Getting Ready for Initial Margin: The Steps to Take

Each September until 2022*, increasing numbers of entities will be required to meet initial margin regulations as the threshold level for compliance reduces. Preparation for meeting these requirements will take significant time, and will involve intensive work to ensure systems, processes and documentation are in place.

ISDA has published a fact sheet that sets out the steps firms should take when preparing to comply with regulatory initial margin requirements. These are not necessarily presented in chronological order – the precise order and timing will depend on a firm’s specific circumstances.

STEP 1: Identify in-scope entities early

STEP 2: Make early disclosures to counterparties

STEP 3: Exchange information on compliance

STEP 4: Identify special cases

STEP 5: Establish custodial relationships

STEP 6: Prepare for compliance

STEP 7: Negotiate/execute documentation

STEP 8: Finalize preparations

  • Updated in August 2020 to account for new Basel Committee on Banking Supervision/IOSCO implementation schedule.

Click on the attached PDF to read the full list of steps.

Documents (1) for Getting Ready for Initial Margin: The Steps to Take

Moving Regulatory Reporting up a Gear with AI

The aim of derivatives regulatory reporting is to improve transparency so regulators can monitor market activity and identify emerging risks. Although reporting rules and subsequent updates have resulted in improvements, they haven’t achieved fully consistent outcomes, leading to implementation and...

ISDA Publishes FpML Version 5.14

ISDA has published a new version of its Financial products Markup Language (FpML), a widely used open-source standard for the electronic dealing and processing of derivatives transactions. The latest iteration – version 5.14 – incorporates several key modifications and updates...

Accounting for Tokenized Assets as Collateral

The use of tokenized assets as collateral for derivatives and securities financing transactions (SFTs) is emerging as a significant development in global capital markets. Financial institutions are increasingly evaluating tokenized representations of money market funds, government securities and other high-quality...