Question ID:
2015_2165
Legal Act:
Regulation (EU) No 575/2013 (CRR)
Topic:
Leverage ratio
Article:
429c
Paragraph:
1
COM Delegated or Implementing Acts/RTS/ITS/GLs/Recommendations:
Delegated Regulation (EU) 2015/62 - DR with regard to the leverage ratio
Article/Paragraph:
429a
Disclose name of institution / entity:
No
Type of submitter:
Credit institution
Subject Matter:
Treatment of Eligible CRM CDS for Leverage Ratio
Question:

Should credit derivatives subject to the CRR Article 273(3) which have zero exposure value for counterparty credit risk purposes also be treated as having zero value for the Leverage ratio exposure measure under CRR Article 429a(1) 429c(1)?

Background on the question:

Article 273(3) of Regulation (EU) No 575/2013 states that when an institution purchases protection through a credit derivative against a non-trading book exposure or against a counterparty risk exposure shall apply zero exposure value for CCR purposes to those credit derivatives.
Article 429a(1) of the CRR (as amended by Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2015/62) does not refer explicitly to use of Article 273(3). For this reason, it is unclear if that zero exposure value can also be applied to the same credit derivatives for the purpose of Part Seven (Leverage) of the same regulation.

Date of submission:
24/07/2015
Published as Final Q&A:
13/05/2016
Final Answer:

For purchased credit derivative that have a zero exposure value under Article 273(3) of Regulation (EU) No 575/2013 (CRR), this zero exposure value cannot be applied for the purposes of the calculation of leverage ratio exposures under Article 429a (1) 429c(1) CRR of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2015/62 (DR).

Article 429c(1) CRR 429a(1) of the DR states that exposure measure for derivatives (on 13 and off- balance sheet) should be calculated in accordance with the method set out in Section 3 of Chapter 6 of Title II of Part Three according to Articles 274 and 299(2)(a) of the CRR. Section 3 of Chapter 6 of Title II of Part Three Article 274 CRR sets out the Mark-to-Market approach to calculate exposures (RC + PFE) SA-CCR on derivative transactions and Article 299(2) CRR sets out the PFE calculation for total return swap and CDS. None of these articles contains a reference to Article 273(3) CRR.

The leverage ratio framework is very specific on the treatment of credit derivatives where needed. Article 429d CRR 429a(5) of the DR expressly allows the notional amount (as part of the exposure value) of written credit derivatives to be reduced by the notional amount of a purchased credit derivatives on the same reference name if certain conditions are met. The CRR DR does instead not contain any provisions allowing reducing the exposure measure of purchased credit derivatives.

In conclusion, the zero exposure value treatment specified in Article 273(3) CRR cannot be applied to calculate the leverage ratio exposure measure for purchased credit derivatives. 

Status:
Final Q&A
Answer prepared by:
Answer prepared by the EBA.
Note to Q&A:

Update 26.03.2021: This Q&A has not yet been reviewed by the EBA in the light of the changes introduced to Regulation (EU) No 575/2013 (CRR).

Update 28.10.2021: This Q&A has been amended in light of the change(s) in Part Seven to Regulation (EU) No 575/2013 (CRR), applicable from 28.06.2021.
 

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