PERG 8.14 Other financial promotions

The exemptions in Part VI apply to different types of financial promotion, and the exemption available may be based on a number of facts. These may be the identity of the maker of the financial promotion, the identity of the recipient of the financial promotion, the subject matter of the financial promotion or the nature of the financial promotion itself. Some of these exemptions apply to non-real time financial promotions, others to solicited real time financial promotions and others to unsolicited real time financial promotions. Many of the exemptions apply to more than one category of financial promotion. PERG 8.36.6 G contains a table showing which types of financial promotion are covered by each individual exemption.

PERG 8.14.3 G to PERG 8.14.42 G describe some of the more significant exemptions contained in Part VI. See the Financial Promotions Order for full details of all the exemptions in Part VI.

12The exemptions in Part 6 of the Financial Promotions Order apply to communications which relate to “controlled claims management activity” except where stated otherwise in that Part (article 27).

Article 28 exempts financial promotions, other than unsolicited real time financial promotions, which are one-off in nature. Whether or not any particular financial promotion is one-off in nature will depend upon the individual circumstances in which it is made. Article 28(3) sets out conditions which, if all are met, are conclusive. Otherwise they are indicative. Even if none are met the exemption may still apply. This makes it clear that the overriding issue is whether the financial promotion is, in fact, a one-off. The conditions are that:

1. (1)

   the financial promotion is made only to one recipient or to a group of recipients in the expectation that they would engage in investment activity or engage in claims management activity12 jointly;

2. (2)

   the product or service involved has been determined having regard to the circumstances of the recipient or recipients; and

3. (3)

   the financial promotion is not part of an organised marketing campaign.

The FCA considers the effect of each of the conditions in PERG 8.14.3G (1) to PERG 8.14.3G (3) to be as follows.

1. (1)

   The first condition requires the financial promotion to be made, so ruling out any financial promotions which are directed at persons. The effect of article 6(b) and (e) of the Financial Promotion Order is that a communication is made to a person when it is addressed to him and that person to whom the financial promotion is addressed is its recipient. This means that when one person addresses a financial promotion to another person, it will not be regarded as having been made to anyone else. So, in the case of a real time financial promotion, it is not made to any other person who may be present. And in the case of a non-real time financial promotion, it is not made to any other person who may read or hear it. If the financial promotion is addressed to more than one person they must be proposing to engage in investment activity or engage in claims management activity12 jointly (see PERG 8.14.6 G).

2. (2)

   The second condition requires the financial promotion to apply to the personal circumstances of the recipient so not benefiting a financial promotion which take no account of the personal circumstances of the recipient or recipients.

3. (3)

   The third condition requires that the financial promotion must not be part of an organised marketing campaign. There is no definition of an organised marketing campaign but, in the FCA's view, it is appropriate to consider each of the words and their effect in this context:

   1. (a)

      'organised' suggests that the campaign is planned in advance and not something done on the spur of the moment;

   2. (b)

      'marketing' suggests an element of public promotion so as not to apply to anything of a personal or very limited nature even if it is promotional; and

   3. (c)

      'campaign' suggests that the financial promotion must be part of an overall plan having a common objective.

In the FCA's opinion, the indicators referred to in PERG 8.14.4 G suggest that there are two essential elements of a one-off financial promotion. These are that it is tailored to the circumstances of the recipient and that it is individual in nature (in that it is not simply a personalised letter sent out as part of a general mailshot). Apart from this there is no need for the communication to be an isolated instance. For example, the fact that there may be a considerable number of communications made during negotiations for a transaction will not prevent each communication from being one-off. The FCA is of the view that none of the three conditions carries significantly more weight than the others. Each financial promotion must be assessed against the conditions on its merits. The FCA regards the following to be financial promotions which will meet the conclusive conditions provided, in each case, that the financial promotion is tailored to the personal circumstances of and addressed to the recipient.

1. (1)

   Individual personal written communications or one-to-one conversations.

2. (2)

   A response printed in a publication or website or given during a broadcast in response to an enquiry from a reader, viewer or listener.

3. (3)

   A response given to a person who asks a question at a presentation or meeting.

4. (4)

   A response to a question raised by another person using an internet chatroom or bulletin board.

In the FCA's view, a group of recipients who may be engaging in investment activity or engaging in claims management activity12 jointly could include:

1. (1)

   a married couple;

2. (2)

   two or more persons who will invest jointly in a product (for example, a cohabiting couple who are not married or members of a family);

3. (3)

   the directors of a company or partners in a firm;

4. (4)

   members of a group of companies;

5. (5)

   the participants in a joint commercial enterprise;

6. (6)

   the members of an investment club; and

7. (7)

   the managers or prospective managers of a company who are involved in a management buy-out or buy-in.

