Capital Adequacy Requirements (CAR) (2024) - Chapter 6 – Securitization

Note

For institutions with a fiscal year ending October 31 or December 31, respectively.

The Capital Adequacy Requirements (CAR) for banks (including federal credit unions), bank holding companies, federally regulated trust companies, and federally regulated loan companies are set out in nine chapters, each of which has been issued as a separate document. This document, Chapter 6 – Securitization, should be read in conjunction with the other CAR chapters. The complete list of CAR chapters is as follows:

  • Chapter 1 - Overview of Risk-Based Capital Requirements
  • Chapter 2 - Definition of Capital
  • Chapter 3 - Operational Risk
  • Chapter 4 - Credit Risk - Standardized Approach
  • Chapter 5 - Credit Risk - Internal Ratings-Based Approach
  • Chapter 6 - Securitization
  • Chapter 7 - Settlement and Counterparty Risk
  • Chapter 8 - Credit Valuation Adjustment (CVA) Risk
  • Chapter 9 - Market Risk

Please refer to OSFI's Corporate Governance Guideline for OSFI's expectations of institution Boards of Directors in regard to the management of capital and liquidity.

Chapter 6 – Securitization

  1. This chapter is drawn from the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision's (BCBS) Basel framework published on the BIS website,Footnote 1 effective December 15, 2019. For reference, the Basel text paragraph numbers that are associated with the text appearing in this chapter are indicated in square brackets at the end of each paragraph.Footnote 2

  2. The securitization framework is to be applied in determining the risk-weighted capital treatment applicable to all securitization exposures that meet the definitions and operational requirements below regardless of accounting treatment.

  3. For greater clarity, and to ensure consistency with paragraph 5 below, all exposures to mortgage-backed securities that do not involve tranching with associated subordination of credit risk (e.g. NHA MBS) will not be considered securitization exposures for risk-based capital purposes under the securitization framework. Such exposures are to be treated for risk-based capital purposes according to the applicable sections of Chapter 4 or Chapter 5 of this guideline.

6.1 Scope and definitions of transactions covered under the securitization framework

  1. Institutions must apply the securitization framework for determining regulatory capital requirements on exposures arising from traditional and synthetic securitizations or similar structures that contain features common to both. Since securitizations may be structured in many different ways, the capital treatment of a securitization exposure must be determined on the basis of its economic substance rather than its legal form. Similarly, OSFI will look to the economic substance of a transaction to determine whether it should be subject to the securitization framework for purposes of determining regulatory capital. Institutions are encouraged to consult with OSFI when there is uncertainty about whether a given transaction should be considered a securitization. For example, transactions involving cash flows from real estate (e.g. rents) may be considered specialized lending exposures, if warranted. [Basel Framework, CRE 40.1]

  2. A traditional securitization is a structure where the cash flow from an underlying pool of exposures is used to service at least two different stratified risk positions or tranches reflecting different degrees of credit risk. Payments to the investors depend upon the performance of the specified underlying exposures, as opposed to being derived from an obligation of the entity originating those exposures. The stratified/tranched structures that characterize securitizations differ from ordinary senior/subordinated debt instruments in that junior securitization tranches can absorb losses without interrupting contractual payments to more senior tranches, whereas subordination in a senior/subordinated debt structure is a matter of priority of rights to the proceeds of liquidation. [Basel Framework, CRE 40.2]

  3. A synthetic securitization is a structure with at least two different stratified risk positions or tranches that reflect different degrees of credit risk where credit risk of an underlying pool of exposures is transferred, in whole or in part, through the use of funded (e.g. credit-linked notes) or unfunded (e.g. credit default swaps) credit derivatives or guarantees that serve to hedge the credit risk of the portfolio. Accordingly, the investors' potential risk is dependent upon the performance of the underlying pool. Operational requirements applicable to synthetic securitizations are detailed in section 6.3.2 below. [Basel Framework, CRE 40.3]

  4. Institutions' exposures to a securitization are hereafter referred to as "securitization exposures". Securitization exposures can include but are not restricted to the following: asset-backed securities, mortgage-backed securities, credit enhancements, liquidity facilities, loans to securitization vehicles to fund the acquisition of assets, interest rate or currency swaps, credit derivatives and tranched cover as described in Chapter 4, paragraph 276. Reserve accounts, such as cash collateral accounts, recorded as an asset by the originating institution must also be treated as securitization exposures. [Basel Framework, CRE 40.4]

  5. A resecuritization exposure is a securitization exposure in which the risk associated with an underlying pool of exposures is tranched and at least one of the underlying exposures is a securitization exposure. In addition, an exposure to one or more resecuritization exposures is a resecuritization exposure. An exposure resulting from the retranching of a securitization exposure is not a resecuritization if the institution is able to demonstrate that the cash flows to and from the institution can be replicated in all circumstances and conditions by an exposure to the securitization of a pool of assets that contains no securitization exposures. For resecuritization exposures, institutions must apply the SEC-SA, with the adjustments in section 6.7. [Basel Framework, CRE 40.5 and 40.48]

  6. Underlying instruments in the pool being securitized may include but are not restricted to the following: loans, commitments, asset-backed and mortgage-backed securities, corporate bonds, equity securities, and private equity investments. The underlying pool may include one or more exposures. [Basel Framework, CRE 40.6]

6.2. Definitions and general terminology

6.2.1.1. Originating institution / Originator

  1. For risk-based capital purposes, an institution is considered to be an originator with regard to a certain securitization if it meets either of the following conditions:

    1. The institution originates directly or indirectly underlying exposures included in the securitization; or
    2. The institution serves as a sponsor of an asset-backed commercial paper (ABCP) conduit or similar programme that acquires exposures from third-party entities. In the context of such programmes, an institution would generally be considered a sponsor and, in turn, an originator if it, in fact or in substance, manages or advises the programme, places securities into the market, or provides liquidity and/or credit enhancements.

    [Basel Framework, CRE 40.7]

6.2.1.2. Asset-backed commercial paper (ABCP) programme

  1. An ABCP programme predominately issues commercial paper to third-party investors with an original maturity of one year or less and is backed by assets or other exposures held in a bankruptcy-remote, special purpose entity. [Basel Framework, CRE 40.8]

6.2.1.3. Clean-up call

  1. A clean-up call is an option that permits the securitization exposures (e.g. asset-backed securities) to be called before all of the underlying assets or securitization exposures have been repaid. In the case of traditional securitizations, this is generally accomplished by the originator repurchasing the remaining assets in the securitization structure once the pool balance or outstanding securities have fallen below some specified level. In the case of a synthetic transaction, the clean-up call may take the form of a clause that extinguishes the credit protection. [Basel Framework, CRE 40.9]

6.2.1.4. Credit enhancement

  1. A credit enhancement is a contractual arrangement in which the institution or third party retains or assumes a securitization exposure and, in substance, provides some degree of added protection to other parties to the transaction. [Basel Framework, CRE 40.10]

6.2.1.5. Credit-enhancing interest-only strip

  1. A credit-enhancing interest-only strip (I/O) is an on-balance sheet asset that:

    1. represents a valuation of cash flows related to future margin income, and
    2. is subordinated.

    Credit-enhancing interest-only strips, net of any increases in equity capital resulting from securitization transactions must be risk-weight at 1250%, as noted in paragraph 41. Valuations of cash flows related to future margin income that are not subordinated are referred to as non-credit enhancing interest only strips, and must be risk-weighted either i) according to Chapter 4, section 4.1.23, or ii) when a tranche rating provided by a rating agency is available that satisfies the Operational requirements for external credit assessments outlined in section 6.6.2.3, SEC-ERBA can be applied. [Basel Framework, CRE 40.11]

6.2.1.6. Early amortization

  1. An early amortization provision is a mechanism that, once triggered, accelerates the reduction of the investor's interest in the underlying exposures of a securitization of revolving credit facilities and allows investors to be paid out prior to the originally stated maturity of the securities issued. A securitization of revolving credit facilities is a securitization in which one or more underlying exposures represent, directly or indirectly, current or future draws on a revolving credit facility. Examples of revolving credit facilities include but are not limited to credit card exposures, home equity lines of credit, commercial lines of credit and other lines of credit. [Basel Framework, CRE 40.12]

6.2.1.7. Excess spread

  1. Excess spread (or future margin income) is defined as gross finance charge collections and other income received by the trust or special purpose entity (SPE, as defined below) minus certificate interest, servicing fees, charge-offs, and other senior trust or SPE expenses. [Basel Framework, CRE 40.13]

6.2.1.8. Implicit support

  1. Implicit support arises when an institution provides support to a securitization in excess of its predetermined contractual obligation. Implicit support is discussed further in section 6.8. [Basel Framework, CRE 40.14]

6.2.1.9. Internal Ratings-Based (IRB) pool

  1. For risk-based capital purposes, an IRB pool means a securitization pool for which an institution is able to use an IRB approach to calculate capital requirements for all underlying exposures given that it has OSFI approval to apply IRB for the type of underlying exposure (including the asset class and geography of those exposures) and it has sufficient information to calculate IRB requirements for these exposures (from a type of data source that is consistent with the IRB approval). OSFI expects institutions that have IRB approval for an underlying pool of exposures to treat that pool as an IRB pool. An institution that has sufficient information to calculate the IRB requirements for exposures, but cannot treat an underlying pool, for which it has an OSFI-approved IRB approach, as an IRB pool is expected to demonstrate to OSFI why it cannot calculate capital requirements for the underlying pool of exposures using an IRB approach. However, institutions must consult with OSFI prior to treating an IRB pool as such in the following circumstances:

    1. transactions that have highly complex loss allocations,
    2. tranches whose credit enhancement could be eroded for reasons other than portfolio losses, or
    3. tranches of portfolios with high internal correlations (such as portfolios with high exposure to single sectors or with high geographic concentration).

    [Basel Framework, CRE 40.15]

6.2.1.10. Mixed pool

  1. For risk-based capital purposes, a mixed pool means a securitization pool for which an institution is able to calculate IRB parameters for some, but not all, underlying exposures in a securitization. [Basel Framework, CRE 40.16]

6.2.1.11. Non-performing loan securitization

  1. A non-performing loan securitization (NPL securitization) means a securitization where the underlying pool's variable W, as defined in paragraph 126, is equal to or higher than 90% at the origination cut-off date and at any subsequent date on which assets are added to or removed from the underlying pool due to replenishment, restructuring, or any other relevant reason. The underlying pool of exposures of an NPL securitization may only comprise loans, loan-equivalent financial instruments or tradable instruments used for the sole purpose of loan subparticipation as referred to in paragraph 29(d). Loan-equivalent financial instruments include, for example, bonds not listed on a trading venue. For the avoidance of doubt, an NPL securitization may not be backed by exposures to other securitizations. NPL securitization must apply the framework laid out in section 6.12. [Basel Framework, CRE 40.48 and CRE 45.1]

6.2.1.12. Standardized Approach (SA) pool

  1. For risk-based capital purposes, an SA pool means a securitization pool for which an institution does not have approval to calculate IRB parameters for any underlying exposures, or for which, while the institution has approval to calculate IRB parameters for some or all of the types of underlying exposures, it is unable to calculate IRB parameters for any underlying exposures due to lack of relevant data, or is prohibited by OSFI from treating the pool as an IRB pool pursuant to paragraph 18. [Basel Framework, CRE 40.17]

6.2.1.13. Senior securitization exposure (tranche)

  1. A securitization exposure (tranche) is considered to be a senior exposure (tranche) if it is effectively backed or secured by a first claim on the entire amount of the assets in the underlying securitized pool.Footnote 3 While this generally includes only the most senior position within a securitization transaction, in some instances there may be other claims that, in a technical sense, may be more senior in the waterfall (e.g. a swap claim) but may be disregarded for the purpose of determining which positions are treated as senior. Different maturities of several senior tranches that share pro rata loss allocation shall have no effect on the seniority of these tranches, since they benefit from the same level of credit enhancement. The material effects of differing tranche maturities are captured by maturity adjustments on the risk weights to be assigned to the securitization exposures. For example:

    1. In a typical synthetic securitization, an unrated tranche would be treated as a senior tranche, provided that all of the conditions for inferring a rating from a lower tranche that meets the definition of a senior tranche are fulfilled.

    2. In a traditional securitization where all tranches above the first-loss piece are rated, the most highly rated position would be treated as a senior tranche. When there are several tranches that share the same rating, only the most senior tranche in the cash flow waterfall would be treated as senior (unless the only difference among them is the effective maturity). Also, when the different ratings of several senior tranches only result from a difference in maturity, all of these tranches should be treated as a senior tranche.

    3. Usually a liquidity facility supporting an ABCP programme would not be the most senior position within the programme; the commercial paper, which benefits from the liquidity support, typically would be the most senior position. However, a liquidity facility may be viewed as covering all losses on the underlying receivables pool that exceed the amount of overcollateralization/reserves provided by the seller and as being most senior if it is sized to cover all of the outstanding commercial paper and other senior debt supported by the pool, so that no cash flows from the underlying pool could be transferred to the other creditors until any liquidity draws were repaid in full. In such a case, the liquidity facility can be treated as a senior exposure. Otherwise, if these conditions are not satisfied, or if for other reasons the liquidity facility constitutes a mezzanine position in economic substance rather than a senior position in the underlying pool, the liquidity facility should be treated as a non-senior exposure. [Basel Framework, CRE 40.18]

6.2.1.14. Servicer cash advances or facilities

  1. An institution may be contractually obligated to provide funds to an SPE to ensure an uninterrupted flow of payments to investors in the SPE's securities, solely under the unusual circumstance that payments from the underlying assets have not been received due to temporary timing differences. An institution that provides such support is typically referred to as a servicing agent and the funds provided are typically referred to as servicer advances.

