Appointed Rep

An Appointed Representative or “AR” is a firm or person that carries on a regulated activity on behalf, and/or under the responsibility of, an FCA authorised firm, also known as the principal firm.

The regime was originally introduced in 1986 primarily to allow self-employed people to engage in regulated activities without having to be authorised. The model was popular in industries such as insurance but has evolved to encompass other financial services. Subsequently, the AR regime has also extended to include a wider range of models such as regulatory hosting, i.e. where the principal may or may not carry on any substantive regulated activities itself but oversees the use of its permissions by its ARs.

The FCA acknowledges there are certain benefits associated with the AR regime, including encouraging effective competition and providing market access.

We provide first-class regulatory hosting and AIFM solutions via our FCA authorised firms to help businesses run without legal implications. Whether you’re looking for regulatory hosting for a firm or are an individual seeking to become an appointed representative, we provide full regulatory cover, compliance support and access to our wider network of contacts.

Our appointed representatives typically are involved in Corporate Finance, Raising Investment Capital, Mergers and Acquisitions and Capital Introduction.