A financial promotion may fail to satisfy all of the indicators referred to in PERG 8.14.4 G because it is addressed to more than one recipient and they are not persons who will engage in investment activity or engage in claims management activity12 jointly. In the FCA's view, such a financial promotion is capable of being one-off where the persons are to enter into the same transaction and the promotion is tailored to their individual circumstances. This may typically happen during negotiations for the sale of a company or the raising of corporate finance where a small number of parties are involved.

The fact that a financial promotion may be made following an organised marketing campaign does not mean that it must automatically be regarded as part of the campaign or that it cannot be one-off. For example, after a person has responded to a general promotion, an investment manager may make financial promotions to him and tailor them to his individual objectives. Such subsequent financial promotions can be one-off. Similarly, a person who provides corporate finance services may use an organised marketing campaign to find a potential investor or investee company. Any subsequent financial promotions made during negotiations for the deal may be one-off even though they may represent a series of communications to the same recipient. On the other hand, the situation is slightly different where an organised marketing campaign involves the sale of an investment product such as a life policy. There will be fewer instances where subsequent financial promotions to individual recipients will be capable of being one-off. For example, any financial promotion which has the basic elements of selling the product is likely to be part of an organised marketing campaign and will not be a one-off.

In the FCA's view, a person such as an investment manager or adviser is not conducting an organised marketing campaign purely because he regularly provides a particular client with financial promotions as part of his service. Neither is such a person conducting an organised marketing campaign purely because he may have several clients whose personal circumstances and objectives may suggest that a particular investment opportunity may attract them. If he considers the individual circumstances and objectives of each client before determining that the opportunity would be suitable for that client the financial promotions should be capable of being one-off.

In the FCA's view, a person will not be making one-off financial promotions simply by sending out a series of letters to a number of customers or potential customers where a few details are changed (such as the name and address) but the bulk of the letter is standard. Such letters would be likely to be part of an organised marketing campaign.

Article 28A exempts one-off unsolicited real time financial promotions provided that the person making the financial promotion believes on reasonable grounds:

1. (1)

   that the recipient understands the risks associated with engaging in the investment activity to which the financial promotion relates; and

2. (2)

   (at the time the communication is made) that the recipient would expect to be contacted by him about the investment activity to which the financial promotion relates.

In the FCA's view, the article 28A exemption should provide scope for persons such as professional advisers to make unsolicited real time financial promotions in various situations. For example, when approaching persons with whom their clients are proposing to do business or those persons’ professional advisers. The exemption will not apply where the financial promotions are part of an organised marketing campaign (see PERG 8.14.4G (3)). So, in cases where a professional adviser is to contact a number of persons on a matter which involves each of them it will be necessary for him to consider whether the approaches would be part of an organised marketing campaign. For example, where they are significant shareholders in a company for which an offer has been made. In the FCA's opinion, provided the professional adviser considers the circumstances of each recipient and tailors the financial promotions to them it should be possible for the financial promotions to be regarded as one-off. Ultimately, however, the matter depends on the precise circumstances in which the financial promotions are made.

Whether or not it would be reasonable to believe that any person understands the risks associated with the investment activity covered in a financial promotion or would expect to be contacted about it must be judged on the particular circumstances. In the FCA's opinion, the exemption requires that the recipient has the required understanding of risk at the time the promotion is made to him. However, it would be reasonable to believe that a person understands the risk involved if:

1. (1)

   he is understood to be a professional in relation to the investment activity to which the financial promotion relates; or

2. (2)

   he is advised about the risks by a person who is professionally qualified to give such advice; or

3. (3)

   he has a position in a company which it is reasonable to suppose would require him to have such an understanding (such as a person who is in charge of a company’s treasury function).

In the FCA's opinion, a person such as the managing director or finance director of a company that is seeking venture capital may reasonably be regarded as expecting to be contacted by or on behalf of a potential investor.

12The article 28A exemption does not apply to communications in respect of controlled claims management activity.

There are a number of exemptions in the Financial Promotion Order relating to financial promotions sent into the United Kingdom by an overseas communicator who does not carry on certain controlled activities in the United Kingdom. These exemptions apply in addition to any other exemptions which may apply to any particular financial promotion by an overseas communicator. The article 30-33 exemptions do not apply to any communications in respect of controlled claims management activity.12

Article 30 exempts any solicited real time financial promotion made by an overseas communicator in the course of or for the purposes of certain controlled activities which he carries on outside the United Kingdom. This enables an overseas communicator, for example, to respond to an unprompted telephone enquiry made by a person in the United Kingdom or an enquiry which follows a financial promotion made by the overseas communicator and which was approved by an authorised person.

