===Title transfer vs. Pledge=== This feels as good a time as any to raise the great subject of title transfer and pledge. In a Nutshell:

  • Title Transfer: The English Law CSA – outside the US, by far the most common type – is a title transfer document:
    • when securities delivered to a party they become the recipient's property absolutely
    • recipient does not hold them in custody for the transferor;
    • recipient has only an obligation to redeliver an equivalent security.
    • Therefore no CASS question arises at any point.
  • Pledge: The English law CSD and New York Law CSA are “pledge” documents:
    • The transferor delivers the securities to the receipient to hold for the transferor – the transferor retains title
    • Recipient holds securities as transferor's custodian subject to a security interest securing their obligation under the swap.
    • The custody arrangement only exists while recipient holds the security, not before.