ASIC Consultation: Remaking Exchange-Traded Warrant Relief Instruments

Detected March 17th, 2026

Summary

ASIC is seeking feedback on its proposal to remake two legislative instruments related to exchange-traded warrants, which are due to sunset in 2026. Minor amendments are proposed to improve clarity and align with current legislation. Feedback is due by 24 March 2026.

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What changed

The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) is proposing to remake two legislative instruments concerning exchange-traded warrants: ASIC Corporations (Margin Lending Relief for Exchange-Traded Instalment Warrants) Instrument 2021/194 and ASIC Corporations (Exchange-Traded Warrants) Instrument 2016/886. These instruments are scheduled to sunset on 1 April 2026 and 1 October 2026, respectively. ASIC has assessed that the instruments are operating effectively and proposes to remake them for a further five years with minor amendments, including using market-neutral language, simplifying definitions, and removing redundant definitions.

Regulated entities and interested parties are invited to provide feedback on this proposal. The deadline for submitting feedback is 5pm AEST on Tuesday, 24 March 2026. The proposed amendments aim to enhance clarity and ensure continued compliance with the Corporations Act 2001. Failure to address these sunsetting instruments could result in the lapse of existing relief, potentially impacting the secondary sales of warrants and margin lending obligations for instalment warrants.

What to do next

Review proposed amendments to ASIC Corporations (Margin Lending Relief for Exchange-Traded Instalment Warrants) Instrument 2021/194 and ASIC Corporations (Exchange-Traded Warrants) Instrument 2016/886.
Submit feedback to ASIC by 5pm AEST on 24 March 2026.
Assess potential impact of remade instruments on warrant trading and margin lending practices.

Source document (simplified)

Newsroom

Print Share ASIC is seeking feedback on its proposal to remake two sunsetting legislative instruments which provide relief related to exchange-traded warrants.

The proposed legislative instruments to be remade are:

ASIC Corporations (Margin Lending Relief for Exchange-Traded Instalment Warrants) Instrument 2021/194 due to sunset on 1 April 2026, and
ASIC Corporations (Exchange-Traded Warrants) Instrument 2016/886 due to sunset on 1 October 2026. We have assessed that the instruments are operating effectively and continue to form a necessary part of the legislative framework.

ASIC proposes to remake the legislative instruments for a period of five years, with minor amendments including:

using market neutral language
simplifying the definitions and rewording the exemption in draft instrument ASIC Corporations (Exchange-Traded Warrants) Instrument 2026/ to improve its clarity, and
removing definitions which are now contained in the Corporations Act 2001.

Providing feedback

Feedback should be sent to rri.consultation@asic.gov.au by 5pm AEST on Tuesday 24 March 2026.

Refer to the consultation webpage for further detail.

Background

Under the Legislation Act 2003, legislative instruments are repealed, or ‘sunset’, after 10 years, unless ASIC acts to preserve them.

ASIC Corporations (Margin Lending Relief for Exchange-Traded Instalment Warrants) Instrument 2021/194 exempts certain types of exchange-traded instalment warrants from the margin lending obligations, that are ordinarily applicable to traditional margin loans. This instrument extended the relief that was originally provided in ASIC Class Order [CO 10/1034].

ASIC Corporations (Exchange-Traded Warrants) Instrument 2016/886 exempts the secondary sales of warrants quoted on declared financial markets from the disclosure requirements ordinarily applying to the issue of financial products. This instrument extended the relief that was originally provided in ASIC Class Order [CO 02/608] and ASIC Class Order [CO 03/957].

ASIC is Australia’s corporate, markets and financial services regulator.