FED Publishes Guidance to Assess LIBOR Transition Efforts of Firms
FED published guidance to assist examiners in assessing the supervised firms’ progress in preparing for LIBOR transition. Separate guidance has been published for institutions with less than USD 100 billion in total consolidated assets and for institutions with USD 100 billion or more in total consolidated assets. Institutions with less than USD 100 billion in total consolidated assets generally have less material and less complex LIBOR exposures. However, institutions with USD 100 billion or more in total consolidated assets generally have more significant and complex LIBOR exposures and should develop more detailed transition plans. Examiners should review the supervised firms’ planning for, and progress in, moving away from LIBOR during examinations and other supervisory activities in 2021.
The guidance outlines the factors that examiners should consider in assessing key aspects of transition efforts. A supervised firm with exposure to LIBOR should prepare for the LIBOR transition with respect to six key areas. The firm should:
- Have a LIBOR transition plan that includes a governance structure that clearly defines roles and responsibilities needed to execute the plan and a project roadmap with defined timelines and milestones
- Accurately measure financial exposures to LIBOR while exposure measurement should include any financial product that references LIBOR and may include, but is not limited to, investments, derivatives, and loans
- Identify all internal and vendor-provided systems and models that use or require LIBOR as an input and make necessary adjustments to provide smooth operation of those systems and models ahead of cessation of LIBOR
- Identify all contracts that reference LIBOR and refrain from entering into contracts without fallback language
- Communicate to the counterparties, clients, consumers, and internal stakeholders about the LIBOR transition and ensure compliance with requirements of the Truth in Lending Act and other applicable laws and regulations
- Provide the plan to applicable management, along with regular status updates to senior management
The guidance stipulates that examiners should discuss, with the firm, its plans for addressing LIBOR exposures and evaluate whether the firm has a plan in place to transition away from entering into new LIBOR-based financial contracts after December 31, 2021. Examiners should consider issuing supervisory findings and other supervisory actions if a firm is not ready to stop issuing LIBOR-based contracts by December 31, 2021.
Related Links
- Notification
- Guidance for Firms with Less Complex Exposures (PDF)
- Guidance for Firms with Complex Exposures (PDF)
Keywords: Americas, US, Banking, Securities, LIBOR, Guidance, Benchmark Reforms, FED
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