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IBOR meaning

What does IBOR mean?
IBORs are a family of interest rate benchmarks used in finance documents to set floating rates, derived from the rates at which banks lend to one another in the wholesale market for stated currencies and maturities. The term is descriptive rather than statutory; “benchmark” is defined in the UK Benchmarks Regulation and the EU Benchmarks Regulation (which applies in Ireland), not “IBOR” itself. Key IBORs are: - LIBOR: most settings ceased (GBP, EUR, CHF, JPY on 31 December 2021; most USD on 30 June 2023). The UK FCA mandated temporary “synthetic” LIBOR for certain GBP and USD tenors for tough legacy contracts; GBP synthetic ended on 31 March 2024 and USD synthetic on 30 September 2024. - EURIBOR: remains in use following reform to a hybrid methodology. - TIBOR: remains in use following reform by the JBA. In UK and Irish practice, IBOR references have largely transitioned to near risk-free rates such as SONIA (GBP), SOFR (USD), €STR (euro), SARON (CHF) and TONA (JPY), with term variants available in some markets. Documentation (e.g. LMA and ISDA) typically includes benchmark fallbacks and replacement mechanics. Use of benchmarks is regulated under the UK BMR and EU BMR, and approaches are broadly consistent across England...
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View the related Checklists about IBOR

CHECKLISTS
English law LMA par secondary loan trades: pre-trade due diligence and settlement guide (transfer criteria, RFR/IBOR interest and DSC, KYC, tax, regulatory, sub-participations, BISO)

STOP PRESS The Loan Market Association (LMA) has released refreshed editions of the standard terms and conditions for Par and Distressed Trade Transactions, the complete set of Funded Participation and Risk Participation Agreements, and the Secondary Debt Trading Documentation User Guide, with effect from 17 March 2026. The changes remove LIBOR references, update IBOR rate definitions and the Target2 definition, and revise ERISA representations to incorporate additional exemptions to the prohibited transaction rules under ERISA and the US Internal Revenue Code. The revised documentation is available exclusively to LMA members, accessible via the LMA’s Documentation Hub. These publications are updated versions issued by the LMA. Summary A core principle of trading under the LMA protocol is that ‘Trade is a Trade’; i.e. once a trade is struck—including an oral contract agreed by telephone—it is binding, and subsequent developments, even if adverse to one or both parties, do not entitle either party to cancel or ‘break’ the trade. By way of example, a failure to secure consent for...

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CHECKLISTS
ISDA documentation for loan hedging: checklist covering term sheet, negotiation, signing/completion, security/intercreditor terms, clearing, regulatory compliance (EMIR/UK EMIR/Dodd-Frank), tax, capacity, authorisations and cross-border issues

This checklist outlines the principal ISDA documentary points that should be considered during a financing transaction. Term sheet stage If acting for a borrower and specialist hedging advisers are engaged, obtain their input on the term sheet. If acting for a borrower, confirm the total pricing of the deal is clear (covering both the loan and the hedge). A borrower may pick a lender for a low loan margin, only to find that the swap credit spread from the same lender renders the overall economics less appealing than those from another lender. Are the loan and hedging set on an IBOR basis (eg EURIBOR) or on a risk free rate (eg SONIA or SOFR)? Does the lender require a zero floor in its loan? If acting for a borrower, ensure the borrower understands the consequences of any mismatch between this and the hedging documentation. ...

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CHECKLISTS
LMA distressed secondary bank debt/claims: pre-trade due diligence and key elections on transfers, settlement, interest, DSC, unfunded commitments, tax/regulatory issues (including 2026 updates)

STOP PRESS: The Loan Market Association (LMA) has issued refreshed versions of the standard terms and conditions for Par and Distressed Trade Transactions, the complete suite of Funded Participation and Risk Participation Agreements, and the Secondary Debt Trading Documentation User Guide, all coming into force on 17 March 2026. Changes comprise the deletion of LIBOR references, updates to IBOR rate definitions and the Target2 definition, plus revised ERISA representations that fold in further exemptions to the prohibited transaction rules under ERISA and the US Internal Revenue Code. The new materials are accessible solely to LMA members via the LMA’s Documentation Hub. Summary A core principle of trading under the LMA protocol is that ‘a Trade is a Trade’: once a trade is concluded (which may include an oral agreement reached by telephone), it is binding, and later events that may disadvantage one or both parties do not permit either side to rescind or ‘break’ it. For instance, not securing consent for an assignment or novation of the...

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View the related News about IBOR

NEWS
UK and EU financial services weekly briefing for lawyers: Spring Budget 2024, FCA supervision and enforcement, AML and sanctions, ESG, markets and fintech updates (7 March 2024)

In this issue: Spring Budget 2024 Brexit UK, EU and international regulators and bodies Authorisations, approvals and supervision Prudential requirements Financial crime and sanctions Complaints, compensation and claims handling Investigations, enforcement and discipline Capital markets regulation Benchmark regulation and IBOR reform Derivatives regulation Dispute resolution for financial services lawyers Sustainable finance and ESG Banks and mutuals Investment funds and asset management Insurance regulation Payment services and systems Fintech and cryptoassets Competition in financial services EEA Agreement Annex IX (Financial Services) Financial Services Enforcement Database Daily and weekly news alerts Intraday news alerts New and updated content Dates for your diary Spring Budget 2024 Spring Budget 2024—key Financial Services announcements In the Spring Budget 2024, the chancellor of the Exchequer, Jeremy Hunt, unveiled a suite of measures affecting financial services, including in particular the possible creation of a Private...

