The following posts provide a snapshot of selected UK, EU and global wholesale financial regulatory developments of interest to banks, investment firms, broker-dealers, market infrastructures, asset managers and corporates.
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UK Prudential Regulation Authority Publishes Review of Bank Ring-Fencing Rules
02/08/2024
The U.K. Prudential Regulation Authority has published a Review of the PRA ring-fencing rules for U.K. banks. The ring-fencing regime came into force in 2019 and the PRA is required to review the rules it has made under the regime every five years. This is the PRA's first such review. The PRA found that most rules have performed satisfactorily and are generally well understood by industry. Some areas for improvement include:- Better aligning the rules relating to the provision of services to ring-fenced banks from non-ring-fenced parts of a group with other PRA rules on operational continuity in resolution and operational resilience.
- Reducing the frequency with which banks must review their internal policies on arm's length transactions.
- Potentially extending the duration of modifications to rules relating to governance arrangements for individual RFBs, where needed.
- Removing the requirement for RFBs to deliver annual regulatory reports on certain tax exposures, given the immateriality of the amounts reported so far.
The PRA plans to consult on potential changes to its rules after more detailed analysis.
Read more. -
Consultation on Near-Term UK Ring-Fencing Regime Reforms
10/10/2023
HM Treasury has launched a consultation on proposed near term reforms to the U.K. ring-fencing regime—"A Smarter Ring-Fencing Regime"—and published its response to its call for evidence on the practicalities of aligning the ring-fencing and resolution regimes for banks. These potential changes to the four-year-old ring-fencing regime were announced in the government's Edinburgh Reforms, which we discuss in our client note: "UK Government Publishes Edinburgh Reforms for Financial Services."
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UK Regulator Consults on Rules for Ring-Fenced Banks to Establish Overseas Entities
10/10/2023
The U.K. Prudential Regulation Authority is consulting on a proposed rule and policy changes relating to the establishment and maintenance of third-country branches and subsidiaries within ring-fenced banking groups. The PRA's consultation comes out of HM Treasury's Smarter Ring-Fencing Regime consultation, in which it is proposing, among other things, to remove the ban on RFBs that prevents them from operating in or servicing customers outside the U.K. and European Economic Area. Responses to the PRA's consultation may be submitted until November 27, 2023.
The PRA is proposing to require an RFB to ensure that risks from its overseas subsidiary or branch are not material to its safety and soundness, including its ability to continue to provide core services in the U.K. and its resolvability. It also proposes to update its existing Supervisory Statement on RFBs to set out its proposed approach to assessing compliance with the new rule and determining whether there is a material risk to a RFB's stability. -
UK Mulls Aligning its Ring-Fencing and Resolution Regimes for Banks
03/31/2023
On March 2, 2023, HM Treasury issued a Call for Evidence requesting views on the practicalities of aligning the ring-fencing and resolution regimes for banks. The potential to align the U.K. ring-fencing and resolution regimes was announced on December 9, 2022 as part of the Edinburgh Reforms, in response to the recommendations of Independent Review on Ring-fencing and Proprietary Trading, published in March 2022. We discussed the Edinburgh Reforms in our client note: "UK Government Publishes Edinburgh Reforms for Financial Services." Responses to the Call for Evidence may be submitted until May 7, 2023.
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Edinburgh Reforms: Changes to the Laws of the UK Financial Services Sector
12/09/2022
The U.K. Government has announced on a series of initiatives, billed as the Edinburgh Reforms, to reform the laws for the U.K. financial services sector. The proposals cover:- Reforms to Ring-Fencing Regime;
- Implementation of Post-Brexit Financial Regulatory Framework;
- Growth and Competitiveness Remit for U.K. Regulators;
- Reforms to Wholesale Markets;
- Faster Settlement;
- Senior Manager's and Certification Regime;
- Changes to Promote Investment and Growth in Financial Services;
- Sustainable Finance;
- FinTech and Digital Assets; and
- Consumer Credit.
