libor

LIBOR Code of Conduct and Whistleblowing Procedure Released by ICE Benchmark Administration

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On February 3, The ICE Benchmark Administration (IBA) revised and published the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) code of conduct for contributing banks and a LIBOR whistleblowing procedure. These documents relate to IBA’s role as the administrator of LIBOR.

The LIBOR Code of Conduct sets out practice standards for contributing banks and covers a number of issues including governance arrangements, submission methodology, conflicts of interest, record-keeping and compliance. The UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has confirmed that the Code is industry guidance.

The whistleblowing procedure explains how an individual can alert the IBA, on an anonymous basis, of any conduct that may involve manipulation, or attempted manipulation, of LIBOR.  LIBOR Code of Conduct.  Confirmed Industry Guidance.  Whistleblowing Procedure.

NYSE Euronext to Become New LIBOR Administrator

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On July 9, it was announced that NYSE Euronext Rate Administration Ltd, a new subsidiary of NYSE Euronext, will take over the administration of LIBOR from BBA LIBOR Ltd, a subsidiary of the British Bankers’ Association (BBA), subject to authorization from the Financial Conduct Authority and following a period of transition.  BBA LIBOR Ltd is currently the interim administrator of LIBOR.  NYSE Euronext Press Release.

Former Financial Trader Charged with Fraud in SFO LIBOR Investigation

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As part of the continuing investigation by the UK’s Serious Fraud Office (SFO) into the manipulation of LIBOR, the City of London police charged former UBS and Citigroup trader Tom Hayes with eight counts of fraud on June 18.  Mr. Hayes, one of three traders arrested last December in connection with the investigation, was also charged with fraud by US prosecutors in 2012 and threatened with extradition.  The SFO related charges are the first to be made by a UK authority in relation to the LIBOR investigation.  Press Release.

BBA Announces Changes to LIBOR

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On June 12, the British Bankers’ Association (BBA) published a press release announcing changes to the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR).  The reforms follow the publication of the Wheatley Review in September 2012, and include:

  • From July 1, the publication of BBA LIBOR individual panel banks’ daily submissions for USD, EUR, GBP, CHF and JPY will be embargoed for three months.  The daily calculation and publication of BBA LIBOR fixing rates will continue unaffected.  The rates for a whole month at a time will be published at the beginning of the fourth month; the first delayed release of individual bank submissions will be provided on the first business day of November 2013.
  • The publication of “same day” EURO LIBOR rates for one week and one month will cease from July 31.  These two rates were supplemental to the “spot” EUR LIBOR rates for all seven LIBOR tenors, which will continue as usual.  Press Release. 

European Authorities Propose to Take Control of Libor from London

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On June 6, the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) and the European Banking Authority (EBA) published their final report setting out principles for benchmark-setting processes in the EU (ESMA/2013/659).  The final report is divided into seven sections: General framework for benchmark setting; Principles for benchmark administrators; Principles for benchmark submitters; Principles for benchmark calculation agents; Principles for benchmark publishers; Principles for benchmark users and Principles for the continuity of benchmarks.

  • The inter-bank lending rate, Libor, is one benchmark that will be affected by this report.
  • Libor is the inter-bank offered rate currently set in London and is meant to reflect the average rate that banks pay to lend to each other.

The report follows the Libor scandal which emerged in June 2012 when UK and US authorities fined Barclays £290m for fixing the key inter-bank interest rate. Since then, Swiss bank UBS and Royal Bank of Scotland have been given fines of £940m and £390m, respectively.  Final Report.

FSA Report Relating to the LIBOR Scandal

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On March 5, The FSA published a report and management response concerning the manipulation of LIBOR.  The report finds that the FSA was aware of disruption in the LIBOR market during the period between summer 2007 and early 2009, but such disruption may have been solely caused by volatile market conditions at the time.  Nevertheless, the report concludes that the FSA should have considered whether manipulation of the benchmark interest rate was taking place.

The report recommends improvements in the sharing of intelligence between the soon to be established new financial regulatory authorities (FCA and PRA), to ensure that future indications of misbehavior in the LIBOR market are not ignored or missed.

An investigation by the Serious Fraud Office into the manipulation of LIBOR, which has so far resulted in the arrest of three men, is ongoing.

FSA Challenges Accusations That It Was Slow on LIBOR Scandal

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On February 21, the Treasury Select Committee published the FSA’s response in relation to its August 2012 report on LIBOR.  The report had criticized the FSA for being behind the US regulator in formally investigating market rumors relating to the artificial rigging of LIBOR rates and made several recommendations for improvement in the future.

In its response, the FSA challenges accusations that it was too slow to investigate the manipulation of LIBOR rates, stating instead that it had worked closely with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission since 2008 to examine allegations of rate-rigging.  The FSA noted that it has increased the intensity of its supervision since 2008, and will continue to do so following the separation into a “twin peaks” regulatory system.  The FSA also disputes the view that it interpreted its powers to initiate criminal proceedings for fraud in relation to rate-fixing too narrowly, and instead reiterates its mandate to consult with the Serious Fraud Office (and other prosecutors where necessary) where there is evidence of offences which are beyond the scope of its own powers of investigation.

RBS Fined £87.5 Million over LIBOR Rates

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On February 6, the FSA issued a final notice to RBS imposing a fine of £87.5 million for misconduct in submitting rates for the calculation of LIBOR.  RBS’ misconduct included the manipulation of submissions and several failings in respect of risk management systems and controls (including ongoing failings to identify inappropriate LIBOR submissions), as well as RBS’ collusion with other LIBOR panel banks and brokers in setting rates.

The FSA stated that the significant financial penalty of £87.5 million is intended to reflect both the widespread nature of the misconduct, as well as the harm caused to market participants and the integrity of the UK financial system.  In related actions, RBS has agreed to pay $324 million to the US Commodities and Futures Commission and $150 million to the US Department of Justice. 

British Bankers’ Association Publishes Paper on Strengthening Professional Standards

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On January 15, the British Bankers’ Association (BBA) published a submission made to the Chairman of the Parliamentary Commission on Banking Standards.  The Commission was established in July 2012 with a remit to consider and report on professional standards in the UK banking sector, particularly in light of the LIBOR investigations.

The submission sets out potential ways in which banking standards might be raised, which are summarized in the covering letter to the submission as follows: 

    • strengthening the existing framework by increasing regulatory training, focusing on enforcement, extending the scope of the existing approved persons regime to cover an increased number of roles and putting in place an overarching requirement for all bank employees to adhere to the approved persons principles;
    • establishing an overarching professional standards body to promote existing standards and produce guidance/set additional standards for the training of all bank employees;
    • and establishing the Banking Standards Review Council as an independent body to monitor ethical and professional standards in UK banks and to uphold an industry wide code of conduct.

UBS Fined £160 Million for Significant Failings in Relation to LIBOR and EURIBOR

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On December 19, 2012, the FSA announced that it had fined UBS £160 million for misconduct relating to LIBOR and EURIBOR. The FSA’s final notice found that the misconduct was extensive and widespread, occurred in various locations around the world including Japan, Switzerland, the UK and the USA and, between 1 January 2005 and 31 December 2010, included:

  • The adjustment of UBS LIBOR and EURIBOR submissions to benefit UBS traders’ trading positions;
  • Colluding with interdealer brokers  to manipulate the Japanese Yen LIBOR submissions of panel banks to the benefit of UBS traders; and

Adopting LIBOR submissions directives whose primary purpose was to protect UBS’s reputation.