In order to make an unsolicited real time financial promotion, an overseas communicator must rely on either article 32 or article 33. Article 32 provides an exemption for unsolicited real time financial promotions made by an overseas communicator to persons who were previously overseas and were a customer of his then. This is subject to certain conditions, including that, in broad terms, the customer would reasonably expect to be contacted about the subject matter of the financial promotion. Article 33 is similar to a sophisticated investor exemption and applies where the overseas communicator has reasonable grounds to believe that the recipient is knowledgeable enough to understand the risks associated with the controlled activity to which the financial promotion relates. It is also necessary for the recipient to have been informed that he will not gain the protections under the Act in respect of the activity or of the making of unsolicited real time financial promotions, and whether he will lose the benefit of dispute resolution and compensation schemes. The recipient must also have signified clearly that he accepts the position after having been given a proper opportunity to consider the information. There is no definition of a proper opportunity for this purpose. In the FCA's opinion it is likely to require the recipient to have a reasonable time to reflect on the matter and, if appropriate, seek other advice. What is a reasonable time, will depend upon the circumstances of the recipient, but, in the FCA's opinion, it is unlikely that a time of less than 24 hours will be enough.

Article 31 exempts non-real time financial promotions made to previously overseas customers and subject to certain conditions. Again, to satisfy this exemption, the communicator must be based overseas and must be communicating with a person who was previously a customer of his while that person was overseas.

11A local authority (in the United Kingdom or elsewhere) is exempt from the financial promotion restriction (that is, the restriction in section 21 of the Act) for a communication which is a non-real time financial promotion or a solicited real time financial promotion. However, this exemption does not apply to a communication which relates to a regulated credit agreement, where entering into the agreement or exercising, or having the right to exercise, the lender’s rights and duties under the agreement constitutes the carrying on of an activity of the kind specified in article 60B of the Regulated Activities Order (and where the exclusion in article 72G of that Order does not apply).

Article 39 of the Financial Promotion Order exempts a financial promotion that:

1. (1)

   is communicated by one participator or potential participator in a joint enterprise to another; and

2. (2)

   is in connection with or for the purposes of that enterprise.

A joint enterprise means, in general terms, arrangements entered into by two or more persons for commercial purposes related to a business that they carry on. The business must not involve a controlled activity or a controlled claims management activity12

. The term ‘participant’ includes other members of a group of which a participant is a member.

In the FCA's opinion;

1. (1)

   it will not matter that a person enters into arrangements for investment or other purposes provided that he also enters them into for commercial purposes; and

2. (2)

   each participant must be carrying on the business in question in their own right.

This means that the sponsors or promoters of a company who arrange for private investors to become shareholders will not be setting up a joint enterprise simply because the company may intend to carry on a relevant business which is not a controlled activity or a controlled claims management activity12

. Examples of a joint enterprise include a special purpose company owned by the participants and set up to operate a commercial project or to hold property of some kind. The participants in joint enterprises of this kind would typically be businesses which are to undertake work on the project or property development and investment companies.

This exemption disapplies the restriction in section 21 of the Act from non-real time financial promotions or solicited real time financial promotions which are made to a person who the communicator believes on reasonable grounds to be a 16high net worth individual and which relate to certain investments. These investments must be either:7

1. (1)

   shares in or debentures or alternative debentures7 of an unlisted company; or

2. (2)

   warrants,certificates representing certain securities, options, futures or contracts for differences relating to shares in or debentures of an unlisted company; or

   6
3. (3)

   units in 6collective investment schemes investing wholly or16 predominantly in shares in or debentures of an unlisted company.

   6

There is an additional requirement that the recipient must have no contingent liability so that the maximum they may lose is the amount they invest16. The term ‘unlisted company’ is defined in article 3 of the Financial Promotion Order. This exemption is expected to be of help to unlisted companies seeking venture capital.

A 16high net worth individual is an individual who has completed and16 signed a statement in the form prescribed in Part I (High net worth individual investor statement16) of Schedule 5 to the Financial Promotion Order and whose completion of that statement indicates that they satisfy the conditions set out in the statement to be classified as a high net worth individual16. This requires the individual to certify that they have earned at least £100,00015 (not including any one-off pension withdrawals)16 or have held net assets to the value of £250,00015 or more in the financial year before the date of the certificate and to specify certain supporting information16. Where the financial promotion is an outgoing electronic commerce communication3, the earnings or net assets may be of an equivalent amount in another currency. For the exemption to apply, the certificate must have been completed and16 signed within twelve months of the date on which the communication is made. The validity of the statement is not affected by a defect in its wording or form provided the defect does not alter its meaning or involve failure to place certain paragraphs in bold.

15Until 30 January 2025, a high net worth individual includes an individual who has completed and signed a statement in the form prescribed in Part I (High net worth individual investor statement) of Schedule 5 to the Financial Promotion Order, as that Part was in force during the period from 31 January 2024 to 26 March 2024 (the 2024 form). A statement in the 2024 form has no effect for any purpose after 30 January 2025. This means that, after 30 January 2025, any individual who has completed and signed a statement in the 2024 form may not be considered a high net worth individual.