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HM Treasury to Review Ring-Fencing and Proprietary Trading in UK Banks
02/02/2021
HM Treasury has published its terms of reference for a review of the operation of ring-fencing legislation and banks' proprietary trading activities in the U.K. The Treasury is required to conduct each review under the Financial Services (Banking Reform) Act 2013. The FS(BR)A introduced reforms based on recommendations made by the Independent Commission on Banking that was established in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis. The U.K. ring-fencing laws require U.K. banks which hold more than £25 billion in core deposits and banking groups whose members hold an average core deposit of more than £25 billion to separate their core retail banking business from their investment banking business. Restrictions limit the products that a ring-fenced bank can offer and where it can conduct business. Restrictions on proprietary trading (being the trading of financial instruments or commodities as principal by banks or investment firms) were introduced for ring-fenced retail banks and came into force in January 2019. The U.K. decided not to impose a complete ban on proprietary trading for all banks, as had been seen in other countries, such as the U.S. under the Volcker Rule. Among the purposes of this legislation is an attempt to limit taxpayer liability for bank bail-outs in future financial crises.
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Bank of England Financial Policy Committee Publishes Policy Summary
10/08/2020
The Bank of England's Financial Policy Committee has published its latest Policy Summary and the minutes of its meeting held on September 30, 2020. The FPC notes a range of near-term risks that could impact the U.K. economy, including the evolution of the COVID-19 pandemic, post-Brexit trading arrangements between the U.K. and EU and various other geopolitical risks.
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UK Prudential Regulation Authority Publishes Proprietary Trading Review
09/21/2020
The U.K. Prudential Regulation Authority has published a report on the extent of proprietary trading by PRA-authorized deposit takers and investment firms incorporated in the U.K. Restrictions on proprietary trading (being the trading of financial instruments or commodities as principal by banks or investment firms) were introduced for ring-fenced retail banks in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis and came into force in January 2019. However, the U.K. decided not to impose a complete ban on proprietary trading for all banks, as had been seen in other countries, such as the U.S. under the Volcker Rule. Instead, the PRA was mandated to produce a report under the Financial Services (Banking Reform) Act 2013, with a view to informing the U.K. Parliament of the need for any further restrictions on proprietary trading.
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Financial Stability Board Publishes Update on Market Fragmentation Work
10/14/2019
The Financial Stability Board has published a progress update on its ongoing work to tackle market fragmentation. The update follows the FSB’s June 2019 Report on Market Fragmentation, which explored the link between market fragmentation and financial stability and identified four areas for further work to address the issue: deference (e.g. the reliance authorities place on one another when regulating or supervising participants on a cross-border basis); pre-positioning of capital and liquidity; regulatory and supervisory coordination and information-sharing; and market fragmentation as part of the evaluation of reforms, starting with the “too-big-to-fail” evaluation.
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UK Ring-Fencing Order Brings Full Regime Into Force From January 2019
12/05/2018
The U.K. Financial Services (Banking Reform) Act 2013 (Commencement No. 12) Order 2018 has been made. The Order brings into force, from January 1, 2019, those provisions of the Financial Services (Banking Reform) Act 2013 on ring-fencing that are not already in force, including the prohibition on ring-fenced bodies to carry on excluded activities and provisions on group restructuring. The U.K. ring-fencing laws require U.K. banks which hold more than £25 billion in core deposits and banking groups whose members hold an average core deposit of more than £25 billion to separate their core retail banking business from their investment banking business. Restrictions will limit the products that a ring-fenced bank can offer and where it can conduct business. In particular, a ring-fenced bank will not be able to own a banking subsidiary or branch which is established outside of the EEA.
View the Order.TOPIC : Bank Structural Reform -
UK Prudential Regulator Publishes Information Pack on Ring-fencing Reporting Requirements
10/31/2018
The U.K. Prudential Regulation Authority has published an information document entitled "Ring-fencing: Summary of regulatory reporting requirements." The document summarizes the regulatory reporting and reporting system requirements for ring-fencing that will apply to U.K. banking groups within the scope of the U.K.'s structural reform requirements coming into force on January 1, 2019. The information document is designed to assist firms that must submit ring-fencing regulatory returns.
The PRA states that the information document is not intended to supersede the PRA Rulebook, the regulatory reporting and the structural reform sections of the Bank of England website and relevant and applicable published PRA policy. Affected firms should also continue to refer to these sources to determine their regulatory obligations.
