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Title[ Part 2: The First Pillar - Minimum Capital Requirements

Section[ 2. Risk components



(i)         Probability of default (PD)


285.     For  corporate  and  bank  exposures,  the  PD  is  the  greater  of  the  one-year  PD associated with the internal borrower grade to which that exposure is assigned, or 0.03%. For sovereign exposures, the PD is the one-year PD associated with the internal borrower grade to which that exposure is assigned. The PD of borrowers assigned to a default grade(s),  consistent  with  the  reference  definition  of  default,  is  100%.  The   minimum requirements for the derivation of the PD estimates associated with each internal borrower grade are outlined in paragraphs 461 to 463.



(ii)        Loss given default (LGD)


286.     A bank must provide an estimate of the LGD for each corporate, sovereign and bank exposure. There are two approaches for deriving this estimate: a foundation approach and an advanced approach.



LGD under the foundation approach


Treatment of unsecured claims and non-recognised collateral


287.     Under the foundation approach, senior claims on corporates, sovereigns and banks not secured by recognised collateral will be assigned a 45% LGD.


288.     All subordinated claims on corporates, sovereigns and banks will be  assigned a

75% LGD. A subordinated loan is a facility that is expressly subordinated to another facility. At national discretion, supervisors may choose to employ a wider definition of subordination. This might include economic subordination, such as cases where the facility is unsecured and the bulk of the borrower’s assets are used to secure other exposures.



Collateral under the foundation approach


289.     In  addition  to  the  eligible  financial  collateral  recognised  in  the  standardised approach, under the foundation IRB approach some other forms of  collateral, known as eligible IRB collateral, are also recognised. These include receivables, specified commercial and residential real estate (CRE/RRE), and other collateral, where they meet the minimum requirements  set  out  in  paragraphs  509  to  524. 73  For  eligible  financial  collateral,  the requirements are identical to the operational standards as set out in Section II.D beginning with paragraph 111.


73   The  Committee,  however,  recognises  that,  in  exceptional  circumstances  for  well-developed  and  long- established markets, mortgages on office  and/or multi-purpose commercial premises  and/or multi-tenanted commercial premises may have the potential to receive alternative recognition as collateral in the corporate portfolio. Please refer to footnote 29 of paragraph 74 for a discussion of the eligibility criteria that would apply. The  LGD  applied  to  the  collateralised  portion  of  such  exposures,  subject  to  the  limitations  set  out  in paragraphs 119 to 181 (i) of the standardised approach, will be set at 35%. The LGD applied to the remaining portion of this  exposure  will  be set at  45%. In order to  ensure consistency  with the capital charges  in the standardised  approach  (while  providing  a  small  capital  incentive  in  the  IRB  approach  relative  to  the standardised approach), supervisors may apply a cap on the capital charge associated with such exposures so as to achieve comparable treatment in both approaches.


Methodology for recognition of eligible financial collateral under the foundation approach


290.     The methodology for the recognition of eligible financial collateral closely follows that outlined  in  the  comprehensive  approach  to  collateral  in  the  standardised  approach  in paragraphs 147 to 181 (i). The simple approach to collateral presented in the standardised approach will not be available to banks applying the IRB approach.


291.     Following  the  comprehensive  approach,  the  effective  loss  given  default  (LGD*)

applicable to a collateralised transaction can be expressed as follows, where:


w LGD is that of the senior unsecured exposure before recognition of collateral (45%);


w E is the current value of the exposure (i.e. cash lent or securities lent or posted);


w E* is the exposure value after risk mitigation as determined in paragraphs 147 to 150 of the  standardised approach. This concept is only used to calculate LGD*. Banks must continue to calculate EAD without taking into account the presence of any collateral, unless otherwise specified.


LGD* = LGD x (E* / E)


292.     Banks that qualify for the foundation IRB approach may calculate E* using any of the ways specified under the comprehensive approach for collateralised transactions under the standardised approach.


