Basel Framework

Basel III is an internationally agreed set of measures developed by the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision in response to the financial crisis of 2007-09. The measures aim to strengthen the regulation, supervision and risk management of banks. Like all Basel Committee standards, Basel III standards are minimum requirements which apply to internationally active banks.

The ​Capital Requirements Directive IV (CRD IV) is an EU legislative package that contains prudential rules for banks, building societies and investment firms, and is intended to implement the Basel III agreement in the EU. This includes enhanced requirements for the quality and quantity of capital, a basis for new liquidity and leverage requirements, rules for counterparty risk and macroprudential standards including a countercyclical capital buffer and capital buffers for systemically important institutions.

The rolling impacts of Basel III/CRD IV have significantly changed how borrowers think about certain elements of their securities lending business, with new leverage hurdles, minimum liquidity requirements and more stringent counterparty risk parameters changing behaviour.

ISLA has actively worked with members, regulators and other industry stakeholders to better understand these new rules and communicate the ramifications of these changes.