RTS

European Commission Adopts Delegated Regulation on RTS on Key Information Documents for PRIIPS

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On June 30, 2016, the European Commission adopted a Delegated Regulation and related annexes supplementing the Regulation on key information documents (“KIDs”) for packaged retail and insurance-based investment products (PRIIPs) (PRIIPs KID Regulation). The delegated act introduces RTS specifying the content and underlying methodology of the KIDs that will have to be provided to retail consumers when they buy certain investment products.

The RTS specify the exact contents of the KID, which must outline the product’s aims, how risky it is, when investors can get their money back, how much it costs and its expected returns. The information must be set out in a standard way, regardless of the type of investment product.

The European Parliament and Council now have a two-month scrutiny period, which they can extend for a further month, during which to consider the Delegated Regulation. If neither of them objects, it will enter into force 20 days after its publication in the OJ and it will apply from December 31, 2016.

European Commission Adopts Delegated Regulation on RTS Specifying Obligation to Clear Derivatives Traded on Regulated Markets and Timing of Acceptance for Clearing under MIFIR

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On June 29, 2016, the European Commission adopted a Delegated Regulation supplementing the Markets in Financial Instruments Regulation (“MiFIR”) with regard to RTS specifying the obligation to clear derivatives traded on regulated markets and timing of acceptance for clearing.

Under Article 29, ESMA was required to develop draft RTS to specify the requirements to ensure that cleared derivative transactions concluded on a trading venue or on a bilateral basis are submitted and accepted for clearing as quickly as technologically practicable using automated systems in order to facilitate clearing and trading certainty. The Commission’s Delegated Regulation is based on the draft RTS submitted by ESMA to the Commission in September 2015.

The RTS lay down requirements for the transfer of information, pre-trade checks and timeframes for the transfer of such information for cleared derivative transactions concluded either on a trading venue or on a bilateral basis. It also provides rules on the treatment of cleared derivative transactions which are not accepted for clearing by the CCP.

The Council of the EU and the European Parliament will consider the Delegated Regulation and if neither of them objects, it will enter into force 20 days after its publication in the OJ. It will apply from the date appearing in the second paragraph of Article 55 of MiFIR.

European Commission Adopts Delegated Regulation of RTS for Specifying Information to be Notified by Investment Firms, Market Operators and Credit Institutions under MIFID II

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On June 29, 2016, the European Commission adopted a Delegated Regulation supplementing the MiFID II Directive with regard to regulatory technical standards (RTS) specifying information to be notified by investment firms, market operators and credit institutions exercising their rights under the freedom to provide services or the freedom of establishment.

ESMA was required to develop an exhaustive list of information to be notified to the relevant competent authority by such investment firms and credit institutions under Articles 34(8) and 35(11) of MiFID II. The Commission’s Delegated Regulation is based on the draft RTS submitted by ESMA to the Commission in June 2015.

The purpose of the RTS are to provide certainty, clarity and predictability in the passport notification process for investment firms and to facilitate the review by competent authorities through the use of harmonized documents.

The Council of the EU and the European Parliament will consider the Delegated Regulation and if neither of them objects, it will enter into force 20 days after its publication in the Official Journal of the EU (OJ).   It will apply from the date appearing in the second sub-paragraph of Article 93(1) of the MiFID II Directive.

European Commission Adopts a Delegated Regulation on RTS Relating to Clearing Access in Respect of Trading Venues and Central Counterparties under MiFIR

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The European Commission has adopted a Delegated Regulation and annex supplementing the Markets in Financial Instruments Regulation (Regulation 600/2014) (“MiFIR“) with regard to regulatory technical standards (“RTS“) relating to clearing access in respect of trading venues and central counterparties (C(2016) 3807 final). The European Securities and Markets Authority (“ESMA“) submitted the draft RTS to the Commission in September 2015. The RTS cover transparency, micro-structural issues, data publication and access, requirements applying on and to trading venues, commodity derivatives, market data reporting, post-trading issues and best execution. The Delegated Regulation will now be considered by the Council of the EU and the European Parliament. If neither of them objects, it will enter into force 20 days after its publication in the Official Journal of the EU. The Delegated Regulation will apply from the application date of MiFIR (that is, January 3, 2018) with the exception of Articles 15, 16, 17, 19 and 20, which will apply from the date the Regulation enters into force.

European Commission Adopts Delegated Regulation on RTS Relating to Maintenance of Relevant Data Relating to Orders in Financial Instruments under MiFIR

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On June 24, 2016, the European Commission adopted a Delegated Regulation and annex supplementing the Markets in Financial Instruments Regulation (Regulation 600/2014) (“MiFIR“) with regard to regulatory technical standards (“RTS“) for the maintenance of relevant data relating to orders in financial instruments (C(2016) 3821 final).

The Delegated Regulation will now be considered by the Council of the EU and the European Parliament. If neither of them objects, it will enter into force 20 days after its publication in the Official Journal of the EU. The Delegated Regulation will apply from the application date of MiFIR (that is, January 3, 2018).

