Related provisions for CASS 5.5.27
21 - 40 of 156 items.
So that a CASS debt management firm may check that it has sufficient money segregated in its client bank accounts to meet its obligations to clients for whom it is undertaking debt management activity, it is required periodically to carry out reconciliations of its internal records and accounts to check that the total amount of client money that it should have segregated in client bank accounts is equal to the total amount of client money it actually has segregated in client bank
The checks that a CASS small debt management firm is required to undertake under CASS 11.11.8 R include checking that its internal records and accounts accurately record the balances of client money held in respect of individual clients, and that the aggregate of those individual client money balances are equal to the total client money segregated in its client bank accounts. In undertaking the comparison between the internal records of balances of client money and the client
Firms are reminded that, under CASS 11.4.3 R, if a firm has drawn any cheques, or other payable orders, to discharge its fiduciary duty to its clients (for example, to return client money to the client or distribute it to the client's creditors), the sum concerned must be included in the firm's calculation of its client money requirement until the cheque or order is presented and paid.
The individual client balance for each client must be calculated as follows:(1) the amount paid by the client to the CASS debt management firm; plus(2) the amount of any interest, and any other sums, due to the client;less:(3) the aggregate of the amount of money:(a) paid back to that client; and(b) due and payable by the client to the CASS debt management firm; and(c) paid out to a third party for, or on behalf of, that client.
Where the individual client balance calculated in respect of an individual client under CASS 11.11.21 R is a negative figure (because the amounts paid by or due to a client under CASS 11.11.21 R (1) and CASS 11.11.21 R (2) are less than the amounts paid out or due and payable by that client under CASS 11.11.21 R (3), that individual client balance should be treated as zero for the purposes of the calculation of the firm'sclient money requirement in CASS 11.11.17 R.
(1) Before a firm takes any steps to dispose of a safe custody asset it must:(a) (subject to paragraph (2)) attempt to return it to the relevant client or transfer it to another person for safekeeping on behalf of the client in accordance with CASS 6.7.8R; and(b) (subject to paragraph (3)) take reasonable steps to notify the client of the firm’s proposed course of action for disposing of the safe custody asset.(2) A firm is not required to attempt to return or transfer a safe
(1) Reasonable steps in CASS 6.7.2R(1)(b) include the following course of conduct:(a) determining, as far as reasonably possible, the correct contact details for the relevant client;(b) for a client for whom the firm has evidence that it was a professional client for the purposes of the custody rules at the time of the failure:(i) writing to the client at its last known address either by post or by electronic mail: (A) to inform it of the firm’s intention to dispose of the safe
For the purposes of CASS 6.7.4E(1)(a), a firm may use any available means to determine the correct contact details for the relevant client, including: (1) telephoning the client;(2) searching internal and/or public records;(3) media advertising;(4) mortality screening; and(5) using credit reference agencies or tracing agents.
(1) A firm must make a record of any safe custody asset disposed of in accordance with CASS 6.7.2R at the time of the disposal.(2) The record under paragraph (1) must state:(a) the safe custody asset that was disposed of;(b) the value of the consideration received for the safe custody asset disposed of; (c) the name and contact details of the client to whom the safe custody asset was allocated, according to the firm’s records at the time of making the record under this rule; and(d)
(1) This rule applies where, instead of returning a safe custody asset to a client, a firm (Firm A) is able to transfer the safe custody asset to another person (Firm B) for safekeeping on behalf of the client.(2) Firm A may only effect such a transfer if, in advance of the transfer, it has obtained a contractual undertaking from Firm B that:(a) where regulation 10C(3) of the IBSA Regulations does not apply, Firm B will return the safe custody asset to the client at the client’s
Where regulation 10C(3) of the IBSA Regulations does apply, Firm A should, in advance of the transfer under CASS 6.7.8R, obtain a contractual undertaking from Firm B that:(1) Firm B will comply with the client’s request for a ‘reverse transfer’ as defined in regulation 10C of the IBSA Regulations; and(2) Firm B will notify the client, within 14 days of the transfer of that client’ssafe custody asset having commenced, that the client can demand a ‘reverse transfer’ as defined in
(1) A CASS debt management firm must allocate in its books and records any client money it receives to an individual client promptly and, in any case, no later than five business days following the receipt. (2) Pending a CASS debt management firm's allocation of a client money receipt to an individual client under (1), it must record the received client money in its books and records as "unallocated client money".
