Related provisions for CASS 5.5.27
1 - 20 of 147 items.
Where an insurance transaction
involves more than one firm acting
in a chain such that for example money is
transferred from a "producing" broker who has received client money from a consumer5 to an intermediate broker and thereafter to an insurance
undertaking, each broker firm will
owe obligations to its immediate client to
segregate client money which
it receives (in this example the producing broker in relation to the consumer5and the intermediate broker in relation to the
A firm may
segregate client money in a
different currency from that of receipt. If it does so, the firm must
ensure that the amount held is adjusted at intervals of not more than twenty
five business days to an amount
at least equal to the original currency amount (or the currency in which the firm has its liability to its clients, if different), translated at the
previous day's closing spot exchange rate.
A firm must
not hold money other than client money in a client
bank account unless it is:(1) a
minimum sum required to open the account, or to keep it open; or(2) money temporarily in the account in accordance
with CASS 5.5.16 R (Withdrawal of commission and mixed remittance); or(3) interest
credited to the account which exceeds the amount due to clients as
interest and has not yet been withdrawn by the firm.
If it is prudent to do so to ensure that client money is protected (and provided that
doing so would otherwise be in accordance with CASS
5.5.63 R (1)(b)(ii)),2 a firm may pay into, or maintain in, a client bank account money of its own, and
that money will then become client money for the purposes of CASS 5 and the client money (insurance)
distribution rules.
A firm,
when acting in accordance with CASS
5.3 (statutory trust), must ensure
that the total amount of client money held
for each client in any of the firm'sclient
moneybankaccounts is positive and that no payment
is made from any such account for the benefit of a client unless
the client has provided the firm with cleared funds to enable the payment
to be made.
2When
a firm acts in accordance with CASS
5.3 (Statutory trust) it should not make a payment from the client bank account unless it is satisfied
on reasonable grounds that the client has
provided it with cleared funds. Accordingly, a firm should
normally allow a reasonable period of time for cheques to clear. If a withdrawal
is made and the client's cheque
is subsequently dishonoured it will be the firm's responsibility
to make good the shortfall in
the account as quickly as possible
If client
money is received by the firm in
the form of an automated transfer, the firm must
take reasonable steps to ensure that:(1) the money is received directly into a client bank account; and(2) if money is received directly into the firm's own account, the money is
transferred into a client bank account no
later than the next business day after
receipt.
A firm can
hold client money in either
a general client bank account (CASS 5.5.38 R) or a designated client bank account (CASS 5.5.39 R). A firm holds all client money in general
client bank accounts for its clients as
part of a common pool of money so
those particular clients do
not have a claim against a specific sum in a specific account; they only have
a claim to the client money in
general. A firm holds client money in designated
client bank accounts for those clients who
requested
A firm which
takes advantage of CASS
5.5.14 R will need to consider whether its permission should include the permitted activity of managing
investments. If the firm is
granted a power to manage with discretion the funds over which it is appointed
as trustee under the trust deed required by CASS
5.4 then
it will be likely to need a permission to manage investments. It is unlikely to need
such a permission, however, if it is merely granted a power to invest but
the deed stipulates
(1) A firm may draw down commission from
the client bank account if:(a) it
has received the premium from
the client (or from a third party premium finance
provider on the client's behalf);2 and(b) this
is consistent with the firm'sterms of business which it maintains with
the relevant client and 2the insurance undertaking to
whom the premium will become2 payable;and the firm may
draw down commission before
payment of the premium to the insurance undertaking, provided that the
conditions
(1) As
soon as commission becomes due
to the firm (in accordance with CASS
5.5.16 R (1)) it must be treated as a remittance which must be withdrawn in
accordance with CASS
5.5.16 R (2). 2The procedure required by CASS 5.5.16 R will also 2apply where moneyis 2due and payable 2to the firm in
respect of fees due from clients (whether to the firm or
other professionals).(2) Firms are reminded that money received
in accordance with CASS
5.2 must not,
except where a firm and an insurance
(1) Subject
to (4), a 2firm must
in relation to each of its appointed representatives, field representatives and other agents comply
with CASS 5.5.19 R to CASS
5.5.21 R (Immediate segregation) or with CASS 5.5.23 R (Periodic
segregation and reconciliation).(2) A firm must in relation to each representative or other agent keep a record
of whether it is complying with CASS 5.5.19 R to CASS 5.5.21 R or
with CASS 5.5.23 R.(3) A firm is, but without affecting the application
of CASS
(1) A firm must, on a regular basis, and at reasonable
intervals, ensure that it holds in its client
bank account an amount which (in addition to any other amount
which it is required by these rules to
hold) is not less than the amount which it reasonably estimates to be the
aggregate of the amounts held at any time by its appointed
representatives, field representatives,
and other agents.(2) A firm must, not later than ten business days following the expiry of each
period in
(1) CASS 5.5.23 R allows a firm with appointed representatives, field representatives and other agents to
avoid the need for the representative to
forward client money on a daily
basis but instead requires a firm to
segregate into its client money bank account amounts
which it reasonably estimates to be sufficient to cover the amount of client money which the firm expects
its representatives or agents
to receive and hold over a given period. At the expiry of each such period,
the
When a firm receives
a client entitlement on behalf
of a client, it must pay any
part of it which is client money:(1) for client entitlements received in the United Kingdom, into a client
bank account in accordance with CASS 5.5.5 R;
or(2) for client entitlements received outside the United Kingdom, into any bank account operated
by the firm, provided that such client money is:(a) paid
to, or in accordance with, the instructions of the client concerned;
or(b) paid
into a client
(1) In
relation to consumers5, a firm must, subject
to (2), take reasonable steps to ensure that its terms
of business or other client agreements4 adequately explain, and where
necessary obtain a client's informed
consent to, the treatment of interest and, if applicable, investment returns,
derived from its holding of client money and
any segregated designated investments.54(2) In
respect of interest earned on client bank accounts,
(1) does not apply if a firm has
reasonable ground
CASS 5.5.34 R sets
out the requirements a firm must
comply with when it transfers client money to
another person without discharging
its fiduciary duty owed to that client.
Such circumstances arise when, for example, a firm passes client money to another broker for the purposes
of the client's transaction
being effected. A firm can only
discharge itself from its fiduciary duty by acting in accordance with, and
in the circumstances permitted by, CASS 5.5.80 R.
(1) A firm may operate as many client accounts
as it wishes.(2) A firm is not obliged to offer its clients the facility of a designated
client bank account.(3) Where
a firm holds money in
a designated client bank account,
the effect upon either:(a) the failure of a bank where any other client bank account is held; or(b) the failure of a third party to whom money has been transferred out of any other client bank account in accordance with CASS 5.5.34 R;(each of which is a secondary
A firm may
hold client money with a bank
that is not an approved bank if
all the following conditions are met:(1) the client money relates to one or more insurance
transactions which are subject to the law or market practice of a jurisdiction
outside the United Kingdom;(2) because
of the applicable law or market practice of that overseas jurisdiction, it
is not possible to hold the client money in
a client bank account with an approved bank;(3) the firm holds the money with
such
A firm owes
a duty of care to a client when
it decides where to place client money.
The review required by CASS 5.5.43 R is intended to ensure that the risks inherent
in placing client money with
a bank are minimised or appropriately diversified by requiring a firm to consider carefully the bank or banks
with which it chooses to place client money.
For example, a firm which is
likely only to hold relatively modest amounts of client
money will be likely to be able to satisfy this
Subject to CASS 5.5.41 R,
a firm that holds or intends
to hold client money with a
bank which is in the same group as
the firm must:(1) undertake
a continuous review in relation to that bank which is at least as rigorous
as the review of any bank which is not in the same group,
in order to ensure that the decision to use a group bank
is appropriate for the client;(2) disclose
in writing to its client at
the outset of the client relationship
(whether by way of a client agreement,4terms
of
If a client has
notified a firm in writing that
he does not wish his money to
be held with a bank in the same group as
the firm, the firm must
either:(1) place
that client money in a client bank account with another bank in
accordance with CASS
5.5.38 R; or(2) return
that client money to, or pay
it to the order of, the client.