293.     Where repo-style transactions are  subject to a master netting agreement, a bank may choose not to recognise the netting effects in  calculating capital.  Banks that  want to recognise the effect of master netting agreements on such transactions for capital purposes must satisfy the criteria provided in paragraph 173 and 174 of the standardised approach. The bank must calculate E* in accordance with paragraphs 176 and 177 or 178 to 181 (i) and equate this  to EAD. The impact of collateral on these transactions may not be reflected through an adjustment to LGD.



Carve out from the comprehensive approach


294.     As in the standardised approach, for transactions where the conditions in paragraph

170 are met, and in addition, the counterparty  is a core market participant as specified in paragraph  171,  supervisors  may  choose  not  to  apply  the  haircuts  specified  under  the comprehensive approach, but instead to apply a zero H.



Methodology for recognition of eligible IRB collateral


295.     The methodology for determining the effective LGD under the foundation approach for cases where banks have taken eligible IRB collateral to secure a corporate exposure is as follows.


w Exposures where the minimum eligibility requirements are met, but the ratio of the current value of the collateral received (C) to the current value of the exposure (E) is below a threshold level of C* (i.e. the required minimum collateralisation level for the exposure) would receive the appropriate  LGD for unsecured exposures or those secured by collateral which is not eligible financial collateral or eligible IRB collateral.


w Exposures where the ratio of C to E exceeds a second, higher threshold level of C** (i.e. the required level  of over-collateralisation for full LGD recognition) would be assigned an LGD according to the following table


The following table displays the applicable LGD and required over-collateralisation levels for the secured parts of senior exposures:



Minimum LGD for secured portion of senior exposures

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

                                    Minimum LGD          Required minimum               Required level of over-

                                                                         collateralisation level of          collateralisation for full

                                                                         the exposure (C*)                       LGD recognition (C**)

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

Eligible Financial        0%                                 0%                                         n.a.

collateral

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

Receivables                 35%                             0%                                           125%

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

CRE/RRE                    35%                             30%                                         140%

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

Other                           40%                             30%                                         140%

Collateral 74

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                


w Senior exposures are  to be divided into fully collateralised and uncollateralised portions.


w The part of the exposure considered to be fully collateralised, C/C**, receives the LGD associated with the type of collateral.


w The remaining part of the exposure is regarded as unsecured and receives an LGD of 45%.


Methodology for the treatment of pools of collateral


296.     The  methodology  for  determining  the  effective  LGD  of  a  transaction  under  the foundation approach where banks have taken both financial collateral and other eligible IRB collateral is aligned to the treatment in the standardised approach and based on the following guidance.


w In the case where a bank has obtained multiple forms of CRM, it will be required to subdivide the adjusted value of the exposure (after the haircut for eligible financial collateral) into portions each covered by only one CRM type. That is, the bank must divide  the  exposure  into  the  portion  covered  by  eligible  financial  collateral,  the portion  covered  by  receivables,  the  portion  covered  by  CRE/RRE  collateral,  a portion covered by other collateral, and an unsecured portion, where relevant.


w Where the ratio of the  sum of the  value of CRE/RRE and other collateral to the reduced exposure (after recognising the effect of eligible  financial  collateral and receivables  collateral) is below the associated threshold level (i.e. the minimum degree  of  collateralisation  of  the  exposure),  the  exposure  would  receive  the appropriate unsecured LGD value of 45%.


w The  risk-weighted  assets  for  each  fully  secured  portion  of  exposure  must  be calculated separately.



74   Other collateral excludes physical assets acquired by the bank as a result of a loan default.


LGD under the advanced approach


297.     Subject to certain additional minimum  requirements specified below, supervisors may permit banks to use their own internal estimates of LGD for corporate, sovereign and bank exposures. LGD must be measured as the loss given default as a percentage of the EAD. Banks eligible for the IRB approach that are unable to meet these additional minimum requirements must utilise the foundation LGD treatment described above.


