02014R0909 — EN — 22.06.2022 — 002.001

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►B REGULATION (EU) No 909/2014 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 23 July 2014 on improving securities settlement in the European Union and on central securities depositories and amending Directives 98/26/EC and 2014/65/EU and Regulation (EU) No 236/2012 (Text with EEA relevance) (OJ L 257 28.8.2014, p. 1)

Amended by:





Corrected by:









▼B

REGULATION (EU) No 909/2014 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL

of 23 July 2014

on improving securities settlement in the European Union and on central securities depositories and amending Directives 98/26/EC and 2014/65/EU and Regulation (EU) No 236/2012

(Text with EEA relevance)







TITLE I

SUBJECT MATTER, SCOPE AND DEFINITIONS

Article 1

Subject matter and scope

1. This Regulation lays down uniform requirements for the settlement of financial instruments in the Union and rules on the organisation and conduct of central securities depositories (CSDs) to promote safe, efficient and smooth settlement.

2. This Regulation applies to the settlement of all financial instruments and activities of CSDs unless otherwise specified in this Regulation.

3. This Regulation is without prejudice to provisions of Union law concerning specific financial instruments, in particular Directive 2003/87/EC.

4. Articles 10 to 20, 22 to 24 and 27, Article 28(6), Article 30(4) and Articles 46 and 47, the provisions of Title IV and the requirements to report to competent authorities or relevant authorities or to comply with their orders under this Regulation, do not apply to the members of the ESCB, other Member States’ national bodies performing similar functions, or to other public bodies charged with or intervening in the management of public debt in the Union in relation to any CSD which the aforementioned bodies directly manage under the responsibility of the same management body, which has access to the funds of those bodies and which is not a separate entity.

Article 2

Definitions

1. For the purposes of this Regulation, the following definitions apply: (1) ‘central securities depository’ or ‘CSD’ means a legal person that operates a securities settlement system referred to in point (3) of Section A of the Annex and provides at least one other core service listed in Section A of the Annex; (2) ‘third-country CSD’ means any legal entity established in a third country that provides a similar service to the core service referred to in point (3) of Section A of the Annex and performs at least one other core service listed in Section A of the Annex; (3) ‘immobilisation’ means the act of concentrating the location of physical securities in a CSD in a way that enables subsequent transfers to be made by book entry; (4) ‘dematerialised form’ means the fact that financial instruments exist only as book entry records; (5) ‘receiving CSD’ means the CSD which receives the request of another CSD to have access to its services through a CSD link; (6) ‘requesting CSD’ means the CSD which requests access to the services of another CSD through a CSD link; (7) ‘settlement’ means the completion of a securities transaction where it is concluded with the aim of discharging the obligations of the parties to that transaction through the transfer of cash or securities, or both; (8) ‘financial instruments’ or ‘securities’ means financial instruments as defined in point (15) of Article 4(1) of Directive 2014/65/EU; (9) ‘transfer order’ means transfer order as defined in the second indent of point (i) of Article 2 of Directive 98/26/EC; (10) ‘securities settlement system’ means a system under the first, second and third indents of point (a) of Article 2 of Directive 98/26/EC that is not operated by a central counterparty whose activity consists of the execution of transfer orders; (11) ‘settlement internaliser’ means any institution, including one authorised in accordance with Directive 2013/36/EU or with Directive 2014/65/EU, which executes transfer orders on behalf of clients or on its own account other than through a securities settlement system; (12) ‘intended settlement date’ means the date that is entered into the securities settlement system as the settlement date and on which the parties to a securities transaction agree that settlement is to take place; (13) ‘settlement period’ means the time period between the trade date and the intended settlement date; (14) ‘business day’ means business day as defined in point (n) of Article 2 of Directive 98/26/EC; (15) ‘settlement fail’ means the non-occurrence of settlement, or partial settlement of a securities transaction on the intended settlement date, due to a lack of securities or cash and regardless of the underlying cause; (16) ‘central counterparty’ or ‘CCP’ means a CCP as defined in point (1) of Article 2 of Regulation (EU) No 648/2012; (17) ‘competent authority’ means the authority designated by each Member State in accordance with Article 11, unless otherwise specified in this Regulation; (18) ‘relevant authority’ means any authority referred to in Article 12; (19) ‘participant’ means any participant, as defined in point (f) of Article 2 of Directive 98/26/EC in a securities settlement system; (20) ‘participation’ means participation within the meaning of the first sentence of point (2) of Article 2 of Directive 2013/34/EU, or the ownership, direct or indirect, of 20 % or more of the voting rights or capital of an undertaking; (21) ‘control’ means the relationship between two undertakings as described in Article 22 of Directive 2013/34/EU; (22) ‘subsidiary’ means a subsidiary undertaking within the meaning of Article 2(10) and Article 22 of Directive 2013/34/EU; (23) ‘home Member State’ means the Member State in which a CSD is established; (24) ‘host Member State’ means the Member State, other than the home Member State, in which a CSD has a branch or provides CSD services; (25) ‘branch’ means a place of business other than the head office which is a part of a CSD, which has no legal personality and which provides CSD services for which the CSD has been authorised; (26) ‘default’, in relation to a participant, means a situation where insolvency proceedings, as defined in point (j) of Article 2 of Directive 98/26/EC, are opened against a participant; (27) ‘delivery versus payment’ or ‘DVP’ means a securities settlement mechanism which links a transfer of securities with a transfer of cash in a way that the delivery of securities occurs if and only if the corresponding transfer of cash occurs and vice versa; (28) ‘securities account’ means an account on which securities may be credited or debited; (29) ‘CSD link’ means an arrangement between CSDs whereby one CSD becomes a participant in the securities settlement system of another CSD in order to facilitate the transfer of securities from the participants of the latter CSD to the participants of the former CSD or an arrangement whereby a CSD accesses another CSD indirectly via an intermediary. CSD links include standard links, customised links, indirect links, and interoperable links; (30) ‘standard link’ means a CSD link whereby a CSD becomes a participant in the securities settlement system of another CSD under the same terms and conditions as applicable to any other participant in the securities settlement system operated by the latter; (31) ‘customised link’ means a CSD link whereby a CSD that becomes a participant in the securities settlement system of another CSD is provided with additional specific services to the services normally provided by that CSD to participants in the securities settlement system; (32) ‘indirect link’ means an arrangement between a CSD and a third party other than a CSD, that is a participant in the securities settlement system of another CSD. Such link is set up by a CSD in order to facilitate the transfer of securities to its participants from the participants of another CSD; (33) ‘interoperable link’ means a CSD link whereby CSDs agree to establish mutual technical solutions for settlement in the securities settlement systems that they operate; (34) ‘international open communication procedures and standards’ means internationally accepted standards for communication procedures, such as standardised messaging formats and data representation, which are available on a fair, open and non-discriminatory basis to any interested party; (35) ‘transferable securities’ means transferable securities as defined in point (44) of Article 4(1) of Directive 2014/65/EU; (36) ‘shares’ means securities specified in point (44)(a) of Article 4(1) of Directive 2014/65/EU; (37) ‘money-market instruments’ means money-market instruments as defined in point (17) of Article 4(1) of Directive 2014/65/EU; (38) ‘units in collective investment undertakings’ means units in collective investment undertakings as referred to in point (3) of Section C of Annex I to Directive 2014/65/EU; (39) ‘emission allowance’ means emission allowance as described in point (11) of Section C of Annex I to Directive 2014/65/EU, excluding derivatives in emission allowances; (40) ‘regulated market’ means regulated market as defined in point (21) of Article 4(1) of Directive 2014/65/EU; (41) ‘multilateral trading facility’ or ‘MTF’ means multilateral trading facility as defined in point (22) of Article 4(1) of Directive 2014/65/EU; (42) ‘trading venue’ means a trading venue as defined in point (24) of Article 4(1) of Directive 2014/65/EU; (43) ‘settlement agent’ means settlement agent as defined in point (d) of Article 2 of Directive 98/26/EC; (44) ‘SME growth market’ means an SME growth market as defined in point (12) of Article 4(1) of Directive 2014/65/EU; (45) ‘management body’ means the body or bodies of a CSD, appointed in accordance with national law, which is empowered to set the CSD’s strategy, objectives and overall direction, and which oversees and monitors management decision-making and includes persons who effectively direct the business of the CSD. Where, according to national law, a management body comprises different bodies with specific functions, the requirements of this Regulation shall apply only to members of the management body to whom the applicable national law assigns the respective responsibility; (46) ‘senior management’ means those natural persons who exercise executive functions within a CSD and who are responsible and accountable to the management body for the day-to-day management of that CSD.

2. The Commission shall be empowered to adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 67 concerning measures to further specify the non-banking-type ancillary services set out in points (1) to (4) of Section B of the Annex and the banking-type ancillary services set out in Section C of the Annex.







TITLE II

SECURITIES SETTLEMENT







CHAPTER I

Book-entry form

Article 3

Book-entry form

1. Without prejudice to paragraph 2, any issuer established in the Union that issues or has issued transferable securities which are admitted to trading or traded on trading venues, shall arrange for such securities to be represented in book-entry form as immobilisation or subsequent to a direct issuance in dematerialised form.

2. Where a transaction in transferable securities takes place on a trading venue the relevant securities shall be recorded in book-entry form in a CSD on or before the intended settlement date, unless they have already been so recorded.

