The Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Exemption) Order 2001

PART IV U.K. PERSONS EXEMPT IN RESPECT OF PARTICULAR REGULATED ACTIVITIES

Enterprise schemes U.K.

40.     U.K.

(1) Any body corporate which has as its principal object (or one of its principal objects)—

(a) the promotion or encouragement of industrial or commercial activity or enterprise in the United Kingdom or in any particular area of it; or

(b) the dissemination of information concerning persons engaged in such activity or enterprise or requiring capital to become so engaged;

is exempt from the general prohibition in respect of any regulated activity of the kind specified by article 25 of the Regulated Activities Order (arranging deals in investments) so long as it does not carry on that activity for, or with the prospect of, direct or indirect pecuniary gain.

(2) For the purposes of this paragraph, such sums as may reasonably be regarded as necessary to meet the costs of carrying on the activity mentioned in sub-paragraph (1) do not constitute a pecuniary gain.

Employee share schemes in electricity industry shares U.K.

41.     U.K.

(1) Each of the persons to whom this paragraph applies is exempt from the general prohibition in respect of any regulated activity of the kind specified by article 14, 21 or 25 of the Regulated Activities Order (dealing in investments as principal or agent or arranging deals in investments) which he carries on for the purpose of—

(a) enabling or facilitating transactions in electricity industry shares or debentures between or for the benefit of any qualifying person; or

(b) the holding of electricity industry shares or debentures by or for the benefit of any qualifying person.

(2) This paragraph applies to—

(a) The National Grid Holding plc;

(b) Electricity Association Limited;

(c) any body corporate in the same group as the person mentioned in sub-paragraph (a) or (b);

(d) any company listed in Schedule 1 to the Electricity Act 1989 (Nominated Companies) (England and Wales) Order 1990 M1 ; and

(e) a person holding shares in or debentures of a body corporate as trustee in pursuance of arrangements made for either of the purposes mentioned in sub-paragraph (1) by the Secretary of State, by any of the bodies mentioned in sub-paragraphs (a) to (c) or by an electricity successor company or by some or all of them.

(3) In this paragraph—

(a) “electricity industry shares or debentures" means—

(i) any investment of the kind specified by article 76 or 77 of the Regulated Activities Order (shares or instruments creating or acknowledging indebtedness) in or of an electricity successor company;

(ii) any investment of the kind specified by article 79 or 80 of that Order (instruments giving entitlement to investments and certificates representing certain securities), so far as relevant to the investments mentioned in sub-paragraph (i); and

(iii) any investment of the kind specified by article 89 of that Order (rights to or interests in investments) so far as relevant to the investments mentioned in sub-paragraphs (i) and (ii);

(b) “qualifying person" means—

(i) the bona fide employees or former employees of The National Grid Holding plc, Electricity Association Limited or any other body corporate in the same group as either of them; and

(ii) the wives, husbands, widows, widowers [F1 , civil partners, surviving civil partners,] or children (including, in Northern Ireland, adopted children) or step-children under the age of eighteen of such employees or former employees;

(c) references to an electricity successor company include any body corporate that is in the same group and “electricity successor company" means a body corporate which is a successor company for the purposes of Part II of the Electricity Act 1989 M2 ;

(d) “former employees" of a person (“the employer") include any person who has never been employed by the employer so long as he occupied a position in relation to some other person of such a kind that it may reasonably be assumed that he would have been a former employee of the employer had the reorganisation of the electricity industry under Part II of the Electricity Act 1989 been affected before he ceased to occupy the relevant position.

Textual Amendments

F1 Words in Sch. para. 41 inserted (5.12.2005) by The Civil Partnership Act 2004 (Amendments to Subordinate Legislation) Order 2005 (S.I. 2005/2114), art. 1, Sch. 16 para. 4

Marginal Citations

M1 S.I. 1990/224.

M2 1989 c. 29.

Gas industry U.K.

42.     U.K.

(1) Transco plc is exempt from the general prohibition in respect of any regulated activity of the kind specified by article 14, 21 or 25 of the Regulated Activities Order (dealing in investments as principal or agent or arranging deals in investments) which it carries on—

(a) in its capacity as a gas transporter under the Transco Licence; and

(b) for the purposes of enabling or facilitating gas shippers to buy or sell an investment of the kind specified by article 84 or 85 of the Regulated Activities Order (futures or contracts for differences etc.).

(2) ENMO Ltd. is exempt from the general prohibition in respect of any regulated activity of the kind specified by article 14, 21 or 25 of the Regulated Activities Order (dealing in investments as principal or agent or arranging deals in investments) which it carries on—

(a) in its capacity as the operator of the balancing market; and

(b) for the purpose of enabling or facilitating Transco plc and relevant gas shippers, for the purpose of participating in the balancing market, to buy or sell investments of the kind specified by article 84 or 85 of that Order (futures or contracts for differences etc.).