A firm must
not hold, for a consumer5, client money in
a client bank account outside
the United Kingdom, unless
the firm has previously disclosed
to the consumer5 (whether in its terms of business, client
agreement11 or otherwise in writing):5511(1) that
his money may be deposited in
a client bank account outside
the United Kingdom but that
the client may notify the firm that he does not wish his money to be held in a particular jurisdiction;(2) that
in such circumstances, the
If a client has
notified a firm in writing before
entering into a transaction that client money is
not to be held in a particular jurisdiction, the firm must
either:(1) hold
the client money in a client bank account in a jurisdiction to
which the client has not objected;
or(2) return
the client money to, or to the
order of, the client.
A firm must
not undertake any transaction for a consumer5 that involves client money being
passed to another broker or settlement agent located
in a jurisdiction outside the United Kingdom,
unless the firm has previously
disclosed to the consumer5 (whether in its terms of business, client agreement 4or otherwise in writing):554(1) that
his client money may be passed
to a person outside the United Kingdom but the client may
notify the firm that he does
not wish his money to be
If a client has
notified a firm before entering
into a transaction that he does not wish his money to
be passed to another broker or settlement
agent located in a particular jurisdiction, the firm must either:(1) hold
the client money in a client bank account in the United
Kingdom or a jurisdiction to which the money has
not objected and pay its own money to
the firm's own account with
the broker, agent or counterparty; or(2) return
the money to, or to the order
of, the clien
(1) In order that a firm may
check that it has sufficient money segregated
in its client bank account (and
held by third parties) to meet its obligations to clients it
is required periodically to calculate the amount which should be segregated
(the client money requirement)
and to compare this with the amount shown as its client
money resource. This calculation is, in the first instance,
based upon the firm's accounting
records and is followed by a reconciliation with its banking
The client
money resource, for the purposes of CASS
5.5.63 R (1)(a),2 is:(1) the
aggregate of the balances on the firm's client money
bank accounts, as at the close of business on the previous business day and, if held in accordance with CASS
5.4, designated investments (valued
on a prudent and consistent basis) together with client
money held by a third party in accordance with CASS 5.5.34 R;
and(2) (but
only if the firm is comparing
the client money resource with
its client's
The individual client balance
for each client must be calculated
as follows:(1) the
amount paid by a client to the firm (to include all premiums);
plus(2) the
amount due to the client (to
include all claims and premium refunds);
plus(3) the
amount of any interest or investment returns due to the client;(4) less
the amount paid to insurance undertakings for
the benefit of the client (to
include all premiums and commission due
to itself) (i.e. commissions that
are due but have not
A firm's client money (accruals)
requirement is the sum of the following:(1) all
insurance creditors shown in the firm's business
ledgers as amounts due to insurance undertakings, clients and other persons;
plus(2) unearned commission 2being the amount of commission 2shown as accrued (but not shown
as due 2and payable) as at the date of
the calculation (a prudent estimate must be used if the firm is
unable to produce an exact figure at the date of the calculation).
A firm which
calculates its client money requirement
on the preceding basis must in addition and within a reasonable period be
able to match its client money resource
to its requirement by reference to individual clients (with
such matching being achieved for the majority of its clients and
transactions).
The purpose of CASS 5.5.80 R to CASS 5.5.83 R is to set out those situations in which a firm will
have fulfilled its contractual and fiduciary obligations in relation to any client money held for or on behalf of its client, or3 in relation to the firm's ability to require repayment of that money from a third party3.
Money ceases to be client
money if it is paid:(1) to
the client, or a duly authorised
representative of the client;
or(2) to
a third party on the instruction of or with the specific consent of the client, but not if it is transferred to a
third party in the course of effecting a transaction, in accordance with CASS 5.5.34 R; or(3) into
a bank account of the client (not
being an account which is also in the name of the firm);
or(4) to
the firm itself, when it is
due and payable
(1) A firm which pays professional fees (for example
to a loss adjuster or valuer) on behalf of a client may
do so in accordance with CASS
5.5.80 R (2) where this is done on the instruction
of or with the consent of the client.(2) When
a firm wishes to transfer client money balances to a third party in
the course of transferring its business to another firm,
it should do so in compliance with CASS 5.5.80 R and a transferee firm will come under an obligation to treat
any client
For the purposes of CASS 5.1.5 R,
if a firm makes a payment to,
or on the instructions of, a client,
from an account other than a client bank account,
until that payment has cleared, no equivalent sum will become due and payable
to the firm or may be withdrawn
from a client bank account by
way of reimbursement.
(1) A firm must ensure that any arrangement relating to the transfer of full ownership of a client'smoney to the firm for the purposes set out in CASS 7.11.1 R (1) and CASS 7.11.2 R (1) is the subject of a written agreement made on a durable medium between the firm and the client.(2) Regardless of the form of the written agreement in (1) (which may have additional commercial purposes), it must cover the client's agreement to:(a) the terms for the arrangement relating to the transfer
Where a firm has received full title or full ownership to money under a collateral arrangement, the fact that it has also granted a security interest to its client to secure its obligation to repay that money to the client would not result in the money being client money. This can be compared to a situation in which a firm takes a charge or other security interest over money held in a client bank account, where that money would still be client money as there would be no absolute
Firms are reminded of the client'sbest interest rule, which requires a firm to act honestly, fairly and professionally in accordance with the best interests of its clients when structuring its business particularly in respect of the effect of that structure on firms' obligations under the client money rules.
(1) If a client communicates to a firm that it wishes (whether pursuant to a contractual right or otherwise) to terminate an arrangement relating to the transfer of full ownership of its money to the firm for the purposes set out in CASS 7.11.1 R (1) and CASS 7.11.2 R (1), and the client's communication is not in writing, the firm must make a written record of the client's communication, which also records the date the communication was received.(2) A firm must keep a client's
When a firm notifies a client under CASS 7.11.9 R (3)(a) of when the termination of an arrangement relating to the transfer of full ownership of the client's money to the firm is to take effect, it should take into account:(1) any relevant terms relating to such a termination that have been agreed with the client; and(2) the period of time it reasonably requires to return the money to the client, or to update its records under CASS 7.15 (Records, accounts and reconciliations)
(1) Subject to (2) and CASS 7.11.16 R and with the agreement of the relevant client, money need not be treated as client money in respect of a delivery versus payment transaction through a commercial settlement system if:(a) in respect of a client's purchase the firm intends for the money from the client to be due to it within one business day following the firm's fulfilment of its delivery obligation to the client; or(b) in respect of a client's sale, the firm intends for the
(1) In line with CASS 7.11.14 R, where a firm receives money from the client in fulfilment of the client's payment obligation in respect of a delivery versus payment transaction the firm is carrying out through a commercial settlement system in respect of a client's purchase, and the firm has not fulfilled its delivery obligation to the client by close of business on the third business day following the date of the client's fulfilment of its payment obligation to the firm, the
(1) If a firm makes use of the exemption under CASS 7.11.14 R, it must obtain the client's written agreement to the firm's use of the exemption.(2) In respect of each client, the record created in (1) must be retained during the time that the firm makes use, or intends to make use, of the exemption under CASS 7.11.14 R in respect of that client's monies.
(1) Subject to (2)(a)3, money need not be treated as client money:3(a) in respect of a delivery versus payment transaction for the purpose of settling a transaction in relation to units in a regulated collective investment scheme in either of the following circumstances:(i) the authorised fund manager receives the money from a client in relation to the authorised fund manager's obligation to issue units, in an AUT or ACS, or to arrange for the issue of units in an ICVC, in accordance
(1) If a firm makes use of the exemption under CASS 7.11.21 R, it must obtain the client's written agreement to the firm's use of the exemption.(2) In respect of each client, the record created in (1) must be retained for the duration of the time that the firm makes use of the exemption under CASS 7.11.21 R in respect of that client's money.
Money held as client money becomes due and payable to the firm or for the firm's own account, for example, because the firm acted as principal in the contract or the firm, acting as agent, has itself paid for securities in advance of receiving the purchase money from its client. The circumstances in which it is due and payable will depend on the contractual arrangement between the firm and the client.
