EC Consults on Improving Transparency in Secondary Markets for NPLs

As part of its strategy to leverage data sources, EC is considering targeted changes of Pillar 3 disclosure requirements. Therefore, a central data hub could be set up at the EU level to act as a data repository underpinning the NPL market. Such a hub could store anonymized data on NPL transactions and provide post-trade transaction details. Such disclosures could raise the transparency and enhance the functioning of secondary markets for NPLs. EC would operate a comprehensive electronic database (updated regularly), assess the information, and provide access to market participants. The information delivered to the data hub would also help to perform specific analysis and provide analytical products. From the perspective of sellers, the EU data hub could be an important source for NPL loan market benchmark parameters, which could contribute to internal decisions of banks on whether to sell or to service. This would also allow sellers to benchmark their trades and  allow better visibility into the underlying causes for discrepancies.

EC is determined to ensure that such possible measures would not entail disproportional reporting burdens or overlap; for instance, EBA is developing the NPL transaction templates for the purposes of financial due diligence and valuation of portfolios for sale. Similarly, the release of any additional NPL information, either on the hub or as part of Pillar 3 disclosures, should not pose any disadvantages to banks or buyers in terms of trading positions or balance sheet quality, nor should their publication challenge the business model of private platform providers. The key objective of EC is to increase the flow of available information that is conducive for liquid NPL markets in the most efficient way possible. To this end, the data hub and additional disclosures under Pillar 3 rules could help maximize the potential of NPL data. Consequently, the proposed changes should limit market failures in terms of information asymmetries and lead to increasing liquidity, lower bid-ask spreads, and more efficient NPL markets. Ultimately, NPL markets in the EU should be transparent and liquid, so that they allow for informed trades by banks and investors that are beneficial for all stakeholders, including borrowers.

Related Links

• Notification
• Consultation Paper (PDF)

Comment Due Date: September 08, 2021

Keywords: Europe, EU, Banking, NPLs, Credit Risk, Pillar 3, Disclosures, Basel, Regulatory Capital, Secondary Market for NPLs, Data Hub, CRR, Reporting, EC