[Note: Article 5 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) (Amendment and Transitional Provision) Order 2024]

In addition, the financial promotion must be accompanied by:

1. (1)

   a warning in the terms prescribed in article 48(5) and which satisfies certain conditions regarding its form as set out in article 48(6) – this warning must either be given in legible form at the time the communication is made or given orally at that time and a copy in legible form sent to the recipient within two business days; 16

2. (1A)

   certain information specified in article 48(5A) and which satisfies certain conditions regarding its form as set out in article 48(6) – this information must either be given in legible form at the time the communication is made or, where this is not reasonably practicable, sent in legible form to the recipient within two business days; and16

3. (2)

   certain indications as set out in article 48(7).

A person seeking to make a financial promotion to another person may wish to make enquiries of that person to establish whether they are16 certified. Unless another exemption applies or the financial promotion is approved by an authorised person, such enquiries will not be possible if the enquiry communication is an inducement or invitation to engage in investment activity. In the FCA's8 view, a communication which is merely an enquiry seeking to establish that a person holds a current certificate will not itself be an inducement or invitation. Once it has been established that the person qualifies as a 16high net worth individual financial promotions about the controlled investments in PERG 8.14.21 G may then be sent to them16 under article 48. PERG 8.4.27 G offers further guidance on this.

This exemption works on a different basis to that for high net worth individuals. There is no requirement for a certificate or statement to be signed. Instead, the person making the promotion must believe on reasonable grounds that the recipients are high net worth companies, unincorporated associations or trusts or be reasonably regarded as directing the financial promotion only at such persons. A high net worth company, unincorporated association or trust is a person who satisfies the conditions in article 49(2)(a) to (d1) which, for the most part, involve the amount of assets held. In addition, the exemption allows a financial promotion that is made to, or directed at, persons coming under article 49(2)(a) to (d) also to be made to, or directed at, any other persons to whom it may lawfully be made (article 49(2)(e)). This would include persons such as overseas recipients (article 12 (Communications to overseas recipients)) and investment professionals (article 19 (Investment professionals)).1

12The article 49 exemption does not apply to communications in respect of controlled claims management activity.

Article 49(4) gives the list of conditions which, if all are met, is proof that the financial promotion is directed at relevant persons. It is not necessary for all or any of the conditions to be met for a financial promotion to be regarded as directed at relevant persons. Ultimately the matter will be one of fact to be determined by taking account of the circumstances in which the financial promotion is made. In the FCA's opinion, it is not necessary for a financial promotion, to comply with the condition in article 49(4)(a) that there be an indication of the types of person to whom it is directed, to refer in detail to the terms of article 49(2). It will be enough that it is clear that the financial promotion is directed at persons to whom article 49 applies. Persons using article 49 will need, however, to consider the extent to which recipients of the financial promotion are likely to understand the indication. An appropriate approach may often be to refer to the financial promotion being ‘directed at high net worth companies, unincorporated associations etc for the purposes of article 49’ or similar.

There are two exemptions that relate to sophisticated investors. The first (article 50 (Sophisticated investors)) applies to persons who are certified by an authorised person and to a broad range of investments16. The second (article 50A (Self-certified sophisticated investors)) is similar to the exemption for 16high net worth individuals and applies where the investor has self-certified themselves16 and to a narrower range of investments16. PERG 8.14.27 G to PERG 8.14.28D G describe these exemptions in greater detail.

To be a sophisticated investor for the purposes of article 50, the recipient of a financial promotion must have a current certificate from an authorised person stating that they have16 enough knowledge to be able to understand the risks associated with the description of investment to which the financial promotion relates. 13The FCA considers that a 'description of investment' relates to a category of investments with similar characteristics. Examples are given below.

1. (1)

   The shares in a private company are not the same 'description of investment' as shares in a plc as there will usually be certain significant distinctions. For instance, there will often be restrictions on the transfer of shares in a private company.

2. (2)

   Shares traded on a market or exchange will be a different 'description of investment' to unlisted shares.

3. (3)

   Shares which have similar characteristics will be of the same 'description of investment' irrespective of whether they are shares of companies in the same market or geographical sector.

The recipient must also have signed a statement in the terms in article 50(1)(b). The validity of the statement is not affected by a defect in its wording provided the defect does not alter its meaning. The exemption applies to all kinds of financial promotion made to a certified sophisticated investor. However, it does not, unlike articles 48 and 50A, provide for the communicator to have reasonable belief that the recipient is a certified sophisticated investor. The financial promotion must not invite or induce the recipient to engage in investment activity with the person who has signed the certificate. But it may invite or induce the recipient to engage in investment activity with an associate or group member of that person.