  2. Servicer cash advances or facilities must meet the following requirements:

    1. The servicers are entitled to full reimbursement and this right is senior to other claims on cash flows from the underlying pool of exposures,
    2. Servicer advances may not be made to offset shortfalls in cash flows that arise from defaulted assets,
    3. The total value of cash advances is limited to the total amount transferable for that collection period,
    4. The servicing agent must perform an assessment of the likelihood of repayment of the servicer advances based on prudent lending standards.

6.2.1.15. Special purpose entity (SPE)

  1. An SPE is a corporation, trust, or other entity organized for a specific purpose, the activities of which are limited to those appropriate to accomplish the purpose of the SPE, and the structure of which is intended to isolate the SPE from the credit risk of an originator or seller of assets or exposures held by the SPE. SPEs, normally a trust or similar entity, are commonly used as financing vehicles in which assets or exposures are sold to the SPE in exchange for cash or other assets funded by debt issued by the SPE. [Basel Framework, CRE 40.21]

6.2.1.16. Tranche maturity

  1. For risk-based capital purposes, tranche maturity (MT) is the tranche's remaining effective maturity in years and can be measured at the institution's discretion in either of the following manners:

    1. As the dollar weighted-average maturity of the contractual cash flows of the tranche:

      M T = t t C F t t C F t

      where CFt denotes the cash flows (principal, interest payments and fees) contractually payable to the tranche in period t.

      The contractual payments to the tranche may be used without regard to the cash flows of the underlying securitized assets only when such payments are unconditional and not dependent on the actual performance of the securitized assets. Where payments to the tranche are dependent on the performance of the securitized assets, institutions must separately model the cash flows of the underlying assets and the contractual cash waterfall of the securitization to estimate the cash flows payable to the reference tranche in each period.

      The cash flow model for the underlying assets should assume no defaults. If at least five years of prepayment data for the same asset class in the same country is available to the institution, prepayments on the underlying assets should be assumed to be the lowest of:

      1. The prepayment rate assumed in the base case of the transaction pricing or hedging of the transaction,

      2. The lowest historically observed (a) annualized quarterly portfolio prepayment rate or (b) annualized prepayment rate derived from historical vintage origination curves, determined in either instance over the longest available period for the same originator, or if less than five years of data from the same originator is available, for the same asset class in the same country (minimum five-year period), and

      3. The average observed prepayment rate through the life of the specific transaction (minimum one year of data).

      The resulting annual prepayment rate will be subject to a cap of 20%. If less than five years of prepayment data for comparable assets are available, zero prepayments should be assumed. If one of the above three approaches is unavailable (for example, the third approach is unavailable until one year of transaction data is available), then the approach would not be considered in the calculation of prepayment rates.

      For securitization transactions with revolving periods (including equivalent exposures, such as drawn securitization commitments) the weighted-average cash flow methodology may be applied, however the cash flow model for the underlying assets should be determined by adjusting the scheduled maturity of each exposure that matures before the end of the revolving period to the sum of:

      1. The exposure's current maturity, and

      2. The longest permitted maturity of an exposure that is eligible to be added to the securitized portfolio during the revolving period.

      This adjustment should be made as many times as necessary until the adjusted maturity of each exposure extends past the end of the revolving period. The adjustment should be re-calculated at least quarterly with updated information from the pool. No adjustment is made to the maturity of an exposure if the exposure is scheduled to mature after the end of the revolving period. The periodic cash flows for each underlying exposure should be assumed to continue to be collected until the adjusted maturity date, and these adjusted cash flows should be used when calculating the weighted-average maturity of the contractual cash flows of the tranche. Any undrawn portion may remain undrawn under this calculation.

      If the necessary payment information are not available, the calculation on the basis of final legal maturity shall be used.

    2. On the basis of the final legal maturity of the tranche, as:

      M T = 1 + ( M L 1 ) × 80 %

      Where MLis the final legal maturity of the tranche, not including any time periods defined by law solely for purpose of instituting legal action by an investor or against an obligor in the asset pool.

    In all cases, MT will have a floor of one year and a cap of five years.

    [Basel Framework, CRE 40.22]

  2. When determining the maturity of a securitization exposure, institutions should take into account the maximum period of time they are exposed to potential losses from the securitized assets. In cases where an institution provides a commitment, the institution should calculate the maturity of the securitization exposure resulting from this commitment either by applying the approach outlined in paragraph 26(a) or as the sum of the contractual maturity of the commitment and the longest maturity of the asset(s) to which the institution is exposed after a draw has occurred. Any contractual limits on the maturity of the assets in the pool may be used in this calculation of maturity, such that the maturity of a commitment may be calculated as a weighted-average of the longest-dated assets that may contractually be included in the pool rather than the single longest-dated asset that may be added. The same treatment applies to all other instruments where the risk of the commitment/protection provider is not limited to losses realized until the maturity of that instruments (e.g. total return swaps). In cases where concentration limits have been placed on relevant maturities, institutions have performed due diligence and reviewed historical information on assets being originated, and institutions have received a no adverse selection representation on the pools being securitized, the maturity of the commitment may be calculated as the sum of the contractual maturity of the commitment and the projected dollar weighted average maturity of a new draw under the commitment. [Basel Framework, CRE 40.23]

  3. For credit protection instruments that are only exposed to losses that occur up to the maturity of that instrument, an institution would be allowed to apply the contractual maturity of the instrument and would not have to look through to the protected portion. [Basel Framework, CRE 40.23]

6.3. Operational requirements for the recognition of risk transference

6.3.1. Operational requirements for traditional securitizations

  1. An originating institution may exclude securitized exposures that are reported on their balance sheet from the calculation of risk-weighted assets only if all of the following conditions have been met. Institutions meeting these conditions must still hold regulatory capital against any securitization exposures they retain.

    1. Significant credit risk associated with the underlying exposures has been transferred to third parties. An originating institution is required to establish policies and procedures to ensure that significant credit risk is being assessed and all operational requirements met for all securitized assets if the originating institution intends to exclude the securitized assets from the calculation of risk-weighted assets. These policies must include how the risk transfer will be assessed on an ongoing basis and should be available for review by OSFI upon request.

    2. In addition to the policies and procedures noted above, originating institutions must meet the following quantitative test in order to determine that significant credit risk has been transferred to third parties;

      • The capital required for exposures retained by the originating institution in the securitization structure following issuance must be no more than 40% of the capital required for the pool of assets supporting all tranches of the securitization structure, that is, a reduction in risk-weighted assets of at least 60%, including an EL-adjustment for IRB pools. The risk-weighted assets for the exposures retained should be calculated in accordance with this chapter, including the application of any relevant risk weight caps, but excluding any risk weight floors.

      • For purposes of this test, the pool of assets supporting all tranches is defined as the assets associated with one or more series of notes issued by the SPE. For clarity, the pool of assets generally excludes the retained interest or seller's interest in a pool of assets including the undrawn balances of revolving facilities where only drawn balances have been securitized.

      • Under this test, the risk-weighted asset amounts for the retained positions and for the pool of assets must be calculated by using consistent risk-based approaches. In particular, if the standardized credit risk approach is utilized by the originating institution for the asset pool, the institution must calculate capital required for the retained positions under the SEC-SA. If the internal ratings-based approach is used for the asset pool, the SEC-IRBA must be used for the retained positions. The hierarchy of approaches should be followed when risk weighting the exposure outside of this test.

      • Once met, this assessment of significant risk transfer will also apply for the purposes of the capital floor without a separate test being required.

    3. The quantitative test specified in (b) does not need to be met if all positions retained by the institution are risk-weighted at 1250%.Footnote 4

    4. The originating institution does not maintain effective or indirect control over the transferred exposures. The exposures are legally isolated from the institution in such a way (e.g. through the sale of assets or through subparticipation) that the exposures are put beyond the reach of the institution and its creditors, even in bankruptcy or receivership. Institutions should obtain a legal opinionFootnote 5 that confirms true sale.

    5. The originating institution is deemed to have maintained effective control over the transferred credit risk exposures if it: (i) is able to repurchase from the transferee the previously transferred exposures in order to realize their benefits; or (ii) is obligated to retain the risk of the transferred exposures. The originating institution's retention of servicing rights to the exposures will not necessarily constitute indirect control of the exposures.

    6. The securities issued are not obligations of the originating institution. Thus, investors who purchase the securities only have claim to the underlying pool of exposures.

    7. The transferee is an SPE and the holders of the beneficial interests in that entity have the right to pledge or exchange them without restriction.

    8. Clean-up calls must satisfy the conditions set out in section 6.3.4.

    9. The securitization does not contain clauses that (i) require the originating institution to alter the underlying exposures such that the pool's credit quality is improved unless this is achieved by selling exposures to independent and unaffiliated third parties at market prices; (ii) allow for increases in a retained first loss position or credit enhancement provided by the originating institution after the transaction's inception; or (iii) increase the yield payable to parties other than the originating institution, such as investors and third-party providers of credit enhancements, in response to a deterioration in the credit quality of the underlying pool.

    10. There must be no termination options/triggers except eligible clean-up calls, termination for specific changes in tax and regulation or early amortization provisions such as those set out in paragraph 32.

    11. The originating institution must not own any share capital in a company, nor may it be the beneficiary of a trust, used as an SPE for purchasing and securitizing financial assets. For this purpose, share capital includes all classes of common and preferred share capital.

    12. The originating institution's name must not be included in the name of a company or trust used as an SPE, nor may any connection be implied with the institution by, for example, using a symbol closely associated with the institution. If, however, the institution is performing a specific function for a particular transaction or transactions (e.g. collecting and transmitting payments or providing enhancement), this may be indicated in the offering circular (subject to the Name Use Regulations).

    13. The originating institution must not have any of its directors, officers or employees on the board of directors of a company used as an SPE, unless the SPE's board has at least three members. Where the board consists of three or more members, the institution may not have more than one director. Where the SPE is a trust, the beneficiary and the indenture trustee and/or the issuer trustee must be third parties independent of the institution.

    14. The originating institution does not lend to the SPE on a subordinated basis. An exception to this criterion is available if the subordinated loan is provided by an institution to an SPE to cover initial transaction or set-up costs. Such a loan may be risk-weighted 1250% as long as the loan is capped at its original amount; amortized over the life of the securities issued by the SPE; and the loan is not available as a form of enhancement to the assets or securities issued.

    15. The institution must not support, except as provided elsewhere in this guideline, any losses suffered by the SPE, or investors in it, or bear any of the recurring expenses of the SPE.

    [Basel Framework, CRE 40.24]

6.3.2. Operational requirements for synthetic securitizations

  1. For synthetic securitizations, the use of credit risk mitigation (CRM) techniques (i.e. collateral, guarantees and credit derivatives) for hedging the underlying exposure may be recognized for risk-based capital purposes only if the conditions outlined below are satisfied:

    1. Credit risk mitigants must comply with the requirements as set out in section 4.3 of this guideline.
    2. Eligible collateral is limited to that specified in section 4.3.3. Eligible collateral pledged by SPEs may be recognized.
    3. Eligible guarantors are defined in section 4.3.5. Institutions cannot recognize SPEs as eligible guarantors in the securitization framework.
    4. Institutions must transfer significant credit risk associated with the underlying exposure to third parties, consistent with paragraphs 29 (a) through (c).
    5. The instruments used to transfer credit risk cannot contain terms or conditions that limit the amount of credit risk transferred, such as those provided below:
      • Clauses that materially limit the credit protection or credit risk transference (e.g. an early amortization provision in a securitization of revolving credit facilities that effectively subordinates the institution's interest; significant materiality thresholds below which credit protection is deemed not to be triggered even if a credit event occurs; or clauses that allow for the termination of the protection due to deterioration in the credit quality of the underlying exposures);
      • Clauses that require the originating institution to alter the underlying exposures to improve the pool's average credit quality;
      • Clauses that increase the institutions' cost of credit protection in response to deterioration in the pool's quality;
      • Clauses that increase the yield payable to parties other than the originating institution, such as investors and third-party providers of credit enhancements, in response to a deterioration in the credit quality of the reference pool; and
      • Clauses that provide for increases in a retained first loss position or credit enhancement provided by the originating institution after the transaction's inception.
    6. An institution should obtain a legal opinion that confirms the enforceability of the contract.
    7. Clean-up calls must satisfy the conditions set out in section 6.3.4.

    [Basel Framework, CRE 40.25]

6.3.3. Operational requirements for early amortization provisions

  1. A securitization is deemed to fail the operational requirements set out in paragraphs 29 or 30 if the institution:

    1. originates/sponsors a securitization transaction that includes one or more revolving credit facilities, and
    2. the securitization transaction incorporates an early amortization or similar provision that, if triggered, would:
      1. subordinate the institution's senior or pari passu interest in the underlying revolving credit facilities to the interest of other investors;
      2. subordinate the institution's subordinated interest to an even greater degree relative to the interests of other parties; or
      3. in other ways increase the institution's exposure to losses associated with the underlying revolving credit facilities.