A CASS debt management firm must ensure that client money received by its appointed representatives, field representatives or other agents is:(1) received directly into a client bank account of the firm; or(2) if it is received in the form of a cheque or other payable order:(a) paid into a client bank account of the CASS debt management firm promptly and, in any event, no later than the next business day after receipt; or(b) forwarded to the firm or, in the case of a field representative,
(1) A firm must:3(a) take reasonable steps to ensure that a personal recommendation, or a decision to trade, is suitable for its client; and3(b) ensure that any life policy proposed is consistent with the client’s insurance demands and needs.3(2) When making the personal recommendation or managing his investments, the firm must obtain the necessary information regarding the client's:(a) knowledge and experience in the investment field relevant to the specific type of designated
(1) A firm must obtain from the client such information as is necessary for the firm to understand the essential facts about him and have a reasonable basis for believing, giving due consideration to the nature and extent of the service provided, that the specific transaction to be recommended, or entered into in the course of managing:(a) meets his investment objectives;(b) is such that he is able financially to bear any related investment risks consistent with his investment
The information regarding a client’s knowledge and experience in the investment field includes, to the extent appropriate to the nature of the client, the nature and extent of the service to be provided and the type of product or transaction envisaged, including their complexity and the risks involved, information on:(1) the types of service, transaction and designated investment with which the client is familiar;(2) the nature, volume, frequency of the client’s transactions in
Although a firm may not be permitted to make a personal recommendation or take a decision to trade because it does not have the necessary information, its client may still ask the firm to provide another service such as, for example, to arrange a deal or to deal as agent for the client. If this happens, the firm should ensure that it receives written confirmation of the instructions. The firm should also bear in mind the client's best interests rule and any obligation it may have
(1) 1The requirements in this section apply:(a) (excluding the requirements in CREDS 3A.5.6R and CREDS 3A.5.7R) to a firm when dealing in or arranging a deal in a deferred share with or for a relevant credit union client where the relevant credit union client is to enter into the deal as buyer; and(b) (excluding the requirements in CREDS 3A.5.3R to CREDS 3A.5.5R) to a firm when:(i) communicating a direct offer financial promotion relating to credit union subordinated debt to a
(1) The firm must:(a) give the relevant credit union client a risk warning in the form in (2) on paper or another durable medium; and(b) obtain confirmation in writing from the relevant credit union client that the relevant credit union client has read it, in good time before the relevant credit union client has committed to buy the deferred share.(2) “The investment to which this communication relates is a deferred share. Direct investment in deferred shares can be high risk
(1) The firm must:(a) give the relevant credit union client a statement in the form in (2) on paper or another durable medium; and(b) obtain confirmation in writing from the relevant credit union client that the relevant credit union client has signed it,in good time before the relevant credit union client has committed to buy the deferred share.(2) “I make this statement in connection with my proposed investment in deferred shares issued by a credit union. I have been made aware
If the relevant credit union client is not receiving advice that constitutes a regulated activity on the deferred share, the firm must assess whether investment in the deferred share is appropriate for the relevant credit union client, complying with the requirements in COBS 10 as if the firm were providing non-advised investment services in the course of MiFID or equivalent third country business.
