1.An administrator shall develop, operate and administer the benchmark and methodology transparently. To that end, the administrator shall publish or make available the following information:
(a)the key elements of the methodology that the administrator uses for each benchmark provided and published or, when applicable, for each family of benchmarks provided and published;
(b)details of the internal review and the approval of a given methodology, as well as the frequency of such review;
(c)the procedures for consulting on any proposed material change in the administrator's methodology and the rationale for such changes, including a definition of what constitutes a material change and the circumstances in which the administrator is to notify users of any such changes[F1;]
[F2(d)an explanation of how the key elements of the methodology laid down in point (a) reflect ESG factors for each benchmark or family of benchmarks, with the exception of interest rate and foreign exchange benchmarks.]
[F2Benchmark administrators shall comply with the requirement laid down in point (d) of the first subparagraph by 30 April 2020.]
2.The procedures required under point (c) of paragraph 1 shall provide for:
(a)advance notice, with a clear time frame, that gives the opportunity to analyse and comment upon the impact of such proposed material changes; and
(b)the comments referred to in point (a) of this paragraph, and the administrator's response to those comments, to be made accessible after any consultation, except where confidentiality has been requested by the originator of the comments.
[F22a.[F3The Treasury may make regulations] to supplement this Regulation by laying down the minimum content of the explanation referred to in point (d) of the first subparagraph of paragraph 1 of this Article, as well as the standard format to be used.]
3.[F4The FCA may make] technical standards to specify further the information to be provided by an administrator in compliance with the requirements laid down in paragraphs 1 and 2, distinguishing for different types of benchmarks and sectors as set out in this Regulation. [F5The FCA] shall take into account the need to disclose those elements of the methodology that provide for sufficient detail to allow users to understand how a benchmark is provided and to assess its representativeness, its relevance to particular users and its appropriateness as a reference for financial instruments and contracts and the principle of proportionality. However, the F6... technical standards shall not cover or apply to administrators of non-significant benchmarks.
F7...
F7...
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Textual Amendments
F1Substituted by Regulation (EU) 2019/2089 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 November 2019 amending Regulation (EU) 2016/1011 as regards EU Climate Transition Benchmarks, EU Paris-aligned Benchmarks and sustainability-related disclosures for benchmarks (Text with EEA relevance).
F2Inserted by Regulation (EU) 2019/2089 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 November 2019 amending Regulation (EU) 2016/1011 as regards EU Climate Transition Benchmarks, EU Paris-aligned Benchmarks and sustainability-related disclosures for benchmarks (Text with EEA relevance).
F3Words in Art. 13(2a) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Benchmarks (Amendment and Transitional Provision) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/657), regs. 1(2), 11(1A) (with regs. 51-53, 65) (as amended by S.I. 2019/1212, regs. 1(3), 20(3)(4); S.I. 2020/628, regs. 1(3), 12(3); and with savings in S.I. 2019/680, reg. 11); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
F4Words in Art. 13(3) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Benchmarks (Amendment and Transitional Provision) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/657), regs. 1(2), 11(2)(a)(i) (with regs. 51-53, 65) (as amended by S.I. 2019/1212, regs. 1(3), 20(3)(4) and with savings in S.I. 2019/680, reg. 11); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
F5Words in Art. 13(3) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Benchmarks (Amendment and Transitional Provision) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/657), regs. 1(2), 11(2)(a)(ii) (with regs. 51-53, 65) (as amended by S.I. 2019/1212, regs. 1(3), 20(3)(4) and with savings in S.I. 2019/680, reg. 11); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
F6Words in Art. 13(3) omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Benchmarks (Amendment and Transitional Provision) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/657), regs. 1(2), 11(2)(a)(iii) (with regs. 51-53, 65) (as amended by S.I. 2019/1212, regs. 1(3), 20(3)(4) and with savings in S.I. 2019/680, reg. 11); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
F7Words in Art. 13(3) omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Benchmarks (Amendment and Transitional Provision) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/657), regs. 1(2), 11(2)(b) (with regs. 51-53, 65) (as amended by S.I. 2019/1212, regs. 1(3), 20(3)(4) and with savings in S.I. 2019/680, reg. 11); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
F8Art. 13(4) omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Benchmarks (Amendment and Transitional Provision) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/657), regs. 1(2), 11(3) (with regs. 51-53, 65) (as amended by S.I. 2019/1212, regs. 1(3), 20(3)(4) and with savings in S.I. 2019/680, reg. 11); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)