FCA Extends Timeline to Cease Issuance of LIBOR-Linked Loan Products
FCA published a statement from the Working Group on Sterling Risk-Free Reference Rates (RFRWG) on the impact of COVID-19 outbreak on the timeline for LIBOR transition plans of firms. As per the new timeline, all new issuance of sterling LIBOR-referencing loan products that expire after the end of 2021 should cease by the end of the first quarter of 2021. The statement also highlights that within sterling cash markets, transition to SONIA in the bond market has been largely completed. In loan markets, lenders will continue work to make SONIA-based products available before the end of the third quarter of 2020 and some borrowers will be ready to take advantage of these alternative products before then.
The RFRWG, FCA, and BoE recognize that it will not be feasible to complete transition away from LIBOR across all new sterling LIBOR-linked loans by the original target of the end-of-the-third quarter of 2020. There will likely be continued use of LIBOR-referencing loan products into the fourth quarter of 2020 in particular, to maintain the smooth flow of credit to the real economy. Taking this into consideration, the RFRWG recommends that:
- By the end of the third quarter of 2020, lenders should be in a position to offer non-LIBOR linked products to their customers.
- After the end of the third quarter of 2020, lenders, working with their borrowers, should include clear contractual arrangements in all new and re-financed LIBOR-referencing loan products to facilitate conversion ahead of the end of 2021, through pre-agreed conversion terms or an agreed process for renegotiation, to SONIA or other alternatives.
- All new issuance of sterling LIBOR-referencing loan products that expire after the end of 2021 should cease by the end of the first quarter of 2021.
Once plans and working arrangements disrupted by the COVID-19 outbreak begin to stabilize, the working group (RFRWG) and its members will intensify communication with customers needing to move away from LIBOR as part of transition.
Related Link: FCA Statement
Keywords: Europe, UK, Banking, Securities, LIBOR, COVID-19, SONIA, IBOR Reform, Benchmark Reform, Interest Rate Reform, BOE, FCA
Next Article
OJK Amends Regulation on Corporate GovernanceRelated Articles
EBA Issues Erratum for Phase 2 Package of Reporting Framework 3.0
EBA published an erratum for the technical package on phase 2 of the reporting framework 3.0.
MAS Amends Notice on Related Party Transactions of Banks
MAS amended Notice 643A that addresses requirements for banks to prepare statements of exposures and credit facilities to related concerns or parties.
ECB Amends Guideline on Euro Short-Term Rate
ECB has published, in the Official Journal of the European Union, the Guideline 2021/565 on the euro short-term rate (€STR) and this guideline amends the previous ECB Guideline 2019/1265.
EBA Consults on Standards Related to FRTB-SA
EBA launched a consultation on the draft regulatory technical standards on the list of countries with an advanced economy for calculating the equity risk under the alternative standardized approach (FRTB-SA).
PRA Proposes Rules Related to IRB Approach for Credit Risk
PRA is proposing, via CP7/21, the approach to implementing new requirements related to the specification of the nature, severity, and duration of an economic downturn in the internal ratings-based (IRB) approach to credit risk.
BoE Outlines Regulatory Treatment of Recovery Loan Scheme of UK
The UK government launched the Recovery Loan Scheme (RLS) as part of its continued COVID-19 support for UK businesses, as announced by HM Treasury on March 03, 2021.
FSB Addresses G20 on COVID Measures, TBTF Reforms, and Climate Risks
FSB published a letter, from its Chair Randal K. Quarles, to the G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors, ahead of their virtual meeting on April 07, 2021.
OSFI Unwinds Temporary Increase to Covered Bond Limit for Banks
OSFI issued a letter to the deposit-taking institutions issuing covered bonds and announced the unwinding of the temporary increase to the covered bond limit for deposit-taking institutions, effective immediately.
EU Amends CRR and Securitization Regulation in Response to Pandemic
To support recovery from the COVID-19 crisis, EU has published two regulations to amend the securitization framework, as set out in the Securitization Regulation (2017/2402) and the Capital Requirements Regulation or CRR (575/2013).
HM Treasury Announces G7 Agreement on Green Agenda Ahead of COP26
HM Treasury announced that G7 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors met ahead of COP 26, the 2021 UN Climate Change Conference, and agreed on green agenda.
