ISDA®
INTERNATIONAL SWAPS AND DERIVATIVES ASSOCIATION, INC.

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release Wednesday, July 5, 2006

For More Information, Please Contact:

Louise Marshall, ISDA New York, 212-901-6000, lmarshall@isda.org

 

ISDA Welcomes U.S., Swiss Signature of Hague Securities Convention

 

NEW YORK, Wednesday, July 5, 2006 The International Swaps and Derivatives Association (ISDA) today welcomed the United States’ and Switzerland’s signature of the Hague Securities Convention, an international treaty that provides a uniform legal approach to determining governing law for cross-border securities transactions.

 

As part of its mission to enhance legal certainty in the privately negotiated derivatives business, ISDA has been involved over the past six years in the development of the treaty, which is designed to address the appropriate law that governs the legal nature and effects of rights resulting from movements of securities across jurisdictions, i.e., which law applies to intermediated securities.  The Hague Securities Convention is designed to apply whenever there is the potential that the law of more than one country would come into play. Among other areas in which this matter can arise is the posting of securities as collateral, a common risk mitigation tool in the derivatives industry.

 

While the United States and Switzerland are the first nations to sign the Hague Securities Convention, the European Commission today called upon all European Union members to adopt the treaty.

 

“Endorsement of the treaty by these authorities represents a major advancement in legal certainty for cross-border securities transactions,” said Robert Pickel, Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director, ISDA. “ISDA is delighted to have played a part in helping develop this treaty, which further promotes the prudent and efficient conduct of business by its global membership.”

 

About ISDA

ISDA, which represents participants in the privately negotiated derivatives industry, is the largest global financial trade association, by number of member firms. ISDA was chartered in 1985, and today has over 700 member institutions from 50 countries on six continents. These members include most of the world's major institutions that deal in privately negotiated derivatives, as well as many of the businesses, governmental entities and other end users that rely on over-the-counter derivatives to manage efficiently the financial market risks inherent in their core economic activities. Information about ISDA and its activities is available on the Association's web site: www.isda.org.

 

 

® ISDA is a registered trademark of the International Swaps & Derivatives Association, Inc.