http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2001/1177The Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Carrying on Regulated Activities by Way of Business) Order 2001Business practice and regulationOccupational pensionsPensionsRegulation and deregulationFINANCIAL SERVICES AND MARKETSStatute Law Database2026-03-11Expert Participation2026-02-25 This Order makes provision as to circumstances in which persons are, or are not, to be regarded as carrying on regulated activities by way of business for the purposes of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (“the Act”). An activity is a “regulated activity” for the purposes of the Act if it is an activity of a specified kind, and is carried on by way of business in relation to an investment of a specified kind. The Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Regulated Activities) Order 2001 (S.I. 2001/544) specifies kinds of activity and kinds of investment for these purposes. Section 19 of the Act prohibits persons who are not authorised or exempt from carrying on any regulated activity in the United Kingdom. Contravention of that prohibition is a criminal offence. 2001 No. 1177FINANCIAL SERVICES AND MARKETSThe Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Carrying on Regulated Activities by Way of Business) Order 2001Made26th March 2001Coming into force in accordance with article 1

Whereas a draft of this Order has been approved by a resolution of each House of Parliament pursuant to section 429(1) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000;

Now, therefore, the Treasury, in exercise of the powers conferred on them by sections 419 and 428(3) of that Act, hereby make the following Order: Citation, commencement and interpretation11This Order may be cited as the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Carrying on Regulated Activities by Way of Business) Order 2001, and comes into force on the day on which section 19 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 comes into force.2In this Order—athe “Regulated Activities Order” means the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Regulated Activities) Order 2001;b “contract of insurance”, “contractually based investment”, “deposit”, “overseas person” and “security” have the same meaning as in that Order;c“shares” and “debentures” mean any investment of the kind specified by article 76 , 77 or 77A of that Order;d“units in a collective investment scheme” means any investment of the kind specified by article 81 of that Order;e“warrants” means any investment of the kind specified by article 79 of that Order.Deposit taking business21A person who carries on an activity of the kind specified by article 5 of the Regulated Activities Order (accepting deposits) is not to be regarded as doing so by way of business if—ahe does not hold himself out as accepting deposits on a day to day basis; andbany deposits which he accepts are accepted only on particular occasions, whether or not involving the issue of any securities.2In determining for the purposes of paragraph (1)(b) whether deposits are accepted only on particular occasions, regard is to be had to the frequency of those occasions and to any characteristics distinguishing them from each other.3A person (“B”) who carries on an activity of the kind specified by article 5(1)(b) of the Regulated Activities Order (accepting deposits) is not to be regarded as doing so by way of business if—athe activity is facilitated by a person (“A”);bin facilitating the activity, A was operating an electronic system in relation to lending;cB is not a credit institution or an authorised person;dB is not carrying on the business of accepting deposits;eB does not hold themselves out as accepting deposits on a day to day basis, other than where the holding-out is facilitated by persons engaged in operating an electronic system in relation to lending.4For the purposes of paragraph (3)(d), if B uses the capital of, or interest on, money received by way of deposit solely to finance other business activity carried on by B, this is to be regarded as evidence indicating that B is not carrying on the business of accepting deposits.5In this article—“article 36H agreement” has the meaning given in article 36H(4) of the Regulated Activities Order;“assignment”, in relation to Scotland, means assignation;“borrower” means—a person who receives credit under an agreement that is not an article 36H agreement only because it does not satisfy the conditions in article 36H(5) and (6) of the Regulated Activities Order; ora person to whom the rights and duties of a borrower under such an agreement have passed by assignment or operation of law;“credit institution” means an undertaking the business of which is to take deposits or other repayable funds from the public and to grant credits for its own account;“lender” means—a person providing credit under an agreement that is not an article 36H agreement only because it does not satisfy the conditions in article 36H(5) and (6) of the Regulated Activities Order; ora person who by assignment or operation of law has assumed the rights and duties of a lender under such an agreement;“operating an electronic system in relation to lending” means carrying on an activity—of the kind specified by article 36H of the Regulated Activities Order (operating an electronic system in relation to lending), orthat would be of the kind specified by article 36H but for the fact that the activity does not concern facilitating an article 36H agreement, but concerns facilitating persons becoming the lender and borrower under an agreement that is not an article 36H agreement only because it does not satisfy the conditions in article 36H(5) and (6) of the Regulated Activities Order;Investment business31A person is not to be regarded as carrying on by way of business an activity to which paragraph (2) applies, unless he carries on the business of engaging in one or more such activities.2 This paragraph applies to an activity of the kind specified by any of the following provisions of the Regulated