The exemption also requires that certain warnings are given to the potential investor. In this respect, article 50(3)(d) provides that the financial promotion must state that there is a significant risk of losing all monies invested or of incurring additional liability. In the FCA's view, these are alternative statements and whichever is the relevant statement should be included. If there is no risk of incurring additional liability the statement may simply say that there is a risk of losing the sum invested. This is a mandatory requirement, although the exemption under article 50 may be used to promote investments for which either statement would be inappropriate or potentially confusing (for instance if it is used to offer gilts). The FCA cannot fetter its discretion to decide individual cases on their merits. However, where a person seeks to rely on the article 50 exemption for a financial promotion which would otherwise satisfy the terms of article 50 but which omits the statement required under article 50(3)(d), on the grounds that it would be misleading to include it, the FCA would, generally, take no further action.

The second exemption in article 50A disapplies the restriction in section 21 of the Act from any financial promotions4 which are made to a person who the communicator believes on reasonable grounds to be a self-certified sophisticated investor and which relate to one or more of the investments16 in PERG 8.14.21G (1) to (3) (High16 net worth individuals (article 484)).

A self-certified sophisticated investor is an individual who has completed and16 signed a statement in the form prescribed in Part II (Self-certified sophisticated investor statement16) of Schedule 5 to the Financial Promotion Order and whose completion of that statement indicates that they satisfy the conditions set out in the statement to be classified as a self-certified sophisticated investor16. This requires the individual to certify that one or more of the following statements apply to them and to specify certain supporting information16:

1. (1)

   they are16 a member of a network or syndicate of business angels and have16 been so for at least the last six months prior to the date on which the certificate was signed; or

2. (2)

   [deleted]16

3. (3)

   they have16 worked in the two years prior to that date, in a professional capacity in the private equity sector, or in the provision of finance for small and medium enterprises; or

4. (4)

   they have16 been in the two years prior to that date, a director of a company with an annual turnover of at least £1 million; or15

   16
5. (5)

   15they have made two or more investments in an unlisted company in the two years prior to that date.

15Until 30 January 2025, a self-certified sophisticated investor includes an individual who has completed and signed a statement in the form prescribed in Part II (Self-certified sophisticated investor statement) of Schedule 5 to the Financial Promotion Order, as that Part was in force during the period from 31 January 2024 to 26 March 2024 (the 2024 form). A statement in the 2024 form has no effect for any purpose after 30 January 2025. This means that, after 30 January 2025, any individual who has completed and signed a statement in the 2024 form may not be considered a self-certified sophisticated investor.

[Note: Article 5 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) (Amendment and Transitional Provision) Order 2024]

For the exemption to apply, the certificate must have been completed and16 signed within twelve months of the date on which the communication is made. The validity of the statement is not affected by a defect in its wording or form provided the defect does not alter its meaning or involve failure to place certain paragraphs in bold.

In addition, the financial promotion must be accompanied by:

1. (1)

   a warning in the terms prescribed in article 50A(5) and which satisfies certain conditions regarding its form as set out in article 50A(6) – this warning must either be given in legible form at the time the communication is made or given orally at that time and a copy in legible form sent to the recipient within two business days; 16

2. (1A)

   certain information specified in article 50A(5A) and which satisfies certain conditions regarding its form as set out in article 50A(6) – this information must either be given in legible form at the time the communication is made or, where this is not reasonably practicable, sent in legible form to the recipient within two business days; and16

3. (2)

   certain indications as set out in article 50A(7).

1. (1)

   This exemption allows a non-real time or solicited real time financial promotion to be made to an association with a particular membership. Membership of this association must be reasonably believed to be wholly or predominantly made up of116 high net worth individuals, high net worth companies or unincorporated associations or trusts, or certified or self-certified1 sophisticated investors. The financial promotion must not relate to an investment under the terms of which a person can incur additional liability of more than their16 original investment. In each case, whether the membership of an association is predominantly made up of 16high net worth individuals, high net worth companies or unincorporated associations or trusts, or certified or self-certified1 sophisticated investors will be a question of fact. The exemption may be expected to be likely to apply, for example, to financial promotions to business angel networks.1

   1
2. (2)

   The exemption extends to financial promotions made to persons who are members of an association with a particular membership and not simply to financial promotions made to the operator or secretariat of the association. It would appear that this includes members who are not themselves 16high net worth individuals, high net worth companies or unincorporated associations or trusts, or certified or self-certified sophisticated investors.1

3. (3)

   14This exemption does not apply to financial promotions relating to qualifying cryptoassets.

