Canada

IOSCO report on liquidity provision in the secondary markets for equity securities

On 11 August 2020, the International Organisation of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) published a report, Liquidity provision in the secondary markets for equity securities. The report identifies some of the key elements of market making programs that may help promote the provision of liquidity, strengthen investor confidence and foster fair and efficient markets. The report focuses … Continue Reading

Wolsfsberg Group publishes new AML guidance to support source of wealth and source of funds due diligence

By Clarinda Grundy on August 10, 2020 Posted in Asia, Australia, Canada, Germany, Italy, Money laundering, Money laundering, Money laundering, Money laundering, Money laundering, Money laundering, The Netherlands, United Kingdom, United States

On 7 August 2020, the Wolfsberg Group, published new guidance targeted at private banking and wealth management divisions within financial institutions (FIs) to support the undertaking of source of wealth (SoW) and source of funds (SoF) checks. Based on the principles of the application of a risk-based approach (RBA), different customers will require a different … Continue Reading

Basel Committee releases consultative documents on Principles for operational risk and operational resilience

On 6 August 2020, the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (Basel Committee) published a consultative document seeking comments on proposed Principles for operational resilience. Given the natural relationship between operational resilience and operational risk, the Basel Committee is also proposing to update its Principles for the sound management of operational risk (PSMOR). The Basel Committee … Continue Reading

Global Asset Management Quarterly – 15th edition now available online

By Simon Lovegrove (UK), Richard Sheen (UK) and Imogen Garner (UK) on August 7, 2020 Posted in Africa, Asia, Asset management, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, The Netherlands, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States

The latest issue of Global Asset Management Quarterly is now available here. This issue contains the following articles: Europe • European update • EU/UK regulatory roundup United Kingdom • Climate Financial Risk Forum publishes guide on climate-related financial risk management • Heightened risk of market abuse in a remote working context? • Observations on the … Continue Reading

Data Breaches and Anti-Money Laundering Consequences – An Overview

By Daniel Leslie (CA) on August 6, 2020 Posted in Anti-money laundering, Banking, Canada, Data protection, Money laundering, Privacy, Regulation and compliance

When an entity (Affected Entity) experiences a data breach incident (Breach Incident), it is instantly faced with a number of issues that it must address with urgency. Among such, an Affected Entity must manage crucial regulatory compliance obligations that may be triggered by the Breach Incident. The most obvious of these obligations arise under the … Continue Reading

OSFI rules on Limited Recourse Capital Notes

By Daniel Leslie (CA) on August 6, 2020 Posted in Banking, Canada, Capital adequacy, General, Regulation and compliance

The Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (OSFI) has recently issued a ruling regarding the regulatory treatment of Limited Recourse Capital Notes (LRCNs) which are currently being adopted as new financial instruments by Canadian banks. An LRCN is a subordinated note issued by a federally regulated financial institution (FRFI) that is secured by preferred … Continue Reading

Monthly Global FinTech regulatory updater

Every month we provide the Global Blockchain Business Council’s Post-Trade Distributed Ledger group with a global regulatory FinTech updater, the latest version of which can be found here. Post Trade Distributed Ledger (PTDL) Group is composed of over 40 prominent market infrastructure stakeholders whose shared vision of the use of distributed ledger technology has brought … Continue Reading

FSB report : Financial stability implications and policy measures taken

On 15 July 2020, the Financial Stability Board (FSB) published a report that provides an update on financial stability developments and risks relating to COVID-19, the policy actions taken to date and how they relate to the FSB principles, the factors that affect the effectiveness of policies and their implementation and the way forward. The … Continue Reading

CPMI report identifies steps to enhance cross-border payments

By Albert Weatherill (UK) on July 15, 2020 Posted in Africa, Asia, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Payment Services, Payment services, Payment services, The Netherlands, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States

On 13 July 2020, the Committee on Payments and Market Infrastructures (CPMI) issued a report, ‘Enhancing cross-border payments: building blocks of a global roadmap’. The report presents the output of stage 2 of a three stage process to develop a global roadmap for enhancing cross-border payment. The report identifies a set of building blocks where … Continue Reading

New anti-money laundering rules in Canada – further updates released

By Daniel Leslie (CA) on July 10, 2020 Posted in Anti-money laundering, Canada, Regulation and compliance

The Department of Finance Canada recently released the final amending regulations that amend the existing Regulations Amending Certain Regulations Made Under the Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Act (Regulations). Our previous update on other aspects of the amendments can be found here. The Regulations attempt to bring Canada’s anti-money laundering and anti-terrorist … Continue Reading

FSB and Basel Committee set out supervisory recommendations for benchmark transition