Where transferable securities are transferred following a financial collateral arrangement as defined in point (a) of Article 2(1) of Directive 2002/47/EC, those securities shall be recorded in book-entry form in a CSD on or before the intended settlement date, unless they have already been so recorded.

Article 4

Enforcement

1. The authorities of the Member State where the issuer that issues securities is established shall ensure that Article 3(1) is applied.

2. The authorities competent for the supervision of the trading venues, including the competent authorities designated in accordance with Article 21(1) of Directive 2003/71/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council ( 1 ), shall ensure that the first subparagraph of Article 3(2) of this Regulation is applied where the securities referred to in Article 3(1) of this Regulation are traded on trading venues.

3. Member States’ authorities responsible for the application of Directive 2002/47/EC shall ensure that the second subparagraph of Article 3(2) of this Regulation is applied where the securities referred to in Article 3(1) of this Regulation are transferred following a financial collateral arrangement as defined in point (a) of Article 2(1) of Directive 2002/47/EC.







CHAPTER II

Settlement periods

Article 5

Intended settlement date

1. Any participant in a securities settlement system that settles in that system on its own account or on behalf of a third party transactions in transferable securities, money-market instruments, units in collective investment undertakings and emission allowances shall settle such transactions on the intended settlement date.

2. As regards transactions in transferable securities referred to in paragraph 1 which are executed on trading venues, the intended settlement date shall be no later than on the second business day after the trading takes place. That requirement shall not apply to transactions which are negotiated privately but executed on a trading venue, to transactions which are executed bilaterally but reported to a trading venue or to the first transaction where the transferable securities concerned are subject to initial recording in book-entry form pursuant to Article 3(2).

3. The competent authorities shall ensure that paragraph 1 is applied.

The authorities competent for the supervision of trading venues shall ensure that paragraph 2 is applied.







CHAPTER III

Settlement discipline

Article 6

Measures to prevent settlement fails

1. Trading venues shall establish procedures that enable the confirmation of relevant details of transactions in financial instruments referred to in Article 5(1) on the date when the transaction has been executed.

2. Notwithstanding the requirement laid down in paragraph 1, investment firms authorised pursuant to Article 5 of Directive 2014/65/EU shall, where applicable, take measures to limit the number of settlement fails.

Such measures shall at least consist of arrangements between the investment firm and its professional clients as referred to in Annex II to Directive 2014/65/EU to ensure the prompt communication of an allocation of securities to the transaction, confirmation of that allocation and confirmation of the acceptance or rejection of terms in good time before the intended settlement date.

ESMA shall, in close cooperation with the members of the ESCB, issue guidelines in accordance with Article 16 of Regulation (EU) No 1095/2010 on the standardised procedures and messaging protocols to be used for complying with the second subparagraph of this paragraph.

3. For each securities settlement system it operates, a CSD shall establish procedures that facilitate the settlement of transactions in financial instruments referred to in Article 5(1) on the intended settlement date with a minimum exposure of its participants to counterparty and liquidity risks and a low rate of settlement fails. It shall promote early settlement on the intended settlement date through appropriate mechanisms.

4. For each securities settlement system it operates, a CSD shall put in place measures to encourage and incentivise the timely settlement of transactions by its participants. CSDs shall require participants to settle their transactions on the intended settlement date.

5. ESMA shall, in close cooperation with the members of the ESCB, develop draft regulatory technical standards to specify the measures to be taken by investment firms in accordance with the first subparagraph of paragraph 2, the details of the procedures facilitating settlement referred to in paragraph 3 and the details of the measures to encourage and incentivise the timely settlement of transactions referred to in paragraph 4.

ESMA shall submit those draft regulatory technical standards to the Commission by 18 June 2015.

Power is delegated to the Commission to adopt the regulatory technical standards referred to in the first subparagraph in accordance with Articles 10 to 14 of Regulation (EU) No 1095/2010.

Article 7

Measures to address settlement fails

1. For each securities settlement system it operates, a CSD shall establish a system that monitors settlement fails of transactions in financial instruments referred to in Article 5(1). It shall provide regular reports to the competent authority and relevant authorities, as to the number and details of settlement fails and any other relevant information, including the measures envisaged by CSDs and their participants to improve settlement efficiency. Those reports shall be made public by CSDs in an aggregated and anonymised form on an annual basis. The competent authorities shall share with ESMA any relevant information on settlement fails.

2. For each securities settlement system it operates, a CSD shall establish procedures that facilitate settlement of transactions in financial instruments referred to in Article 5(1) that are not settled on the intended settlement date. These procedures shall provide for a penalty mechanism which will serve as an effective deterrent for participants that cause settlement fails.

Before establishing the procedures referred to in the first subparagraph, a CSD shall consult the relevant trading venues and CCPs in respect of which it provides settlement services.

The penalty mechanism referred to in the first subparagraph shall include cash penalties for participants that cause settlement fails (‘failing participants’). Cash penalties shall be calculated on a daily basis for each business day that a transaction fails to be settled after its intended settlement date until the end of a buy-in process referred to in paragraph 3, but no longer than the actual settlement day. The cash penalties shall not be configured as a revenue source for the CSD.

3. Without prejudice to the penalty mechanism referred to in paragraph 2 and the right to bilaterally cancel the transaction, where a failing participant does not deliver the financial instruments referred to in Article 5(1) to the receiving participant within 4 business days after the intended settlement date (‘extension period’) a buy-in process shall be initiated whereby those instruments shall be available for settlement and delivered to the receiving participant within an appropriate time-frame.

Where the transaction relates to a financial instrument traded on an SME growth market the extension period shall be 15 days unless the SME growth market decides to apply a shorter period.

4. The following exemptions from the requirement referred to in paragraph 3 shall apply: (a) based on asset type and liquidity of the financial instruments concerned, the extension period may be increased from four business days up to a maximum of seven business days where a shorter extension period would affect the smooth and orderly functioning of the financial markets concerned; (b) for operations composed of several transactions including securities repurchase or lending agreements, the buy-in process referred to in paragraph 3 shall not apply where the timeframe of those operations is sufficiently short and renders the buy-in process ineffective.

5. Without prejudice to paragraph 7, the exemptions referred to in paragraph 4 shall not apply in relation to transactions for shares where those transactions are cleared by a CCP.

6. Without prejudice to the penalty mechanism referred to in paragraph 2, where the price of the shares agreed at the time of the trade is higher than the price paid for the execution of the buy-in, the corresponding difference shall be paid to the receiving participant by the failing participant no later than on the second business day after the financial instruments have been delivered following the buy-in.

7. If the buy-in fails or is not possible, the receiving participant can choose to be paid cash compensation or to defer the execution of the buy-in to an appropriate later date (‘deferral period’). If the relevant financial instruments are not delivered to the receiving participant at the end of the deferral period, cash compensation shall be paid.

Cash compensation shall be paid to the receiving participant no later than on the second business day after the end of either the buy-in process referred to in paragraph 3 or the deferral period, where the deferral period was chosen.

8. The failing participant shall reimburse the entity that executes the buy-in for all amounts paid in accordance with paragraphs 3, 4 and 5, including any execution fees resulting from the buy-in. Such fees shall be clearly disclosed to the participants.

9. CSDs, CCPs and trading venues shall establish procedures that enable them to suspend in consultation with their respective competent authorities, any participant that fails consistently and systematically to deliver the financial instruments referred to in Article 5(1) on the intended settlement date and to disclose to the public its identity only after giving that participant the opportunity to submit its observations and provided that the competent authorities of the CSDs, CCPs and trading venues, and of that participant have been duly informed. In addition to consulting before any suspension, CSDs, CCPs and trading venues shall notify, without delay, the respective competent authorities of the suspension of a participant. The competent authority shall immediately inform the relevant authorities of the suspension of a participant.

Public disclosure of suspensions shall not contain personal data within the meaning of point (a) of Article 2 of Directive 95/46/EC.

10. Paragraphs 2 to 9 shall apply to all transactions of the financial instruments referred to in Article 5(1) which are admitted to trading or traded on a trading venue or cleared by a CCP as follows: (a) for transactions cleared by a CCP, the CCP shall be the entity that executes the buy-in according to paragraphs 3 to 8; (b) for transactions not cleared by a CCP but executed on a trading venue, the trading venue shall include in its internal rules an obligation for its members and its participants to apply the measures referred to in paragraphs 3 to 8; (c) for all transactions other than those referred to in points (a) and (b) of this subparagraph, CSDs shall include in their internal rules an obligation for their participants to be subject to the measures referred to in paragraphs 3 to 8.

A CSD shall provide the necessary settlement information to CCPs and trading venues to enable them to fulfil their obligations under this paragraph.

Without prejudice to points (a), (b) and (c) of the first subparagraph, CSDs may monitor the execution of buy-ins referred to in those points with respect to multiple settlement instructions, on the same financial instruments and with the same date of expiry of the execution period, with the aim of minimising the number of buy-ins to be executed and thus the impact on the prices of the relevant financial instruments.

11. Paragraphs 2 to 9 shall not apply to failing participants which are CCPs.

12. Paragraphs 2 to 9 shall not apply if insolvency proceedings are opened against the failing participant.

13. This Article shall not apply where the principal venue for the trading of shares is located in a third country. The location of the principal venue for the trading of shares shall be determined in accordance with Article 16 of Regulation (EU) No 236/2012.