(1) The firm must:(a) include a risk warning in the form in (2) for any direct offer financial promotion to a relevant credit union client relating to credit union subordinated debt; and(b) obtain confirmation in writing from the relevant credit union client that the relevant credit union client has read the risk warning,in good time before the relevant credit union client makes the subordinated loan to the credit union.(2) “The investment to which this financial promotion relates
(1) The firm must:(a) include a statement in the form in (2) in any direct offer financial promotion to a relevant credit union client relating to credit union subordinated debt; and(b) obtain confirmation in writing from the relevant credit union client that the relevant credit union client has signed the statement,in good time before the relevant credit union client makes the subordinated loan to the credit union.(2) “I make this statement in connection with my proposed making
(1) Where a firm applies any exemption set out in COBS 22.2.4R under CREDS 3A.5.1R(3)2, any reference in COBS 22.2.4R to mutual society share must be read as though it includes a deferred share or credit union subordinated debt, as applicable.(2) For the purposes of any assessments or certifications required by the exemptions in COBS 22.2.4R, as applied for the purposes of this section under CREDS 3A.5.1R(3)2, any reference in COBS 4.12B3 provisions to non-mass market investments3
(1) CASS 5.1 to CASS
5.6 apply, subject to (2), (3) and CASS 5.1.3 R to CASS 5.1.6 R, to a firm that receives
or holds money in the course
of or in connection with its insurance distribution activity8.(2) CASS 5.1 to CASS
5.6 do not, subject to (3), apply:(a) to
a firm to the extent that it
acts in accordance with the client
money chapter; or64(b) [deleted]8(c) to
an insurance undertaking in
respect of its permitted activities;
or(d) to
a managing agent when acting
as such; or(e)
A firm that
is an approved bank, and relies
on the exemption under CASS
5.1.1 R (2)(e), should be able to account to all of
its clients for amounts held
on their behalf at all times. A bank account opened with the firm that is in the name of the client would generally be sufficient. When money from clients deposited
with the firm is held in a pooled
account, this account should be clearly identified as an account for clients. The firm should
also be able to demonstrate that an
(1) 3A firm will, subject to (3), be deemed to comply
with CASS 5.3 to CASS
5.6 if it receives or holds client
money and it either:2(a) in relation to a service charge,
complies with the requirement to segregate such money in accordance with section
42 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1987 ("the 1987 Act"); or2(b) in relation to money which is clients'
money for the purpose of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors' Rules
of Conduct ("RICS rules") in force as at 14 January
Subject to CASS 5.1.5A Rmoney is not client
money when:3(1) it
becomes properly due and payable to the firm:(a) for
its own account; or(b) in
its capacity as agent of an insurance undertaking where
the firm acts in accordance
with CASS 5.2; or(2) it
is otherwise received by the firm pursuant
to an arrangement made between an insurance
undertaking and another person (other
than a firm) by which that other person has authority to underwrite risks,
settle claims or handle refunds
3CASS
5.1.5 R (1)(b) and CASS
5.1.5 R (2) do not apply, and hence money is client money, in any case where:(1) in relation to an activity specified
in CASS 5.2.3 R (1)
(a) to CASS 5.2.3 R (1) (c), the insurance undertaking has agreed that the firm may treat money which
it receives and holds as agent of the undertaking,
as client money and in accordance
with the provisions of CASS
5.3 to CASS
5.6; and(2) the agreement in (1) is in writing
and adequate to show that the insurance
Except where a firm and
an insurance undertaking have
(in accordance with CASS
5.1.5A R) agreed otherwise, for the purposes of 3CASS 5.1 to CASS
5.6 an insurance
undertaking (when acting as such) with whom a firm conducts insurance distribution activity8 is not to be
treated as a client of the firm.
(1) Principle 10 (Clients' assets) requires a firm to arrange adequate protection for clients' assets when the firm is
responsible for them. An essential part of that protection is the proper accounting
and handling of client money.
The rules in CASS 5.1 to CASS
5.6 also give effect to the requirement in article 10.68 of the IDD8 that all necessary measures should
be taken to protect clients against
the inability of an insurance intermediary to
transfer premiums to an insurance
CASS 11 provides important safeguards for the protection of client money held by CASS debt management firms that sit alongside the fiduciary duty owed by firms in relation to client money. CASS 11.4.2 R to CASS 11.4.4 G provide guidance and rules for when money ceases to be client money for the purposes of both those rules and of the fiduciary duty which CASS debt management firms owe to clients in relation to client money.
