ESMA · ESMA_QA_1285 Answer Published

Ancillary activity excemption

Regulation
Markets in Financial Instruments Directive II (MiFID II) Directive 2014/65/EU- Secondary Markets
Topic
Ancillary activity
Submitted
2022-09-23
Answered
2022-09-23

Question

When does a firm that can no longer make use of the ancillary activity exemption need to apply for a license?

Answer

[ESMA70-872942901-36 Commodity derivatives, Ancillary activities, Q&A 7] When a person’s trading activity increases to such an extent that it can no longer be considered to be ancillary to its main business under Article 2(1)(j) of MIFID II, the firm must apply to the competent authority for a license.  The calculations for the ancillary activity test must be carried out annually in the first quarter of the calendar year that follows an annual calculation. Where, based on those calculations, a person’s trading can no longer be considered to be ancillary to its main business, the firm must apply to the competent authority for an authorisation as soon as reasonably practicable.

This Q&A is published by European Securities and Markets Authority and is non-binding. It does not constitute legal advice. Updated weekly from official ESA sources.

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