View the information document.TOPIC : Bank Structural Reform -
UK Ring-Fencing Regime to Remain Unchanged in a "No Deal" Brexit Scenario
10/22/2018
HM Treasury has published explanatory guidance on potential changes to the U.K.'s laws on ring-fencing in preparation for a "no deal" scenario in which the U.K. leaves the EU on March 29, 2019. The draft Ring-Fenced Bodies (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2018 have not yet been published. HM Treasury intends to publish the draft Regulations in due course and to lay them before Parliament before exit day.
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UK Secondary Legislation Published to Align Ring-Fencing With Financial Sanctions Legislation
07/24/2018
The Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Ring-fenced Bodies and Core Activities) (Amendment) Order 2018 has been made and will come into force on October 31, 2018.
The Amendment Order amends the definition of a "core deposit" (set out in The Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Ring-fenced Bodies and Core Activities) Order 2014) for the purposes of the U.K. framework for the ring-fencing of retail from wholesale/investment banking. Under the U.K. framework, if a deposit is not a "core deposit," then carrying on the regulated activity of accepting deposits in relation to that non-core deposit can take place in the non-ring-fenced bank.
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European Commission Formally Withdraws Proposals for an EU Regulation on Bank Structural Reform
07/03/2018
Following its announcement in its 2018 Work Programme of its intention to withdraw 15 pending EU legislative proposals, the European Commission has announced the formal withdrawal of that legislation, which includes the 2014 Proposal for a Regulation on structural reform of the EU banking sector.
The original proposal built on the 2013 recommendations of a high level expert group on reforming the structure of EU banking sector, chaired by Bank of Finland Governor and European Central Bank Governing Council member Erkki Liikanen. For banks within its scope, the provisions of the proposed regulation would have imposed a ban on proprietary trading and would have empowered supervisors to require banks to ring-fence certain trading activities from a deposit-taking entity.
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UK Prudential Regulator Consults on Reflecting the Systemic Risk Buffer Framework Within the Leverage Ratio Framework for UK Systemic Ring-Fenced Bodies
07/03/2018
The U.K. Prudential Regulation Authority has published a consultation paper entitled "UK leverage ratio: Applying the framework to systemic ring-fenced bodies and reflecting the systemic risk buffer."
The Systemic Risk Buffer is one of the elements of the overall capital framework for U.K. banks and building societies. It is applied by the PRA to individual institutions and will be introduced at the same time that ring-fencing comes into force in 2019. SRB institutions are banks falling within the definition of Ring-fenced Bodies in the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 and large building societies that hold more than £25 billion in deposits (where one or more of the accountholders is a small business) and shares (excluding deferred shares).
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US Federal Financial Regulators Propose First Major Revisions to Volcker Rule
06/05/2018
The U.S. Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, U.S. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, U.S. Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission released for public comment a proposal that would simplify and tailor the Volcker Rule. The joint notice of proposed rulemaking includes 342 specific questions for public comment largely focused on reducing compliance burdens under the Volcker Rule.
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Commodity Futures Trading Commission Proposes to Maintain $8 Billion Swap Dealer De Minimis Threshold and Approves Proposed Changes to the Volcker Rule
06/04/2018
At the Commodity Futures Trading Commission's open meeting on June 4, 2018, the CFTC voted to propose rules that would permanently maintain the swap dealer de minimis registration threshold at $8 billion. The Commission voted 2-1 to issue the proposal, with Chairman J. Christopher Giancarlo and Commissioner Brian Quintenz voting in favor and Commissioner Rostin Behnam dissenting.
Under the proposed rule, firms with less than $8 billion in notional value of OTC derivatives would be exempted from the CFTC's swap dealer registration requirements, as under the current regime. The proposed rule also would exclude swaps of insured depository institutions made in connection with loans from a firm's notional calculation. The proposal seeks comment on a number of other potential exclusions from the de minimis threshold, and Chairman Giancarlo stated that the CFTC is exploring with its counterparts at the Securities and Exchange Commission and prudential regulators further potential exclusions from swap dealer registration.