Money ceases to be client money if:(1) it is paid to the client, or a duly authorised representative of the client; or(2) it is:(a) paid to a third party on the instruction of the client, or with the specific consent of the client; or(b) paid to a third party further to an obligation on the firm under any applicable law; or(3) it is paid into an account of the client (not being an account which is also in the name of the firm) on the instruction, or with the specific consent,
If a firm holds money as agent of an insurance
undertaking then the firm'sclients (who are not insurance
undertakings) will be adequately protected to the extent that
the premiums which it receives
are treated as being received by the insurance
undertaking when they are received by the agent and claims money and premium refunds
will only be treated as received by the client when
they are actually paid over. The rules in CASS
5.2 make provision for agency agreements between firms
(1) A firm must not agree to:(a) deal in investments as agent for an insurance undertaking in connection with an insurance distribution activity3; or(b) act
as agent for an insurance undertaking for
the purpose of settling claims or handling premium refunds;
or(c) otherwise
receive money as agent of an insurance undertaking;unless:(d) it
has entered into a written agreement with the insurance
undertaking to that effect; and(e) it
is satisfied on reasonable grounds that the terms
A firm may
operate on the basis of an agency agreement as provided for by CASS 5.2.3 R for
some of its clients and with
protection provided by a client money trust
in accordance with CASS
5.3 or CASS
5.4 for other clients.
A firm may also operate on either
basis for the same client but
in relation to different transactions. A firm which
does so should be satisfied that its administrative systems and controls are
adequate and, in accordance with CASS 5.2.4 G, should ensure that
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 United Kingdom10 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) [deleted]8(4) if the personal recommendation
A firm must provide the suitability report to the client:(1) in the case of a life policy, before the contract is concluded8; (2) in the case of a personal pension scheme or stakeholder pension scheme that is not a life policy8, 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;11(2A) in the case of a pension transfer or pension conversion, in good time before the transaction
The suitability report must, at least:(1) specify, on the basis of the information obtained from the client,8 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; 8(3) explain any possible disadvantages of the transaction for the client; and8(4) in the case of a life policy, include a personalised recommendation explaining why a particular life
This section sets out the requirements a firm must comply with when it allows another person to hold client money, other than under CASS 7.13.3 R, without discharging its fiduciary duty to that client. Such circumstances arise when, for example, a firm passes client money to a clearing house in the form of margin for the firm's obligations to the clearing house that are referable to transactions undertaken by the firm for the relevant clients. They may also arise when a firm passes
A firm may allow another person, such as an exchange, a clearing house or an intermediate broker, to hold client money, but only if:(1) the firm allows that person to hold the client money:(a) for the purpose of one or more transactions for a client through or with that person; or(b) to meet a client's obligation to provide collateral for a transaction (for example, an initial margin requirement for a contingent liability investment); and(2) in the case of a retail client, that
1The application of this section is set out in the following table:
Type of firm |
Applicable provisions |
UK firm operating a multilateral trading facility or an OTF and a UK branch of a third country investment firm operating a multilateral trading facility or an OTF |
|
MAR 10.4.7D to MAR 10.4.9D and MAR 10.4.11G2 |
|
UK branch of a2third country investment firm when not operating a multilateral trading facility or an OTF |
MAR 10.4.7D to MAR 10.4.9D and MAR 10.4.11G2 |
Member, participant or a client of a UK trading venue |
|
(1) 1This rule applies to a UK firm operating a multilateral trading facility or an OTF and a UK branch of a third country investment firm operating a multilateral trading facility or an OTF.(2)
A firm must make public and provide to the FCA3a weekly report with the aggregate positions held by the different categories of persons for the different commodity derivatives or emission allowances traded on the trading venue, where those instruments meet the criteria of article 83 of
(1) 1This direction applies to a member, participant or a client of a trading venue.
(2) A person in (1) must report to the relevant operator of a trading venue the details of their own positions held through contracts traded on that venue, at least on a daily basis, as well as those of their clients and the clients of those clients, until the end client is reached.
(3) [deleted]3
[Note: article 58(3) of MiFID]
(1) 1This direction applies to:(a) a MiFID investment firm3; and
(b) a UK branch of a third country investment firm.