    [Basel Framework, CRE 40.26]

  2. If a securitization transaction meets the operational requirements set forth in paragraphs 29 and 30 and contains one of the following types of early amortization provisions, an originating institution may exclude the securitized portion of the underlying exposures associated with such a transaction from the calculation of risk-weighted assets, but must still hold regulatory capital against any securitization exposures it retains in connection with the transaction:

    1. replenishment structures where the underlying exposures do not revolve and the early amortization ends the ability of the institution to add new exposures;
    2. transactions of revolving credit facilities containing early amortization features that mimic term structures (i.e. where the risk on the underlying revolving credit facilities does not return to the originating institution) and where the early amortization provision in a securitization of revolving credit facilities does not effectively result in subordination of the originator's interest;
    3. structures where an institution securitizes one or more revolving credit facilities and where investors remain fully exposed to future drawdowns by borrowers even after an early amortization event has occurred; or
    4. the early amortization provision is solely triggered by events not related to the performance of the underlying assets or the selling institution, such as material changes in tax laws or regulations.

    [Basel Framework, CRE 40.27]

6.3.4. Operational requirements and treatment of clean-up calls

  1. For securitization transactions that include a clean-up call, no capital will be required due to the presence of a clean-up call if all the following conditions are met:

    1. the exercise of the clean-up call must not be mandatory, in form or in substance, but rather must be at the discretion of the originating institution;
    2. the clean-up call must not be structured to avoid allocating losses to credit enhancements or positions held by investors or otherwise structured to provide credit enhancement; and
    3. the clean-up call must only be exercisable when 10% or less of the original underlying portfolio, or securities issued remains, or, for synthetic securitizations, when 10% or less of the original reference portfolio value remains.

    [Basel Framework, CRE 40.28]

  2. Securitization transactions that include a clean-up call that does not meet all of the criteria stated in paragraph 33 result in a capital requirement for the originating institution. For a traditional securitization, the underlying exposures must be treated as if they were not securitized. Additionally, institutions must not recognize in regulatory capital any gain-on-sale, as defined in paragraph 41. For synthetic securitizations, the institution purchasing protection must hold capital against the entire amount of the securitized exposures as if they did not benefit from any credit protection. If a synthetic securitization incorporates a call (other than a clean-up call) that effectively terminates the transaction and the purchased credit protection on a specific date, the institution must treat the transaction in accordance with paragraph 159. [Basel Framework, CRE 40.29]

  3. If a clean-up call, when exercised, is found to serve as a credit enhancement, the exercise of the clean-up call must be considered a form of implicit support provided by the institution and must be treated in accordance with the supervisory guidance on implicit support pertaining to securitization transactions described in section 6.8. [Basel Framework, CRE 40.30]

6.4. Due diligence requirements

  1. For an institution to use the risk weight approaches of the securitization framework, it must have the information specified in paragraphs 37 to 39. Otherwise the institution must assign a 1250% risk weight to any securitization for which it cannot perform the required level of due diligence. [Basel Framework, CRE 40.31]

  2. As a general rule, an institution must, on an ongoing basis, have a comprehensive understanding of the risk characteristics of its individual securitization exposures, whether on- or off-balance sheet, as well as the risk characteristics of the pools underlying its securitization exposures. [Basel Framework, CRE 40.32]

  3. Institutions must be able to access performance information on the underlying pools on an ongoing basis in a timely manner. Such information may include, as appropriate: exposure type; percentage of loans 30, 60 and 90 days past due; default rates; prepayment rates; loans in foreclosure; property type; occupancy; average credit scope or other measures of credit worthiness; average loan-to-value ratio; and industry and geographical diversification. For resecuritizations, institutions should have information not only on the underlying securitization tranches, such as the issuer name and credit quality, but also on the characteristics and performance of the pools underlying the securitization tranches. [Basel Framework, CRE 40.33]

  4. An institution must have a thorough understanding of all structural features of a securitization transaction that would materially impact the performance of the institution's exposures to the transaction, such as the contractual waterfall and waterfall-related triggers, credit enhancements, liquidity enhancements, market value triggers, and deal-specific definitions of default. [Basel Framework, CRE 40.34]

6.5. Treatment of securitization exposures

6.5.1. Calculation of capital requirements and risk-weighted assets

  1. Regulatory capital is required for institutions' securitization exposures, including those arising from the provision of credit risk mitigants to a securitization transaction, investments in asset-backed securities, retention of a subordinated tranche, and extension of a liquidity facility or credit enhancement, as set forth in the following sections. Repurchased securitization exposures must be treated as retained securitization exposures. Institutions whose only involvement in securitization transactions is the collection of interest and principal and is under no obligation to remit funds unless received to the SPE or trustees, is not required to hold capital for performing this role. [Basel Framework, CRE 40.35]

  2. Institutions must deduct from Common Equity Tier 1 capital any increase in equity capital resulting from a securitization transaction, such as receivables associated with expected future margin income (FMI) resulting in a gain-on-sale that is recognized in regulatory capital. Similarly, credit-enhancing interest-only strips will be risk-weighted at 1250%, other unrated interest-only strips that are subject to prepayment risk will be risk-weighted at 250%, and other unrated interest-only strips that are not subject to prepayment risk will be risk-weighted at 100%, consistent with section 4.1.23 of Chapter 4. Credit risk mitigation techniques outlined in section 4.3 of Chapter 4 may be applied to interest-only strips risk-weighted as described above. Rated interest-only strips may be treated under SEC-ERBA, which is described in section 6.6.2 of this chapter. [Basel Framework, CAP 30.14]

  3. For the purposes of the expected loss (EL) provision calculation as set out section 5.7 of this guideline, securitization exposures do not contribute to the EL amount. Similarly, neither general nor specific allowancesFootnote 6 against securitization exposures or underlying assets still held on the balance sheet of the originator are to be included in the measurement of eligible allowances. However, originating institutions can offset 1250% risk-weighted securitization exposures by reducing the securitization exposure amount by the amount of their specific allowances on underlying assets of that transaction and non-refundable purchase price discounts on such underlying assets. Specific allowances on securitization exposures will be taken into account in calculating the exposure amount, as defined in paragraphs 44 and 47. General allowances on underlying securitization exposures are not to be taken into account in any calculation. [Basel Framework, CRE 40.36]

  4. The risk-weighted amount of a securitization exposure is computed by multiplying the exposure amount, as defined in paragraphs 44 and 47, by the appropriate risk weight determined in accordance with the hierarchy of approaches in paragraphs 51 to 57. Risk weight caps for senior exposures in accordance with paragraphs 134 and 135 or overall caps in accordance with paragraphs 136 to 141 may apply. Overlapping exposures will be risk-weighted as defined in paragraphs 48 to 50. [Basel Framework, CRE 40.37]

6.5.1.1. Securitization exposure amount

  1. For risk-based capital purposes, the exposure amount of a securitization exposure is the sum of the on-balance sheet amount of the exposure, or carrying value – which takes into account purchase discounts or writedowns/specific provisions taken by the institution on this securitization exposure – and the off-balance sheet exposure amount, where applicable. [Basel Framework, CRE 40.19]

  2. Securitization commitments are arrangements that obligate an institution to purchase or fund securitization exposures at a client's request, normally involving a written contract or agreement and some form of consideration, such as a commitment fee.

  3. Institutions may exempt certain securitization facilities from the definition of commitments provided that the following conditions are met:

    1. the institution receives no fees or commissions to establish or maintain the facilities;
    2. the client is required to apply to the institution for the initial and each subsequent drawdown;
    3. the institution has full authority, regardless of the fulfilment by the client of the conditions set out in the facility documentation, over the execution of each drawdown; and
    4. the institution's decision on the execution of each drawdown is only made after assessing the creditworthiness of the client immediately prior to drawdown.
  4. An institution must measure the exposure amount of its off-balance sheet securitization exposures as follows:

    • For credit risk mitigants sold or purchased by the institution, use the treatment set out in paragraphs 150 to 156.
    • For derivative contracts other than credit risk derivatives contracts, such as interest rate or currency swaps sold or purchased by the institution, use the measurement approach that the institution would use under the counterparty credit risk framework as outlined in Chapter 7 of this guideline.
    • For the undrawn portion of securitization commitments extended to a client to fund the securitization of client vehicle acquisition of assetsFootnote 7 in the securitization subject to asset eligibility criteria, use a credit conversion factor (CCF) of 40%.
    • If contractually provided for, servicers may advance cash to ensure an uninterrupted flow of payments to investors so long as the servicer is entitled to full reimbursement and this right is senior to other claims on cash flows from the underlying pool of exposures. The undrawn portion of such servicer cash advances or facilities that are unconditionally cancellable without prior notice receive a CCF of 10%.
    • For other securitization commitments that are not credit risk mitigants, use a CCF of 100%.

    [Basel Framework, CRE 40.20]

6.5.1.2. Treatment of overlapping exposures

  1. For the purpose of calculating capital requirements, an institution's exposure A that overlaps another exposure B if in all circumstances the institution will preclude any loss for the institution on exposure B by fulfilling its obligations with respect to exposure A. For example, if an institution provides full credit support to some notes and holds a portion of these notes, its full credit support obligation precludes any loss from its exposure to the notes. If an institution can verify that fulfilling its obligations with respect to exposure A will preclude a loss from its exposure to B under all circumstances, the institution does not need to calculate risk-weighted assets for its exposure to B. [Basel Framework, CRE 40.38]

  2. To arrive at an overlap, an institution may, for purposes of calculating capital requirements, split or expandFootnote 8 its exposures. For example, a liquidity facility may not be contractually required to cover defaulted assets or may not fund an ABCP programme in certain circumstances. For capital purposes, such a situation would not be regarded as an overlap to the notes issued by the ABCP conduit. However, the institution may calculate risk-weighted assets for the liquidity facility as if it were expanded (either in order to cover defaulted assets or in terms of trigger events) to preclude all losses on the notes. In such a case, the institution would only need to calculate capital requirements on the liquidity facility. [Basel Framework, CRE 40.39]

  3. Overlap could also be recognized between relevant capital charges for exposures in the trading book and capital charges for exposures in the banking book, provided that the institution is able to calculate and compare the capital charge for the relevant exposures. [Basel Framework, CRE 40.40]

6.5.2. Hierarchy of approaches

  1. Securitization exposures will be treated differently depending on the type of underlying exposures and/or type of information available to the institution. Securitization exposures to which none of the approaches laid out in paragraphs 52 to 57 can be applied must be assigned a 1250% risk weight. [Basel Framework, CRE 40.41]

6.5.2.1. Securitization exposures of IRB pools

  1. An institution must use the Securitization Internal Ratings-Based Approach (SEC-IRBA) as described in paragraphs 58 to 106 for a securitization exposure of an IRB pool as defined in paragraph 18, unless otherwise determined by OSFI. Institutions with investor or sponsor exposures to IRB pools (i.e. excluding other originator exposures) that materially benefit from excess spread may treat those exposures as SA pools, so long as the exposure is externally rated or is an exposure to an ABCP conduit that issues externally rated paper. [Basel Framework, CRE 40.42]

6.5.2.2. Securitization exposures of SA pools

  1. If an institution cannot use the SEC-IRBA, it must use the Securitization External Ratings-Based Approach (SEC-ERBA) as described in paragraphs 107 to 113 for a securitization exposure to an SA pool as defined in paragraph 21 provided that the institution has an external credit assessment that meets the operational requirements for an external credit assessment in paragraph 114 or there is an inferred rating that meets the operational requirements for inferred ratings in paragraphs 115 and 116. [Basel Framework, CRE 40.43]

  2. Institutions may use the Internal Assessment Approach (SEC-IAA) as described in paragraphs 117 to 120 for an unrated securitization exposure (e.g. liquidity facilities and credit enhancements) to an SA pool within an ABCP programme. In order to use the SEC-IAA, an institution must have OSFI approval to use the IRB approach. An institution must obtain OSFI's agreement on whether and when it can apply the SEC-IAA to its securitization exposures, especially where the institution can apply the IRB for some, but not all, underlying exposures. To ensure appropriate capital levels, OSFI may review an institution's use of the SEC-IAA. [Basel Framework, CRE 40.44]

  3. An institution that cannot use the SEC-ERBA or a SEC-IAA for its exposures to an SA pool may use the Standardized Approach (SEC-SA) as described in paragraphs 121 to 132. [Basel Framework, CRE 40.45]

6.5.2.3. Securitization exposures of mixed pools

  1. Where an institution can calculate KIRB on at least 95% of the underlying exposure amounts of a securitization, the institution must apply the SEC-IRBA calculating the capital charge for the underlying pool as:

    d × K IRB + 1 d × K SA

    where
    • d is the percentage of the exposure amount of underlying exposures for which the institution can calculate KIRB over the exposure amount of all underlying exposures; and
    • KIRB and KSA are as defined in paragraphs 59 and 122, respectively.

