FINAL NOTICE

To:
Aviva Pension Trustees UK Limited (“APTUKL”)

Aviva Wrap UK Limited (“AWUKL”)



1.
ACTION

1.1.
For the reasons given in this notice, the Authority imposes on APTUKL and AWUKL

(together, “the Firms”) a financial penalty of £8,246,800.00.

1.2.
The Firms agreed to settle at an early stage of the Authority’s investigation. The

Firms therefore qualified for a 30% (stage 1) discount under the Authority’s

executive settlement procedures. Were it not for this discount, the Authority

would have imposed a financial penalty of £11,781,262.00 on the Firms.

2.
SUMMARY OF REASONS

2.1.
On the basis of the facts and matters described below the Authority finds that

between 1 January 2013 and 2 September 2015 (“the Relevant Period”), the

Firms breached Principle 3 (Management and Control) and Principle 10 (Clients’

Assets) of the Authority’s Principles for Businesses (“the Principles”) and

associated rules in the Client Assets sourcebook (“the CASS Rules”). The Firms

2

also breached a number of rules in Chapter 8 (Outsourcing) of Senior

Management Arrangements, Systems and Controls sourcebook (“SYSC”).

2.2.
During the Relevant Period the Firms breached Principle 3, and a number of CASS

and SYSC Rules, by failing to take reasonable care to ensure that they established

and implemented adequate controls over the Third Party Administrators (“TPAs”)

to which they had outsourced the administration of client money and external

reconciliations in relation to custody assets. In particular, the Firms:

(1)
failed to put in place adequate organisational arrangements for the

safeguarding of client money and safe custody assets or to ensure

effective oversight of outsourced CASS functions (CASS 6.2.2R, CASS

7.12.2R (formerly CASS 7.3.2R) and SYSC 8.1.8R);

(2)
failed to dedicate sufficient resource and technical expertise to enable

them to implement effective CASS oversight arrangements; and

(3)
failed to prioritise sufficiently CASS compliance, resulting in inadequate

oversight of the outsourced CASS functions and their delayed detection

and rectification of CASS risks and compliance issues.

2.3.
During the Relevant Period the Firms also breached Principle 10, and a number of

CASS and SUP Rules, by failing to arrange adequate protection for client money

and safe custody assets for which they were responsible. In particular, the Firms:

(1)
failed to identify and promptly rectify certain issues within their internal

client money reconciliation process which were subsequently identified

and/or confirmed by the Authority, the Skilled Person and the Firms’

external CASS auditors. These issues included the Firms’ under-

segregation of client money, which during the period from 10 February

2014 to 9 February 2015 peaked at £74.4m;

(2)
mislabelled transactions within the Firms’ client money calculations (CASS

7.6.2R and CASS 7.15.3R);

(3)
failed to submit accurate Client Money and Asset Returns (“CMARs”) (SUP

16.14.3(R)(1));

3

(4)
failed to ensure the adequate and accurate segregation of client money;

and

(5)
held inadequate CASS resolution packs (“CASS RPs”) (CASS 10.1.3R).

2.4.
Compliance with the CASS Rules is important to ensure client money and custody

assets are adequately protected at all times. This is particularly important prior

to insolvency to ensure that the wind-down of a firm in the event of insolvency is

carried out in as orderly a manner as possible and in a way that reduces the risk

of loss of clients’ money and safe custody assets. A firm’s compliance can have a

mitigating effect in an insolvency process and is something over which a firm has

ultimate responsibility and control. It is in this context that the Authority views

breaches of the CASS Rules, and a firm’s failure to comply with those rules, as a

particularly serious matter.

2.5.
The Authority considers the Firms’ failings to be serious for the following

(1)
given their responsibility for CASS compliance, it was not appropriate for

the Firms to outsource functions to TPAs without having sufficient

oversight arrangements in place;

(2)
CASS Rules breaches were identified in the Firms’ annual external CASS

audit reports for consecutive years, indicating that the Firms had failed to

implement adequate measures to address these throughout the Relevant

Period; and

(3)
some of the Firms’ failings were drawn to the Firms’ attention by the Firms’

external CASS auditors, the Authority and the Skilled Person, rather than

through
their
own
compliance
monitoring.
During
the

Relevant Period, the Firms’ internal audit reviews were infrequent and

oversight of the outsourced CASS functions was inadequate.

2.6.
The Authority has taken into account that:

(1)
once it was identified that the Firms were not compliant with the CASS

oversight requirements, they committed significant internal and external

resources to investigating and remediating the issues outlined in this

Notice, and in strengthening CASS resource and oversight;

(2)
specifically, the Firms have made significant improvements in the

application of dedicated CASS resource, and in strengthening the oversight

of the TPAs’ work and the associated controls;

(3)
the Firms showed a significant degree of co-operation during the Skilled

Person review and the investigation of the issues by the Authority;

(4)
it has not found that the Firms acted deliberately or recklessly; and

(5)
although client money and safe custody assets were at risk of some loss,

there was no actual loss of any client money or safe custody assets.

2.7.
Ensuring the CASS Rules are adhered to supports the Authority’s operational

objectives of securing an appropriate degree of protection for consumers and

protecting
and
enhancing
the
integrity
of
the
UK
financial
system.

2.8.
The Authority therefore imposes a financial penalty on the Firms in the amount

of £8,246,800.00 pursuant to section 206 of the Act.

