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Investments meaning

What does Investments mean?
In practice, investments are financial products or rights acquired with the expectation of income or capital growth, such as shares, bonds, fund units and derivatives. In UK financial services law, however, the regulated concept is “specified investments” under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Regulated Activities) Order 2001 (SI 2001/544) (RAO). This defined list includes, among others, shares, debentures and loan stock, government and public securities, warrants, units in a collective investment scheme, options and futures, contracts for differences, and rights under a contract of insurance. Whether a firm must be authorised, may communicate financial promotions, or owes particular conduct and prudential duties typically turns on whether an activity concerns a RAO specified investment (and, for promotions, “controlled investments” under the Financial Promotion Order 2005). Usage is consistent across England & Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, as FSMA and the RAO apply UK-wide under the FCA/PRA regime. In Ireland, the term is used descriptively; regulatory classification generally follows “financial instruments” in MiFID II and “investment instruments” under the Investment Intermediaries Act 1995, supervised by the Central Bank of Ireland. The categories broadly align with the UK but are not identical.
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View the related Flowcharts about Investments

FLOWCHARTS
UK FSMA 2000 regulated activities: decision flowchart for lawyers (RAO scope, exemptions, appointed representatives, PRA-regulated activities)

Complaints handling flowchart This complaints handling flowchart is designed to align with Precedent: Internal complaints handling procedure—law firms. Issue it to team members or attach it to your internal complaints handling procedure, offering a concise overview of your complaints process and the relevant timescales involved...

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FLOWCHARTS
FSMA 2000 (RAO) Article 10: flowchart for when effecting or carrying out contracts of insurance as principal requires PRA/FCA authorisation

This decision tree outlines a logical route for deciding whether you can carry out live telephone marketing and, if permitted, who you may contact. For guidance on other forms of marketing, see: Direct marketing decision tree—postal—data protection and Direct marketing decision tree—email and other electronic mail marketing—data protection. Direct marketing refers to the communication (by any means) of advertising or promotional material directed at specific individuals. Live or automated telephone calls? This decision tree is not intended for automated calls, as the rules governing automated calls are far more stringent than those for live calls. You must not make automated marketing calls to an individual unless they have given explicit consent to receive that precise type of call from you. General marketing consent, or consent applicable only to live calls, is insufficient—it must expressly include automated calls. Consequently, there is little value in a decision tree for automated marketing calls—this tree covers live marketing calls only. See Practice Note: Direct marketing compliance—Automated calls. Claims management services ...

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NEWS
EU competition law daily: Commission Phase I merger clearances, simplified notifications; Ryanair Reg 1/2003 reference; General Court KRKA/Servier order; calendar (26 January 2026)

Mergers The Commission cleared: Hartree Partners Holdings, LP’s acquisition of exclusive control of Touton S.A. (M.12189), following a phase I investigation—see further in Midday Express the establishment of a joint venture by EVH Grüne Energie – Beteiligung GmbH & Co. KG and HSBC Alternative Investments S.C.A. SICAV-RAIF (M.12240), following a phase I investigation—see further in Midday Express the setting up of a joint venture by RCL Cruises Ltd....

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NEWS
EU competition law update: X2O clearance; Trafigura/Meroil, Proman/Valenz, Mutares/Serneke notifications; General Court hearing on PostNord/Post Danmark state aid; upcoming dates (20/09/2024)

Mergers The Commission approved the purchase granting joint control over X2O group to Vendis Capital Management NV and Waterland Private Equity Investments B.V....

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NEWS
EU competition daily brief: FTTH joint control cleared; new simplified merger notifications; €10.4bn French and Dutch Air France-KLM aid approved; calendars and trackers — 10 July 2024

Mergers The Commission approved purchase of joint control of a fibre-to-the-home network from Digi Spain Telecom, S.L.U. by Sota Investments (UK) Holdco Limited and Aberdeen Infrastructure IV-A, B.V....

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View the related Practice Notes about Investments

PRACTICE NOTES
UK money market funds: regime essentials, authorisation, UCITS/AIFM interactions, investment and liquidity rules, CNAV/LVNAV/VNAV, and post‑Brexit reform proposals including TMPR and the Overseas Funds Regime

This Practice Note examines core aspects of the UK framework for money market funds (MMFs) that stems from Regulation (EU) 2017/1131 (the EU MMF Regulation). It also looks at suggested changes to the framework, with the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), HM Treasury and the Bank of England (BoE) working jointly to bolster its resilience and align it with post‑Brexit regulatory objectives. For background on the EU MMF Regulation, see Practice Note: EU MMF Regulation—essentials. What is an MMF? Money market funds (MMFs) are investment funds that invest in short‑term debt instruments and so play a significant role in the short‑term financing of the economy. In particular, MMFs are open‑ended, liquid investment funds that invest in fixed income through short‑term debt, for example money market instruments issued by banks, governments or companies (including treasury bills, commercial paper and certificates of deposit) which pay interest. They therefore form an important connection between demand for, and the supply of, short‑term debt. Further information on the eligible assets of an MMF is...

