Rule · CMA · 3 Jul 2025
Qualified Financial Contracts and Netting Agreements are enforceable and valid, unaffected by subsequent changes in circumstances or bankruptcy proceedings. Parties must pay or receive only net amounts determined by the agreement, limiting obligations and rights to a single net balance. Bankruptcy Trustees cannot stay, avoid, or limit these provisions, nor assume or repudiate individual contracts, except to address the remaining net amount. Multibranch netting liabilities are capped at the lesser of global or local net obligations, reduced by collateral applied.
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KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA
Capital Market Authority
Close-out Netting and related Collateral Arrangements Regulation Issued by the Board of the Capital Market Authority Pursuant to its Resolution Number 4-73-2025 dated 7/1/1447H corresponding to 2/7/2025G Based on the Capital Market Law issued by Royal Decree No. M/30 dated 2/6/1424H And the Bankruptcy Law issued by Royal Decree No. M/50 dated 28/5/1439H Note: The official text is in Arabic. This document is an unofficial translation and is provided for information purposes only Important Notice: The current version of these Regulations, as may be amended, can be found at the Authority’s website: www.cma.org.sa
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER I: PRELIMINARY PROVISIONS
Article 1: Scope of Application
Article 2: Definitions
Article 3: Powers of The Authority in reference to Qualified Financial Contracts
CHAPTER II: NETTING
Article 4: Enforceability of a Qualified Financial Contract
CHAPTER III: GENERAL PROVISIONS
Article 5: General Provision
Article 6: Limitation on the Obligation of Payment or Delivery
Article 7: Limitation on Right to Receive Payment or Delivery
Article 8: Limitation on Powers of the Bankruptcy Trustee and the Bankruptcy Commission
Article 9: Limitation of Bankruptcy Laws Prohibiting Netting
Article 10: Preferences and Fraudulent Transactions
Article 11: Preemption
Article 12: Realization, Appropriation and Liquidation of Collateral
Article 13: Scope of this Chapter
CHAPTER IV: MULTIBRANCH NETTING
Article 14: Enforceability of a Multibranch Netting Agreement against a Bankrupt Local Branch
Article 15: Financial Collateral Arrangement for a Multibranch Netting Agreement
ANNEXES
Annex (1)
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CHAPTER IW PRELIMINARY PROVISIONS
Article 1: Scope of Application
The objective of this Regulation is to regulate Netting Agreements and related Financial Collateral Arrangements in connection with one or more Qualified Financial Contracts that falls under the Authority’s supervision, and entered into with at least one Party being a Capital Market Institution, and to ensure their enforceability in accordance with their terms both outside the scope of Bankruptcy Proceedings and following the commencement of any such proceedings, in accordance to the powers of the Authority under the Capital Market Law and the Bankruptcy Law, including the provisions of
Article Two Hundred Fourteen of the Bankruptcy Law and Article Seventy-Nine of its implementing
regulation.
Article 2: Definitions
a) Any reference to the “Law” in this Regulation shall mean the Capital Market Law issued by Royal Decree No. (M/30) dated 2/6/1424H. b) Without prejudice to Paragraph (c) of this Article, expressions and terms in this Regulation have the meaning which they bear in the Law and the Glossary of Defined Terms Used in the Regulations and Rules of the Capital Market Authority, unless the contrary intention appears. c) For the purpose of this Regulation, the following expressions and terms shall have the meaning they bear as follows unless the contrary intention appears:
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(4) The determination of the net balance of the values calculated under paragraph (2) of this definition, as converted under paragraph (3) of this definition, by the operation of netting or set-off, giving rise to the obligation of one Party to pay an amount equal to the net balance to the other Party.
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CHAPTER IIW NETTING
Article 4: Enforceability of a Qualified Financial Contract
A Qualified Financial Contract shall be enforceable and valid in accordance with its terms against any of the Parties thereto and the enforceability and validity of a Qualified Financial Contract shall not be affected by any subsequent change to any of the circumstances in which the Qualified Financial Contract was concluded.
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CHAPTER IIIW GENERAL PROVISIONS
Article 5: General Provisions
The provisions of a Netting Agreement will be enforceable in accordance with their terms, including against a Bankrupt Party, and, where applicable, against a guarantor or other natural or corporate person providing Collateral or security for any obligation of a Bankrupt Party, and may not be stayed, avoided or otherwise limited due to the following:
(1) any action taken or power exercised by a Bankruptcy Trustee or the Bankruptcy Commission. (2) any other provision applicable to a Bankrupt Party by virtue of its being subject to Bankruptcy Proceedings according to the Bankruptcy Law. Paragraphs (1) and (2) above shall not affect the competent authority’s powers, according to the Law of Systemically Important Financial Institutions, to stay the right to terminate, liquidate and/or accelerate any present or future payment or delivery obligations or entitlements under or in connection with one or more Qualified Financial Contracts to which a Netting Agreement applies.