Article 52 concerns non-real time and solicited real time financial promotions about offers of shares or debentures or alternative debentures7 of a company. The offers must be made only to or be reasonably regarded as only directed at certain persons. These persons must belong to an identified group of persons who, when the financial promotion is made, might reasonably be regarded as having an existing and common interest with each other and the company.

The exemption is subject to certain conditions. In broad terms, these are that the financial promotion must be accompanied by an indication:

1. (1)

   that the directors or promoters of the company have taken all reasonable care to ensure that the financial promotion is true and not misleading;

2. (2)

   that the directors or promoters have not limited their liability;

3. (3)

   that any person who is in doubt about the investment should consult an authorised person; and

4. (4)

   that:

   1. (a)

      the directors or promoters of the company have taken all reasonable care to ensure that potential investors have access to relevant information about the company; or

   2. (b)

      any person considering investing in the company should regard his subscription as helping the company to meet its non-financial objectives and only secondarily, if at all, as an investment.

13

In line with other exemptions, article 52 contains indicators which, if all are met, mean that the financial promotion is directed at relevant persons.

Example of situations where article 52 is likely to apply include offers made by:

1. (1)

   a club or association which is considering incorporation to its members;

2. (2)

   a private school to the parents of its pupils; and

3. (3)

   a company to its existing members or creditors (where the exemption in article 43 might also be expected to apply).

However, persons are not to be regarded as having a common interest with each other and a company simply because:

1. (1)

   they would have such an interest if they became its members or creditors; or

2. (2)

   they all carry on a particular trade or profession; or

3. (3)

   they have an existing business relationship with the company whether by being it clients, customers, contractors, suppliers or otherwise.

11The financial promotion restriction (that is, the restriction in section 21 of the Act) does not apply to a communication which is a non-real time financial promotion or a solicited real time financial promotion by an insolvency practitioner who acts in that capacity (see the definition of “acting as an insolvency practitioner” in article 3 of the Regulated Activities Order). The exemption only applies where the communication is made in the course of carrying on an activity which is excluded from being a regulated activity by virtue of article 72H of the Regulated Activities Order (see PERG 2.9.25G and PERG 2.9.26G).

The exemption in article 62 of the Financial Promotion Order applies to any financial promotioncommunicated by or on behalf of a body corporate, a partnership, an individual or a group of connected individuals. The financial promotion must relate to a transaction which is one to acquire or dispose of shares in a body corporate and either:

1. (1)

   it is the case that:

   1. (a)

      the shares, in addition, where appropriate, to any shares already held by the buyer, amount to 50% or more of the voting shares in the body corporate; and

   2. (b)

      the party or parties who act as seller is a body corporate, a partnership, a single individual or a group of connected individuals and the party or parties who act as buyer is also one or other of these (but not necessarily the same type as the seller); or

2. (2)

   where the conditions in (1) are not met, but the object of the transaction may reasonably be regarded as being the acquisition of day to day control of the affairs of the body corporate.

A group of connected individuals is defined in article 62(4) of the Financial Promotion Order as being a group of persons each of whom is (for sellers) or is to be (for buyers):

1. (1)

   a director or manager of the body corporate;

2. (2)

   a close relative of such a person; or

3. (3)

   a person acting as trustee for a person as referred to in (1) or (2)

In the FCA's view, a main aim of the exemption (see PERG 8.14.35G (1)) is to remove from the scope of section 21 a financial promotion concerning the sale of a corporate business by a person who, either alone or with others, controls the business to another person who, either alone or with others, proposes to control the business.

In any case where the conditions referred to in PERG 8.14.35G (1) are not met, it will be necessary to consider the circumstances in which the transaction is to take place in order to determine whether its objective is the acquisition of day-to-day control (see PERG 8.14.35G (2)). In situations where the 50% holding of voting shares test is not met it is still possible that the objective of a transaction could be the acquisition of day-to-day control. For instance, because the remaining shareholders represent a large number of small shareholders who it is reasonable to suppose will not regularly act in concert.

Where the nature of the parties test (see PERG 8.14.35G (1)(b)) is not met and the purpose for which the person who is the buyer holds or proposes to hold the voting shares is considered, it may still be the case that the objective of the transaction is the acquisition of day-to-day control. This may typically be because there are two or more parties involved as buyer and they do not collectively represent a group of connected individuals as defined. For example, this may happen where the shares are to be held by one of the following persons who intends to acquire control either alone or with others:

1. (1)

   a person (of either sex) with whom a person who is to be a manager or director cohabits; or

2. (2)

   a venture capital company which proposes to invest in the company and which is to provide a representative to act as a manager or director of the company; or

3. (3)

   a private company used as a vehicle to hold shares by a person who is to be a manager or director of the company (or his close relative).

In the FCA's17 opinion, provided that the purpose of the transaction is for the buyer to acquire the necessary control, it is irrelevant who is the seller. The exemption specifically applies to financial promotions which are communicated on behalf of the parties or potential parties to the transaction.