Activities Order, namely—zaarticle 9M (issuing qualifying stablecoin);zbarticle 9N (safeguarding of qualifying cryptoassets and relevant specified investment cryptoassets);zcarticle 9S (operating a qualifying cryptoasset trading platform);zdarticle 9T (dealing in qualifying cryptoassets as principal);zearticle 9W (dealing in qualifying cryptoassets as agent);zfarticle 9Y (arranging deals in qualifying cryptoassets);zgarticle 9Z6 (qualifying cryptoasset staking);aarticle 14 (dealing in investments as principal);barticle 21 (dealing in investments as agent);carticle 25 (arranging deals in investments), except in so far as that activity relates to an investment of the kind specified by article 86 of that Order (Lloyd’s syndicate capacity and syndicate membership), or article 89 of that Order (rights and interests) so far as relevant to that article;caarticle 25D (operating a multilateral trading facility);cbarticle 25DA (operating an organised trading facility);ccarticle 25DB (operating an electronic system for public offers of relevant securities);darticle 37 (managing investments);earticle 40 (safeguarding and administering investments);farticle 45 (sending dematerialised instructions);gaarticle 51ZA (managing a UCITS);gbarticle 51ZB (acting as a trustee or depositary of a UCITS);gcarticle 51ZC (managing an AIF);gdarticle 51ZD (acting as a trustee or depositary of an AIF);gearticle 51ZE (establishing etc. a collective investment scheme);harticle 52 (establishing etc. a ... pension scheme);iarticle 53 (advising on investments); andjarticle 64 (agreeing) so far as relevant to any of the articles mentioned in sub-paragraphs (a) to (i), but does not apply to any insurance mediation activity.3 Paragraph (1) is without prejudice to article 4 of this Order.4A person is not to be regarded as carrying on by way of business any insurance distribution activity unless he takes up or pursues that activity for remuneration.5In this article, “insurance distribution activity” means any activity of the kind specified by article 21, 25(1) or (2), 39A or 53 of the Regulated Activities Order, or, so far as relevant to any of those articles, article 64 of that Order, which is carried on in relation to a contract of insurance.<Addition ChangeId="key-487d2b2e553b56852f7c288a94e70c99-1771414993747" CommentaryRef="key-487d2b2e553b56852f7c288a94e70c99">Arranging and advising on regulated mortgage contracts</Addition>3AA person is not to be regarded as carrying on by way of business an activity of the kind specified by—aarticle 25A of the Regulated Activities Order (arranging regulated mortgage contracts);barticle 53A of that Order (advising on regulated mortgage contracts); orcarticle 64 of that Order (agreeing), so far as relevant to any of the articles mentioned in sub-paragraphs (a) and (b),unless he carries on the business of engaging in that activity.<Addition ChangeId="key-293639d125eefd32239e99df58133285-1771421058532" CommentaryRef="key-293639d125eefd32239e99df58133285">Arranging and advising on regulated home reversion plans</Addition>3BA person is not to be regarded as carrying on by way of business an activity specified by—aarticle 25B of the Regulated Activities Order (arranging regulated home reversion plans);barticle 53B of that Order (advising on regulated home reversion plans); orcarticle 64 of that Order (agreeing), so far as relevant to either of the articles mentioned in sub-paragraphs (a) and (b),unless he carries on the business of engaging in that activity.<Addition ChangeId="key-293639d125eefd32239e99df58133285-1771421075016" CommentaryRef="key-293639d125eefd32239e99df58133285">Arranging and advising on regulated home purchase plans</Addition>3CA person is not to be regarded as carrying on by way of business an activity specified by—aarticle 25C of the Regulated Activities Order (arranging regulated home purchase plans);barticle 53C of that Order (advising on regulated home purchase plans); orcarticle 64 of that Order (agreeing), so far as relevant to either of the articles mentioned in sub-paragraphs (a) and (b),unless he carries on the business of engaging in that activity.<Addition ChangeId="key-7cb18180eec8dc63bb02393d70fde135-1771421906849" CommentaryRef="key-7cb18180eec8dc63bb02393d70fde135">Arranging and advising on regulated sale and rent back agreements</Addition>3DA person is not to be regarded as carrying on by way of business an activity specified by—aarticle 25E of the Regulated Activities Order (arranging regulated sale and rent back agreements);barticle 53D of that Order (advising on regulated sale and rent back agreements); orcarticle 64 of that Order (agreeing), so far as relevant to either of the articles mentioned in sub-paragraphs (a) and (b),unless that person carries on the business of engaging in that activity.<Addition ChangeId="key-1808c696f097fbe7c88f9980a420aa69-1771842392529" CommentaryRef="key-1808c696f097fbe7c88f9980a420aa69">Debt adjusting, debt-counselling etc. by not-for-profit bodies</Addition>3E1A not-for-profit body which carries on an activity of the kind specified by article 39D (debt adjusting), 39E (debt-counselling) or 89A (providing credit information services) of the Regulated Activities Order or article 64 of that Order (agreeing to carry on specified kinds of activity) so far as relevant to any of those activities is to be regarded as carrying on that activity by way of business if the activities being carried on by that body consist of, or relate to, that activity.2Paragraph (1) does not apply if the body carries on that activity only on an occasional basis.3It is immaterial for the purposes of paragraph (1) if the activities being carried on by the body also consist of, or relates to, other activities.4In this article, a “not-for-profit body” means a body which, by virtue of its constitution or any enactment—ais required (after payment of outgoings) to apply the whole of its income and any capital it expends for charitable or public purposes, andbis prohibited from directly or indirectly distributing amongst its members any part of its assets (otherwise than for charitable or public purposes).Managing investments: occupational pension schemes41A person who carries on an activity of the kind specified by article 37 of the Regulated Activities Order (managing investments), where the assets in question are held for the purposes of an occupational pension scheme, is to be regarded as carrying on that activity by way of business, except where—ahe is a person to whom paragraph (2) applies; orball ... day to day decisions in the carrying on of that activity (other than decisions falling within paragraph (6)), so far as relating to relevant assets, are taken on his behalf by—ian authorised person who has permission to carry on activities of the kind specified by article 37 of the Regulated Activities Order;iia person who is an exempt person in relation to activities of that kind; oriiian overseas person.2This paragraph applies to—aany trustee of a relevant scheme who is a beneficiary or potential beneficiary under the scheme; andbany other trustee of a relevant scheme who takes no ... day to day decisions relating to the management of any relevant assets.3In this article— “occupational pension scheme” has the meaning given by section 1 of the Pension Schemes Act 1993 but with paragraph (b) of the definition omitted; “relevant assets” means assets of the scheme in question which are securities or contractually based investments;“relevant scheme” means any occupational pension scheme of a kind falling within paragraph (4) or (5).4A scheme falls within this paragraph if—ait is constituted under an irrevocable trust:bit has no more than twelve relevant members;call relevant members, other than any relevant member who is unfit to act, or is incapable of acting, as trustee of the scheme, are trustees of it; anddall ... day to day decisions relating to the management of the assets of the scheme which are relevant assets are required to be taken by all, or a majority of, relevant members who are trustees of the scheme or by a person of a kind falling within paragraph (1)(b)(i) or (ii) acting alone or jointly with all, or a majority of, such relevant members;and for these purposes a person is a relevant member of a scheme if he is an employee or former employee by or in respect of whom contributions to the scheme are being or have been made and to or in respect of whom benefits are or may become payable under the scheme.5A scheme falls within this paragraph if—ait has no more than fifty members;bthe contributions made by or in respect of each member of the scheme are used in the acquisition of a contract of insurance on the life of that member or in the acquisition of a contract to pay an annuity on that life;cthe only decision of a kind described in paragraph (1)(b) which may be taken in relation to the scheme is the selection of such contracts; anddeach member is given the opportunity to select the contract which the contributions made by or in respect of him will be used to acquire.6A decision falls within this paragraph if—ait is a decision by the trustees of an occupational pension scheme to buy, sell or subscribe for—iunits in a collective investment scheme;iishares or debentures (or warrants relating to such shares or debentures) issued by a body corporate having as its purpose the investment of its funds with the aim of spreading investment risk and giving its members the benefit of the results of the management of those funds by or on behalf of that body; oriiirights under (or rights to or interests in) any contract of insurance;...bthe decision is taken after advice has been obtained and considered from a person who falls within any of the cases in paragraph (7);c. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .d. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7The cases are where the person is—aan authorised person who has permission to carry on activities of the kind specified by article 53 of the Regulated Activities Order in relation to the decision in question;ban exempt person in relation to such activities;cexempt from the general prohibition by virtue of section 327 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000; ordan overseas person..<Addition ChangeId="key-5ab253dd2c07db4fd8734d045dcf3481-1771844088369" CommentaryRef="key-5ab253dd2c07db4fd8734d045dcf3481">Administering a benchmark</Addition>4AA person who carries on an activity of the kind specified by article 63S of the Regulated Activities Order (administering a benchmark) is to be regarded as carrying on that activity by way of business.Entering into a sale and rent back agreement5. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .61Article 5 ceases to have effect on 1st January 2022.2Before the end of 2017, the Treasury must—acarry out a review of article 5;bset out the conclusions of the review in a report; andcpublish the report.3The report must in particular—aset out the objectives intended to be achieved by article 5;bassess the extent to which those objectives are achieved; andcassess whether those objectives remain appropriate and, if so, the extent to which they could be achieved with a scheme that imposes less regulation.Greg PopeJim DowdTwo of the Lords Commissioners of Her Majesty’s Treasury26th March 2001 (This note is not part of the Order)

This Order makes provision as to circumstances in which persons are, or are not, to be regarded as carrying on regulated activities by way of business for the purposes of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (“the Act”). An activity is a “regulated activity” for the purposes of the Act if it is an activity of a specified kind, and is carried on by way of business in relation to an investment of a specified kind. The Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Regulated Activities) Order 2001 (S.I. 2001/544) specifies kinds of activity and kinds of investment for these purposes. Section 19 of the Act prohibits persons who are not authorised or exempt from carrying on any regulated activity in the United Kingdom. Contravention of that prohibition is a criminal offence.