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UK Prudential Regulation Authority Confirms its Revised Expectations on Recovery Planning
12/11/2017
Following its consultation earlier this year on its expectations on recovery planning, the Prudential Regulation Authority has published a Policy Statement which sets out the PRA's final revised expectations on the content of recovery plans and the approach to recovery planning for groups which include a ring-fenced body. Alongside the Policy Statement, the PRA has published a new Supervisory Statement on recovery planning and an updated Supervisory Statement on RFBs. The PRA decided to publish the new Supervisory Statement because its experience in assessing firm's plans showed that there was a need to improve the quality of recovery plans and to increase the prospect of plans being credible. The new Supervisory Statement on recovery planning therefore supersedes the previous one, SS-18/13.
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UK Prudential Regulation Authority Finalizes Reporting and Prudential Requirements for Ring-Fenced Banks
02/01/2017
The UK Prudential Regulation Authority published a Policy Statement, final rules and updates on several Supervisory Statements on the reporting, prudential and recovery and resolution requirements to implement the ring-fencing requirements for banks. The PRA's policy and final rules are relevant to all firms that are required to ring-fence their core banking activities before the implementation date of January 1, 2019. These firms are, broadly speaking, those with at least £25 billion of “core” deposits (defined as deposits from individuals and small businesses) and those that expect to exceed the threshold by January 1, 2019. UK banking groups that have more than £25 billion of core deposits will need to ring-fence the entity or entities that accept core deposits - called ring-fenced bodies - by transferring other business lines to different legal vehicles or undertaking other business separations.
Read more.TOPIC : Bank Structural Reform -
UK Makes Technical Amendments to its Ring-Fencing Legislation
10/28/2016
The Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Ring-fenced Bodies, Core Activities, Excluded Activities and Prohibitions) (Amendment) Order 2016 was published. The Amendment Order amends the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Ring-fenced Bodies and Core Activities) Order 2014 and the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Excluded Activities and Prohibitions) Order 2014. The Amendment Order, amongst other things, changes the definition of a UK deposit-taker so that it does not capture UK branches of foreign banks, and amends the duty of a ring-fenced bank to provide specified information so that it only applies where individuals are located in an EEA state and in relation to deposit accounts. The amendments come into force on December 1, 2016.
View the Amendment Order.TOPIC : Bank Structural Reform -
UK Prudential Regulator Consults on Reporting and Prudential Requirements for Ring-Fenced Banks
07/23/2016
The UK Prudential Regulation Authority published a consultation paper on aspects of its policy to implement the ring-fencing requirements for banks. The consultation covers reporting, prudential and recovery and resolution requirements. The proposals are relevant to all firms that are required to ring-fence their core banking activities before the implementation date of January 1, 2019 (which are firms, broadly speaking, with at least £25 billion of core deposits) and to growing firms that expect to meet this threshold by 2019. UK banking groups that have more than £25 billion of core deposits will need to ring-fence the entity/ies that accept deposits - called ring-fenced bodies, by transferring other business lines to different legal vehicles or undertaking other business separations.
The PRA proposes to establish reporting requirements on a sub-consolidated basis when an RFB sub-group is formed, by extending all non-Capital Requirements Regulation reporting requirements that currently apply on a consolidated basis to banking groups affected by ring-fencing to an RFB sub-group and requiring RFBs to submit certain non-CRR reporting returns on a sub-consolidated basis, requiring RFBs to report on a sub-group’s intragroup exposures, related collateral and funding transactions.
Read more.TOPIC : Bank Structural Reform -
US Federal Reserve Formalizes One Year Conformance Extension for Volcker Legacy Fund Investments
07/06/2016
The US Federal Reserve Board extended until July 21, 2017, the conformance period for banking entities to divest ownership in certain legacy investment funds and terminate relationships with funds that are prohibited under section 619 of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, commonly known as the Volcker Rule. This order formalizes the Federal Reserve Board’s December 2014 announcement that it would make this extension to provide for orderly divestitures and to prevent market disruptions.
This extension would permit banking entities additional time to divest or conform only “legacy covered fund” investments, such as prohibited investments in hedge funds and private equity funds that were made prior to December 31, 2013. This extension does not apply to investments in and relationships with a covered fund made on or after December 31, 2013, or to proprietary trading activities; banking entities were required to conform those activities to the final rule by July 21, 2015.
This is the final of the three one-year extensions that the Federal Reserve Board is authorized to grant. Additionally, upon the application of a banking entity, the Federal Reserve Board is permitted under section 619 to provide up to an additional five years to conform investments in certain illiquid funds, where the banking entity had a contractual commitment to invest in the fund as of May 1, 2010. The Federal Reserve Board expects to provide more information in the near term as to how it will address such applications.