1Article 72 exempts any financial promotion made by an employer to an employee in relation to a group personal pension scheme or a stakeholder pension scheme. This is subject to certain requirements as follows:

1. (1)

   the financial promotion must inform the employee that the employer will make a contribution to the pension that the employee will receive from the pension scheme to which the financial promotion relates in the event of the employee becoming a member;

2. (2)

   the employer must not receive or have received any direct financial benefit (including any commission, discount, remuneration or reduction in premium) as a result of making the communication;6

   6
3. (3)

   the employer must notify the employee in writing, prior to the employee becoming a member, of the amount of the contribution that the employer will make to the scheme in respect of that employee or the basis on which the contribution will be calculated; and6

   6
4. (4)

   where the communication is a non-real time financial promotion, it must contain, or be accompanied by, a statement informing the employee of his right to seek independent advice from an authorised person or an appointed representative.

6Article 72A exempts any financial promotion made to an employee by or on behalf of a person (“A”) in relation to a group personal pension scheme or a stakeholder pension scheme. This is subject to certain requirements as follows:

1. (1)

   the employer and A must have entered into a written contract specifying the terms on which the communication may be made;

2. (2)

   in the case of a communication made by a person (“B”) on behalf of A, A and B must also have entered into a written contract specifying the terms on which the communication may be made;

3. (3)

   the employer must not receive or have received, any direct financial benefit (including any commission, discount, remuneration or reduction in premium) as a result of the communication being made;

4. (4)

   the employer must make a contribution to the scheme in the event of the employee becoming a member of the scheme and the communication must contain a statement informing the employee of this;

5. (5)

   where the communication is a non-real time financial promotion, it must contain, or be accompanied by, a statement informing the employee of his right to seek advice from an authorised person or an appointed representative; and

6. (6)

   the employer or A must notify the employee in writing prior to the employee becoming a member of the scheme of:

   1. (a)

      the amount of the contribution that the employer will make to the scheme in respect of that employee, or the basis on which the contribution will be calculated; and

   2. (b)

      any remuneration A or B has received, or will receive, as a consequence of the employee becoming a member of the scheme, or the basis on which any such remuneration will be calculated.

6Article 72B exempts any financial promotion made by an employer to an employee in relation to work-related insurance. This is subject to certain requirements as follows:

1. (1)

   where the provider of the insurance is not the employer, the employer must not receive or have received, any direct financial benefit (including any commission, discount, remuneration or reduction in premium) as a result of making the communication; and

2. (2)

   where the communication is a non-real time financial promotion, it must contain, or be accompanied by, a statement informing the employee of his right to seek advice from an authorised person or an appointed representative.

6Article 72C exempts any financial promotion made to an employee by or on behalf of a person (“A”) in relation to work-related insurance. This is subject to certain requirements as follows:

1. (1)

   the employer and A must have entered into a written contract specifying the terms on which the communication may be made;

2. (2)

   in the case of a communication made by a person (“B”) on behalf of A, A and B must also have entered into a written contract specifying the terms on which the communication may be made;

3. (3)

   the employer must not receive or have received, any direct financial benefit (including any commission, discount, remuneration or reduction in premium) as a result of the communication being made;

4. (4)

   where the communication is a non-real time financial promotion, it must contain, or be accompanied by, a statement informing the employee of his right to seek advice from an authorised person or an appointed representative; and

5. (5)

   the employer or A must notify the employee in writing prior to the employee entering into a contract for the work-related insurance of any remuneration A or B has received, or will receive, as a consequence of the employee entering into the contract, or the basis on which any such remuneration will be calculated.

6Article 72D exempts any financial promotion made by an employer to an employee in relation to a staff mortgage. This is subject to certain requirements as follows:

1. (1)

   where the provider of the staff mortgage is an undertaking in the same group as the employer, the employer must not receive or have received, any direct financial benefit (including any commission, discount, remuneration or reduction in premium) as a result of making the communication; and

2. (2)

   where the communication is a non-real time financial promotion, it must contain, or be accompanied by, a statement informing the employee of his right to seek advice from an authorised person or an appointed representative.

6Article 72E exempts any financial promotion made to an employee by or on behalf of a person (“A”) in relation to a staff mortgage. This is subject to certain requirements as follows:

1. (1)

   the employer and A must have entered into a written contract specifying the terms on which the communication may be made;

2. (2)

   in the case of a communication made by a person (“B”) on behalf of A, A and B must also have entered into a written contract specifying the terms on which the communication may be made;

3. (3)

   where the provider of the staff mortgage is an undertaking in the same group as the employer, the employer must not receive or have received, any direct financial benefit (including any commission, discount, remuneration or reduction in premium) as a result of the communication being made;

4. (4)

   in the case of a non-real time communication, the communication must contain, or be accompanied by, a statement informing the employee of his right to seek advice from an authorised person or an appointed representative; and

5. (5)

   the employer or A must notify the employee in writing prior to the employee entering into the staff mortgage of any remuneration A or B has received, or will receive, as a consequence of the employee entering into the staff mortgage, or the basis on which any such remuneration will be calculated.