When a client's obligation or liability, which is secured by that client's asset, crystallises, and the firm realises the asset in accordance with an agreement entered into between the client and the firm, the part of the proceeds of the asset to cover such liability that is due and payable to the firm is not client money. However, any proceeds of sale in excess of the amount owed by the client to the firm should be paid over to the client immediately or be held in accordance
When commission rebate becomes due and payable to the client, the firm should: (1) treat it as client money; or(2) pay it out in accordance with the rule regarding the discharge of a firm's fiduciary duty to the client (see CASS 7.11.34 R); unless the firm and the client have entered into an arrangement under which the client has agreed to transfer full ownership of this money to the firm as collateral against payment of future professional fees (see CASS 7.11 (Title transfer
(1) The firm may, under the terms of its agreement with the client, pay some, none, or all interest earned to the relevant client.(2) Where interest is payable on client money by a firm to clients: (a) such sums are client money and so, if not paid to, or to the order of the clients, are required to be segregated in accordance with CASS 7.13 (Segregation of client money); (b) the interest should be paid to clients in accordance with the firm's agreement with each client; and(c)
Subject to CASS 7.11.44 R, money ceases to be client money for a firm if:(1) it is transferred by the firm to another person as part of a transfer of business to that person where the client money relates to the business being transferred;(2) it is transferred on terms which require the other person to return a client's transferred sums to the client as soon as practicable at the client's request;(3) a written agreement between the firm and the relevant client provides that:(a)
(1) Client money belonging to those categories of clients set out in (2) and in respect of those amounts set out in (2) ceases to be client money of the firm if it is transferred by the firm to another person:(a) as part of a transfer of business to that other person where these sums relate to the business being transferred; and(b) on terms which require the other person to return a client's transferred sums as soon as practicable at the client's request.(2) (a) For retail clients
Where a firm transfers client money belonging to its clients under either or both of CASS 7.11.42 R and CASS 7.11.44 R it must ensure that those clients are notified no later than seven days after the transfer taking place:(1) whether or not the sums will be held by the person to whom they have been transferred in accordance with the client money rules and if not how the sums being transferred will be held by that person;(2) the extent to which the sums transferred will be protected
A firm may pay away to a registered charity of its choice a client money balance which is allocated to a client and if it does so the released balance will cease to be client money under CASS 7.11.34 R (10), provided:(1) this is permitted by law and consistent with the arrangements under which the client money is held; (2) the firm held the balance concerned for at least six years following the last movement on the client's account (disregarding any payment or receipt of interest,
(1) Taking reasonable steps in CASS 7.11.50 R (3) includes following this course of conduct:(a) determining, as far as reasonably possible, the correct contact details for the relevant client;(b) writing to the client at the last known address either by post or by electronic mail to inform it of the firm's intention to no longer treat the client money balance as client money and to pay the sums concerned to charity if the firm does not receive instructions from the client within
For the purpose of CASS 7.11.52 E (1)(a), a firm may use any available means to determine the correct contact details for the relevant client, including telephoning the client, searching internal records, media advertising, searching public records, mortality screening, using credit reference agencies or tracing agents.
(1) Where a firm wishes to release a balance allocated to an individual client under CASS 7.11.50 R it must comply with either (a) or (b) and, in either case, (2):(a) the firm must unconditionally undertake to pay to the client concerned a sum equal to the balance paid away to charity in the event of the client seeking to claim the balance in future; or(b) the firm must ensure that an unconditional undertaking in the terms set out in (a) is made by a member of its group and there
(1) If a firm pays away client money under CASS 7.11.50 R (4) it must make and retain, or where the firm already has such records, retain: (a) records of all balances released from client bank accounts under CASS 7.11.50 R (including details of the amounts and the identity of the client to whom the money was allocated); (b) all relevant documentation (including charity receipts); and(c) details of the communications the firm had or attempted to make with the client concerned pursuant
The purpose of CASS 7.11.57 R is to allow a firm to pay away to charity client money balances of (i) £25 or less for retail clients or (ii) £100 or less for other clients when those balances remain unclaimed. If a firm follows this process, the money will cease to be client money (see CASS 7.11.34 R (10).
A firm may pay away to a registered charity of its choice a client money balance which is allocated to a client and if it does so the released balance will cease to be client money under CASS 7.11.34 R (10):(1) the balance in question is (i) for a retail client, in aggregate, £25 or less, or (ii) for a professional client, in aggregate, £100 or less; (2) the firm held the balance concerned for at least six years following the last movement on the client's account (disregarding
This chapter (the custody rules) applies to a firm:21(1) [deleted]22(a) [deleted]22(b) [deleted]22(1A) 2when it holds financial instruments belonging to a client in the course of its MiFID business;7(1B) 2when it is safeguarding and administering investments, in the course of business that is not MiFID business;7(1C) when it is acting as trustee or depositary of an AIF;
79(1D) when it is acting as trustee or depositary of a UCITS; and97(1E) in respect of any arrangement for a
2The regulated activity of safeguarding and administering investments covers both the safeguarding and administration of assets (without arranging) andarranging safeguarding and administration of assets,5 when those assets are either safe custody investments or custody assets. A safe custody investment is, in summary, a designated investment which a firm receives or holds on behalf of a client. Custody assets include designated investments, and any other assets that the firm holds
2In accordance with article 42 of the Regulated Activities Order, a firm ("I") will not be arranging safeguarding and administration of assets if it introduces a client to another firm whose permitted activities include the safeguarding and administration of investments, or to an exempt person acting as such, with a view to that other firm or exempt person:(1) providing a safe custody service in the United Kingdom; or(2) arranging for the provision of a safe custody service in
(1) 9A firm must ensure that any arrangement relating to the transfer of full ownership of a client'ssafe custody asset to the firm for the purposes set out in CASS 6.1.6R (1) and CASS 6.1.6AR (1) is the subject of a written agreement made on a durable medium between the firm and the client.(2) Regardless of the form of the agreement in (1) (which may have additional commercial purposes), it must cover the client's agreement to: (a) the terms for the arrangement relating to the
9When a firm notifies a client under CASS 6.1.8AR (3)(a) of when the termination of an arrangement relating to the transfer of full ownership of the safe custody asset to a firm is to take effect, it should take into account:(1) any relevant terms relating to such a termination that have been agreed with the client; and(2) the period of time it reasonably requires to return the safe custody asset to the client or to update the registration under (Holding of client assets) CASS
(1) 9Following the termination of an arrangement relating to the transfer of full ownership of safe custody assets to a firm for the purposes set out in CASS 6.1.6R (1) and CASS 6.1.6AR (1), where a firm does not immediately return the safe custody assets to the client the firm should consider whether the custody rules apply in respect of the safe custody assets pursuant to CASS 6.1.1R (1A) to CASS 6.1.1R (1C).(2) Where the custody rules apply to a firm for safe custody assets
9In respect of a firm's business falling under CASS 6.1.1R (1B), the custody rules do not apply to the firm when it is safeguarding and administering investments on behalf of an affiliated company, unless:(1) the firm has been notified that the designated investment belongs to a client of the affiliated company; or(2) the affiliated company is a client dealt with at arm's length.
(1) Subject to (2) and CASS 6.1.12B R and with the written agreement of the relevant client, a9firm need not treat this chapter as applying in respect of a delivery versus payment transaction through a commercial settlement system if:9929(a) in respect of a client's purchase, the firm intends for the asset in question to be due to the client within one business day following the client's fulfilment of its payment obligation to the firm;9 or9(b) in respect of a client's sale, the
(1) 9In line with CASS 6.1.12 R, where a firm receives a safe custody asset from a client in respect of a delivery versus payment transaction the firm is carrying out through a commercial settlement system in respect of a client's sale, and the firm has not fulfilled its payment obligation to the client by close of business on the third business day following the date of the client's fulfilment of its delivery obligation to the firm, the firm should consider whether the custody
(1) 9If a firm makes use of the exemption under CASS 6.1.12 R, it must obtain the client's written agreement to the firm's use of this exemption. (2) In respect of each client, the written agreement in (1) must be retained during the time that the firm makes use, or intends to make use, of the exemption under CASS 6.1.12 R in respect of that client'ssafe custody assets.