Articles 2 and 3 make provision as to the circumstances in which a person who accepts deposits, or carries on certain kinds of dealing and other investment activities, is not to be regarded as doing so by way of business. Article 4 provides that a person who manages the assets of an occupational pension scheme is to be regarded as doing so by way of business except in certain specified circumstances.

 2000 c. 8. S.I. 2001/544. Art. 1 in force at 1.12.2001 in accordance with art. 1(1)Art. 2 in force at 1.12.2001 in accordance with art. 1(1)Art. 3 in force at 1.12.2001 in accordance with art. 1(1)Art. 4 in force at 1.12.2001 in accordance with art. 1(1)Art. 3A inserted (31.10.2004) by The Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Regulated Activities) (Amendment) (No. 1) Order 2003 (S.I. 2003/1475), arts. 1(3), 25Words in art. 3(2) substituted (31.10.2004 for specified purposes, 14.1.2005 in so far as not already in force) by The Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Regulated Activities) (Amendment) (No. 2) Order 2003 (S.I. 2003/1476), arts. 1(3), 18(3)(b)(i)Art. 3(4)(5) inserted (31.10.2004 for specified purposes, 14.1.2005 in so far as not already in force) by The Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Regulated Activities) (Amendment) (No. 2) Order 2003 (S.I. 2003/1476), arts. 1(3), 18(3)(d)Words in art. 1(2)(b) inserted (31.10.2004 for specified purposes, 14.1.2005 in so far as not already in force) by The Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Regulated Activities) (Amendment) (No. 2) Order 2003 (S.I. 2003/1476), arts. 1(3), 18(2)Words in art. 3(1) substituted (31.10.2004 for specified purposes, 14.1.2005 in so far as not already in force) by The Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Regulated Activities) (Amendment) (No. 2) Order 2003 (S.I. 2003/1476), arts. 1(3), 18(3)(a)Art. 3(2)(j) substituted (31.10.2004 for specified purposes, 14.1.2005 in so far as not already in force) by The Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Regulated Activities) (Amendment) (No. 2) Order 2003 (S.I. 2003/1476), arts. 1(3), 18(3)(b)(ii)Words in art. 3(3) substituted (31.10.2004 for specified purpose, 14.1.2005 in so far as not already in force) by The Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Regulated Activities) (Amendment) (No. 2) Order 2003 (S.I. 2003/1476), arts. 1(3), 18(3)(c)Words in art. 4(1)(b) omitted (6.4.2005) by virtue of The Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Carrying on Regulated Activities by Way of Business) (Amendment) Order 2005 (S.I. 2005/922), arts. 1, 2(2)Words in art. 4(2)(b) omitted (6.4.2005) by virtue of The Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Carrying on Regulated Activities by Way of Business) (Amendment) Order 2005 (S.I. 2005/922), arts. 1, 2(2)Words in art. 4(4)(d) omitted (6.4.2005) by virtue of The Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Carrying on Regulated Activities by Way of Business) (Amendment) Order 2005 (S.I. 2005/922), arts. 1, 2(2)Art. 4(6)(a) substituted (6.4.2005) by The Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Carrying on Regulated Activities by Way of Business) (Amendment) Order 2005 (S.I. 2005/922), arts. 1, 2(4)Words in art. 4(6) omitted (6.4.2005) by virtue of The Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Carrying on Regulated Activities by Way of Business) (Amendment) Order 2005 (S.I. 2005/922), arts. 1, 2(5)Art. 4(6)(b) substituted (6.4.2005) by The Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Carrying on Regulated Activities by Way of Business) (Amendment) Order 2005 (S.I. 2005/922), arts. 1, 2(6)Art. 4(6)(c) omitted (6.4.2005) by virtue of The Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Carrying on Regulated Activities by Way of Business) (Amendment) Order 2005 (S.I. 2005/922), arts. 1, 2(7)Art. 4(6)(d) omitted (6.4.2005) by virtue of The Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Carrying on Regulated Activities by Way