24 April 2026, Baku: In accordance with the ‘2024-2026 Financial Sector Development Strategy,’ the Management Board of the Central Bank, with its decision of 1 April 2026, made amendments to the ‘Regulations on ongoing capital requirements for investment firms’ with the aim of ensuring the sustainable operation of capital market participants as well as enhancing compliance with international regulatory standards.

The amendments redefine how investment firms are classified and how changes between categories are handled. They also introduce a new method for calculating capital requirements, along with updated rules on liquid assets and leverage ratios.

The revised approach takes into account not only the size of firms’ trading books but also how actively they provide investment services, aiming for a more proportionate regulatory framework.

New requirements on liquid assets, along with a minimum leverage ratio, are designed to support the long-term stability of firms operating in the capital markets.

Investment firms will have six months to adjust to the new rules. During that time, they must determine their category, notify the Central Bank and bring their operations into compliance.

The Central Bank also held a presentation at the Azerbaijan Capital Markets Association (ACMA), where the amendments were discussed and participants’ questions were addressed.

The amendments to the ‘Regulations on ongoing capital requirements for investment firms’ can be accessed via the following link:

https://e-qanun.az/framework/61682

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