The custody rules do not apply if a firm temporarily handles a
safe custody asset2
belonging to a client. A firm should temporarily handle a safe custody asset2 for no longer than is reasonably necessary. In most transactions this would be no longer than one business day, but it may be longer or shorter depending upon the transaction in question. For example, when a firm executes an order to sell shares which have not been registered on a de-materialised exchange, handling documents
When a firm temporarily handles a safe custody asset,2 in order to comply with its obligation to act in accordance with Principle 10 (Clients' assets), the following are guides to good practice:2(1) a firm should keep the
safe custody asset2
secure, record it as belonging to that client, and forward it to the client or in accordance with the client's instructions as soon as practicable after receiving it; and2(2) a firm should make and retain a record of the fact that the firm
10(1) The custody rules do not apply to a firm that is managing an AIF or managing a UCITS in relation to excluded custody activities, except where the firm is a small AIFM.10(2) The custody rules can apply to a firm that is managing an AIF or managing a UCITS in relation to activities that are not excluded custody activities. For example, where the firm:10(a) holds financial instruments belonging to a client in the course of its MiFID business (see CASS 6.1.1R (1A)); or(b) is
2The custody rules do not apply to a personal investment firm when it temporarily holds a designated investment, other than in bearer form, belonging to a client, if the firm:(1) keeps it secure, records it as belonging to that client, and forwards it to the client or in accordance with the client's instructions, as soon as practicable after receiving it; (2) retains the designated investment for no longer than the firm has taken reasonable steps to determine is necessary to check
The rules in this chapter are designed primarily to restrict the commingling of client and the firm's assets and minimise the risk of the client'ssafe custody assets2
being used by the firm without the client's agreement or contrary to the client's wishes, or being treated as the firm's assets in the event of its insolvency.2
A firm must take all reasonable steps to identify conflicts of interest between:3(1) the firm, including its managers, employees and appointed representatives (or where applicable, 2tied agents)2, or any person directly or indirectly linked to them by control, and a client of the firm; or2(2) one client of the firm and another client;that arise or may arise in the course of the firm providing any service referred to in SYSC 10.1.1 R.[Note: article 18(1) of MiFID]
For the purposes of identifying the types of conflict of interest that arise, or may arise, in the course of providing a service and whose existence may entail a material risk of damage to the interests of a client, a common platform firm and a management company5 must take into account, as a minimum, whether the firm or a relevant person, or a person directly or indirectly linked by control to the firm:(1) is likely to make a financial gain, or avoid a financial loss, at the
The circumstances which should be treated as giving rise to a conflict of interest cover cases where there is a conflict between the interests of the firm or certain persons connected to the firm or the firm'sgroup and the duty the firm owes to a client; or between the differing interests of two or more of its clients, to whom the firm owes in each case a duty. It is not enough that the firm may gain a benefit if there is not also a possible disadvantage to a client, or that one
A common platform firm and a management company5 must keep and regularly update a record of the kinds of service or activity carried out by or on behalf of that5firm in which a conflict of interest entailing a material risk of damage to the interests of one or more clients has arisen or, in the case of an ongoing service or activity, may arise.[Note:article 23 of MiFID implementing Directiveand article 20(1) of the UCITS implementing Directive]55
A firm must maintain and operate effective organisational and administrative arrangements with a view to taking all reasonable steps to prevent conflicts of interest as defined in SYSC 10.1.3 R from constituting or giving rise to a material risk of damage to the interests of its clients.[Note: article 13(3) of MiFID]3
(1) If arrangements made by a firm under SYSC 10.1.7 R to manage conflicts of interest are not sufficient to ensure, with reasonable confidence, that risks of damage to the interests of a client will be prevented, the firm must clearly disclose the general nature and/or sources of conflicts of interest to the client before undertaking business for the client.3(2) The disclosure must:(a) be made in a durable medium; and(b) include sufficient detail, taking into account the nature
(1) The conflicts of interest policy must include the following content:(a) it must identify in accordance with SYSC 10.1.3 R and SYSC 10.1.4 R, by reference to the specific services and activities carried out by or on behalf of the common platform firm or management company,5 the circumstances which constitute or may give rise to a conflict of interest entailing a material risk of damage to the interests of one or more clients; and(b) it must specify procedures to be followed
3The rules relating to:(1) types of conflict (see SYSC 10.1.4 R);(2) records of conflicts (see SYSC 10.1.6 R); and(3) conflicts of interest policies (see SYSC 10.1.10 R and SYSC 10.1.11 R);also apply to a firm which is not a common platform firm when it produces, or arranges for the production of, investment research that is intended or likely to be subsequently disseminated to clients of the firm or to the public in accordance with COBS 12.2, and when it produces or disseminates
5A management company, when identifying the types of conflict of interests for the purposes of SYSC 10.1.4 R, must take into account:(1) the interests of the firm, including those deriving from its belonging to a group or from the performance of services and activities, the interests of the clients and the duty of the firm towards the UCITS scheme or EEA UCITS scheme it manages; and(2) where it manages two or more UCITS schemes or EEA UCITS schemes, the interests of all of them.[Note:
5For a management company, references to client in SYSC 10.1.4 R and in the other rules in this section should be construed as referring to any UCITS scheme or EEA UCITS scheme managed by that firm or which it intends to manage, and with or for the benefit of which the relevant activity is to be carried on.
5A management company must be structured and organised in such a way as to minimise the risk of a UCITS scheme's, EEA UCITS scheme's or client's interests being prejudiced by conflicts of interest between the management company and its clients, between two of its clients, between one of its clients and a UCITS scheme or an EEA UCITS scheme, or between two such schemes.[Note: articles 12(1)(b) and 14(1)(d) of the UCITS Directive]
6A collective portfolio management investment firm which manages investments other than for an AIF or UCITS for which it has been appointed as manager, must obtain approval from its client before it invests all or part of the client's portfolio in units or shares of an AIF or UCITS it manages.[Note: article 12(2)(a) of the UCITS Directive and article 12(2)(a) of AIFMD]
6An AIFM must take all reasonable steps to identify conflicts of interest that arise, in the course of managing AIFs, between:(1) the AIFM, including its managers, employees or any person directly or indirectly linked to the AIFM by control, and an AIF managed by the AIFM or the investors in that AIF; or(2) an AIF or the investors in that AIF, and another AIF or the investors in that AIF; or(3) an AIF or the investors in that AIF, and another client of the AIFM; or(4) an AIF or
(1) A firm should ensure that the amount it reflects in its internal client money reconciliation as its client money resource is equal to the aggregate balance on its client bank accounts. For example, if:(a) a firm holds client money received as cash, cheques or payment orders but not yet deposited in a client bank account (in accordance with CASS 7.13.32 R); and(b) that firm records all receipts from clients, whether or not yet deposited with a bank, in its cashbook (see CASS
(1) The individual client balance method (CASS 7.16.16 R) may be applied by any firm except a CASS 7 loan-based crowdfunding firm. This method requires a firm to calculate the total amount of client money it should be segregating in client bank accounts by reference to how much the firm should be holding in total (ie, across all its client bank accounts and businesses) for each of its individual clients for:(a) non-margined transactions (CASS 7.16.16 R (1) and CASS 7.16.21 R);
The net negative add-back method (CASS 7.16.17 R) is available to CASS 7 asset management firms and CASS 7 loan-based crowdfunding firms, many of whom may operate internal ledger systems on a bank account by bank account, not client-by-client, basis. This method allows a firm to calculate the total amount of client money it is required to have segregated in client bank accounts by reference to: (1) the balances in each client bank account (see CASS 7.16.17 R (1) and CASS 7.16.18
Subject to CASS 7.16.25 R and CASS 7.16.37 R, under this method the client money requirement must be calculated by taking the sum of, for all clients and across all products and accounts: (1) the individual client balances calculated under CASS 7.16.21 R, excluding:(a) individual client balances which are negative (ie, debtors); and(b) clients' equity balances;(2) the total margined transaction requirement (calculated under CASS 7.16.32 R); and(3) any amounts that have been segregated
Subject to CASS 7.16.25 R, under this method the client money requirement must be calculated by taking the sum of, for each client bank account: (1) the amount which the firm's internal records show as held on that account; and(2) an amount that offsets each negative net amount which the firm's internal records show attributed to that account for an individual client.
