*Annex 1_AIFC BBR Rules

Chapter 1 General

1.1 Introduction

The purpose of this Banking Business Rules (BBR) is to establish the prudential framework for Authorised Firms carrying out Banking Business. These rules are based on the Basel Accords and on the Basel Core Principles for Effective Banking Supervision, issued by the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision.

1.2 Commencement

These rules commence on 1 2018.

1.3 Effect of definitions, notes and examples

(1) A definition in the glossary to these rules also applies to any instructions or document made under these rules.

(2) A note in or to these rules is explanatory and is not part of these rules. However, examples and guidance are part of these rules.

(3) An example is not exhaustive, and may extend, but does not limit, the meaning of these rules or the particular provision of these rules to which it relates.

(4) Unless the contrary intention appears, a reference in these rules to an accord, principle, standard or other similar instrument is a reference to that instrument as amended from time to time.

1.4 Banking Business firms

(1) Banking Business comprises the Regulated Activities of Accepting deposits and Dealing in Investments as Principal. An Authorised Firm that has an authorization to conduct any of those activities is a Banking Business firm.

(2) However, an Authorised Firm that is an Islamic bank or an Islamic Broker dealer or an Islamic Financing Company (within the respective meanings of the AIFC Islamic Banking Business Prudential Rules No. FR0014 of 2017) is not a Banking Business firm for the purposes of these Rules.

(3) A Banking Business firm may be a Bank or a Broker Dealer.

Guidance

A firm that conducts any of the activities that make up Banking Business, or a combination of those activities, will need to consider the extent to which its business model is subject to the prudential requirements set out in these rules. These rules are designed to address the different prudential risks that could arise from the broad range of business models, risk appetites and risk profiles of banking business firms.

For example, a firm that solely conducts the activity of Dealing in Investments as Principal (that is, a Broker Dealer) will need to consider the extent to which its activities in buying, selling, subscribing to or underwriting

investments attract prudential risks that are subject to the requirements of these rules. In contrast, a firm that is a Bank and that also deals in Investments as Principal would be subject to a broader range of prudential requirements. In both examples, these rules apply in accordance with the nature, scale and complexity of the firm’s business.

1.5 Bank

(1) An Authorised Firm is a Bank if it is authorised to conduct the Regulated Activity of Accepting Deposits.

(2) An Authorised Firm is a Bank even if it is also authorised to conduct any other Regulated Activity or activity. The authorisation for Accepting Deposits qualifies an Authorised Firm as a Bank.

1.6 Broker Dealer

(1) An Authorised Firm is a Broker dealer if it is authorised to conduct the regulated activity of dealing in investments as Principal and it is not a Bank.

(2) A Broker Dealer may raise funds from capital markets or money markets using debt instruments of any type but must not accept deposits.

(3) A firm is a Broker Dealer even if it is also authorised to conduct any other regulated activity (except accepting deposits). The authorisation for dealing in investments as a Principal and the absence of an authorisation for accepting Deposits qualifies an Authorised Firm as a Broker Dealer.

(4) An Authorised Firm licensed to conduct the Regulated Activity of Dealing in Investments as Principal on a matched principal basis does not fall under the category of Broker Dealer. Such firms are subject to the rules in PRU (INVT) and are not subject to the BBR rules.

1.7 Legal form that firms must take

(1) A Bank must be:

(a) a limited liability company incorporated under the AIFC Companies Regulations or

(b) a branch of a Foreign Company, registered as a Recognised Company in the AIFC with the Registrar in accordance with the AIFC Companies Rules.

(2) A Broker Dealer must be:

(a) a limited liability company incorporated under the AIFC Companies Regulations;

(b) a branch of a Foreign Company, registered as a Recognised Company in the AIFC with the Registrar in accordance with the AIFC Companies Rules; or

Regulations.

1.8 Application of these rules—general

(1) Except as stated otherwise, these rules apply to a Person that has, or is applying for, an authorisation to conduct Banking Business, as defined in Rule 1.4(a).

(2) Except as stated otherwise, all references to a Bank in the rest of this BBR Rules must be read as referring also to Broker Dealers, defined in Rule 1.6. Consequently, all the regulatory requirements imposed by these BBR Rules apply to all entities licensed to carry out Banking Business as defined in Rule 1.4 (a), except for specific sections or rules wherein their applicability is defined in a particular manner. For sake of clarity, all the regulatory requirements imposed by the BBR Rules apply to Banks and Broker Dealers as defined in Rules 1.5 and 1.6, unless specified otherwise in specific sections or rules of the BBR.

Guidance

It is possible for an Authorised Firm to be authorised both as a Bank under these rules and to hold authorisations for carrying out other Regulated Activities defined in Schedule 1 of the AIFC GEN Rules. Both these rules and the relevant rules for those activities could apply to such an Authorised Firm in relation to the activities they are involved in. In relation to such an Authorised Firm, however, the Capital requirements in these rules apply. If that Authorised Firm complies with the Capital requirements in these rules, it is taken to comply with the prudential rule requirements specified in PRU Rules of the AFSA rulebook.

1.9 Application of these rules—branches

(1) Chapter 4 (Capital adequacy) does not apply to a Bank operating in the form of a branch in the AIFC, in so far as that Chapter would require the branch to hold Capital.

(2) However, the AFSA may require a branch to have Capital resources or to comply with any other Capital requirement if the AFSA considers it necessary or desirable to do so in the interest of effective supervision of the branch.

1.10 Requirement for policy also requires procedures and systems

In these rules, a requirement for a Bank to have a policy also requires such a firm to have the procedures, systems, processes, controls and limits needed to give effect to the policy.

1.11 Responsibility for principles

(1) A Bank’s Governing Body is responsible for the firm’s compliance with the

principles and requirements set out in these rules.

(2) The governing body must ensure that the firm’s senior management establishes and implements policies to give effect to these rules. The governing body must approve significant policies and any changes to them (other than formal changes) and must ensure that the policies are fully integrated with each other.

Note: The significant policies relate to the adequacy of capital and the management of various prudential risks faced by a Bank and group risk, as set out in the following Chapters.

(3) The governing body must review the firm’s significant policies from time to time, taking into account changed operating circumstances, market conditions, activities and risk profiles. The interval between reviews must be appropriate for the nature, scale and complexity of the Bank’s business, but must not be longer than 12 months.

(4) The governing body must ensure that the policies are made known to, and understood by, all relevant staff.

Chapter 2 Principles relating to Banking Business

2.1 Principle 1—Capital Adequacy

A Bank must have capital, of adequate amount and appropriate quality, for the nature, scale and complexity of its business and for its risk profile. A Bank must have appropriate risk management strategies that have been approved by the Bank's Governing Body. The Governing Body of the Bank must set its risk appetite to define the level of risk the Bank is willing to assume.

2.2 Principle 2—Credit Risk and Problem Assets

(1) A Bank must have an adequate credit risk management policy that takes into account the Bank’s risk tolerance, its risk profile and the market and macroeconomic conditions.

(2) A Bank must have comprehensive policies to identify, measure, evaluate, monitor, report and control or mitigate credit risk in a timely way.

(3) A Bank must have adequate policies for the early identification and management of problem assets, and the maintenance of adequate provisions and reserves.

2.3 Principle 3—Transactions with Related Parties

A Bank must enter into transactions with related parties on an arm’s-length basis in order to avoid conflicts of interest.

