Clearing houses are the central counterparties defined in Article 2(1) of Regulation (EU) No 648/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 4 July 2012 on OTC derivatives, central counterparties and trade repositories.
They are authorised by the Autorité de contrôle prudentiel et de résolution after consultation with the Autorité des marchés financiers and the Banque de France.
Where justified by the nature, volume or complexity of their activities, the Autorité de contrôle prudentiel et de résolution, after consulting the Autorité des marchés financiers and the Banque de France, may require, under conditions specified by decree, that clearing houses be subject to authorisation by the European Central Bank as credit institutions within the meaning of Article 4 of Regulation (EU) No 575/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 June 2013 on prudential requirements for credit institutions and investment firms and amending Regulation (EU) No 648/2012.
Any change in the constituent elements of their authorisation is subject to the prior authorisation of the European Central Bank, on a proposal from the Autorité de contrôle prudentiel et de résolution after consulting the Autorité des marchés financiers and the Banque de France.
When the Autorité de contrôle prudentiel et de résolution receives the information provided for in Article 31 of the aforementioned Regulation (EU) No 648/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 4 July 2012 or is consulted on the basis of a draft interoperability agreement referred to in Article 54 of that Regulation, it shall also consult the Autorité des marchés financiers and the Banque de France.
The operating rules of the clearing houses are approved by the Autorité des marchés financiers.
These rules are drawn up in French or, in the cases defined by the general regulations of the Autorité des marchés financiers, in another language customary in financial matters.
A decree of the Conseil d’Etat shall determine the conditions of application of this article.