14. The Commission shall be empowered to adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 67 to specify parameters for the calculation of a deterrent and proportionate level of the cash penalties referred to in the third subparagraph of paragraph 2 based on asset type and liquidity of the financial instrument and type of transaction that shall ensure a high degree of settlement discipline and the smooth and orderly functioning of the financial markets concerned.

15. ESMA shall, in close cooperation with the members of the ESCB, develop draft regulatory technical standards to specify: (a) the details of the system monitoring settlement fails and the reports on settlement fails referred to in paragraph 1; (b) the processes for collection and redistribution of cash penalties and any other possible proceeds from such penalties in accordance with paragraph 2; (c) the details of operation of the appropriate buy-in process referred to in paragraphs 3 to 8, including appropriate time-frames to deliver the financial instrument following the buy-in process referred to in paragraph 3. Such time-frames shall be calibrated taking into account the asset type and liquidity of the financial instruments; (d) the circumstances under which the extension period could be prolonged according to asset type and liquidity of the financial instruments, in accordance with the conditions referred to in point (a) of paragraph 4 taking into account the criteria for assessing liquidity under point (17) of Article 2(1) of Regulation (EU) No 600/2014; (e) type of operations and their specific time-frames referred to in point (b) of paragraph 4 that renders buy-in ineffective; (f) a methodology for the calculation of the cash compensation referred to in paragraph 7; (g) the conditions under which a participant is deemed consistently and systematically to fail to deliver the financial instruments as referred to in paragraph 9; and (h) the necessary settlement information referred to in the second subparagraph of paragraph 10.

ESMA shall submit those draft regulatory technical standards to the Commission by 18 June 2015.

Power is delegated to the Commission to adopt the regulatory technical standards referred to in the first subparagraph in accordance with Articles 10 to 14 of Regulation (EU) No 1095/2010.

Article 8

Enforcement

1. The competent authority of the CSD that operates the securities settlement system, the relevant authority responsible for the oversight of the securities settlement system concerned as well as the competent authorities for the supervision of trading venues, investment firms and CCPs shall be competent for ensuring that Articles 6 and 7 are applied by the institutions subject to their supervision and for monitoring the penalties imposed. Where necessary, the respective competent authorities shall cooperate closely. Member States shall inform ESMA about the designated competent authorities that are part of the supervision structure at the national level.

2. In order to ensure consistent, efficient and effective supervisory practices within the Union in relation to Articles 6 and 7 of this Regulation, ESMA may, in close cooperation with the members of the ESCB, issue guidelines in accordance with Article 16 of Regulation (EU) No 1095/2010.

3. An infringement of the rules under this Title shall not affect the validity of a private contract on financial instruments or the possibility for the parties to enforce the provisions of a private contract on financial instruments.







CHAPTER IV

Internalised settlement

Article 9

Settlement internalisers

1. Settlement internalisers shall report to the competent authorities of their place of establishment on a quarterly basis the aggregated volume and value of all securities transactions that they settle outside securities settlement systems.

Competent authorities shall without delay transmit the information received under the first subparagraph to ESMA and shall inform ESMA of any potential risk resulting from that settlement activity.

2. ESMA may, in close cooperation with the members of the ESCB, develop draft regulatory technical standards further specifying the content of such reporting.

Power is delegated to the Commission to adopt the regulatory technical standards referred to in the first subparagraph in accordance with Articles 10 to 14 of Regulation (EU) No 1095/2010.

3. ESMA shall develop draft implementing technical standards to establish standard forms, templates and procedures for the reporting and transmission of information referred to in paragraph 1.

ESMA shall submit those draft implementing technical standards to the Commission by 18 June 2015.

Power is conferred on the Commission to adopt the implementing technical standards referred to in the first subparagraph in accordance with Article 15 of Regulation (EU) No 1095/2010.







TITLE III

CENTRAL SECURITIES DEPOSITORIES







CHAPTER I

Authorisation and supervision of CSDs







Section 1

Authorities responsible for authorisation and supervision of CSDs

Article 10

Competent authority

Without prejudice to the oversight by the members of the ESCB referred to in Article 12(1), a CSD shall be authorised and supervised by the competent authority of its home Member State.

Article 11

Designation of the competent authority

1. Each Member State shall designate the competent authority responsible for carrying out the duties under this Regulation for the authorisation and supervision of CSDs established in its territory and shall inform ESMA thereof.

Where a Member State designates more than one competent authority, it shall determine their respective roles and shall designate a single authority to be responsible for cooperation with other Member States’ competent authorities, the relevant authorities, ESMA, and EBA, where specifically referred to in this Regulation.

2. ESMA shall publish on its website a list of the competent authorities designated in accordance with paragraph 1.

3. The competent authorities shall have the supervisory and investigatory powers necessary for the exercise of their functions.

Article 12

Relevant authorities

1. The following authorities shall be involved in the authorisation and supervision of CSDs where specifically referred to in this Regulation: (a) the authority responsible for the oversight of the securities settlement system operated by the CSD in the Member State whose law applies to that securities settlement system; (b) the central banks in the Union issuing the most relevant currencies in which settlement takes place; (c) where relevant, the central bank in the Union in whose books the cash leg of a securities settlement system operated by the CSD is settled.

2. ESMA shall publish on its website the list of the relevant authorities referred to in paragraph 1.

3. ESMA shall, in close cooperation with the members of the ESCB, develop draft regulatory technical standards specifying the conditions under which the Union currencies referred to in point (b) of paragraph 1 are considered to be the most relevant, and efficient practical arrangements for the consultation of the relevant authorities referred to in points (b) and (c) of that paragraph.

ESMA shall submit those draft regulatory technical standards to the Commission by 18 June 2015.

Power is delegated to the Commission to adopt the regulatory technical standards referred to in the first subparagraph in accordance with Articles 10 to 14 of Regulation (EU) No 1095/2010.

Article 13

Exchange of information

1. Competent authorities, relevant authorities and ESMA shall, on request and without undue delay, provide one another with the information required for the purposes of carrying out their duties under this Regulation.

2. Competent authorities, relevant authorities, ESMA and other bodies or natural and legal persons receiving confidential information in the exercise of their duties under this Regulation shall use it only in the course of their duties.

Article 14

Cooperation between authorities

1. Competent authorities, relevant authorities and ESMA shall cooperate closely, including by exchanging all relevant information for the application of this Regulation. Where appropriate and relevant, such cooperation shall include other public authorities and bodies, in particular those established or appointed under Directive 2003/87/EC.

In order to ensure consistent, efficient and effective supervisory practices within the Union, including cooperation between competent authorities and relevant authorities in the different assessments necessary for the application of this Regulation, ESMA may, in close cooperation with the members of the ESCB, issue guidelines addressed to competent authorities in accordance with Article 16 of Regulation (EU) No 1095/2010.

2. The competent authorities shall, in the exercise of their general duties, duly consider the potential impact of their decisions on the stability of the financial system in all other Member States concerned, in particular in the emergency situations referred to in Article 15, based on the available information.

Article 15

Emergency situations

Without prejudice to the notification procedure provided for in Article 6(3) of Directive 98/26/EC, competent authorities and relevant authorities shall immediately inform ESMA, the European Systemic Risk Board established by Regulation (EU) No 1092/2010 of the European Parliament and of the Council ( 2 ) and each other of any emergency situation relating to a CSD, including of any developments in financial markets, which may have an adverse effect on market liquidity, the stability of a currency in which settlement takes place, the integrity of monetary policy or on the stability of the financial system in any of the Member States where the CSD or one of its participants are established.







Section 2

Conditions and procedures for authorisation of CSDs

Article 16

Authorisation of a CSD

1. Any legal person that falls within the definition of CSD shall obtain an authorisation from the competent authority of the Member State where it is established before commencing its activities.

2. The authorisation shall specify the core services listed in Section A of the Annex and non-banking-type ancillary services permitted under Section B of the Annex, which the CSD is authorised to provide.

3. A CSD shall comply at all times with the conditions necessary for authorisation.

4. A CSD as well as its independent auditors, shall, without undue delay, inform the competent authority of any substantive changes affecting the compliance with the conditions for authorisation.

Article 17

Procedure for granting authorisation

1. The applicant CSD shall submit an application for authorisation to its competent authority.

2. The application for authorisation shall be accompanied by all information necessary to enable the competent authority to satisfy itself that the applicant CSD has established, at the time of the authorisation, all the necessary arrangements to meet its obligations as laid down in this Regulation. The application for authorisation shall include a programme of operations setting out the types of business envisaged and the structural organisation of the CSD.

3. Within 30 working days from the receipt of the application, the competent authority shall assess whether the application is complete. If the application is not complete, the competent authority shall set a time limit by which the applicant CSD has to provide additional information. The competent authority shall inform the applicant CSD when the application is considered to be complete.

4. From the moment when the application is considered to be complete, the competent authority shall transmit all information included in the application to the relevant authorities and consult those authorities concerning the features of the securities settlement system operated by the applicant CSD. Each relevant authority may inform the competent authority of its views within 3 months of the receipt of the information by the relevant authority.