of Business) (Amendment) Order 2005 (S.I. 2005/922), arts. 1, 2(7)Art. 4(7) substituted (6.4.2005) by The Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Carrying on Regulated Activities by Way of Business) (Amendment) Order 2005 (S.I. 2005/922), arts. 1, 2(8)Arts. 3B, 3C inserted (6.11.2006 for specified purposes, 6.4.2007 in so far as not already in force) by The Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Regulated Activities) (Amendment) (No.2) Order 2006 (S.I. 2006/2383), arts. 1(2), 29Word in art. 3(2)(h) omitted (6.4.2007) by virtue of The Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Regulated Activities) (Amendment) Order 2006 (S.I. 2006/1969), arts. 1(3), 9(2)Words in art. 4(3) substituted (6.4.2007) by The Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Regulated Activities) (Amendment) Order 2006 (S.I. 2006/1969), arts. 1(3), 9(3)Art. 3(2)(ca) inserted (1.4.2007 for specified purposes, 1.11.2007 in so far as not already in force) by The Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Regulated Activities) (Amendment No. 3) Order 2006 (revoked) 2006 (S.I. 2006/3384), arts. 1(2), 37Words in art. 1(2)(c) substituted (24.2.2010) by The Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Regulated Activities) (Amendment) Order 2010 (S.I. 2010/86), art. 1(2), Sch. para. 6(2)Art. 3D inserted (1.7.2009 for specified purposes, 30.6.2010 in so far as not already in force) by The Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Regulated Activities) (Amendment) Order 2009 (S.I. 2009/1342), arts. 1(2), 27Art. 3(2)(ga)-(ge) substituted for art. 3(2)(g) (22.7.2013) by The Alternative Investment Fund Managers Regulations 2013 (S.I. 2013/1773), reg. 1, Sch. 2 para. 7Art. 3E inserted (26.7.2013 for specified purposes, 1.4.2014 in so far as not already in force) by The Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Regulated Activities) (Amendment) (No.2) Order 2013 (S.I. 2013/1881), arts. 1(2)(6), 13Words in art. 6(1) substituted (31.12.2014) by The Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Carrying on Regulated Activities by Way of Business) (Amendment) Order 2014 (S.I. 2014/3340), arts. 1, 2(2)Word in art. 6(2) substituted (31.12.2014) by The Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Carrying on Regulated Activities by Way of Business) (Amendment) Order 2014 (S.I. 2014/3340), arts. 1, 2(3)Art. 5 ceases to have effect (1.1.2015) by S.I. 2001/1177, art. 6 (as inserted by The Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Carrying on Regulated Activities by Way of Business) (Amendment) Order 2011 (S.I. 2011/2304), art. 2)Art. 3(2)(cb) inserted (1.4.2017 for specified purposes, 3.1.2018 in so far as not already in force) by The Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Regulated Activities) (Amendment) Order 2017 (S.I. 2017/488), art. 1(2), Sch. para. 5Art. 2(3)-(5) inserted (22.3.2018) by The Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Carrying on Regulated Activities by Way of Business) (Amendment) Order 2018 (S.I. 2018/394), arts. 1, 2(2)Art. 4A inserted (11.7.2018) by The Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Regulated Activities) (Amendment) Order 2018 (S.I. 2018/831), arts. 1(2), 3(2)Word in art. 3(4) substituted (1.10.2018) by The Insurance Distribution (Regulated Activities and Miscellaneous Amendments) Order 2018 (S.I. 2018/546), arts. 1(2), 19Word in art. 3(5) substituted (1.10.2018) by The Insurance Distribution (Regulated Activities and Miscellaneous Amendments) Order 2018 (S.I. 2018/546), arts. 1(2), 19Art. 3(2)(cc) inserted (19.1.2026) by The Public Offers and Admissions to Trading (Amendment and Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Regulations 2025 (S.I. 2025/1076), reg. 1(3), Sch. para. 8; S.I. 2025/1078, reg. 5(b)Art. 3(2)(za)-(zg) inserted (25.2.2026 for specified purposes) by The Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Cryptoassets) Regulations 2026 (S.I. 2026/102), regs. 1(2)(3), 44(2) (with regs. 53-56)