9Article 72F exempts any financial promotion which is made to an employee by or on behalf of a person in relation to an exempt staff loan. An exempt staff loan is defined as a credit agreement which is:

1. (1)

   offered by a lender to a borrower as an incident of employment with the lender, or with an undertaking in the same group as the lender11; and

2. (2)

   an exempt agreement under a provision of article 60G (exempt agreements: exemptions relating to the total charge for credit) of the Regulated Activities Order other than article 60G(2) (relating to loans by credit unions). Guidance on article 60G can be found in PERG 2.7.19I G.

6The exemptions described in PERG 8.14.40A G to PERG 8.14.40AEA G9 should enable employers (and their contracted service providers) to promote employee benefits packages that include any pension schemes, work-related insurance schemes,9staff mortgages and certain staff loans9 to employees without undue concern that they may be breaching the restriction in section 21 of the Act. PERG 8.14.34 G (Communications by employers and contracted service providers to employees) has further guidance about the application of section 21 to employers and contracted service providers generally.

1Article 73 exempts any financial promotion made by a person in the course of carrying out his duties as an adviser for, or employee of, an advice centre. This is provided the financial promotion relates to:

1. (1)

   a home finance transaction; or2

2. (2)

   rights under, or rights to or interests in rights under, a life policy; or

3. (3)

   a child trust fund within the meaning of section 1(2) of the Child Trust Funds Act 2004; or12

4. (4)

   controlled claims management activity.12

1An advice centre is defined in article 73 as a body which:

1. (1)

   gives advice which is free and in respect of which it does not receive any fee, commission or other reward;

2. (2)

   provides debt advice as its principal financial services activity; and

3. (3)

   in the case of a body which is not part of a local authority, holds adequate professional indemnity insurance or a guarantee providing comparable cover.

This exemption should be of particular use to bodies such as Citizens Advice Bureaux.

1. (1)

   14Article 73ZA exempts any financial promotion which relates only to one or more qualifying cryptoassets and which is communicated:

   1. (a)

      by a registered person; or

   2. (b)

      on behalf of a registered person provided that:

      1. (i)

         the financial promotion is a non-real time financial promotion; and

      2. (ii)

         the registered person prepared the content of the financial promotion.

2. (2)

   The exemption does not apply to the extent that a financial promotion relates to a controlled investment other than a qualifying cryptoasset.

3. (3)

   The exemption does not apply where the registered person makes or directs a financial promotion, or causes it to be made or directed, in breach of:

   1. (a)

      a requirement imposed on that registered person by the FCA; or

   2. (b)

      a direction given by the FCA under section 137S of the Act (Financial promotion rules: directions given by FCA).

4. (4)

   The Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) (Amendment) Order 2023 applies certain powers in the Act in relation to registered persons in connection with their communication of financial promotions in reliance on this exemption.

5. (5)

   In particular, the FCA may make rules applying to registered persons about the communication by them of financial promotions relating to qualifying cryptoassets which are the same as, or substantially equivalent to, rules which would apply to an authorised person communicating a financial promotion relating to qualifying cryptoassets. The FCA has exercised this power primarily in applying relevant provisions in COBS 4 and COBS 10 to registered persons. The effect of this application is that a registered person must ensure that it complies with the relevant rules when:

   1. (a)

      communicating a financial promotion relating to one or more qualifying cryptoassets; or

   2. (b)

      preparing the content of a non-real time financial promotion relating to one or more qualifying cryptoassets for communication on its behalf,

   in either case in reliance on the exemption.

6. (6)

   Registered persons are not able to approve financial promotions for the purposes of section 21 of the Act.

Several exemptions, including article 43 of the Financial Promotion Order (Members and creditors of certain bodies corporate), apply only in relation to relevant investments being shares or debentures or alternative debentures7 in the body corporate or a member of its group, or warrants or certificates representing certain securities relating to such shares or debentures or alternative debentures.7 In the FCA's view, an exchangeable debt security which is partly a debenture or alternative debenture7 and partly an option is a relevant investment for these purposes.

The exemptions for bearer instruments (articles 41 and 42 of the Financial Promotion Order) relate to financial promotions made to or directed at persons entitled to bearer instruments. For clarity, the FCA takes the view that persons who hold bearer instruments through a clearing system such as Euroclear or Clearstream are persons entitled to those instruments for the purposes of articles 41 and 42.