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Q&As refer to the provisions in force on the day of their publication. The EBA does not systematically review published Q&As following the amendment of legislative acts. Users of the Q&A tool should therefore check the date of publication of the Q&A and whether the provisions referred to in the answer remain the same.

Please note that the Q&As related to the supervisory benchmarking exercises have been moved to the dedicated handbook page. You can submit Q&As on this topic here.

List of Q&A's

Determination of exposure value cap for netting sets subject to a margin agreement.

The final answer to EBA Q&A 2023_6962 states that when capping the exposure value of a margined netting set at the exposure value of the same netting set not subject to any form of margin agreement “The term NICA, included in the formula set out in Article 275(1) and defined in Article 272(12a), does not include the variation margin posted or received.”   We believe that this is an incorrect reading and could lead to significant under estimation of RWAs whenever the institution is posting significant excess collateral to its client. This can happen particularly when trades with a large MTM unwind at maturity and the collateral balance is exchange back only on T+1 basis.   Take the following example scenario. If calculating the EAD per the margined methodology the variation margin posted to the client offsets some of the MTM of the derivatives and the add-on is fully added to EAD as the multiplier remains 1.    However under the unmargined methodology if I disregard the posted collateral then the negative current replacement cost works to significantly offset the add-on and can actually result in an EAD below the EAD incurred on only the actual replacement cost/current exposure (in this example 140).   Example Scenario       MTM of Derivatives -50 Variation Margin posted to client 150 Replacement Cost (Margined) 100 Add-on (pre multiplier) 100 Multiplier 1 EAD per margined methodology 280     MTM of Derivatives -50 Variation Margin posted to client (ignored as not NICA) 0 Replacement Cost (Unmargined ignoring VM posted) 0 Add-on (pre multiplier) 100 Multiplier 0.78 EAD per unmargined methodology 109     Final capped EAD to unmargined 109   Our understanding is that the wording in Article 274(3) which says “the exposure value of a netting set that is subject to a contractual margin agreement shall be capped at the exposure value of the same netting set not subject to any form of margin agreement” instead of meaning that there is no variation margin and hence this should be completely removed in the unmargined cap calculation should actually be read in conjunction with Article 272(12a) to define that in the absence of a margin agreement there can be nothing classed as “variation margin” and therefore all collateral is part of NICA – “NICA means the sum of the volatility-adjusted value of net collateral received or posted, as applicable, to the netting set other than variation margin”.   If we follow the previous Q&A answer then we will see significant reductions in RWA which we feel are unwarranted vs the counterparty risk for netting sets which exhibit the same portfolio dynamic as in the example above. The purpose of the cap is only to ignore exposure from large threshold amounts and not to avoid exposure from large amounts of posted collateral which are still owed back 

  • Legal act: Regulation (EU) No 575/2013 (CRR)
  • COM Delegated or Implementing Acts/RTS/ITS/GLs: Not applicable

Calculation of loss rates for income producing real estate (IPRE) under the standardized approach for credit risk under the CRR III (Regulation (EU) 2024/1619)

What is the correct calculation of loss rates for the purposes of Articles 125 para. 2 subpara. 3 and 126 para. 2 subpara. 3 CRR (as amended by regulation (EU) 2024/1623, ie. CRR III)?

  • Legal act: Regulation (EU) No 575/2013 (CRR)
  • COM Delegated or Implementing Acts/RTS/ITS/GLs: Not applicable

Regulatory Reporting treatment in COREP of credit risk exposures linked to participated loans

Should exposures linked to loans participated in by other parties and de-recognised under IFRS 9 3.2.5 be reported as ORIGINAL EXPOSURE PRE CONVERSION FACTORS and mitigated by the amount received as the price paid for the participation or shall de-recognition allow the institutions to report ORIGINAL EXPOSURE PRE CONVERSION FACTORS equal to zero. 