View Federal Reserve Board order approving extension.TOPIC : Bank Structural Reform -
US Commodity Futures Trading Commission Announces Volcker Rule CEO Attestation Delivery Method
03/15/2016
The Commodity Futures Trading Commission’s Division of Swap Dealer and Intermediary Oversight announced that certain banking entities subject to Appendix B of Part 75 of the CFTC’s regulations, which implements section 619 of the Dodd-Frank Act known as the “Volcker Rule,” should submit their CEO attestations through the following email address: VolckerAttestation@cftc.gov. Appendix B includes requirements that a CEO attestation be submitted to the CFTC regarding the banking entity’s Volcker Rule compliance program.
View the CFTC press release.TOPIC : Bank Structural Reform -
UK Regulators Finalize Approach to Ring-fencing Transfer Schemes
03/04/2016
The Prudential Regulation Authority published its Policy Statement on feedback to its consultation on the PRA's approach to ring-fencing transfer schemes together with the PRA's final Statement of Policy. The Financial Services (Banking Reform) Act 2013 introduced requirements for UK banking groups that have more than £25 billion of core deposits to ring-fence the entity/ies that accept deposits – called ring-fenced bodies. To assist firms subject to the ring-fencing requirements and restructure their business, provisions were made for transfer of businesses by a RFTS. The PRA's Policy Statement sets out the regulator's responses to questions raised during the consultation, including on the certificate as to financial resources of the transferee, new bank authorizations, alternative group arrangements and immunity of the skilled person. The PRA's Statement of Policy sets out its approach to RFTS, noting that the PRA expects firms to nominate a skilled person to prepare the scheme report which nomination would be subject to the PRA's approval. The Financial Conduct Authority published finalized guidance on its approach to the implementation of the ring-fencing requirements and RFTS. The ring-fencing regime is due to come into effect on January 1, 2019.
View the PRA Policy Statement.
View the PRA Statement of Policy.
View the FCA Guidance.TOPIC : Bank Structural Reform -
US House of Representatives Financial Services Committee Holds Hearing on Volcker-Related Legislation
02/24/2016
The US House of Representatives’ Financial Services Committee’s Capital Markets Subcommittee held a hearing on legislation that would clarify the name-sharing provision of the Volcker Rule. Specifically, the Financial Services Committee discussed provisions of H.R. 4096, the Investor Clarity and Bank Parity Act, which would “correct a statutory error” in the Volcker Rule which restricts the ability of a banking entity to sponsor a covered fund, specifically by prohibiting name-sharing between a banking entity’s affiliates and a covered fund. The bill would permit investment adviser affiliates to share a name with a covered fund if the investment adviser is not (or does not control) an insured depository institution or is not treated as a bank holding company under Section 8 of the International Banking Act of 1978. The Financial Services Committee will consider a markup of the bill in a hearing scheduled on March 2, 2016.
View the full text of the markup.
TOPIC : Bank Structural Reform -
US Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System Proposes IHC Reporting Requirements
02/05/2016
The US Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System published a notice of proposed rulemaking to collect financial information from US intermediate holding companies of foreign banking organizations. The proposal would require all IHCs to commence reporting of the FR Y 9C (Consolidated Financial Statements for Holding Companies), FR Y 9LP (Parent Company Only Financial Statements for Large Holding Companies), FR Y 11 (Financial Statements of US Nonbank Subsidiaries of US Holding Companies), FR 2314 (Financial Statements of Foreign Subsidiaries of US Banking Organizations), FR Y 12 (Consolidated Holding Company Report of Equity Investments in Nonfinancial Companies) and FR Y 15 (Banking Organization Systemic Risk Report) as of September 30, 2016, reporting of the FR Y 14A/M/Q (Capital Assessments and Stress Testing), FR Y 6 (Annual Report of Holding Companies) and FR Y 9ES (Financial Statements for Employee Stock Ownership Plan Holding Companies) as of December 31, 2016, and Reg Y 13 (Recordkeeping and Reporting Requirements Associated with Regulation Y (Capital Plans)) as of January 1, 2017. The notice of proposed rulemaking is open for comments until April 5, 2016.