- (1)
A firm may calculate either:
- (a)
one individual client balance for each client,1 based on the total of the firm's holdings for that1client; or
- (b)
a number of individual client balances for each client, equal to the number of products or business lines the firm operates for that client and each balance based on the total of the firm's holdings for that client in respect of the particular product or business line.1
- (a)
- (2)
Each individual client balance for a client should be calculated in accordance with this table:
Individual client balance calculation
Free money (sums held for a client free of sale or purchase (eg, see (3)(a)) and
A
sale proceeds due to the client:
(a)
for principal deals when the client has delivered the designated investments; and
B
(b)
for agency deals, when:
(i)
the sale proceeds have been received by the firm and the client has delivered the designated investments; or
C1
(ii)
the firm holds the designated investments for the client; and
C2
the cost of purchases:
(c)
for principal deals, paid for by the client when the firm has not delivered the designated investments to the client; and
D
(d)
(i)
the firm has not remitted the money to, or to the order of, the counterparty; or
E1
(ii)
the designated investments have been received by the firm but have not been delivered to the client;
E2
Less
money owed by the client for unpaid purchases by, or for, the client if delivery of those designated investments has been made to the client; and
F
proceeds remitted to the client for sales transactions by, or for, the client if the client has not delivered the designated investments.
G
Individual client balance 'X' = (A+B+C1+C2+D+E1+E2)-F-G
X
- (3)
When calculating an individual client balance for each client, a firm should also:
- (a)
ensure it includes:
- (i)
client money consisting of dividends received and interest earned and allocated (see CASS 7.11.32 R);
- (ii)
client money consisting of dividends (actual or payments in lieu), stock lending fees and other payments received and allocated (see CASS 6.1.2 G);
- (iii)
money the firm appropriates and segregates as client money to cover an unresolved shortfall in safe custody assets it identifies in its internal records which is attributable to an individual client (see CASS 6.6.54R (2)); and
- (iv)
money the firm segregates as client money instead of an individual client's safe custody asset until such time as the relevant delivery versus payment transaction settles under CASS 6.1.12R (2); and
- (i)
- (b)
deduct any amounts due and payable by the client to the firm (see CASS 7.11.25 R).
- (a)
- (4)
Compliance with (1), (2) and (3)1 may be relied on as tending to establish compliance with CASS 7.16.21 R.
Subject to CASS 7.16.30 R, a client's equity balance is the amount which the firm would be liable to pay to the client (or the client to the firm) under the client money rules for margined transactions if each of the open positions were liquidated at the closing or settlement prices published by the relevant exchange or other appropriate pricing source and the account with the firm were closed. This notional balance should include any unrealised losses or profits associated with
Subject to CASS 7.16.30 R, a firm's equity balance is the amount which the firm would be liable to pay to the exchange, clearing house, intermediate broker or OTC counterparty (or vice-versa) for the firm's margined transactions if each of the open positions of those of the firm's clients that are entitled to protection under the client money rules were liquidated at the closing or settlement prices published by the relevant exchange or other appropriate pricing source and the
The margined transaction requirement should represent the total amount of client money a firm is required under the client money rules to segregate in client bank accounts for margined transactions. The calculation in CASS 7.16.33 R is designed to ensure that an amount of client money is held in client bank accounts which equals at least the difference between the equity the firm holds at exchanges, clearing houses, intermediate brokers and OTC counterparties for margined transactions
(1) To meet the total margin transaction requirement, a firm may appropriate and use its own approved collateral, provided it meets the requirements in (2). (2) The firm must hold the approved collateral in a way which ensures that, in accordance with CASS 7A.2.3A R, the approved collateral will be liquidated on the occurrence of a primary pooling event and the proceeds paid into a client bank account, and in so doing:(a) ensure the approved collateral is clearly identifiable
Where appropriate, a firm may:(1) when, in respect of a client, there is a positive individual client balance and a negative client equity balance, offset the credit against the debit and, therefore, have a reduced individual client balance in CASS 7.16.21 R for that client; and(2) when, in respect of a client, there is a negative individual client balance and a positive client equity balance, offset the credit against the debit and, therefore, have a reduced client equity balance
(1) 1Under CASS 7.17.2R(2)2, a firm acts as trustee for all client money received or held by it for the benefit of the clients for whom that client money is held, according to their respective interests in it.(2) A firm that is also a clearing member of an authorised central counterparty may wish to segregate client money specifically for the benefit of a group of clients who have chosen to clear positions through a net margined omnibus client account maintained by the firm with
(1) The records maintained for a sub-pool under CASS 7.19.4 R must identify all the client beneficiaries of that sub-pool.(2) The beneficiaries of each sub-pool are those clients:(a) from whom the firm has received a signed sub-pool disclosure document in accordance with CASS 7.19.11 R;(b) for whom the firm maintains, previously maintained or is in the process of establishing a margined transaction(s) in the relevant net margined omnibus client account at the authorised central
(1) A firm wishing to establish a sub-pool must prepare a sub-pool disclosure document for each sub-pool.(2) The sub-pool disclosure document for each sub-pool must:(a) identify the sub-pool by name, as stated in its records under CASS 7.19.7 R, the net margined omnibus client account and the authorised central counterparty to which the sub-pool disclosure document relates;(b) contain a statement that the client consents to the firm receiving and holding the client'sclient money
(1) Before receiving or holding client money for a client for a sub-pool, a firm must:(a) provide to the client a copy of the sub-pool disclosure document applicable to that sub-pool; and(b) obtain a signed copy of that sub-pool disclosure document from the client.(2) A firm must provide the beneficiary of a sub-pool with a copy of its signed sub-pool disclosure document applicable to that sub-pool upon the beneficiary's request.
(1) A firm must not hold client money for a sub-pool in a client bank account or a client transaction account used for holding client money for any other sub-pool or the general pool.(2) A firm that establishes a sub-pool must ensure that the name of each client bank account and each client transaction account (other than the net margined omnibus client account) maintained for that sub-pool includes a unique identifying reference or descriptor that enables the account to be identified
A firm should keep in mind its obligations under CASS 7.19.11 R (1)(b) (before receiving or holding client money for a client in a sub-pool, a firm must obtain a signed copy of the sub-pool disclosure document from the client) when making a material change to a sub-pool. A firm is also reminded of the conditions under CASS 7.19.13 R (5)(b) (when a client of the firm who is a beneficiary of a sub-pool ceases to be a beneficiary of that sub-pool) if a material change proposed to
The records maintained under this section, including the sub-pool disclosure documents, are a record of the firm that must be kept in a durable medium for at least five years following the date on which client money was last held by the firm for a sub-pool to which those records or the sub-pool disclosure document applied.
If a primary
pooling event occurs:(1) client money held in each client
money account of the firm is
treated as pooled;(2) the firm must distribute that client
money in accordance with CASS 5.3.2 R or,
as appropriate, CASS 5.4.7 R, so that each client receives
a sum which is rateable to the client money entitlement
calculated in accordance with CASS 5.5.66 R; and(3) the firm must, as trustee, call in and make demand
in respect of any debt due to the firm as
trustee, and must liquidate
Client
money received by the firm (including
in its capacity as trustee under CASS
5.4 (Non-statutory trust)) after
a primary pooling event must
not be pooled with client money held
in any client money account
operated by the firm at the
time of the primary pooling event.
It must be placed in a client bank account that
has been opened after that event and must be handled in accordance with the client money rules, and returned to the relevant client without delay, except to the
When client
money is transferred to a third party, a firm continues
to owe a fiduciary duty to the client.
However, consistent with a fiduciary's responsibility (whether as agent or
trustee) for third parties under general law, a firm will
not be held responsible for a shortfall in client money caused by a third party failure if it has complied with those duties.
