1This chapter applies to:

1. (1)

   every firm;

2. (2)

   every supervised entity which applies to the FCA to endorse a benchmark in accordance with article 33 of the benchmarks regulation;

3. (3)

   every person who applies to the FCA for recognition in accordance with article 32 of the benchmarks regulation.

1. (1)

   1The benchmarks regulation imposes various directly applicable obligations for regulated benchmark administrators to provide notifications to the FCA.

2. (2)

   Those notifications should be made:

   1. (a)

      in accordance with the requirements of the benchmarks regulation; and

   2. (b)

      in such manner as the FCA directs.

1. (1)

   1Article 33 of the benchmarks regulation provides that a supervised entity may apply to the FCA to endorse a benchmark or a family of benchmarks provided in a third country for their use in the EU.

2. (2)

   The FCA has made the endorsement application form by direction. The form is available on the FCA’s website.

3. (3)

   A supervised entity making an endorsement application will also need to pay any applicable fee set out in FEES.

1. (1)

   1Article 32 of the benchmarks regulation provides that a benchmark administrator located in a third country may apply to a competent authority for prior recognition.

2. (2)

   The FCA has made the recognition application form by direction. The form is available on the FCA’s website.

3. (3)

   A person applying for recognition will also need to pay any applicable fee set out in FEES.

1. (1)

   1Regulation 6 of the UK Benchmarks Regulations 2018 enables the FCA to impose a requirement on a Miscellaneous BM person and to vary or cancel such a requirement.

2. (2)

   Miscellaneous BM person is defined in regulation 5(2) of the UK Benchmarks Regulations 2018 as a person who is not an authorised person and is:

   1. (a)

      involved in the provision of, or contribution of input data to, a benchmark;

   2. (b)

      a service provider to whom functions or any relevant services and activities in the provision of a benchmark have been outsourced;

   3. (c)

      a person who is not the service provider but who is or has been party to a contract in relation to the outsourcing of functions or any relevant services and activities in the provision of a benchmark;

   4. (d)

      a legal representative of a benchmark administrator located in a third country which has obtained or has applied for prior recognition as referred to in article 32(1) and as provided for in article 32(3) of the benchmarks regulation;

   5. (e)

      a person who administers a benchmark relying on article 51(4) of the benchmarks regulation; or

   6. (f)

      a supervised entity.

3. (3)

   A person cannot fall within the definition of Miscellaneous BM person if that person is an authorised person.

1. (1)

   1Regulation 6(1) of the UK Benchmarks Regulations 2018 provides that the power to impose, vary or cancel requirements in relation to Miscellaneous BM persons is exercisable if it appears to the FCA that:

   1. (a)

      the Miscellaneous BM person has contravened or is likely to contravene a relevant requirement;

   2. (b)

      it is desirable for the FCA to exercise its powers in order to advance any of its operational objectives; or

   3. (c)

      it is desirable for the FCA to exercise its powers to facilitate the performance of its functions under the benchmarks regulation.

2. (2)

   Regulation 6(1)(b) of the UK Benchmarks Regulations 2018 would enable the FCA to impose a requirement on a Miscellaneous BM person where it is desirable for the FCA to do so in order to advance any of the FCA’s operational objectives.

1. (1)

   1The FCA anticipates that it would generally only need to rely on the ground in regulation 6(1)(b) of the UK Benchmarks Regulations 2018 for the purpose of supervising a Miscellaneous BM person listed in regulation 5(2)(e) of those regulations i.e. a person who administers a benchmark relying on article 51(4) of the benchmarks regulation.

2. (2)

   That is because the persons listed in regulation 5(2)(e) will not necessarily be subject to the requirements of the benchmarks regulation or the Act and may therefore fall outside the scope of the other two grounds in regulation 6(1) of the UK Benchmarks Regulations 2018 and outside the scope of the FCA’s powers under the Act.

3. (3)

   In view of (2), the FCA does not generally expect that it will need to rely on the ground in regulation 6(1)(b) of the UK Benchmarks Regulations 2018 in relation to the other categories of Miscellaneous BM person (listed in regulation 5(2)(a)-(d) and (f) of the UK Benchmarks Regulations 2018). However, the FCA cannot entirely exclude the possibility that it might need to do so in other circumstances and the FCA will consider any proposed use of the power on its merits on a case by case basis.