The FCA has today published a policy statement (PS16/4) on fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory access to regulated benchmarks. The document reports on the main issues arising from Consultation Paper 15/18 and publish the final rules.
In this consultation paper the FCA had set out proposals for fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory access to regulated benchmarks. This Policy Statement summarises the responses the FCA has received to the consultation paper and the regulator’s view on these responses. It also presents the amended Handbook text that will apply to benchmark administrators.
The requirements set out in this Policy Statement affect the administrators of the eight regulated benchmarks. They will also affect relevant users and potential relevant users of these benchmarks. These changes may also be of interest to other firms with a significant profile in the global benchmark industry, trade associations and other stakeholders such as transparency groups. They may be of indirect interest to consumers and organisations that represent consumers.
The Handbook provisions come into force on 1 April 2016.