The client
money (insurance) distribution rules seek to ensure that clients who have previously specified that
they are not willing to accept the risk of the bank that has fails, and who therefore requested that their client money be placed in a designated client bank account as a different
bank, should not suffer the loss of the bank that has failed.
Money held
in each general client bank account of
the firm must be treated as
pooled and:(1) any shortfall in client
money held, or which should have been held, in general client bank accounts, that has arisen
as a result of the failure of
the bank, must be borne by all the clients whose client money is held in a general
client bank account of the firm,
rateably in accordance with their entitlements;(2) a
new client money entitlement
must be calculated for each client by
the firm,
For each client with
a designated client bank account held
at the failed bank:(1) any shortfall in client
money held, or which should have been held, in designated client bank accounts that has
arisen as a result of the failure,
must be borne by all the clients whose client money is held in a designated
client bank account of the firm at
the failed bank, rateably in
accordance with their entitlements;(2) a
new client money entitlement
must be calculated for each of the relevant
Client
money received by the firm after
the failure of a bank, that
would otherwise have been paid into a client
bank account at that bank:(1) must
not be transferred to the failed bank
unless specifically instructed by the client in
order to settle an obligation of that client to
the failed bank; and(2) must
be, subject to (1), placed in a separate client
bank account that has been opened after the secondary
pooling event and either:(a) on
the written instruction of the client,
transferred
Money held
in each general client bank account of
the firm must be treated as
pooled and:(1) any shortfall in client
money held, or which should have been held, in general client bank accounts, that has arisen
as a result of the failure,
must be borne by all the clients whose client money is held in a general
client bank account of the firm,
rateably in accordance with their entitlements;(2) a
new client money entitlement
must be calculated for each client by
the firm, to reflect
Client
money received by the firm after
the failure of another broker
or settlement agent, to whom
the firm has transferred client money that would otherwise have been
paid into a client bank account at
that broker or settlement agent:(1) must
not be transferred to the failed thirty
party unless specifically instructed by the client in
order to settle an obligation of that client to
the failed broker or settlement agent; and(2) must
be, subject to (1), placed in a separate client
bank
(1) 1A firm may deposit
safe custody assets2
held by it on behalf of its clients into an account or accounts opened with a third party, but only if it exercises all due skill, care and diligence in the selection, appointment and periodic review of the third party and of the arrangements for the holding and safekeeping of those safe custody assets.222(1A) [deleted]66(2) [deleted]66(3) When a firm makes the selection, appointment and conducts the periodic review referred to 2under
In discharging its obligations under CASS 6.3.1 R,6 a firm should also consider, as appropriate,6 together with any other relevant matters:6(1) the third party's performance of its services to the firm;6(2) the arrangements that the third party has in place for holding and safeguarding the safe custody asset;22(3) current industry standard reports, for example "Assurance reports on internal controls of services organisations made available to third parties" made in line with Technical
(1) 6A firm must make a record of the grounds upon which it satisfies itself as to the appropriateness of its selection and appointment of a third party under CASS 6.3.1 R. The firm must make the record on the date it makes the selection or appointment and must keep it from that date until five years after the firm ceases to use the third party to hold safe custody assets belonging to clients.(2) A firm must make a record of each periodic review of its selection and appointment
(1) Subject to (2), a6firm must only deposit
safe custody assets2
with a third party in a jurisdiction which specifically regulates and supervises the safekeeping of
safe custody assets2
for the account of another person with a third party who is subject to such regulation.622(2) A firm must not deposit
safe custody assets2
held on behalf of a client with a third party in a country that is not an EEA State (third country) and which does not regulate the holding and safekeeping
6A firm should consider carefully the terms of any agreement entered into with a third party under CASS 6.3.4A R. The following terms are examples of the issues that should be addressed in these agreements (where relevant):(1) that the title of the account in the third party's books and records indicates that any safe custody asset credited to it does not belong to the firm;(2) that the third party will hold or record a safe custody asset belonging to the firm'sclient separately
If a primary pooling event occurs, then4:(1) (a) in respect of a sub-pool,4 the following is treated as a single notional pool of client money for the beneficiaries of that pool:45(i) any client money held in a client bank account of the firm relating to that sub-pool; and5(ii) any client money held in a client transaction account of the firm relating to that sub-pool, except for client money held in a client transaction account at an authorised central counterparty3 or a clearing
(1) 1Under EMIR, where a firm that is a
clearing member4
of an authorised central counterparty defaults, the authorised central counterparty may:4(a) portclient positions where possible; and(b) after the completion of the default management process:(i) return any balance due directly to those clients for whom the positions are held, if they are known to the authorised central counterparty; or(ii) remit any balance to the firm for the account of its clients if the clients are
(-1) 1Each client'sclient equity balance must be reduced by:(a) any amount paid by:3(i) an authorised central counterparty to a clearing member other than the firm in connection with a porting arrangement in accordance with
CASS 7.11.34R (6)4
in respect of that client; 4(ii) a clearing member to another clearing member or firm (other than the firm) in connection with a transfer in accordance CASS 7.11.34R (8);44(b) any amount paid by:3(i) an authorised central counterparty directly
(1) Prior to the conclusion of any initial life policy and, if necessary, on amendment or renewal, a firm must provide a client with at least the following information:(a) its name and address;(b) the fact that it is registered on the Financial Services Register and its Firm Reference Number3 (or, if it is not on the Financial Services Register, the register in which it has been included and the means for verifying that it has been registered);3(c) whether it has a direct or indirect
When a firm informs a client that it gives advice on the basis of a fair analysis of the market, it must give that advice on the basis of an analysis of a sufficiently large number of life policies available on the market to enable the firm to make a recommendation, in accordance with professional criteria, regarding which life policy would be adequate to meet the client's needs. [Note: article 12(2) of the Insurance Mediation Directive]
(1) Prior to the conclusion of any specific life policy, a firm must at least specify, in particular on the basis of the information provided by the client, the demands and needs of that client. Those demands and needs must be modulated according to the complexity of the relevant policy.(2) This rule does not apply when a firm makes a personal recommendation in relation to a life policy. [Note: article 12(3) of the Insurance Mediation Directive]
All information to be provided to a client in accordance with the rules in this chapter must be communicated:(1) in a durable medium available and accessible to the client;(2) in a clear and accurate manner, comprehensible to the client; and(3) in an official language of the State of the commitment or in any other language agreed by the parties. [Note: article 13(1) of the Insurance Mediation Directive]
In the case of telephone selling, the prior information given to a client must be in accordance with the distance marketing disclosure rules (COBS 5.1). Moreover, information must be provided to the client in accordance with the means of communication to clients rule (COBS 7.2.6 R) immediately after the conclusion of the life policy. [Note: article 13(3) of the Insurance Mediation Directive]
The information referred to in the means of communication to clients rule (COBS 7.2.6 R) may be provided orally where the client requests it, or where immediate cover is necessary. In those cases, the information must be provided to the client in accordance with that rule immediately after the conclusion of the life policy. [Note: article 13(2) of the Insurance Mediation Directive]
The client money distribution rules seek to ensure that clients who have previously specified that they are not willing to accept the risk of the bank that has failed, and who therefore requested that their client money be placed in a designated client bank account at a different bank, should not suffer the loss of the bank that has failed.