    [Basel Framework, CRE 40.46]

  2. Where the institution cannot calculate KIRB on at least 95% of the underlying exposures, the institution must use the hierarchy for securitization exposures of SA pools as set out in paragraphs 53 to 55. [Basel Framework, CRE 40.47]

6.6. Approaches

6.6.1. Internal Ratings-Based Approach (SEC-IRBA)

  1. To calculate capital requirements for a securitization exposure to an IRB pool, an institution must use the SEC-IRBA and the following institution-supplied inputs: the IRB capital charge had the underlying exposures not been securitized (KIRB), the tranche attachment point (A), the tranche detachment point (D) and the supervisory parameter p, as defined below. Where the only difference between exposures to a transaction is related to maturity, A and D will be the same. [Basel Framework, CRE 44.1]

6.6.1.1. Definition of KIRB

  1. KIRB is the ratio of (a) the IRB capital requirement (including the expected loss portion and, where applicable, dilution risk as discussed in section 6.6.1.4) for the underlying exposures in the pool to (b) the exposure amount of the pool (e.g. the sum of drawn amounts related to securitized exposures plus the EAD associated with undrawn commitments related to securitized exposures).Footnote 9 Footnote 10 KIRB is expressed in decimal form (e.g. a capital charge equal to 15% of the pool would be expressed as 0.15). [Basel Framework, CRE 44.2]

  2. Notwithstanding the clarification in paragraph 56 for mixed pools, quantity (a) above must be calculated in accordance with applicable minimum IRB standards as set forth in Chapter 5 of this guideline as if the exposures in the pool were held directly by the institution. This calculation should reflect the effects of any credit risk mitigant that is applied on the underlying exposures (either individually or to the entire pool), and hence benefits all of the securitization exposures. [Basel Framework, CRE 44.3]

  3. For structures involving an SPE, all of the SPE's exposures related to the securitization are to be treated as exposures in the pool. Exposures related to the securitization that should be treated as exposures in the pool could include assets in which the SPE may have invested a reserve account, such as a cash collateral account or claims against counterparties resulting from interest swaps or currency swaps. In particular, in the case of swaps other than credit derivatives, the numerator of KIRB must include the positive current market value multiplied by the risk weight of the swap provider multiplied by 8%. In contrast, the denominator should not take into account such a swap, as such a swap would not provide a credit enhancement to any tranche. The institution may exclude the SPE's exposures from the pool for capital calculation purposes if the institution can demonstrate to OSFI that the risk of the SPE's exposures does not affect the institution's securitization exposure or is immaterial (for example, because it has been mitigated). [Basel Framework, CRE 44.4]

  4. Certain best market practices can eliminate or at least significantly reduce the potential risk from a default of a swap provider. Examples of such features could be: cash collateralization of the market value in combination with an agreement of prompt additional payments in case of an increase of the market value of the swap; and minimum credit quality of the swap provider with the obligation to post collateral or present an alternative swap provider without any costs for the SPE in the event of a credit deterioration on the part of the original swap provider. If OSFI is satisfied with these risk mitigants and accepts that the contribution of these exposures to the risk of the holder of a securitization exposure is insignificant, OSFI may allow the institution to exclude these exposures from the KIRB calculation. [Basel Framework, CRE 44.4]

  5. In the case of funded synthetic securitizations, any proceeds of the issuances of credit-linked notes or other funded obligations of the SPE that serve as collateral for the repayment of the securitization exposure in question and for which the institution cannot demonstrate to OSFI that it is immaterial must be included in the calculation of KIRB if the default risk of the collateral is subject to the tranched loss allocation. As in the case of swaps other than credit derivatives, the numerator of KIRB (i.e. quantity (a)) must include the exposure amount of the collateral multiplied by its risk weight multiplied by 8%, but the denominator should be calculated without recognition of the collateral. [Basel Framework, CRE 44.5]

  6. In cases where an institution has set aside a specific provision or has a non-refundable purchase price discount on an exposure in the pool, both the IRB capital requirement and the exposure amount of the pool as defined by quantity (a) and quantity (b) in paragraph 59 must be calculated using the gross amount of the exposure without the specific provision and/or non-refundable purchase price discount. [Basel Framework, CRE 44.10]

6.6.1.2. The top-down approach to calculating KIRB for purchased receivables

  1. To calculate KIRB for any securitized exposure or portion thereof, the treatment described in paragraphs 66 to 83 may be used, if according to IRB minimum requirements:

    1. for non-retail assets, it would be an undue burden on an institution to assess the default risk of individual obligors; and
    2. for retail assets, an institution is unable to primarily rely on internal data.

    All other IRB minimum requirements must be met by the institution. [Basel Framework, CRE 44.6]

  2. OSFI may deny the use of a top-down approach for eligible purchased receivables for securitized exposures depending on the institution's compliance with minimum requirements. The top-down approach is not eligible to be applied to any pool of concentrated exposures where any single asset or group of assets lent to the same obligor represents more than 4% of the pool of assets. [Basel Framework, CRE 44.8]

  3. Eligible purchased receivables are divided into retail and corporate receivables as defined below. [Basel Framework, CRE 30.27]

  4. Purchased retail receivables, provided the purchasing institution complies with the IRB rules for retail exposures, are eligible for the top-down approach as permitted within the existing standards for retail exposures. The institution must also apply the minimum operational requirements as set forth in sections 5.6 and 5.8 of Chapter 5 of this guideline. [Basel Framework, CRE 30.28]

  5. In general, for purchased corporate receivables, institutions are expected to assess the default risk of individual obligors as specified in section 5.3.1 of Chapter 5 of this guideline consistent with the treatment of other corporate exposures. However, the top-down approach may be used for an entire securitized pool or a sub-pool, provided that the purchasing institution's programme for corporate receivables complies with both the criteria for eligible receivables and the minimum operational requirements of this approach. The use of the top-down purchased receivables treatment is limited to situations where it would be an undue burden on an institution to be subjected to the minimum requirements for the IRB approach to corporate exposures that would otherwise apply. Primarily, it is intended for receivables that are purchased for inclusion in asset-backed securitization structures, but institutions may also use this approach, with OSFI approval, for appropriate on-balance sheet exposures that share the same features. [Basel Framework, CRE 30.29]

  6. In general, for any pool or sub-pool of securitized non-retail exposures, to be eligible for the top-down approach, the following conditions must be met:

    • The assets are purchased from unrelated, third-party sellers, and as such, the institution has not originated the receivables either directly or indirectly.
    • The assets must be generated on an arm's-length basis between the seller and the obligor. As such, intercompany accounts receivable and receivables that are subject to contra-accounts between firms that buy and sell to each other are ineligible.Footnote 11
    • The institution must have a claim on all proceeds from the pool of securitized exposures that have been allocated to the institution's exposure in the securitization in accordance with the terms of the related securitization documentation.
    • If any single asset or group of assets guaranteed by the same seller represents more than 4% of the pool of assets, capital charges must be calculated using the minimum requirements for the bottom-up approach for corporate exposures.

    [Basel Framework, CRE 30.30]

  7. The existence of full or partial recourse to the seller, does not automatically disqualify an institution from adopting the top-down approach, as long as the cash flows from the non-retail assets are the primary protection against default risk as determined by paragraphs 74 to 78 and the institution meets the eligibility criteria and operational requirements. [Basel Framework, CRE 30.31]

Risk-weighted assets for default risk
  1. For receivables belonging unambiguously to one asset class, the IRB risk weight for default risk is based on the risk-weight function applicable to that particular exposure type, as long as the institution can meet the qualification standards for this particular risk-weight function. For example, if institutions cannot comply with the standards for qualifying revolving retail exposures (defined in section 5.2.1 (vi) of Chapter 5 of this guideline), they should use the risk-weight function for other retail exposures. For hybrid pools containing mixtures of exposure types, if the purchasing institution cannot separate the exposures by type, the risk-weight function producing the highest capital requirements for the exposure types in the receivable pool applies. [Basel Framework, CRE 34.2]

  2. For purchased retail receivables, an institution must meet the risk quantification standards for retail exposures but can utilize external and internal reference data to estimate the PDs and LGDs. The estimates for PD and LGD (or EL) must be calculated for the receivables on a stand-alone basis; that is, without regard to any assumption of recourse or guarantees from the seller or other parties. If the purchasing institution is able to determine an expected long-run loss rate (EL), but not reliable estimates for PD or LGD, then a PD for the pool may be estimated by assuming an LGD of 100%. The expected long-run loss rate used to determine the PD in this way must contain sufficient conservatism consistent with section 5.8.6 (i) of Chapter 5 of this guideline. [Basel Framework, CRE 34.3]

  3. For purchased corporate receivables the purchasing institution is expected to apply the existing IRB risk quantification standards for the bottom-up approach. However, for eligible purchased corporate receivables, and subject to OSFI permission, an institution may employ the following top-down procedure for calculating IRB risk weights for default risk:

    • The purchasing institution will estimate the pool's one-year EL for default risk, expressed in percentage of the exposure amount (i.e. the total EAD amount to the institution by all obligors in the receivables pool). The estimated EL must be calculated for the receivables on a stand-alone basis; that is, without regard to any assumption of recourse or guarantees from the seller or other parties. The treatment of recourse or guarantees covering default risk (and/or dilution risk) is discussed in paragraph 79 below.
    • Given the EL estimate for the pool's default losses, the risk weight for default risk is determined by the risk-weight function for corporate exposures.Footnote 12 As described below, the precise calculation of risk weights for default risk depends on the institution's ability to decompose EL into its PD and LGD components in a reliable manner. Institutions can utilize external and internal data to estimate PDs and LGDs. However, the advanced approach will not be available for institutions that use the foundation approach for corporate exposures. [Basel Framework, CRE 34.4]
Foundation IRB treatment
  1. If the purchasing institution is unable to decompose EL into its PD and LGD components in a reliable manner, the risk weight is determined from the corporate risk-weight function using the following specifications:

    1. if the institution can demonstrate that the exposures are exclusively senior claims to corporate borrowers:
      1. An LGD of 40% can be used.
      2. PD will be calculated by dividing the EL using this LGD.
      3. EAD will be calculated as the outstanding amount minus the capital charge for dilution prior to credit risk mitigation (KDilution).
      4. EAD for a revolving purchase facility is the sum of the current amount of receivables purchased plus 40% of any undrawn purchase commitments minus KDilution.
    2. If the institution cannot demonstrate that the exposures are exclusively senior claims to corporate borrowers:
      1. PD is the institution's estimate of EL.
      2. LGD will be 100%.
      3. EAD will be calculated as outstanding amount minus KDilution.
      4. EAD for a revolving purchase facility is the sum of the current amount of receivables purchased plus 40% of any undrawn purchase commitments minus KDilution.

    [Basel Framework, CRE 34.5]

  2. If the purchasing institution is able to estimate PD in a reliable manner, the risk weight is determined from the corporate risk-weight functions according to the specifications for LGD, M and the treatment of guarantees under the foundation approach as given in Chapter 5 – Internal Ratings Based Approach section 5.4.1. [Basel Framework, CRE 34.5]

Advanced IRB treatment
  1. If the purchasing institution can estimate either the pool's default-weighted average loss rates given default (as defined in section 5.8.6 (vii) of Chapter 5) or average PD in a reliable manner, the institution may estimate the other parameter based on an estimate of the expected long-run loss rate. The institution may (i) use an appropriate PD estimate to infer the long-run default-weighted average loss rate given default, or (ii) use a long-run default-weighted average loss rate given default to infer the appropriate PD. In either case, it is important to recognize that the LGD used for the IRB capital calculation for purchased receivables cannot be less than the long-run default-weighted average loss rate given default and must be consistent with the concepts defined in section 5.8.6 (vii) of Chapter 5. The risk weight for the purchased receivables will be determined using the institution's estimated PD and LGD as inputs to the corporate risk-weight function. If the purchasing institution is unable to estimate LGD in a reliable manner that is consistent with the concepts defined in section 5.8.6 (vii) of Chapter 5, an LGD of 100% must be used. Similar to the foundation IRB treatment, EAD will be the amount outstanding minus KDilution. EAD for a revolving purchase facility will be the sum of the current amount of receivables purchased plus 75% of any undrawn purchase commitments minus KDilution (thus, institutions using the advanced IRB approach will not be permitted to use their internal EAD estimates for securitized undrawn purchase commitments). [Basel Framework, CRE 34.6]

  2. For drawn amounts, M will equal the pool's exposure-weighted average effective maturity (as defined in section 5.4.1 (iv) of Chapter 5 of this guideline). This same value of M will also be used for undrawn amounts under a committed purchase facility provided the facility contains effective covenants, early amortization triggers, or other features that protect the purchasing institution against a significant deterioration in the quality of the future receivables it is required to purchase over the facility's term. Absent such effective protections, the M for undrawn amounts will be calculated as the sum of (a) the longest-dated potential receivable under the purchase agreement and (b) the remaining maturity of the purchase facility. [Basel Framework, CRE 34.7]

  3. Credit risk mitigants will be recognized generally using the same type of framework as set forth in Chapter 5 of this guideline. In particular, a guarantee provided by the seller or a third party will be treated using the existing IRB rules for guarantees, regardless of whether the guarantee covers default risk, dilution risk, or both.

    • If the guarantee covers both the pool's default risk and dilution risk, the institution will substitute the risk weight for an exposure to the guarantor in place of the pool's total risk weight for default and dilution risk.

    • If the guarantee covers only default risk or dilution risk, but not both, the institution will substitute the risk weight for an exposure to the guarantor in place of the pool's risk weight for the corresponding risk component (default or dilution). The capital requirement for the other component will then be added.