5. Where the applicant CSD intends to provide services referred to in point (2) of Article 4(1) of Directive 2014/65/EU in addition to the provision of non-banking-type ancillary services explicitly listed in Section B of the Annex, the competent authority shall transmit all information included in the application to the authority referred to in Article 67 of Directive 2014/65/EU and consult that authority on the ability of the applicant CSD to comply with the requirements of Directive 2014/65/EU and of Regulation (EU) No 600/2014.

6. The competent authority shall, before granting authorisation to the applicant CSD, consult the competent authorities of the other Member State involved in the following cases: (a) the CSD is a subsidiary of a CSD authorised in another Member State; (b) the CSD is a subsidiary of the parent undertaking of a CSD authorised in another Member State; (c) the CSD is controlled by the same natural or legal persons who control a different CSD authorised in another Member State.

7. The consultation referred to in paragraph 6 shall cover the following: (a) the suitability of the shareholders and persons referred to in Article 27(6) and the reputation and experience of the persons who effectively direct the business of the CSD referred to in Article 27(1) and (4), where those shareholders and persons are common to the CSD and to a CSD authorised in another Member State; (b) whether the relations referred to in points (a), (b) and (c) of paragraph 6 between the CSD authorised in another Member State and the applicant CSD do not affect the ability of the latter to comply with the requirements of this Regulation.

8. Within six months from the submission of a complete application, the competent authority shall inform the applicant CSD in writing with a fully reasoned decision whether the authorisation has been granted or refused.

9. ESMA shall, in close cooperation with the members of the ESCB, develop draft regulatory technical standards to specify the information that the applicant CSD is to provide to the competent authority in the application for authorisation.

ESMA shall submit those draft regulatory technical standards to the Commission by 18 June 2015.

Power is delegated to the Commission to adopt the regulatory technical standards referred to in the first subparagraph in accordance with Articles 10 to 14 of Regulation (EU) No 1095/2010.

10. ESMA shall, in close cooperation with the members of the ESCB, develop draft implementing technical standards to establish standard forms, templates and procedures for the application for authorisation.

ESMA shall submit those draft implementing technical standards to the Commission by 18 June 2015.

Power is conferred on the Commission to adopt the implementing technical standards referred to in the first subparagraph in accordance with Article 15 of Regulation (EU) No 1095/2010.

Article 18

Effects of the authorisation

1. The activities of the authorised CSD shall be limited to the provision of services covered by its authorisation or by notification in accordance with Article 19(8).

2. Securities settlement systems may be operated only by authorised CSDs, including central banks acting as CSDs.

3. An authorised CSD may have a participation only in a legal person whose activities are limited to the provision of services listed in Sections A and B of the Annex, unless such a participation is approved by its competent authority on the basis that it does not significantly increase the risk profile of the CSD.

4. ESMA shall, in close cooperation with the members of the ESCB, develop draft regulatory technical standards to specify the criteria to be taken into account by the competent authorities to approve the participation of CSDs in legal persons other than those providing the services listed in Sections A and B of the Annex. Such criteria may include whether the services provided by that legal person are complementary to the services provided by a CSD, and the extent of the CSD’s exposure to liabilities arising from such participation.

ESMA shall submit those draft regulatory technical standards to the Commission by 18 June 2015.

Power is delegated to the Commission to adopt the regulatory technical standards referred to in the first subparagraph in accordance with Articles 10 to 14 of Regulation (EU) No 1095/2010.

Article 19

Extension and outsourcing of activities and services

1. An authorised CSD shall submit an application for authorisation to the competent authority of its home Member State where it wishes to outsource a core service to a third party under Article 30 or extend its activities to one or more of the following: (a) additional core services listed in Section A of the Annex, not covered by the initial authorisation; (b) ancillary services permitted under, but not explicitly listed in Section B of the Annex, not covered by the initial authorisation; (c) the operation of another securities settlement system; (d) the settlement of all or part of the cash leg of its securities settlement system in the books of another settlement agent; (e) setting up an interoperable link, including those with third-country CSDs.

2. The granting of authorisation under paragraph 1 shall follow the procedure laid down in Article 17.

The competent authority shall inform the applicant CSD whether the authorisation has been granted or refused within three months of the submission of a complete application.

3. CSDs established in the Union that intend to establish an interoperable link shall submit an application for authorisation as required under point (e) of paragraph 1, to their respective competent authorities. Those authorities shall consult each other regarding the approval of the CSD link. In the event of divergent decisions and if agreed by both competent authorities the matter may be referred to ESMA, which may act in accordance with the powers conferred on it under Article 19 of Regulation (EU) No 1095/2010.

4. The authorities referred to in paragraph 3 shall refuse to authorise a link only where such a CSD link would threaten the smooth and orderly functioning of the financial markets or cause systemic risk.

5. Interoperable links of CSDs that outsource some of their services related to those interoperable links to a public entity in accordance with Article 30(5) and CSD links that are not referred to in point (e) of paragraph 1 shall not be subject to authorisation under that point but shall be notified to the CSDs’ competent and relevant authorities prior to their implementation by providing all relevant information that allows such authorities to assess compliance with the requirements provided in Article 48.

6. A CSD established and authorised in the Union may maintain or establish a link with a third-country CSD in accordance with the conditions and procedures provided in this Article. Where links are established with a third-country CSD the information provided by the requesting CSD shall allow the competent authority to evaluate whether such links fulfil the requirements provided in Article 48 or the requirements that are equivalent to those provided in Article 48.

7. The competent authority of the requesting CSD shall require that CSD to discontinue a CSD link that has been notified when such link does not fulfil the requirements provided for in Article 48 and thereby would threaten the smooth and orderly functioning of the financial markets or cause systemic risk. Where a competent authority requires the CSD to discontinue a CSD link, it shall follow the procedure laid down in Article 20(2) and (3).

8. The additional ancillary services explicitly listed in Section B of the Annex shall not be subject to authorisation, but shall be notified to the competent authority prior to their provision.

Article 20

Withdrawal of authorisation

1. Without prejudice to any remedial actions or measures under Title V, the competent authority of the home Member State shall withdraw the authorisation in any of the following circumstances, where the CSD: (a) has not made use of the authorisation during 12 months, expressly renounces the authorisation or has provided no services or performed no activity during the preceding six months; (b) has obtained the authorisation by making false statements or by any other unlawful means; (c) no longer complies with the conditions under which authorisation was granted and has not taken the remedial actions requested by the competent authority within a set time-frame; (d) has seriously or systematically infringed the requirements laid down in this Regulation or, where applicable, in Directive 2014/65/EU or Regulation (EU) No 600/2014.

2. From the moment when it becomes aware of one of the circumstances referred to in paragraph 1, the competent authority shall immediately consult the relevant authorities and, where applicable, the authority referred to in Article 67 of Directive 2014/65/EU on the necessity to withdraw the authorisation.

3. ESMA and any relevant authority and, where applicable, the authority referred to in Article 67 of Directive 2014/65/EU may, at any time, request that the competent authority of the home Member State examines whether the CSD still complies with the conditions under which the authorisation was granted.

4. The competent authority may limit the withdrawal of authorisation to a particular service, activity, or financial instrument.

5. A CSD shall establish, implement and maintain adequate procedures ensuring the timely and orderly settlement and transfer of the assets of clients and participants to another CSD in the event of a withdrawal of authorisation referred to in paragraph 1.

Article 21

CSD register

1. Decisions taken by competent authorities under Articles 16, 19 and 20 shall be immediately communicated to ESMA.

2. Central banks shall without undue delay inform ESMA of any securities settlement system that they operate.

3. The name of each CSD operating in compliance with this Regulation and to which authorisation or recognition has been granted pursuant to Article 16, 19 or 25 shall be entered in a register specifying the services and, where applicable, classes of financial instruments for which the CSD has been authorised. The register shall include branches operated by the CSD in other Member States, CSD links and the information required under Article 31 where Member States have made use of the possibility provided for in that Article. ESMA shall make the register available on its dedicated website and keep it up to date.







Section 3

Supervision of CSDs

Article 22

Review and evaluation

1. The competent authority shall, at least on an annual basis, review the arrangements, strategies, processes and mechanisms implemented by a CSD with respect to compliance with this Regulation and evaluate the risks to which the CSD is, or might be, exposed or which it creates for the smooth functioning of securities markets.

2. The competent authority shall require the CSD to submit to the competent authority an adequate recovery plan to ensure continuity of its critical operations.

3. The competent authority shall ensure that an adequate resolution plan is established and maintained for each CSD so as to ensure continuity of at least its core functions, having regard to the size, systemic importance, nature, scale and complexity of the activities of the CSD concerned and any relevant resolution plan established in accordance with Directive 2014/59/EU.

4. The competent authority shall establish the frequency and depth of the review and evaluation referred to in paragraph 1 having regard to the size, systemic importance, nature, scale and complexity of the activities of the CSD concerned. The review and evaluation shall be updated at least on an annual basis.

5. The competent authority shall subject the CSD to on-site inspections.

6. When performing the review and evaluation referred to in paragraph 1, the competent authority shall, at an early stage, consult the relevant authorities, in particular concerning the functioning of the securities settlement systems operated by the CSD and, where applicable, the authority referred to in Article 67 of Directive 2014/65/EU.

7. The competent authority shall regularly, and at least once a year, inform the relevant authorities and, where applicable, the authority referred to in Article 67 of Directive 2014/65/EU of the results, including any remedial actions or penalties, of the review and evaluation referred to in paragraph 1.