(2) An investment firm in (1) trading in a commodity derivative or emission allowance outside a trading venue must, where the FCA is the competent authority of the trading venue where that commodity derivative or emission allowance is traded, provide the FCA with a report containing a complete breakdown of:(a)
their positions taken in those commodity derivatives
This chapter1 recognises the need to apply a differing level of regulatory protection to the assets which form the basis of the two different types of arrangement described in CASS 3.1.5 G. Under the bare security interest arrangement, the asset continues to belong to the client until the firm's right to realise that asset crystallises (that is, on the client's default). But under a "right to use arrangement", the client has transferred to the firm the legal title and associated
1A firm must:(1) execute orders on a discretionary basis in accordance with MAR 5A.3.2R;(2) unless permitted in MAR 5A.3.5R, not execute any client orders against its proprietary capital or the proprietary capital of any entity that is part of the same group or legal person as the firm; and (3) ensure that the operation of an OTF and of a systematic internaliser does not take place within the same legal entity, and that the OTF does not connect with another OTF or with a systematic
The discretion which the firm must exercise in executing a client order must be either, or both, of the following: (1) the first discretion is whether to place or retract an order on the OTF;(2) the second discretion is whether to match a specific client order with other orders available on the OTF at a given time, provided the exercise of such discretion is in compliance with specific instructions received from the client and in accordance with the firm’s obligations under COBS
Where the OTF crosses client orders, the firm may decide if, when and how much of two or more orders it wants to match. In addition, subject to the requirements of this section, the firm may facilitate negotiation between clients so as to bring together two or more potentially comparable trading interests in a transaction.[Note: article 20(6) of MiFID]
A firm must not engage in:(1) matched principal trading on an OTF operated by it except in bonds, structured finance products, emission allowances and derivatives which have not been declared subject to the clearing obligation in accordance with article 5 of EMIR, and where the client has consented; or(2) dealing on own account on an OTF operated by it, excluding matched principal trading, except in sovereign debt instruments for which there is not a liquid market.[Note: article
Section 137B(1) of the Act (Miscellaneous ancillary matters) provides that rules may make provision which results in client money being held by a firm on trust (England and Wales and Northern
Ireland) or as agent (Scotland only). CASS 5.3.2 R creates a fiduciary relationship
between the firm and its client under which client
money is in the legal ownership of the firm but
remains in the beneficial ownership of the client.
In the event of failure of the firm,
costs relating to
A firm (other
than a firm acting in accordance
with CASS
5.4) receives and holds client money as
trustee (or in Scotland as agent) on the following terms:(1) for
the purposes of and on the terms of CASS
5.3, CASS
5.5 and
the client money (insurance) distribution
rules;(2) subject
to (4),1 for the clients (other than clients which
are insurance undertakings when
acting as such)1 for whom that money is
held, according to their respective interests in it;(3) after
all valid claims
(1) A
firm which holds client money can discharge its obligation
to ensure adequate protection for its clients in
respect of such money by complying
with CASS
5.3 which provides for such money to
be held by the firm on the terms
of a trust imposed by the rules.(2) The
trust imposed by CASS
5.3 is limited to a trust in respect of client money which a firm receives
and holds. The consequential and supplementary requirements in CASS
5.5 are
designed to secure the proper segregation
The records and internal controls required by CASS 8.3.1 R must include:(1) an up-to-date list of each mandate that the firm has obtained, including a record of any conditions placed by the client or the firm's management on the use of the mandate and, where a mandate was received in non-written form in the course of, or in connection with, its designated investment business, the details required under CASS 8.3.2C R1;(2) a record of each transaction entered into under each mandate
1An entry in a firm's list of mandates underCASS 8.3.2 R (1) that relates to a mandate that was received in non-written form (eg in a telephone call) in the course of, or in connection with, its designated investment business must, as well as the information referred to at CASS 8.3.2 R (1), include the following details:(1) the nature of the mandate (eg debit card details);(2) the purpose of the mandate (eg collecting insurance premiums);(3) how the mandate was obtained (eg by
