Regulators Issue Guidance On Non-Compliance With Impending Variation Margin Requirements

On February 23 2017 the US prudential regulators – including the Federal Reserve Board, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency and the International Organisation of Securities Commissions (IOSCOs) – alongside the European Supervisory Authorities (ESAs) and the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) issued guidance as to the March 1 2017 implementation of variation margin requirements on uncleared swaps.¹ The guidance indicates how the respective supervisory authorities and regulators will approach compliance with the variation margin requirements.

The US prudential regulators expect priority to be given to compliance efforts by covered entities based on the size of and risk inherent in the credit and market risk exposures presented by each counterparty. In particular, compliance as of March 1 should be achieved with respect to those counterparties that present significant exposures. Firms must make good faith efforts to comply as soon as possible for other