3.
DEFINITIONS

3.1.
The definitions below are used in this Decision Notice:

“the Act” means the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000;

“APTUKL” means Aviva Pension Trustees UK Limited;

“the Authority” means the body corporate previously known as the Financial

Services Authority and renamed on 1 April 2013 as the Financial Conduct

Authority;

“AWUKL” means Aviva Wrap UK Limited;

“the CASS Rules” means the rules and guidance set out in the Client Assets

sourcebook chapter of the Authority’s Handbook;

“the CASS Visit” means the Authority’s CASS Department’s supervisory visit to

the Firms between 9 and 11 February 2015;

5

“Client Money Rules” means Chapter 7 of the CASS Rules (as defined above);

“CMAR” means Client Money and Asset Return as defined in the Authority’s

Handbook;

“Custody Rules” means Chapter 6 of the CASS Rules (as defined above);

“DEPP” means the Authority’s Decision Procedure and Penalties Manual;

“EG” means the Enforcement Guide;

“the Firms” means AWUKL and APTUKL together;

“IFAs” means Independent Financial Advisors;

“Policy Statement 14/9” means the Review of the client assets regime for

investment business published by the Authority on 10 June 2014;

“the PRA” means the Prudential Regulation Authority;

“Principles” means the Authority’s Principles for Businesses;

“the Relevant Period” means the period from 1 January 2013 to 2 September

2015 inclusive;

“the Skilled Person” means the firm appointed in August 2015 under section 166

of the Act to provide a report to the Authority on the Firms’ compliance with the

CASS Rules;

“the Skilled Person Report” means the report issued by the Skilled Person on 29

January 2016 consequent to the Authority’s exercise of its power under section

166 of the Act in relation to the Firms;

“SYSC” means the part of the Authority’s Handbook which has the title Senior

Management Arrangements, Systems and Controls;

“the TPAs” means the Third Party Administrators to which the Firms outsourced

their CASS functions during the Relevant Period; and

6

“the Tribunal” means the Upper Tribunal (Tax and Chancery Chamber).

4.
FACTS AND MATTERS

4.1.
The Firms are UK incorporated entities and are both part of the Aviva group of

companies. AWUKL is a wholly owned subsidiary of Aviva Life Holdings UK

Limited, which in turn is a subsidiary of Aviva PLC. APTUKL is a wholly owned

subsidiary of Aviva Life & Pensions UK Limited whose 100% ultimate beneficial

owner is also Aviva PLC.

4.2.
AWUKL’s principal business activity is operating the Aviva Wrap online platform.

Clients can invest via their IFAs in a range of funds, equities and structured

products, with the option of holding their investments in a tax efficient wrapper

(either an ISA account or, in the case of APTUKL, a self-invested personal pension

or ‘SIPP’). APTUKL acts as both operator and trustee of the Aviva Personal

Pension Plan in addition to a number of smaller schemes including a number of

SIPPs.

4.3.
The average daily balance of the client money and custody assets accounts during

the Relevant Period for AWUKL was £64,410,913.00 and £1,409,841,850.00

respectively. The average daily balance of the client money accounts during the

Relevant Period for APTUKL was £189,132,662.00.

4.4.
A number of CASS issues were identified in the Firms’ annual external CASS audit

reports, which should have prompted the Firms to undertake a wider review of

their client money and custody asset compliance:

(1) the 2013 external CASS audit report for AWUKL identified issues with

AWUKL’s internal client money reconciliations and raised concerns

regarding the Firms’ maintenance of accurate safe custody asset records

(CASS 6.5.2R), particularly given the Firms’ outsourcing to a TPA of

external reconciliations in relation to custody assets;

(2) AWUKL’s failure to have adequate organisational arrangements in place in

relation to its reconciliation processes in breach of CASS 6.2.2R. The

auditors noted in the 2012 external CASS audit report for AWUKL that a

7

distribution value of £111.69 was received for an asset which was not on

the Firms’ system which prevented the money being applied to the

appropriate client’s account;

(3) although AWUKL advised the auditors that a revised and strengthened

reconciliation format had been implemented in June 2012, four instances of

AWUKL’s non-compliance with CASS 6.5.10R were identified in the 2013

audit resulting from its failure to promptly identify and correct

discrepancies identified by safe custody asset reconciliations, involving

assets with an approximate aggregate value of £1,000; and

(4) concerning the Firms’ use of a non-standard client money calculation CASS

7.6.8R (currently CASS 7.13.58R), the Authority noted that the Firms’

method of internal client money reconciliation did not provide the degree of

protection provided by the standard method as set out in CASS 7 Annex 1

G. The Authority notes that the Firms’ external auditor confirmed in May

2015 that the Firms’ method of internal client money reconciliation did

provide that degree of protection.

4.5.
The external CASS auditor findings for both AWUKL and APTUKL should have

prompted the Firms to reassess and re-categorise CASS compliance as

potentially high risk.

4.6.
In February 2015, the Authority’s CASS Department visited the Firms. During

the visit the Authority identified the same and similar CASS compliance issues to

those identified by the external auditors. These issues were confirmed to the

Firms in a letter of 10 August 2015, which included the following concerns:

(1) serious deficiencies in the Firms’ governance and oversight of CASS

functions;

(2) the Firms’ lack of individuals with combined CASS and financial experience;

(3) a convoluted committee structure which, in particular, lacked any dedicated

committee
for
overseeing
the
Firms’
outsourced
CASS
functions;

(4) a lack of CASS specific compliance monitoring reports, particularly given

the breadth of the rule changes following Policy Statement 14/9 and the

Firms’ compliance history based on earlier external CASS audit reports;

(5) mislabelling of transactions within the client money calculation, prompting

wider concerns regarding the Firms’ failure to maintain accurate records

and accounts and inadequate organisational arrangements; and

(6) inaccuracies with the Firms’ CMAR submissions given that the Firms had

made
disclosures
which
were
inconsistent
with
SUP
16.14.3.R.