2.4 Principle 4—Concentration Risk

A Bank must have adequate policies to identify, measure, evaluate, manage and control or mitigate concentrations of risk in a timely way.

2.5 Principle 5—Market Risk

A Bank must have an adequate market risk management policy that takes into account the firm’s risk tolerance, its risk profile, the market and macroeconomic conditions and the risk of a significant deterioration in market liquidity. The firm must have adequate policies to identify, measure, evaluate, manage and control or mitigate market risk in a timely way.

2.6 Principle 6—Operational Risk

A Bank must have an adequate operational risk management policy that takes into account the firm’s risk tolerance, its risk profile and market and macroeconomic conditions. The firm must have adequate policies to identify, measure, evaluate, manage and control or mitigate operational risk in a timely way.

2.7 Principle 7— Interest Rate Risk in the Banking Book

A Bank must have an adequate management policy for interest rate risk in the banking book that takes into account the firm’s risk tolerance, its risk profile and the market and macroeconomic conditions. The firm must have policies to identify, measure, evaluate, manage and control or mitigate interest rate risk in the banking book on a timely basis.

2.8 Principle 8—Liquidity Risk

A Bank must have prudent and appropriate quantitative and qualitative liquidity requirements. The firm must have policies that enable the firm to comply with those requirements and to manage liquidity risk prudently.

2.9 Principle 9—Group Risk

A Bank must effectively manage risks arising from its membership in a group.

Chapter 3 Prudential Reporting Requirements

3.1 Introduction

(1) This Chapter sets out the prudential reporting requirements for a Bank.

(2) Prudential returns of a Bank must reflect its management accounts, financial statements and ancillary reports. A Bank’s returns, accounts, statements and reports must all be prepared using the same standards and practices, and must be easily reconcilable with one another.

(3) A return is referred to as a solo return if it reflects the individual Bank’s accounts,

statements and reports.

(4) A consolidated return means a return which reflects the accounts, statements and reports of a Bank consolidated with those of the other members of its Financial Group.

Note Financial Group is defined in Chapter 10 of BBR and is used for consolidated reporting instead of

‘corporate group’.

3.2 Information about Financial Group

(1) If directed by the AFSA, a Bank must give the AFSA the following information about its Financial Group:

(a) details about the entities in the group;

(b) the structure of the group;

(d) any other information that the AFSA requires.

3.3 Financial Group risk

(1) If a Bank is part of a financial group, credit risk, market risk, operational risk, IRRBB and liquidity risk exposures (collectively referred to as prudential risk exposures) apply on a consolidated basis to the Bank and the other members that constitute its Financial Group.

(2) Preparing returns on a consolidated basis means including the financial effects and risk exposures arising from all the activities of all the members or entities forming part of the Bank’s Financial Group. Such returns are not restricted to just reflecting the financial activities or positions of the Bank.

Note: A Bank is required to have systems to enable it to calculate its financial group capital requirement and resources, according to rules in Chapter 10 of the BBR.

3.4 Preparing returns

(1) A Bank must prepare the prudential returns that it is required to prepare by a notice published by the AFSA on its own website. Such a notice may also require Banks to give other information to the AFSA.

(2) The Bank must give the return to the AFSA within the period stated in the notice.

(3) The AFSA may, by written notice:

(a) require a Bank to prepare additional prudential returns;

(b) exempt a Bank from a requirement to prepare annual, biannual, quarterly or monthly returns (or a particular return); or

(4) An exemption may be subject to one or more conditions. The Bank availing the exemption must comply with any condition attached to an exemption.

(5) The Bank must prepare and submit its prudential returns in accordance with the AFSA’s instructions. Such instructions may require that the return be prepared or given through an electronic submission system.

(6) The instructions may be set out in these rules, in the return itself, in a separate document published by the AFSA on its own approved website or by written notice. These instructions, wherever or however they are given, are collectively referred to as instructions for preparing returns.

Note: Instructions may be in the form of formulae or blank spaces that the Bank are expected to use or fill in which would automatically compute the amounts to be reported.

3.5 Giving information

(1) The AFSA may, by written notice, require a Bank to provide information in addition to that required under these rules.

(2) A Bank must submit the required information to the AFSA in accordance with the AFSA’s instructions and within the period stated in the written notice seeking such information. The AFSA may extend the period for the submission of such information.

(3) The AFSA may exempt a Bank from giving information. The Bank must comply with any conditions attached to such an exemption.

3.6 Accounting standards

A Bank must prepare and maintain its financial accounts and prepare its financial statements in accordance with the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS).

3.7 Signing returns

(1) A prudential return must be signed by 2 individuals, who are Approved Individuals for the Bank and who occupy any of the Controlled Functions of Director, Senior Executive Officer or Finance Officer.

(2) If these Approved Individuals are not available or are unable to sign, the return must be signed by 1 or 2 of the individuals approved to exercise the following Controlled Functions:

(a) the Risk Manager function;

(b) the Compliance Officer function.

3.8 Obligation to notify the AFSA

(1) A Bank must notify the AFSA if it becomes aware, or has reasonable grounds to believe, that the Bank has breached, or is about to breach, a prudential requirement.

(2) In particular, the Bank must notify the AFSA as soon as practicable of:

(a) any breach or potential breach of its minimum capital requirement;

(b) any concern it has about its solvency or capital adequacy position;

(c) any indication of significant adverse change in the market price of, or trading volume of, the equity capital or other capital instruments of the Bank or those of its Financial Group (including pressure on the Bank to purchase its own equity or debt);

(d) any other significant adverse change in its capital; and

(e) any significant departure from its ICAAP.

(3) The Bank must also notify the AFSA of any measures planned or taken to deal with any real or potential breach or concerns related to its solvency or capital adequacy position.

Chapter 4 Capital Adequacy

4.1 Introduction

(1) This Chapter sets out capital adequacy requirements for a Bank.

(2) A Bank’s total Regulatory Capital is the sum of its tier 1 capital and tier 2 capital. The categories and elements of regulatory capital, as well as the limits, restrictions and adjustments to which they are subject are set out in this Chapter.

(3) Capital adequacy and capital management must be an integral part of a Bank’s overall governance and its bank-wide risk management process. Capital management must align the Bank’s risk appetite and risk profile with its capacity to absorb losses.

4.2 Application to branches

(1) This chapter does not apply to a Bank that is licensed to operate as a branch in the AIFC, insofar as this chapter would require the branch to hold capital.

(2) A branch is required to comply with the reporting requirements under this chapter. In relation to the branch’s ICAAP, the branch may rely on the ICAAP for the bank of which it is a part (if available), to demonstrate compliance.

4.3 Governing Body’s responsibilities

(1) A Bank’s governing body must consider, on a periodic basis, whether the minimum capital and liquidity resources required by these rules are adequate to ensure that there is no significant risk that the Bank’s liabilities cannot be met as they fall due. The Bank must take material and effective measures to obtain additional capital and liquidity resources if its governing body considers that the minimum requirements defined in these rules do not adequately reflect the risks of its business.