    • If a guarantee covers only a portion of the default and/or dilution risk, the uncovered portion of the default and/or dilution risk will be treated as per the existing CRM rules for proportional or tranched coverage (i.e. the risk weights of the uncovered risk components will be added to the risk weights of the covered risk components).

    [Basel Framework, CRE 34.12]

Adjustment criteria
  1. An institution must have clearly specified criteria surrounding the allocation of exposures to pools to reflect the impact of guarantees for regulatory capital purposes. These criteria must be as detailed as the criteria for assigning exposures to grades consistent with section 5.8.3 (iii) of Chapter 5 of this guideline, and must follow all minimum requirements for assigning borrower or facility ratings set out in this guideline. [Basel Framework, CRE 36.107]

  2. In allocating exposures to pools, institutions must take all relevant available information into account. [Basel Framework, CRE 36.109]

Requirements specific to estimating PD and LGD (or EL) for qualifying securitized exposures
  1. The following minimum requirements for risk quantification must be satisfied for any securitized exposure (retail or non-retail) making use of the top-down treatment of default risk and/or the IRB treatments of dilution risk. [Basel Framework, CRE 36.113]

  2. The institution calculating KIRB will be required to group the securitized assets into sufficiently homogeneous pools so that accurate and consistent estimates of PD and LGD (or EL) for default losses and EL estimates of dilution losses can be determined. In general, the risk bucketing process will reflect the seller's underwriting practices and the heterogeneity of its customers. In addition, methods and data for estimating PD, LGD, and EL must comply with the existing risk quantification standards for retail exposures. In particular, quantification should reflect all information available to the institution calculating KIRB regarding the quality of the underlying receivables, including data for similar pools provided by the seller, by the institution calculating KIRB, or by external sources. The institution calculating KIRB must determine whether the data provided by the seller are consistent with expectations agreed upon by both parties concerning, for example, the type, volume and on-going quality of receivables purchased. Where this is not the case, the institution calculating KIRB is expected to obtain and rely upon more relevant data. [Basel Framework, CRE 36.114]

6.6.1.3. Minimum operational requirements for the top-down approach

  1. An institution calculating KIRB has to justify confidence that current and future advances can be repaid from the liquidation of (or collections against) the receivables pool. To qualify for the top-down treatment of default risk, the receivable pool and overall lending relationship should be closely monitored and controlled. Specifically, an institution will have to demonstrate:

    1. Legal certainty (see paragraph 85).
    2. Effectiveness of monitoring systems (see paragraph 86).
    3. Effectiveness of work-out systems (see paragraph 87).
    4. Effectiveness of systems for controlling collateral, credit availability, and cash (see paragraph 88).
    5. Compliance with the institution's internal policies and procedures (see paragraphs 89 and 90).

    [Basel Framework, CRE 36.115]

Legal certainty
  1. The structure of the facility must ensure that under all foreseeable circumstances the institution has effective ownership and control of the cash remittances from the receivables, including incidences of seller or servicer distress and bankruptcy. When the obligor makes payments directly to a seller or servicer, the institution must verify regularly that payments are forwarded completely and within the contractually agreed terms. As well, ownership over the receivables and cash receipts should be protected against bankruptcy 'stays' or legal challenges that could materially delay the lender's ability to liquidate/assign the receivables or retain control over cash receipts. [Basel Framework, CRE 36.116]

Effectiveness of monitoring systems
  1. The institution must be able to monitor both the quality of the receivables and the financial condition of the seller and servicer. In particular:

    • The institution must:
      • assess the correlation among the quality of the receivables and the financial condition of both the seller and servicer, and
      • have in place internal policies and procedures that provide adequate safeguards to protect against such contingencies, including the assignment of an internal risk rating for each seller and servicer.
    • The institution must have clear and effective policies and procedures for determining seller and servicer eligibility. The institution or its agent must conduct periodic reviews of sellers and servicers in order to verify the accuracy of reports from the seller/servicer, detect fraud or operational weaknesses, and verify the quality of the seller's credit policies and servicer's collection policies and procedures. The findings of these reviews must be well documented.
    • The institution must have the ability to assess the characteristics of the receivables pool, including
      • over-advances;
      • history of the seller's arrears, bad debts, and bad debt allowances;
      • payment terms; and
      • potential contra accounts.
    • The institution must have effective policies and procedures for monitoring on an aggregate basis single-obligor concentrations both within and across receivables pools.
    • The institution must receive timely and sufficiently detailed reports of receivables ageings and dilutions to:
      • (a) ensure compliance with the institution's eligibility criteria and advancing policies governing purchased receivables; and
      • provide an effective means with which to monitor and confirm the seller's terms of sale (e.g. invoice date ageing) and dilution.

    [Basel Framework, CRE 36.117]

Effectiveness of work-out systems
  1. An effective programme requires systems and procedures not only for detecting deterioration in the seller's financial condition and deterioration in the quality of the receivables at an early stage, but also for addressing emerging problems pro-actively. In particular,

    • The securitization structure should have clear and effective policies, procedures, and information systems to monitor compliance with (a) all contractual terms of the facility (including covenants, advancing formulas, concentration limits, early amortization triggers, etc.) as well as (b) the institution's internal policies governing advance rates and receivables eligibility. The institution's systems should track covenant violations and waivers as well as exceptions to established policies and procedures.
    • To limit inappropriate draws, the institution should have effective policies and procedures for detecting, approving, monitoring, and correcting over-advances.
    • The institution should have effective policies and procedures for dealing with financially weakened sellers or servicers and/or deterioration in the quality of receivable pools. These include, but are not necessarily limited to, early termination triggers in revolving facilities and other covenant protections, a structured and disciplined approach to dealing with covenant violations, and clear and effective policies and procedures for initiating legal actions and dealing with problem receivables.

    [Basel Framework, CRE 36.118]

Effectiveness of systems for controlling collateral, credit availability, and cash

[Basel Framework, CRE 36.119]

  1. The institution must have clear and effective policies and procedures governing the control of receivables, credit, and cash. In particular,

    • Written internal policies must specify all material elements of the receivables purchase programme, including the advancing rates, eligible collateral, necessary documentation, concentration limits, and how cash receipts are to be handled. These elements should take appropriate account of all relevant and material factors, including the seller's/servicer's financial condition, risk concentrations, and trends in the quality of the receivables and the seller's customer base.
    • Internal systems must ensure that funds are advanced only against specified supporting collateral and documentation (such as servicer attestations, invoices, shipping documents, etc.)
Compliance with the institution's internal policies and procedures
  1. Given the reliance on monitoring and control systems to limit credit risk, the institution should have an effective internal process for assessing compliance with all critical policies and procedures, including

    • Regular internal and/or external audits of all critical phases of the institution's receivables purchase programme.
    • Verification of the separation of duties (i) between the assessment of the seller/servicer and the assessment of the obligor and (ii) between the assessment of the seller/servicer and the field audit of the seller/servicer.

    [Basel Framework, CRE 36.120]

  2. An institution's effective internal process for assessing compliance with all critical policies and procedures should also include evaluations of back-office operations, with particular focus on qualifications, experience, staffing levels, and supporting systems. [Basel Framework, CRE 36.121]

  3. If an institution cannot meet the requirements in paragraphs 85 to 89, it must instead ensure that it meets these requirements through a party to the securitization acting for and in the interest of the investors in the securitization, in accordance with the terms of the related securitization documents. Specifically, requirements for effective control and ownership must be met for all proceeds from the pool of securitized exposures that have been allocated to the institution's exposure to the securitization. [Basel Framework, CRE 44.9]

6.6.1.4. Treatment of dilution risk

  1. Dilution risk in a securitization must be recognized if it is material, as demonstrated by the institution to OSFI (see section 5.6.2 of Chapter 5), whereby the provisions of paragraphs 59 to 63 shall apply. [Basel Framework, CRE 44.11]

  2. Where default and dilution risk are treated in an aggregate manner (e.g. an identical reserve or overcollateralization is available to cover losses for both risks), in order to calculate capital requirements for the securitization exposure, an institution must determine KIRB for dilution risk and default risk, respectively, and combine them into a single KIRB prior to applying the SEC-IRBA. Appendix 6-3.A provides an illustration of such a calculation. [Basel Framework, CRE 44.12]

  3. In certain circumstances, pool level credit enhancement will not be available to cover losses from either credit risk or dilution risk. In the case of separate waterfalls for credit risk and dilution risk, an institution should refer to Appendix 6-3.B which includes an example of how such calculations could be performed in a prudent manner. [Basel Framework, CRE 44.13]

6.6.1.5. Definition of attachment point (A) and detachment point (D)

  1. The input A represents the threshold at which losses within the underlying pool would first be allocated to the securitization exposure. This input, which is a decimal value between zero and one, equals the greater of:

    1. zero; and
    2. the ratio of:
      1. the outstanding balance of all underlying assets in the securitization minus the outstanding balance of all tranches that rank senior or pari passu to the tranche that contains the securitization exposure of the institution (including the exposure itself) to
      2. the outstanding balance of all underlying assets in the securitization (including any over-collateralization).

    [Basel Framework, CRE 44.14]

  1. The input D represents the threshold at which losses within the underlying pool result in a total loss of principal for the tranche in which a securitization exposure resides. This input, which is a decimal value between zero and one, equals the greater of (a) zero and (b) the ratio of (i) the outstanding balance of all underlying assets in the securitization minus the outstanding balance of all tranches that rank senior to the tranche that contains the securitization exposure of the institution to (ii) the outstanding balance of all underlying assets in the securitization (including any over-collateralization). [Basel Framework, CRE 44.15]

  2. For the calculation of A and D: (i) overcollateralization and funded reserve accounts must be recognized as tranches; and (ii) the assets forming these reserve accounts must be recognized as underlying assets. Only the loss-absorbing part of the funded reserve accounts that provide credit enhancement can be recognized as tranches and underlying assets. Unfunded reserve accounts, such as those to be funded from future receipts from the underlying exposures (e.g. unrealized excess spread) and assets that do not provide credit enhancement like pure liquidity support, currency or interest-rate swaps, or cash collateral accounts related to these instruments must not be included in the above calculation of A and D. Institutions should take into consideration the economic substance of the transaction and apply these definitions conservatively in the light of the structure. [Basel Framework, CRE 44.16]

6.6.1.6. Formulation of supervisory parameter (p)

  1. The supervisory parameter p in the context of the SEC-IRBA is as follows:

    p = max 0 . 3 , A + B N + C × K IRB + D × LGD + E × M T ,

    where:

    • 0.3 denotes the p-parameter floor;
    • N is the effective number of loans in the underlying pool, calculated as described in paragraph 101;
    • KIRB is the capital charge of the underlying pool (as defined in paragraph 59);
    • LGD is the exposure-weighted average loss given default of the underlying pool, calculated as described in paragraph 102);
    • MT is the maturity of the tranche calculated according to paragraphs 26 and 27; and
    • the parameters A, B, C, D, and E are determined according to the following look-up table:
    Parameters to determine supervisory parameter p
    Asset class Seniority / granularity A B C D E
    Wholesale Senior, granular (N>= 25) 0 3.56 -1.85 0.55 0.07
    Senior, non-granular (N< 25) 0.11 2.61 -2.91 0.68 0.07
    Non-senior, granular (N>= 25) 0.16 2.87 -1.03 0.21 0.07
    Non-senior, non-granular (N< 25) 0.22 2.35 -2.46 0.48 0.07
    Retail Senior 0 0 -7.48 0.71 0.24
    Non-Senior 0 0 -5.78 0.55 0.27

    [Basel Framework, CRE 44.17]

  2. If the underlying IRB pool consists of retail and wholesale exposures, the pool should be divided into one retail and one wholesale subpool and, for each subpool, a separate p-parameter (and the corresponding input parameters N, KIRB and LGD) should be estimated. Subsequently, a weighted average p-parameter for the transaction should be calculated on the basis of the p-parameters of each subpool and the nominal size of the exposures in each subpool. [Basel Framework, CRE 44.18]

  3. If an institution applies the SEC-IRBA to a mixed pool as described in paragraph 56, the calculation of the p-parameter should be based on the IRB underlying assets only. The SA underlying assets should not be considered for this purpose. [Basel Framework, CRE 44.19]

6.6.1.7. Calculation of effective number of exposures (N)

  1. The effective number of exposures is calculated as:

    N = i EAD i 2 i EAD i 2

    where EADi represents the exposure at default associated with the ith instrument in the pool.

    Multiple exposures to the same obligor must be consolidated (i.e. treated as a single instrument). [Basel Framework, CRE 44.20]

6.6.1.8. Calculation of exposure-weighted average LGD

  1. The exposure-weighted average LGD is calculated as follows:

    LGD = i LGD i × EAD i i EAD i

    where LGDi represents the average LGD associated with all exposures to the ith obligor. When default and dilution risks for purchased receivables are treated in an aggregate manner (e.g. a single reserve or overcollateralization is available to cover losses from either source) within a securitization, the LGD input must be constructed as a weighted average of the LGD for default risk and the 100% LGD for dilution risk. The weights are the stand-alone IRB capital charges for default risk and dilution risk, respectively. [Basel Framework, CRE 44.21]

6.6.1.9. Simplified method for computing N and LGD

  1. Under the conditions outlined below, institutions may employ a simplified method for calculating the effective number of exposures and the exposure-weighted average LGD. Let Cm in the simplified calculation denote the share of the pool corresponding to the sum of the largest m exposures (e.g. a 15% share corresponds to a value of 0.15). The level of m is set by each institution.