4.7.
Based on the number and gravity of the Firms’ failures to comply with the CASS

Rules identified during the CASS Visit, the Authority required the Firms to

appoint a Skilled Person to conduct an independent review of the Firms under

section 166 of the Act.

The Skilled Person Report

4.8.
In August 2015, the Authority required the Firms to provide a Skilled Person’s

report under section 166 of the Act. On 29 January 2016, the Skilled Person

issued its report, which confirmed issues identified during the CASS Visit and

expanded on the issues previously identified by the Firms’ external CASS audit

reports. The findings included:

(1) inadequacies
with
the
Firms’
organisational
arrangements
for
the

safeguarding of client money and custody assets resulting in the Firms’

inadequate management and oversight of TPAs in respect of outsourced

CASS functions. The Skilled Person confirmed the following specific failings

with the Firms’ oversight and safe custody arrangements:

a)
deficiencies with the Firms’ reconciliation processes resulting in the

over-and under-segregation of client money with the Firms’ under-

segregation having peaked at approximately £74.4m during the

period from 10 February 2014 to 9 February 2015;

b)
inadequate first (business) and second (compliance) lines of

defence in relation to the Firms’ submission of inaccurate CMARs;

c)
inaccuracies/failings with the Firms’ CASS RPs in breach of CASS

10.1.3R;

d)
the inadequacy of the management information (“MI”) provided to

senior management in relation to CASS breaches, particularly in

relation to the Firms’ outsourcing of CASS functions to TPAs; and

e)
concerning the Firms’ use of a non-standard client money

calculation, the Skilled Person confirmed that the Firms’ method of

internal client money reconciliation did not provide the degree of

protection provided by the standard method as set out in CASS 7

Annex 1 G. ((CASS 7.15.18R and 7.6.8R) and Annex 1G).

(2) the Firms’ failure to dedicate sufficient resource and technical expertise to

enable the Firms to implement effective CASS compliance oversight

programs; and

(3) the Firms’ failure to prioritise sufficiently CASS compliance, resulting in the

delayed detection and rectification of CASS risks and compliance issues.

Inadequate organisational arrangements to ensure effective oversight
of outsourced CASS functions

4.9.
Outsourcing arrangements are common in the asset management industry in

relation to purchases and sales of investment fund interests for clients. TPAs

typically perform back office activities such as cash and transaction processing,

settlement, record keeping, reconciliations and similar CASS compliance

functions.

4.10.
In such circumstances, since a firm is one step removed from CASS operations

as a result of its outsourcing arrangements with a TPA, a heightened CASS

compliance risk may arise. A firm is therefore required to ensure that it has

robust controls and oversight systems in place to monitor and identify any

issues arising with the TPA’s performance of the CASS functions for which the

firm remains fully responsible. This also requires that a firm outsourcing CASS

functions ensures that it has adequate CASS skills, expertise and resources to

carry out effective oversight of the TPA.

4.11.
During the Relevant Period, the Firms outsourced to TPAs the administration of

their client money and external reconciliations in relation to custody assets.

However, during the Relevant Period, the Firms failed to ensure effective

oversight of the TPAs.

4.12.
In particular, the Firms failed to put in place dedicated CASS committees to

ensure the prompt identification and remediation of any issues relating to the

TPAs’ performance of outsourced CASS functions. Given the recurrence of CASS

failings identified by their external CASS auditors, the Firms should have been

aware of prevailing issues with their outsourcing of CASS functions and taken

steps to ensure that closer monitoring was undertaken of TPAs. The Firms have

now set up joint governance committees to oversee the CASS outsourcing

arrangements.

4.13.
The Firms’ oversight was also compromised by design limitations detected in the

Firms’ review processes. For example, the checks which the Firms undertook in

relation to their reconciliation processes were informal and lacked consistency. A

number of incidences were identified in which weekly reconciliation checks had

not been completed. There were also delays in the Firms’ identification and

rectification of reconciliation inaccuracies and a more general lack of guidance

on the reconciliation processes. This also resulted in the Firms’ failure to

sufficiently challenge the internal controls, competence and resources of the

TPAs.

4.14.
Similar weaknesses were identified in relation to the Firms’ escalation process

for CASS related issues. The Firms provided no routine CASS updates, with

reports only being made when CASS issues occurred. As a result senior

management did not receive sufficient assurance on the Firms’ CASS compliance

in respect of routine CASS activities.

4.15.
During the Relevant Period, the Firms did not have adequate control frameworks

in place to identify, assess and escalate material information about CASS risks

and compliance to the Firms’ respective Boards. There was insufficient

consideration by senior management of the operational effectiveness of the

Firms’ CASS functions during the Relevant Period. For a substantial part of the

Relevant Period, there was insufficient oversight of CASS compliance by the

Firms’ existing committee structures.

4.16.
Inadequacies with the quality of the Firms’ MI were also identified which further

undermined the efficacy of the Firms’ oversight of outsourced CASS functions.

For example, incomplete MI was provided in relation to the reconciliation of

items which remained outstanding after 30 days. Moreover, the MI provided at

senior management level did not include resolution dates for actions and

thereby hindered the ability of the Firms’ senior management to track the

resolution of CASS issues.

4.17.
In addition, monthly “spot checks” lacked key information such as when each

check was carried out, by whom and the outcomes of each individual check.

