BNY Mellon Urges Buy-Side Companies to Take Comprehensive View of Collateral Strategy

LONDON, March 9, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Buy-side companies are being forced to rethink their strategies due to new regulations which have increased the value of collateral in trading and risk management, according to a new report from global investments company BNY Mellon and London-based consultancy The Field Effect.

The study, Collateral Management: Navigating the Regulatory Maze, argues that buy-side companies are playing catch up with sell-side businesses, which have more than 25 years' experience in implementing sophisticated balance sheet driven collateral solutions. Buy-side companies should rethink their business models in relation to risk, capital considerations and collateral management.

The global financial crisis has led to a new regulatory landscape which presents collateral opportunities and challenges which many market participants have not assimilated into their strategic plans. The implementation of central clearing arrangements, UCITS V and Basel III requirements, and an increasing need for many market participants to source high quality liquid assets (HQLA), are the top priorities for buy-side companies. The direct and indirect impact of regulations vary significantly across both market segments and individual firms, with institutional size, sophistication (business profile, legal structure, operational maturity) and geographical location the most important differentiators, according to the report.

"Collateral is a crucial business driver for most sell-side financial institutions and hedge funds," said Mark Higgins, co-author of the study and Senior Business Development Manager at BNY Mellon Markets Group. "The introduction of numerous interconnected, and at times conflicting, regulations have resulted in some market players employing a 'just-in-time' or 'self-preservationist' approach; this is no longer a viable option. Asset managers, insurance companies and pension funds need to develop a comprehensive approach to comply with regulatory changes effectively and deliver more tangible benefits to their clients."

The key collateral trends identified in the paper as specifically driven by regulatory change include:

• Increased use of non-cash for certain collateral transactions;
• Longer maturity of collateral-related transactions;
• Increased demand and use of HQLA assets;
• Greater levels of collateral required for use by central counterparties (CCPs); and
• Increased complexity of collateral management solutions to ensure enhanced efficiency and ultimately collateral optimisation.

"The new and constantly changing regulatory environment presents significant challenges for buy-side companies, which are predominantly in the early stages of implementing improved collateral, risk and balance sheet management solutions," adds David Field, founder and managing director at The Field Effect. "Collateral is becoming a standalone area of market expertise, with some describing it as a new asset class. As the regulatory maze grows in complexity, service providers will play an increasingly important role in helping realise the opportunities available to players who efficiently manage their collateral positions."

To see the report, Collateral Management: Navigating the Regulatory Maze click here.

Notes to editors:

BNY Mellon

BNY Mellon is a global investments company dedicated to helping its clients manage and service their financial assets throughout the investment lifecycle. Whether providing financial services for institutions, corporations or individual investors, BNY Mellon delivers informed investment management and investment services in 35 countries and more than 100 markets. As of Dec. 31, 2015, BNY Mellon had $28.9 trillion in assets under custody and/or administration, and $1.6 trillion in assets under management. BNY Mellon can act as a single point of contact for clients looking to create, trade, hold, manage, service, distribute or restructure investments. BNY Mellon is the corporate brand of The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation (NYSE: BK). Additional information is available on www.bnymellon.com. Follow us on Twitter @BNYMellon or visit our newsroom at www.bnymellon.com/newsroom for the latest company news.

The Field Effect

The Field Effect (TFE) is a boutique consultancy specialising in clearing and collateral management, spanning cleared and uncleared OTC Derivatives and Exchange Traded Derivatives. We provide advisory services to every participant in the industry value chain including; buy-side and sell-side firms, clearing houses, custodians and CSDs. TFE was founded and is led by David Field, an acknowledged expert in clearing and collateral management. With over 20 years financial services consulting experience, David has led many clearing and collateral advisory projects across buy-side, sell-side, CCPs and custodians, spanning strategy, target operating model, and technology.

This press release is issued by The Bank of New York Mellon to members of the financial press and media.

All information and figures source BNY Mellon unless otherwise stated as at December 31, 2015.

The Bank of New York Mellon, London Branch, registered in England and Wales with FC005522 and BR000818.

Branch office: One Canada Square, London E14 5AL. The Bank of New York Mellon is supervised and regulated by the New York State Department of Financial Services and the Federal Reserve and authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority.

The Bank of New York Mellon London branch is subject to regulation by the Financial Conduct Authority and limited regulation by the Prudential Regulation Authority.

Details about the extent of our regulation by the Prudential Regulation Authority are available from us on request.

Contact:            
Malcolm Borthwick 
BNY Mellon                   
+44 20 7163 4109 
[email protected]  

SOURCE BNY Mellon

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