Press release (For meeting minutes, please see page 4 ff.) National Working Group on Swiss Franc Reference Rates
[email protected] Zurich, 2 July 2021 Executive summary of the 1 July 2021 meeting of the National Working Group on Swiss Franc Reference Rates The National Working Group on Swiss Franc Reference Rates (NWG) met on 1 July 2021 to discuss the progress of the LIBOR transition in Switzerland and relevant international developments. The key items and main recommendations of yesterday’s meeting were: (i) Members reviewed important milestones regarding the transition from LIBOR. First, ICE Benchmark Administration (IBA) and the UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) released on 5 March 2021 their statements confirming that all Swiss franc (CHF) LIBOR settings will cease immediately after the LIBOR publication on 31 December 2021. Second, with the publication of the IBA statement, ISDA adjustment spreads for all LIBOR settings were fixed. There will be no synthetic rate for CHF LIBOR. (ii) FINMA provided an update on their self-assessment survey, according to which a large fraction of the cash market already transitioned to SARON but some market participants still need to accelerate their reduction of legacy LIBOR contracts. Furthermore, FINMA emphasized that it is important to timely meet the deadlines of the FINMA Guidance 10/2020 (LIBOR transition roadmap). After 30 June 2021, new contracts should in general be based on alternative reference rates (e.g. SARON and SOFR). FINMA reminded members that full operational readiness is required by 31 December 2021. (iii) Regarding options for using compounded SARON, members reviewed the guidance given so far.