(1) This article applies where—
(a) a person has submitted an application for Part IV permission or a variation of Part IV permission (“the applicant”), to the extent that the application relates to—
(i) a regulated activity specified by article 52(b) of the Principal Order (as amended by this Order),
(ii) an investment specified by article 82(2) of the Principal Order (as amended by this Order);
(b) on or before 1st October 2006, the applicant had been carrying on an activity that following commencement will be—
(i) a regulated activity of establishing, operating or winding up a personal pension scheme; or
(ii) an activity of a kind specified by article—
(aa) 14 (dealing in investments as principal),
(bb) 21 (dealing in investments as agent),
(cc) 25 (arranging deals in investments),
(dd) 37 (managing investments),
(ee) 40 (safeguarding and administering investments),
(ff) 45 (sending dematerialised instructions),
(gg) 53 (advising on investments), or
(hh) in so far as relevant to any activity specified in this sub-paragraph, 64 (agreeing to carry on specified kinds of activity),
of the Principal Order in relation to rights under a personal pension scheme;
(c) the Authority received the application on or before 23rd March 2007; and
(d) the application had not been finally decided before commencement.
(2) The applicant is to be treated as having at commencement the permission to which the application relates.
(3) A permission which an applicant is to be treated as having is referred to in this Order as an “interim permission”.
(4) Without prejudice to the exercise by the Authority of its powers under Part 4 of the Act an interim permission lapses when the application has been finally decided.
(5) In this article “finally decided” means—
(a) subject to paragraph (6), when the application is withdrawn;
(b) when the Authority grants permission under section 42 of the Act (giving permission) to carry on the activity in question;
(c) where the Authority has refused an application and the matter is not referred to the Tribunal, when the time for referring the matter to the Tribunal has expired;
(d) where the Authority has refused an application and the matter is referred to the Tribunal when—
(i) if the reference is determined by the Tribunal (including a determination following remission back to the Tribunal for rehearing in accordance with subsection (3)(a) of section 137 of the Act (appeal on a point of law)), the time for bringing an appeal has expired, or
(ii) on an appeal from a determination by the Tribunal on a point of law, the Court itself determines the application in accordance with section 137 of the Act.
(6) An applicant who is treated as having interim permission may not withdraw the application without first obtaining the consent of the Authority.
(7) Where—
(a) the Authority exercises its power under section 45 (variation etc. on the Authority’s own initiative) in relation to an authorised person who holds an interim permission; and
(b) as a result of the variation there are no longer any regulated activities for which the authorised person has permission,
the Authority must, once it is satisfied that it is no longer necessary to keep the interim permission in force, cancel it.