    • If the share of the pool associated with the largest exposure, C1, is no more than 0.03 (or 3%), then for purposes of the SEC-IRBA the institution may set LGD as 0.50 and N equal to the following amount:

      N = C 1 × C m + C m C 1 × max 1 m × C 1 , 0 m 1 - 1

    • Alternatively, if only C1 is available and this amount is no more than 0.03, then the institution may set LGD as 0.50 and N as 1/C1.

    [Basel Framework, CRE 44.22]

6.6.1.10. Calculation of risk weight

  1. The formulation of the SEC-IRBA is as follows:

    K SEC - IRBA = e a × u - e a × l a ( u - l )

    Where K SEC - IRBA is the capital requirement per unit of securitization exposure under the SEC-IRBA is a function of three variables, labelled a, u and l. The constant e is the base of the natural logarithms (which equals 2.71828). The variables a, u and l are defined as follows:

    a = - 1 p × K IRB

    u = D K IRB

    l = max ( A K IRB , 0 )

    [Basel Framework, CRE 44.23]

  2. The risk weight assigned to a securitization exposure when applying the SEC-IRBA is calculated as follows:

    • When D for a securitization exposure is less than or equal to KIRB, the exposure must be assigned a risk weight of 1,250%.
    • When A for a securitization exposure is greater than or equal to KIRB, the risk weight of the exposure, expressed as a percentage, would equal KSEC-IRBA multiplied by 12.5.
    • When A is less than KIRB and D is greater than KIRB, the applicable risk weight is a weighted average of 1,250% and 12.5 multiplied by KSEC-IRBA according to the following formula:

    RW = 12.5 × K IRB A D A + D K IRB × 12.5 × K SEC-IRBA D A

    The risk weight for market risk hedges such as currency or interest rate swaps will be inferred from a securitization exposure that is pari passu to the swaps or, if such an exposure does not exist, from the next subordinated tranche. [Basel Framework, CRE 44.25]

  3. The resulting risk weight is subject to a floor risk weight of 15%. [Basel Framework, CRE 44.26]

6.6.2. External Ratings-Based Approach (SEC-ERBA)

  1. For a securitization exposure that is externally rated, or for which an inferred rating is available, risk-weighted assets under the SEC-ERBA will be determined by multiplying securitization exposure amounts (as defined in paragraph 44 and 47) by the appropriate risk weights as determined by paragraphs 108 to 113, provided that the operational criteria in sections 6.6.2.3 and 6.6.2.4 are met.Footnote 13 [Basel Framework, CRE 42.1]

6.6.2.1. Short-term ratings

[Basel Framework, CRE 42.2]

  1. For exposures with a short-term rating, or when an inferred rating based on a short-term rating is available, the following risk weights will apply:

    Table 1: SEC-ERBA risk weights for short-term ratings
    blank External credit assessment
    A–1/P–1 A–2/P–2 A–3/P–3 All other ratings
    Risk weight 15% 50% 100% 1250%

6.6.2.2. Long-term ratings

[Basel Framework, CRE 42.4]

  1. For exposures with a long-term rating, or when an inferred rating based on a long-term rating is available, the risk weights depend on (i) the external rating grade or an available inferred rating; (ii) the seniority of the position; (iii) the tranche maturity; and (iv) in the case of non-senior tranches, the tranche thickness. [Basel Framework, CRE 42.3]

  2. Specifically, for exposures with a long-term rating, risk weights will be determined according to Table 2 and will be adjusted for tranche maturity (calculated according to paragraphs 26 and 27), and tranche thickness for non-senior tranches according to paragraph 111.

    Table 2: SEC-ERBA risk weights for long-term ratings
    Rating Senior tranche
    Tranche maturity (MT)
    Non-senior (thin) tranche
    Tranche maturity (MT)
    1 year 5 years 1 year 5 years
    AAA 15% 20% 15% 70%
    AA+ 15% 30% 15% 90%
    AA 25% 40% 30% 120%
    AA- 30% 45% 40% 140%
    A+ 40% 50% 60% 160%
    A 50% 65% 80% 180%
    A- 60% 70% 120% 210%
    BBB+ 75% 90% 170% 260%
    BBB 90% 105% 220% 310%
    BBB- 120% 140% 330% 420%
    BB+ 140% 160% 470% 580%
    BB 160% 180% 620% 760%
    BB- 200% 225% 750% 860%
    B+ 250% 280% 900% 950%
    B 310% 340% 1050% 1050%
    B- 380% 420% 1130% 1130%
    CCC+/CCC/CCC- 460% 505% 1250% 1250%
    Below CCC- 1250% 1250% 1250% 1250%
  1. The risk weight assigned to a securitization exposure when applying the SEC-ERBA is calculated as follows:

    • To account for tranche maturity, institutions shall use linear interpolation between the risk weights for one and five years.
    • To account for tranche thickness, institutions shall calculate the risk weight for non-senior tranches as follows:

    Risk weight = risk weight from table after adjusting for maturity × 1 min T , 50 %

    where T equals tranche thickness, and is measured as D minus A, as defined, respectively, in paragraphs 95 and 96. [Basel Framework, CRE 42.5]

  2. In the case of market risk hedges such as currency or interest rate swaps, the risk weight will be inferred from a securitization exposure that is pari passu to the swaps or, if such an exposure does not exist, from the next subordinated tranche. [Basel Framework, CRE 42.6]

  3. The resulting risk weight is subject to a floor risk weight of 15%. In addition, the resulting risk weight should never be lower than the risk weight corresponding to a senior tranche of the same securitization with the same rating and maturity. [Basel Framework, CRE 42.7]

6.6.2.3. Operational requirements for external credit assessments

[Basel Framework, CRE 42.8]

  1. The following operational criteria concerning the use of external credit assessments apply in the securitization framework:

    1. To be eligible for risk-weighting purposes, the external credit assessment must take into account and reflect the entire amount of credit risk the institution is exposed to including all payments owed to it. For example, if an institution is owed both principal and interest, the assessment must fully take into account and reflect the credit risk associated with timely repayment of both principal and interest.

    2. The external credit assessments must be from an eligible ECAI as recognized by OSFI in accordance with section 4.2 of Chapter 4 of this guideline with the following exception. In contrast with bullet three of paragraph 169 of Chapter 4, an eligible credit assessment, procedures, methodologies, assumptions, and the key elements underlining the assessments must be publicly available, on a non-selective basis and free of charge.Footnote 14 In other words, a rating must be published in an accessible form and included in the ECAI's transition matrix. Also, loss and cash-flow analysis as well as sensitivity of ratings to changes in the underlying rating assumptions should be publicly available. Consequently, ratings that are made available only to the parties to a transaction do not satisfy this requirement.

    3. Eligible ECAIs must have a demonstrated expertise in assessing securitizations, which may be evidenced by strong market acceptance.

    4. Where two or more eligible ECAIs can be used and these assess the credit risk of the same securitization exposure differently, section 4.2.3.2 of Chapter 4 will apply.

    5. Institutions will not be allowed to "cherry-pick" the assessments provided by different ECAIs and may not arbitrarily change the use of ECAIs, consistent with paragraph 176 of Chapter 4 of this guideline. Further to this, an institution, party to the rating agency selection process, that selects a junior tranche to be rated by an ECAI and does not select that same ECAI to rate the senior rated tranche of the securitization will be seen as cherry-picking, and that junior tranche will be required to be treated as if it were unrated by that ECAI. Ratings on junior securitization tranches may be used:

      1. in cases where the ECAI rating the junior tranche also rates the senior rated tranche,
      2. in cases where the senior tranche is unrated, and
      3. in all cases where the institution is not party to the rating agency selection process.
    6. Where CRM is provided to specific underlying exposures or the entire pool by an eligible guarantor as defined in section 4.3.5 (v) of Chapter 4 of this guideline, and is reflected in the external credit assessment assigned to a securitization exposure(s), the risk weight associated with that external credit assessment should be used. In order to avoid any double counting, no additional capital recognition is permitted. If the CRM provider is not recognized as an eligible guarantor under section 4.3.5 (v) of Chapter 4 the covered securitization exposures should be treated as unrated.

    7. In the situation where a credit risk mitigant solely protects a specific securitization exposure within a given structure (e.g. asset-backed security tranche) and this protection is reflected in the external credit assessment, the institution must treat the exposure as if it is unrated and then apply the CRM treatment outlined in section 4.3 of Chapter 4, to recognize the hedge.

    8. An institution is not permitted to use any external credit assessment for risk-weighting purposes where the assessment is at least partly based on unfunded support provided by the institution. For example, if an institution buys ABCP where it provides an unfunded securitization exposure extended to the ABCP programme (e.g. liquidity facility or credit enhancement), and that unfunded exposure plays a role in determining the credit assessment on the ABCP, the institution must treat the ABCP as if it were not rated. The institution must continue to hold capital against the other securitization exposure it provides (e.g. against the liquidity facility and/or credit enhancement).

6.6.2.4. Operational requirements for inferred ratings

[Basel Framework, CRE 42.10]

  1. In accordance with the hierarchy of approaches determined in paragraphs 51 to 56, an institution must infer a rating for an unrated position and use the SEC-ERBA provided that the requirements set out in paragraph 116 are met. These requirements are intended to ensure that the unrated position is senior in all respects to an externally rated securitization exposure termed the "reference securitization exposure". The application of an inferred rating means that the external rating applicable to the "reference securitization exposure" will be applied to the senior unrated position. [Basel Framework, CRE 42.9]

  2. The following operational requirements must be satisfied to recognize inferred ratings.

    1. The reference securitization exposure (e.g. asset-backed subsidiary) must rank pari passu or be subordinate in all respects to the unrated securitization exposure. Credit enhancements, if any, must be taken into account when assessing the relative subordination of the unrated exposure and the reference securitization exposure. For example, if the reference securitization exposure benefits from any third-party guarantees or other credit enhancements that are not available to the unrated exposure, then the latter cannot be assigned an inferred rating based on the reference securitization exposure.
    2. The maturity of the reference securitization exposure must be equal to or longer than that of the unrated exposure.
    3. On an ongoing basis, any inferred rating must be updated continuously to reflect any subordination of the unrated position or changes in the external rating of the reference securitization exposure.
    4. The external rating of the reference securitization exposure must satisfy the general requirements for recognition of external ratings as delineated in paragraph 114.

6.6.3. Internal Assessment Approach (SEC-IAA)

  1. Subject to OSFI agreement, an institution may use its internal assessments of the credit quality of the securitization exposures extended to ABCP programmes (e.g. liquidity facilities and credit enhancements) provided the institution's internal assessment process meets the operational requirements set out below. Internal assessments of exposures provided to ABCP programmes must be mapped to equivalent external ratings of an ECAI. Those rating equivalents are used to determine the appropriate risk weights under the SEC-ERBA for the exposures. [Basel Framework, CRE 43.1]

  2. An institution's internal assessment process must meet the following operational requirements in order to use internal assessments in determining the IRB capital requirement arising from liquidity facilities, credit enhancements, or other exposures extended to an ABCP programme.

    1. For the unrated exposure to qualify for the SEC-IAA, the ABCP must be externally rated. The ABCP itself is subject to the SEC-ERBA.

    2. The internal assessment of the credit quality of a securitization exposure to the ABCP programme must be based on a recognized ECAI criteria and methodology for the asset type purchased and must be the equivalent of at least investment grade when initially assigned to an exposure. In addition, the internal assessment must be used in the institution's internal risk management processes, including management information and economic capital systems, and generally must meet all the relevant requirements of the IRB framework.

    3. In order for institutions to use the SEC-IAA, OSFI must be satisfied (i) that the ECAI meets the ECAI eligibility criteria outlined in section 4.2 of Chapter 4 of this guideline and (ii) with the ECAI rating methodologies used in the process. In addition, institutions must document and maintain the necessary records in order to be able to demonstrate to the satisfaction of OSFI how these internal assessments correspond with the relevant ECAI's standards.

      For instance, when calculating the credit enhancement level in the context of the SEC-IAA, OSFI may, if warranted, disallow on a full or partial basis any seller-provided recourse guarantees or excess spread, or any other first loss credit enhancements that provide limited protection to the institution.

    4. The institution's internal assessment process must identify gradations of risk. Internal assessments must correspond to the external ratings of ECAIs so that OSFI can determine which internal assessment corresponds to each external rating category of the ECAIs.

    5. The institution's internal assessment process, particularly the stress factors for determining credit enhancement requirements, must be at least as conservative as the publicly available rating criteria of the major ECAIs that are externally rating the ABCP programme's commercial paper for the asset type being purchased by the programme. However, institutions should consider, to some extent, all publicly available ECAI ratings methodologies in developing their internal assessments.

      • In the case where (i) the commercial paper issued by an ABCP programme is externally rated by two or more ECAIs and (ii) the different ECAIs' benchmark stress factors require different levels of credit enhancement to achieve the same external rating equivalent, the institution must apply the ECAI stress factor that requires the most conservative or highest level of credit protection. For example, if one ECAI required enhancement of 2.5 to 3.5 times historical losses for an asset type to obtain a single A rating equivalent and another required 2 to 3 times historical losses, the institution must use the higher range of stress factors in determining the appropriate level of seller-provided credit enhancement.