(3) Transco plc and relevant gas shippers are exempt from the general prohibition in respect of any regulated activity of the kind specified by article 14 or 21 of the Regulated Activities Order (dealing in investments as principal or agent) in so far as that activity relates to an investment of the kind specified by article 84 or 85 of that Order (futures or contracts for differences etc.) and is carried on for the purpose of participating in the balancing market.

(4) In this paragraph—

(a) “the balancing market" means the market to regulate the delivery and off-take of gas in Transco plc’s pipeline system for the purpose of balancing the volume of gas in that system;

(b) “gas shipper" has the same meaning as in Part I of the Gas Act 1986 M3 ;

(c) “relevant gas shippers" means gas shippers who have entered into a subscription agreement with ENMO Ltd. for the purpose of participating in the balancing market;

(d) “Transco Licence" means the licence treated as granted to Transco plc as a gas transporter under section 7 of the Gas Act 1986 M4 ;

(e) the reference to enabling or facilitating includes acting pursuant to rules governing the operation of the balancing market which apply in the event of one of the participants appearing to be unable, or likely to become unable, to meet his obligations in respect of one or more contracts entered into through the balancing market.

Marginal Citations

M3 1986 c. 44; see section 7A which was inserted by section 6(1) of the Gas Act 1995 (c. 45).

M4 Substituted by the Gas Act 1995 (c. 45) and amended by the Utilities Act 2000 (c. 27) section 76 (although this amendment was not in force on the day on which this Order was laid).

Trade unions and employers’ associations U.K.

43.     U.K.

(1) A trade union or employers’ association is exempt from the general prohibition in respect of any regulated activity of the kind specified by article 10 of the Regulated Activities Order (effecting and carrying out contracts of insurance) which it carries on in order to provide provident benefits or strike benefits for its members.

(2) In sub-paragraph (1), “trade union" and “employers’ association" have the meanings given by section 1 and section 122(1) of the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992 M5 or, in Northern Ireland, the meanings given by article 3(1) and article 4(1) of the Industrial Relations (Northern Ireland) Order 1992 M6 .

Marginal Citations

M5 1992 c. 52.

M6 S.I. 1992/807 (NI 5); to which there are amendments not relevant to this Order.

Charities U.K.

44.     U.K.

(1) A charity is exempt from the general prohibition in respect of any regulated activity of the kind specified by article 51 of the Regulated Activities Order (establishing etc. a collective investment scheme) which it carries on in relation to a fund established under—

(a) section 22A of the Charities Act 1960 M7 ;

(b) section 25 of the Charities Act 1993 M8 ; or

(c) section 25 of the Charities Act (Northern Ireland) 1964 M9 .

(2) A charity is exempt from the general prohibition in respect of any regulated activity of the kind specified by article 51 of the Regulated Activities Order (establishing etc. a collective investment scheme) which it carries on in relation to a pooling scheme fund established under—

(a) section 22 of the Charities Act 1960; or

(b) section 24 of the Charities Act 1993.

(3) In sub-paragraph (2), “pooling scheme fund" means a fund established by a common investment scheme the trusts of which provide that property is not to be transferred to the fund except by or on behalf of a charity, the charity trustees (within the meaning of section 97(1) of the Charities Act 1993) of which are the trustees appointed to manage the fund.

Marginal Citations

M7 1960 c. 58. Inserted by section 16 of the Charities Act 1992 (c. 41); repealed by the Charities Act 1993 (c. 10) Schedule 7.

M8 1993 c. 10.

M9 1964 c. 33 (N.I.).

Schemes established under the Trustee Investments Act 1961 U.K.

45.  A person acting in his capacity as manager or operator of a fund established under section 11 of the Trustee Investments Act 1961 M10 is exempt from the general prohibition in respect of any regulated activity of the kind specified by article 51 of the Regulated Activities Order (establishing etc. a collective investment scheme) which he carries on in relation to that fund. U.K.

Marginal Citations

M10 1961 c. 62; amended by the Local Government Act 1963 (c. 33) Schedule 8; and by the Local Government Act 1985 (c.51) Schedule 17.

Former members of Lloyd’s U.K.

46.  Any person who ceased to be an underwriting member (within the meaning of Lloyd’s Act 1982 M11 ) of Lloyd’s before 24th December 1996 is exempt from the general prohibition in respect of any regulated activity of the kind specified by article 10(2) of the Regulated Activities Order (carrying out contracts of insurance) which relates to contracts of insurance that he has underwritten at Lloyd’s. U.K.

Marginal Citations

M11 1982 c. 14.

