The Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Regulated Activities) Order 2001 No. 544

PART II U.K. SPECIFIED ACTIVITIES

Chapter XII U.K. Advising on Investments

Exclusions U.K.

Advice given in newspapers etc. U.K.

54.—(1) There is excluded from [F1 articles 53, 53A, 53B [F2 , 53C [F3 , 53D [F4 , 53DA] and 53E]]] the giving of advice in writing or other legible form if the advice is contained in a newspaper, journal, magazine, or other periodical publication, or is given by way of a service comprising regularly updated news or information, if the principal purpose of the publication or service, taken as a whole and including any advertisements or other promotional material contained in it, is neither—

(a) that of giving advice of a kind mentioned in article 53 [F5 , 53A, 53B [F6 , 53C [F7 , 53D [F4 , 53DA] or 53E],] as the case may be]; nor

[F8 (b) that of leading or enabling persons—

(i) to buy, sell, subscribe for or underwrite securities [F9 , structured deposits,] or [F10 relevant investments], or (as the case may be),

[F11 (ia) to enter into a relevant article 36H agreement (within the meaning of that article) as a lender, to assume the rights of a lender under such an agreement by assignment or operation of law, or to assign rights under such an agreement,]

(ii) to enter as borrower into regulated mortgage contracts, or vary the terms of regulated mortgage contracts entered into by them as borrower[F12 ;

(iii) to enter as reversion seller or plan provider into regulated home reversion plans, or vary the terms of regulated home reversion plans entered into by them as reversion seller or plan provider,

(iv) to enter as home purchaser into regulated home purchase plans, or vary the terms of regulated home purchase plans entered into by them as home purchaser] [F13 ;

(v) to enter as agreement seller or agreement provider into regulated sale and rent back agreements, or vary the terms of regulated sale and rent back agreements entered into by them as agreement seller or agreement provider];]

[F14 (va) to enter as a recipient of credit into a regulated credit agreement the purpose of which is to acquire or retain property rights in land [F15 in the United Kingdom] or in an existing or projected building [F15 in the United Kingdom,]]

[F16 (vi) to require the trustee or manager of a pension scheme to take any of the actions referred to in article 53E(1)(c).]

(2) There is also excluded from [F17 articles 53, 53A, 53B [F18 , 53C [F19 , 53D [F4 , 53DA] and 53E]]] the giving of advice in any service consisting of the broadcast or transmission of television or radio programmes, if the principal purpose of the service, taken as a whole and including any advertisements or other promotional material contained in it, is neither of those mentioned in paragraph (1)(a) and (b).

[F20 (2A) Paragraphs (1) and (2) do not apply to advice which is a personal recommendation falling within article 53(1A).]

(3) [F21 The FCA] may, on the application of the proprietor of any such publication or service as is mentioned in paragraph (1) or (2), certify that it is of the nature described in that paragraph, and may revoke any such certificate if it considers that it is no longer justified.

(4) A certificate given under paragraph (3) and not revoked is conclusive evidence of the matters certified.

Textual Amendments

F1 Words in art. 54(1) substituted (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), 14(a)(i)

F2 Words in art. 54(1) substituted (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), 14(a)

F3 Words in art. 54(1) substituted (6.4.2015) by The Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Regulated Activities) (Amendment) (No. 2) Order 2015 (S.I. 2015/731), arts. 1, 2(3)(a)(i)

F4 Word in art. 54 inserted (20.4.2015 for specified purposes, 21.12.2015 for specified purposes, 21.3.2016 in so far as not already in force) by The Mortgage Credit Directive Order 2015 (S.I. 2015/910), art. 1(5), Sch. 1 para. 4(10)(a) (with Pt. 4)

F5 Words in art. 54(1)(a) substituted (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), 14(a)(ii)

F6 Words in art. 54(1)(a) substituted (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), 14(b)

F7 Words in art. 54(1)(a) substituted (6.4.2015) by The Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Regulated Activities) (Amendment) (No. 2) Order 2015 (S.I. 2015/731), arts. 1, 2(3)(a)(ii)

F8 Art. 54(1)(b) substituted (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), 14(4)

F9 Words in art. 54(1)(b)(i) inserted (3.1.2018) by The Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Markets in Financial Instruments) (No.2) Regulations 2017 (S.I. 2017/1255), regs. 2(b), 4(2)

F10 Words in art. 54(1)(b) 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), 9(2)

F11 Art. 54(1)(b)(ia) inserted (17.3.2016 for specified purposes, 6.4.2016 in so far as not already in force) by The Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Regulated Activities) (Amendment) Order 2016 (S.I. 2016/392), art. 1(2)(3)(d), 2(9) (with Pt. 5)

F12 Art. 54(1)(b)(iii)(iv) 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), 14(a)(iii)