(2) The governing body is also responsible for:

(a) ensuring that capital management is part of the Bank’s enterprise-wide risk management framework and is aligned with its risk appetite and risk profile;

(b) ensuring that the Bank has, at all times, capital and liquidity resources of the kinds and amounts required by these rules;

(c) ensuring that the Bank has capital, of adequate amount and appropriate quality, for the nature, scale and complexity of its business and for its risk profile;

(d) ensuring that the amount of capital it has exceeds its minimum capital requirement, calculated according to these rules;

(e) reviewing the Bank’s annual ICAAP and approving it, including but not limited to

taking decisions to raise additional capital for the Bank; and

(f) monitoring the adequacy and appropriateness of the Bank’s systems and controls to ensure the Bank’s compliance with these rules.

4.4 Systems and controls

(1) A Bank must have adequate systems and controls to allow it to calculate and monitor its minimum capital requirement.

(2) The systems and controls must be documented and must be appropriate for its risk profile and proportionate to the nature, scale and complexity of its business.

(3) The systems and controls employed by a Bank must include the ICAAP process which is defined in greater detail in a separate chapter of these BBR Rules.

(4) The systems and controls must enable the Bank to demonstrate, its compliance with the rules in this Chapter, at all times.

(5) The systems and controls of the Bank must enable it to manage available capital in anticipation of events or changes in market conditions.

(6) A Bank must have adequate and proportionate contingency plans to maintain or increase its capital in times of stress, whether idiosyncratic or systemic.

4.5 Use of internal models

A Bank must not use its internal models to calculate regulatory capital requirements and assess capital adequacy in accordance with the BBR rules or to achieve compliance with the BBR Rules.

4.6 References to particular currencies

In these BBR rules, the specification of an amount of money in a particular currency is also taken to specify the equivalent sum in any other currency at the relevant time.

Initial and ongoing capital requirements

Section 4A – Capital Requirements and Ratios

4.7 Capital Requirements

(1) A Bank is required to meet minimum risk-based capital requirements for exposure to credit risk, market risk and operational risk, under these rules. The Bank’s capital adequacy ratios (consisting of CET 1 ratio, total tier 1 ratio and total capital ratio) are calculated by dividing its Regulatory Capital by total Risk-Weighted Assets (RWAs).

(2) Total RWAs of a Bank is the sum of:

(a) the Bank’s risk-weighted on-balance-sheet and off-balance-sheet exposures calculated in accordance with the Rules in Chapter 5 of BBR; and

(b) 12.5 times the sum of the Bank’s market and operational risk capital requirements (to the extent that each of those requirements applies to the Bank) calculated in accordance with the Rules in Chapters 6 and 7 of BBR respectively

(3) In this chapter, consolidated subsidiary, of a Bank, means:

(a) a subsidiary of the Bank; or

(b) a subsidiary of a subsidiary of the Bank.

4.8 Required tier 1 capital on authorisation

A Bank must have, at the time of its authorisation and at all times thereafter, Common Equity Tier 1 Capital (CET1 Capital) as defined in Rule 4.14, at least equal to the Base Capital Requirement applicable to it. The AFSA will not grant an authorisation for conducting Banking Business unless it is satisfied that the entity complies with this requirement.

4.9 Required ongoing capital

(1) A Bank must have at all times, Capital at least equal to the higher of:

(a) its Base capital requirement; and

(b) its Risk-based capital requirement.

Note A Bank whose minimum capital requirement is determined by its risk-based capital requirement is subject to the additional requirement to maintain a capital conservation buffer, as defined in Rule 4.31.

(2) The amount of Capital that a Bank must have, in accordance with these rules, is its Minimum Capital Requirement.

4.10 Base Capital Requirement

The Base Capital Requirement is:

(a) for a Bank — USD 10 million; or

(b) for a Broker dealer — USD 2 million.

4.11 Risk-based capital requirement

(1) The Risk-based Capital Requirement for a Bank is the sum of:

(a) its credit risk capital requirement;

(b) its market risk capital requirement; and

(2) The market risk and operational risk capital requirements are required to be calculated according to the rules in chapters 6 and 7 respectively.

(3) The credit risk capital requirement must be calculated as

= 12.5 times the Bank’s risk-weighted on-balance-sheet and off-balance-sheet exposures calculated in accordance with the Rules in Chapter 5 of BBR.

4.12 Capital adequacy ratios

(1) A Bank’s capital adequacy is measured in terms of 3 capital ratios expressed as

percentages of its total Risk-Weighted Assets (RWAs).

(2) A Bank’s minimum capital adequacy ratios are:

(a) a CET 1 Capital ratio of 4.5%;

(b) a Tier 1 Capital (T1 Capital) ratio of 6%; and

(3) The AFSA may, if it believes it is prudent to do so, increase any or all of a Bank’s minimum capital adequacy ratios. The AFSA will notify the Bank in writing about a higher capital adequacy ratio and the timeframe available for the Bank to meet it.

(4) A Bank must maintain at all times capital adequacy ratios higher than the required minimum levels, so that adequate capital is maintained in the context of the Bank’s risk appetite and, risk profile, to absorb unexpected losses arising from its business activities.

Section 4B – Elements of regulatory capital

4.13 Regulatory Capital

(1) The Regulatory Capital of a Bank is the sum of its Tier 1 (T1) Capital and Tier 2 (T2) capital.

(2) T1 capital is the sum of a Bank’s CET 1 capital and Additional Tier 1 (AT1) capital. T1 capital is also known as going-concern capital because it is meant to absorb losses while the Bank is viable.

(3) T2 Capital is defined in BBR rule 4.18. T2 capital is also known as gone-concern capital because it is meant to absorb losses after the Bank ceases to be viable.

(4) For these rules, the 3 categories of regulatory capital are CET 1 Capital, AT1 Capital and T2 Capital.

4.14 Common Equity Tier 1 (CET1) Capital

CET 1 Capital is the sum of the following elements:

(a) common shares issued by the Bank that satisfy the criteria in rule 4.15 for classification as common shares for regulatory purpose (or the equivalent for non-joint stock companies);

(b) share premium resulting from the issue of instruments included in CET 1 Capital;

(d) accumulated other comprehensive income and other disclosed reserves;

(e) common shares, issued by a consolidated subsidiary of the Bank and held by third parties, that satisfy the criteria in rule 4.22 for inclusion in CET 1 capital;

(f) regulatory adjustments applied in the calculation of CET 1 capital in accordance with BBR rule 4.28.

4.15 Criteria for classification as common shares

A capital instrument issued by a Bank is eligible for classification as common equity and for inclusion in CET 1 capital, only if all of the following criteria in sub-rules (1) to (14) below are satisfied.

(1) The instrument is the most subordinated claim in case of the liquidation of the Bank.

(2) The holder of the instrument is entitled to a claim on the residual assets that is proportional to its share of issued capital, after all senior claims have been repaid in liquidation. The claim must be unlimited and variable and must be neither fixed nor capped.

(3) The principal amount of the instrument is perpetual and never repayable except in liquidation. Discretionary repurchases and other discretionary means of reducing capital allowed by law do not constitute repayment.

(4) The Bank does nothing to create an expectation at issuance that the instrument will be bought back, redeemed or cancelled. The statutory or contractual terms do not provide anything that might give rise to such an expectation.

(5) Distributions are paid out of distributable items of the Bank (including retained earnings) and the amount of distributions:

(a) is not tied or linked to the amount paid in at issuance; and

(b) is not subject to a contractual cap (except to the extent that a Bank may not pay distributions that exceed the amount of its distributable items).