Article 6: Limitation on the Obligation of Payment or Delivery
After the initiation of a Bankruptcy Proceedings in relation to one Party, the only obligation, if any, of either Party to make payment or delivery in respect of all entitlements and obligations terminated, liquidated or accelerated pursuant to the application of Netting under a Netting Agreement shall be its obligation to pay a net amount to the other Party as determined in accordance with the terms of the Netting Agreement.
Article 7: Limitation on Right to Receive Payment or Delivery
After the initiation of a Bankruptcy Proceedings in relation to one Party, the only right, if any, of either Party to receive payment or delivery in respect of all entitlements and obligations terminated, liquidated or accelerated pursuant to the application of a Netting under a Netting Agreement shall be equal to its right to receive a net amount from the other Party as determined in accordance with the terms of the Netting Agreement.
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Article 8: Limitation on Powers of the Bankruptcy Trustee and the Bankruptcy
Commission
Any powers of the Bankruptcy Trustee or the Bankruptcy Commission to assume or repudiate individual contracts or transactions will not prevent the termination, liquidation and/or acceleration of all payment or delivery obligations or entitlements under one or more Qualified Financial Contracts to which a Netting Agreement applies, and will apply, if at all, only to the remaining net amount in respect of all such Qualified Financial Contracts after the liquidation and/or acceleration of all payment or delivery obligations or entitlements of the Parties in accordance with the terms of the Netting Agreement; where such remaining net amount will be considered as bankruptcy assets subject to the provisions of the Bankruptcy Law.
Article 9: Limitation of Bankruptcy Laws Prohibiting Netting
Taking into account the provisions set forth in Annex (1) of this Regulation, the provisions of a Netting Agreement which provide for the determination of a net balance of the close-out values, market values, liquidation values or replacement values calculated in respect of accelerated or terminated payment or delivery obligations or entitlements under one or more Qualified Financial Contracts to which a Netting Agreement applies will not be affected by any applicable Bankruptcy Law provisions in the Kingdom limiting the exercise of rights to set off, offset or net out obligations, payment amounts or termination values owed between a Bankrupt Party and another party.
Article 10: Preferences and Fraudulent Transactions
The Bankruptcy Trustee or the Bankruptcy Commission are not entitled to nullify, suspend or refrain from executing any of the obligations or transactions stipulated in this Article on the ground that they constitute preference of an outstanding debt or related to a fraudulent transaction in respect of a NonBankrupt Party, unless there is a clear and sufficient evidence that the Bankrupt Party conducted any of these obligations or transactions with actual intent to hinder, delay, or defraud any entity to which the Bankrupt Party was indebted or became indebted, on or after the date such transaction was made, or such obligation was incurred, and such obligations and operations are as follows:
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Article 11: Preemption
No stay, injunction, avoidance, moratorium, or similar proceeding or order, whether issued or granted by a court, competent authority, Bankruptcy Trustee or the Bankruptcy Commission pursuant to the Bankruptcy Law, shall limit or delay the application of otherwise enforceable Netting Agreements in accordance with Articles (5), (6) and (7) of this Regulation.
Article 12: Realization, Appropriation and Liquidation of Collateral
Unless otherwise agreed by the Parties, the realization, appropriation or liquidation of Collateral under a Financial Collateral Arrangement shall take effect or occur without any requirement that prior notice shall be given to, or consent be received from, any Party, natural or corporate person or entity, provided that this paragraph is without prejudice to the provision of any applicable Laws in the Kingdom related to the realization, appropriation or liquidation of Collateral to be conducted in a commercially reasonable manner.
Article 13: Scope of this Chapter
a) A Netting Agreement shall be deemed to be a netting agreement notwithstanding the fact that such Netting Agreement may contain provisions relating to agreements, contracts or transactions that are not considered Qualified Financial Contracts according to Annex (1) of this Regulation. Provided that, for the purposes of this Chapter, such Netting Agreement shall be deemed to be a Netting Agreement only with respect to those agreements, contracts or transactions that fall within the definition of "Qualified Financial Contract" in terms of Article Two of this Regulation. b) A Financial Collateral Arrangement shall be deemed to be a Financial Collateral Arrangement notwithstanding the fact that such Financial Collateral Arrangement may contain provisions relating to agreements, contracts or transactions that are not a Netting Agreement or Qualified Financial Contract to which a Netting Agreement applies in terms of Article Two of this Regulation, provided that, for the purposes of this Chapter, such Financial Collateral Arrangement shall be deemed to be a Financial Collateral Arrangement only with respect to those agreements, contracts or transactions that fall within the definition of "Netting Agreement" or "Qualified Financial Contract" in terms of Article Two of this Regulation. c) For the purposes of this Chapter, a Netting Agreement and all Qualified Financial Contracts to which a Netting Agreement applies shall constitute a single agreement. d) For the purposes of this Chapter, the term "Netting Agreement" shall include the term "Multibranch Netting Agreement" (as defined in Article Two of this Regulation), provided, however, that in a separate bankruptcy of a branch or agency of a foreign party (as defined in
Article Two of this Regulation) in the Kingdom, the enforceability of the provisions of the
Multibranch Netting Agreement shall be determined in accordance with Article fourteen of this Regulation.