1When keeping its list of mandates under CASS 8.3.2 R (1) up to date:(1) a firm should create a new entry in the list each time the firm obtains a new mandate;(2) if, for an existing entry on its list, a firm obtains the same information meeting the conditions in CASS 8.2.1 R again (eg in a written confirmation following a paperless direct debit), the additional mandate is not a new mandate and the firm should not create another entry on the list; but(3) the firm should, for every
A firm should distinguish between conditions placed by a client on the firm's use of a mandate, and criteria to which transactions effected by a firm with or for a client may be subject.(1) The requirements in CASS 8.3.2 R (1) and CASS 8.3.2 R (3) apply only in respect of conditions placed around the firm's use of a mandate itself or around the instructions described in CASS 8.2.1 R (4). Examples of these include conditions under which a mandate may only be used by the firm in
When a firm provides basic advice it must:1(1) explain why it chose the stakeholder products and stakeholder product providers that appear in the relevant range; and1(2) give the client a list of the stakeholder products and stakeholder product providers that appear in that range;1if the client asks it do so.1
1If a firm giving basic advice recommends to a retail client to acquire a stakeholder product, it must ensure that, before the conclusion of the contract, its representative:(1) (unless the relevant product is a deposit-based stakeholder product) explains to the client, if necessary in summary form, but always in a way that will allow the client to make an informed decision about the firm's recommendation:(a) the nature of the stakeholder product; and(b) the "aims", "commitment"
1Notwithstanding COBS 9.6.14R (2) a firm may provide the summary sheet (COBS 9.6.14R (2)) as soon as reasonably practicable after the conclusion of the contract if the client asks it to do so, or the contract will be concluded using a means of distance communication that does not enable the provision of the summary sheet in a durable medium before the conclusion of the contract, but only if the firm:(1) reads the summary sheet to the client before it concludes the contract; and(2)
A firm must notify new and existing clients that telephone communications or conversations between the firm and its clients that result or may result in activities in financial instruments referred to in SYSC 10A.1.1R(2) (and that are not excluded by SYSC 10A.1.4R) will be recorded. The notification must be made before the provision of any investment services to new and existing clients.[Note: article 16(7) of MiFID, fourth subparagraph]
A notification referred to in SYSC 10A.1.11R is only required to be made by the firm once, at the following times:(1) to a new client prior to the provision of any investment services; and(2) to an existing client prior to the provision of any investment services following:(a) the commencement of these rules; or(b) the firm otherwise becoming subject to these rules, after the date of commencement.[Note: article 16(7) of MiFID, fifth subparagraph]
Client instructions given otherwise than by telephone must be made in a durable medium such as by mail, faxes, emails or documentation of client instructions issued at meetings. In particular, the content of relevant face-to-face conversations with a client may be recorded by using written minutes or notes. [Note: article 16(7) of MiFID, seventh subparagraph]
(1) CASS
5.8 applies to a firm (including
in its capacity as trustee under CASS
5.4) which in the course of insurance distribution activity2 takes into its
possession for safekeeping any client title documents (other than documents of
no value) or other tangible assets belonging to clients.(2) CASS
5.8 does not apply to a firm when: (a) carrying
on an insurance distribution activity2 which
is in respect of a reinsurance contract;
or(b) acting
in accordance with CASS 61 (Custo
The rules in
this section amplify the obligation in Principle 10
which requires a firm to arrange
adequate protection for client's assets. Firms carrying on insurance distribution activities2 may hold, on a temporary or longer basis, client title documents such
as policy documents (other
than policy documents of no
value) and also items of physical property if, for example, a firm arranges for a valuation. The rules are intended to ensure that firms make adequate arrangements
(1) A firm which has in its possession or control documents evidencing a client's title
to a contract of insurance or
other similar documents (other
than documents of no value) or which takes into its possession or control
tangible assets belonging to a client,
must take reasonable steps to ensure that any such documents or
items of property:(a) are
kept safe until they are delivered to the client;(b) are
not delivered or given to any other person except
in accordance with instructions