1. An institution may apply to the relevant NCB for permission to hold all its minimum reserves indirectly through an intermediary institution where that intermediary institution:
(a)
is resident in the same Member State;
(b)
is subject to minimum reserve requirements;
(c)
normally carries out certain administrative tasks (e.g. treasury management) for that institution, beyond the holding of minimum reserves.
2. For the purposes of paragraph 1, where an institution applies for permission to hold all its minimum reserves indirectly through an intermediary institution, it shall conclude an agreement with that intermediary institution to that effect. That agreement shall specify at least the following:
(a)
whether the applicant wishes to access Eurosystem standing facilities and open market operations;
(b)
a notice period of at least 12 months, without prejudice to the provisions in Article 10(7)(b).
Where an institution gives notice as referred to in point (b), it shall inform the relevant NCB thereof without undue delay.
3. Where the parent of a group consolidates in its statistical reporting the business of subsidiaries which are resident in the same Member State in accordance with Article 6(1) of Regulation (EU) 2021/379 (ECB/2021/2), that parent may apply to the relevant NCB for permission to hold the minimum reserves of the group as an intermediary.
4. Where a parent applies for permission to hold the minimum reserves of the group as an intermediary pursuant to paragraph 3, that parent shall conclude an agreement with each institution in that group to act as an intermediary. Those agreements shall specify at least the following:
(a)
whether the parent or subsidiaries will access Eurosystem standing facilities and open market operations;
(b)
a notice period of at least 12 months.
5. The relevant NCB may grant permission to the applicant institution to hold minimum reserves through an intermediary and shall notify that institution and the intermediary institution thereof without undue delay. That permission shall take effect from the start of the first maintenance period following the date permission is granted, and shall apply for the duration of the agreement referred to in paragraph 2 or 4, or until the permission is withdrawn pursuant to paragraphs 7 and 8.
A permission granted to an institution to hold minimum reserves through an intermediary pursuant to Article 10 of Regulation (EC) No 1745/2003 (ECB/2003/9) shall be deemed to be granted in accordance with this paragraph for the purposes of this Regulation.
6. Where an intermediary institution holds minimum reserves for another institution pursuant to this Article, it shall hold those reserves in its own reserve accounts in addition to its own reserves held in accordance with this Regulation.
7. The ECB or the relevant NCB may, at any time, withdraw the permission granted pursuant to paragraph 5 where any of the following apply:
(a)
either party to the agreement referred to in paragraph 2 or 4 fails to fulfil the requirements of this Regulation;
(b)
either party to the agreement referred to in paragraph 2 or 4 requests such withdrawal of permission pursuant to this Article;
(c)
the conditions for the indirect holding of minimum reserves specified in paragraph 1 are no longer fulfilled;
(d)
prudential reasons relating to the intermediary institution exist.
8. The relevant NCB or the ECB shall consider the following when determining whether to withdraw permission pursuant to paragraph 7:
(a)
whether the parties have agreed to terminate the agreement by mutual consent;
(b)
whether the institution holding its minimum reserves indirectly through an intermediary is able to fulfil its own reserve requirements.
9. Where the relevant NCB or the ECB withdraws permission pursuant to paragraph 7, the following shall apply:
(a)
the withdrawal of the permission shall take effect at the end of a maintenance period except where the permission is withdrawn pursuant to paragraph 7(d);
(b)
where the permission is withdrawn pursuant to paragraph 7(d), the withdrawal shall have immediate effect and the minimum notification period provided for in point (c) of this paragraph shall not apply;
(c)
the relevant NCB or the ECB shall notify both parties to the agreement referred to in paragraph 2 or 4 of the withdrawal at least five working days before the end of the final maintenance period for which the permission applies.
10. Where the ECB imposes sanctions pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 2532/98, it may impose those sanctions on the intermediary institution and the institution for which it holds reserves.