F13 Art. 54(1)(b)(v) 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), 14(c)

F14 Art. 54(1)(b)(va) inserted (20.4.2015 for specified purposes, 21.12.2015 for specified purposes, 21.3.2016 in so far as not already in force) by The Mortgage Credit Directive Order 2015 (S.I. 2015/910), art. 1(5), Sch. 1 para. 4(10)(b) (with Pt. 4)

F15 Words in art. 54(1)(b)(va) inserted (31.12.2020) by The Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/632), regs. 1(3), 137(1) (with reg. 137(2)) (as amended by S.I. 2020/1031, regs. 1, 3, Sch. para. 33(o) and with savings in S.I. 2019/680, reg. 11 (as amended by S.I. 2019/1212, regs. 1(3), 22(3)); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

F16 Art. 54(1)(b)(vi) inserted (6.4.2015) by The Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Regulated Activities) (Amendment) (No. 2) Order 2015 (S.I. 2015/731), arts. 1, 2(3)(a)(iii)

F17 Words in art. 54(2) substituted (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), 14(b)

F18 Words in art. 54(2) substituted (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), 14(d)

F19 Words in art. 54(2) substituted (6.4.2015) by The Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Regulated Activities) (Amendment) (No. 2) Order 2015 (S.I. 2015/731), arts. 1, 2(3)(b)

F20 Art. 54(2A) inserted (3.1.2018) by The Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Regulated Activities) (Amendment) (No. 2) Order 2017 (S.I. 2017/500), arts. 1(1), 3(2)

F21 Words in art. 54(3) substituted (1.4.2013) by The Financial Services Act 2012 (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Order 2013 (S.I. 2013/472), art. 1(1), Sch. 2 para. 35(a)

[F22 Advice given in the course of administration by authorised person U.K.

54A.— [F23 (1)] A person who is not an authorised person (“A”) does not carry on an activity of the kind specified by article 53A by reason of—

(a) anything done by an authorised person (“B”) in relation to a regulated mortgage contract which B is administering pursuant to arrangements of the kind mentioned in article 62(a); or

(b) anything A does in connection with the administration of a regulated mortgage contract in circumstances falling within article 62(b).

[F24 (2) A person who is not an authorised person (“A”) does not carry on an activity of the kind specified by article 53B by reason of—

(a) anything done by an authorised person (“B”) in relation to a regulated home reversion plan which B is administering pursuant to arrangements of the kind mentioned in article 63C(a); or

(b) anything A does in connection with the administration of a regulated home reversion plan in circumstances falling within article 63C(b).

(3) A person who is not an authorised person (“A”) does not carry on an activity of the kind specified by article 53C by reason of—

(a) anything done by an authorised person (“B”) in relation to a regulated home purchase plan which B is administering pursuant to arrangements of the kind mentioned in article 63G(a); or

(b) anything A does in connection with the administration of a regulated home purchase plan in circumstances falling within article 63G(b).]

[F25 (4) A person who is not an authorised person (“A”) does not carry on an activity of the kind specified by article 53D by reason of

(a) anything done by an authorised person (“B”) in relation to a regulated sale and rent back agreement which B is administering pursuant to arrangements of the kind mentioned in article 63K(a); or

(b) anything A does in connection with the administration of a regulated sale and rent back agreement in circumstances falling within article 63K(b).]

[F26 (5) A person who is not an authorised person (“A”) does not carry on an activity of the kind specified by article 53DA by reason of—

(a) anything done by an authorised person (“B”) in relation to a regulated credit agreement which B is administering pursuant to arrangements of the kind mentioned in article 60I(a) (arranging administration by authorised person); or

(b) anything A does in connection with the administration of a regulated credit agreement in circumstances falling within article 60I(b).]]

Textual Amendments

F22 Art. 54A 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), 15

F23 Art. 54A(1): art. 54A renumbered as art. 54A(1) (6.11.2006 for specified purposes, 6.4.2007 in so far as not already in force) by virtue of The Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Regulated Activities) (Amendment) (No.2) Order 2006 (S.I. 2006/2383), arts. 1(2), 15(a)

F24 Art. 54A(2)(3) 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), 15(b)

F25 Art. 54A(4) 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), 15

F26 Art. 54A(5) inserted (20.4.2015 for specified purposes, 21.12.2015 for specified purposes, 21.3.2016 in so far as not already in force) by The Mortgage Credit Directive Order 2015 (S.I. 2015/910), art. 1(5), Sch. 1 para. 4(11) (with Pt. 4)

Advice given by reason of providing pensions guidance F27 ... U.K.

54B.—(1) A person does not carry on an activity of the kind specified in article 53, 53A, 53B, 53C or 53D by reason of providing pensions guidance F28 ....