  • Legal act: Regulation (EU) No 575/2013 (CRR)
  • COM Delegated or Implementing Acts/RTS/ITS/GLs: Regulation (EU) 2021/451 – ITS on supervisory reporting of institutions

Regulatory Reporting treatment in COREP of credit risk exposures linked to participated loans

Should exposures linked to loans participated in by other parties and de-recognised under IFRS 9 3.2.5 be reported as ORIGINAL EXPOSURE PRE CONVERSION FACTORS and mitigated by the amount received as the price paid for the participation or shall de-recognition allow the institutions to report ORIGINAL EXPOSURE PRE CONVERSION FACTORS equal to zero. 

  • Legal act: Regulation (EU) No 575/2013 (CRR)
  • COM Delegated or Implementing Acts/RTS/ITS/GLs: Regulation (EU) 2021/451 – ITS on supervisory reporting of institutions

Counting of days past due in factoring arrangements.

As for non-recourse factoring, is it correct to start the counting of days past due based on the payment schedule defined or implied in the contractual terms with the client (i.e., the party from which the factor purchases the receivables)?

  • Legal act: Regulation (EU) No 575/2013 (CRR)
  • COM Delegated or Implementing Acts/RTS/ITS/GLs: EBA/GL/2016/07 - Guidelines on the application of the definition of default under Article 178 CRR

Simultaniously use of the SME and infrastructure factor

Please see the existing question, which was not answered yet: 2020_5551

  • Legal act: Regulation (EU) No 575/2013 (CRR)
  • COM Delegated or Implementing Acts/RTS/ITS/GLs: Delegated Regulation (EU) 2015/61 - DR with regard to liquidity coverage requirement

application of credit conversion factor in accordance with article 235

How shall institution calculate risk-weighted exposure amounts for off-balance-sheet exposures with unfunded credit protection, to which those institutions apply the standardized approach? How shall credit conversion factor be applied to the formula specified in article 235 before the application of risk weight?

  • Legal act: Regulation (EU) No 575/2013 (CRR)
  • COM Delegated or Implementing Acts/RTS/ITS/GLs: Regulation (EU) 2021/451 – ITS on supervisory reporting of institutions

Unrated short term claim/exposure

As per CRR Article 120(para 3, subpara c), it states: "If there is a short-term assessment and such an assessment determines a less favourable risk weight than the use of the general preferential treatment for short-term exposures, as specified in paragraph 2, then the general preferential treatment for short-term exposures shall not be used and all unrated short-term claims shall be assigned the same risk weight as that applied by the specific short-term assessment." Question: What is meant by unrated short-term claims as per this paragraph? If there is a general issuer rating available, will the exposures with residual maturity of less than 3 months be classed as Unrated and not eligible for preferential risk weight treatment as per CRR Article 120 (2)?

  • Legal act: Regulation (EU) No 575/2013 (CRR)
  • COM Delegated or Implementing Acts/RTS/ITS/GLs: Draft ITS on Supervisory Reporting of Institutions

Risk weight for Exposures in default

What risk weight should be applied to in default exposures, under the standardised approach for credit risk? 

  • Legal act: Regulation (EU) No 575/2013 (CRR)
  • COM Delegated or Implementing Acts/RTS/ITS/GLs: Not applicable

Fair-valued assets and liabilities excluded because of partial impact on CET1 – Prudential Filters

Template C32.01 Prudent valuation. Fair-Valued assets and liabilities requires the Prudential filters Fair-valued assets and liabilities excluded because of partial impact on CET1 (col 0050) to be reported in accordance with Article 4(2) of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/101 due to the transitional application of the prudential filters referred to in Articles 467 and 468 of Regulation (EU) No 575/2013. Since Articles 467 and 468 of Regulation (EU) No 575/2013 are related to COVID transitional fix items, should the institution report 0 in this column until the guidance is updated?   Additionally, validation v6566 related to this template, states that values reported for Fair-valued assets and liabilities excluded because of partial impact on CET1 – Prudential Filters (c0050) have to be equal to or higher than 0. Could you please confirm if this validation is applicable in all the contra liability balances?

