The Securities Settlement System (NBB-SSS)

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EU Issuance Service

On 12 July 2022, EC Commissioner Johannes Hahn, ECB Director Fabio Panetta and NBB Governor Pierre Wunsch signed the Letter of Intent to underpin the EU Issuance Service (EIS) which will be operationally provided by the NBB-SSS at the National Bank of Belgium. Reusing existing infrastructure at the NBB-SSS and the Target services, the issuance and settlement of the NextGenerationEU (NGEU) assets contribute to financing the NGEU projects at the Member States to emerge stronger from the pandemic.

Introduction

This system enables the processing of transactions on both the primary market (on which new securities are issued) and the secondary market (on which financial instruments already in circulation are exchanged). The total outstanding amount held on account is comprised mainly of securities issued by the Belgian Government, such as treasury certificates (short-term securities), linear bonds  (OLOs) and strips. It also comprises short and long-term securities issued by other government bodies or by private issuers residing both in Belgium or abroad. Non Belgian Government issues are managed by issuing agents, who are participant at NBB-SSS and whose cash accounts are used for corporate actions.

General

Settlement

The system ensures the settlement of transactions based on instructions sent by the two counterparties. It also ensures that delivery of and payment for the securities are effected simultaneously and irreversibly (delivery against payment principle). The system settles transactions on gross basis. The system also manages the collection and refunding of taxes on the securities (X/N system), both at the time of settlement of a transaction and when the proceeds are paid.

All participants can manage their instructions and their positions by means of Ramses. Direct participants have an additional access to T2S platform that also reflects this information.

Cash Provision for Settlement

The NBB-SSS operates on T2S. Subsequently, both the cash and securities’ sides of "delivery versus payment" transactions are settled in full on the T2S platform. The cash funds held on the Dedicated Cash Accounts will be used for settling DVP transactions as well as corporate actions. Cash settlement on T2S is available through DCAs in Euro and DKK. Provision of EUR cash on DCAs shall be executed through TARGET2, provision of DKK cash on DCAs shall be executed through the DKK RTGS-system KRONOS2. 

Central Securities Depositories Regulation compliance

As CSD operated by a NCB, the NBB-SSS does not need an authorization (cfr. Art 1§4 of the EU regulation No 909/2014 saying that Art 16 (CSD authorization), among others, do not apply to CSD operated by NCBs of the ESCB).

Nevertheless, the NBB Board decided to request the NBB Oversight to perform an assessment of the NBB-SSS against the CSD-R. The NBB-SSS was assessed to comply with the CSDR requirements at the end of March 2018 and the results of this assessment were published in the Financial Market Infrastructures and Payment Services Report 2018.

On-boarding Procedure

Should you wish to become a Participant in the NBB-SSS, follow the on-boarding procedure.

Should you wish to become an Issuer in the NBB-SSS, please contact a Paying Agent (Current Paying Agents) which will together with the NBB-SSS assist you in the on-boarding.

System Working Days

In principle, the settlement system operates on a daily basis except on Saturdays, Sundays and the other days on which the T2S is closed.   

Key Documents and Lists

Rule Book 
SWIFT
NBB-SSS Participants
Issuance
Corporate Actions
Foreign Currencies
Statistics and Figures
Other Documents