(6) There are no circumstances under which the distributions are obligatory. Non-payment of distributions does not constitute default.

(7) Distributions are paid only after all legal and contractual obligations have been met and payments on more senior capital instruments have been made. There are no preferential distributions and in particular none for any other elements classified as the highest quality issued capital.

(8) It is the issued capital that takes the first and proportionately greatest share of any losses as they occur. Within the highest quality capital, each instrument absorbs losses on a going-concern basis proportionately and equally with all the others.

Note This criterion in (8) above would be considered as fulfilled if the instrument includes a permanent write- down mechanism.

(9) The paid-in amount is recognised as equity capital (rather than as a liability) for determining balance-sheet insolvency.

(10) The paid-in amount is classified as equity in accordance with the relevant accounting standards.

(11) The instrument is directly issued and paid-in, and the Bank has not directly or indirectly funded the purchase of the instrument.

(12) The paid-in amount is neither secured nor covered by a guarantee of the Bank or a related party, nor subject to any other arrangement that legally or economically enhances the seniority of the holder’s claim in relation to the claims of the Bank’s creditors.

(13) The instrument is issued only with the approval of the owners of the Bank, either given directly by the owners or, if permitted by the applicable law, given by its governing body or by other persons authorised by the owners.

(14) The instrument is clearly and separately disclosed on the Bank’s balance sheet.

4.16 AT1 Capital

AT 1 Capital is the sum of the following elements:

(a) instruments issued by a Bank that satisfy the criteria in BBR rule 4.17 for inclusion in AT1 Capital (and are not included in CET 1 Capital);

(b) share premium resulting from the issue of instruments included in AT1 Capital, according to (a) above, if any;

(c) instruments, issued by consolidated subsidiaries of the Bank and held by third parties, that satisfy the criteria in BBR rule 4.23 for inclusion in AT1 Capital (and are not included in CET 1 capital of the respective Banks);

(d) regulatory adjustments applied in the calculation of AT1 Capital in accordance with BBR rule 4.28.

4.17 Criteria for inclusion in AT1 Capital

A capital instrument is eligible for inclusion in AT1 Capital only if that instrument meets all of the following criteria in sub-rules (1) to (15).

(1) The instrument is issued and paid-up.

(2) The instrument is the most subordinated claim after those of depositors, general creditors and holders of the subordinated debt of the Bank.

(3) The paid-up amount for the capital instrument is neither secured nor covered by a guarantee of the Bank or a related party, nor subject to any other arrangement that legally or economically enhances the seniority of the holder’s claim in relation to the claims of the Bank’s creditors.

(4) The instrument is perpetual. It has no maturity date and there are no step-ups or other incentives to redeem.

(5) If the instrument is callable by the Bank, it can only be called 5 years or more after the instrument is paid-in and only with the approval of the AFSA. The Bank must not do anything to create an expectation that the exercise of the option will be approved, and, if the exercise is approved, the Bank:

(a) must replace the called instrument with capital of the same or better quality and at conditions sustainable for the income capacity of the Bank; or

(b) must demonstrate to the AFSA that its capital will exceed the Bank’s minimum

capital requirement after the call option is exercised.

(6) A repayment of principal through repurchase, redemption or other means must be approved by the AFSA. The Bank must not assume, or create a market expectation, that such approval will be given.

(7) In respect of the dividend or coupon payable on the instrument

(a) The Bank has full discretion at all times to cancel distributions or payments;

(b) Any cancellation of a dividend or coupon is not an event of default;

(d) Any cancellation of dividend or coupon does not impose restrictions on the Bank, except in relation to distributions to common shareholders.

(8) Dividends and coupons must be paid out of distributable items.

(9) The instrument must not have a credit-sensitive-dividend feature under which a dividend or coupon is periodically reset based (wholly or partly) on the Bank’s credit standing.

(10) The instrument must not contribute to the Bank’s liabilities exceeding its assets if such a balance-sheet test forms part of any insolvency law applying in the jurisdiction where the instrument was issued.

(11) An instrument classified as a liability for accounting purposes must have principal loss absorption through conversion to common shares, or a write-down mechanism that allocates losses to the instrument, at a pre- specified trigger point. The conversion must be made in accordance with rule 4.20.

(12) A write-down of the instrument has the following effects:

(a) reducing the claim of the instrument in liquidation;

(b) reducing the amount repaid when a call option is exercised;

(13) Neither the Bank nor a related party over which the Bank exercises control or significant influence has purchased the instrument, nor has the Bank directly or indirectly funded the purchase of the instrument.

(14) The instrument has no features that hinder recapitalisation. For example, it must not require the Bank to compensate investors if a new instrument is issued at a lower price during a specified period.

(15) If the instrument is issued by a special purpose vehicle, the proceeds are immediately available without limitation to the Bank through an instrument that satisfies the other criteria for AT1 capital.

4.18 Tier 2 capital (T2 capital)

T2 capital is the sum of the following elements:

(a) instruments issued by the Bank that satisfy the criteria in rule 4.19 for inclusion in T2 capital (and are not included in T1 capital);

(b) share premium resulting from the issue of instruments included in T2 capital according to (a), if any;

(c) instruments, issued by consolidated subsidiaries of the Bank and held by third parties, that satisfy the criteria in rule 4.24 for inclusion in T2 capital (and are not included in T1 capital);

(d) regulatory adjustments applied in the calculation of T2 capital in accordance with BBR rule 4.28;

(e) general provisions or general reserves held against future, presently unidentified losses (but only up to a maximum of 1.25% of risk-weighted assets for credit risk, calculated using the standardised approach Chapter 5 of BBR).

Note General provisions and reserves are freely available to meet losses that subsequently materialise and therefore qualify for inclusion in T2 capital. In contrast, provisions for identified deterioration of particular assets or known liabilities, whether individual or grouped, should be excluded because they would not be available to meet losses.

4.19 Criteria for inclusion in T2 capital

A capital instrument is eligible for inclusion in T2 capital only if all the criteria in sub-rules (1) to (11) below are satisfied.

(1) The instrument is issued and paid-in.

(2) The instrument is the most subordinated claim after those of depositors and general creditors.

(3) The paid-in amount is neither secured nor covered by a guarantee of the Bank or a related party, nor subject to any other arrangement that legally or economically enhances the seniority of the holder’s claim in relation to the claims of the Bank’s depositors and general creditors.

(4) The original maturity of the instrument is at least 5 years.

(5) The recognition in regulatory capital in the remaining 5 years before maturity is amortised on a straight line basis and there are no step-ups or other incentives to redeem.

(6) If the instrument is callable by the Bank, it can only be called 5 years or more after the instrument is paid-in and only with the approval of the AFSA. The Bank must not do anything to create an expectation that the exercise of the option will be approved, and, if the exercise is approved, the Bank:

(a) must replace the called instrument with capital of the same or better quality and at conditions sustainable for the income capacity of the Bank; or

(b) must demonstrate to the AFSA that its capital will exceed the Bank’s minimum

capital requirement after the call option is exercised.

(7) The holder has no right to accelerate future scheduled payments of coupon or principal, except in bankruptcy or liquidation.

(8) The instrument does not have a credit-sensitive-dividend feature under which a dividend or coupon is periodically reset based (wholly or partly) on the Bank’s credit standing.

