SUP 9.1 Application and purpose

1. (1)

   This chapter applies to:2

   2
   1. (a)

      every firm;

   2. (b)

      persons that are subject to the requirements of the Part 6 rules; and

   3. (c)

      persons generally.

2. (2)

   SUP 9.3 (Giving individual guidance to a firm on the FCA's own initiative) is, however, only relevant to a firm.

Individual guidance is guidance that is not given to persons or regulated persons generally or to a class of regulated person. It will normally be given to one particular person, which relates to its own particular circumstances or plans. It may be oral or written. Individual guidance will not be published but may at the FCA's discretion be converted to general guidance and published in the Handbook. Written individual guidance will often be labelled as such1

A person may need to ask the FCA for individual guidance on how the rules and general guidance in the Handbook, the Act or other regulatory requirements apply in their particular circumstances. This chapter describes how a person may do this. Section 139A of the Act gives the FCA the power to give guidance consisting of such information and advice as it considers appropriate.

The FCA may at times also consider it appropriate to give a firm individual guidance on its own initiative, for example on how it considers a firm should comply with a rule. SUP 9.3 describes when and how the FCA will seek to do this.