Local authorities U.K.

[F2 47.   A local authority is exempt from the general prohibition in respect of any regulated activity of the kind specified by— U.K.

(a) article 21, 25(1) or (2), 39A or 53 of the Regulated Activities Order (dealing in investments as agent, arranging deals in investments, assisting in the administration and performance of a contract of insurance or advising on investments) which relates to a non-qualifying contract of insurance; or

(b) article 25A, 53A or 61 of that Order (arranging, advising on, entering into or administering a regulated mortgage contract).]

Textual Amendments

F2 Sch. para. 47 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 (Exemption) (Amendment) (No. 2) Order 2003 (S.I. 2003/1675), arts. 1(3), 2(4)(b)

Social housing U.K.

[F3 48.— (1) A relevant housing body is exempt from the general prohibition in respect of any regulated activity of the kind specified by— U.K.

(a) article 21, 25(1) or (2), 39A or 53 of the Regulated Activities Order (dealing in investments as agent, arranging deals in investments, assisting in the administration and performance of a contract of insurance or advising on investments) which relates to a non-qualifying contract of insurance; or

(b) article 25A, 53A or 61 of that Order (arranging, advising on, entering into or administering a regulated mortgage contract).

(2) In this paragraph, “relevant housing body” means any of the following—

(a) a registered social landlord within the meaning of Part I of the Housing Act 1996;

(b) a registered social landlord within the meaning of the Housing (Scotland) Act 2001;

(c) the Housing Corporation;

(d) Scottish Homes;

(e) the body established under article 9 of the Housing (Northern Ireland) Order 1981 known as the Northern Ireland Housing Executive[F4 ;

(f) Communities Scotland].]

Textual Amendments

F3 Sch. para. 48 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 (Exemption) (Amendment) (No. 2) Order 2003 (S.I. 2003/1675), arts. 1(3), 2(4)(c)

F4 Sch. para. 48(2)(f) inserted (6.4.2005) by The Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Exemption) (Amendment) Order 2005 (S.I. 2005/592), arts. 1(2)(a), 2(2)

[F5 Electricity industry U.K.

Textual Amendments

F5 Sch. para. 49 and cross-heading inserted (1.12.2001) by The Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Exemption) (Amendment) Order 2001 (S.I. 2001/3623), arts. 1, 8

49.— (1) NGC is exempt from the general prohibition in respect of any regulated activity of the kind specified by article 14, 21, 25 or 53 of the Regulated Activities Order (dealing in investments as principal or agent, arranging deals in investments or advising on investments) which it carries on in the course of—

(a) its participation in the Balancing and Settlement Arrangements as operator of the electricity transmission system in [F6 Great Britain] under the Transmission Licence; or

(b) the acquisition by it of Balancing Services in accordance with the Electricity Act 1989 and the Transmission Licence.

(2) ELEXON Clear Limited is exempt from the general prohibition in respect of any regulated activity of the kind specified by article 14, 21 or 25 of that Order which it carries on in the course of its participation in the Balancing and Settlement Arrangements as clearer for the purposes of (among other things) receiving from and paying to BSC Parties trading and reconciliation charges arising under the Balancing and Settlement Arrangements.

(3) Each BSC Party is exempt from the general prohibition in respect of any regulated activity of the kind specified by article 14, 21, 25 or 53 of that Order which it carries on in the course of—

(a) its participation in the Balancing and Settlement Arrangements; or

(b) the provision by it (or, in the case of an activity of the kind specified by article 21 of that Order, its principal) of Balancing Services to NGC.

(4) ELEXON Limited is exempt from the general prohibition in respect of any regulated activity of the kind specified by article 25 of that Order which it carries on in the course of its participation in the Balancing and Settlement Arrangements as administrator.

(5) Each BSC Agent and each Volume Notification Agent is exempt from the general prohibition in respect of any regulated activity of the kind specified by article 25 of that Order which it carries on in that capacity.

F7 (6) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(7) In this paragraph—

“Ancillary Services” means services which generators and suppliers of electricity and those making transfers of electricity across an Interconnector are required (as a condition of their connection to the transmission system in [F6 Great Britain]), or have agreed, to make available to NGC for the purpose of securing the stability of the electricity transmission or any distribution system in [F6 Great Britain] or any system linked to it by an Interconnector;

“Balancing and Settlement Arrangements” means—

(a)

the Balancing Mechanism; and

(b)

arrangements—

(i)

for the determination and allocation to BSC Parties of the quantities of electricity that have been delivered to and taken off the electricity transmission system and any distribution system in [F6 Great Britain]; and