8. When performing the review and evaluation referred to in paragraph 1, the competent authorities responsible for supervising CSDs which maintain the types of relations referred to in points (a), (b) and (c) of Article 17(6) shall supply one another with all relevant information that is likely to facilitate their tasks.

9. The competent authority shall require a CSD that does not meet the requirements of this Regulation to take at an early stage the necessary actions or steps to address the situation.

10. ESMA shall, in close cooperation with the members of the ESCB, develop draft regulatory technical standards to specify the following: (a) the information that the CSD is to provide to the competent authority for the purposes of the review and evaluation referred to in paragraph 1; (b) the information that the competent authority is to supply to the relevant authorities, as set out in paragraph 7; (c) the information that the competent authorities referred to in paragraph 8 are to supply one another.

ESMA shall submit those draft regulatory technical standards to the Commission by 18 June 2015.

Power is delegated to the Commission to adopt the regulatory technical standards referred to in the first subparagraph in accordance with in Articles 10 to 14 of Regulation (EU) No 1095/2010.

11. ESMA shall, in close cooperation with the members of the ESCB, develop draft implementing technical standards to determine standard forms, templates and procedures for the provision of information referred to in the first subparagraph of paragraph 10.

ESMA shall submit those draft implementing technical standards to the Commission by 18 June 2015.

Power is conferred on the Commission to adopt the implementing technical standards referred to in the first subparagraph in accordance with Article 15 of Regulation (EU) No 1095/2010.







Section 4

Provision of services in another member state

Article 23

Freedom to provide services in another Member State

1. An authorised CSD may provide services referred to in the Annex within the territory of the Union, including through setting up a branch, provided that those services are covered by the authorisation.

2. An authorised CSD that intends to provide the core services referred to in points 1 and 2 of Section A of the Annex in relation to financial instruments constituted under the law of another Member State referred to in Article 49(1) or to set up a branch in another Member State shall be subject to the procedure referred to in paragraphs 3 to 7.

3. Any CSD wishing to provide the services referred to in paragraph 2 within the territory of another Member State for the first time, or to change the range of those services provided shall communicate the following information to the competent authority of the home Member State: (a) the Member State in which the CSD intends to operate; (b) a programme of operations stating in particular the services which the CSD intends to provide; (c) the currency or currencies that the CSD intends to process; (d) where there is a branch, the organisational structure of the branch and the names of those responsible for the management of the branch; (e) where relevant, an assessment of the measures the CSD intends to take to allow its users to comply with the national law referred to in Article 49(1).

4. Within three months from the receipt of the information referred to in paragraph 3, the competent authority of the home Member State shall communicate that information to the competent authority of the host Member State unless, by taking into account the provision of services envisaged, it has reasons to doubt the adequacy of the administrative structure or the financial situation of the CSD wishing to provide its services in the host Member State.

The competent authority of the host Member State shall without delay inform the relevant authorities of that Member State of any communication received under the first subparagraph.

5. Where the competent authority of the home Member State decides in accordance with paragraph 4 not to communicate all the information referred to in paragraph 3 to the competent authority of the host Member State it shall give reasons for its refusal to the CSD concerned within three months of receiving all the information and inform the competent authority of the host Member State of its decision in relation to point (a) of paragraph 6. Where information is shared in response to such a request the competent authority of the host Member State shall not issue the communication referred to in point (a) of paragraph 6.

6. The CSD may start providing the services referred to in paragraph 2 in the host Member State under the following conditions: (a) on receipt of a communication from the competent authority in the host Member State acknowledging receipt by the latter of the communication referred to in paragraph 4 and, where relevant, approving the assessment referred to in point (e) of paragraph 3; (b) in the absence of any receipt of a communication, after three months from the date of transmission of the communication referred to in paragraph 4.

7. In the event of a change in any of the information communicated in accordance with paragraph 3, a CSD shall give written notice of that change to the competent authority of the home Member State at least one month before implementing the change. The competent authority of the host Member State shall also be informed of that change without delay by the competent authority of the home Member State.

Article 24

Cooperation between authorities of the home Member State and of the host Member State and peer review

1. Where a CSD authorised in one Member State has set up a branch in another Member State, the competent authority of the home Member State and the competent authority of the host Member State shall cooperate closely in the performance of their duties provided for in this Regulation, in particular when carrying out on-site inspections in that branch. The competent authority of the home Member State and of the host Member State may, in the exercise of their responsibilities, carry out on-site inspections in that branch after informing the competent authority of the host Member State or of the home Member State respectively.

2. The competent authority of the home Member State or of the host Member State may require CSDs which provide services in accordance with Article 23 to report to them periodically on their activities in that host Member State, including for the purpose of collecting statistics. The competent authority of the host Member State shall, on request from the competent authority of the home Member State, provide those periodic reports to the competent authority of the home Member State.

3. The competent authority of the home Member State of the CSD shall, on the request of the competent authority of the host Member State and without delay, communicate the identity of the issuers and participants in the securities settlement systems operated by the CSD which provides services in that host Member State and any other relevant information concerning the activities of that CSD in the host Member State.

4. Where, taking into account the situation of the securities markets in the host Member State, the activities of a CSD have become of substantial importance for the functioning of the securities markets and the protection of the investors in that host Member State, the competent authority of the home Member State and of the host Member State and the relevant authorities of the home Member State and of the host Member State shall establish cooperation arrangements for the supervision of the activities of that CSD in the host Member State.

Where a CSD has become of substantial importance for the functioning of the securities markets and the protection of the investors in more than one host Member State, the home Member State may decide that such cooperation arrangements are to include colleges of supervisors.

5. Where the competent authority of the host Member State has clear and demonstrable grounds for believing that a CSD providing services within its territory in accordance with Article 23 is in breach of the obligations arising from the provisions of this Regulation, it shall refer those findings to the competent authority of the home Member State and to ESMA.

Where, despite measures taken by the competent authority of the home Member State or because such measures prove inadequate, the CSD persists in acting in infringement of the obligations arising from the provisions of this Regulation, after informing the competent authority of the home Member State, the competent authority of the host Member State shall take all the appropriate measures needed in order to ensure compliance with the provisions of this Regulation within the territory of the host Member State. ESMA shall be informed of such measures without delay.

The competent authority of the host Member State and of the home Member State may refer the matter to ESMA, which may act in accordance with the powers conferred on it under Article 19 of Regulation (EU) No 1095/2010.

6. Without prejudice to Article 30 of Regulation (EU) No 1095/2010, ESMA shall, after consulting the members of the ESCB, organise and conduct, at least every three years, a peer review of the supervision of CSDs which make use of the freedom to provide services in another Member State in accordance with Article 23 or to participate in an interoperable link.

In the context of the peer review referred to in the first subparagraph ESMA shall, where appropriate, also request opinions or advice from the Securities and Markets Stakeholder Group referred to in Article 37 of Regulation (EU) No 1095/2010.

7. The Commission shall be empowered to adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 67 concerning measures for establishing the criteria under which the operations of a CSD in a host Member State could be considered to be of substantial importance for the functioning of the securities markets and the protection of the investors in that host Member State.

8. ESMA shall, in close cooperation with the members of the ESCB, develop draft implementing technical standards to establish standard forms, templates and procedures for the cooperation referred to in paragraphs 1, 3 and 5.

ESMA shall submit those draft implementing technical standards to the Commission by 18 June 2015.

Power is conferred on the Commission to adopt the implementing technical standards referred to in the first subparagraph in accordance with Article 15 of Regulation (EU) No 1095/2010.







Section 5

Relations with third countries

Article 25

Third countries

1. Third-country CSDs may provide services referred to in the Annex within the territory of the Union, including through setting up a branch.

2. Notwithstanding paragraph 1, a third-country CSD that intends to provide the core services referred to in points (1) and (2) of Section A of the Annex in relation to financial instruments constituted under the law of a Member State referred to in the second subparagraph of Article 49(1) or to set up a branch in a Member State shall be subject to the procedure referred to in paragraphs 4 to 11 of this Article.

3. A CSD established and authorised in the Union may maintain or establish a link with a third-country CSD in accordance with Article 48.

4. After consulting the authorities referred to in paragraph 5, ESMA may recognise a third-country CSD that has applied for recognition to provide the services referred to in paragraph 2, where the following conditions are met: (a) the Commission has adopted a decision in accordance with paragraph 9; (b) the third-country CSD is subject to effective authorisation, supervision and oversight or, if the securities settlement system is operated by a central bank, oversight, ensuring full compliance with the prudential requirements applicable in that third country; (c) cooperation arrangements between ESMA and the responsible authorities in that third country (‘responsible third-country authorities’) have been established pursuant to paragraph 10; (d) where relevant, the third-country CSD takes the necessary measures to allow its users to comply with the relevant national law of the Member State in which the third-country CSD intends to provide CSD services, including the law referred to in the second subparagraph of Article 49(1), and the adequacy of those measures has been confirmed by the competent authorities of the Member State in which the third-country CSD intends to provide CSD services.

5. When assessing whether the conditions referred to in paragraph 4 are met, ESMA shall consult: (a) the competent authorities of the Member States in which the third-country CSD intends to provide CSD services, in particular, on how the third-country CSD intends to comply with the requirement referred to in point (d) of paragraph 4; (b) the relevant authorities; (c) the responsible third-country authorities entrusted with the authorisation, supervision and oversight of CSDs.