298.     The minimum requirements for the derivation  of LGD estimates are  outlined in paragraphs 468 to 473.


Treatment of certain repo-style transactions


299.     Banks that want to recognise the effects of master netting agreements on repo-style transactions for capital purposes must apply the methodology outlined in paragraph 293 for determining E* for use as the EAD. For banks using the advanced approach,  own LGD estimates would be permitted for the unsecured equivalent amount (E*).



Treatment of guarantees and credit derivatives


300.     There are two approaches for recognition of  CRM in the form of guarantees and credit derivatives in the IRB approach: a foundation approach for banks using supervisory values  of  LGD,  and  an  advanced  approach  for  those  banks  using  their  own  internal estimates of LGD.


301.     Under either approach, CRM in the form of guarantees and credit derivatives must not reflect the effect of double default (see paragraph 482). As such, to the extent that the CRM is recognised by the bank, the adjusted risk weight will not be less than that of a comparable direct exposure to the protection provider. Consistent  with the standardised approach, banks may choose not to recognise credit protection if doing so would result in a higher capital requirement.



Recognition under the foundation approach


302.     For banks using the foundation approach for LGD, the approach to guarantees and credit derivatives closely follows the treatment under the standardised approach as specified in  paragraphs  189  to  201.  The  range  of  eligible  guarantors  is  the  same  as  under  the standardised approach except that companies that are internally rated and associated with a PD equivalent to A- or  better may  also be recognised under the foundation approach. To receive recognition, the requirements outlined in paragraphs 189 to 194 must be met.


303.     Eligible guarantees from eligible guarantors will be recognised as follows:


w For the covered portion of the exposure, a risk weight is derived by taking:


– the risk-weight function appropriate to the type of guarantor, and


–          the  PD  appropriate  to  the  guarantor’s  borrower  grade,  or  some  grade between the underlying obligor and the guarantor’s borrower grade if the bank deems a full substitution treatment not to be warranted.


w The  bank  may  replace  the  LGD  of  the  underlying  transaction  with  the  LGD applicable to the guarantee taking into account seniority and any collateralisation of a guaranteed commitment.


304.     The uncovered portion of the exposure is assigned the risk weight associated with the underlying obligor.


305.     Where partial coverage exists, or where there is a currency mismatch between the underlying obligation and the credit protection, it is necessary to split the exposure into a covered and an uncovered amount. The treatment in the foundation approach follows that outlined in the standardised approach in paragraphs 198 to 200, and depends upon whether the cover is proportional or tranched.



Recognition under the advanced approach


306.     Banks  using  the  advanced  approach  for  estimating  LGDs  may  reflect  the  risk- mitigating effect of guarantees and credit derivatives through either adjusting PD or LGD estimates.  Whether adjustments are done through PD or LGD, they must be done in a consistent manner for a given guarantee or credit derivative type. In doing so, banks must not include the effect of double default in such adjustments. Thus, the adjusted risk weight must not be less than that of a comparable direct exposure to the protection provider.


307.     A bank relying on own-estimates of LGD has the option to adopt the treatment outlined above for banks under the foundation IRB approach (paragraphs 302 to 305), or to make an adjustment to its LGD estimate of the exposure to reflect the presence of the guarantee or credit derivative. Under this option, there are no limits to the range of eligible guarantors although the set of minimum requirements provided in paragraphs 483 and 484 concerning the type of guarantee must be satisfied. For credit derivatives, the requirements of paragraphs 488 and 489 must be satisfied. 75



Operational requirements for recognition of double default


307 (i).   A bank using an IRB approach has the option of using the substitution approach in determining the appropriate capital requirement for an exposure. However, for exposures hedged  by  one  of  the  following  instruments  the  double  default  framework  according  to paragraphs  284 (i)  to  284 (iii)   may  be  applied  subject  to  the  additional  operational requirements set out in paragraph 307 (ii). A bank may decide separately for each eligible exposure to apply either the double default framework or the substitution approach.



