The working paper proposes new measures for systemic risk in the hedge fund sector. These measures are based on the ability of hedge funds to influence (be influenced by) the performance trend of the entire hedge fund sector. The proposed measures display a high ability to identify periods of financial distress, are robust to modifications in the underlying econometric model and deliver an innovation in the monitoring of systemic risks in the fund industry.

Reasons for publication
This final report proposes amending Article 26 of the Commission Delegated Regulation No 153/2013 with regard to regulatory technical standards (RTS) on requirements for central counterparties (CCP) on the time horizons for the liquidation period which European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) has drafted under the Regulation (EU) No 648/2012 of the European Parliament and Council on Over-The-Counter (OTC) derivatives, central counterparties and trade repositories (EMIR).

In relation to the draft amended technical standards, ESMA consulted stakeholders on two occasions: the first consultation on a Discussion Paper (DP) was conducted from 27 August to 30 September 2015; the second, on the consultation paper (CP) including the proposed draft RTS was carried out from 14 December 2015 to 1st February 2016.

ESMA received a strong support from the respondents to the CP on the proposed amendment introducing the possibility for EU CCPs to margin on a one day gross basis for clients’ accounts. The responses to the consultation confirm that a one day gross account structure provides a sufficient level of protection to the CCPs and to the clients.

On the proposed conditions linked to this type of account, the majority of the respondents are of the view that they are needed to ensure the safety of the CCPs. Some clarifications or slight amendments have been introduced following the comments received, in particular on intraday margins calls and on entities belonging to the same group as clearing members.

Contents
This paper provides explanations on the draft regulatory technical standards amending the Commission Delegated Regulation No 153/2013 with regard to RTS on requirements for CCP. This report explains the rationale and the scope of the review of Article 26 of RTS No 153/2013 carried out by ESMA. It summarizes the answers received following the publication of the consultation paper and it provides the explanations on whether and how the concerns expressed by stakeholders have been reflected in the final draft RTS.
Annexed to this final report are the legislative mandates related to the draft RTS (Annex I), the ESMA cost-benefit-analysis (Annex II) and the draft RTS (Annex III).

Next Steps
Following the submission of the amended draft RTS to the European Commission, it has three months to decide whether to endorse ESMA’s draft RTS.