering, a regulated mortgage contract are regulated activities under article 61 of the Regulated Activities Order (Regulated mortgage contracts). Guidance on these regulated activities is in PERG 4.7 (Entering into a regulated mortgage contract) and PERG 4.8 (Administering a regulated mortgage contract).

3Entering into a home reversion plan and administering a home reversion plan are regulated activities under article 63B of the Regulated Activities Order (Regulated home reversion plans). Guidance on these regulated activities is in PERG 14.3 (Guidance on home reversion and home purchase activities).

3Entering into a home purchase plan and administering a home purchase plan are regulated activities under article 63F of the Regulated Activities Order (Regulated home purchase plans). Guidance on these regulated activities is in PERG 14.4 (Guidance on home reversion and home purchase activities).

There are two regulated activities associated with the activities of a dormant account fund operator under the Dormant Bank and Building Society Accounts Act 2008:

1. (1)

   the meeting of repayment claims; and

2. (2)

   managing dormant account funds (including the investment of such funds).

Agreeing to carry on most regulated activities is itself a regulated activity. But this is not the case if the underlying activities to which the agreement relates are those of accepting deposits, issuing e-money, effecting or carrying out contracts of insurance, operating a multilateral trading facility, managing dormant account funds, the meeting of repayment claims75 or carrying on any of the activities that are regulated in relation to collective investment schemes,2 stakeholder pension schemes or personal pension schemes2. A person will need to make sure that he has appropriate authorisation at the stage of agreement and before he actually carries on the underlying activity (such as the dealing or arranging).