(a)        Single-name, unfunded credit derivatives (e.g. credit default swaps) or single- name guarantees.


(b)        First-to-default basket products — the double default treatment will be applied to the asset within the basket with the lowest risk-weighted amount.


(c)        nth-to-default  basket  products  —  the  protection  obtained  is  only  eligible  for consideration  under  the  double  default  framework  if  eligible  (n–1)th  default protection has also been obtained or where (n–1) of the assets within the basket have already defaulted.


75   When credit derivatives do not cover the restructuring of the underlying obligation, the partial recognition set out in paragraph 192 applies.


307 (ii).  The double default framework is only applicable where the following conditions are met.


(a)        The risk weight that is associated with the exposure prior to the application of the framework does not already factor in any aspect of the credit protection.


(b)        The  entity  selling  credit  protection  is  a  bank 76,  investment  firm  or  insurance company (but only those that are in the  business of providing credit  protection, including mono-lines, re-insurers,  and non-sovereign credit export agencies 77), referred to as a financial firm, that:


w is regulated in a manner broadly equivalent to that in this Framework

(where  there  is  appropriate  supervisory  oversight  and  transparency/ market discipline), or externally rated as at least investment grade by a credit rating agency deemed suitable for this purpose by supervisors;


w had  an  internal  rating  with  a  PD  equivalent  to  or  lower  than  that associated with an external A– rating at the time the credit protection for an exposure was first provided or for any period of time thereafter; and


w has  an  internal  rating  with  a  PD  equivalent  to  or  lower  than  that associated with an external investment-grade rating.


(c)        The underlying obligation is:


w a corporate exposure  as defined in paragraphs 218  to 228 (excluding specialised lending exposures for which the supervisory slotting criteria approach described in paragraphs 275 to 282 is being used); or


w a  claim  on  a  PSE  that  is  not  a  sovereign  exposure  as  defined  in paragraph 229; or


w a loan extended to a small business and classified as a retail exposure as defined in paragraph 231.


(d)        The underlying obligor is not:


w a financial firm as defined in (b); or


w a member of the same group as the protection provider.


(e)        The  credit  protection  meets  the  minimum  operational  requirements  for  such instruments as outlined in paragraphs 189 to 193.



76   This does not include PSEs  and MDBs, even though claims on these  may be treated as claims on banks according to paragraph 230.


77   By non-sovereign it is meant  that credit protection in question does not benefit from any explicit sovereign counter-guarantee.



(f)         In keeping  with paragraph 190 for guarantees, for any recognition  of double default effects for both guarantees and credit derivatives a bank must have the right  and  expectation  to  receive  payment  from  the  credit  protection  provider without  having  to  take  legal  action  in  order  to  pursue  the  counterparty  for payment. To the extent possible, a bank should take steps to satisfy itself that the protection provider is willing to pay promptly if a credit event should occur.


(g)        The purchased credit protection absorbs all credit losses incurred on the hedged portion of an exposure that arise due to the credit events outlined in the contract.


(h)        If the payout structure provides for physical settlement, then there must be legal certainty with respect to the deliverability of a loan, bond, or contingent liability. If a bank intends to deliver an obligation other than the underlying exposure, it must ensure that the deliverable obligation is sufficiently liquid so that the bank would have the ability to purchase it for delivery in accordance with the contract.


(i)         The  terms  and  conditions  of  credit  protection  arrangements  must  be  legally confirmed in writing by both the credit protection provider and the bank.


(j)         In the case of protection against dilution risk, the seller of purchased receivables must not be a member of the same group as the protection provider.


(k)        There is no excessive correlation  between the creditworthiness of a protection provider and the obligor of the underlying exposure due to their performance being dependent on common factors beyond the systematic risk factor. The bank has a process to detect such excessive correlation. An example of a situation in which  such  excessive  correlation  would  arise  is  when  a  protection  provider guarantees the debt of a supplier of goods or services and the supplier derives a high proportion of its income or revenue from the protection provider.



