Regulatory initial margin: Difference between revisions

From The Jolly Contrarian
Jump to navigation Jump to search
No edit summary
No edit summary
Line 1: Line 1:
{{g}}[[Regulatory margin]] for [[initial margin]] (known to [[ISDA ninja]]s as an “{{csaprov|Independent Amount}}”, as opposed to [[regulatory variation margin]]. Introduced later and with a lot more complexity, because — in order to properly address credit risks between the parties and not aggravate them, [[regulatory initial margin]] can’t be [[Title-transfer collateral arrangement|transferred outright]]. that means, no [[title transfer]] of [[securities]], and no [[cash]].
{{g}}[[Regulatory margin]] for [[initial margin]] (known to [[ISDA ninja]]s as an “{{csaprov|Independent Amount}}”, as opposed to [[regulatory variation margin]]. Introduced later and with a lot more complexity, because — to properly address [[credit risk]]s between the parties and not aggravate them [[regulatory initial margin]] can’t be [[Title-transfer collateral arrangement|transferred outright]]. That means, no [[title transfer]] of [[securities]], and no [[cash]].


===You what?===
===You what?===
It is true, my little striplings. In the old world, {{csaprov|Independent Amount}}s were transferred outright to the Transferee, by title transfer.<ref>Under an [[English law]] {{csa}}, at any rate. But the effect was the same where [[rehypothecation]] was allowed under a {{1994csa}} too.</ref> This created a conceptual issue for regulators, who were trying to ''minimise'' credit exposure between the parties: a [[title transfer]] of [[collateral]] to cover a potential {{vmcsaprov|Exposure}} that doesn’t yet — and might never — exist creates a ''negative'' exposure, because the holder of the {{csaprov|Independent Amount}} would ''owe'' it to the {{csaprov|Transferor}}, and the Transferor would be an unsecured creditor for its return. Hence, [[regulatory initial margin]] cannot be [[cash]], and must be [[Pledge|pledged]] and not [[title transfer]]red.
It is true, my little striplings. [[Securities]] only, and only by [[pledge]].<ref>Under certain thresholds, you can post non-regulatory compliant [[initial margin]]<ref>For more information see [[Credit Support Amount (VM/IA)]].</ref>, but this is somewhat frowned upon, subject to regulatory limits and so on.
 
In the old world, {{csaprov|Independent Amount}}s were transferred outright to the Transferee, by title transfer.<ref>Under an [[English law]] {{csa}}, at any rate. But the effect was the same where [[rehypothecation]] was allowed under a {{1994csa}} too.</ref> This created a conceptual issue for regulators, who were trying to ''minimise'' credit exposure between the parties: a [[title transfer]] of [[collateral]] to cover a potential {{vmcsaprov|Exposure}} that doesn’t yet — and might never — exist creates a ''negative'' exposure, because the holder of the {{csaprov|Independent Amount}} would ''owe'' it to the {{csaprov|Transferor}}, and the Transferor would be an unsecured creditor for its return. Hence, [[regulatory initial margin]] cannot be [[cash]], and must be [[Pledge|pledged]] and not [[title transfer]]red.


This means, for most cases, third-party custodians, triparty arrangements, account control agreements, security deeds and all that kind of nonsense. Corporate trust and agency service providers sang hosannas to the regulators. [[Legasl eagle]]s licked lips. Everyone else did the side-eye.
This means, for most cases, third-party custodians, triparty arrangements, account control agreements, security deeds and all that kind of nonsense. Corporate trust and agency service providers sang hosannas to the regulators. [[Legasl eagle]]s licked lips. Everyone else did the side-eye.

Revision as of 04:03, 31 December 2019

The Jolly Contrarian’s Glossary
The snippy guide to financial services lingo.™
Index — Click the ᐅ to expand:
Tell me more
Sign up for our newsletter — or just get in touch: for ½ a weekly 🍺 you get to consult JC. Ask about it here.

Regulatory margin for initial margin (known to ISDA ninjas as an “Independent Amount”, as opposed to regulatory variation margin. Introduced later and with a lot more complexity, because — to properly address credit risks between the parties and not aggravate them — regulatory initial margin can’t be transferred outright. That means, no title transfer of securities, and no cash.

You what?

It is true, my little striplings. Securities only, and only by pledge.Cite error: Closing </ref> missing for <ref> tag, but this is somewhat frowned upon, subject to regulatory limits and so on.

In the old world, Independent Amounts were transferred outright to the Transferee, by title transfer.[1] This created a conceptual issue for regulators, who were trying to minimise credit exposure between the parties: a title transfer of collateral to cover a potential Exposure that doesn’t yet — and might never — exist creates a negative exposure, because the holder of the Independent Amount would owe it to the Transferor, and the Transferor would be an unsecured creditor for its return. Hence, regulatory initial margin cannot be cash, and must be pledged and not title transferred.

This means, for most cases, third-party custodians, triparty arrangements, account control agreements, security deeds and all that kind of nonsense. Corporate trust and agency service providers sang hosannas to the regulators. Legasl eagles licked lips. Everyone else did the side-eye.

See also

  1. Under an English law 1995 CSA, at any rate. But the effect was the same where rehypothecation was allowed under a 1994 NY CSA too.