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PRACTICE NOTES
Family Offices in the UK: Types, Services, Establishment, Costs, Governance, Regulation, Challenges and Trends—A Lawyers’ Guide

Family office The phrase ‘family office’ spans a wide array of circumstances, so there is no universally agreed definition. The Family Firm Institute, however, characterises a family office as: ‘A separate entity apart from the operating business (and sometimes created with the assets realised after the sale of a family enterprise) consisting of a diversified wealth portfolio held for the benefit of the family’ (Family Enterprise; understanding Families in Business and Families of Wealth Wiley 2014 (not reported by LexisNexis®)). Such offices are largely, and more commonly, the preserve of high net worth—indeed ultra high net worth—families (ie those with investable assets above $30m), with varied holdings and complex affairs. That complexity can create scope for disputes. Nonetheless, with a well-designed structure supported by a clear strategy and effective family governance, a family office can yield substantial advantages. These benefits accrue not only to the family members themselves but also, through coordinated philanthropic efforts, to the broader community. Likely features of a family office include: a...

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PRACTICE NOTES
Using the Insolvency Services Account: obligations of official receivers and insolvency practitioners, EAS processes, investments/interest, local account authorisations, unclaimed dividends and fees in bankruptcies and compulsory liquidations

The official receiver (OR) is designated as trustee in bankruptcy (trustee) or as liquidator to manage and investigate every bankruptcy and court-ordered winding up, including those of partnerships. The Secretary of State or the creditors may, in place of the OR, appoint an insolvency practitioner (IP) to act as trustee for personal insolvencies or as liquidator for corporate cases. Under the Insolvency Regulations 1994, SI 1994/2507, as amended (the Regulations), the OR or IP, as appropriate, is obliged to pay into the (ISA) any funds they receive while administering all bankruptcies and compulsory liquidations. Before 1 October 2011, sums from voluntary liquidations could also be lodged in the ISA; now, only unclaimed dividends in a voluntary liquidation may be paid into the ISA. Likewise, unclaimed dividends arising in an administration or an administrative receivership may be paid into the ISA once the company has been dissolved. The Regulations also permit payments out of the ISA for disbursements, expenses and distributions to creditors and, in a liquidation, to contributories, or, in...

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PRECEDENTS
DC pension scheme SIP template: objectives, default lifecycle design, fund range and risk, ESG stewardship, manager oversight on insurer platforms, and compliance with Pensions Act 1995 and 2005 Investment Regulations

Effective from [ insert date ], this statement of investment principles applies. 1 Statement of investment principles 1.1 Purpose of statement This document outlines the principles that steer decisions on investing the assets of the [ insert name ] Pension Scheme (the Scheme). It is published by the Trustees of the [ insert name ] Pension Scheme (the Trustees) to meet the requirements of the Pensions Act 1995, s 35. 1.2 Review The statement will be assessed each year. The Trustees may conduct an ad hoc review at any time if they consider there has been a material change in investment policy, or any other circumstances affecting the Scheme. 1.3 Advice The Trustees have received and evaluated written advice on the contents of this statement in a letter from [ insert name of investment consultant or actuary ]. [ insert name ] have confirmed to the Trustees that, through their ability and practical experience in financial matters, and with appropriate knowledge...

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PRECEDENTS
High-risk Clients and Matters: Quarterly AML/CTF and Counter-proliferation Financing Review and Action Plan (UK Law Firms)

1 General information Review timeframe [ Insert review period ] Review date [ Insert date ] Individual(s) carrying out the review [ Insert name(s) ] 2 Data Total count of high-risk clients [ Insert number ] Total count of high-risk matters [ Insert number ] Total count of these that pertain to PEPs [ Insert number ] Total count of these that concern false or stolen identification documentation [ Insert number ] Total count of these that involve sanctioned entities [ Insert number ] Total count of these that present a proliferation financing concern [ Insert number ] Total count of these that involve clients who are beneficiaries of life insurance policies where the retainer has a direct link to the policy [ Insert number ] Total count of these that concern clients seeking residence/citizenship rights of a state in exchange for investments in that state [ Insert number ] Total...

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PRECEDENTS
Trust deed clause: trustees’ absolute discretion to invest only ethically with exoneration for resultant loss

To choose solely those investments that the Trustees, at their unfettered discretion, deem ethically permissible, without incurring liability for any loss whatsoever that may thereby arise to the Trust Fund...

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Q&As
AEOI registration under 2025 ITC Amendments: specified non‑reporting trusts—trust corporations, trustee‑documented, and lay‑trustee private company shares

Amendments to the International Tax Compliance Regulations 2015 (2015 regs), SI 2015/878, introduced by the International Tax Compliance (Amendment) Regulations 2025, SI 2025/740, have brought in a compulsory Automatic Exchange of Information (AEOI) registration obligation for certain trusts treated as ‘specified non-reporting financial institutions’. Under the 2015 regs, SI 2015/878, reg 24(1), a specified non-reporting financial institution is ‘a non-reporting financial institution which is a trust within the meaning of Section VIII(B)(1)(e) of the CRS or paragraph II(D) of Annex II to the FATCA agreement’. Set out below is a concise overview of the components of that definition. Financial institution (IEIM400610) The FATCA and CRS frameworks recognise four common categories of Financial Institution: custodial institution depository institution investment entity specified insurance company Where a private trust satisfies any Financial Institution definition, it will most commonly be treated as an Investment Entity...

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