Related provisions for CASS 5.5.27
1 - 20 of 103 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interest and has not yet been withdrawn by the firm.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
agreement10 or otherwise in writing):5510(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.
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; and/or(1B) 2when it is safeguarding and administering investments, in the course of business that is not MiFID business.(2) [deleted]22
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) A firm need not treat this chapter as applying in respect of a delivery versus payment transaction through a commercial settlement system if it is intended that the
safe custody asset2
is either to be: 2(a) in respect of a client's purchase, due to the client within one business day following the client's fulfilment of a payment obligation; or(b) in respect of a client's sale, due to the firm within one business day following the fulfilment of a payment obligation;unless
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
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 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 expense of the client;(2)
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 must keep and regularly update a record of the kinds of service or activity carried out by or on behalf of thefirm 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 Directive]
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, 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 and measures to be adopted
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
If a primary pooling event occurs:(1) client money held in each client money account of the firm is treated as pooled; and(2) the firm must distribute that client money in accordance with CASS 7.7.2 R, so that each client receives a sum which is rateable to the client money entitlement calculated in accordance with CASS 7A.2.5 R.
(1) When, in respect of a client, there is a positive individual client balance and a negative client equity balance, the credit must be offset against the debit reducing theindividual client balance for that client.(2) When, in respect of a client , there is a negative individual client balance and a positive client equity balance , the credit must be offset against the debit reducing the client equity balance for that client.
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
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
To the extent practicable, a firm must effect appropriate registration or recording of legal title to a
safe custody asset2
in the name of:2(1) the client (or, where appropriate, the trustee firm), 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;(2) a nominee company which is controlled by:(a) the firm;(b) an affiliated company;(c) a recognised investment exchange
A firm may register or record legal title to its own
applicable assets2
in the same name as that in which legal title to a
safe custody asset2
is registered or recorded, but only if:22(1) the firm'sapplicable assets2
are separately identified in the firm's records from the safe custody assets;2 or22(2) the firm registers or records a
safe custody asset2
in accordance with CASS 6.2.3R (4).2
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 must 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, 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 either a general client bank account or client transaction account of the firm, rateably in accordance with
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
Money held in each designated client fund account with the failedbank must be treated as pooled with any other designated client fund accountsof the firm which contain part of the same designated fund and:(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 by each of the clients whose client money is held in that designated fund, rateably in accordance with their entitlements;(2)
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,
(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 FSA register and its FSA register number (or, if it is not on the FSA register, the register in which it has been included and the means for verifying that it has been registered);(c) whether it has a direct or indirect holding representing more
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]
(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) A firm which arranges the registration of a safe custody investment through a third party must exercise all due skill, care
In discharging its obligations under this section, a firm should also consider, together with any other relevant matters:(1) once a
safe custody asset2
has been lodged by the firm with the third party, the third party's performance of its services to the firm;2(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 Financial Reporting and Auditing Group (FRAG) 21 report or
(1) A firm 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.22(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 of
safe custody
(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 another client 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 to which the
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 19(2) of the MiFID implementing Directive]222
(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 mediation
activity.(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) to
a firm in carrying on an insurance mediation activity which is in
respect of a reinsurance contract;
or(c) to
an insurance undertaking
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
(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 4.4 of the Insurance
Mediation Directive5 that all necessary measures should
be taken to protect clients against
the inability of an insurance intermediary to
transfer
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]
(1) A firm must take reasonable steps to ensure that a personal recommendation, or a decision to trade, is suitable for its client.(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 investment or service;(b) financial situation; and(c) investment objectives;so as to enable the firm to make the
(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
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 insurance mediation; 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 of the policies
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
(1) CASS
5.8 applies to a firm (including
in its capacity as trustee under CASS
5.4) which in the course of insurance mediation activity 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 mediation activity which
is in respect of a reinsurance contract;
or(b) acting
in accordance with CASS 61 (Custody
rules
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
mediation activities 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 for
(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
Section 139(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 the
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
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)
(1) When providing a service to which this chapter applies, a firm must ask the client to provide information regarding his knowledge and experience in the investment field relevant to the specific type of product or service offered or demanded so as to enable the firm to assess whether the service or product envisaged is appropriate for the client.(2) When assessing appropriateness, a firm:(a) must determine whether the client has the necessary experience and knowledge in order
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
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