      • To externally rate the institution's exposure, an institution must not choose to apply the methodologies of only those ECAIs that generally have relatively less restrictive rating methodologies. In addition, if there are changes in the methodology of one of the selected ECAIs, including the stress factors, that adversely affect the external rating of the programme's commercial paper, then the revised rating methodology must be considered in evaluating whether the internal assessments assigned to ABCP programme exposures are in need of revision.

      • An institution cannot utilize an ECAI's rating methodology to derive an internal assessment if the ECAI's process or rating criteria is not publicly available. However, institutions should consider the non-publicly available methodology – to the extent that they have access to such information ─ in developing their internal assessments, particularly if it is more conservative than the publicly available criteria.

      • In general, if the ECAI rating methodologies for an asset or exposure are not publicly available, then the SEC-IAA cannot be used. However, in certain instances, for example, for new or uniquely structured transactions, which are not currently addressed by the rating criteria of an ECAI rating the programme's commercial paper, an institution may discuss the specific transaction with OSFI to determine whether the SEC-IAA may be applied to the related exposures.

    6. Internal or external auditors, an ECAI, or the institution's internal credit review or risk management function must perform regular reviews of the internal assessment process and assess the validity of those internal assessments. If the institution's internal audit, credit review, or risk management functions perform the reviews of the internal assessment process, then these functions must be independent of the ABCP programme business line, as well as the underlying customer relationships.

    7. The institution must track the performance of its internal assessments over time to evaluate the performance of the assigned internal assessments and make adjustments, as necessary, to its assessment process when the performance of the exposures routinely diverges from the assigned internal assessments on those exposures.

    8. The ABCP programme must have credit and investment guidelines, i.e. underwriting standards, for the ABCP programme. In the consideration of an asset purchase, the ABCP programme (i.e. the programme administrator) should develop an outline of the structure of the purchase transaction. Factors that should be discussed include the type of asset being purchased; type and monetary value of the exposures arising from the provision of liquidity facilities and credit enhancements; loss waterfall; and legal and economic isolation of the transferred assets from the entity selling the assets.

    9. A credit analysis of the asset seller's risk profile must be performed and should consider, for example, past and expected future financial performance; current market position; expected future competitiveness; leverage, cash flow, and interest coverage; and debt rating. In addition, a review of the seller's underwriting standards, servicing capabilities, and collection processes should be performed.

    10. The ABCP programme's underwriting policy must establish minimum asset eligibility criteria that, among other things,

      • exclude the purchase of assets that are significantly past due or defaulted;
      • limit excess concentration to individual obligor or geographic area; and
      • limit the tenor of the assets to be purchased.
    11. The ABCP programme should have collections processes established that consider the operational capability and credit quality of the servicer. The programme should mitigate to the extent possible seller/servicer risk through various methods, such as triggers based on current credit quality that would preclude co-mingling of funds and impose lockbox arrangements that would help ensure the continuity of payments to the ABCP programme.

    12. The aggregate estimate of loss on an asset pool that the ABCP programme is considering purchasing must consider all sources of potential risk, such as credit and dilution risk. If the seller-provided credit enhancement is sized based on only credit-related losses, then a separate reserve should be established for dilution risk, if dilution risk is material for the particular exposure pool. In addition, in sizing the required enhancement level, the institution should review several years of historical information, including losses, delinquencies, dilutions, and the turnover rate of the receivables. Furthermore, the institution should evaluate the characteristics of the underlying asset pool (e.g. weighted average credit score) and should identify any concentrations to an individual obligor or geographical region and the granularity of the asset pool.

    13. The ABCP programme must incorporate structural features into the purchase of assets in order to mitigate potential credit deterioration of the underlying portfolio. Such features may include wind down triggers specific to a pool of exposures.

    [Basel Framework, CRE 43.2]

  3. The exposure amount of the securitization exposure to the ABCP programme must be assigned to the risk weight in the SEC-ERBA appropriate to the credit rating equivalent assigned to the institution's exposure. [Basel Framework, CRE 43.3]

  4. If an institution's internal assessment process is no longer considered adequate, OSFI may preclude the institution from applying the SEC-IAA to its ABCP exposures, both existing and newly originated, for determining the appropriate capital treatment until the institution has remedied the deficiencies. In this instance, the institution must revert to the SEC-SA described in paragraphs 121 to 132. [Basel Framework, CRE 43.4]

6.6.4. Standardized Approach (SEC-SA)

  1. To calculate capital requirements for a securitization exposure to an SA pool using the SEC-SA, an institution would use a supervisory formula and the following institution-supplied inputs: the SA capital charge had the underlying exposures not been securitized (KSA); the ratio of delinquent underlying exposures to total underlying exposures in the securitization pool (W); the tranche attachment point (A); and the tranche detachment point (D). The inputs A and D are defined above in paragraphs 95 and 96, respectively. Where the only difference between exposures to a transaction is related to maturity, A and D will be the same. KSA and W are defined below in paragraphs 122 to 124 and 126. [Basel Framework, CRE 41.1]

  2. KSA is defined as the weighted-average capital charge of the entire portfolio of performing underlying exposures, calculated using the risk-weighted asset amounts in Chapter 4 of this guideline in relation to the sum of the exposure amounts of underlying exposures (excluding the risk weights from section 4.1.21), multiplied by 8%. This calculation should reflect the effects of any credit risk mitigant that is applied to the underlying exposures (either individually or to the entire pool), and hence benefits all of the securitization exposures. KSA is expressed as a decimal between zero and one (that is, a weighted-average risk weight of 100% means that KSA would equal 0.08). [Basel Framework, CRE 41.2]

  3. For structures involving an SPE, all of the SPE's exposures related to the securitization are to be treated as exposures in the pool. Exposures related to the securitization that should be treated as exposures in the pool include assets in which the SPE may have invested, comprising reserve accounts, cash collateral accounts and claims against counterparties resulting from interest swaps or currency swaps.Footnote 15 The institution can exclude the SPE's exposures from the pool for capital calculation purposes if the institution can demonstrate to OSFI that the risk does not affect its particular securitization exposure or that the risk is immaterial – for example, because it has been mitigated.Footnote 16 [Basel Framework, CRE 41.3]

  4. In the case of funded synthetic securitizations, any proceeds of the issuances of credit-linked notes or other funded obligations of the SPE that serve as collateral for the repayment of the securitization exposure in question, and for which the institution cannot demonstrate to OSFI that they are immaterial, have to be included in the calculation of KSA if the default risk of the collateral is subject to the tranched loss allocation.Footnote 17 [Basel Framework, CRE 41.4]

  5. In cases where an institution has set aside a specific provision or has a non-refundable purchase price discount on an exposure in the pool, KSA must be calculated using the gross amount of the exposure without the specific provision and/or non-refundable purchase price discount. [Basel Framework, CRE 41.5]

  6. The variable W equals the ratio of the sum of the nominal amount of delinquent underlying exposures (as defined in paragraph 127) to the nominal amount of underlying exposures. [Basel Framework, CRE 41.6]

  7. Delinquent underlying exposures are underlying exposures that are 90 days or more past due, subject to bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings, in the process of foreclosure, held as real estate owned, or in default, where default is defined within the securitization deal documents. [Basel Framework, CRE 41.7]

  8. The inputs KSA and W are used as inputs to calculate KA, as follows:

    K A = 1 W × K SA + 0.5 × W

    In case an institution does not know the delinquency status, as defined above, for no more than 5% of underlying exposures in the pool, the institution may still use the SEC-SA by adjusting its calculation of KA as follows, where KA represents the default-adjusted capital required for the underlying assets and 'EADSubpool 1 where W known' and 'EADSubpool 2 where W unknown' should sum to 'EAD Total':

    K A = EAD Subpool 1 where W known EAD Total × K A Subpool 1 where W known + EAD Subpool 2 where W unknown EAD Total

    If the institution does not know the delinquency status for more than 5%, the securitization exposure must be risk weighted at 1,250%. [Basel Framework, CRE 41.8 - 41.10]

  9. Capital requirements are calculated under the SEC-SA as follows:

    K SEC-SA = e a × u e a × l a ( u l )

    where KSEC-SA is the capital requirement per unit of the securitization exposure and the variables a, u, and l are defined as follows:

    a = 1 ( p × K A )

    u = D K A

    1 = max A K A , 0

    [Basel Framework, CRE 41.11]

  10. The supervisory parameter p in the context of the SEC-SA is set equal to 1 for a securitization exposure that is not a resecuritization exposure. [Basel Framework, CRE 41.12]

  11. The risk weight assigned to a securitization exposure when applying the SEC-SA would be calculated as follows:

    • When D for a securitization exposure is less than or equal to KA, the exposure must be assigned a risk weight of 1,250%.

    • When A for a securitization exposure is greater than or equal to KA, the risk weight of the exposure, expressed as a percentage, would equal KSEC-SA multiplied by 12.5.

    • When A is less than KA and D is greater than KA, the applicable risk weight is a weighted average of 1,250% and 12.5 multiplied by KSEC-SA according to the following formula:

      RW = K A A D A × 12.5 + D K A D A × 12.5 × K SEC-SA

    The risk weight for market risk hedges such as currency or interest rate swaps will be inferred from a securitization exposure that is pari passu to the swaps or, if such an exposure does not exist, from the next subordinated tranche. [Basel Framework, CRE 41.14]

  1. The resulting risk weight is subject to a floor risk weight of 15%. [Basel Framework, CRE 41.15]

  2. When an institution applies the SEC-SA to an unrated junior exposure in a transaction where the more senior tranches (exposures) are rated and no rating can be inferred for the junior exposure, the resulting risk weight under SEC-SA for the junior unrated exposure shall not be lower than the risk weight for the next more senior rated exposure. [Basel Framework, CRE 41.15]

6.6.5. Caps for securitization exposures

6.6.5.1. Maximum risk weight for senior exposures

  1. Institutions may apply a "look-through" approach to senior securitization exposures, whereby the senior securitization exposure could receive a maximum risk weight equal to the exposure weighted-average risk weight applicable to the underlying exposures, provided that the institution has knowledge of the composition of the underlying exposures at all times. The applicable risk weight under the IRB framework would be inclusive of the expected loss portion multiplied by 12.5. In particular:

    • In the case of pools where the institution uses exclusively the SA or the IRB approach, the risk weight cap for senior exposures would equal the exposure weighted-average risk weight that would apply to the underlying exposures under the SA or IRB framework, respectively.

    • In the case of mixed pools, when applying the SEC-IRBA, the SA part of the underlying pool would receive the corresponding SA risk weight, while the IRB portion would receive IRB risk weights. When applying the SEC-SA or the SEC-ERBA, the risk weight cap for senior exposures would be based on the SA exposure weighted-average risk weight of the underlying assets, whether or not they are originally IRB.

    [Basel Framework, CRE 40.50]

  2. Where the risk weight cap results in a lower risk weight than the floor risk weight of 15%, the risk weight resulting from the cap should be used. [Basel Framework, CRE 40.51]

6.6.5.2. Maximum capital requirements

  1. An institution (originating institution or investor) using the SEC-IRBA for a securitization exposure may apply a maximum capital requirement for the securitization exposures it holds equal to the IRB capital requirement (including the expected loss portion) that would have been assessed against the underlying exposures had they not been securitized and treated under the appropriate sections of the IRB framework outlined in Chapter 5 of this guideline and paragraph 137. [Basel Framework, CRE 40.52]

  2. In the case of mixed pools, the overall cap should be calculated by adding up the capital before securitization; that is, by adding up the capital required under the general credit risk framework for the IRB and for the SA part of the underlying pool. [Basel Framework, CRE 40.52]

  3. An originating institution using the SEC-ERBA or SEC-SA for a securitization exposure may apply a maximum capital requirement for the securitization exposures it holds equal to the capital requirement that would have been assessed against the underlying exposures had they not been securitized as described in paragraph 139. [Basel Framework, CRE 40.53]

  4. In the case of mixed pools, the overall cap should also be calculated by adding up the capital before securitization; that is, by adding up the capital required under the general credit risk framework for the IRB and the SA part of the underlying pool, respectively. The IRB part of the capital requirement includes the expected loss portion. [Basel Framework, CRE 40.53]

  5. In order to apply a maximum capital charge to an institution's securitization exposure, an institution will need the following inputs:

    • The largest proportion of interest that the institution holds for each tranche of a given pool (P). In particular:

      • For an institution that has one or more securitization exposure(s) that reside in a single tranche of a given pool, P equals the proportion (expressed as a percentage) of securitization exposure(s) that the institution holds in that given tranche (calculated as the total nominal amount of the institution's securitization exposure(s) in the tranche) divided by the nominal amount of the tranche.

      • For an institution that has securitization exposures that reside in different tranches of a given securitization, P equals the maximum proportion of interest across tranches, where the proportion of interest for each of the different tranches should be calculated as described above.

    • Capital charge for underlying pool (KP):

      • For an IRB pool, KP equals KIRB as defined in paragraphs 59 to 94 multiplied by the exposure amount of the underlying pool.

      • For an SA pool, KP equals KSA as defined in paragraph 122 to 125 multiplied by the exposure amount of the underlying pool.

