In a letter to policymakers, 18 European buy-side firms state that only an Equities/ETFs tape that delivers data in real-time and that includes pre-trade data in the form of 5 layers of best bid and offer, will meet with the necessary market demand to make the Equities/ETFs Consolidated Tape commercially viable. A reasonably priced tape is also a precondition for success, they argue.
Policy
VAT in the Digital Age (ViDA)
EFAMA comments the European Commission's ViDA Proposal and welcomes the consistency of the proposal and the fact that VAT-exempt services will not be covered by the new DDR. With this solution, the proposal should allow tax authorities to focus on the real risk of tax fraud cases and should not create new burdensome procedures/compliance obligations that would represent new costs that in the end would be imposed on clients/consumers (e.g. end investors) for no reason.
Mandated levels of EU Clearing run counter to competitive and efficient clearing systems
EFAMA appreciates the opportunity to comment on the EMIR 3.0 proposal reforming the clearing framework in the EU. We share the objectives of this review which seek to ensure financial stability in the EU, and the well-functioning of the existing central clearing framework. We understand the objective to reduce excessive exposure to substantially systemic CCPs over time, though we maintain that any regulatory measures should be proportionate to the regulatory rationale, and should not unduly harm market participants.
IASB ED on IAS 12 – Pillar Two Model Rules
EFAMA commented on IASB’s ED on IAS 12 (Pillar Two Model Rules). As the model rules drafted by the OECD establish that investment funds and investment entities should be carved out / excluded from Pillar Two, at first glance we expect them would not have a significant impact on our industry (at least on the strict product/funds side). While it is still to be confirmed what will be required from asset management firms and investors investing in funds to comply with the new rules, it is clear the analysis is highly complex.