What Is Euroclear?
Let me explain what Euroclear is directly to you. Euroclear stands as one of two primary Financial Market Infrastructure providers in the Eurozone, delivering a range of financial services for global markets with a focus on settling securities transactions on European exchanges.
The other main European FMI is Clearstream, which used to be known as the Centrale de Livraison de Valeurs Mobilières or CEDEL.
Key Takeaways
You should know that Euroclear functions as a Financial Market Infrastructure provider that settles and clears securities trades on European exchanges. It also operates as a central securities depository, serving as a custodian for major financial institutions in European markets.
Beyond stock trades, Euroclear manages orders in fixed-income securities and derivatives, along with many other services. In May 2024, Euroclear, together with DTCC and Clearstream, announced they are developing a framework to build an industry-wide ecosystem for tokenizing illiquid assets and enabling their acceptance.
Euroclear History
I'll walk you through Euroclear's background. Euroclear is a central securities depository and one of the oldest settlement systems, originally subsidized by Morgan Guaranty Trust Co. of New York, part of J.P. Morgan & Co. It started in 1968 to settle trades in the emerging Eurobond market, using a computerized system to ensure safe delivery and payment of Eurobonds. In 2000, Morgan Guaranty Trust transferred these operations to Euroclear Bank.
Euroclear is publicly owned and governed. Between 2001 and 2007, it acquired several central securities depositories, growing into one of the world's largest Financial Markets infrastructure providers. Some key acquisitions include Sicovam for France, CIK and Necigef for Belgium and the Netherlands, and CrestCo for Irish equities and all U.K. securities.
How Does Euroclear Work?
Here's how Euroclear operates, explained straightforwardly. Euroclear acts as an FMI and clearinghouse for its clients, many of whom trade on European exchanges. It serves as a financial institution intermediary between buyers and sellers of financial instruments, positioning itself as the buyer to the seller and the seller to the buyer in each trade.
Most clients are banks, broker-dealers, and institutions involved in managing new securities issues, market making, trading, or holding various securities. Euroclear settles both domestic and international transactions, including bonds, equities, derivatives, and investment funds. The system accepts over 1 million international securities, covering fixed- and floating-rate debt instruments, convertibles, warrants, and equities.
Euroclear vs. Clearstream
Let me compare Euroclear and Clearstream for you. Both are Financial Market Infrastructure providers offering extensive financial services, including clearinghouse functions worldwide, and they operate in the same global market.
Euroclear holds over €38 trillion in assets under custody, serves 50 markets, processes 299 million transactions per year, and covers business lines like transaction settlement, issuer services, custody and collateral management, funds, Eurobonds, and liquidity. Clearstream, on the other hand, manages over €19 trillion in assets, serves 60 markets, handles 260 million transactions annually, and includes similar lines plus lending.
Euroclear Developments
You need to know about recent Euroclear developments. In May 2024, Euroclear announced a partnership with global FMIs DTCC and Clearstream to create a framework for a global digital asset ecosystem. This focuses on standardizing distributed ledger technology, digital assets, and interoperability between traditional systems and DLT.
The framework proposes reducing connectivity costs for existing participants, easing entry for new ones, and standardizing digital asset processes, regulatory treatment, technical connectivity, funding, and core process management.
What Currencies Can Settle in Euroclear?
Euroclear supports about 50 settlement currencies and 100 denomination currencies.
What Does Euroclear Do?
Euroclear is a Financial Markets Infrastructure provider, offering a wide array of financial services to global markets.
Who Owns Euroclear?
Euroclear Holding owns Euroclear SA/NV, which in turn owns Euroclear Bank that operates the FMI.
The Bottom Line
To wrap this up, Euroclear is one of two main securities clearinghouses in the Eurozone, the other being Clearstream. It specializes in verifying broker information in securities transactions and settling those on European exchanges.
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