This compromised the quality of information being provided to senior

management on CASS compliance issues. On occasion, there was inaccurate

reporting of the outcomes of spot checks by the Firms’ business to the Firms’

senior management. The September 2014 spot check carried out in relation to

the Firms’ internal client money reconciliations confirmed an error within the

Firms’ calculations but the negative outcome of this spot check was not included

in the MI provided to senior management which may have delayed and/or

prevented senior management from detecting possible CASS breaches.

Inadequate reconciliation processes

4.18.
During the Relevant Period, the Firms operated a non-standard internal client

money reconciliation method. However, during the CASS Visit, a number of issues

with the Firms’ internal reconciliation process were identified which had resulted

in the under- and over-segregation of client money.

4.19. Client money relating to trade purchases was removed from clients’ accounts

before trades settled. The Firms also failed to set aside funding for returned

cheques in the reconciliation process which meant that purchases could

potentially be funded using other clients’ money. During the Relevant Period,

these failings in the Firms’ internal reconciliation processes resulted in under-

segregation of client money in amounts ranging from £0.4m to £74.4m during the

period from 10 February 2014 to 9 February 2015.

4.20. There were also a number of weaknesses in the design of the Firms’ oversight of

their reconciliation processes. For example, the spread sheets which the Firms

used to record data in the daily and weekly reconciliation checks did not provide

any guidance or parameters to ensure the consistency of checks conducted.

There was also no record of who was scheduled to conduct the daily and weekly

checks and whether those checks had been conducted and if so, by whom.

4.21. The Skilled Person conducted test sampling on a number of the internal

reconciliations produced by the Firms and the internal controls and checks

conducted on those reconciliations. This sampling identified that for 12 out of 60

reconciliations reviewed no weekly check had been carried out, thereby indicating

that there was insufficient resourcing within the Firms’ oversight team since the

weekly check was required to ensure that the requisite daily checks had been

properly conducted. The test sampling also revealed that even when the daily

and weekly checks had been conducted, the checks could be conducted by any

member of the Firms’ oversight team. This resulted in a lack of consistency in the

checking approach.

4.22. These findings in relation to the Firms’ peer reviews are indicative of the

inadequate resourcing in relation to their reconciliation processes. These

deficiencies were compounded by the absence of any formal CASS training for

staff involved in the Firms’ internal reconciliation processes.

Client Money and Assets Return (“CMAR”)

4.23.
During the Relevant Period, the Firms lacked a formal system or adequate

guidance in relation to the CMAR process and controls, including in respect of the

requirement for the submission of a monthly CMAR. The Firms’ CMAR procedures

did not identify who was responsible for the completion and review of the Firms’

submissions. The Firms also failed to provide proper guidance on the extent of

review required prior to the Firms’ submission of their CMARs to the Authority.

4.24. In addition, the Firms had inadequate processes in place for dealing with CMAR

breaches identified before and after submission to the Authority and the Firms

failed to undertake any formal actions to ensure that CMAR breaches did not re-

occur.

4.25. The Firms relied on summary data provided by the TPAs as input data for the

Firms’ CMAR submissions. The Firms also had inadequate technical expertise to

effectively challenge the accuracy of the external data which resulted in delays in

the Firms’ detection of CMAR inaccuracies.

4.26. A sample of the Firms’ CMARs which included the Firms’ June 2015 CMARs

identified discrepancies between the Firms’ internal reconciliations for 30 June

2015 and the Firms’ client money resource and requirement reported to the

Authority.

4.27. Overall, the failings associated with the Firms’ CMAR submissions indicated a

weak control environment around the preparation, review and submission of the

Firms’ CMARs.

Inaccuracies with the Firms’ CASS RPs

4.28.
The Authority identified that for part of the Relevant Period, the Firms did not

have a formal control process in place to ensure effective prevention, detection

and remediation of breaches in the Firms’ CASS RPs.

4.29.
In addition, during the Relevant Period the Firms lacked formal controls and

formal lines of responsibility regarding the prevention, detection and remediation

of breaches of rules within Chapter 10 (Resolution Packs) of the CASS Rules.

4.30.
In particular, the Authority identified the following failings with the Firms’ CASS

RPs: specific omissions within the Firms’ CASS RPs such as a lack of procedures

for recording and transferring client money and safe custody assets, delays in

the Firms’ updating of the CASS RPs for the opening of new bank accounts and a

lack of a clear timetable for the production of the CASS RPs.

4.31.
During 2015 the Firms took steps to improve the CASS RP process by

implementing a formal CASS RP checklist but the Firms’ review and updating

process remained inadequate.

Inadequacy of CASS resources and technical expertise

4.32.
The Firms’ CASS resources were inadequate which undermined their ability to

conduct effective oversight of the TPAs. The Firms’ lack of CASS technical

expertise brought about the Firms’ overreliance on the TPAs which further

compromised the Firms’ ability to identify, resolve and report CASS breaches

and control weaknesses in a timely manner.

4.33.
During the Relevant Period, there was no formal requirement established within

the Firms for CASS training to be undertaken by members of the Firms’ CASS

team. Nor were there any formal training records maintained of any “ad hoc”

CASS training completed by the CASS team members. The Firms have now

instituted a formal CASS skills and knowledge matrix for CASS team members.

4.34.
In addition, during the Relevant Period the Firms combined the CF10 and CF10a

functions which further constrained the available resource and technical

expertise dedicated to CASS compliance.

4.35.
This lack of technical knowledge and experience rendered the Firms incapable of

effectively challenging the TPAs’ performance of the CASS functions.

Failure to prioritise CASS compliance

4.36.
The Firms understated the high risks associated with CASS non-compliance

which may have prevented and/or delayed the Firms’ escalation of CASS issues.

