The International Swaps and Derivatives Association (“ISDA”) has published a very useful 2-page checklist of steps that should be taken in order to get ready for the March 1, 2017 Variation Margin deadline.  In summary, ISDA has identified four steps:

  1. Determine which rules apply by using the ISDA Self-Disclosure Letter, a tool developed by ISDA expressly for this purpose;
  2. Determine documentation strategy, which could include the use of the ISDA 2016 Variation Margin Protocol;
  3. Implement documentation in preparation for March 1, 2017 deadline; and
  4. Implement necessary operational changes prior to the March 1, 2017 deadline.

In addition, ISDA recently announced that ISDA Amend, an on-line service developed by ISDA and IHS Markit, will be available for use with both the ISDA Self-Disclosure Letter and the 2016 Variation Margin Protocol.  Essentially, ISDA Amend allows a market participant to exchange information electronically with any other market participant that uses this on-line tool.  Additional information about ISDA Amend is available at www.isda.org.

The checklist is available here.

Good day.  Good checking. DR2