2013_18 Grandfathering of own funds instruments

Question ID:: 2013_18
Legal Act:: Regulation (EU) No 575/2013 (CRR)
Topic:: Own funds
Article:: 484
Paragraph:: 1
COM Delegated or Implementing Acts/RTS/ITS/GLs/Recommendations:: Not applicable
Article/Paragraph:: N/A
Disclose name of institution / entity:: No
Type of submitter:: Competent authority
Subject Matter:: Grandfathering of own funds instruments
Question:: May capital instruments be adjusted stepwise with the unadjusted part still being eligible for grandfathering? Take the following example: - An institution has issued a hybrid Tier 1 instrument that does not meet the requirements of Article 52 but is eligible for grandfathering; - starting in 2013, the bank adjusts in each year the terms and conditions of 10% of the nominal amount in order to make it fully eligible as Additional Tier 1 (AT1) under Regulation (EU) No 575/2013; - the terms and conditions of the remaining nominal amount of the capital instrument are kept unchanged. May the institution recognize the remaining part of the capital instrument as AT 1 under the grandfathering rules of the Regulation (EU) No 575/2013 given that only the nominal amount but not the terms and conditions of this remaining part are adjusted or does the change of the nominal amount also constitute a change of the whole contract, making the whole instrument no longer eligible for grandfathering since the new contract is concluded after the cut-off date mentioned in Article 484 (1)?
Background on the question:: Not given
Date of submission:: 03/07/2013
Published as Final Q&A:
Final Answer:: The change in the nominal amount would be considered as the issuance of a new instrument. In the specific case above, the instrument would be disqualified after the change in the nominal amount since the new contract is concluded after the cut-off date mentioned in Article 484 (1) and the instrument does not meet the requirements of Article 52 of Regulation (EU) No 575/2013.
Status:: Final Q&A
Answer prepared by:: Answer prepared by the EBA.
Note to Q&A:: Update 26.03.2021: This Q&A has been reviewed in the light of the changes introduced to Regulation (EU) No 575/2013 (CRR) and continues to be relevant.