Twin Peaks (Financial Sector Regulation Bill, 34D of 2015) Flashcards
Twin Peaks model of financial regulation
The Twin Peaks model will see:
- the creation of a prudential regulator (the Prudential Authority) housed in the South African Reserve Bank (SARB)
- while the FSB will be transformed into a dedicated market conduct regulator (the Financial Sector Conduct Authority)
2 Fundamental objectives of the Twin Peaks model
- to strengthen South Africa’s approach to consumer protection and market conduct in financial services, and
- to create a more resilient and stable financial system
Objective of the Prudential Authority
To promote and enhance the safety and soundness of
- FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS that provide financial products and securities services, and
- MARKET INFRASTRUCTURES.
To protect financial customers against the risk that those financial institutions may FAIL TO MEET THEIR OBLIGATIONS;
To assist in MAINTAINING FINANCIAL STABILITY
Objective of the Financial Sector Conduct Authority
Enhance and support the EFFICIENCY AND INTEGRITY of the financial markets.
To PROTECT financial customers, by:
- ensuring that financial institutions treat financial customers fairly;
- providing financial customers and potential financial customers with financial education programs, and otherwise promoting financial literacy and financial capability.
To assist in maintaining financial STABILITY
8 Principles of commonalities between the Prudential Authority and the Financial Sector Conduct Authority
- Transparent
- Comprehensive & Consistent
- Appropriate, Intensive & Intrusive
- Outcomes-based
- Risk-based & Proportional
- Pre-emptive & Pro-active
- A credible deterrent to Misconduct
- Aligned with applicable International Standards
Key functions of the prudential regulator (SARB)?
The SARB will be responsible for both micro and macro-prudential regulation and supervision.
Aims of Micro-prudential regulation
Aims to secure the safety and soundness of:
- banks
- insurers
- financial conglomerates
- financial market infrastructure
Aims of Macro-prudential regulation
Seeks to promote the stability of the financial system as a whole.
The stability function will also look at crisis management and resolution.
Key functions of the new market conduct regulator (FSB)?
Focus on protecting consumers of financial product and services.
Will oversee the market conduct of all financial services institutions, including banks.
Will regulate Market integrity.
Market integrity typically involves
setting and enforcing:
- rules governing product disclosure
- rules to promote orderly and efficient trading and price formation
- rules to avoid market abuse
- requirements to oversee the operation of exchanges and market infrastructure
Primary objectives of the Financial Stability Oversight Committee (2)
- to support the Reserve Bank when the Reserve Bank performs its functions in relation to financial stability; and
- to facility co-operation between the Reserve Bank and financial sector regulators in respect of matters relating to financial stability.
Functions of the Financial Stability Oversight Committee (4)
- To serve as a forum for representatives of the Reserve Bank and of each of the financial sector regulators regarding financial stability
- To make recommendations to the Governor on the designation of systemically important financial institutions.
- To advise the Minister and the Reserve bank on
- – steps to be taken to promote, protect or maintain financial stability
- – matters relating to crisis management and prevention
- To make recommendations to other organs of state regarding steps that are appropriate for them to take to assist in promoting, protecting or maintaining, or managing or preventing risks to financial stability
8 Members of the Financial stability oversight committee
- The Governor
- Deputy Governor responsible for financial stability matters;
- the Chief Executive Officer of the Prudential authority;
- the Commissioner of the Financial Sector Conduct Authority;
- the Chief Executive Officer of the National Credit Regulator;
- the Director-General of the National Treasury;
- the Director of the Financial Intelligence Centre and
- a maximum of 2 additional persons appointed by the Governor.
Primary objective of the Financial Sector Contingency Forum
To assist the Financial Stability Oversight Committee with:
a) the identification of potential risks that systemic events will occur; and
b) the co-ordination of appropriate plans, mechanisms and structures to mitigate those risks.
The Financial Sector Contingency Forum is composed of at least 8 members, including - (4)
a) a Deputy Governor designated by the Governor, which Deputy Governor is the Chairperson;
b) representatives of each of the financial sector regulators;
c) representatives of other organs of state, as the Chairperson may determine; and
d) representatives of financial sector industry bodies and any other relevant person as the Chairperson may determine.