  • Legal act: Regulation (EU) No 575/2013 (CRR)
  • COM Delegated or Implementing Acts/RTS/ITS/GLs: Not applicable

Interpretation of ‘ The degree of correlation between the value of the assets relied upon for protection and the credit quality of the obligor shall not be too high.’

In Article 194, Quote Institutions may recognise funded credit protection in the calculation of the effect of credit risk mitigation only where the lending institution has the right to liquidate or retain, in a timely manner, the assets from which the protection derives in the event of the default, insolvency or bankruptcy — or other credit event set out in the transaction documentation — of the obligor and, where applicable, of the custodian holding the collateral. The degree of correlation between the value of the assets relied upon for protection and the credit quality of the obligor shall not be too high. Unquote My question is about the aforementioned correlation. If a obligor’s major asset is a very valuable mine asset, and the mine asset is collateralized by a bank as security for a loan, is it eligible for the bank to consider the value of the mine asset for calculating the ‘risk-weighted asset’? The value of the mine asset is valued by independent & renowned evalution agency and it meets with all other regulatory requirements for eligible collateral.

  • Legal act: Regulation (EU) No 575/2013 (CRR)
  • COM Delegated or Implementing Acts/RTS/ITS/GLs: EBA/GL/2016/09 - Guidelines on corrections to modified duration for debt instruments under Article 340(3) CRR

Unrated short term claim/exposure

As per CRR Article 120(para 3, subpara c), it states: "If there is a short-term assessment and such an assessment determines a less favourable risk weight than the use of the general preferential treatment for short-term exposures, as specified in paragraph 2, then the general preferential treatment for short-term exposures shall not be used and all unrated short-term claims shall be assigned the same risk weight as that applied by the specific short-term assessment." Question: 1. Is the term claim and exposure used interchangeably and mean the same?                   2. What is meant by unrated short term claim in this paragraph? If there is a general issuer rating available for the counterparty, but no issue specific rating for the exposure to the counterparty, will the exposures with residual maturity of less than 3 months be classed as Unrated and not eligible for preferential risk weight treatment as per CRR Article 120 (2)?                   3. Also, for ex- if the bank has trading book exposure to this institution for exposure less than 3 months. But this institution has issued short term debt, but the bank has no exposure to it, in that case which rating will be used to risk weight the exposure in the trading book. Will it be the issuer rating or short term debt rating the institution has issued which the bank has no exposure?

  • Legal act: Regulation (EU) No 575/2013 (CRR)
  • COM Delegated or Implementing Acts/RTS/ITS/GLs: Draft ITS on Supervisory Reporting of Institutions

Definition of 'explicit guarantee arrangements' for the purpose of classification of non-commercial undertakings as public sector entities

What conditions should be met by a given agreement in order to qualify as an 'explicit guarantee arrangement'? Shall the ‘explicit guarantee arrangements’ for the purpose of definition of public sector entities also be ‘guarantees’ eligible as unfunded credit protection or not? How much should the guarantee cover?

  • Legal act: Regulation (EU) No 575/2013 (CRR)
  • COM Delegated or Implementing Acts/RTS/ITS/GLs: Not applicable

Non-applicability of the CRR (Capital Requirements Regulation) regarding OCCPs

According to Article 111 CRR, OCCPs must be included in the calculation of the Total Capital Ratio (TCR) under Pillar I, even though their economic risk is fully mitigated by the DvP mechanism. Eurex Clearing AG only includes OCCPs in their balance sheet, as per accounting standards. While the risk of OCCPs is covered in the CCP risk management framework through margins and other lines of defense, they cannot be mitigated through collateralization or netting under the CRR framework.    Regarding the information in section 1 and 2, ECAG would like to inquire whether the OCCPs can be exempted from the application of Article 111 CRR.