Money held in each general client bank account and client transaction account of the firm for the general pool or a sub-pool2must be treated as pooled and:(1) any shortfall in client money held, or which should have been held, in general client bank accounts and client transaction accounts for the relevant pool2, that has arisen as a result of the failure of the bank, must be borne by all the clients of that pool2 whose client money is held in such 2general client bank account
For each client with a designated client bank account maintained by the firm for the general pool or a particular sub-pool and2 held at the failed bank:(1) any shortfall in client money held, or which should have been held, in designated client bank accounts that has arisen as a result of the failure, must be borne by all the clients of the relevant pool2 whose client money is held in a designated client bank account of the firm at the failed bank, rateably in accordance with
Money held by the firm2 in each designated client fund account for the general pool or a particular sub-pool with the failedbank must be treated as pooled with any other designated client fund accounts for the general pool or a particular sub-pool as the case may be2 which contain part of the same designated fund and:2(1) any shortfall in client money held, or which should have been held, in designated client fund accounts that has arisen as a result of the failure, must be borne
Client money received by the firm after the failure of a bank, that would otherwise have been paid into a client bank account at that bank , for either the general pool or a particular sub-pool2:(1) must not be transferred to the failed bank unless specifically instructed by the client in order to settle an obligation of that client to the failed bank; and(2) must be, subject to (1), placed in a separate client bank account relating to the general pool or the particular sub-pool
The debt management client money distribution rules seek, in the event of the failure of a CASS debt management firm or of an approved bank at which the CASS debt management firm holds client money, to protect client money and to facilitate the timely payment of sums to creditors or the timely return of client money to clients.
If a primary pooling event1 occurs, then:2(1) all client money:2(a) held in the CASS debt management firm'sclient bank accounts; and (b) received by the CASS debt management firm on behalf of a client but not yet paid into the firm'sclient bank accounts;is treated as pooled together to form a notional pool;(2) a CASS debt management firm must calculate the amount it should be holding on behalf of each individual client as at the time of the primary pooling event using the method
Where a primary pooling event1 occurs and the client money is not transferred to another firm in accordance with CASS 11.13.4 R, a CASS debt management firm must distribute client money comprising the notional pool so that each
client2
receives a sum that is rateable to their entitlement to the notional pool calculated in CASS 11.13.4 R (2).22
If there is a shortfall in the client money transferred under CASS 11.13.6 G then the client money must be allocated to each of the clients for whom the client money was held so that each client is allocated a sum which is rateable to that client's client money entitlement in accordance with CASS 11.13.4 R (2). This calculation may be done by either transferor or transferee in accordance with the terms of any transfer.
The transferee must, within seven days after the transfer of client money under CASS 11.13.6 G notify clients that:(1) their money has been transferred to the transferee; and (2) they have the option of having client money returned to them or to their order by the transferee, otherwise the transferee will hold the client money for the clients and conduct debt management activities for those clients.
(1) Subject to (2), if a secondary pooling event occurs as a result of the failure of an approved bank where one or more client bank accounts are held then in relation to every client bank account of the firm, the provisions of CASS 11.13.12 R (1), CASS 11.13.12 R (2) and CASS 11.13.12 R (3) will apply.(2) CASS 11.13.12 R does not apply if, on the failure of the approved bank, the CASS debt management firm pays to its clients, or pays into a client bank account at an unaffected
Money held in each client bank account of the firm must be treated as pooled and:(1) any shortfall in client money held, or which should have been held, in client bank accounts, that has arisen as a result of the failure of the approved bank, must be borne by all clients whose client money is held in a client bank account of the firm, rateably in accordance with their entitlements to the pool;(2) a new client money entitlement must be calculated for each client by the firm, to
When a firm undertakes a range of business for a professional client and has separate agreements for each type of business undertaken, the firm may treat client money held on behalf of the client differently for different types of business; for example, a firm may, under CASS 7.10.10 R or CASS 7.10.12 R, elect to segregate client money in connection with securities transactions and not segregate (by complying with CASS 7.10.10 R or CASS 7.10.12 R) money in connection with contingent
In relation to the application of the client money rules (and any other rule in so far as it relates to matters covered by the client money rules) to the firms referred to in (1) and (2), the following is not client money:(1) any deposits within the meaning of the CRD held by a CRD credit institution; and[Note: article 13(8) of MiFID and article 18(1) of the MiFID Implementing Directive](2) any money held by an approved bank that is not a CRD credit institution in an account with
A firm holding money in either of the ways described in CASS 7.10.16 R must, before providing designated investment business services to the client in respect of those sums, notify the client that:(1) the money held for that client is held by the firm as banker and not as a trustee under the client money rules; and(2) if the firmfails, the client money distribution rules will not apply to these sums and so the client will not be entitled to share in any distribution under the
A firm holding money in either of the ways described in CASS 7.10.16 R in respect of a client and providing the services to it referred to in CASS 7.10.19 R must:(1) explain to its clients the circumstances, if any, under which it will cease to hold any money in respect of those services as banker and will hold the money as trustee in accordance with the client money rules; and(2) set out the circumstances in (1), if any, in its terms of business so that they form part of its
Where a firm receives money that would otherwise be held as client money but for CASS 7.10.16 R:(1) it should be able to account to all of its clients for sums held for them at all times; and(2) that money should, pursuant to Principle 10, be allocated to the relevant client promptly. This should be done no later than ten business days after the firm has received the money.
If a CRD credit institution or an approved bank that is not a CRD credit institution wishes to hold client money for a client (rather than hold the money in either of the ways described in CASS 7.10.16 R) it must, before providing designated investment business services to the client, disclose the following information to the client:(1) that the money held for that client in the course of or in connection with the business described under (2) is being held by the firm as client
A firm that holds money on behalf of, or receives money from, an affiliated company in respect of designated investment business which is not MiFID business must not treat the money as client money unless:(1) the firm has been notified by the affiliated company that the money belongs to a client of the affiliated company; or(2) the affiliated company is a client dealt with at arm's length; or(3) the affiliated company is a manager of an occupational pension scheme or is an overseas
1A firm must, when holding
safe custody assets2
belonging to clients, make adequate arrangements so as to safeguard clients' ownership rights, especially in the event of the firm's insolvency, and to prevent the use of
safe custody assets2
belonging to a client on the firm's own account except with the client's express consent.[Note: article 13(7) of MiFID]22
Subject to CASS 6.2.3A-1R, a9firm must effect appropriate registration or recording of legal title to a
safe custody asset2
belonging to a client8 in the name of:62(1) the client, unless the client is an authorised person acting on behalf of its client, in which case it may be registered in the name of the client of that authorised person;6(2) a nominee company which is controlled by:(a) the firm;(b) an affiliated company;(c) a recognised investment exchange; or5(d) a third party
A firm may only6 register or record legal title to its own
applicable asset6
in the same name as that in which legal title to a
client's6safe custody asset2
is registered or recorded if the firm'sapplicable asset is separately identified from the client'ssafe custody asset in the firm's records, and either or both of the conditions in (1) and (2) are met.6262(1) The firm's holding of its own applicable asset arises incidentally to:66(a) designated investment business it carries
6(1) Consistent with a firm's requirements to protect clients'safe custody assets and have adequate organisation arrangements in place (CASS 6.2.1 R and CASS 6.2.2 R), before a firm registers or records legal title to its own applicable asset in the same name as that in which legal title to a client'ssafe custody asset is registered or recorded under CASS 6.2.5 R, it should consider whether there are any means to avoid doing so.(2) Examples of where the conditions under CASS 6.2.5R
6A firm may either (i) liquidate an unclaimed safe custody asset it holds for a client, at market value, and pay away the proceeds or (ii) pay away an unclaimed safe custody asset it holds for a client, in either case, to a registered charity of its choice provided:(1) this is permitted by law and consistent with the arrangements under which that safe custody asset is held; (2) it has held that safe custody asset for at least 12 years;(3) in the 12 years preceding the divestment
(1) 6Taking reasonable steps in CASS 6.2.10R (4) includes following this course of conduct:(a) determining, as far as reasonably possible, the correct contact details for the relevant client;(b) writing to the client at the last known address either by post or by electronic mail to inform it: (i) of the name of the firm with which the client first deposited the safe custody asset in question; (ii) of the firm's intention to pay the safe custody asset to charity under CASS 6.2.10
6For the purpose of CASS 6.2.11E (1)(a), a firm may use any available means to determine the correct contact details for the relevant client, including telephoning the client, searching internal records, media advertising, searching public records, mortality screening, using credit reference agencies or tracing agents.
