There have been many developments in national and European financial markets regulation during the past month, such as the publication of a draft bill implementing the Recovery and Resolution Directive. In addition, the Dutch parliament has clarified the tax treatment of CoCos.
Supervisory authorities have also published a large number of consultation documents, draft rules and other information since the last edition of In context. And finally, we highlight important court decisions.
Dutch regulation
Amendments to the Financial Markets Supervision Act
Several amendments to the Financial Markets Supervision Act are expected to enter into force shortly. The most significant are:
Financial Markets Amendment Bill 2015
Bill amending the Act on funding of financial supervision
Bill on the remuneration policy of financial institutions
If you would like more information, go to “Financial Markets Supervision Act to be amended: get ready”.
Dutch parliament clarifies tax treatment of CoCos
Additional tier 1 capital issued in accordance with the Capital Requirements Regulation is to be treated as debt capital for tax purposes. As is already the case in other European member states, payments on these instruments will be deductible by the party making the payments and taxed on the recipient’s part. Early December 2014, the First Chamber of the Dutch parliament adopted a bill to this effect. New capital instruments (e.g., contingent convertibles or CoCos) will be taken into account in calculating the leverage ratio. This will allow Dutch banks to use the additional tier 1 capital to meet the Basel III capital requirements. Also, the new rules are in line with the tax treatment in other European member states.
The new rules are expected to enter into force on 1 January 2015 and will have retroactive effect from 1 January 2014.
Implementation of European framework for recovery and resolution of credit institutions and investment firms
The Dutch Ministry of Finance has launched a consultation (in Dutch) on the implementation of the European framework for the recovery and resolution of credit institutions and investment firms. The consultation runs until 19 December. The draft bill contains rules on:
recovery and resolution plans
resolution tools, g. the power to sell or merge the business with another bank, to set up a temporary bridge bank to operate critical functions, to separate good assets from bad ones and to convert to shares or write down the debt of failing banks (bail–in).
the national resolution fund
the powers of the Dutch Central Bank
European and international supervisors
European Securities and Markets Authority – publications
Discussion paper on key information documents (publication of the combined European Supervisory Authorities)
Update to Q&As on the AIFMD
Consultation on revised EMIR standards on the reporting to trade repositories
Guidelines on asset segregation under the AIFMD
European Banking Authority – publications
Consultation on assessment methodology for internal ratings-based approach
Consultation on guidelines on the use of the bail-in power
Consultation on guidelines on product oversight and governance arrangements
Consultation on valuation in recovery and resolution
Consultation on methods for calculating contributions to Deposit Guarantee Schemes
Consultation on criteria for determining the minimum requirement for own funds and eligible liabilities
Opinion on the interpretation of the term “credit institution”
LMA revises facility documentation
The LMA has published a revised set of facility documentation. The changes focus on:
a comprehensive revision of the interest provisions
operational changes
auditor control provisions.
The LMA has also published a new document, the Super Senior Multicurrency Revolving Facility Agreement.
International Organization of Securities Commissions – publications
Consultation on Post-Trade Transparency in the Credit Default Swaps Market
Consultation on Cross-Border Regulation
International publications
Capital Markets Law Journal
OTC derivatives: client clearing agreements – a piece in the clearing jigsaw / Emma Dwyer and Richard Tredgett – CMLJ (2014) 9 (4)
The legal nature of emission allowances following the creation of a Union Registry and adoption of MiFID II – are they transferable securities now? / Krzystof Gorzelak – CMLJ (2014) 9 (4)