The Authority identified inconsistencies in the Firms’ risk rating in relation to

CASS oversight. In light of the CASS breaches identified in the Firms’ external

CASS audit reports, the Firms ought to have accorded CASS compliance a higher

risk rating. The fact that additional CASS breaches arose in consecutive annual

external CASS audits should have prompted the Firms to re-categorise CASS

compliance as high risk. The Firms did not appear to have had adequate

systems and controls in place to challenge the basis upon which CASS risks had

been assessed.

5.
FAILINGS

5.1.
The regulatory provisions relevant to this Final Notice are referred to in Annex A.

5.2.
Based on the facts and matters described above, the Authority finds that the

Firms have breached Principle 3 and Principle 10 and associated CASS and SYSC

Rules.

5.3.
Principle 3 requires a firm to take reasonable care to organise and control its

affairs responsibly and effectively, with adequate risk management systems. The

Authority has concluded that the Firms failed to take reasonable care to organise

and control their outsourced CASS functions in a responsible and effective way.

5.4.
In breach of Principle 3, the Firms:

(1)
failed to implement and maintain adequate policies and procedures to

detect and manage the high level of client money and custody assets risks

which arose from the Firms’ outsourcing their CASS functions. In

particular, the Firms failed to carry out adequate and formal compliance

oversight and review exercises of both the performance of the TPAs, and

the quality of the MI provided by the TPAs, in relation to outsourced CASS

functions;

(2)
failed to dedicate sufficient resource and technical expertise to enable

them to implement effective CASS oversight arrangements; and

(3)
failed to prioritise sufficiently CASS compliance, resulting in inadequate

oversight of the outsourced CASS functions and the delayed detection and

rectification of CASS risks and compliance issues.

5.5.
Principle 10 requires a firm to arrange adequate protection for clients’ assets for

which it is responsible. The CASS Rules set out detailed requirements placed on

firms to ensure adequate protection of client money and custody assets. The

Authority has concluded that the Firms failed to arrange such adequate protection

of client money and custody assets for which they were responsible.

5.6.
In breach of Principle 10 the Firms:

(1) failed to identify and promptly rectify issues within their internal client

money reconciliation process resulting in the Firms’ under-segregation of

client money;

(2)
mislabelled transactions within the Firms’ client money calculations (CASS

7.6.2R and CASS 7.15.3R);

(3)
failed to submit accurate CMARs;

(4)
failed to ensure the adequate and accurate segregation of client money;

and

(5)
held inadequate CASS RPs.

5.7.
In addition, by outsourcing these critical CASS functions the Firms remained fully

responsible for discharging all of their obligations under the CASS Rules and all

other regulatory requirements. Despite this, the Firms failed to retain the

necessary expertise to supervise the outsourced functions effectively and to

manage the risks associated with the outsourcing (SYSC 8.1.6R and SYSC

8.1.8(5)R).

5.8.
Having regard to the issues above, the Authority considers it is appropriate and

proportionate in all the circumstances to take disciplinary action against the Firms

for their breaches of Principles 3 and 10 and associated CASS and SYSC Rules

during the Relevant Period.

6.
SANCTION

Financial penalty

6.1.
The Authority’s policy on the imposition of financial penalties is set out in Chapter

6 of DEPP. In determining the financial penalty, the Authority has had regard to

this guidance.

6.2.
In respect of conduct occurring on or after 6 March 2010, the Authority applies a

five-step framework to determine the appropriate level of financial penalty. DEPP

6.5A sets out the details of the five-step framework that applies in respect of

financial penalties imposed on firms.

Step 1: disgorgement

6.3.
Pursuant to DEPP 6.5A.1G, at Step 1 the Authority seeks to deprive a firm of the

financial benefit derived directly from the breach where it is practicable to

quantify this.

6.4.
The Authority has not identified any financial benefit that APTUKL and/or AWUKL

may have derived directly from their breaches.

6.5.
The Step 1 figure is therefore £0.

Step 2: the seriousness of the breach

6.6.
DEPP 6.5A.2G provides that at Step 2 the Authority determines a figure that

reflects the seriousness of the breach. Although DEPP 6.5A.2G(1) indicates that

in many cases the amount of revenue generated by a firm from a particular

product line or business area is indicative of the harm or potential harm that its

breach may cause, it also recognises that revenue may not be an appropriate

indicator of the harm the breach may cause. In those cases the Authority will use

an appropriate alternative.

6.7.
Here, the Authority considers that the revenue generated by the Firms is not an

appropriate indicator of the harm or potential harm caused by their breach in this

case.

6.8.
The Authority considers that the appropriate indicator in this case is the average

value of client money and safe custody assets held over the Relevant Period. The

Authority has therefore used the Firms’ average client money and safe custody

assets balance over the Relevant Period to determine the figure at Step 2.

6.9.
The average daily balance of the client money and safe custody assets accounts

during
the
Relevant
Period
for
AWUKL
was
£64,410,913.00
and

£1,409,841,850.00 respectively and the average daily balance of the client

money accounts during the Relevant Period for APTUKL was £189,132,662.00.

