The UK Financial Services Authority regulates dealing in shares and other specified investments, and efforts by members to raise money or find investors for businesses and other specified types of investment activity. Such regulations place substantial restrictions on a user's ability to sell such items on the Internet through eBay, and/or to carry out such investment activity, and therefore eBay does not permit the sale of any specified investment or the undertaking of any regulated investment activity on its site. Examples of items not allowed on eBay:

• Shares, stock, bonds, or any investment interest in any entity or property, including but not limited to companies or partnerships
• Credit (for example, you may not sell £1000 in credit to a buyer)
• Solicitations to invest money in any business venture
• Any ongoing business if the sale involves a transfer of any shares or interests in shares or any loan stock or other form of indebtedness in that business
• Documentation that represents proof of a current investment interest in any entity.

Some business related items are not "investments" and may be listed on eBay. Examples of items that can be listed:

• The assets of a business (inventory and plant) where no transfer of stock is involved.
• Information about how to start a business.
• Any sale of inventory, leases, fixtures (for transactions involving leases please see our separate non-binding bid and real estate policies).
• "Turn key" businesses such as vending machines and windscreen repair kits
• Tools used for a business, such as silk screening machines, and business card makers
• Websites or domain names
• Old or collectible stock certificates, provided that such stock certificates are either cancelled or represent an interest in an entity that no longer legally exists and cannot be redeemed for cash or securities in any other company.

As a first step in your research in this area, UK sellers should visit the Financial Services Authority's website http://www.fsa.gov.uk/. Sellers in the Republic of Ireland may view the Irish Financial Services Regulatory Authority website.

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• Prohibited and Restricted Items Overview

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