6. The third-country CSD referred to in paragraph 2 shall submit its application for recognition to ESMA.

The applicant CSD shall provide ESMA with all information deemed to be necessary for its recognition. Within 30 working days from the receipt of the application, ESMA shall assess whether the application is complete. If the application is not complete, ESMA shall set a time limit by which the applicant CSD has to provide additional information.

The competent authorities of the Member States in which the third-country CSD intends to provide CSD services shall assess the compliance of the third-country CSD with the law referred to in point (d) of paragraph 4 and inform ESMA with a fully reasoned decision whether the compliance is met or not within three months from the receipt of all the necessary information from ESMA.

The recognition decision shall be based on the criteria laid down in paragraph 4.

Within six months from the submission of a complete application, ESMA shall inform the applicant CSD in writing with a fully reasoned decision whether the recognition has been granted or refused.

7. The competent authorities of the Member States in which the third-country CSD, duly recognised under paragraph 4, provides CSD services, in close cooperation with ESMA, may request the responsible third-country authorities to: (a) report periodically on the third-country CSD’s activities in those host Member States, including for the purpose of collecting statistics; (b) communicate, within an appropriate time-frame, the identity of the issuers and participants in the securities settlement systems operated by the third-country CSD which provides services in that host Member State and any other relevant information concerning the activities of that third-country CSD in the host Member State.

8. ESMA shall, after consulting the authorities referred to in paragraph 5, review the recognition of the third-country CSD in the event of extensions by that CSD in the Union of its services under the procedure laid down in paragraphs 4, 5 and 6.

ESMA shall withdraw the recognition of that CSD where the conditions laid down in paragraph 4 are no longer met, or in the circumstances referred to in Article 20.

9. The Commission may adopt implementing acts to determine that the legal and supervisory arrangements of a third country ensure that CSDs authorised in that third country comply with legally binding requirements which are in effect equivalent to the requirements laid down in this Regulation, that those CSDs are subject to effective supervision, oversight and enforcement in that third country on an ongoing basis and that the legal framework of that third country provides for an effective equivalent system for the recognition of CSDs authorised under third-country legal regimes. Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 68(2).

In making the determination referred to in the first subparagraph, the Commission may also consider whether the legal and supervisory arrangements of a third country reflect the internationally agreed CPSS-IOSCO standards, in so far as the latter do not conflict with the requirements laid down in this Regulation.

10. In accordance with Article 33(1) of Regulation (EU) No 1095/2010, ESMA shall establish cooperation arrangements with the responsible third-country authorities whose legal and supervisory frameworks have been recognised as equivalent to this Regulation in accordance with paragraph 9. Such arrangements shall specify at least: (a) the mechanism for the exchange of information between ESMA, the competent authorities of the host Member State and the third-country responsible authorities, including access to all information regarding the CSDs authorised in third countries that is requested by ESMA and in particular access to information in the cases referred to in paragraph 7; (b) the mechanism for prompt notification of ESMA where a third-country responsible authority deems a CSD that it is supervising to infringe the conditions of its authorisation or of other applicable law; (c) the procedures concerning the coordination of supervisory activities including, where appropriate, on-site inspections.

Where a cooperation agreement provides for transfers of personal data by a Member State, such transfers shall comply with the provisions of Directive 95/46/EC and where a cooperation agreement provides for transfers of personal data by ESMA, such transfers shall comply with the provisions of Regulation (EU) No 45/2001.

11. Where a third-country CSD has been recognised, in accordance with paragraphs 4 to 8, it may provide services referred to in the Annex within the territory of the Union, including by setting up a branch.

12. ESMA shall, in close cooperation with the members of the ESCB, develop draft regulatory technical standards to specify the information that the applicant CSD is to provide to ESMA in its application for recognition under paragraph 6.

ESMA shall submit those draft regulatory technical standards to the Commission by 18 June 2015.

Power is delegated to the Commission to adopt the regulatory technical standards referred to in the first subparagraph in accordance with Articles 10 to 14 of Regulation (EU) No 1095/2010.







CHAPTER II

Requirements for CSDs







Section 1

Organisational requirements

Article 26

General provisions

1. A CSD shall have robust governance arrangements, which include a clear organisational structure with well-defined, transparent and consistent lines of responsibility, effective processes to identify, manage, monitor and report the risks to which it is or might be exposed, and adequate remuneration policies and internal control mechanisms, including sound administrative and accounting procedures.

2. A CSD shall adopt policies and procedures which are sufficiently effective so as to ensure compliance with this Regulation, including compliance of its managers and employees with all the provisions of this Regulation.

3. A CSD shall maintain and operate effective written organisational and administrative arrangements to identify and manage any potential conflicts of interest between itself, including its managers, employees, members of the management body or any person directly or indirectly linked to them, and its participants or their clients. It shall maintain and implement adequate resolution procedures where possible conflicts of interest occur.

4. A CSD shall make its governance arrangements and the rules governing its activity available to the public.

5. A CSD shall have appropriate procedures for its employees to report internally potential infringements of this Regulation through a specific channel.

6. A CSD shall be subject to regular and independent audits. The results of these audits shall be communicated to the management body and made available to the competent authority and, where appropriate taking into account potential conflicts of interest between the members of the user committee and the CSD, to the user committee.

7. Where a CSD is part of a group of undertakings including other CSDs or credit institutions referred to in Title IV, it shall adopt detailed policies and procedures specifying how the requirements laid down in this Article apply to the group and to the different entities in the group.

8. ESMA shall, in close cooperation with the members of the ESCB, develop draft regulatory technical standards specifying at the CSD level and at the group level as referred to in paragraph 7: (a) the monitoring tools for the risks of the CSDs referred to in paragraph 1; (b) the responsibilities of the key personnel in respect of the risks of the CSDs referred to in paragraph 1; (c) the potential conflicts of interest referred to in paragraph 3; (d) the audit methods referred to in paragraph 6; and (e) the circumstances in which it would be appropriate, taking into account potential conflicts of interest between the members of the user committee and the CSD, to share audit findings with the user committee in accordance with paragraph 6.

ESMA shall submit those draft regulatory technical standards to the Commission by 18 June 2015.

Power is delegated to the Commission to adopt the regulatory technical standards referred to in the first subparagraph in accordance with Articles 10 to 14 of Regulation (EU) No 1095/2010.

Article 27

Senior management, management body and shareholders

1. The senior management of a CSD shall be of sufficiently good repute and experience so as to ensure the sound and prudent management of the CSD.

2. A CSD shall have a management body of which at least one third, but no less than two, of its members are independent.

3. The remuneration of the independent and other non-executive members of the management body shall not be linked to the business performance of the CSD.

4. The management body shall be composed of suitable members of sufficiently good repute with an appropriate mix of skills, experience and knowledge of the entity and of the market. The non-executive members of the management body shall decide on a target for the representation of the under-represented gender in the management body and prepare a policy on how to increase the number of the under-represented gender in order to meet that target. The target, policy and its implementation shall be made public.

5. A CSD shall clearly determine the role and responsibilities of the management body in accordance with the relevant national law. A CSD shall make the minutes of the meetings of the management body available to the competent authority and the auditor upon request.

6. The CSD’s shareholders and persons who are in a position to exercise, directly or indirectly, control over the management of the CSD shall be suitable to ensure the sound and prudent management of the CSD.

7. A CSD shall: (a) provide the competent authority with, and make public, information regarding the ownership of the CSD, and in particular, the identity and scale of interests of any parties in a position to exercise control over the operation of the CSD; (b) inform and seek approval from its competent authority of any decision to transfer ownership rights which give rise to a change in the identity of the persons exercising control over the operation of the CSD. After receiving approval from its competent authority, the CSD shall make public the transfer of ownership rights.

Any natural or legal person shall inform without undue delay the CSD and its competent authority of a decision to acquire or dispose of its ownership rights that give rise to a change in the identity of the persons exercising control over the operation of the CSD.

8. Within 60 working days from the receipt of the information referred to in paragraph 7, the competent authority shall take a decision on the proposed changes in the control of the CSD. The competent authority shall refuse to approve proposed changes in the control of the CSD where there are objective and demonstrable grounds for believing that they would pose a threat to the sound and prudent management of the CSD or to the ability of the CSD to comply with this Regulation.

Article 28

User committee

1. A CSD shall establish user committees for each securities settlement system it operates, which shall be composed of representatives of issuers and of participants in such securities settlement systems. The advice of the user committee shall be independent from any direct influence by the management of the CSD.

2. A CSD shall define in a non-discriminatory way the mandate for each established user committee, the governance arrangements necessary to ensure its independence and its operational procedures, as well as the admission criteria and the election mechanism for user committee members. The governance arrangements shall be publicly available and shall ensure that the user committee reports directly to the management body and holds regular meetings.

3. User committees shall advise the management body on key arrangements that impact on their members, including the criteria for accepting issuers or participants in their respective securities settlement systems and on service level.

4. User committees may submit a non-binding opinion to the management body containing detailed reasons regarding the pricing structures of the CSD.

5. Without prejudice to the right of competent authorities to be duly informed, the members of the user committees shall be bound by confidentiality. Where the chairman of a user committee determines that a member has an actual or a potential conflict of interest in relation to a particular matter, that member shall not be allowed to vote on that matter.