European Commission Adopts Delegated Regulations on RTS Relating to Execution Venues under MiFID II

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On June 8, 2016, the European Commission adopted the following two Delegated Regulations supplementing the MiFID II Directive (2014/65/EU):

  1. A Delegated Regulation (C(2016) 3333 final) in relation to regulatory technical standards (RTS) surrounding the data to be published by execution venues on the quality of execution of transactions, together with an Annex. For financial instruments subject to the trading obligation, each trading venue and systematic internalizer must, under MiFID II, make available to the public, at no cost and on at least an annual basis, data relating to the quality of execution of transactions on that venue.
  2. A Delegated Regulation (C(2016) 3337 final) in relation to RTS for the annual publication by investment firms of information on the identity of execution venues and on the quality of execution, together with an Annex. Investment firms that execute client orders must, under MiFID II, summarize and make available annually, the top five execution venues in terms of trading volumes where they executed client orders in the preceding year, and information on the quality of execution obtained.

It is now for the Council of the EU and the European Parliament to consider the Delegated Regulations. Subject to any objection, they shall enter into force 20 days after their publication in the Official Journal of the EU (OJ).

European Commission Adopts Delegated Regulation on RTS on Detailed Records of Financial Contracts under BRRD

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On June 7, 2016, the European Commission adopted a Delegated Regulation supplementing the Bank Recovery and Resolution Directive (2014/59/EU) (BRRD). The Delegated Regulation deals with the regulatory technical standards (RTS) on a minimum set of the information on financial contracts that should be contained in the detailed records, together with the circumstances in which the requirement should be imposed (C(2016) 3356 final).

Following submission of draft RTS by the EBA in December 2015, the Commission is entitled, under Article 71 of the BRRD, to adopt delegated regulations which highlight the methodology for assessing the value of assets and liabilities of institutions or entities. The draft RTS state that, should the relevant conditions for resolution be satisfied, an institution must maintain detailed records of financial contracts where it is foreseen that resolution actions would be applied to the institution concerned. The Annex accompanying the Delegated Regulation highlights the minimum list of information on financial contracts.

It is now for the Council of the EU and the European Parliament to consider the Delegated Regulation. Subject to any objection, it will enter into force 20 days after its publication in the Official Journal of the EU (OJ).

European Commission Adopts MiFIR Delegated Regulation on RTS on Access to Benchmarks

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On June 2, 2016, the European Commission adopted a Delegated Regulation supplementing the Markets in Financial Instruments Regulation (Regulation 600/2014) (MiFIR) with regard to regulatory technical standards (RTS) on access in respect of benchmarks (C(2016) 3203 final).

MiFIR provides for the non-discriminatory access for central counterparties (CCPs) and trading venues to licences of, and information relating to, benchmarks that are used to determine the value of some financial instruments for trading and clearing purposes.

The Delegated Regulation lays down the list of information to be provided to a trading venue or CCP, the conditions under which access must be granted as well as specifications on non-discriminatory treatment. It also sets out the standards for determining how a benchmark can be considered to be new, and hence benefit from transitory arrangements.

Following adoption of the Delegated Regulation by the Commission, it will be considered by the Council of the EU and the European Parliament. If neither of them objects, the Delegated Regulation states that it will enter into force 20 days after its publication in the Official Journal of the EU (OJ) and will apply from the date referred to in the fourth paragraph of Article 55 of MiFIR.

ESMA Publishes Opinion on MiFIR II RTS on Ancillary Activities

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ESMA has published an opinion proposing amendments to its draft technical standards (“RTS“) under the MiFID II Directive (2014/65/EU) and the Markets in Financial Instruments Regulation (Regulation 600/2014) (MiFIR) relating to criteria to establish when a non-financial firm’s commodity derivatives trading activity is considered to be ancillary to its main business. The revised draft RTS are set out in an annex to the opinion.

In response to the draft text submitted by ESMA to the European Commission in September 2015, the Commission requested that ESMA include in its RTS a capital-based test for groups that have undertaken significant capital investments in creating infrastructure, transportation or production facilities or groups that undertake activities or investments that cannot be hedged in financial markets.

ESMA maintains that its business activity test was in line with the objectives set out in MiFID II, and a capital based test has significant drawbacks. However, it has identified some metrics for a numerator and denominator that the Commission could use to construct a capital test as an alternative to ESMA’s main business test. In cases where a capital test is introduced, ESMA proposes to allow entities choose between performing the original main business test based on trading activity or a capital test to avoid putting small and medium-sized entities at a disadvantage. Opinion.

Commission Sends MiFID II Draft RTS Back to ESMA for Revision

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On March 17, Markus Ferber, MEP, the European Parliament’s Rapporteur for MiFID II, published a press release announcing that the European Commission had sent back to European Securities and Markets Authority (“ESMA”) the draft regulatory technical standards (RTS) on non-equity transparency, the ancillary activity exemption, and position limits for commodity derivatives for further revision to take the Parliament’s position more thoroughly into account.

Mr. Ferber explains that the latest draft RTS were not acceptable to the Parliament, especially the position limits regime, which he believes urgently needs a comprehensive redrafting to effectively curb food speculation. He believes that the latest drafts were not up to standard and would not have solved the problem at all.

Mr. Ferber expects ESMA to revisit the technical standards swiftly, thoroughly and to adapt them in line with the Parliament’s remarks. However, the redrafting must not further delay the overall MiFID II timeline. He adds that, since the Parliament’s concerns were known and available for quite some time, the Commission and ESMA could easily have acted earlier.