CFTC Adopts Interim Rule on Margin Requirements for Uncleared Swaps
CFTC is adopting, and invites comments on, an interim final rule amending (in the context of a no-deal Brexit) the margin requirements for uncleared swaps for swap dealers and major swap participants for which there is no prudential regulator (CFTC margin rule). Although the interim final rule will be effective on April 01, 2019, CFTC will be accepting comments on the rule until May 31, 2019. CFTC also proposed to revise information collection titled "Confirmation, Portfolio Reconciliation, Portfolio Compression, and Swap Trading Relationship Documentation Requirements for Swap Dealers and Major Swap Participants" (OMB control number 3038-0088), for which the comments must be submitted on or before May 01, 2019.
The interim final rule amends CFTC regulation 23.161 to provide that in a no-deal Brexit, subject to certain conditions, a legacy swap may be transferred and amended without revising the date (swap date) used for determining whether such uncleared swap was entered into prior to the applicable compliance date under the CFTC margin rule. The interim final rule is designed to allow an uncleared swap to retain its legacy status under CFTC margin rule or Prudential Margin Rule when so transferred.
To be effective, CFTC believes the interim final rule must cover all the scenarios that would trigger the need for a covered swap entity or its counterparty to participate in amending an uncleared swap to relocate the swap in preparation for, or in response to, a no-deal Brexit. However, to benefit from the treatment of this amendment, the financial entity must arrange to make the amendments to the uncleared swap solely for transferring the uncleared swap to an Eligible Transferee once UK has withdrawn from EU. This purpose test also contains a requirement that the transfer be made in connection with the entity's planning for the possibility of a no-deal Brexit or the entity's response to such event.
The interim final rule is designed to permit only such amendments as financial entities find necessary to relocate uncleared swap portfolios under the purpose test. These changes may be carried out using any of the methods typically employed for effecting uncleared swap transfers, including industry protocols, contractual amendments, or contractual tear-up and replacement. However, CFTC does not believe the relief being provided for relocation purposes should be expansively applied to encompass economic changes to a legacy swap. Accordingly, the benefits of this interim final rule are unavailable if the amendments to an uncleared swap modify the payment amount calculation methods, the maturity date, or the notional amount of the uncleared swap.
CFTC also seeks to establish a reasonable period of time for the necessary work to achieve the transfers to be performed. The interim final rule permits transfers for a period of one year after UK withdrawal. The one-year period commences when the law of EU ceases to apply in UK, pursuant to Article 50(3) of the Treaty on EU, without conclusion of a Withdrawal Agreement between the UK and EU. If the present withdrawal date is extended and withdrawal later occurs at the end of that extension without a Withdrawal Agreement, the interim final rule's one-year period would begin at that time. CFTC contemplates that, if the withdrawal date is extended, financial entities may negotiate and document their desired transfers during the intervening period, under terms that delay consummation of any transfer until withdrawal takes place without an agreement and the interim final rule's substantive provisions are thereby triggered.
Related Links
Comment Due Date: May 01, 2019 (Information Collection); May 31, 2019 (Interim Final Rule)
Effective Date: April 01, 2019
Keywords: Americas, Europe, UK, EU, US, Banking, Securities, Legacy Swaps, No-Deal Brexit, Margin Requirements, Brexit, Swap Margin Rule, CFTC
Featured Experts
Scott Dietz
Scott is a Director in the Regulatory and Accounting Solutions team responsible for providing accounting expertise across solutions, products, and services offered by Moody’s Analytics in the US. He has over 15 years of experience leading auditing, consulting and accounting policy initiatives for financial institutions.
Laurent Birade
Advises U.S. and Canadian financial institutions on risk and finance integration, CCAR/DFAST stress testing, IFRS9 and CECL credit loss reserving, and credit risk practices.
María Cañamero
Skilled market researcher; growth strategist; successful go-to-market campaign developer
Related Articles
BIS and Central Banks Experiment with GenAI to Assess Climate Risks
A recent report from the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) Innovation Hub details Project Gaia, a collaboration between the BIS Innovation Hub Eurosystem Center and certain central banks in Europe
Nearly 25% G-SIBs Commit to Adopting TNFD Nature-Related Disclosures
Nature-related risks are increasing in severity and frequency, affecting businesses, capital providers, financial systems, and economies.
Singapore to Mandate Climate Disclosures from FY2025
Singapore recently took a significant step toward turning climate ambition into action, with the introduction of mandatory climate-related disclosures for listed and large non-listed companies
SEC Finalizes Climate-Related Disclosures Rule
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has finalized the long-awaited rule that mandates climate-related disclosures for domestic and foreign publicly listed companies in the U.S.
EBA Proposes Standards Related to Standardized Credit Risk Approach
The European Banking Authority (EBA) has been taking significant steps toward implementing the Basel III framework and strengthening the regulatory framework for credit institutions in the EU
US Regulators Release Stress Test Scenarios for Banks
The U.S. regulators recently released baseline and severely adverse scenarios, along with other details, for stress testing the banks in 2024. The relevant U.S. banking regulators are the Federal Reserve Bank (FED), the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC).
Asian Governments Aim for Interoperability in AI Governance Frameworks
The regulatory landscape for artificial intelligence (AI), including the generative kind, is evolving rapidly, with governments and regulators aiming to address the challenges and opportunities presented by this transformative technology.
EBA Proposes Operational Risk Standards Under Final Basel III Package
The European Union (EU) has been working on the final elements of Basel III standards, with endorsement of the Banking Package and the publication of the European Banking Authority (EBA) roadmap on Basel III implementation in December 2023.
EFRAG Proposes XBRL Taxonomy and Standard for Listed SMEs Under ESRS
The European Financial Reporting Advisory Group (EFRAG), which plays a crucial role in shaping corporate reporting standards in European Union (EU), is seeking comments, until May 21, 2024, on the Exposure Draft ESRS for listed SMEs.
ECB to Expand Climate Change Work in 2024-2025
Banking regulators worldwide are increasingly focusing on addressing, monitoring, and supervising the institutions' exposure to climate and environmental risks.