6.10. In deciding on the percentage of the client money and safe custody assets value

that forms the basis of the step 2 figure, the Authority considers the seriousness

of the breach and chooses a percentage that is appropriate to the relevant fixed

level which represents, on a sliding scale of 1 to 5, the seriousness of the breach;

the more serious the breach, the higher the level. The percentage levels that the

Authority applies to cases involving client money and safe custody assets are as

Level 1
0%
0%

Level 2
1%
0.2%

Level 3
2%
0.4%

Level 5
4%
0.8%


6.11. In assessing the seriousness level, the Authority takes into account various

factors which reflect the impact and nature of the breach, and considers whether

the firm committed the breach deliberately or recklessly. DEPP 6.5A.2G(11) lists

factors likely to be considered ‘level 4 factors’ or ‘level 5 factors’. Of these, the

Authority considers the following factors to be relevant:

(1) risk of loss of client money and safe custody assets to clients: the Firms’

breaches meant that had AWUKL and/or APTUKL become insolvent at any

point during the Relevant Period, it is likely that an insolvency practitioner

would have had to seek the resolution of a court before client money

and/or safe custody assets could be distributed to clients. This would have

exposed the Firms’ clients to a potential risk of loss of their money and safe

custody assets over and above that which may otherwise have been

expected in an insolvency situation; and

(2)
serious or systemic weaknesses in the Firms’ systems and controls: the

Firms’ breaches resulted from serious weaknesses in the Firms’ systems

and controls relating to oversight of outsourced CASS functions which

continued for a prolonged period, notwithstanding CASS issues having

been raised by the Firms’ external CASS auditors during the Relevant

Period.

6.12. DEPP 6.5A.2G (12) lists factors likely to be considered ‘level 1, 2 or 3 factors’. Of

these, the Authority considers the following factors to be relevant in this case:

(1) no profits were made or losses avoided as a result of the breach, either

directly or indirectly;

(2) there was no actual or potential effect on the orderliness of, or confidence

in, markets as a result of the breach; and

(3) that the breaches were committed negligently or inadvertently, i.e. not

deliberately.

6.13. The Authority also considers that the following factors are relevant:

(1) detrimental impact on CASS RP: had the Firms complied with the

requirement to maintain and be able to retrieve adequate CASS RPs, they

would have been able to provide a more comprehensive record against

which the insolvency practitioner could compare other information sources

held by the Firms, thereby mitigating any delay in the return of client

money and safe custody assets; and

(2)
the Firms failed to identify and/or remediate breaches of the CASS Rules

(notwithstanding the Firms’ receipt of external audit reports identifying a

number of CASS breaches) until June 2015.

6.14. The Authority has taken these factors into account and considers the overall

seriousness of the breach to be level 3.

6.15. The Step 2 figure is 2% of the Firms’ average client money balances

(£64,410,913.00 for AWUKL and £189,132,662.00 for APTUKL) and 0.4% of the

average client safe custody asset balance for AWUKL (£1,409,841,850.00) during

the Relevant Period which based on a breakdown of the client money and safe

custody asset figures provided by the Firms amounts to £10,710,238.90.

Step 3: mitigating and aggravating factors

6.16. Pursuant to DEPP 6.5A.3G, at Step 3 the Authority may increase or decrease the

amount of the financial penalty arrived at after Step 2, but not including any

amount to be disgorged as set out in Step 1, to take into account factors which

aggravate or mitigate the breach.

6.17. The Authority considers that the following factors aggravate the breach:

(1) the importance of arranging adequate protection for client money and safe

custody assets was well publicised by the Authority during the Relevant

Period, including through previous enforcement actions for breaches of the

CASS Rules, which have drawn firms’ attention to the need for increased

focus on this area (and specifically the importance of protecting client

money and safe custody assets); and

(2)
some of the Firms’ failings were drawn to the Firms’ attention by the

Authority and by the Firms’ external CASS auditors, rather than through

their own CASS compliance monitoring.

6.18. The Authority considers that the following factors mitigate the breach:

(1) once it was identified that the Firms were not compliant with the CASS

oversight requirements, they committed significant internal and external

resources to investigating and remediating the issues outlined in this

Notice, and in strengthening CASS resource and oversight; and

(2) specifically, the Firms have made significant improvements in the

application of dedicated CASS resource, and in strengthening the oversight

of the TPAs’ work and the associated controls.

6.19. The Authority has considered the various aggravating and mitigating factors and

having done so considers that the Step 2 figure should be subject to a 10% uplift

at Step 3.

6.20. The Step 3 figure is therefore £11,781,262.80.

Step 4: adjustment for deterrence

6.21. DEPP 6.5A.4G provides that if the Authority considers the figure arrived at after

Step 3 is insufficient to deter the firm who committed the breach, or others, from

committing further or similar breaches, then the Authority may increase the

penalty.

6.22. The Authority considers that the Step 3 figure of £11,781,262.80 represents a

sufficient deterrent to the Firms and others, and so has not increased the penalty

at Step 4.

6.23. The figure at Step 4 therefore remains £11,781,262.80.

Step 5: settlement discount

6.24. Pursuant to DEPP 6.5A.5G, if the Authority and the firm on whom a penalty is to

be imposed agree the amount of the financial penalty and other terms, DEPP 6.7

provides that the amount of the financial penalty which might otherwise have

been payable will be reduced to reflect the stage at which the Authority and the

firm reached agreement. The settlement discount does not apply to the

disgorgement of any benefit calculated at Step 1.

6.25. The Authority and APTUKL and AWUKL reached agreement at stage 1 and so a

30% discount applies to the Step 4 figure.

6.26. The figure at Step 5, rounded down to the nearest £100, is therefore

Conclusion on financial penalty

6.27. The Authority therefore imposes on the Firms a total financial penalty of

£8,246,800.00 (£11,781,262.80 before stage 1 discount).

7.
PROCEDURAL MATTERS

Decision maker

7.1.
The decision which gave rise to the obligation to give this Notice was made by the

Settlement Decision Makers.

