PERG 1.2 Introduction

1. (1)

    The Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (the Act) is the UK legislation under which bodies corporate, partnerships, individuals and unincorporated associations are permitted by the FCA or PRA to carry on various financial activities which are subject to regulation (referred to as regulated activities).

2. (2)

    The activities which are regulated activities are specified in the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Regulated Activities) Order 2001 (the Regulated Activities Order): for example, accepting deposits, managing investments, effecting contracts of insurance, dealing in investments as agent. In general terms, a regulated activity is an activity, specified in the Regulated Activities Order, carried on by way of business in relation to one or more of the investments specified in the Regulated Activities Order. PERG 2 gives further general guidance on regulated activities and specified investments. PERG 18 provides guidance on regulated cryptoasset activities, qualifying cryptoassets, qualifying stablecoins and specified investment cryptoassets.

1. (1)

   The Act, and the secondary legislation made under the Act, is complex. Although PERG gives guidance about regulated activities and financial promotions, it does not aim to, nor can it, be exhaustive.

2. (2)

   References have been made to relevant provisions in the Act or secondary legislation. However, since reproducing an entire statutory provision would sometimes require a lengthy quotation, or considerable further explanation, many provisions of the Act, or secondary legislation made under the Act, are summarised. For the precise details of the legislation, readers of the manual should, therefore, refer to the Act and the secondary legislation itself, as well as the manual.

3. (3)

   The Act and the secondary legislation made under it can be obtained from HMSO at http://www.legislation.hmso.gov.uk/legislation/uk.htm or can be accessed through the Treasury's website (www.hm-treasury.gov.uk).

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://www.fca.org.uk/your-fca/documents/handbook/handbook-readers-guide). For the meanings of defined terms used in PERG, see the Glossary. It is essential that readers refer to these definitions. In the case of those parts of PERG which take the form of Q&A, however, to ensure greater accessibility of the text we have only italicised Handbook terms in those places where we think that it would be helpful to the majority of readers.

Except in PERG 2 and PERG 7, where PERG uses the defined term of advising on investments, this term refers only to the regulated activity (in article 53(1) of the Regulated Activities Order) of advising on investments (except P2P agreements) and related text should be read and construed accordingly.

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 FCA website.