Authorisation
31Authorised persons
(1)The following persons are authorised for the purposes of this Act—
(a)a person who has a Part IV permission to carry on one or more regulated activities;
(b)an EEA firm qualifying for authorisation under Schedule 3;
(c)a Treaty firm qualifying for authorisation under Schedule 4;
(d)a person who is otherwise authorised by a provision of, or made under, this Act.
(2)In this Act “authorised person” means a person who is authorised for the purposes of this Act.
32Partnerships and unincorporated associations
(1)If a firm is authorised—
(a)it is authorised to carry on the regulated activities concerned in the name of the firm; and
(b)its authorisation is not affected by any change in its membership.
(2)If an authorised firm is dissolved, its authorisation continues to have effect in relation to any firm which succeeds to the business of the dissolved firm.
(3)For the purposes of this section, a firm is to be regarded as succeeding to the business of another firm only if—
(a)the members of the resulting firm are substantially the same as those of the former firm; and
(b)succession is to the whole or substantially the whole of the business of the former firm.
(4)“Firm” means—
(a)a partnership; or
(b)an unincorporated association of persons.
(5)“Partnership” does not include a partnership which is constituted under the law of any place outside the United Kingdom and is a body corporate.