6Where a firm divests itself of a client'ssafe custody asset under CASS 6.2.10 R, it must comply with either (1)(a) or (1)(b) and, in either case, (2).(1) (a) The firm must unconditionally undertake to pay to the client concerned a sum equal to the value of the safe custody asset at the time it was liquidated or paid away in the event of the client seeking to claim the safe custody asset in future.(b) The firm must ensure that an unconditional undertaking in the terms set out
(1) 6If a firm pays away a client's unclaimed safe custody assets to charity or liquidates a client's unclaimed safe custody assets and pays the proceeds to charity under CASS 6.2.10 R it must make and retain, or where the firm already has such records, retain:(a) records of all safe custody assets divested under CASS 6.2.10 R (including details of the value of each asset at that time and the identity of the client to whom the asset was allocated); (b) all relevant documentation
When a firm makes the selection, appointment and conducts the periodic review of a CRD credit institution, a bank or a qualifying money market fund, it must take into account:(1) the expertise and market reputation of the third party; and(2) any legal requirements or market practices related to the holding of client money that could adversely affect clients' rights. [Note: article 18(3) of the MiFID implementing Directive]
A designated client bank account may be used for a client only where that client has consented to the use of that account. If a firm deposits client money into a designated client bank account then, in the event of a secondary pooling event in respect of the relevant bank, the account will not be pooled with any general client bank account or designated client fund account.
A designated client fund account may be used for a client only where that client has consented to the use of that account and all other designated client fund accounts which may be pooled with it. For example, a client who consents to the use of bank A and bank B should have his money held in a different designated client fund account at bank B from a client who has consented to the use of banks B and C. If a firm deposits client money into a designated client fund account then,
A firm may segregate client money in a different currency from that in which it was received or in which the firm is liable to the relevant client. If it does so the firm must ensure that the amount held is adjusted each day to an amount at least equal to the original currency amount (or the currency in which the firm has its liability to its clients, if different), translated at the previous day's closing spot exchange rate.
(1) A firm must allocate any client money it receives to an individual client promptly and, in any case, no later than ten business days following the receipt (or where subsequent to the receipt of money it has identified that the money, or part of it, is client money under CASS 7.13.37 R, no later than ten business days following that identification). (2) Pending a firm's allocation of a client money receipt to an individual client under (1), it must record the received client
Pursuant to the client money segregation requirements, a firm that is operating the normal approach and is liable to pay money to a client should promptly, and in any event no later than one business day after the money is due and payable, pay the money: (1) to, or to the order of, the client; or(2) into a client bank account.
(1) In certain circumstances, use of the normal approach for a particular business line of a firm could lead to significant operational risks to client money protection. These may include a business line under which clients' transactions are complex, numerous, closely related to the firm's proprietary business and/or involve a number of currencies and time zones. In such circumstances, subject to meeting the relevant criteria and fulfilling the relevant notification and audit
1Firms are reminded that, under COBS 6.1.7 R, a firm that holds client designated investments or client money must provide its clients with specific information about how the firm holds those clientdesignated investments and client money and how certain arrangements might give rise to specific consequences or risks for those clientdesignated investments and client money.
1A firm that holds custody assets or client money must:(1) provide the information in COBS 6.1.7 R for any custody assets the firm may hold for a client, including any custody assets which are not designated investments; and(2) provide the information in COBS 6.1.7 R and in (1) to each of its clients.
The obligation to provide a suitability report does not apply:(1) if the firm, acting as an investment manager for a retail client, makes a personal recommendation relating to a regulated collective investment scheme;(2) if the client is habitually resident outside the EEA and the client is not present in the United Kingdom at the time of acknowledging consent to the proposal form to which the personal recommendation relates;(3) to any personal recommendation by a friendly society
A firm must provide the suitability report to the client:(1) in the case of a life policy, before the contract is concluded unless the necessary information is provided orally or immediate cover is necessary; or(2) in the case of a personal pension scheme or stakeholder pension scheme, where the rules on cancellation (COBS 15) require notification of the right to cancel, no later than the fourteenth day after the contract is concluded; or(3) in any other case, when or as soon
The suitability report must, at least:(1) specify the client's demands and needs;(2) explain why the firm has concluded that the recommended transaction is suitable for the client having regard to the information provided by the client; and(3) explain any possible disadvantages of the transaction for the client.[Note: article 12(3) of the Insurance Mediation Directive]
If a firm is providing a suitability report in the course of insurance mediation activity, the information must be provided:(1) in a durable medium which is available and accessible to the client;(2) in a clear and accurate manner, comprehensible to the client; and(3) in an official language of the State of the commitment in which the contract of insurance is made or in any other language agreed by the parties.[Note: article 13 of the Insurance Mediation Directive]
Firms are reminded that, under COBS 16.4, they are required to send to each of their clients at least once a year a statement in a durable medium of those designated investments and/or client money they hold for that client. A firm which manages investments may provide this statement in its periodic statement, as required under COBS 16.3.
When a firm receives a request, made by a client, or on a client's behalf, for a copy of any statement of custody assets and/or client money previously provided to that client, the firm must provide the client with the copy of the statement requested in a durable medium and within five business days following the receipt of the request.
1A mandate is any means that give a firm the ability to control a client's assets or liabilities, which meet the conditions in (1) to (5): (1) they are obtained by the firm from the client, and with the client's consent;(2) where those means are obtained in the course of, or in connection with, the firm'sinsurance mediation activity, they are in written form at the time they are obtained from the client;(3) they are retained by the firm;(4) they put the firm in a position where
A mandate can take any form and need not state that it is a mandate. For example it could take the form of:333(1) a standalone document containing certain information conferring authority to control a client's assets or liabilities on the firm;3(2) a specific provision within a document or agreement that also relates to other matters; or3(3) an authority provided by a client orally.3
The instructions referred to at CASS 8.2.1 R (4) are all instructions given by a firm to another person who also has a relationship with the firm'sclient. For example, the other person may be the client'sbank, intermediary, custodian or credit card provider. This means, for example, that any means by which a firm can control a client's money or assets for which it is itself responsible to the client (rather than any other person) would not amount to a mandate. This includes where
A mandate in relation to the type of instructions referred to in CASS 8.2.1R (4)(a) could include a direct debit instruction over a client's bank account in favour of the firm. The fact that the instruction was given by the client in the form of a paperless direct debit would not prevent it from being a mandate.3
(1) If a firm obtains the means by which it can give the types of instructions referred to in CASS 8.2.1 R (4), but its use of those means is subject to any limits or conditions, then this does not necessarily prevent those means from being a mandate. For example, a client might require that a firm uses a mandate only in connection with transactions up to a certain value.(2) However, if a firm obtains the means by which it can give the types of instructions referred to in CASS
The circumstances referred to in CASS 11.10.1 R are:(1) the contract between the client and the CASS debt management firm expressly provides that client money might be held for more than five business days without being distributed to creditors;(2) the existence of such a term expressly providing that client money might be held for more than five business days without being distributed to creditors has been separately brought to the attention of the client prior to his entering
On each occasion that a CASS debt management firm receives client money from a client in relation to a debt management plan, or for the purpose of distribution to the client's creditors, and it is proposed not to make a client's payment to creditors within five business days of receipt of the client money in the circumstances described in CASS 11.10.3 R (1), it must: (1) as soon as reasonably practicable and within the five business day period, inform the client's creditors of
On each occasion a CASS debt management firm receives client money from a client in relation to a debt management plan, or for the purpose of distribution to the client's creditors, and is unable for any reason other than in the circumstances described in CASS 11.10.3 R (1) to make a payment to the client's creditors within five business days of receipt, it must: (1) inform the client of the delay and the reason for the delay;(2) inform the client of the risks and implications
(1) Subject to (2), where a CASS debt management firm receives client money from a client in relation to a debt management plan or for the purpose of distribution to the client's creditors, and it fails to pay that money to creditors as soon as reasonably practicable following its receipt (see CASS 11.10.1 R and CASS 11.10.2 G), it must put the client into the financial position he would have been in had the delay not occurred.(2) Paragraph (1) does not apply in the circumstances
Putting a client into the position he would have been in had the delay not occurred under CASS 11.10.6 R should include paying to the client a sum equivalent to the amount of any additional interest which would not have accrued but for the delay and any default charges that have been applied to the account as a result of the delay.