View the final draft ITS.
TOPIC : Bank Structural Reform -
Systemic Risk Buffer Proposals for UK Banks and Building Societies Published
01/29/2016
The Bank of England's Financial Policy Committee published its proposed framework for the UK Systemic Risk Buffer for ring-fenced banks and large building societies (i.e. those that will be subject to the UK ring-fencing rules from 2019 with assets over £25 billion). The SRB, a discretionary buffer under the EU Capital Requirements Directive, aims to mitigate and prevent long-term non-cyclical macro-prudential or systemic risk.
The FPC is proposing that the SRB rate would be calibrated according to a firm's total Risk-Weighted Assets so that firms with RWA: (i) less than £175 billion will have a 0% SRB; (ii) between £175 and £320 billion will have a 1% SRB; (iii) between £320 and £465 billion will have a 1.5% SRB; (iv) between £465 and £610 billion will have a 2% SRB; (v) between £610 and £755 billion will have a 2.5% SRB; and (vi) over £755 billion will have a 3% SRB.
Firms subject to the SRB will also be subject to a 3% minimum leverage ratio requirement as well as an additional leverage ratio buffer of 35% of the applicable SRB rate. The Prudential Regulation Authority will apply the SRB to individual firms from 2019, which is when the ring-fencing rules will become applicable. Comments to the consultation are due by April 22, 2016. The FPC intends to finalize the rules by May 31, 2016.
View the FPC's consultation paper. -
US Regulatory Agencies Issue Two New Volcker Rule FAQs
11/20/2015
The US Federal Reserve Board, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, FDIC, Securities and Exchange Commission and Commodity Futures Trading Commission (collectively, the Agencies) released two new Frequently Asked Questions in respect of the Volcker Rule. FAQ 19 relates to a banking entity’s residual marketmaking positions following termination of its market-making business. FAQ 20 clarifies the applicability of the Volcker Rule’s so-called “Super 23A” provisions to covered transactions entered into before and after the Volcker Rule’s conformance period. FAQ 19 refers to situations where a banking entity terminates its market-making business and holds residual positions from its prior market-making activities. The FAQ states that the banking entity may hold and dispose of such residual market-making positions, provided that: (i) the banking entity hedges the risks of any such positions in accordance with the requirements of the Volcker Rule’s risk-mitigating hedging exemption; and (ii) the banking entity sells or unwinds the residual market-making positions as soon as commercially practicable. In the event that a banking entity holds residual market-making positions but does not hedge the risks of such positions, the subsequent sales of those residual positions would generally be considered proprietary trading under the Volcker Rule.
View the Volcker FAQs.TOPIC : Bank Structural Reform -
US Regulators Issue Supervisory Guidance on Capital Treatment of Certain Investments in Covered Funds under Regulatory Capital Rule and Volcker Rule
11/06/2015
The US Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, together with the US Office of the Comptroller of the Currency and the US Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, issued guidance entitled Deduction Methodology for Investments in Covered Funds, in order to reconcile the regulatory capital rule and the Volcker Rule with respect to the capital treatment for investments in certain hedge funds and private equity funds (i.e. covered funds under the Volcker Rule). The Methodology provides banking organizations with guidance on reporting deductions of covered funds under the Volcker Rule as well as a step-by-step process to reconcile the treatment of overlapping tier 1 capital deductions for investments in covered funds required by the Volcker Rule with any regulatory capital rule’s deductions for investments in the capital of unconsolidated financial institutions.