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NEWS
Financial services regulation weekly round-up: UK, EU and international developments on MiFIR, MiCA, AIFMD II, AML, MREL, LIBOR and supervisory updates—28 March 2024

In this issue: Brexit UK, EU and international regulators and bodies Accountability, culture and societal governance Prudential rules Stability of the financial system Financial crime and sanctions Conduct standards Complaints, redress and claims handling Investigations, enforcement and disciplinary action Benchmark regulation and IBOR transition Capital markets regulation PRIIPs (Packaged Retail and Insurance-based Investment Products) Derivatives regulation Sustainable finance and ESG Banks and mutuals Funds and asset management MiFID II Insurance regulation Personal pensions and stakeholder products regulation Payment services and systems Fintech and cryptoassets EEA Agreement Annex IX (Financial Services) Financial Services Enforcement Database Daily and weekly news alerts Intraday alerts New and updated content Dates for your diary New Q&As New Q&As Brexit — HMT outlines the next stage of the Smarter Regulatory Framework. HM Treasury (HMT) has issued a policy paper describing the upcoming...

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NEWS
Financial services regulatory highlights—UK, EU and international: FCA fees, OFSI licences, LIBOR cessation, BoE stress tests, ESG labelling, MiCA, enforcement—4 July 2024

In this issue UK, EU and international regulators and bodies Authorisation, approval and supervision Prudential requirements Financial crime and sanctions Consumer protection Investigations, enforcement and discipline Regulation of benchmarks and IBOR reform Packaged Retail and Insurance-based Investment Products (PRIIPs) Dispute resolution for financial services lawyers Sustainable finance and ESG Banks and mutuals Investment funds and asset management Regulation of insurance Fintech and cryptoassets Consumer credit, mortgage and home finance Amendments to EEA Agreement Annex IX (Financial Services) Financial Services Enforcement Database Daily and weekly news alerts Intraday news alerts New and updated content Dates for your diary UK, EU and international regulators and bodies The FCA has released policy statement PS24/5 confirming the final regulatory fees and levy rates for 2024/25, together with its feedback on CP24/6. Firms can determine their own charges using the FCA’s online fees calculator, with billing to commence...

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View the related Practice Notes about IBOR

PRACTICE NOTES
Loan sub-participation: structures, key risks, and LMA documentation for par/distressed trades (2026 updates)

STOP PRESS: The Loan Market Association (LMA) has released refreshed editions of the standard terms and conditions for Par and Distressed Trade Transactions, the complete set of Funded Participation and Risk Participation Agreements, and the Secondary Debt Trading Documentation User Guide, with all changes taking effect from 17 March 2026. The changes cover deletion and removal of LIBOR references, detailed amendments to IBOR rate definitions and to the Target2 definition, together with revised ERISA representations that incorporate further exemptions from the prohibited transaction rules under ERISA and the US Internal Revenue Code. The refreshed documents are accessible exclusively to LMA members via the LMA’s Documentation Hub. Sub-participation enables a lender to pass its exposure in a loan to another entity. Within the loan market, it functions as an alternative to assignment or novation. For information on loan transfers in a lending context, see Practice Note: Introductory guide to loan transfers. This Practice Note: sets out what is meant by funded sub-participation, risk-participation and credit default swaps ...

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PRACTICE NOTES
Information asymmetry and confidentiality in secondary loan trading: regulation, information barriers, 'Big Boy' provisions, LSTA/AIMA guidance, FCA Principles and EU NPL disclosure regime

STOP PRESS: The Loan Market Association (LMA) has issued refreshed editions of the standard terms and conditions for Par and Distressed Trade Transactions, the full and complete sets of Funded Participation and Risk Participation Agreements, and the Secondary Debt Trading Documentation User Guide; all of which take effect from 17 March 2026. The changes include the deletion of LIBOR references, updates to IBOR rate definitions and the Target2 definition, and revised ERISA representations that incorporate further exemptions from the prohibited transaction rules under ERISA and the US Internal Revenue Code. The revised documentation is accessible to LMA members only via the LMA’s Documentation Hub. Is loan trading on the secondary market a regulated activity? The UK position The use of information within the UK loan secondary debt market remains somewhat unclear. The UK regulatory framework oversees firms that deliver services to clients connected to ‘financial instruments’ and the markets where those instruments are traded. Loans are not treated as ‘financial instruments’ (commonly taken to include shares, bonds,...

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PRACTICE NOTES
Loan Market Association secondary debt trading documents explained: confidentiality, trade confirmations, par, distressed and claims trades; transfers, assignments, funded and risk sub-participations (with 2026 updates)

STOP PRESS: The Loan Market Association (LMA) has issued revised editions of the standard terms and conditions for Par and Distressed Trade Transactions, the complete suite of Funded Participation and Risk Participation Agreements, and the Secondary Debt Trading Documentation User Guide, effective from 17 March 2026. The changes include the removal of LIBOR references, updates to IBOR rate definitions and the Target2 definition, and refreshed ERISA representations incorporating additional exemptions from the prohibited transaction rules under ERISA and the US Internal Revenue Code. The refreshed materials are available exclusively to LMA members via the LMA’s Documentation Hub. In the London market, secondary debt trades are commonly documented using the LMA’s recommended form documents. The LMA’s secondary debt trading suite was developed to standardise and simplify the sale of loan assets and to establish a consistent settlement process. The use of common documentation also bolsters liquidity in the secondary loan market. These documents act as a negotiation baseline and should be adapted as necessary to meet the particular requirements of...

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