Banks could benefit from up to €40 billion
03 July 2014 Frankfurt
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A Clearstream-sponsored study has revealed the need for a “collateral value chain” in order to enable up to €40 billion in equity capital savings for European banks.
A “collateral value chain” is defined in the study as a succession of sequential steps that make it possible to select securities, ensure their availability and the robustness of the liquidation process.
The study has been based on a qualitative and quantitative survey by Elton-Pickford of 22 institutions, including banks, of which the European Central Bank considers eight as “systemic”.
According to the Basel III and Dodd Frank regulations, banks are required to increase their levels of equity to strengthen their solvency in case of crisis.
The assets are weighted as a function of their risk to assess the impact on the balance sheet and to adjust the necessary quantity of equity. Banks are therefore striving to hold as much high quality liquid assets as possible to reduce the amount of required equity.
Stéphane Panzani, managing director at Elton-Pickford, said: “During the interviews we held with various financial institutions, the market need for a collateral value chain became clear.”
“Clearstream’s Global Liquidity Hub has emerged as one of the most efficient systems for improving this collateral efficiency. By applying this concept, financial institutions could benefit from significant cost savings of up to €40 billion in Basel III equity capital savings.”
Clearstream’s executive board member in charge of Global Securities Financing, Stefan Lepp, commented: “The Elton-Pickford study confirms the already widely discussed savings potential through optimal collateral management; but the concept of building a ‘collateral value chain’ is new.”
“Our Global Liquidity Hub offers services, which effectively already provide customers with access to High Quality Liquid Assets through a collateral value chain and helps them make the most of their assets.”
Regulators also demand a greater protection of banks against a liquidity crisis by setting aside good quality liquid assets that can be sold quickly for cash.
According to the study, the challenge is to make the right selection of “liquid” assets and to put in place necessary contracts and the procedures for selling these assets for cash.
Collateral management and collateral optimisation are the appropriate tools for both banks and the buyside for maximising the use of these securities and the Clearstream/Elton-Pickford study confirms that collateral optimisation is currently a priority for major European participants in financial markets.
A “collateral value chain” is defined in the study as a succession of sequential steps that make it possible to select securities, ensure their availability and the robustness of the liquidation process.
The study has been based on a qualitative and quantitative survey by Elton-Pickford of 22 institutions, including banks, of which the European Central Bank considers eight as “systemic”.
According to the Basel III and Dodd Frank regulations, banks are required to increase their levels of equity to strengthen their solvency in case of crisis.
The assets are weighted as a function of their risk to assess the impact on the balance sheet and to adjust the necessary quantity of equity. Banks are therefore striving to hold as much high quality liquid assets as possible to reduce the amount of required equity.
Stéphane Panzani, managing director at Elton-Pickford, said: “During the interviews we held with various financial institutions, the market need for a collateral value chain became clear.”
“Clearstream’s Global Liquidity Hub has emerged as one of the most efficient systems for improving this collateral efficiency. By applying this concept, financial institutions could benefit from significant cost savings of up to €40 billion in Basel III equity capital savings.”
Clearstream’s executive board member in charge of Global Securities Financing, Stefan Lepp, commented: “The Elton-Pickford study confirms the already widely discussed savings potential through optimal collateral management; but the concept of building a ‘collateral value chain’ is new.”
“Our Global Liquidity Hub offers services, which effectively already provide customers with access to High Quality Liquid Assets through a collateral value chain and helps them make the most of their assets.”
Regulators also demand a greater protection of banks against a liquidity crisis by setting aside good quality liquid assets that can be sold quickly for cash.
According to the study, the challenge is to make the right selection of “liquid” assets and to put in place necessary contracts and the procedures for selling these assets for cash.
Collateral management and collateral optimisation are the appropriate tools for both banks and the buyside for maximising the use of these securities and the Clearstream/Elton-Pickford study confirms that collateral optimisation is currently a priority for major European participants in financial markets.
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