View the press release and guidance.TOPIC : Bank Structural Reform -
UK Regulator Consults on Implementation of Ring-Fencing for Core UK Financial Services and Activities
10/15/2015
The Prudential Regulation Authority published a consultation paper on the implementation of ring-fencing for core UK financial services and activities, as required under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000. Core activities are defined as: (i) facilities for accepting deposits or other payments into an account and provided in the course of carrying on the core activity of accepting deposits; (ii) facilities for withdrawing money or making payments from such an account; and (iii) overdraft facilities in connection with such an account. In this consultation, the PRA sets out new proposals for ring-fencing policies, including on: (i) prudential requirements for subsidiaries of Ring-Fenced Bodies; (ii) prudential requirements for other potential affiliates that would not necessarily be regulated by the PRA; (iii) intragroup prudential arrangements for groups containing RFBs; and (iv) the use of financial market infrastructures including inter-bank payment systems, Central Securities Depositories and CCPs. The proposals are relevant to all firms that are required to ring-fence their core activities before the implementation date of January 1, 2019 (which are firms, broadly speaking, with at least £25 billion of core deposits) and to growing firms that expect to meet this threshold by 2019. The PRA expects firms that currently meet the core deposits threshold of £25 billion to submit near-final plans to their PRA and FCA supervisors, taking into consideration the proposals in this consultation paper, by January 29, 2016. The PRA intends to publish a policy statement, final rules and supervisory statements by mid-2016 setting out the feedback to this consultation. Comments on the consultation paper are due by January 15, 2016.
View the consultation.TOPIC : Bank Structural Reform -
Agencies Issue Two New Volcker Rule FAQs
09/25/2015
The US Federal Reserve Board, the US Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Securities and Exchange Commission, and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (the "Agencies") released two new frequently asked questions on the Volcker Rule. FAQ 17 clarifies compliance requirements for market making and the identification of covered funds. FAQ 18 relates to CEO certification for prime brokerage transactions.
View the Volcker Rule FAQs.TOPIC : Bank Structural Reform -
UK Regulators Publish Consultation on Implementation of Ring-Fencing Transfer Schemes
09/18/2015
The Prudential Regulation Authority and Financial Conduct Authority both issued consultations on the implementation of Ring-Fencing Transfer Schemes under the UK's ring-fencing regime. Banks with core deposits over £25 billion over a period of three years must comply with ring-fencing requirements from January 1, 2019, separating the retail arms of banks from their riskier investment banking operations. RFTSs enable some or all of a bank's business to be transferred to another body so that the bank can restructure to comply with the ring-fencing rules. A scheme report, which must comment on whether the scheme could have any adverse effect on third parties, must be prepared by a skilled person approved by the PRA and FCA. The scheme report is intended to assist the court in its decision whether to sanction the scheme. Consent from all affected parties that is not required but third parties affected by the proposed scheme may make representations to the court. The PRA must also consult the FCA before approving a skilled person or a scheme report. The PRA will also issue two certificates: one providing its consent to the scheme and the second to verify that the transferee will have adequate financial resources. Where the transferee is only regulated by the FCA, the FCA must issue the financial resources certificate. The PRA seeks views on its draft Statement of Policy its approach to RFTSs and on its proposed approach for the approval of skilled persons and scheme reports. The FCA seeks views on its draft general guidance on RFTSs. Comments on both consultations are due by October 30, 2015.
View the PRA Consultation Paper.
View the FCA Consultation Paper.TOPIC : Bank Structural Reform -
US Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Chairman Martin J. Gruenberg Gives Remarks at the FDIC Banking Research Conference on the Orderly Failure of Large, Complex, Systemically Important Financial Institutions
09/17/2015
The US Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Chairman, Martin J. Gruenberg, gave a speech at the FDIC Banking Research Conference outlining the progress made by the FDIC to date in instituting a framework under the Dodd-Frank Act for the orderly failure of large, complex, systemically important financial institutions. Among other topics, the speech addressed the FDIC’s efforts to use the living will process to improve resolvability of firms under the US Bankruptcy Code, and the FDIC’s progress in developing the operational capabilities to carry out a resolution under the Orderly Liquidation Authority, a public-sector bankruptcy process prescribed by the Dodd Frank Act for institutions whose resolution under the US Bankruptcy Code would pose systemic concerns. Chairman Gruenberg asserted that using the living will process to bring about changes in the structure and operations of firms to facilitate orderly resolution under bankruptcy is a statutory mandate of the FDIC, as well as being prepared to use the powers available under the Orderly Liquidation Authority to manage the orderly failure of a firm. These remarks echoed previous statements given by Chairman Gruenberg when speaking in front of the Peterson Institute for International Economics in May 2015.
