ESMA publishes the responses to the Call for evidence on asset segregation and custody services under AIFMD

27 September 2016

The majority of respondents to this consultation strongly objected to both options on which ESMA consulted and expressed a preference for some of the options which were mentioned in the cost-benefit analysis accompanying the proposal.

Moreover, Directive 2014/91/EU (UCITS V Directive) and its implementing measures recently introduced asset segregation requirements under the UCITS framework which are broadly aligned to the AIFMD. Therefore, the asset segregation issues became in the meantime a horizontal matter relevant to both AIF and UCITS.

Against this background, and before determining any of its policy orientations, ESMA decided to carry out a further consultation aimed at:

• gathering further evidence on the arguments set out by the majority of stakeholders in their responses to the CP and
• broadening the scope of this workstream to cover also the asset segregation rules under the UCITS Directive, as well as any residual uncertainty on how the depositary delegation rules should apply to CSDs.

Call for evidence identifies a number of areas on which further stakeholder input is needed. These are as follows:

• mapping of asset segregation models;
• understanding how investor protection in the event of insolvency would be ensured under the various models;
• understanding the issues linked to complexity and operational costs that arise from the current legislative framework;
• understanding the issues linked to collateral management/prime brokerage;
• understanding the issues linked to the T2S system;
• understanding the impact of segregation requirements on 3rd countries;
• gathering views on the optimal asset segregation regime for achieving a strong level of investor protection without imposing unnecessary requirements; and
• gathering views on any uncertainties that could remain on how the depositary delegation rules should apply to CSDs.

All responses

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