(ii)

which set, and provide for the determination and financial settlement of, BSC Parties' obligations arising by reference to the quantities referred to in sub-paragraph (i), including the difference between such quantities (after taking account of accepted bids and offers in the Balancing Mechanism) and the quantities of electricity contracted for sale and purchase between BSC Parties;

“Balancing Mechanism” means the arrangements pursuant to which BSC Parties may make, and NGC may accept, offers or bids to increase or decrease the quantities of electricity to be delviered to or taken off the electricity transmission system or any distribution system in [F6 Great Britain] at any time or during any period so as to assist NGC in operating and balancing the electricity transmission system, and arrangements for the settlement of financial obligations arising from the acceptance of such offers and bids;

“Balancing Services” means—

(a)

offers and bids made in the Balancing Mechanism;

(b)

Ancillary Services; and

(c)

other services available to NGC which assist it in operating the electricity transmission system in accordance with the Electricity Act 1989 and the Transmission Licence;

“BSC Agents” means the persons for the time being engaged by or on behalf of ELEXON Limited for the purpose of providing services to all BSC Parties, NGC, ELEXON Limited and ELEXON Clear Limited in connection with the operation of the Balancing and Settlement Arrangements;

[F8 “BSC Framework Agreement” means the agreement of that title in the form approved by the Secretary of State for the purpose of conditions of the Transmission Licence and which is dated 14 August 2000; and “conditions” for the purposes of this definition means conditions determined by the Secretary of State under powers granted by section 137(1) of the Energy Act 2004 and incorporated into existing electricity transmission licences by a scheme made by the Secretary of State pursuant to section 138 of, and Schedule 17 to, that Act;]

“BSC Parties” means those persons (other than NGC, ELEXON Limited and ELEXON Clear Limited) who have signed or acceded to (in accordance with the terms of the BSC Framework Agreement), and not withdrawn from, the BSC Framework Agreement;

“Interconnector” means the electric lines and electrical plant [F9 and meters] used [F10 solely] for the transfer of electricity to or from the electricity transmission system F11 ... in [F6 Great Britain] into or out of [F6 Great Britain];

“NGC” means F12 ... National Grid Company plc;

F13 ...

“the Transmission Licence” means the licence to [F14 participate in the transmission of] electricity in [F6 Great Britain] granted [F15 , or treated as granted,] to NGC under section 6(1)(b) of the Electricity Act 1989; and

“Volume Notification Agents” means the persons for the time being appointed and authorised under and in accordance with the Balancing and Settlement Arrangements on behalf of BSC Parties to notify to the BSC Agent designated for that purpose pursuant to the Balancing and Settlement Arrangements quantities of electricity contracted for the sale and purchase between those BSC Parties to be taken into account for the purposes of the Balancing and Settlement Arrangements.]

Textual Amendments

F6 Words in Sch. para. 49 substituted (1.4.2005) by The Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Exemption) (Amendment) Order 2005 (S.I. 2005/592), arts. 1(2)(b), 3(2)

F7 Sch. para. 49(6) omitted (1.4.2005) by virtue of The Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Exemption) (Amendment) Order 2005 (S.I. 2005/592), arts. 1(2)(b), 3(3)

F8 Words in Sch. para. 49(7) substituted (1.4.2005) by The Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Exemption) (Amendment) Order 2005 (S.I. 2005/592), arts. 1(2)(b), 3(4)(a)

F9 Words in Sch. para. 49(7) inserted (1.4.2005) by The Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Exemption) (Amendment) Order 2005 (S.I. 2005/592), arts. 1(2)(b), 3(4)(b)(i)

F10 Word in Sch. para. 49(7) inserted (1.4.2005) by The Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Exemption) (Amendment) Order 2005 (S.I. 2005/592), arts. 1(2)(b), 3(4)(b)(ii)

F11 Words in Sch. para. 49(7) omitted (1.4.2005) by virtue of The Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Exemption) (Amendment) Order 2005 (S.I. 2005/592), arts. 1(2)(b), 3(4)(b)(iii)

F12 Word in Sch. para. 49(7) revoked (1.4.2005) by The Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Exemption) (Amendment) Order 2005 (S.I. 2005/592), arts. 1(2)(b), 3(4)(c)

F13 Words in Sch. para. 49(7) omitted (1.4.2005) by virtue of The Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Exemption) (Amendment) Order 2005 (S.I. 2005/592), arts. 1(2)(b), 3(4)(d)

F14 Words in Sch. para. 49(7) substituted (1.4.2005) by The Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Exemption) (Amendment) Order 2005 (S.I. 2005/592), arts. 1(2)(b), 3(4)(e)(i)

F15 Words in Sch. para. 49(7) inserted (1.4.2005) by The Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Exemption) (Amendment) Order 2005 (S.I. 2005/592), arts. 1(2)(b), 3(4)(e)(ii)