(iii)       Exposure at default (EAD)


308.     The  following  sections  apply  to  both  on  and  off-balance  sheet  positions.  All exposures are measured gross of specific provisions or partial write-offs. The EAD on drawn amounts should not be less than the sum of (i) the amount by which a bank’s regulatory capital would be reduced if the exposure were written-off fully, and (ii) any specific provisions and partial write-offs. When the difference between the instrument’s EAD and the sum of (i) and (ii) is positive, this amount is termed a discount. The calculation of risk-weighted assets is independent of any  discounts. Under the limited circumstances described in  paragraph

380, discounts may be included in the measurement of total eligible provisions for purposes of the EL-provision calculation set out in Section III.G.



Exposure measurement for on-balance sheet items


309.     On-balance sheet netting of loans and deposits will  be recognised  subject to the same conditions as under the standardised approach (see paragraph 188). Where currency or  maturity  mismatched  on-balance  sheet  netting  exists,  the  treatment  follows  the standardised approach, as set out in paragraphs 200 and 202 to 205.


Exposure measurement for off-balance sheet items (with the exception of FX and interest- rate, equity, and commodity-related derivatives)


310.     For off-balance sheet items, exposure is calculated as the committed but undrawn amount multiplied by a CCF. There are two approaches for the estimation of CCFs: a foundation approach and an advanced approach.



EAD under the foundation approach


311.     The types of instruments and the CCFs applied to them are the same as those in the  standardised  approach,  as  outlined  in  paragraphs  82  to  89  with  the  exception  of commitments, Note Issuance Facilities (NIFs) and Revolving Underwriting Facilities (RUFs).


312.     A CCF of 75% will be applied to commitments, NIFs and RUFs regardless of the maturity  of  the  underlying  facility.  This  does  not  apply  to  those  facilities  which  are uncommitted, that are  unconditionally cancellable, or that effectively provide for automatic cancellation, for example due to deterioration in a borrower’s creditworthiness, at any time by the bank without prior notice. A CCF of 0% will be applied to these facilities.


313.     The amount to which the CCF is applied is the lower of the value of the unused committed credit line, and the value that reflects any possible constraining availability of the facility, such as the existence of a ceiling on the potential lending amount which is related to a borrower’s reported cash flow. If the facility is constrained in this way, the bank must have sufficient line monitoring and management procedures to support this contention.


314.     In  order  to  apply  a  0%  CCF  for  unconditionally  and  immediately  cancellable corporate overdrafts and other facilities, banks must demonstrate that they actively monitor the financial condition of the borrower, and that their internal control systems are such that they could  cancel the facility upon evidence of a deterioration in the credit quality of the borrower.


315.     Where a commitment is obtained  on another off-balance  sheet exposure, banks under the foundation approach are to apply the lower of the applicable CCFs.



EAD under the advanced approach


316.     Banks which meet the minimum requirements for use of their own estimates of EAD

(see paragraphs 474 to 478) will be allowed to use their own internal estimates of CCFs across different product types provided the exposure is not subject to a CCF of 100% in the foundation approach (see paragraph 311).



Exposure measurement for transactions that expose banks to counterparty credit risk


317.     Measures  of  exposure  for  SFTs  and  OTC  derivatives  that  expose  banks  to counterparty credit risk under the IRB approach will be calculated as per the rules set forth in Annex 4 of this Framework.



(iv)       Effective maturity (M)


318.     For banks using the foundation approach for corporate exposures, effective maturity

(M) will be 2.5 years except for repo-style transactions where the effective maturity will be

6 months. National supervisors may choose to  require all banks in their jurisdiction (those using the foundation and advanced approaches) to measure M for each facility using the definition provided below.