6. A CSD shall promptly inform the competent authority and the user committee of any decision in which the management body decides not to follow the advice of the user committee. The user committee may inform the competent authority of any areas in which it considers that the advice of the user committee has not been followed.

Article 29

Record keeping

1. A CSD shall maintain, for a period of at least 10 years, all its records on the services and activities, including on the ancillary services referred to in Sections B and C of the Annex, so as to enable the competent authority to monitor the compliance with the requirements under this Regulation.

2. A CSD shall make the records referred to in paragraph 1 available upon request to the competent authority and the relevant authorities and any other public authority which under Union law or national law of its home Member State has a power to require access to such records for the purpose of fulfilling their mandate.

3. ESMA shall, in close cooperation with the members of the ESCB, develop draft regulatory technical standards to specify the details of the records referred to in paragraph 1 to be retained for the purpose of monitoring the compliance of CSDs with the provisions of this Regulation.

ESMA shall submit those draft regulatory technical standards to the Commission by 18 June 2015.

Power is delegated to the Commission to adopt the regulatory technical standards referred to in the first subparagraph in accordance with Articles 10 to 14 of Regulation (EU) No 1095/2010.

4. ESMA shall, in close cooperation with the members of the ESCB, develop draft implementing technical standards to establish the format of the records referred to in paragraph 1 to be retained for the purpose of monitoring the compliance of CSDs with the provisions of this Regulation.

ESMA shall submit those draft implementing technical standards to the Commission by 18 June 2015.

Power is conferred on the Commission to adopt the implementing technical standards referred to in the first subparagraph in accordance with Article 15 of Regulation (EU) No 1095/2010.

Article 30

Outsourcing

1. Where a CSD outsources services or activities to a third party, it shall remain fully responsible for discharging all of its obligations under this Regulation and shall comply at all times with the following conditions: (a) outsourcing does not result in the delegation of its responsibility; (b) the relationship and obligations of the CSD towards its participants or issuers are not altered; (c) the conditions for the authorisation of the CSD do not effectively change; (d) outsourcing does not prevent the exercise of supervisory and oversight functions, including on-site access to acquire any relevant information needed to fulfil those functions; (e) outsourcing does not result in depriving the CSD of the systems and controls necessary to manage the risks it faces; (f) the CSD retains the expertise and resources necessary for evaluating the quality of the services provided, the organisational and capital adequacy of the service provider, for supervising the outsourced services effectively and for managing the risks associated with the outsourcing on an ongoing basis; (g) the CSD has direct access to the relevant information of the outsourced services; (h) the service provider cooperates with the competent authority and the relevant authorities in connection with the outsourced activities; (i) the CSD ensures that the service provider meets the standards set down by the relevant data protection law which would apply if the service providers were established in the Union. The CSD is responsible for ensuring that those standards are set out in a contract between the parties and that those standards are maintained.

2. The CSD shall define in a written agreement its rights and obligations and those of the service provider. The outsourcing agreement shall allow the CSD to terminate the agreement.

3. A CSD and a service provider shall make available upon request to the competent authority and the relevant authorities all information necessary to enable them to assess the compliance of the outsourced activities with the requirements of this Regulation.

4. The outsourcing of a core service shall be subject to authorisation under Article 19 by the competent authority.

5. Paragraphs 1 to 4 shall not apply where a CSD outsources some of its services or activities to a public entity and where that outsourcing is governed by a dedicated legal, regulatory and operational framework which has been jointly agreed and formalised by the public entity and the relevant CSD and agreed by the competent authorities on the basis of the requirements established in this Regulation.

Article 31

Services provided by parties other than CSDs

1. Notwithstanding Article 30 and where required by national law, a person other than CSD may be responsible for recording book entries into securities accounts maintained by CSDs.

2. Member States that allow parties other than CSDs to provide certain core services referred to in Section A of the Annex in accordance with paragraph 1 shall specify in their national law the requirements that will apply in such a case. Those requirements shall include the provisions of this Regulation which shall apply both to the CSD and, where relevant, to the other party concerned.

3. Member States that allow parties other than CSDs to provide certain core services referred to in Section A of the Annex in accordance with paragraph 1 shall communicate to ESMA all the relevant information concerning the provision of such services, including their relevant national law.

ESMA shall include such information in the CSD register referred to in Article 21.







Section 2

Conduct of business rules

Article 32

General provisions

1. A CSD shall have clearly defined goals and objectives that are achievable, such as in the areas of minimum service levels, risk-management expectations and business priorities.

2. A CSD shall have transparent rules for the handling of complaints.

Article 33

Requirements for participation

1. For each securities settlement system it operates a CSD shall have publicly disclosed criteria for participation which allow fair and open access for all legal persons that intend to become participants. Such criteria shall be transparent, objective, and non-discriminatory so as to ensure fair and open access to the CSD with due regard to risks to financial stability and the orderliness of markets. Criteria that restrict access shall be permitted only to the extent that their objective is to justifiably control a specified risk for the CSD.

2. A CSD shall treat requests for access promptly by providing a response to such requests within one month at the latest and shall make the procedures for treating access requests publicly available.

3. A CSD shall deny access to a participant meeting the criteria referred to in paragraph 1 only where duly justified in writing and based on a comprehensive risk assessment.

In the event of a refusal, the requesting participant has the right to complain to the competent authority of the CSD that has refused access.

That competent authority shall duly examine the complaint by assessing the reasons for refusal and shall provide the requesting participant with a reasoned reply.

That competent authority shall consult the competent authority of the place of establishment of the requesting participant on its assessment of the complaint. Where the authority of the requesting participant disagrees with the assessment provided, any one of the two competent authorities may refer the matter to ESMA, which may act in accordance with the powers conferred on it under Article 19 of Regulation (EU) No 1095/2010.

Where the refusal by the CSD to grant access to the requesting participant is deemed to be unjustified, the competent authority of the CSD that has refused access shall issue an order requiring that CSD to grant access to the requesting participant.

4. A CSD shall have objective and transparent procedures for the suspension and orderly exit of participants that no longer meet the criteria for participation referred to in paragraph 1.

5. ESMA shall, in close cooperation with the members of the ESCB, develop draft regulatory technical standards to specify the risks to be taken into account by CSDs when carrying out a comprehensive risk assessment, and by competent authorities when assessing the reasons for refusal in accordance with paragraph 3 and the elements of the procedure referred to in paragraph 3.

ESMA shall submit those draft regulatory technical standards to the Commission by 18 June 2015.

Power is delegated to the Commission to adopt the regulatory technical standards referred to in the first subparagraph in accordance with Articles 10 to 14 of Regulation (EU) No 1095/2010.

6. ESMA shall, in close cooperation with the members of the ESCB, develop draft implementing technical standards to establish standard forms and templates for the procedure referred to in paragraph 3.

ESMA shall submit those draft implementing technical standards to the Commission by 18 June 2015.

Power is conferred on the Commission to adopt the implementing technical standards referred to in the first subparagraph in accordance with Article 15 of Regulation (EU) No 1095/2010.

Article 34

Transparency

1. For each securities settlement system it operates, as well as for each of the other core services it performs, a CSD shall publicly disclose the prices and fees associated with the core services listed in Section A of the Annex that they provide. It shall disclose the prices and fees of each service and function provided separately, including discounts and rebates and the conditions to benefit from those reductions. It shall allow its clients separate access to the specific services provided.

2. A CSD shall publish its price list so as to facilitate the comparison of offers and to allow clients to anticipate the price they shall have to pay for the use of services.

3. A CSD shall be bound by its published pricing policy for its core services.

4. A CSD shall provide its clients with information that allows reconciling invoices with the published price lists.

5. A CSD shall disclose to all clients information that allows them to assess the risks associated with the services provided.

6. A CSD shall account separately for costs and revenues of the core services provided and shall disclose that information to the competent authority.

7. A CSD shall account for the cost and revenue of the ancillary services provided as a whole and shall disclose that information to the competent authority.

8. In order to ensure effective application of Union competition rules and enable the identification, inter alia, of cross-subsidisation of ancillary services by core services, a CSD shall maintain analytical accounting for its activities. Such analytical accounts shall at least separate the costs and revenues associated with each of its core services from those associated with ancillary services.

Article 35

Communication procedures with participants and other market infrastructures

CSDs shall use in their communication procedures with participants of the securities settlement systems they operate, and with the market infrastructures they interface with international open communication procedures and standards for messaging and reference data in order to facilitate efficient recording, payment and settlement.







Section 3

Requirements for CSD services

Article 36

General provisions

For each securities settlement system it operates a CSD shall have appropriate rules and procedures, including robust accounting practices and controls, to help ensure the integrity of securities issues, and reduce and manage the risks associated with the safekeeping and settlement of transactions in securities.

Article 37

Integrity of the issue

1. A CSD shall take appropriate reconciliation measures to verify that the number of securities making up a securities issue or part of a securities issue submitted to the CSD is equal to the sum of securities recorded on the securities accounts of the participants of the securities settlement system operated by the CSD and, where relevant, on owner accounts maintained by the CSD. Such reconciliation measures shall be conducted at least daily.

