Related provisions for CASS 6.2.8
1 - 18 of 18 items.
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 UK UCITS16; and97(1E) in respect of any arrangement for
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 TTCA14 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 transfer of the client's full ownership of the safe custody asset to the firm;(b) any terms under which the ownership of the safe custody asset is to transfer
(1) 14A firm must properly consider and document the use of TTCAs in the context of: (a) the relationship between the client’s obligation to the firm; and (b) the safe custody assets subjected to TTCAs by the firm.(2) A firm must be able to demonstrate that it has complied with the requirement under (1).(3) When considering, and documenting, the appropriateness of the use of TTCAs, a firm must take into account the following factors:(a) whether there is only a very weak connection
9When a firm notifies a client under CASS 6.1.8AR (3)(a) of when the termination of a TTCA14 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 6.2and update its records under CASS 6.6 (Records, accounts and reconciliations).
(1) 9Following the termination of a TTCA14 , 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 6.1.1R14.(2) Where the custody rules apply to a firm for safe custody assets in these circumstances then the firm is required to comply with those rules and should, for example, update the registration under CASS 6.2(Holding of client assets), update
(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
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
(1) A physical asset reconciliation is a separate process to the internal custody record check. Firms that hold physical safe custody assets for clients are required to perform both processes. (2) The purpose of a physical asset reconciliation is to check that a firm's internal records and accounts of the physical safe custody assets kept by the firm for clients are accurate and complete, and to ensure any discrepancies are investigated and resolved.
If a firmacting as trustee or depositary of an AIF that is an authorised AIF deposits safe custody assets belonging to a client with a third party, under article 89(1)(c) (Safekeeping duties with regard to assets held in custody) of the AIFMD level 2 regulation, the firm should seek to ensure that the third party provides the firm with adequate information (for example in the form of a statement) as at a date or dates specified by the firm which details the description and amounts
(1) This rule applies where a firm identifies a discrepancy as a result of, or that reveals, a shortfall, which the firm has not yet resolved.(2) Subject to paragraphs (3) and (4)7, until the discrepancy is resolved a firm must do one of the following:(a) appropriate a sufficient number of its own applicable assets to cover the value of the shortfall and hold them for the relevant clients under the custody rules in such a way that the applicable assets, or the proceeds of their
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 16(8)10 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
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
(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(2A) market practices related to the holding of the safe custody asset that could adversely affect clients’ rights.8(3) current industry standard reports, for example "Assurance
(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 person8 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 third country8 which does not regulate the holding and safekeeping of
safe custody assets2
for the
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
(1) 8A firm must not grant any security interest, lien or right of set-off to another person over clients’safe custody assets that enable that other person to dispose of the safe custody assets in order to recover debts unless condition (a) or (b) is satisfied:(a) those debts relate to:(i) one or more of the firm’sclients; or(ii) the provision of services by that other person to one or more of the firm’sclients; or(b) to the extent those debts relate to anything else then:(i)
(1) 8Under CASS 6.3.6AR(1)(b)(i) a security interest, lien or right of set-off may be regarded as being required by applicable law in a third country for example where:(a) because of applicable law it is mandatory for such a security interest, lien or right of set-off to be given in order for the safe custody assets to be held in that third country; or(b) (i) in the context of the service being provided for the firm’sclient the applicable law of that third country requires the
8To comply with CASS 6.3.6AR(2) and in relation to any security interests, liens or rights of set-off over safe custody assets, a firm should ensure that:(1) the written terms of its client contracts include the client’s agreement to another person having such a security interest, lien or right of set-off over the client’s assets; and(2) its books and records are able to show the safe custody assets in respect of which the firm is aware that such security interests, liens, or
Subject to CASS 9.5.5AR and2CASS 9.5.6 R, CASS 9.5.4R, CASS 9.5.4BR2 and CASS 9.5.5 R require firms to comply with a client's request for information on the custody assets and/or client money the firm holds for a client under CASS 6 and/or CASS 7, and such request may be made by a client at any time.