319.     Banks using any element of the advanced IRB approach are required to measure effective maturity for each facility as defined  below. However, national supervisors may exempt facilities to certain smaller  domestic corporate borrowers from the explicit  maturity adjustment if the reported sales (i.e. turnover) as well as  total assets for the consolidated group of which the firm is a part of are less than €500 million. The consolidated group has to be a domestic company based in the country where the exemption is applied. If  adopted, national supervisors must apply such an exemption to all  IRB banks  using the advanced approach in that country, rather than on a bank-by-bank basis. If the exemption is applied, all exposures to qualifying smaller domestic firms will be assumed to have an average maturity of 2.5 years, as under the foundation IRB approach.


320.     Except as noted in paragraph 321, M is defined as the greater of one year and the remaining effective maturity in years as defined below. In all cases, M will be no greater than

5 years.


w For an instrument subject to a determined cash flow schedule, effective maturity M is defined as:


Effective Maturity (M) =  


where  CFt  denotes  the  cash  flows  (principal,  interest  payments  and  fees)

contractually payable by the borrower in period t.


w If a bank  is not in a position to calculate the effective maturity of the contracted payments as noted above, it is allowed to use a more conservative measure of M such as that it equals the maximum remaining time (in years) that the borrower is permitted to take to fully discharge its contractual obligation (principal, interest, and fees) under the terms  of loan agreement.  Normally, this will  correspond to the nominal maturity of the instrument.


w For  derivatives  subject  to  a  master  netting  agreement,  the  weighted  average maturity  of  the transactions should be used  when applying the explicit maturity adjustment. Further, the notional amount of each transaction should  be used for weighting the maturity.


321.     The one-year floor does not apply to certain short-term exposures, comprising fully or  nearly-fully  collateralised 78  capital  market-driven  transactions  (i.e.  OTC  derivatives transactions and margin lending) and repo-style transactions (i.e. repos/reverse repos and securities lending/borrowing) with an original  maturity of  less then one year, where the documentation   contains   daily   remargining   clauses.   For   all   eligible   transactions   the documentation must require daily revaluation, and must include provisions that must allow for the prompt liquidation or setoff of the collateral in the event of default or failure to re-margin. The maturity of such transactions must be calculated as the greater of one-day, and the effective maturity (M, consistent with the definition above).


322.     In addition to the transactions considered in paragraph 321 above, other short-term exposures with an original maturity of less than one year that are  not part of  a bank’s ongoing financing of an obligor may be eligible for exemption from the one-year floor. After a careful  review  of  the  particular  circumstances  in  their  jurisdictions,  national  supervisors should define the types of short-term exposures that might be considered eligible  for this treatment. The results of these reviews might, for example, include transactions such as:


w Some capital market-driven transactions and repo-style transactions that might not fall within the scope of paragraph 321;


w Some  short-term  self-liquidating  trade  transactions.  Import  and  export  letters  of credit and  similar transactions could be accounted for  at their  actual remaining maturity;


w Some exposures arising from settling securities purchases and sales. This could also include overdrafts arising from failed securities settlements provided that such overdrafts do not continue more than a short, fixed number of business days;


w Some exposures arising from cash settlements by wire transfer, including overdrafts arising from failed transfers provided that such overdrafts do not continue more than a short, fixed number of business days;


w Some exposures to banks arising from foreign exchange settlements; and


w Some short-term loans and deposits.


78   The intention is to include both parties of a transaction meeting these conditions where neither of the parties is systematically under-collateralised.


323.     For transactions falling within the scope of paragraph 321 subject to a  master netting agreement, the weighted average maturity of the transactions should be used when applying the explicit maturity adjustment. A floor equal to the minimum holding period for the transaction type set out in paragraph 167 will apply to the average. Where more than one transaction  type is contained in the master netting agreement a floor  equal to the highest holding period will apply to the average. Further, the notional amount of each transaction should be used for weighting maturity.


324.     Where there is no explicit adjustment,  the effective maturity (M) assigned to all exposures is set at 2.5 years unless otherwise specified in paragraph 318.



Treatment of maturity mismatches


325.     The  treatment  of  maturity   mismatches  under  IRB  is  identical  to  that  in  the standardised approach ? see paragraphs 202 to 205.



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