On 9 July 2020, the Financial Stability Board (FSB) and the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (Basel Committee) issued a report on supervisory issues associated with benchmark transition. The report includes insights on remaining challenges to LIBOR transition based on surveys undertaken by the FSB, the Basel Committee and the International Association of Insurance Supervisors. … Continue Reading

Basel Committee publication: Targeted revisions to the CVA risk framework

On 8 July 2020, the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (Basel Committee) published a paper setting out the final targeted revisions to the credit valuation adjustment (CVA) risk framework. In January 2019 the Basel Committee published the revised market risk framework. In November 2019 the Basel Committee consulted on a set of targeted final revisions … Continue Reading

Last chance to take part – Global operational resilience survey

Operational resilience, which has risen to increased prominence over recent years, has been brought into even sharper focus following the outbreak of COVID-19. Our risk consulting team is carrying out a survey to explore how financial institutions are managing their crisis response planning and preparedness in the event of severe operational disruption, particularly leading up … Continue Reading

FATF reports on stablecoins and virtual assets

By Simon Lovegrove (UK) on July 8, 2020 Posted in Africa, Asia, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Money laundering, Money laundering, Money laundering, Money laundering, Money laundering, Money laundering, The Netherlands, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States

On 7 July 2020, the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) issued a report to G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors regarding stablecoins. The June 2019 revisions to the FATF Standards place anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing (AML/CFT) requirements on virtual assets and virtual asset service providers (VASPs). The FATF report finds that stablecoins share … Continue Reading

Doing business in the EU after the transition period

We have updated our popular client briefing note ‘Doing business in the EU’ covering the temporary transitional relief measures EU27 Member States are implementing, if any, for the period after the transition period should the UK/EU not enter into a free trade agreement. For a copy of the updated briefing note please contact Simon Lovegrove.… Continue Reading

Monthly Global FinTech regulatory updater

OSFI sets expectations on the use of Pillar II capital buffers for banks during the pandemic

By Daniel Leslie (CA) on May 7, 2020 Posted in Banking, Canada, Capital adequacy, Coronavirus, General, Regulation and compliance

The Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (OSFI) recently addressed a letter to deposit taking institutions (DTIs), including domestic systemically important banks (D-SIBs) and small and medium-sized banks (SMSBs), regarding the use of Pillar II capital buffers during the COVID-19 pandemic. The key takeaways are below: Capital expectations framework for DTIs. The current DTIs … Continue Reading

Financial services regulation hub now available on the NRF Institute

In an increasingly complex and fast-paced regulatory environment, financial services firms must remain responsive to a wide range of evolving areas, whilst ensuring compliance with new laws and regulation. To help our clients stay up to date on regulatory change as it happens, we have created a new financial services regulation hub on the NRF … Continue Reading

OSFI proposes further measures to help resilience amid pandemic

By Daniel Leslie (CA) on April 9, 2020 Posted in Banking, Canada, Capital adequacy, Coronavirus, General, Regulation and compliance

In our earlier post, we discussed the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions’ (OSFI) newly proposed measures intended to support federally regulated financial institutions and improve the stability of the Canadian economy and financial system in the face of challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. OSFI has recently published additional announcements for sector-specific measures … Continue Reading

Global Asset Management Quarterly – 14th edition now available online

By Richard Sheen (UK), Imogen Garner (UK) and Simon Lovegrove (UK) on April 6, 2020 Posted in Asia, Australia, Canada, Germany, Italy, The Netherlands, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States

The latest issue of Global Asset Management Quarterly is now available here. This issue contains the following articles: Europe European update Launch of IFR/IFD transition hub EU/UK regulatory roundup United Kingdom COVID-19: action points for boards to consider FCA Dear CEO letter: Asset management firms – prepare now for the end of LIBOR Extension of … Continue Reading

Monthly global FinTech regulatory updater

FINTRAC revises expectations for reporting entities amid pandemic

By Daniel Leslie (CA) on March 31, 2020 Posted in Anti-money laundering, Banking, Canada, Coronavirus, General, Money laundering, Regulation and compliance

The Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada (FINTRAC) recently provided guidance (the Guidance) to reporting entities in connection with their continuing obligations during the COVID-19 pandemic. In the Guidance, FINTRAC acknowledged that reporting entities may have to reassign and reprioritize their internal resources in response to the pandemic, which may in turn affect … Continue Reading

OSFI proposes measures to support resilience amid pandemic

By Daniel Leslie (CA) on March 25, 2020 Posted in Banking, Canada, Capital adequacy, Coronavirus, General, Regulation and compliance

The Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (OSFI) has announced measures intended to support federally regulated financial institutions (FRFIs) and improve the stability of the Canadian economy and financial system in response to challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and current market conditions: Domestic Stability Buffer set to 1.00% of risk weighted assets. Originally, … Continue Reading