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CHAPTER IVW MULTIBRANCH NETTING
Article 14: Enforceability of a Multibranch Netting Agreement against a Bankrupt
Local Branch a) The liability of a Bankrupt Local Branch to a Non-Bankrupt Party under a Multibranch Netting Agreement shall be calculated as of the date of the termination of the Qualified Financial Contracts to which the Multibranch Netting Agreement applies in accordance with its terms and shall be limited to the lesser of:
1- the Global Net Payment Obligation; and
2- the Local Net Payment Obligation. b) The liability of the Bankrupt Local Branch under paragraph a) shall be reduced but not below zero by:
1- any amount otherwise paid to or received by the Non-Bankrupt Party in respect of the Global Net Payment Obligation pursuant to such Multibranch Netting Agreement which if added to the liability of the Bankrupt Local Branch under paragraph (a) would exceed the Global Net Payment Obligation. 2- the fair market value of, or the amount of any proceeds of, Collateral that secures or supports the obligations of the Foreign Multibranch Party under the Multibranch Netting Agreement and has been applied by the Non-Bankrupt Party to satisfy the obligations of the Foreign Multibranch party pursuant to the Multibranch Netting Agreement. c) The liability of the Non-Bankrupt Party to the Bankrupt Local Branch under a Multibranch Netting Agreement shall be assessed and calculated as of the date of termination of the Qualified Financial Contracts to which the Multibranch Netting Agreement applies in accordance with its provisions and terms and shall be limited to the lesser of:
1- the Global Net Payment Entitlement; and
2- the Local Net Payment Entitlement. d) The liability of the Non-Bankrupt Party under paragraph (c) of this Article, shall be reduced but not below zero by any amount otherwise paid to or received by:
1- the Local Bankruptcy Trustee on behalf of the Bankrupt Local Branch; and 2- any Foreign Bankruptcy Trustee on behalf of the Foreign Multibranch Party. in respect of the Global Net Payment Entitlement under the Multibranch Netting Agreement which, if added to the liability of Non-Bankrupt Party under paragraph (c) of this Article, would exceed the Global Net Payment Entitlement. e) The liability of a Non-Bankrupt Party under paragraph (c) of this Article, shall be reduced, but not below zero, by the fair market value of, or the amount of any proceeds of, Collateral that secures or supports the obligations of the Non-Bankrupt Party under the Multibranch Netting
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Agreement and has been applied by the Foreign Multibranch Party or any Bankruptcy Trustee acting on its behalf to satisfy the obligations of the Non-Bankrupt Party under the Multibranch Netting Agreement to the Foreign Multibranch Party.
Article 15: Financial Collateral Arrangement for a Multibranch Netting Agreement
If the Non-Bankrupt Party to a Multibranch Netting Agreement has taken Collateral under a Financial Collateral Arrangement thatsecures or supports the obligations of the Foreign Multibranch Party under the Multibranch Netting Agreement, the Non-Bankrupt Party may retain such Collateral and apply it in satisfaction of the obligation of the Foreign Multibranch Party in respect of the Global Net Payment Obligation. The Non-Bankrupt Party must return any excess Collateral to the Foreign Multibranch Party.
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ANNEXES
Annex (1)
Qualified Financial Contracts:
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22. a commodities contract, including an agreement to buy, sell, borrow or lend commodities, such
as commodities repurchase or reverse repurchase agreement, a commodities lending agreement or a commodities buy/sell-back agreement.
23. contracts and transactions of certificates of deposit.
24. preferred stocks contracts and transactions.
25. any other agreement, contract or transaction similar to any agreement, contract or transaction
referred to in paragraphs (1) to (24) of this Annex with respect to one or more reference items or indices relating to, without limitation, interest rates, currencies, commodities, energy products, electricity, equities, fund interest, weather, bonds and other debt instruments, sukuk, precious metals, quantitative measures associated with an occurrence, extent of an occurrence, or contingency associated with a financial, commercial or economic consequence, or economic or financial indices or measures of economic or financial risk or value.
26. any swap, forward, option, contract for differences or other derivative in respect of, or
combination of, one or more agreements or contracts referred to in paragraphs (1) to (25) of this Annex.
27. any contract or transaction (including a murabaha, musawama or wa'ad) which individually or
together with any other such contract or transaction has been or is entered into with a view to having an economic effect similar to any instrument, contract or transaction referred to in paragraphs (1) to (26) of this Annex in a manner intended to take account of Shari'a compliance requirements.
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