(9) Neither the Bank nor a related party over which the Bank exercises control or significant influence has purchased the instrument, nor has the Bank directly or indirectly funded the purchase of the instrument.

(10) If the instrument is issued by a special purpose vehicle, the proceeds are immediately available without limitation to the Bank through an instrument that satisfies the other criteria for tier 2 capital.

4.20 Requirements—loss absorption at point of non-viability

(1) This rule applies to an AT1 or T2 capital instrument issued by a Bank. It sets out additional requirements to ensure loss absorption at the point of non-viability.

(2) The terms and conditions of an instrument must give the AFSA the discretion to direct that the instrument be written-off or converted to common equity on the happening of a trigger event.

(3) The Bank must be able to issue the required number of shares specified in the instrument if a trigger event happens. The issuance of any new shares because of a trigger event must happen before any public sector injection of capital so that capital provided by the public sector is not diluted.

(4) Trigger event, in relation to the Bank that issued the instrument, is the earliest of:

(a) a decision of the AFSA that a write-off (without which the Bank would become non-viable) is necessary; and

(b) a decision by the relevant authority to make a public sector injection of capital, or give equivalent support (without which injection or support the Bank would become non-viable, as determined by that authority).

(5) If the Bank is a member of a financial group and the Bank wishes the instrument to be included in the group’s capital in addition to its solo capital, the trigger event must be the earliest of:

(a) the decision in sub-rule (4) (a);

(b) the decision in sub-rule (4) (b);

(c) a decision, by the relevant authority in the Bank’s home jurisdiction, that a write- off (without which the Bank would become non-viable) is necessary; and

(d) a decision, by the relevant authority in the jurisdiction of the financial regulator that regulates the parent entity of the Bank, to make a public sector injection of capital, or give equivalent support, in that jurisdiction (without which injection or support the Bank would become non-viable, as determined by that authority).

(6) Any compensation paid to the holder of an instrument because of a write-off must be paid immediately in the form of common shares (or the equivalent for non-joint-stock companies).

(7) If the Bank is a member of a financial group, any common shares paid as compensation to the holder of the instrument must be common shares of the Bank or of the parent entity of the group.

Section 4B – Treatment of Minority interests

4.21 Introduction

This section sets out the criteria and formulae for the treatment of minority interests in a Bank’s regulatory capital.

4.22 Criteria for third party interests— CET 1 capital

(1) For rule 4.14 (e), CET1 capital issued by a consolidated subsidiary of a Bank and held by a third party as a non-controlling interest, may be included in the Bank’s CET 1 capital if:

(a) the share would be included in the Bank’s CET 1 capital had it been issued by the

Bank; and

(b) the subsidiary that issued the share is itself a Bank or a Broker Dealer (or an equivalent entity in its home jurisdiction).

(2) The amount to be included in the consolidated CET 1 capital of a Bank is calculated in accordance with the following formula:

NCI – ((CET1s – Min) × SS)

where:

NCI is the total of the non-controlling interests of minority shareholders in a consolidated

subsidiary of the Bank.

CET1s is the amount of CET 1 capital of the subsidiary.

Min is the lower of:

(a) 7% of the total RWAs, as defined in BBR Rule 4.7 (2), of the subsidiary; and

(b) 7% of the share of consolidated RWAs of the group attributable to the subsidiary.

SS means the percentage of the shares in the subsidiary (being shares included in CET 1 capital) held by those third parties.

4.23 Criteria for third party interests—AT1 Capital

(1) For rule 4.16 (c), an instrument (including a common share) issued by a consolidated subsidiary of a Bank and held by a third party as a non-controlling interest may be included in the Bank’s AT1 Capital if the instrument would be included in the Bank’s AT1 Capital had it been issued by the Bank.

(2) Subject to (3), the amount to be included in the consolidated AT1 Capital of a Bank is calculated in accordance with the following formula:

NCI – ((T1s – Min) × SS)

where:

NCI is the total of the non-controlling interests of third parties in a consolidated subsidiary of the Bank.

T1s is the amount of Tier 1 capital of the subsidiary.

Min is the lower of:

(a) 8.5% of the total RWAs, as defined in BBR Rule 4.7 (2), of the subsidiary; and

(b) 8.5% of the share of consolidated RWAs of the group attributable to the subsidiary.

SS means the percentage of the shares in the subsidiary (being shares included in additional tier 1 capital) held by those third parties.

(3) A Bank must determine the amount of qualifying T1 Capital of a Subsidiary that is included in consolidated AT1 Capital by excluding the minority interests of that Subsidiary that are included in consolidated CET1 Capital, in accordance with BBR rule 4.22.

4.24 Criteria for Minority interests—tier 2 capital

(1) For rule 4.18 (c), an instrument (including common equity or any other T1 Capital instrument) issued by a consolidated subsidiary of a Bank and held by a third party as a non-controlling interest may be included in the Bank’s T2 Capital if the instrument would be included in the Bank’s T2 Capital had it been issued by the Bank.

(2) The amount to be included in the consolidated T2 capital of a Bank is calculated in accordance with the following formula:

NCI – ((T2s – Min) × SS)

where:

NCI is the total of the non-controlling interests of third parties in a consolidated subsidiary of the Bank.

T2s is the amount of tier 2 capital of the subsidiary.

Min is the lower of:

(a) 10.5% of the total RWAs, as defined in BBR Rule 4.7 (2), of the subsidiary; and

(b) 10.5% of the share of consolidated RWAs of the group attributable to the subsidiary.

SS means the percentage of the shares in the subsidiary (being shares included in tier 2 capital) held by those third parties.

(3) A Bank must determine the amount of qualifying Total Capital of a Subsidiary that is included in consolidated T2 Capital by excluding the minority interests of that Subsidiary that are included in consolidated CET1 Capital and consolidated AT1 Capital, in accordance with BBR rules 4.22 and 4.23.

4.25 Treatment of third party interests from special purpose vehicles

(1) An instrument issued out of a special purpose vehicle and held by a third party must not be included in a Bank’s CET 1 capital. Such an instrument may be included in the Bank’s AT1 or T2 Capital (and treated as if it had been issued by the Bank itself directly to the third party), if:

(a) the instrument satisfies the criteria for inclusion in the relevant category of regulatory capital; and

(b) the only asset of the special purpose vehicle is its investment in the capital of the Bank and that investment satisfies the criterion in rule 4.17 (15) or 4.19 (10) for the immediate availability of the proceeds.

(2) A capital instrument described in sub-rule (1) above that is issued out of a special purpose vehicle through a consolidated subsidiary of a Bank may be included in the Bank’s consolidated AT 1 or T2 Capital if the instrument satisfies the criteria in rule 4.23 or 4.24, as the case requires. Such an instrument is treated as if it had been issued by the subsidiary itself directly to the third party.

Section 4C Regulatory adjustments

4.26 Valuation approaches and related adjustments

(1) A Bank must use the same approach for valuing regulatory adjustments to its capital as it does for balance-sheet valuations. An item that is deducted from capital must be valued in the same way as it would be for inclusion in the Bank’s balance sheet.

(2) The Bank must use the corresponding deduction approach and the threshold deduction rule in making adjustments to its capital.

4.27 Definitions for Section 4C

In this Section:

entity concerned means any of the following entities:

(a) a Bank;

(b) any other financial or insurance entity;

significant investment, by a Bank in an entity concerned, means an investment of 10% or more in the common shares, or other instruments that qualify as capital, of the entity concerned.

investment includes a direct, indirect and synthetic holding of capital instruments.

