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In terms of overall profitability, the second half of the year   always acknowledge that securities lending is seen as a
        provided little solace for lenders. After the short selling   discretionary activity that allows institutional investors
        bans in Europe and Asia in the first half of the year that   to generate incremental income as part of their overall
        led to suppressed demand and wider fee compression,   stewardship responsibilities. As such, it is important that
        the second half of 2020 was typified by robust growth   we as an association work with this community to better   As Europe continues to develop its ambitious plans around
        across equity markets which choked off demand from   understand their concerns and try wherever possible to   the Capital Markets Union, the provision of secondary
        the hedge fund community. Exceptionally low or even   provide help and guidance around important topics such   market liquidity through the provision of securities lending
        negative interest rates also limited the scope to effectively   as Environmental Social and Governance (ESG), collateral   participants will be a crucial factor in attracting retail
        reinvest cash collateral, thereby pushing lenders away from   screening, as well as developing our advocacy messaging to
        cash collateral and reducing lending volumes. Recently   support their objectives. As part of that process, we have   investors, as Europe strives to reposition the way its thinks
        published data by DataLend, specific to Lender to Broker   for some time tracked the relationship between assets   about the long-term financing of its capital markets.
        activity, suggests that the securities finance industry   being made available for lending by institutional investors,
        generated $7.66 billion in revenues in 2020, compared to   and what is being lent from the perspective of the various
        $8.66 and $9.96 billion in 2019 and 2018 respectively.   institutional investors participating across the industry.

        As we have developed a better understanding of how   The following two charts provided by DataLend highlight
        our markets work and interact with the wider capital   this dispersal, and give a clear indication as to how our
        markets ecosystem, we are always aware of the pivotal   industry is currently organised as well as the impact
        role that institutional investors play in making their   that regulation is having on both revenues and active
        securities available for lending. It is important that we   participation in these markets.


                                                                                                            Previously, we have highlighted the disparity between   Finally, December 31 saw the transition phase to allow the
                      9%                                                                                    securities being made available for lending by collective   UK to leave the European Union come to end, with the UK
                                                                                                            investment vehicles including UCITS, and on-loan balances
                                                                                                                                                        formally exiting the political and regulatory orbit that it has
                                                                                                            (i.e. securities out on-loan). The picture as at the end of   been a part of for over forty years. Our markets, together
                                     22%
                                                                                                            December was typical of the profile that we have observed   with most other financial service companies were well
                                                                                                            for several years now, with collective investment vehicles   prepared ahead of the deadline. As we look forward into
                                                                                                            representing some 49% of all securities that are being   2021 and beyond, it is likely that we will begin to see some
                          Fig 4:                                                                            made available for lending, but only making up some 35%   regulatory and policy divergence between the UK and the
                  Global Lendable Supply Value                                                              of on-loan balances.                        EU, although too early to see what that may look like. One
                       By Fund Type                                                                                                                     area that is already causing some debate is how UK-based
                                            14%                                                             As Europe continues to develop its ambitious plans around   investment firms will effectively service their European-
                      Source: DataLend                       15%
                                                                                                            the Capital Markets Union, the provision of secondary
                                                                                                                                                        based clients in the absence of any equivalence recognition
                                                                                25%
                                                                                                            market liquidity by securities lending participants will be   from the EU for UK-based institutions. Current MiFID rules
                                       %                                                                    a crucial factor in attracting retail investors, as Europe   prevent direct sales activities to clients from companies
            49%
                                                                     Fig 5:                                 strives to reposition the way its thinks about the long-term   outside of the EU 27. Whilst this may not directly impact
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                                                                                                            financing of its capital markets.
                                                                                                                                                        our markets, we could see some realignment of supply
                                                              Global Securities On-Loan                                                                 and demand patterns for securities, as institutions have to
                                                            By Fund Type (Lender to Broker)                 Conversely, the role that Sovereign Wealth Funds   potentially rethink their business models.
                                                                Source: DataLend                            (SWFs) play in our markets is now also well understood.
                                                                                                            Where other groups have been constrained from   However, and notwithstanding those challenges, it is
           Pension Plans                              35%                           21%                     actively participating in securities lending either   clear that much of the regulatory agenda in 2021 will be
           Government/Sovereign Entities                                                                    through convention or regulations, SWFs have stepped   increasingly dominated by ESG and sustainable finance, as
           Insurance Companies                                                                              into markets, notably fixed income. Their sheer scale   governments and politicians respond to the demands of
                                                                       4%
           Collective Investment Vehicle                               29%                                  and at times greater flexibility make them ideal   their electorates to make climate change and the green
           Others                                                                                           counterparts for borrowers.                 agenda a priority in a post-pandemic era.
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