trade repositories

European Commission to Publish Legislative Proposal to Revise the Regulation on OTC Derivatives, Central Counterparties and Trade Repositories (“EMIR”)

 

On January 31, 2017, the European Commission published a speech by Valdis Dombrovskis, Commission Vice President, on finance for growth in manufacturing.

The speech included the Commission’s recent review of EMIR, the outcome of which the European Commission reported on in November 2016.

Mr. Dombrovskis commented that, during the review process, the European Commission received substantial feedback on the rules governing derivatives. Several respondents, including regulators and industry participants, argued that there is scope to make the rules and reporting obligations in this area more proportionate, particularly for non-financial counterparties.

The European Commission agrees with this feedback and intends to address some of the issues by revising existing technical standards to make reporting standards simpler and clearer. It will publish its legislative proposal to revise EMIR in spring 2017.

European Commission Adopts Delegated Regulation on RTS on Minimum Details of Data to Report to Trade Repositories

 

On October 19, 2016, the European Commission adopted a Delegated Regulation amending Delegated Regulation 148/2013 supplementing EMIR (Regulation 648/2012) as regards regulatory technical standards (RTS) on the minimum details of the data to be reported to trade repositories (C(2016) 6624 final).

EMIR requires all counterparties and central counterparties (CCPs) to report the details of any OTC derivative contract they have concluded and of any modification or termination of the contract to a trade repository.

The Delegated Act updates existing standards that were published in the Official Journal of the EU (OJ) in February 2013 (see Legal update, Delegated regulations on EMIR regulatory technical standards published in Official Journal). It reflects recent developments and experience gained in the area of trade reporting. The revised RTS aim to:

  • Introduce new fields and values to reflect market practice or other necessary regulatory requirements.
  • Clarify data fields, their description or both.
  • Adapt existing fields to the reporting logic prescribed in existing Q&As or reflect specific ways of populating them.

The Commission has also published an Annex, which sets out the counterparty data and common data details to report to trade repositories.

The next step is for the Council of the EU and the European Parliament to consider the Delegated Regulation. If neither of them objects to it, the Delegated Regulation will enter into force 20 days after its publication in the OJ.

ESMA Publishes Consultation Paper on Clearing Obligation Under EMIR

On May 11, 2015, the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) published a fourth consultation paper (ESMA/2015/807) on the clearing obligation under EMIR (the Regulation on OTC derivative transactions, central counterparties and trade repositories (Regulation 648/2012)). The consultation paper provides clarifications on various aspects of the draft regulatory training standards that ESMA is required to draft and submit to the European Commission. Stakeholders are invited to provide comments on the consultation paper before July 15, 2015.

ECB Publishes Eurosystem Oversight Report

On February 27, 2015, the European Central Bank (“ECB“) published its 2014 Eurosystem oversight report, the third such report, reviewing the oversight that the Eurosystem has performed in the period from 2011 to mid-2014.  The Eurosystem is the monetary authority of the Eurozone and consists of the European Central Bank and the central banks of each of the Eurozone member states.

The oversight report focuses on the Eurosystem’s oversight of financial market infrastructures, including payment systems, securities and derivatives clearing and settlement systems and trade repositories.

The oversight report also discusses future work priorities. The future work priorities state that the oversight priorities of the Eurosystem will still be driven by the implementation measures of the regulatory reform process and the need to avoid the emergence of systemic risks in the Eurozone. The Eurosystem will also conduct assessments of the design and operation of T2S, the securities settlement platform operated by the Eurosystem that is set to go live in June 2015. Finally the Eurosystem will continue to conduct regular analyses of correspondent banking activities and is currently reviewing its assessment guides for credit cards, direct debits and credit transfers.  Report.

Speech on FCA Priorities Relating to Asset Management, MiFID II and EMIR

On September 12, the FCA published a speech by Martin Wheatley, FCA Chief Executive, on the FCA’s plans for 2014, which focus on issues relating to asset management, MiFID II and EMIR (the Regulation on OTC derivatives, central counterparties and trade repositories) (Regulation 648/2012).  Speech.

FSMA (OTC Derivatives, CCPs and TRs) (No. 2) Regulations Published

On August 5, the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (FSMA) (OTC Derivatives, Central Counterparties (CCPs) and Trade Repositories (TRs)) (No. 2) Regulations 2013 SI 2013/1908 were published.  The regulations were made on July 30, and the majority of the regulations will come into force on August 26.

The regulations relate to the clearing of financial transactions through recognized clearing houses.  The regulations implement in part Regulation (EU) No 648/2012 on OTC derivatives, central counterparties and trade repositories (EMIR) and amend the following:

  • Supervisory, investigatory and enforcement powers of the Bank of England and the Financial Conduct Authority.
  • Companies Act 1989 to facilitate segregation and transfer of indirect clients’ assets and positions.
  • Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Recognition Requirements for Investment Exchanges and Clearing Houses) Regulations 2001(S.I. 2001/995) (the Recognition Requirements Regulations).  They impose new requirements on recognized central counterparties and recognized clearing houses, which are not central counterparties.  Regulations

ESMA Proposed Rules on Derivatives, Central Counterparties and Trade Repositories

On June 25, the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) issued a consultation paper containing draft Regulatory Technical Standards and draft Implementing Technical Standards, which set out specific details of how the Regulation of the European Parliament and Council on OTC derivatives, central counterparties and trade repositories (EMIR) will be implemented. A public hearing will be held on July 12, and comments on the paper must be submitted by August 5. Press Release. Consultation Paper.