ESMA supervises eight registered TRs, 26 registered CRAs and four certified CRAs from third-countries. The report also details ESMA’s supervisory activities and achievements in 2017.

Steven Maijoor, Chair, said:

“Our achievements in 2017 demonstrate how ESMA’s supervisory responsibilities play a key role in the EU’s objective of protecting investors and promoting financial stability.

ESMA has developed an improved risk assessment process and framework for TRs and CRAs, which allows us to better identify and evaluate supervisory risks. Our work on a number of common areas of focus for CRAs and TRs - internal controls, cloud computing, Brexit, fees, ancillary services - have delivered positive results and aided the development of supervisory tools.

Looking forward into 2018, ESMA will implement its new direct supervisory role under the Securities Financing Transactions Regulation. Our supervision will help to increase the transparency of shadow banking activities. In addition, ESMA will continue to actively engage with CRAs and TRs regarding strategy, governance, operational matters, and preparations for when the United Kingdom leaves the EU.

Finally, with the application of the Securitisation Regulation in January 2019, there will be significant preparatory work in 2018 with regards to the applications for registration of securitisation repositories.”

2018 Supervisory Priorities

For CRAs and TRs in the EU, the key supervisory themes identified for 2018 are based on ESMA’s risk-based approach. In 2018, ESMA will prioritise its supervision on the quality of the credit rating process, including CRAs’ validation practices and the quality of data reported by TRs. ESMA will also continue to focus on information technology and internal control, in addition to governance structures and management quality. Common themes in the supervision of both TRs and CRAs on which ESMA will perform further work include Brexit, fees charged by CRAs and TRs, cloud computing and preparing guidelines for periodic information. The work on Brexit will be key for ESMA in 2018. By the end of the year all supervised entities should be ready if the UK leaves the EU under a cliff-edge scenario.

The report details the priority areas for supervision that ESMA has identified for TC-CCPs in 2018. These include assessment of 15 pending applications for recognition as TC-CCPs and monitoring the potential risks TC-CCPs might import into the EU. In addition, ESMA will monitor the impacts of Brexit on the third country CCP regime.