Template:Isda architecture

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The ISDA Master Agreement

The ISDA Master Agreement is the basic framework which applies to anyone who touches down on planet ISDA. There are three existing versions:

  • the state-of-the-art 2002 ISDA;[1]
  • the still-popular-with-traditionalists-and-Americans 1992 ISDA, and
  • the all-but-retired-but-don’t-forget-there-are-still-soldiers-in-the-Burmese-jungle 1987 ISDA[2]
  • the interesting-only-for-its-place-in-the-fossil-record-and-witty-acrostic 1985 ISDA Code; and
  • there isn’t a 2008 ISDA. That’s a little running JC in-joke.[3]

All three versions have a tri-partite form: Pre-printed Master, {{{{{1}}}|Schedule}} and — well, this is controversial: for is it, or is it not, part of the ISDA Master Agreement? — Credit Support Annex.

  1. There is no such thing as a 2008 ISDA. That was a joke on our part.
  2. Seriously: proceed with caution with one of these. 1987 ISDAs don’t have a lot of safety features a modern derivatives counterparty relies on, so only for real specialists and weirdos. Think of it like flying a spitfire rather than a 737 Max. Um, okay, bad metaphor.
  3. Talking to yourself might not be the first sign of madness, but having in-jokes with yourself might be.