APER 3.1 Introduction

The purpose of the 5Code of Practice for Approved Persons is to help an approved person5 to determine whether or not that person's5 conduct complies with a Statement of Principle. The code sets out descriptions of conduct which, in the FCA's opinion, do or5 do not comply with the relevant Statements of Principle. The code also sets out certain factors which, in the opinion of the FCA, are to be taken into account in determining whether an approved person's conduct complies with a particular Statement of Principle.5

The Code of Practice for Approved Persons5 is general guidance. The status and effect of general guidance is described in the Readers' Guide. In particular, guidance:5

1. (1)

   represents the FCA’s view and does not bind the courts or third parties;5

2. (2)

   is not binding on approved persons, nor does it have ‘evidential’ effect;5

3. (3)

   need not be followed to achieve compliance with the Statements of Principle, nor is there any presumption that departing from guidance is indicative of a breach of the relevant rule;5

4. (4)

   indicates that if a person acts in accordance with the guidance in APER in the circumstances contemplated by that guidance, then the FCA will proceed as if that person has complied with the aspects of the rule to which the guidance relates.5

5In assessing compliance with, or a breach of, a Statement of Principle, the FCA will look at5 all the circumstances of a particular case. 5 Account will be taken of the context in which a course of conduct was undertaken, including the precise circumstances of the individual case, the characteristics of the particular accountable function12 and the behaviour to be expected in that function.

1. (1)

   An approved person will only be in breach of a Statement of Principle where he is personally culpable. Personal culpability arises where an approved person's conduct was deliberate or where the approved person's standard of conduct was below that which would be reasonable in all the circumstances (see DEPP 6.2.4 G (Action against approved persons under section 66 of the Act2)).

   2
2. (2)

   For the avoidance of doubt, the Statements of Principle do not extend the duties of approved persons beyond those which the firm owes in its dealings with customers or others.

In particular, in determining whether or not an approved person's conduct complies with a Statement of Principle, the FCA 5 will take into account the extent to which an approved person has acted in a way that is stated to be in breach of a Statement of Principle.

The Code of Practice for Approved Persons (and in particular the specific examples of behaviour which may be in breach of a generic description of conduct in the code) is not exhaustive of the kind of conduct that may contravene the Statements of Principle. The purpose of the code is to help determine whether or not a person's conduct complies with a Statement of Principle. The code may be supplemented from time to time. The FCA 5 will amend the code if there is a risk that unacceptable practice may become prevalent, so as to make clear what conduct falls below the standards expected of approved persons by the Statements of Principle.

12Statements of Principle 1 to 4 apply to all approved persons. A person performing an accountable higher management function 5 is also subject to the additional requirements set out in Statements of Principle 5 to 7 in performing that accountable function. 9

In applying Statements of Principle 5 to 7, the nature, scale and complexity of the business under management and the role and responsibility of the individual performing an accountable higher management function5 within the firm will be relevant in assessing whether an approved person's conduct was reasonable. For example, the smaller and less complex the business, the less detailed and extensive the systems of control need to be. The FCA will be of the opinion that an individual performing an accountable higher management function5 may have breached Statements of Principle 5 to 7 only if5 their conduct was below the standard which would be reasonable in all the circumstances. (See also APER 3.3.1G(3) to APER 3.3.1G(5)5.)

UK domestic firms with a premium listing are subject to the UK Corporate Governance Code4, whose internal control Provisions8 are amplified in the publication entitled ‘Guidance on Risk Management, Internal Control and Related Financial and Business Reporting (September 2014)’6 issued by the Financial Reporting Council4. Firms regulated by the FCA 5 in this category will 6be subject to that code as well as to the requirements and standards of the regulatory system. In forming an opinion whether approved persons have complied with its requirements, the FCA 5 will give due credit for their following corresponding Provisions8 in the UK Corporate Governance Code 4and related guidance.