4.28 Adjustments to Common Equity Tier 1 Capital (CET1 capital)

(1) Form of adjustments: Adjustments to CET 1 capital must be made in accordance with this Rule. Regulatory adjustments are generally in the form of deductions, but they may also be in the form of recognition or derecognition of items in the calculation of a Bank’s capital.

(2) Goodwill and intangible assets: A Bank must deduct from CET 1 capital the amount of its goodwill and all other intangible assets (except mortgage servicing rights). The amount must be net of any related deferred tax liability that would be extinguished if the goodwill or assets become impaired or derecognised under IFRS or any other relevant accounting standards.

(3) Deferred tax assets:

(a) A Bank must deduct from CET 1 capital the amount of deferred tax assets (except those that relate to temporary differences) that depend on the future profitability of the Bank.

(b) A deferred tax asset may be netted with a deferred tax liability only if the asset and liability relate to taxes levied by the same taxation authority and offsetting is explicitly permitted by that authority. A deferred tax liability must not be used for netting if it has already been netted against a deduction of goodwill, other intangible assets or defined benefit pension assets.

(4) Cash flow hedge reserve: In the calculation of CET 1 capital, a Bank must derecognise the amount of the cash flow hedge reserve that relates to the hedging of items that are not fair valued on the balance sheet (including projected cash flows).

(5) Cumulative gains and losses from changes to own credit risk: In the calculation of CET 1 capital, a Bank must derecognise all unrealised gains and unrealised losses that have resulted from changes in the fair value of liabilities that are due to changes in the Bank’s own credit risk.

(6) Defined benefit pension fund assets:

(a) A Bank must deduct from CET 1 capital the amount of a defined benefit pension

fund that is an asset on the Bank’s balance sheet. The amount must be net of any related deferred tax liability that would be extinguished if the asset becomes impaired or derecognised under IFRS or any other relevant accounting standards.

(b) The Bank may apply to the AFSA for approval to offset from the deduction any asset in the defined benefit pension fund to which the Bank has unrestricted and unfettered access. Such an asset must be assigned the risk-weight that would be assigned if it were owned directly by the Bank.

(7) Securitisation gains on sale:In the calculation of CET 1 capital, a Bank must derecognise any increase in equity capital or CET 1 capital from a securitisation or resecuritisation transaction (for example, an increase associated with expected future margin income resulting in a gain-on- sale).

(8) Higher capital imposed on overseas branch

(a) If a Bank has an overseas branch, the Bank must deduct from CET 1 capital whichever is the higher of any capital requirement imposed by the AFSA or the financial regulator in the jurisdiction in which the branch is located.

(b) This rule does not apply if the overseas branch is a consolidated entity of the Bank.

A branch is a consolidated entity if it is included in the Bank’s consolidated returns.

(c) Despite sub-rule (b) above, if the financial regulator in the jurisdiction in which a branch is located imposes a capital requirement for the foreign branch, a banking Bank must deduct from CET 1 capital the amount of any shortfall between the actual capital held by the foreign branch and that capital requirement.

(9) Assets lodged or pledged to secure liabilities

(a) A Bank must deduct from CET 1 capital the amount of any assets lodged or pledged by the Bank if:

and

(i) the assets were lodged or pledged to secure liabilities incurred by the Bank;

(ii) the assets are not available to meet the liabilities of the Bank.

(b) The AFSA may determine that, in the circumstances, the amount of assets lodged or pledged need not be deducted from the Bank’s CET 1 capital. The determination must be in writing.

(10) Acknowledgments of debt

(a) A Bank must deduct from CET 1 capital the net present value of an acknowledgement of debt outstanding issued by it to directly or indirectly fund instruments that qualify as CET 1 capital.

(b) This rule does not apply if the acknowledgement is subordinated in rank similar to that of instruments that qualify as CET 1 capital.

(11) Accumulated losses: A Bank must deduct from CET 1 capital the amount of any accumulated losses.

4.29 Deductions from Regulatory Capital

(1) Deductions using corresponding deduction approach:

(a) The deductions that must be made from CET 1 capital, AT 1 capital or T2 capital under the corresponding deduction approach are set out in the rules 4.30 to 4.36. A Bank must examine its holdings of index securities and any underlying holdings of capital to determine whether any deductions are required as a result of such indirect holdings

(b) Deductions must be made from the same category for which the capital would qualify if it were issued by the Bank itself or, if there is not enough capital at that category, from the next higher category.

(c) The corresponding deduction approach applies regardless of whether the positions or exposures are held in the banking book or trading book.

Note If the amount of T2 capital is insufficient to cover the amount of deductions from that category, the shortfall must be deducted from AT1 capital and, if AT1 capital is still insufficient, the remaining amount must be deducted from CET 1 capital.

(2) Investments in own shares and capital instruments

(a) A Bank must deduct direct or indirect investments in its own common shares or own capital instruments (except those that have been derecognised under IFRS). The Bank must also deduct any of its own common shares or instruments that it is contractually obliged to purchase.

(b) The gross long positions may be deducted net of short positions in the same underlying exposure only if the short positions involve no counterparty risk. However, gross long positions in its own shares resulting from holdings of index securities may be netted against short positions in its own shares resulting from short positions in the same underlying index, even if those short positions involve counterparty risk.

(3) Reciprocal cross holdings: A Bank must deduct reciprocal cross holdings in shares, or other instruments that qualify as capital, of an entity concerned.

(4) Non-significant investments—where the Bank does not own more than 10% of issued common equity of the entity

(a) This rule applies if:

(i) a Bank makes a non-significant investment in an entity concerned;

(ii) the entity concerned is an unconsolidated entity (that is, the entity is not

one that is included in the firm’s consolidated returns);

(iii) the Bank does not own more than 10% of the common shares of the entity concerned; and

(iv) after applying all other regulatory adjustments, the total of the deductions required to be made under this rule is less than 10% of the Bank’s CET 1 capital.

(b) A Bank must deduct any investments in common shares, or other instruments that qualify as capital, of an entity concerned.

(c) The amount to be deducted is the net long position (that is, the gross long position net of short positions in the same underlying exposure if the maturity of the short position either matches the maturity of the long position or has a residual maturity of at least 1 year).

(d) Underwriting positions held for more than 5 business days must also be deducted.

(e) If a capital instrument is required to be deducted and it is not possible to determine whether it should be deducted from CET 1 capital, additional tier 1 capital or tier 2 capital, the deduction must be made from CET 1 capital.

(5) Non-significant investments—aggregate is 10% or more of Bank’s CET 1 capital

(a) This rule applies if, after applying all other regulatory adjustments, the total of the deductions required to be made under rule 4.29 (4) is 10% or more of the Bank’s CET 1 capital.

(b) A Bank must deduct the amount by which the total of the deductions required to be made under rule 4.29 (4) exceeds 10% of the Bank’s CET 1 capital. This amount to be deducted is referred to as the excess.

(c) How much of the excess gets to be deducted from each category of regulatory capital under the corresponding deduction approach is calculated in accordance with the following formula:

where: Excess * A / B

A is the amount of CET 1 capital, additional tier 1 capital or tier 2 capital of the Bank, as the case may be.

