The placement of BT in the primary market is ensured by a group of financial institutions recognized by IGCP, E.P.E. as Treasury Bill Specialists (EBT).

The EBT status is granted by IGCP, E.P.E. on the basis of an assessment of the capability of the financial institutions to consistently place and trade BT in international, European or domestic markets, ensuring the access to a regular investor base and contributing to the liquidity of these instruments in the secondary market.

EBT are entitled to have:

• exclusive access to BT auctions;
• preference in other forms of placing BT;
• access to the BT repo window of last resort;
• privileged hearing in matters of common interest.

Their main duties are:

• to actively participate in the BT secondary market, acting as market makers in one of the recognized platforms (MTS, BrokerTec and BGC), maintaining a share of no less than 2 per cent of the turnover of this market segment (the compliance with this duty is assessed for a 1-year period);
• to actively participate in the BT primary market, subscribing a share of no lower than 2 per cent of the amount placed at the competitive phase of auctions (the compliance with this duty is assessed for a 1-year period);
• to provide information and act as advisers to IGCP, E.P.E. in the monitoring of financial markets.