HM Treasury Publishes Summary of Responses to Consultation on Non-bank resolution
Introduction
On 17 October 2012, HM Treasury published a summary of responses received to its August 2012 consultation paper, entitled “Financial Section Resolution: Broadening the Regime” (the “Consultation Paper”). Broadly, the Consultation Paper had proposed the widening of resolution regimes to systemically important non-banks, specifically:
- Investment firms and parent undertakings;
- Central counterparties (CCPs);
- Non-CCP financial market infrastructures (non-CCP FMIs); and
- Insurers.
For a full summary of the Consultation Paper, please see our previous blogpost “HM Treasury Consultation: RRP for Financial Market Infrastructures” dated 8 August 2012.
Summary of Responses
HM Treasury received 45 responses to the Consultation Paper prior to the 24 September 2012 deadline. Broadly, respondents were supportive of the original position of the Government, which reconfirmed its intention to develop the UK regime in advance of European legislation. The main changes to be implemented in light of the Consultation Paper are set out below.
Investment firms and parent undertakings
The Government proposes:
- to narrow the definition of investment firms which are subject to the resolution regime proposals so as to promote consistency with the Recovery and Resolution Directive by excluding small investment firms that are not subject to an initial capital requirement of €730,000; and
- an extension of stabilisation powers to group companies in order to facilitate resolution, but subject to certain conditions, such as limiting such powers to financial groups (rather than financial elements of any group that contains a bank, as was proposed in the Consultation Paper).
Central Counterparties
The Government proposes to include an additional objective for intervention in a failing CCP, which seeks to maintain the continuity of critical services. It notes the mixed response from the industry regarding the intervention power generally but continues to regard this as justified given the systemic consequences which closure of a CCP’s critical functions could have, particularly where there are no obvious substitutes for the CCP. However, the Government also accepts that recognised clearing houses that do not provide central counterparty clearing services should be excluded from the regime altogether, meaning that they are likely to be covered by proposals relating to non-CCP FMIs.
The Government also noted the strong industry opposition to its proposal to allow resolution authorities to impose on the clearing members of a CCP any losses which were above and beyond those dealt with by the CCP’s existing loss allocation provisions. It was felt that this proposal would cause uncertainty, could potentially lead to distorted incentives such as the early termination and exit of members, might put UK CCPs at a competitive disadvantage and could have capital and liquidity implications for clearing members. In light of this, the Government has decided not to pursue the proposal, but remains of the view that taxpayers should not be expected to meet the cost of restoring a failed CCP. As such, it proposes to make loss allocation rules mandatory for the purposes of authorisation as a Recognised Clearing House within the UK and will re-consult on this new proposal in due course.
Non-CCP FMIs and Insurers
The government accepts that the case for a full resolution regime for Non-CCP FMIs or insurers is less clear cut. Most Non-CCP FMIs have no financial exposure, similar to those faced by CCPs, and any failure is more likely to be operational or technological in nature. In addition, there seems to be a general recognition that traditional insurance activities – whether general or life insurance business – do not generate or amplify systemic risk. In contrast, non-traditional insurance and non-insurance activities (such as derivative trading) are regarded as sources of systemic risk.
It seems that the Government accepts that a strengthening of the existing regimes appears to be the most appropriate option and will engage in further dialogue to determine how best this can be achieved.
Next Steps
The changes to proposals regarding investment firms and their parent undertakings, deposit taking institutions and CCPs will be effected by changes to the Financial Services Bill that is currently before Parliament. For non-CCP FMIs and insurers, the government will take further time to consider the arguments presents by respondents to the Consultation Document and decide the best way to proceed.