[F29 (2) For the purposes of paragraph (1), pensions guidance means—

(a) information or guidance provided by the Money and Pensions Service in carrying out its pensions guidance function (see section 3 of the Financial Guidance and Claims Act 2018);

(b) information or guidance provided by another person with whom arrangements under section 5(1), (2) or (3) of the Financial Guidance and Claims Act 2018 are made to carry out the Money and Pensions Service’s pensions guidance function.]

Textual Amendments

F27 Words in art. 54B heading omitted (21.7.2022) by virtue of The Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Regulated Activities) (Amendment) (No. 2) Order 2022 (S.I. 2022/726), arts. 1(2), 2(6)(a)

F28 Words in art. 54B(1) omitted (21.7.2022) by virtue of The Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Regulated Activities) (Amendment) (No. 2) Order 2022 (S.I. 2022/726), arts. 1(2), 2(6)(b)

F29 Art. 54B(2) substituted (21.7.2022) by The Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Regulated Activities) (Amendment) (No. 2) Order 2022 (S.I. 2022/726), arts. 1(2), 2(6)(c)

Other exclusions U.K.

55.— [F30 (1)] Article 53 is also subject to the exclusions in articles 66 (trustees etc.), 67, (profession or non-investment business), 68 (sale of goods and supply of services), 69 (groups and joint enterprises), 70 (sale of body corporate) [F31 , 72 (overseas persons)][F32 F33 ... 72B (activities carried on by a provider of relevant goods or services) [F34 , 72AA (managers of [F35 UK UCITS] and AIFs) [F36 , 72D (large risks contracts where risk situated [F37 outside the United Kingdom]), 72G (local authorities) and 72H (insolvency practitioners)]]].

[F38 (2) [F39 Articles 53A, 53B [F40 , [F41 53C, 53D and 53DA]] are] also subject to the exclusions in articles 66 (trustees etc.), 67 (profession or non-investment business) [F42 F43 ...[F44 , 72AA (managers of [F35 UK UCITS] and AIFs) [F45 , 72G (local authorities) and 72I (registered consumer buy-to-let mortgage firms).]]]]

Textual Amendments

F30 Art. 55(1): art. 55 renumbered as art. 55(1) (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), 16(a)

F31 Words in art. 55 substituted (21.8.2002) by The Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Regulated Activities) (Amendment) (No. 2) Order 2002 (S.I. 2002/1776), arts. 1, 3(12)

F32 Words in art. 55(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), 9(3)

F33 Words in art. 55(1) omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Electronic Commerce and Solvency 2 (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/1361), regs. 1(2), 5(3)(c) (as amended by S.I. 2019/1390, regs. 1(2), 6); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

F34 Words in art. 55(1) substituted (22.7.2013) by virtue of The Alternative Investment Fund Managers Regulations 2013 (S.I. 2013/1773), reg. 1, Sch. 2 para. 1(7)

F35 Words in art. 55(1)(2) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/632), regs. 1(3), 148(2)(l) (with savings in S.I. 2019/680, reg. 11 (as amended by S.I. 2019/1212, regs. 1(3), 22(3)); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

F36 Words in art. 55(1) substituted (14.2.2014 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) Order 2014 (S.I. 2014/366), art. 1(3)(4), 2(23)(a)

F37 Words in art. 55(1) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/632), regs. 1(3), 149(5)(d) (with savings in S.I. 2019/680, reg. 11 (as amended by S.I. 2019/1212, regs. 1(3), 22(3)); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

F38 Art. 55(2) 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), 16(b)

F39 Words in art. 55(2) substituted (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), 16

F40 Words in art. 55(2) substituted (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), 16

F41 Words in art. 55(2) substituted (20.4.2015 for specified purposes, 21.12.2015 for specified purposes, 21.3.2016 in so far as not already in force) by The Mortgage Credit Directive Order 2015 (S.I. 2015/910), art. 1(5), Sch. 1 para. 4(12)(a) (with Pt. 4)

F42 Words in art. 55(2) substituted (22.7.2013) by The Alternative Investment Fund Managers Regulations 2013 (S.I. 2013/1773), reg. 1, Sch. 2 para. 1(6)

F43 Words in art. 55(2) omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Electronic Commerce and Solvency 2 (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/1361), regs. 1(2), 5(3)(c) (as amended by S.I. 2019/1390, regs. 1(2), 6); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

F44 Words in art. 55(2) substituted (14.2.2014 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) Order 2014 (S.I. 2014/366), art. 1(3)(4), 2(23)(b)

F45 Words in art. 55(2) substituted (20.4.2015 for specified purposes, 21.12.2015 for specified purposes, 21.3.2016 in so far as not already in force) by The Mortgage Credit Directive Order 2015 (S.I. 2015/910), art. 1(5), Sch. 1 para. 4(12)(b) (with Pt. 4)