B is the total capital holdings of the Bank.

(6) Significant investments

(a) This rule applies if:

(i) a Bank makes a significant investment in an entity concerned;

(ii) the entity concerned is an unconsolidated entity (that is, the entity is not

one that is included in the Bank’s consolidated returns); and

(iii) the Bank owns 10% or more of the common shares of the entity concerned.

(b) A Bank must deduct the total amount of investments in the entity concerned (other than investments in common shares, or other instruments that qualify as CET 1 capital, of the entity).

(d) Underwriting positions held for more than 5 business days must also be deducted.

(e) If a capital instrument is required to be deducted and it is not possible to determine whether it should be deducted from CET 1 capital, AT1 capital or T2 capital, the deduction must be made from CET 1 capital.

(7) Banks may use estimates or exclude deductions

(a) If it is impractical for a Bank to examine and monitor the Bank’s exposures to the capital of entities concerned (including through holdings of indexed securities), the Bank may apply to the AFSA for approval to use an estimate of such exposures. The authority will grant such an approval only after the Bank satisfies the authority that the estimate is conservative, well-founded and reasonable.

(b) A Bank may also apply to the AFSA for approval not to deduct an investment made to resolve, or provide financial assistance to reorganise, a distressed entity.

4.30 Deductions from CET1 capital

(1) In addition to the other deductions to CET 1 capital under this Chapter, deductions may be required to CET 1 capital under the threshold deduction rule.

(2) The threshold deduction rule provides recognition for particular assets that are considered to have some limited capacity to absorb losses. The following items come within the threshold deduction rule:

(a) significant investments in the common shares, or other instruments that qualify as CET 1 capital, of an unconsolidated entity concerned;

(b) mortgage servicing rights;

(3) Instead of full deduction, the items that come within the threshold deduction rule receive limited recognition when calculating CET 1 capital. The total of each of the items in subrule (2) do not require adjustment from CET 1 capital and are risk-weighted at 300% (for items listed on a recognised exchange) or 400% (for items not so listed) provided that:

(a) each item is no more than 10% of the Bank’s CET 1 capital (net of all regulatory adjustments except those under this Subdivision); or

(b) in total, the 3 items are no more than 15% of the Bank’s CET 1 capital (net of all

regulatory adjustments except those under this Subdivision).

(4) A Bank must deduct from CET 1 capital any amount in excess of the threshold in sub- rule (3) (a) or (b) above.

Section 4D Capital Buffers

4.31 Capital conservation buffer

(1) A Bank whose risk-based capital requirement is higher than its base capital requirement must maintain a minimum capital conservation buffer of:

(a) 2.5% of the Bank’s total risk-weighted assets; or

(b) a higher amount that the AFSA may, by written notice, set from time to time.

(2) A Bank’s capital conservation buffer must be made up of CET 1 capital above the amounts used to meet the Bank’s CET 1 capital ratio, T1 capital ratio and regulatory capital ratio in rule 4.12.

4.32 Capital conservation ratios

(1) If a Bank’s capital conservation buffer falls below the required minimum, the Bank must immediately conserve its capital by restricting its distributions.

(2) This rule sets out, in column 3 of table 4A, the minimum capital conservation ratios for Banks that are required to maintain a capital conservation buffer. Capital conservation ratio is the percentage of earnings that a Bank must not distribute if its CET 1 capital ratio falls within the corresponding ratio in column 2 of that table.

(3) A Bank must have adequate systems and controls to ensure that the amount of distributable profits and maximum distributable amount are calculated accurately. The Bank must be able to demonstrate that accuracy if directed by the AFSA.

(4) If the Bank is a member of a financial group, the capital conservation buffer applies at group level.

Table 4A Minimum capital conservation ratios

column 1 item	column 2 CET1 capital ratio	column 3 minimum capital conservation ratio (% of earnings)
1	4.5% to 5.125%	100
2	≥5.125% to 5.75%	80
3	≥5.75% to 6.375%	60
4	≥6.375% to 7.0%	40
5	>7%	0

4.33 Powers of the AFSA

(1) The AFSA may impose a restriction on capital distributions by a Bank even if the amount of the Bank’s CET 1 capital is greater than its CET 1 capital ratio and required capital conservation buffer.

(2) The AFSA may, by written notice, impose a limit on the period during which a Bank may operate within a specified capital conservation ratio.

(3) A Bank may apply to the AFSA to make a distribution in excess of a limit imposed by this Part. The authority will grant approval only if it is satisfied that the Bank has appropriate measures to raise capital equal to, or greater than, the amount the Bank wishes to distribute above the limit.

4.34 Capital reductions

(1) A Bank must not reduce its capital and reserves without the AFSA’s written approval.

(2) A Bank planning a reduction must prepare a forecast (for at least 2 years) showing its projected capital after the reduction. The Bank must satisfy the authority that the Bank’s capital will still comply with these rules after the reduction.

4.35 Authority can require other matters

Despite anything in these rules, the AFSA may require a Bank to have capital resources, comply with any other capital requirement or use a different approach to, or method for, capital management. The authority may also require a Bank to carry out stress- testing at any time.

Section 4E Leverage Ratio

4.36 Application

The rules in this section apply only to Banks. For the sake of clarity, the rules in this section apply only to Banks licensed by the AFSA to conduct the Regulated Activity of “Accepting Deposits”.

4.37 Calculation of Leverage Ratio

(1) A Bank must calculate its Leverage Ratio in accordance with the following formula:

Leverage Ratio = Capital Measure ÷ Exposure Measure

Where:

(a) “Capital Measure” represents T1 Capital of the Bank calculated in accordance with BBR rule 4.13; and

(b) “Exposure Measure” represents the value of exposures of the Bank calculated in accordance with (2) of this rule.

(2) For the purpose of determining the Exposure Measure, the value of exposures of an Bank must be calculated in accordance with the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) subject to the following adjustments:

(a) on-balance sheet, non-derivative exposures must be net of specific allowances and valuation adjustments (e.g. credit valuation adjustments);

(b) physical or financial collateral, guarantees or credit risk mitigation purchased must not be used to reduce on-balance sheet exposures; and

Note Detailed guidance specifying the methodologies, parameters and formulae for calculating the Leverage Ratio are set out in Section D of Chapter 4 of the CAG issued by the AFSA.

Chapter 5 Credit Risk and Concentration Risk

Part I Credit Risk

Introduction

Guidance

1. This chapter sets out the regulatory requirements in respect of managing the Credit Risk exposures of a Bank. Credit Risk refers to risk of incurring losses due to failure on the part of a borrower or a counterparty to fulfil their obligations in respect of a financial transaction. This chapter aims to ensure that a Bank holds sufficient regulatory capital of acceptable quality so that it can absorb unexpected losses arising out of its Credit Risk exposures, should the need arise and that it continues to operate in a sustainable manner.

2. This chapter requires a Bank to:

(a) implement a comprehensive Credit Risk management framework to manage, measure and monitor Credit Risk commensurate with the nature, scale and complexity of its operations;

(b) calculate the Credit Risk Capital Requirement for its on-balance sheet and off- balance sheet credit exposures after adjusting for applicable levels of credit risk mitigation, according to the norms, methodologies, standards and guidance provided in the CAG issued by the AFSA;

(c) implement a sound framework for managing concentration risk and large exposures, including limits for concentration of such exposures to individual and group borrowers.