2When a firm to which COBS 16A applies receives a request, made by a client, or on a client’s behalf, for a statement of the custody assets that the firm holds for that client, it must provide the client with a statement in a durable medium in relation to any custody assets that are not financial instruments.
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.
2A firm is not required to provide a client with a statement under CASS 9.5.4R or CASS 9.5.4BR, or a copy of a statement under CASS 9.5.5R (as applicable) where the following conditions are met: (1) the firm provides the client with access to an online system, which qualifies as a durable medium;(2) up-to-date statements of the client’scustody assets and/or client money can be easily accessed by the client via the system under (1); and (3) the firm has evidence that the client
(1) 1A firm must not enter into arrangements for securities financing transactions in respect of
safe custody assets2
held by it on behalf of a client or otherwise use such
safe custody assets2
for its own account or the account of any other person or6client of the firm, unless:22(a) the client has given express prior consent to the use of the
safe custody assets2
on specified terms; and2(b) the use of that client'ssafe custody assets2
is restricted to the specified terms
(1) 6Prior express consent by clients should be given and recorded by firms in order to allow the firm to demonstrate clearly what the client agreed to and to help clarify the status of safe custody assets. (2) Clients’ consent may be given once at the start of the commercial relationship, as long as it is sufficiently clear that the client has consented to the use of their safe custody assets. (3) Where a firm is acting on a client instruction to lend safe custody assets and
6A firm must take appropriate measures to prevent the unauthorised use of safe custody assets for its own account or the account of any other person, such as: (1) the conclusion of agreements with clients on measures to be taken by the firm in case the client does not have enough provision on its account on the settlement date, such as borrowing of the corresponding securities on behalf of the client or unwinding the position;(2) the close monitoring by the firm of its projected
6A firm must adopt specific arrangements for all clients to ensure that the borrower of clientsafe custody assets provides the appropriate collateral and that the firm monitors the continued appropriateness of such collateral and takes the necessary steps to maintain the balance with the value of the clientsafe custody assets.[Note: article 5(4) of the MiFID Delegated Directive]
Where a firm uses
safe custody assets2
as permitted in this section, the records of the firm must include details of the client on whose instructions the use of the
safe custody assets2
has been effected, as well as the number of
safe custody assets2
used belonging to each client who has given consent, so as to enable the correct allocation of any loss.[Note: article 5(2), second sub-paragraph of the MiFID Delegated Directive6]222
(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
(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
1A firm to which COBS 6.1 applies2 that holds custody assets or client money must, in relation to its business for which COBS 6.1 applies2:(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.
2A firm to which COBS 6.1ZA applies that holds custody assets or client money must, in relation to its business for which COBS 6.1ZA applies:(1) provide the information referred to in paragraphs 2 to 7 of article 49 of the MiFID Org Regulation for any custody asset that the firm may hold for a client, including:(a) any custody asset which is a designated investment but not a financial instrument; and(b) any custody asset which is neither a designated investment nor a financial
(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)
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.
7Where regulation 10C(3) of the IBSA Regulations does apply, Firm A should, in advance of the transfer under CASS 7A.2.4R(4), 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
The purpose of the CASS resolution pack is to ensure that a firm maintains and is able to retrieve information that would:6(1) in the event of its insolvency, assist an insolvency practitioner in achieving a timely return of client money and safe custody assets held by the firm to that firm’sclients; and6(2) in the event of its or another firm’s resolution, assist the Bank of England7; and6(3) in either case, assist the FCA.6
(1) 1A firm must ensure that every prime brokerage agreement that includes its right to use safe custody assets for its own account includes a disclosure annex.(2) A firm must ensure that the disclosure annex sets out a summary of the key provisions within the prime brokerage agreement permitting the use of safe custody assets, including:(a) the contractual limit, if any, on the safe custody assets which a prime brokerage firm is permitted to use;(b) all related contractual definitions
(1) 1A firm must make available to each of its clients to whom it provides prime brokerage services a statement in a durable medium:(a) showing the value at the close of each business day of the items in (3); and(b) detailing any other matters which that firm considers are necessary to ensure that a client has up-to-date and accurate information about the amount of client money and the value of safe custody assets held by that firm for it.(2) The statement must be made available