Word ‘Omni’ means all. An Omnibus Account is, therefore, a combination of all accounts. It is a more extensive single account used in place of multiple client accounts. It is an asset or cash management account held by merchants or stockbrokers. The merchant holds securities for several clients and transacts the client’s holdings using an omnibus account. It thus becomes more accessible for the broker to handle multiple client accounts. The client identities are hidden and cannot be accessed from the Omnibus account. The purpose of an Omnibus account is primarily to add to the convenience of the stockbroker.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What are the features of an Omnibus Account?

• An omnibus account makes broker’s operations convenient.
• Omnibus account holders often have rights to transact on behalf of the individual accounts clubbed together.
• The profits may be settled on a gross or net basis.
• Positions may be recorded in the omnibus account on a gross or net basis.
• Investors don’t need to take up responsibilities. It is shifted to the shoulders of brokers.
• It allows brokerage firms and clients to participate in foreign markets.
• It supplements relationships among international firms.
• The firm may have an omnibus account with clients or own international affiliates.
• Brokers may utilise the securities of one investor to satisfy other investors’ needs/ instructions.
• It helps achieve high economies of scale with the clustering of trades into a single, unified account.

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How are they different from segregated accounts?

• A Segregated Account is an account held for a single legal party. There is one single ultimate beneficiary of the assets held with a custodian. Whereas in the case of Omnibus accounts, the individual investor identities are hidden under one umbrella account.
• The investment manager has the right to trade on behalf of the owner individual. A segregated account portfolio is entirely customisable for a single investor’s need. It is not the same with omnibus accounts.
• There is no fund redemption risk on account of funds being used to hedge other individual accounts. It is only possible in Omnibus accounts where individuals agree to pledge their holdings for others. In segregated accounts, users can have their liquidity preference and risk capacities specified beforehand.
• The single individual investors bear the entire management and transaction charge for their segregated account. Omnibus accounts are split amongst the various clients, thus making it a cheaper option for trade.

What are the benefits of an omnibus account?

• Dividend payments are a recurring feature and are very frequently paid in an Omnibus account.
• New investors can gain well because of the management competence of experienced brokers handling the investments in an Omnibus account.
• Management competence and experience in the securities market minimises risks and increases the chances of profits.
• Investors have full rights to check out at any point of time what is happening with their investments.
• Omnibus accounts generally do not have hefty redemption fees.
• An omnibus account also benefits from tax redemptions in a lot of countries.
• It is a culmination of multiple accounts, and therefore it protects the identities of single investors from any misuse by any stock market intermediaries.
• The omnibus account permits investors to have exposure to foreign markets.
• Such an account often has lower fees associated with account handling and transfers.
• There is an internalised settlement procedure.
• There is no chance for red tapeism in buying or selling any securities.
• It reduces the burden for issuers since there is no direct dealing with investors.
• The anonymity of individual account holders is maintained.

Are there any disadvantages of omnibus account?

• Like profits are shared, even losses have to be borne by all individual investors in an omnibus account.
• There are chances that the broker/account provider cannot reverse permanent shortfalls.
• If some securities of one investor are used to pledge for another being part of the same omnibus account, it may sometimes be over the capacity of one of them.
• The security issuer does not have a direct connection with the investor. All interaction is via the broker/ account provider.
• Sometimes investors have consolidated rights related to holdings.
• In the basket of securities held by account providers, many investors have conflicting opinions on matters.
• Sometimes countries do not recognise omnibus accounts as legal. Thus rights under the account may not be valid.
• Many nations are still developing a clear code to address omnibus accounts.
• Cross-border activities may bring in legal complications and conflicts in the way involved nations handle them.

Why are regulations needed for omnibus accounts?

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Omnibus accounts are trending locally and internationally. However, although omnibus accounts achieve high economies of scale and have numerous benefits, some regulatory concerns exist amongst nations.

Low-priced omnibus account transactions pose a high risk of unlawful actions like fraud, money laundering, and unregistered securities offerings.

It is challenging to get the identity of investors or interested parties in an Omnibus account. Anonymity and concealment help in fraudulent securities promotion and manipulative trading too. Thus, countries are enhancing requirements for due diligence and reporting obligations.

Many international markets have even banned the omnibus account structure. Significant concerns of these economies have been about destabilisation and manipulation. But, with the growth of global trade and the evolution of international markets worldwide, more and more regulatory authorities are gradually accepting omnibus accounts. They are setting up rules related to the Omnibus account trading structure to encourage foreign participation. Regulatory authorities are seeking to have enhanced control over participants and their trader engagements.