Welcome back to our Interest Rates Watch
series, developed to provide timely updates and practical advice on
developments related to interest rates and benchmarks on a regular
basis. As always, we are here to help.
In the early months of 2022, we've continued to see the
phase-out of USD LIBOR and an uptick in the number of contracts
adopting an alternative reference rate. The adoption of alternative
reference rates coincides with the guidance previously provided by
Canadian and US regulatory bodies1 that parties cease
using USD LIBOR as a reference rate in new contracts by December
31, 2021.
To date, the market has favoured the replacement rate
recommended by the Alternative Reference Rates Committee (ARRC),
being the forward-looking Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR)
term rate (Term SOFR). Please see our previous article for more information on
the ARRC's recommendation of Term SOFR as the USD LIBOR
replacement rate. Generally, we've seen three approaches