ESMA Extends Registrations of 4 Trade Repositories to Include SFT Reporting

The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA ESMA European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) is an independent Authority of the European Union that is responsible for the safety, security, and stability of the European Unions’ financial system and is charged with protecting the public. The European supervisory authority for the securities sector, ESMA was established on 1 January 2011. The European Securities and Markets Authority is an independent EU authority based in Paris. It aims to contribute to the effectiveness and stability of t European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) is an independent Authority of the European Union that is responsible for the safety, security, and stability of the European Unions’ financial system and is charged with protecting the public. The European supervisory authority for the securities sector, ESMA was established on 1 January 2011. The European Securities and Markets Authority is an independent EU authority based in Paris. It aims to contribute to the effectiveness and stability of t Read this Term) announced today that it has approved the extension of registrations of four trade repositories (TRs) to include securities financing transactions (SFT) reporting under the Securities Financing Transactions Regulation Regulation Like any other industry with a high net worth, the financial services industry is tightly regulated to help curb illicit behavior and manipulation. Each asset class has its own set of protocols put in place to combat their respective forms of abuse.In the foreign exchange space, regulation is assumed by authorities in multiple jurisdictions, though ultimately lacking a binding international order. Who are the Industry’s Leading Regulators?Regulators such as the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority ( Like any other industry with a high net worth, the financial services industry is tightly regulated to help curb illicit behavior and manipulation. Each asset class has its own set of protocols put in place to combat their respective forms of abuse.In the foreign exchange space, regulation is assumed by authorities in multiple jurisdictions, though ultimately lacking a binding international order. Who are the Industry’s Leading Regulators?Regulators such as the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority ( Read this Term (SFTR).

The TRs concerned are DTCC Derivatives Repository plc, UnaVista TRADEcho B.V., Krajowy Depozyt Papierów Wartościowych S.A. and REGIS-TR S.A. effective May 7, 2020.

All four TRs have been registered for all types of SFTs, i.e., repurchase transactions, securities or commodities lending and securities or commodities borrowing transactions buy-sell back or sell-buy back transactions and margin lending transactions, according to ESMA.

The four TRs are already registered with ESMA as TRs for derivatives contracts under the European Markets Infrastructure Regulation (EMIR).

ESMA says that SFTR, with the aim of enhancing the transparency of the securities financing market, requires all counterparties to SFTs to report the details of any SFT they have concluded.

Additionally, it requires the reporting of any modification or termination to a registered trade repository (TR).

SFTR also provides for the direct supervision and registration of TRs by ESMA, who is the sole supervisor of TRs for the purpose of EMIR and SFTR in the European Union, ESMA notes.

Trade repositories

TRs are commercial firms that centrally collect and maintain the records of SFTs reported to them. The registration of a TR means that it can be used by counterparties to an SFT to fulfill their trade reporting obligations under SFTR.

To be registered as a TR, a company must be able to demonstrate to ESMA that it can comply with the requirements of SFTR, including, most importantly, operational reliability, safeguarding and recording; and transparency and data availability.

Regarding reporting obligations, counterparties to SFTs are advised to consult ESMA’s public statement concerning actions to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on the EU.