  • Legal act: Regulation (EU) No 575/2013 (CRR)
  • COM Delegated or Implementing Acts/RTS/ITS/GLs: Not applicable

Meaning of “without automatic rollover” in the definition of trade finance

The definition of trade finance refers to “financial products of fixed short-term maturity, generally of less than one year, without automatic rollover”. Does a financial product meet the aforementioned maturity condition that has a maturity not exceeding one year (i.e. typically less than one year or a maximum of one year) and that is repeatedly extended by another 365 days but where the bank has the contractual right to unilaterally terminate the product prior to any extension? 

  • Legal act: Regulation (EU) No 575/2013 (CRR)
  • COM Delegated or Implementing Acts/RTS/ITS/GLs: Not applicable

Fulfilment of “fixed short-term maturity, […], without automatic rollover” for trade finance product bank guarantees (“Guarantee”) in case of a contractually agreed clause between the issuing bank and its client instructing the issuing bank to issue the Guarantee (“Instructing Party”) that allows the issuing bank to effectively exit the risk position within a contractually agreed fixed timeframe

  The definition of trade finance refers to “financial products of fixed short-term maturity, generally of less than one year, without automatic rollover”. We would like to confirm that an open-ended Guarantee, i.e. a guarantee that does not provide for a fixed maturity date, meets the aforementioned definition of trade finance, in case the issuing bank and the Instructing Party agree on contractual provisions that allow the issuing bank to effectively exit the risk position incurred via the Guarantee. In this specific case the issuing bank conducts a regular bank internal review regarding the Guarantee and may – in case it deems this appropriate on the basis of its review – on the basis of a contractual arrangement between the bank and the Instructing Party, at its full discretion, require the Instructing Party to provide the issuing bank within a contractually agreed fixed time period with either a counter-guarantee from another bank in favour of the issuing bank, cash cover collateral or a substitution of the Guarantee by ensuring that another bank issues a Guarantee replacing the issuing bank’s Guarantee. 

  • Legal act: Regulation (EU) No 575/2013 (CRR)
  • COM Delegated or Implementing Acts/RTS/ITS/GLs: Not applicable

Credit derivatives on CLO in SA-CCR

Should a credit derivative with underlying a CLO (Credit Loan Obligation) be treated as multi-name under Article 280c(1) because the underlying is a pool of loans or single name because the issuer is unique, SPV, or can the tranche be viewed as a whole?

  • Legal act: Regulation (EU) No 575/2013 (CRR)
  • COM Delegated or Implementing Acts/RTS/ITS/GLs: Not applicable

Assignment of a 0% risk weight to equity exposures to subsidiaries that are not institutions

Can a risk weight of 0% be assigned pursuant to Article 113(6) CRR to an equity exposure to a subsidiary which is not an institution, provided that all conditions in Article 113(6)(a) to (e) are met? 

  • Legal act: Regulation (EU) No 575/2013 (CRR)
  • COM Delegated or Implementing Acts/RTS/ITS/GLs: Not applicable

Sovereign credit assessment to apply to exposure of central government, central bank and government-100%-owned central bank.

1. Is sovereign credit assessment of a country by a nominated ECAI available for assigning a corresponding risk weight to exposures to the central government or central bank of this country? 2. Is sovereign or central government credit assessment applicable to central bank when a central bank is 100% owned by central government?

  • Legal act: Regulation (EU) No 575/2013 (CRR)
  • COM Delegated or Implementing Acts/RTS/ITS/GLs: Not applicable

Automatic cancellation of commitments qualified as unconditionally cancellable commitments (UCC)

If contractual arrangements of a commitment provide for automatic cancellation due to deterioration in a borrower’s creditworthiness, but the cancellation is not always automatic considering client relationship, can this commitment be considered as an unconditionally cancellable commitment (UCC)?

  • Legal act: Regulation (EU) No 575/2013 (CRR)
  • COM Delegated or Implementing Acts/RTS/ITS/GLs: Not applicable