Explanatory Notes

Financial Services and Markets Act 2000

2000 CHAPTER 8

14 June 2000

Interpretation

22.There are many defined words and expressions in the Act.

23.Most of the definitions are for the purpose only of the section or Schedule in which they are used.  So, for example, the three words defined in subsections (13), (14) and (15) of section 21 are defined only for the purposes of that section.

24.Where there is no indication that a definition is intended to apply to a group of provisions, a Part of the Act or the Act as a whole, it applies only for the purposes of the section or Schedule in which it appears.

25.Many of these single-provision definitions are just drafting devices to avoid clumsy repetition which would make an already long Act even longer.  For example, in section 38 the word “specified” is used on its own on five occasions.  The definition in subsection (4) is there to save repeating the words “in an exemption order” each time it is used.

26.Some of the words and expressions that are defined just for the purposes of the particular provision in which the definition occurs are used (and defined separately) in other provisions — where they may have a different meaning.  For example “consumers” is defined separately for the purposes of sections 5(3), 10(7), 14(5) and 138(7) (the definition in section 10(7) differing from the others).

27.The Act consists of a large number of separate Parts.  Where a particular Part deals with a self-contained subject there may be a separate interpretation section within the Part (for example section 193, which deals with the interpretation of Part XIII).

28.For the Act as a whole, Part XXIX contains a group of nine sections which deal with expressions used in a number of provisions and other matters which bear on the interpretation of provisions of the Act.

29.The purpose of this glossary is to provide the reader with a guide to words or expressions which are defined generally and so liable to be met in provisions which do not themselves contain the definition.

ExpressionWhere defined (references are to sections, unless otherwise specified)
appointed representative39(2)
approved person64(13)
auditors and actuaries rules417
Authority1(1)
authorised person31(2)
authorisation offence23(2)
body corporate417(1)
chief executive417(1)
collective investment scheme235
Commission417(1)
compensation scheme213(2)
compulsory jurisdiction226(8)
control of information rules147(1)
controller422
director417(1)
documents417(1)
EEA authorisation425(1) and Sch 3, para 6
EEA firm425(1) and Sch 3, para 5
EEA right425(1) and Sch 3, para 7
EEA State425(1) and Sch 3, para 8
exempt person417(1)
financial promotion rules417(1)
first banking co-ordination directive425(1) and Sch 3, para 2(1)
first life insurance directive425(1) and Sch 3, para 3(2)
first non-life insurance directive425(1) and Sch 3. Para 3(5)
friendly society417(1)
general guidance158(3)
general prohibition19(2)
general rules138(2)
group421
home state authorisation425(2) and Sch 4, para 1
home state regulator425(1) and Sch 3, para 9
host state regulator425(1) and Sch 3, para 11
incorporated friendly society417(1)
industrial and provident society417(1)
insurance business rules141(5)
insurance directives425(1) and Sch 3, para 3(1)
investment services directive425(1) and Sch 3, para 4
legal assistance scheme134(4)
listed securities14(7)
manager423
market abuse118(1)
Minister of the Crown417(1)
money laundering rules417(1)
notice of control178(5)
ombudsman scheme225(3)
open-ended investment company236
own initiative power45(5)
parent undertaking420
Part IV permission40(4)
partnership417(1)
policy424(2)
prescribed417(1)
price stabilising rules417(1)
private company417(1)
prohibition order56(2)
recognised clearing house285
recognised investment exchange285
recognised scheme237(3)
registered friendly society417(1)
regulated activity22
regulating provisions159(1)
regulatory objectives2
regulatory provisions302(1)
rule417(1)
rule-making instrument153
scheme manager212(1)
scheme operator225(2)
scheme particulars rules248(1)
second banking co-ordination directive425(1) and Sch 3, para 2(2)
second life insurance directive425(1) and Sch 3, para 3(6)
second non-life insurance directive425(1) and Sch 3, para 3(3)
seventh company law directive417(1)
single market directives425(1) and Sch 3, para 1
subsidiary undertaking420
supervisory notice395(13)
third life insurance directive425(1) and Sch 3, para 3(7)
third non-life insurance directive425(1) and Sch 3, para 3(4)
threshold conditions41
Treaty417(1)
Treaty firm425(2) and Sch 4, para 1
Tribunal132(1)
trust scheme rules247(1)
UK authorised person178(4)
UK firm425(1) and Sch 3, para 10
unit trust scheme237
voluntary jurisdiction227(12)

Notices

30.The Act frequently refers to the Authority proceeding by way of giving a “warning notice” or a “decision notice”.  The requirement to proceed in this way has particular procedural consequences, both in terms of the contents of those types of notice and of how action initiated by them must be taken forward. Those consequences are governed by the provisions of Part XXVI of the Act, to which reference should be made whenever the Authority is directed to proceed in this way.

GLOSSARY OF TERMS USED IN THE EXPLANATORY NOTES

31.In addition to the defined terms above, for convenience, these explanatory notes also use certain other abbreviated terms as set out below.

Term used in these notesMeaning
Banking ActBanking Act 1987
CC Act 1974Consumer Credit Act 1974
Companies ActCompanies Act 1985
competent authoritythe competent authority for listing
DGFTDirector General of Fair Trading
EC directivesDirectives adopted by the relevant European Community institution
FS Act 1986Financial Services Act 1986
ICA 1982Insurance Companies Act 1982
oeicopen-ended investment company
SROsSelf-Regulating Organisations, which are responsible for the regulation of investment business under the FS Act 1986