7.2.
This Final Notice is given under, and in accordance with, section 390 of the Act.

Manner of and time for Payment

7.3.
The financial penalty must be paid in full by the Firms to the Authority by no later

than 19 October 2016, 14 days from the date of the Final Notice.

If the financial penalty is not paid

7.4.
If all or any of the financial penalty is outstanding on 20 October 2016, the

Authority may recover the outstanding amount as a debt owed by the Firms and

due to the Authority.

7.5.
Sections 391(4), 391(6) and 391(7) of the Act apply to the publication of

information about the matter to which this notice relates. Under those

provisions, the Authority must publish such information about the matter to which

this notice relates as the Authority considers appropriate. The information may

be published in such manner as the Authority considers appropriate. However,

the Authority may not publish information if such publication would, in the opinion

of the Authority, be unfair to the Firms or prejudicial to the interests of

consumers or detrimental to the stability of the UK financial system.

7.6.
The Authority intends to publish such information about the matter to which this

Final Notice relates as it considers appropriate.

Authority contacts

7.7.
For more information concerning this matter generally, contact Karie Twinem

(direct line: 020 7066 3098/email: karie.twinem@fca.org.uk) of the Enforcement

and Market Oversight Division of the Authority.

Head of Department
Financial Conduct Authority, Enforcement & Market Oversight

1 January 2013 ANNEX A

RELEVANT STATUTORY AND REGULATORY PROVISIONS

1.
Relevant Statutory Provisions

1.1. The Authority’s operational objectives are set out in section 1B (3) of the Act and

include the objective of securing an appropriate degree of protection for

consumers.

1.2. Section 206(1) of the Act provides:

“If the Authority considers that an authorised person has contravened a

requirement imposed on him by or under this Act… it may impose on him a

penalty, in respect of the contravention, of such amount as it considers

appropriate."

2.
Relevant Regulatory Provisions

Principles for Businesses (“Principles”)

2.1. The Principles are a general statement of the fundamental obligations of firms

under the regulatory system and are set out in the Authority’s Handbook. They

derive their authority from the Authority’s rule-making powers set out in the Act.

The relevant Principles are as follows.

2.2. Principle 3 (management and control) states that:

‘A firm must take reasonable care to organise and control its affairs responsibly

and effectively, with adequate risk management systems’

2.3. Principle 10 (client assets) states that:

‘A firm must arrange adequate protection for clients’ assets when it is responsible

for them.’

Client Assets sourcebook (“CASS”)

2.4. CASS is the part of the Authority’s Handbook which sets out the Authority’s

requirements in relation to holding client money and safe custody assets.

2.5. CASS 6.2.1R states that:

‘A firm must, when holding safe custody assets 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 assets

belonging to a client on the firm's own account except with the client's express

consent.’

2.6. CASS 6.5.2R states that:

‘A firm must maintain its records and accounts in a way that ensures their

accuracy, and in particular their correspondence to the safe custody assets held for

clients.’

2.7. CASS 6.5.10R states that:

‘A firm must promptly correct any discrepancies which are revealed in the

reconciliations envisaged by this section, and make good, or provide the equivalent

of, any unreconciled shortfall for which there are reasonable grounds for concluding

that the firm is responsible.’

2.8. CASS 6.6.2R states that:

‘A firm must keep such records and accounts as necessary to enable it at any time

and without delay to distinguish safe custody assets held for one client from safe

custody assets held for any other client, and from the firm's own applicable assets.’

2.9. CASS 7.12.2R (formerly CASS 7.3.2R) states that:

‘A firm must introduce adequate organisational arrangements to minimise the risk

of the loss or diminution of client money, or of rights in connection with client

money, as a result of misuse of client money, fraud, poor administration,

inadequate record-keeping or negligence.’

2.10. CASS 7.15.3R (formerly CASS7.6.2R) states that:

‘A firm must maintain its records and accounts in a way that ensures their

accuracy, and in particular their correspondence to the client money held for

clients.’

2.11. CASS 7.6.8R states that:

‘A firm that does not use the standard method of internal client money

reconciliation must first send a written confirmation to the FCA from the firm's

auditor that the firm has in place systems and controls which are adequate to

enable it to use another method effectively.’

2.12. CASS 7.15.18R (effective from 1 June 2015) states that:

‘(1) Before using a non-standard method of internal client money reconciliation, a

firm must:

(a)
establish and document in writing its reasons for concluding that the

method of internal client money reconciliation it proposes to use will:

(i) (for the normal approach to segregating client money) check whether

the amount of client money recorded in the firm's records as being

segregated in client bank accounts meets the firm's obligation to its

clients under the client money rules on a daily basis; or

(ii) (for the alternative approach to segregating client money) calculate the

amount of client money to be segregated in client bank accounts which

meets the firm's obligations to its clients under the client money rules

on a daily basis;

(b)
notify the FCA of its intentions to use a non-standard method of internal

client money reconciliation; and

(c)
send a written report to the FCA prepared by an independent auditor of

the firm in line with a reasonable assurance engagement and stating the

matters set out in (2).

(2) The written report in (1)(c) must state whether in the auditor's opinion:

(a)
the method of internal client money reconciliation which the firm will use is

suitably designed to enable it to (as applicable):

(i) (for the normal approach to segregating client money) check whether

the amount of client money recorded in the firm's records as being

segregated in client bank accounts meets the firm's obligation to its

clients under the client money rules on a daily basis; or

(ii) (for the alternative approach to segregating client money) calculate the

amount.’

