CASS 7.2 Definition of client money
For the purposes of this chapter and the MiFID custody chapter, client money means any money that a firm receives from or holds for, or on behalf of, a client in the course of, or in connection with, its MiFID business unless otherwise specified in this section.
Business in the name of the firm
Title transfer collateral arrangements
A title transfer financial collateral arrangement under the Financial Collateral Directive is an example of a type of transfer of money to cover obligations where that money will not be regarded as client money.
Where a firm has received full title or full ownership to money under a collateral arrangement, the fact that it has also takena security interest overits 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 transfer of title to the firm. However, if that security interest includes a "right to use arrangement", under which the client agrees to transfer all of its rights to money in that account to the firm upon the exercise of the right to use, the money may cease to be client money, but only once the right to use is exercised and the money is transferred out of the accountto the firm.
Firms are reminded of the client's best 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.
Pursuant to the client's best interests rule, a firm should ensure that where a retail client transfers full ownership of money to a firm:
- (1)
the client is notified that full ownership of the money has been transferred to the firm and, as such, the client no longer has a proprietary claim over this money and the firm can deal with it on its own right;
- (2)
the transfer is for the purposes of securing or covering the client's obligations;
- (3)
an equivalent transfer is made back to the client if the provision of collateral by the client is no longer necessary; and
- (4)
there is a reasonable link between the timing and the amount of the collateral transfer and the obligation that the client owes, or is likely to owe, to the firm.
Money in connection with a "delivery versus payment" transaction
Money need not be treated as client money in respect of a delivery versus payment transaction through a commercial settlement system if it is intended that either:
- (1)
in respect of a client's purchase, money from a client will be due to the firm within one business day upon the fulfilment of a delivery obligation; or
- (2)
in respect of a client's sale, money is due to the client within one business day following the client's fulfilment of a delivery obligation;
unless the delivery or payment by the firm does not occur by the close of business on the third business day following the date of payment or delivery of the investments by the client.
Money due and payable to the firm
- (1)
Money is not client money when it becomes properly due and payable to the firm for its own account.
- (2)
For these purposes, 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 from a client bank account for reimbursement will become due and payable to the firm.
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, that 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 with the client money rules.
Commission rebate
When a firm has entered into an arrangement under which commission is rebated to a client, those rebates need not be treated as client money until they become due and payable to the client in accordance with the terms of the contractual arrangements between the parties.
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 7.2.15 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 7.2.3 R (Title transfer collateral arrangements)).
Interest
Unless a firm notifies a retail client in writing whether or not interest is to be paid on client money and, if so, on what terms and at what frequency, it must pay that client all interest earned on that client money. Any interest due to a client will be client money.
Discharge of fiduciary duty
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 the client, unless it is transferred to a third party in the course of effecting a transaction, in accordance with CASS 7.5.2 R (Transfer of client money to a third party); 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 to the firm (see CASS 7.2.9 R (Money due and payable to the firm)); or
- (5)
to the firm itself, when it is an excess in the client bank account (see CASS 7.6.13 R (2) (Reconciliation discrepancies)).
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 a way which it discharges its fiduciary duty to the client under this section.
When a firm draws a cheque or other payable order to discharge its fiduciary duty to the client, it must continue to treat the sum concerned as client money until the cheque or order is presented and paid by the bank.
Allocated but unclaimed client money
The purpose ofthe rule on allocated but unclaimed client money is to allow a firm, in the normal course of its business, to cease to treat as client money any balances,allocated to an individual client, when those balances remain unclaimed.
A firm may cease to treat as client money any unclaimed client money balance if it can demonstrate that it has taken reasonable steps to trace the client concerned and to return the balance.
- (1)
Taking reasonable steps should include:
- (a)
entering into a written agreement, in which the client consents to the firm releasing, after the period of time specified in (b), any client money balances, for or on behalf of that client, from client bank accounts;
- (b)
determining that there has been no movement on the client's balance for a period of at least six years (notwithstanding any payments or receipts of charges, interest or similar items);
- (c)
writing to the client at the last known address informing the client of the firm's intention of no longer treating that balance as client money, giving the client 28 days to make a claim;
- (d)
making and retaining records of all balances released from client bank accounts; and
- (e)
undertaking to make good any valid claim against any released balances.
- (a)
- (2)
Compliance with (1) may be relied on as tending to establish compliance with CASS 7.2.19 R.
- (3)
Contravention of (1) may be relied on as tending to establish contravention of CASS 7.2.19 R.
When a firm gives an undertaking to make good any valid claim against released balances, it should make arrangements authorised by the firm's relevant controllers that are legally enforceable by any person with a valid claim to such money.