2. Where appropriate and if other entities are involved in the reconciliation process for a certain securities issue, such as the issuer, registrars, issuance agents, transfer agents, common depositories, other CSDs or other entities, the CSD and any such entities shall organise adequate cooperation and information exchange measures with each other so that the integrity of the issue is maintained.

3. Securities overdrafts, debit balances or securities creation shall not be allowed in a securities settlement system operated by a CSD.

4. ESMA shall, in close cooperation with the members of the ESCB, develop draft regulatory technical standards to specify the reconciliation measures a CSD is to take under paragraphs 1, 2 and 3.

ESMA shall submit those draft regulatory technical standards to the Commission by 18 June 2015.

Power is delegated to the Commission to adopt the regulatory technical standards referred to in the first subparagraph in accordance with Articles 10 to 14 of Regulation (EU) No 1095/2010.

Article 38

Protection of securities of participants and those of their clients

1. For each securities settlement system it operates, a CSD shall keep records and accounts that shall enable it, at any time and without delay, to segregate in the accounts with the CSD, the securities of a participant from those of any other participant and, if applicable, from the CSD’s own assets.

2. A CSD shall keep records and accounts that enable any participant to segregate the securities of the participant from those of the participant’s clients.

3. A CSD shall keep records and accounts that enable any participant to hold in one securities account the securities that belong to different clients of that participant (‘omnibus client segregation’)

4. A CSD shall keep records and accounts that enable a participant to segregate the securities of any of the participant’s clients, if and as required by the participant (‘individual client segregation’).

5. A participant shall offer its clients at least the choice between omnibus client segregation and individual client segregation and inform them of the costs and risks associated with each option.

However, a CSD and its participants shall provide individual clients segregation for citizens and residents of, and legal persons established in, a Member State where required under the national law of the Member State under which the securities are constituted as it stands at 17 September 2014. That obligation shall apply as long as the national law is not amended or repealed and its objectives are still valid.

6. CSDs and their participants shall publicly disclose the levels of protection and the costs associated with the different levels of segregation that they provide and shall offer those services on reasonable commercial terms. Details of the different levels of segregation shall include a description of the main legal implications of the respective levels of segregation offered, including information on the insolvency law applicable in the relevant jurisdictions.

7. A CSD shall not use for any purpose securities that do not belong to it. A CSD may however use securities of a participant where it has obtained that participant’s prior express consent. The CSD shall require its participants to obtain any necessary prior consent from their clients.

Article 39

Settlement finality

1. A CSD shall ensure that the securities settlement system it operates offers adequate protection to participants. Member States shall designate and notify the securities settlement systems operated by CSDs according to the procedures referred to in point (a) of Article 2 of Directive 98/26/EC.

2. A CSD shall ensure that each securities settlement system that it operates defines the moments of entry and of irrevocability of transfer orders in that securities settlement system in accordance with Articles 3 and 5 of Directive 98/26/EC.

3. A CSD shall disclose the rules governing the finality of transfers of securities and cash in a securities settlement system.

4. Paragraphs 2 and 3 shall apply without prejudice to the provisions applicable to CSD links, and without prejudice to paragraph 8 of Article 48.

5. A CSD shall take all reasonable steps to ensure that, in accordance with the rules referred to in paragraph 3, finality of transfers of securities and cash referred to in paragraph 3 is achieved either in real time or intra-day and in any case no later than by the end of the business day of the actual settlement date.

6. Where the CSD offers the services referred to in Article 40(2), it shall ensure that the cash proceeds of securities settlements shall be available for recipients to use no later than by the end of the business day of the intended settlement date.

7. All securities transactions against cash between direct participants in a securities settlement system operated by a CSD and settled in that securities settlement system shall be settled on a DVP basis.

Article 40

Cash settlement

1. For transactions denominated in the currency of the country where the settlement takes place, a CSD shall settle the cash payments of its securities settlement system through accounts opened with a central bank of issue of the relevant currency where practical and available.

2. Where it is not practical and available to settle in central bank accounts as provided in paragraph 1, a CSD may offer to settle the cash payments for all or part of its securities settlement systems through accounts opened with a credit institution or through its own accounts. If a CSD offers to settle in accounts opened with a credit institution or through its own accounts, it shall do so in accordance with the provisions of Title IV.

3. A CSD shall ensure that any information provided to market participants about the risks and costs associated with settlement in the accounts of credit institutions or through its own accounts is clear, fair and not misleading. A CSD shall make available sufficient information to clients or potential clients to allow them to identify and evaluate the risks and costs associated with settlement in the accounts of credit institutions or through its own accounts and shall provide such information on request.

Article 41

Participant default rules and procedures

1. For each securities settlement system it operates, a CSD shall have effective and clearly defined rules and procedures to manage the default of one or more of its participants ensuring that the CSD can take timely action to contain losses and liquidity pressures and continue to meet its obligations.

2. A CSD shall make its default rules and relevant procedures available to the public.

3. A CSD shall undertake with its participants and other relevant stakeholders periodic testing and review of its default procedures to ensure that they are practical and effective.

4. In order to ensure consistent application of this Article, ESMA may, in close cooperation with the members of the ESCB, issue guidelines in accordance with Article 16 of Regulation (EU) No 1095/2010.







Section 4

Prudential requirements

Article 42

General requirements

A CSD shall adopt a sound risk-management framework for comprehensively managing legal, business, operational and other direct or indirect risks, including measures to mitigate fraud and negligence.

Article 43

Legal risks

1. For the purpose of its authorisation and supervision, as well as for the information of its clients, a CSD shall have rules, procedures, and contracts that are clear and understandable for all the securities settlement systems that it operates and all other services that it provides.

2. A CSD shall design its rules, procedures and contracts so that they are enforceable in all relevant jurisdictions, including in the case of the default of a participant.

3. A CSD conducting business in different jurisdictions shall take all reasonable steps to identify and mitigate the risks arising from potential conflicts of law across jurisdictions.

Article 44

General business risk

A CSD shall have robust management and control systems as well as IT tools in order to identify, monitor and manage general business risks, including losses from poor execution of business strategy, cash flows and operating expenses.

Article 45

Operational risks

1. A CSD shall identify sources of operational risk, both internal and external, and minimise their impact through the deployment of appropriate IT tools, controls and procedures, including for all the securities settlement systems it operates.

2. A CSD shall maintain appropriate IT tools that ensure a high degree of security and operational reliability, and have adequate capacity. IT tools shall adequately deal with the complexity, variety and type of services and activities performed so as to ensure high standards of security, and the integrity and confidentiality of the information maintained.

3. For services that it provides as well as for each securities settlement system that it operates, a CSD shall establish, implement and maintain an adequate business continuity policy and disaster recovery plan to ensure the preservation of its services, the timely recovery of operations and the fulfilment of the CSD’s obligations in the case of events that pose a significant risk of disrupting operations.

4. The plan referred to in paragraph 3 shall provide for the recovery of all transactions and participants’ positions at the time of disruption to allow the participants of a CSD to continue to operate with certainty and to complete settlement on the scheduled date, including by ensuring that critical IT systems can promptly resume operations from the time of disruption. It shall include the setting-up of a second processing site with sufficient resources, capabilities and functionalities and appropriate staffing arrangements.

5. The CSD shall plan and carry out a programme of tests of the arrangements referred to in paragraphs 1 to 4.

6. A CSD shall identify, monitor and manage the risks that key participants in the securities settlement systems it operates, as well as service and utility providers, and other CSDs or other market infrastructures might pose to its operations. It shall, upon request, provide competent and relevant authorities with information on any such risk identified.

It shall also inform the competent authority and relevant authorities without delay of any operational incidents resulting from such risks.

7. ESMA shall, in close cooperation with the members of the ESCB, develop draft regulatory technical standards to specify the operational risks referred to in paragraphs 1 and 6 and the methods to test, to address or to minimise those risks, including the business continuity policies and disaster recovery plans referred to in paragraphs 3 and 4 and the methods of assessment thereof.

ESMA shall submit those draft regulatory technical standards to the Commission by 18 June 2015.

Power is delegated to the Commission to adopt the regulatory technical standards referred to in the first subparagraph in accordance with Articles 10 to 14 of Regulation (EU) No 1095/2010.

Article 46

Investment policy

1. A CSD shall hold its financial assets at central banks, authorised credit institutions or authorised CSDs.

2. A CSD shall have prompt access to its assets, where required.

3. A CSD shall invest its financial resources only in cash or in highly liquid financial instruments with minimal market and credit risk. Those investments shall be capable of being liquidated rapidly with minimal adverse price effect.

4. The amount of capital, including retained earnings and reserves of a CSD which are not invested in accordance with paragraph 3 shall not be taken into account for the purposes of Article 47(1).

5. A CSD shall ensure that its overall risk exposure to any individual authorised credit institution or authorised CSD with which it holds its financial assets remains within acceptable concentration limits.

6. ESMA shall, in close cooperation with EBA and the members of the ESCB, develop draft regulatory technical standards specifying the financial instruments that can be considered to be highly liquid with minimal market and credit risk as referred to in paragraph 3, the appropriate timeframe for access to assets referred to in paragraph 2 and the concentration limits as referred to in paragraph 5. Such draft regulatory technical standards shall, where appropriate, be aligned to the regulatory technical standards adopted in accordance with Article 47(8) of Regulation (EU) No 648/2012.

ESMA shall submit those draft regulatory technical standards to the Commiss