EBA · 2015_1825 Final Q&A

Client money

Regulation
Directive 2014/59/EU (BRRD)
Article
44, para. 2
Topic
MREL
Submitted by
Competent authority
Submitted
2015-02-13
Answered
2015-07-24
Answer provided by
ESAs (EBA, ESMA, EIOPA)

Question

To what extent the cash held by a UCITS can be qualified as client money?

Background

Part of the client’s money invested into UCITS can be held in cash by the UCITS and thus accounted as a deposit in banks’ balance sheet. The article 44.2.c seems to say that the deposits of UCITS are client money excluded from the bail-in. Indeed, according to this article “client money held on behalf of UCITS as defined in article 1(2) of Directive 2009/65/EC” is excluded from bail-in.

Answer

Cash deposited by a UCITS with a credit institution can be qualified as "client money " for the purposes of Article 44 (2) (c) of Directive 2014/59/EU if the credit institution acts as a depositary for the UCITS pursuant to Article 22 of Directive 2009/65/EC, and in particular where the sums are booked in cash accounts opened in the name of the UCITS, of the management company acting on behalf of the UCITS, or of the depositary acting on behalf of the UCITS, and in the latter case is segregated from the depositary’s own cash. Disclaimer: This question goes beyond matters of consistent and effective application of the regulatory framework. A Directorate General of the Commission (Directorate General Financial Stability, Financial Services and Capital Markets Union) has prepared the answer, albeit that only the Court of Justice of the European Union can provide definitive interpretations of EU legislation. This is an unofficial opinion of that Directorate General, which the European Banking Authority publishes on its behalf. The answers are not binding on the European Commission as an institution. You should be aware that the European Commission could adopt a position different from the one expressed in such Q&As, for instance in infringement proceedings or after a detailed examination of a specific case or on the basis of any new legal or factual elements that may have been brought to its attention.

Original source: European Banking Authority, Q&A ID 2015_1825

This Q&A is published by European Banking Authority and is non-binding. It does not constitute legal advice. Updated weekly from official ESA sources.

Similar Q&As

More Q&As on this topic

📋 Track EU financial regulation continuously

Forseti monitors EU financial regulation and delivers personalised alerts anchored to verified official sources.

14-day free trial. No credit card required.