2.13. CASS 7.6.6G (effective until 1 June 2015) states that:

‘(1) Carrying out internal reconciliations of records and accounts of the entitlement

of each client for whom the firm holds client money with the records and accounts

of the client money the firm holds in client bank accounts and client transaction

accounts should be one of the steps a firm takes to satisfy its obligations under

CASS 7.6.2 R, and where relevant SYSC 4.1.1 R and SYSC 6.1.1 R.

(2) A firm should perform such internal reconciliations:

(a) as often as is necessary; and

(b) as soon as reasonably practicable after the date to which the

reconciliation relates;

to ensure the accuracy of the firm's records and accounts.

(3) The standard method of internal client money reconciliation sets out a method

of reconciliation of client money balances that the FSA believes should be one of

the steps that a firm takes when carrying out internal reconciliations of client

money.’

2.14. CASS 7.12.2R (formerly 7.3.2R) states that:

‘A firm must introduce adequate organisational arrangements to minimise the risk

of the loss or diminution of client money, or of rights in connection with client

money, as a result of misuse of client money, fraud, poor administration,

inadequate record-keeping or negligence.’

2.15. CASS 7.13.58R (formerly CASS 7.6.8R) states that:

‘(1) In addition to the requirement under CASS 7.13.57R, before adopting the

alternative approach, a firm must send a written report to the FCA prepared by an

independent auditor of the firm in line with a reasonable assurance engagement,

stating the matters set out in (2).

(2) The written report in (1) must state whether, in the auditor's opinion:

(a) the firm's systems and controls are suitably designed to enable it to

comply with CASS 7.13.62R to CASS 7.13.65R; and

(b) the firm's calculation of its alternative approach mandatory prudent

segregation amount under CASS 7.13.65R is suitably designed to enable

the firm to comply with CASS 7.13.65R.’

2.16. CASS 7.15.14G (effective 1 June 2015) states that:

An internal client money reconciliation should:

(1) be one of the steps a firm takes to arrange adequate protection for clients'

assets when the firm is responsible for them (see Principle 10 (Clients' assets),

as it relates to client money);

(2) be one of the steps a firm takes to satisfy its obligations under CASS 7.12.2R

and CASS 7.15.3R and, where relevant, SYSC 4.1.1R (1) and SYSC 6.1.1R, to

ensure the accuracy of the firm's records and accounts;

(3) for the normal approach to segregating client money (CASS 7.13.6R), check

whether the amount of client money recorded in the firm's records as being

segregated in client bank accounts meets the firm's obligations to its clients

under the client money rules on a daily basis; and

(4) for the alternative approach to segregating client money (CASS 7.13.62R),

calculate the amount of client money to be segregated in client bank accounts

which meets the firm's obligations to its clients under the client money rules on

a daily basis.

2.17. CASS 6.2.2R states that:

‘A firm must introduce adequate organisational arrangements to minimise the risk

of the loss or diminution of clients' safe custody assets, or the rights in connection

with those safe custody assets, as a result of the misuse of the safe custody

assets, fraud, poor administration, inadequate record-keeping or negligence.’

2.18. CASS 10.1.3R states that:

“A firm falling within CASS 10.1.1 R must maintain and be able to retrieve, in the

manner described in this chapter, a CASS resolution pack.”

2.19. SUP 16.14.3R states that:

(4) ‘Subject to (3), a firm must submit a completed CMAR to the FCA within 15

business days of the end of each month.

(5) In this rule month means a calendar month and SUP 16.3.13 R (4) does not

apply.

(6) A firm which changes its 'CASS firm type' and notifies the FCA that it is a CASS

medium firm or a CASS large firm in accordance with CASS 1A.2.9 R is not

required to submit a CMAR in respect of the month in which the change to its

'CASS firm type' takes effect in accordance with CASS 1A.2.12 R, unless it was

a firm to which the requirement in (1) applied immediately prior to that change

taking effect.’



2.20. SYSC 8.1.6R states that:

‘If a firm outsources critical or important operational functions or any relevant

services and activities, it remains fully responsible for discharging all of its

obligations under the regulatory system and must comply, in particular, with the

following conditions:

(1) the outsourcing must not result in the delegation by senior personnel of

their responsibility;

(2) the relationship and obligations of the firm towards its clients under the

regulatory system must not be altered;

(3) the conditions with which the firm must comply in order to be authorised,

and to remain so, must not be undermined; and

(4) none of the other conditions subject to which the firm's authorisation was

granted must be removed or modified.’


2.21. SYSC 8.1.8R states that:

‘A common platform firm must in particular take the necessary steps to ensure that

the following conditions are satisfied:

(1) the service provider must have the ability, capacity, and any authorisation

required by law to perform the outsourced functions, services or activities

reliably and professionally;

(2) the service provider must carry out the outsourced services effectively, and

to this end the firm must establish methods for assessing the standard of

performance of the service provider;

(3) the service provider must properly supervise the carrying out of the

outsourced functions, and adequately manage the risks associated with the

outsourcing;

(4) appropriate action must be taken if it appears that the service provider may

not be carrying out the functions effectively and in compliance with

applicable laws and regulatory requirements; and

(5) the firm must retain the necessary expertise to supervise the outsourced

functions effectively and to manage the risks associated with the

outsourcing, and must supervise those functions and manage those risks’.

Decision Procedure and Penalties Manual (“DEPP”)

2.22. Chapter 6 of DEPP, which forms part of the Authority’s Handbook, sets out the

Authority’s statement of policy with respect to the imposition and amount of

financial penalties under the Act.

The Enforcement Guide

2.23. The Enforcement Guide sets out the Authority’s approach to exercising its main

enforcement powers under the Act.

2.24. Chapter 7 of the Enforcement Guide sets out the Authority’s approach to exercising

its power to impose a financial penalty.