On April 4, two Commission Implementing Decisions (Amending Decisions) were published in the Official Journal of the European Union, amending the following December 20, 2018 equivalence decisions (Equivalence Decisions):

  • Implementing Decision (EU) 2018/2031, on the temporary equivalence of the UK’s regulatory framework for central counterparties (CCPs); and
  • Implementing Decision (EU) 2018/2030, on the temporary equivalence of the UK’s regulatory framework for central securities depositories (CSDs).

Continue Reading Equivalence for UK CCPs and CSDs Extended

On March 28, the European Securities and Markets Association (ESMA) published a statement updating market participants on its preparations for the United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the European Union, in the event of an agreement on transitional arrangements (Withdrawal Agreement) not being in place (No-Deal Brexit). ESMA’s update follows the European Council’s (EC’s) agreement to the UK government’s request to extend the United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the European Union (Brexit) to either April 12 if the House of Commons does not approve a Withdrawal Agreement by March 29, or to May 22 if it does.
Continue Reading ESMA Publishes Statement on Preparations Regarding Clearing and Settlement for a No-Deal Brexit

On February 18, the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) published a press release confirming that it has adopted recognition decisions to permit three UK central counterparties (CCPs) to continue to provide CCP services to EU trading venues and EU clearing members following the United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the European Union on March 29 (Exit Day) in the event that no agreement on transitional arrangements is in place with the EU (no-deal Brexit).
Continue Reading ESMA to Recognize Three UK CCPs in the Event of a No-Deal Brexit

On February 4, the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) and the Bank of England announced that they have agreed on Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) surrounding the cooperation and information-sharing arrangements with respect to UK-based central counterparties (CCPs) and central securities depositories (CSDs) in the event of the United Kingdom’s exit from the European Union on March 29 (Exit Day) without an agreement on transitional arrangements being in place with the EU (no-deal Brexit).
Continue Reading BoE and ESMA Agree No-Deal MoUs on Recognition of UK CCPs and CSDs

On January 24, the Bank of England updated its financial market infrastructure supervision websites with interim lists of entities and systems that will enter into the various temporary or transitional arrangements on exit day should the United Kingdom leave the European Union with no implementation period. The lists consist of:

  • Third-country central counterparties (CCPs) that will offer clearing services and activities in the UK under the temporary recognition regime of the Central Counterparties (Amendments, etc., and Transitional Provision) (EU Exit) Regulations 2018;
  • Third-country central securities depositories (CSDs) that will provide CSD services in the United Kingdom using the transitional provisions of the Central Securities Depositories (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2018; and
  • European Economic Area (EEA) systems whose operators have indicated their intention for such systems to receive settlement finality protection in the United Kingdom pursuant to the draft temporary designation regime of the Draft Financial Markets and Insolvency (Amendment and Transitional Provision) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019.

Continue Reading Bank of England and FCA Provide Updates on Post-Brexit Market Infrastructure Transitional Arrangements and Applications

On March 23, the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) updated its Q&As on the implementation of the Central Securities Depositories Regulation (CSDR). The aim of the Q&As is to promote common supervisory approaches and practices in the application of the CSDR.
Continue Reading ESMA Updates Q&As on the Central Securities Depositories Regulation