Prudential Regulation Authority Rulebook

This manual applies to:

The purpose of this manual is to give guidance about the circumstances in which authorisation is required, or exempt person status is available, including guidance on the activities which are regulated under the Act and the exclusions which are available.

PERG uses words and phrases that have specific meanings in the Handbook or in legislation; these may be different from, or more precise than, their usual dictionary meanings. Defined terms used in the text of the Handbook are shown in italics (see Chapter 7 of the Reader's Guide to the Handbook at http://fsahandbook.info/FSA/pdf/rguide.pdf). For the meanings of defined terms used in PERG, see the Glossary. It is essential that readers refer to these definitions.

PERG 1.4.1 G (General guidance to be found in PERG) summarises the general guidance contained in PERG. Readers should note that in a cross-reference, as explained in paragraph 40 of the Readers' Guide, the code letters of the manual or sourcebook immediately precede the chapter number. For example, PERG 1 is the first chapter of the Perimeter Guidance manual. PERG 1.5 provides details of and links to other general guidance on perimeter issues that is available on the FSA website.

This guidance is issued under section 157 of the Act (Guidance). It represents the FSA's views and does not bind the courts. For example, it would not bind the courts in an action for damages brought by a private person for breach of a rule (see section 150 of the Act (Actions for damages)), or in relation to the enforceability of a contract where there has been a breach of sections 19 (The general prohibition) or 21 (Restrictions on financial promotion) of the Act (see sections 26 to 30 of the Act (Enforceability of agreements)). Although the guidance does not bind the courts, it may be of persuasive effect for a court considering whether it would be just and equitable to allow a contract to be enforced (see sections 28(3) and 30(4) of the Act). Anyone reading this guidance should refer to the Act and to the relevant secondary legislation to find out the precise scope and effect of any particular provision referred to in the guidance and any reader should consider seeking legal advice if doubt remains. If a person acts in line with the guidance in the circumstances mentioned by it, the FSA will proceed on the footing that the person has complied with the aspects of the requirement to which the guidance relates.

PERG 1.4.2 G has a table setting out the general guidance to be found in PERG.

Table: list of general guidance to be found in PERG.

Chapter:	Applicable to:	About:
PERG 2: Authorisation and regulated activities	•an unauthorised person wishing to find out whether he needs to be authorised or exempt• an authorised person wishing to know whether he needs to vary his Part IV permission	• the regulatory scope of the Act• the Regulated Activities Order•the Exemption Order•the Business Order
PERG 3: Issuing e-money	a person who needs to know • whether a particular electronic payment product ise-money and whether the person issuing it needs to beauthorised under the Act• whether any communications about the product will be restricted	• the scope of the regulated activity of issuing e-money• the application of the restriction in section 21 of the Act (Restrictions on financial promotion) to communications about e-money
PERG 4: Regulated activities connected with mortgages	any person who needs to know whether the activities he conducts in relation to mortgages are subject to FSA regulation. This is likely to include: •lenders•administration service providers•mortgage brokers and advisers	the scope of relevant orders (in particular, the Regulated Activities Order) as respects activities concerned with mortgages
PERG 5: Insurance mediation activities	any person who needs to know whether he carries on insurance mediation activities and is, thereby, subject to FSA regulation. This is likely to include: •insurance brokers• insurance advisers•insurance undertakings• other persons involved in the sale or administration of contracts of insurance, where these activities are secondary to their main business.	the scope of relevant orders (in particular, the Regulated Activities Order) as respects activities concerned with the sale or administration of insurance
PERG 6: Identification of contracts of insurance	any person who needs to know whether a contract with which he is involved is a contract of insurance	the general principles and range of specific factors that the FSA regards as relevant in deciding whether any arrangement is a contract of insurance
PERG 7: Periodical publications, news services and broadcasts: application for certification	any person who needs to know whether he will be regulated for providing advice about investments through the medium of a periodical publication, a broadcast or a news service	• the circumstances in which such persons will be carrying on the regulated activities of advising on investments or advising on regulated mortgage contracts (including where a request for a certificate may be appropriate)•how the FSA will exercise its power to grant certificates
PERG 8: Financial promotion and related activities	any person who needs to know •whether his communications are financial promotions or are subject to the restriction in section 21 of the Act or both•whether his activities in making or helping others to make financial promotions are regulated activities.	•the scope of the restriction on financial promotion under section 21 of the Act and the main exemptions provided•the circumstances in which persons who are primarily involved in making or helping others to make financial promotions may themselves be conducting regulated activities requiring authorisation or exemption
PERG 9: Meaning of open-ended investment company	any person who needs to know whether a body corporate is an open-ended investment company as defined in section 236 of the Act (Open-ended investment companies) and is therefore a collective investment scheme.	the circumstances in which a body corporate will be an open-ended investment company
PERG 10: Activities related to pension schemes	[to be added]

General guidance on the perimeter is also contained in various FSA documents (mainly fact sheets and frequently asked questions) that are available on the FSA website at www.fsa.gov.uk.These documents, and the URL on which they may be accessed, include:

Any person who, having read relevant general guidance and, where appropriate, taken legal advice, remains uncertain about whether his activities amount to regulated activities or his communications will be subject to the restriction in section 21 of the Act, may seek individual guidance from the FSA . Requests for individual guidance should be made in line with SUP 9.

In addition, the FSA has established a team to provide general assistance and guidance to persons generally about the scope of the Act. Enquiries of this kind may be made:

The FSA will review its general guidance from time to time and may need to amend or withdraw published or written guidance in the light of changing circumstances, developing business practices, or case law. For the status of guidance issued by the FSA , see PERG 1.3.1 G.