View the Speech.TOPIC : Bank Structural Reform -
Volcker Rule Frequently Asked Question 16 Addressing Seeding Period Treatment for Registered Investment Companies and Foreign Public Funds
07/16/2015
The five US federal financial regulatory agencies – US Federal Reserve Board, the US Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, the US Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the US Securities and Exchange Commission and the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission – issued a new Volcker Rule Frequently Asked Question 16 addressing the status of certain US-registered investment companies and foreign public funds as “banking entities” during their “seeding period.” Certain RICs and foreign public funds are currently excluded from the Volcker Rule’s definition of “covered fund” and FAQ 16 ensures that they will not be treated as “banking entities” under the Volcker Rule solely due to a banking entity’s ownership of the registered investment company or foreign public fund during the “seeding period” absent evidence that the RIC or foreign public fund was being used to evade the Volcker Rule’s requirements.
View Volcker Rule FAQ 16.TOPIC : Bank Structural Reform -
Financial Conduct Authority Proposes Rules on Disclosure by Non Ring-Fenced Banks
07/14/2015
The Financial Conduct Authority launched a consultation on proposed rules requiring information to be provided to customers by a non-ring-fenced body. The FCA is proposing that a NRFB be required to provide information about its investment and commodities trading activities to individuals with financial assets of at least £250,000 who are account holders or who have applied to open an account. The information is intended to inform customers of the implication of banking with a NRFB entity in a group which includes a ring-fenced bank. The ring-fencing regime is set to apply from January 1, 2019. The FCA’s proposed rules would require a NRFB to provide the information in good time before the regime enters force. A NRFB will also be required to publish the information on its website. Responses to the FCA consultation are due by November 13, 2015. The FCA intends to publish final rules in Q1 2016.
The FCA’s consultation paper.TOPIC : Bank Structural Reform -
UK Completes Bank Structural Reform Legislation
03/05/2015
The UK Government announced that the legislation to implement the bank ring-fencing regime has been enacted. The Banking Reform Pensions Regulations, enacted on March 4, 2015, will require a ring-fenced bank to ensure that it cannot be liable for the pension liabilities of other group entities by giving powers to the trustees of a ring-fenced bank’s pension scheme to amend the pension scheme, with the consent of employers of the scheme, to achieve ring-fencing of the bank. A ring-fenced bank will be able to seek a court order for release from a shared liability arrangement if the terms of the release cannot be agreed by the parties to the arrangement. The Prudential Regulation Authority, responsible for making the detailed rules applicable to ring-fenced banks, will continue to put those rules in place. The Government expects the ring-fencing regime to be in place by 2019, however, ring-fenced banks have until 2021 to separate their pension schemes.
View the Announcement.
View the Legislation.TOPIC : Bank Structural Reform -
UK Government Publishes Final Draft Regulations on Pension Liabilities of Ring-Fenced Bodies
02/17/2015
HM Treasury published the final draft Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Banking Reform) (Pensions) Regulations together with its response to its consultation on the draft Regulations. The aim of the Regulations is to impose requirements on the pension liabilities of ring-fenced banks to ensure they are not liable for pension schemes of other group entities (except in cases that are specifically prescribed by the Treasury). The draft Regulations provide a framework in which existing pension arrangements can be restructured so that they are aligned with the requirements. In the consultation response, HM Treasury sets out its policy decisions and addresses concerns raised by the respondents, stating that banks would now have to apply for a clearance statement from the Pension Regulator only if changes are likely to be materially detrimental to the scheme and its members. The consultation response also states there is no general provision for transitional tax protections for employees in the Regulations at present but it commits to addressing such issues once it has a better understanding of how banks will implement the ring fence and the nature of any detrimental impact on individuals as a result of scheme changes. The final draft Regulations have now been put before Parliament.
View the consultation response.
View the final regulations.TOPIC : Bank Structural Reform -
Volcker Rule FAQs Updated
12/23/2014
The Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve along with other regulatory agencies responsible for implementing the Volcker Rule added an additional question under the Volcker Rule Frequently Asked Questions page relating to metrics reporting and confidentiality under the Freedom of Information Act. The updated FAQs indicate that the agencies will maintain the confidentiality of the reported information to the extent permitted by law and encourages entities subject to Appendix A of the Volcker Rule to evaluate potential exemptions and ask for confidential treatment if appropriate, including under Exemption 4 of the FOIA, which exempts confidential trade secrets and commercial information from disclosure.
View the updated Volcker Rule FAQs.TOPIC : Bank Structural Reform