3. This Chapter also deals with the following elements of determination of regulatory capital requirements to support a Bank’s credit risk exposures:

● the risk-weighted assets approach;

● CRM techniques;

● Provisioning requirements for impaired assets of the Bank.

4. To guard against abuses and to address conflicts of interest, this Chapter requires transactions with related parties to be at arm’s length.

5. The detailed requirements specifying the calculation methodologies, parameters, metrics and formulae in respect of the primary credit risk management and credit risk capital requirements outlined in this chapter are provided in the Capital Adequacy Guideline (CAG) issued by the AFSA. The CAG also provides detailed guidance on calculation methodologies, formulae, parameters and norms involved in calculation of Credit Risk capital requirements which is an element used to calculate the capital adequacy ratios for a Bank, as set out in Chapter 4 of BBR. It is suggested that this Chapter of the BBR, be read in conjunction with Chapter 5 of the CAG issued by the AFSA to facilitate understanding of the regulatory requirements and compliance with them.

5.1 Credit Risk Management – Systems and Controls

(1) A Bank must implement and maintain comprehensive Credit Risk management systems which:

(a) are appropriate to the Bank’s type, scope, complexity and scale of

operations;

(b) enable the Bank to effectively identify, assess, monitor and control Credit

Risk and to ensure that adequate Capital is available to support the credit risk exposures assumed; and

(2) A Bank must:

(a) identify, assess, monitor, mitigate and, control its Credit Risk; and

(b) implement and maintain a prudent Credit Risk management policy which enables it to identify, assess, monitor, control and mitigate its Credit Risk.

(3) The Credit Risk management policy must:

(a) be documented and approved by its governing body;

(b) include the Bank’s risk appetite for Credit Risk;

(d) must establish procedures, systems, processes, controls and approaches to identify, measure, evaluate, manage and control or mitigate its credit risk and to ensure the integrity of its credit risk management;

(e) must set out the organizational structure, and must define the responsibilities and roles, for managing credit risk;

(f) ensure that its risk management framework including but not limited to tools, methodologies and, systems enable it to implement its Credit Risk management policy; and

(g) be reviewed and updated at a reasonable frequency, but at least on an annual basis.

(4) A Bank’s credit risk management policy must establish:

(a) a well-documented and effectively-implemented process for assuming credit risk that does not rely unduly on external credit ratings;

(b) well-defined criteria for approving credit (including prudent underwriting standards), and renewing, refinancing and restructuring existing credit;

(d) effective credit risk administration, including:

(i) regular analysis of counterparties’ ability and willingness to repay;

and

(ii) monitoring of documents, legal covenants, contractual requirements, and collateral and other CRM techniques;

(e) effective systems for the accurate and timely identification, measurement, evaluation, management and control or mitigation of credit risk, and

reporting to the Bank’s governing body and senior management;

(f) prudent and appropriate credit limits that are consistent with the Bank’s risk tolerance, risk profile and capital;

(g) provide for process and criteria for identification and recognition of problem assets as well as systems for measurement and reporting of problem assets;

(h) the criteria and responsibility for credit risk reporting, and the scope, manner and frequency of reporting, to the governing body or a committee of the governing body;

(i) establish, and must provide for the regular review of, the Bank’s credit risk

tolerance and credit exposure limits to control credit exposures of the Bank;

(j) procedures for tracking and reporting exceptions to credit limits and deviations from credit risk management policies; and

(k) effective controls for the quality, reliability and relevance of data and validation procedures.

Note Guidance in respect of the contents of a Bank’s Credit Risk management policy which is required to satisfy the regulatory requirement in the Rule 5.1 is provided in Chapter 5 of the CAG issued by the AFSA.

(5) A Bank’s credit risk management policy must ensure that credit decisions are free of conflicts of interest and are made on an arm’s-length basis. In particular, the credit approval and credit review functions must be independent of the credit initiation function.

(6) A Bank’s credit risk management policy must provide for monitoring the total indebtedness of each counterparty and any risk factors that might result in default (including any significant unhedged foreign exchange risk).

(7) A Bank must give the AFSA full access to information about its credit portfolio. The Bank must also give the AFSA access to staff involved in assuming, managing and reporting on credit risk.

(8) The Credit Risk management policy must enable the Bank to carry out stress-tests on its credit portfolio at intervals appropriate for the nature, scale and complexity of the Bank’s business and using various scenarios based on appropriate assumptions. The policy must take into account the Bank’s credit risk profile (including on-balance-sheet and off-balance-sheet exposures) and tolerance in the context of the markets and macroeconomic conditions in which the Bank operates. The Bank’s credit risk stress testing must include procedures to make any changes to its credit risk management framework based on the results from the stress testing.

Note Guidance in respect of a Bank’s policies for Credit Risk assessment which is required to satisfy the regulatory requirement in the Rule 5.1 is provided in paragraphs 10 & 11 of Chapter 5 of the CAG issued by the AFSA.

5.2 Role of governing body—Credit Risk

(1) A Bank’s governing body must ensure that its Credit Risk management policy enables it to obtain a comprehensive Bank-wide view of its Credit Risk exposures and covers the full credit lifecycle including credit underwriting, credit evaluation, and the credit risk management of the Bank’s trading activities.

(2) A Bank must ensure that its Governing Body is responsible for monitoring the nature and level of Credit Risk assumed by it and for monitoring the Credit Risk management process.

(3) The governing body of the Bank must also ensure that:

(a) an appropriate senior management structure with clearly defined responsibilities and roles for Credit Risk management and for compliance with the Bank’s Risk strategy, is established and maintained;

(b) the credit risk management framework is consistent with the Bank’s risk

profile and its systemic importance.

(c) the Bank’s senior management and other relevant staff have the necessary experience to manage Credit risk and to effectively implement the Credit risk management policy;

(d) appropriate Credit limits covering Credit Risk management in both day-to-day and stressed conditions are set;

(e) stress-tests, funding strategies, contingency funding plans and holdings of high-quality liquid assets are effective and appropriate for the Bank;

(f) the Bank’s senior management:

(i) develops a Credit risk management policy in accordance with the

Bank’s Credit risk tolerance;

(ii) monitors the Bank’s Credit risk profile and reports to the governing

body regularly;

(iii) determines, and sets out in the Bank’s credit risk management policy, the structure, responsibilities and controls for managing credit risk and for overseeing the credit risk of all legal entities, branches and subsidiaries in the jurisdictions in which the Bank is active; and

(iv) monitors trends and market developments that could present significant, unprecedented or complex challenges for managing credit risk so that appropriate and timely changes to the credit risk management policy can be made.

(4) The governing body must regularly review reports on the Bank’s Credit Risk profile and portfolio returns and, where necessary, information on new or emerging problem assets. The governing body of the Bank must also review the Credit Risk tolerance and strategy at least on an annual basis.

(5) The governing body must approve:

(a) the Bank’s Credit Risk management policy; and

(b) its Credit risk tolerance and risk strategy.

5.3 Classification of Credit exposures

(1) Unless a Bank has established something more detailed, the Bank must classify credits into 1 of the 5 categories in table 5A. Nothing in the table prevents a Bank from classifying a credit under a higher risk category than the table requires.

(2) Unless there is good reason not to do so, the same category must be given to all credit exposures to the same counterparty

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