      • For a mixed pool, KP equals the exposure-weighted average capital charge of the underlying pool using KSA for the proportion of the underlying pool for which the institution cannot calculate KIRB, and KIRB for the proportion of the underlying pool for which an institution can calculate KIRB.

    The maximum aggregated capital requirement for an institution's securitization exposures in the same transaction will be equal to KP × P. [Basel Framework, CRE 40.54]

  1. In applying the capital charge cap, the entire amount of any gain on sale and credit-enhancing interest-only strips arising from the securitization transaction must be deducted in accordance with paragraph 41. [Basel Framework, CRE 40.55]

6.7. Treatment of resecuritization exposures

  1. For resecuritization exposures, institutions must apply the SEC-SA specified in paragraphs 121 to 132, with the following adjustments:

    • the capital requirement of the underlying securitization exposures is calculated using the securitization framework;
    • delinquencies (W) are set to zero for any exposure to a securitization tranche in the underlying pool; and
    • the supervisory parameter p is set equal to 1.5, rather than 1 as for securitization exposures.

    [Basel Framework, CRE 41.16]

  1. If the underlying portfolio of a resecuritization consists of a pool of exposures to securitization tranches in addition to other assets, institutions may separate the exposures to securitization tranches from exposures to assets that are not securitizations. The KA parameter should be calculated for each subset individually, applying separate W parameters; these are calculated in accordance with paragraphs 126 to 127 in the subsets where the exposures are to assets that are not securitization tranches, and set to zero where the exposures are to securitization tranches. The KA for the resecuritization exposure is then obtained as the nominal exposure weighted-average of the KA's for each subset considered. [Basel Framework, CRE 41.17]

  2. The resulting risk weight is subject to a floor risk weight of 100%. [Basel Framework, CRE 41.18]

  3. The caps described in paragraphs 134 to 141 cannot be applied to resecuritization exposures. [Basel Framework, CRE 41.19]

6.8. Implicit Support

  1. The provision of implicit or non-contractual support by an institution can include the following:

    • the purchase of deteriorating credit exposures;
    • purchasing assets from the underlying pool at above market prices;
    • increasing the originator-provided first loss position; or
    • an institution indirectly through other lending arrangements achieving the same result.

Such support signals to the market that there is no clean break for the securitized assets and therefore the exclusion of these assets from the originator's calculation of regulatory capital is not justified.

  1. When an originating institution believes that the future actions it takes with respect to a securitization structure may meet the definition of implicit support, the institution must advise OSFI and seek a determination of the ensuing regulatory capital impact.

    In determining the capital impact, OSFI will consider factors, including but not limited to,

    1. the notice provided to OSFI or other method of discovery,
    2. the rationale for any structural change to the securitization,
    3. any change in credit quality of the asset pool or
    4. if any additional enhancements or non-contractual support is provided by third parties at market terms and conditions.
  2. As a general principle, when it has been determined that an institution has provided implicit support to a securitization, it must, at a minimum, hold capital against all of the exposures associated with the securitization transaction as if they had not been securitized. Additionally, institutions would not be permitted to recognize in regulatory capital any gain-on-sale, as defined in paragraph 41. Furthermore, the institution is required to disclose publicly that (a) it has provided non-contractual support and (b) the capital impact of doing so. [Basel Framework, CRE 40.49]

  3. If it is determined that implicit support has or will be provided, OSFI will advise the institution of the time period of the capital penalty, which will equal the later of two years or the maturity of all notes issued benefiting from the implicit support. If an institution is found to have provided implicit support on more than one occasion, it can expect to be prevented from gaining favourable capital treatment on all securitized assets for five years and will be subject to the disclosure requirements noted above.

6.9. Treatment of credit risk mitigation for securitization exposures

6.9.1. Eligible credit risk mitigation techniques for protection buyers

  1. An institution may recognize credit protection purchased on a securitization exposure when calculating capital requirements subject to the following:

    • Collateral recognition is limited to that permitted under the credit risk mitigation framework – in particular, section 4.3.2 (i) of Chapter 4 when the institution applies the SEC-ERBA or SEC-SA, and paragraph 89 of Chapter 5 when the institution applies the SEC- IRBA. Collateral pledged by SPEs may be recognized;

    • Credit protection provided by the entities listed in section 4.3.5 (v) of Chapter 4 may be recognized. SPEs cannot be recognized as eligible guarantors; and

    • Where guarantees or credit derivatives fulfil the minimum operational conditions as specified in section 4.3.5 of Chapter 4, institutions can take account of such credit protection in calculating capital requirements for securitization exposures. [Basel Framework, CRE 40.56]

6.9.1.1. Full or proportional cover

  1. When an institution provides full (or pro rata) credit protection to a securitization exposure, the institution must calculate its capital requirements as if it directly holds the portion of the securitization exposure on which it has provided credit protection (taking into account the definition of tranche maturity specified in paragraphs 26 and 27). [Basel Framework, CRE 40.57]

  2. Provided that the conditions set out in paragraph 150 are met, the institution buying full (or pro rata) credit protection may recognize the credit risk mitigation on the securitization exposure in accordance with the CRM framework. [Basel Framework, CRE 40.58]

6.9.1.2. Tranched protection

  1. In the case of tranched credit protection, the original securitization tranche will be decomposed into protected and unprotected sub-tranches:Footnote 18

    • The protection provider must calculate its capital requirement as if directly exposed to the particular sub-tranche of the securitization exposure on which it is providing protection, and as determined by the hierarchy of approaches for securitization exposures and according to paragraphs 154 to 156.

    • Provided that the conditions set out in paragraph 150 are met, the protection buyer may recognize tranched protection on the securitization exposure. In doing so, it must calculate capital requirements for each sub-tranche separately and as follows:

      • For the resulting unprotected exposure(s), capital requirements will be calculated as determined by the hierarchy of approaches for securitization exposures and according to paragraphs 154 to 156.

      • For the guaranteed/protected portion, capital requirements will be calculated according to the applicable CRM framework (in accordance with the definition of tranche maturity given in paragraphs 26 and 27).

    [Basel Framework, CRE 40.59]

  1. If, according to the hierarchy of approaches determined by paragraphs 51 to 56, the institution must use the SEC-IRBA or SEC-SA, the parameters A and D should be calculated separately for each of the sub-tranches as if the latter would have been directly issued as separate tranches at the inception of the transaction. The value for KIRB (respectively KSA) will be computed on the underlying portfolio of the original transaction. [Basel Framework, CRE 40.60]

  2. If, according to the hierarchy of approaches determined by paragraphs 51 to 56, the institution must use the SEC-ERBA for the original securitization exposure, the relevant risk weights for the different sub-tranches will be calculated subject to the following:

    [Basel Framework, CRE 40.61]

    • For the sub-tranche of highest priority,Footnote 19 the institution will use the risk weight of the original securitization exposure.

    • For a sub-tranche of lower priority:

      • Institutions must infer a rating from one of the subordinated tranches in the original transaction. The risk weight of the sub-tranche of lower priority will then be determined by applying the inferred rating and the SEC-ERBA. Thickness input T will be computed for the sub-tranche of lower priority only.

      • Should it not be possible to infer a rating, the risk weight for the sub-tranche of lower priority will be computed using the SEC-SA applying the adjustments to the determination of A and D described in paragraph 154. The risk weight for this sub-tranche will be obtained as the greater of a) the risk weight determined through the application of the SEC-SA with the adjusted A, D points and b) the SEC-ERBA risk weight of the original securitization exposure prior to recognition of protection

  3. Under all approaches, a lower-priority sub-tranche must be treated as a non-senior securitization exposure even if the original securitization exposure prior to protection qualifies as senior as defined in paragraph 22. [Basel Framework, CRE 40.62]

6.9.2. Maturity mismatches

  1. A maturity mismatch exists when the residual maturity of a hedge is less than that of the underlying exposure. [Basel Framework, CRE 40.63]

  2. When protection is bought on a securitization exposure(s), for the purpose of setting regulatory capital against a maturity mismatch, the capital requirement will be determined in accordance with section 4.3.1 (iv) of Chapter 4. When the exposures being hedged have different maturities, the longest maturity must be used. [Basel Framework, CRE 40.64]

  3. When protection is bought on assets to create a synthetic securitization, maturity mismatches may arise in the context of the securitizations (when, for example, an institution uses credit derivatives to transfer part or all of the credit risk of a specific pool of assets to third parties). When the credit derivatives unwind, the transaction will terminate. This implies that the effective maturity of all the tranches of the synthetic securitization may differ from that of the underlying assets or exposures. Institutions that synthetically securitize exposures held on their balance sheet by purchasing tranched credit protection must treat such maturity mismatches in the following manner: For securitization exposures that are assigned a risk weight of 1,250%, maturity mismatches are not taken into account. For all other securitization exposures, the institution must apply the maturity mismatch treatment set forth in section 4.3.1 (iv) of Chapter 4. When the exposures being hedged have different maturities, the longest maturity must be used. [Basel Framework, CRE 40.65]

6.10. 'Simple, transparent, and comparable' (STC) securitizations

6.10.1. Scope and identification of STC securitizations

  1. Only traditional securitizations (including exposures to ABCP conduits and exposures to transactions financed by ABCP conduits) fall within the scope of the STC framework. Exposures to securitizations that are STC-compliant will be subject to capital requirements as determined by paragraphs 166 to 171. [Basel Framework, CRE 40.66]

  2. For regulatory capital purposes, the following will be considered STC-compliant:

    • Exposures to traditional securitizations that meet all the criteria in Appendix 6-1.

    • Exposures to ABCP conduits and/or transactions financed by ABCP conduits,Footnote 20 where the conduit and/or transactions financed by it meet the relevant criteria in Appendix 6-2 as described in the 'scope of application for capital purposes' section of the appendix.

    [Basel Framework, CRE 40.67]

6.10.2 Compliance with the STC criteria for capital purposes

  1. The originating institution must disclose to investors all necessary information at the transaction level to allow investors to determine whether the securitization is STC-compliant. Based on the information provided by the originating institution, the investor must make its own assessment of the securitization's STC compliance status as defined in paragraph 161 before applying the alternative treatment in paragraphs 166 to 171. [Basel Framework, CRE 40.68]

  2. For retained positions where the originating institution has achieved significant risk transfer in accordance with paragraphs 29 to 31, the determination shall be made only by the originating institution retaining the position. [Basel Framework, CRE 40.69]

  3. STC criteria need to be met at all times. Checking the compliance with some of the criteria might only be necessary at origination (or at the time of initiating the exposure, in case of guarantees or liquidity facilities) of an STC securitization. Notwithstanding, investors and holders of the securitization positions are expected to take into account developments that may invalidate the previous compliance assessment, for example deficiencies in the frequency and content of the investor reports, in the alignment of interest, or changes in the transaction documentation at variance with relevant STC criteria. [Basel Framework, CRE 40.70]

  4. In cases where the criteria refer to underlying assets – including, but not limited to Criteria D1 and D2 - and the pool is dynamic, the compliance with the criteria will be subject to dynamic checks every time an underlying account is added to the pool. [Basel Framework, CRE 40.71]

6.10.3. Alternative capital treatment for STC-compliant securitizations

  1. Securitization transactions that are assessed as STC-compliant for capital purposes as defined in paragraph 161 shall be subject to capital requirements under the securitization framework, taking into account that:

    • When the SEC-IRBA is used, paragraphs 167 and 168 are applicable instead of paragraphs 98 and 106, respectively;
    • When the SEC-ERBA is used, paragraphs 167, 169, and 170 are applicable instead of paragraphs 108, 110, and 113, respectively;
    • When the SEC-SA is used, paragraphs 167 and 171 are applicable instead of paragraphs 130 and 132 respectively.

    [Basel Framework, CRE 41.20, 42.15, and 44.27]

  2. Under all three approaches, the resulting risk weight is subject to a floor risk weight of 10% for senior tranches, and 15% for non-senior tranches. [Basel Framework, CRE 41.22, 42.14, and 44.29]

6.10.3.1. Internal Ratings-Based Approach (SEC-IRBA)

  1. The supervisory parameter p in SEC-IRBA for an exposure to an STC securitization is as follows:

    p = max 0.3 , 0.5 × A + B N + C × K IRB + D × LGD + E × M T ,

    where:

    • 0.3 denotes the p-parameter floor;
    • N is the effective number of loans in the underlying pool, calculated as described in paragraph 101;
    • KIRB is the capital charge of the underlying pool (as defined in paragraph 59);
    • LGD is the exposure-weighted average loss given default of the underlying pool, calculated as described in paragraph 102);
    • MT is the maturity of the tranche calculated according to paragraphs 26 and 27; and
    • the parameters A, B, C, D, and E are determined according to the following look-up table:
    Parameters to determine supervisory parameter p
    Asset class Seniority / granularity A B C D E
    Wholesale Senior, granular (N>= 25) 0 3.56 -1.85 0.55 0.07
    Senior, non-granular (N< 25) 0.11 2.61 -2.91 0.68 0.07
    Non-senior, granular (N>= 25) 0.16 2.87 -1.03 0.21 0.07
    Non-senior, non-granular (N< 25) 0.22 2.35 -2.46 0.48 0.07
    Retail Senior 0 0 -7.48 0.71 0.24
    Non-Senior 0 0 -5.78 0.55 0.27

    [Basel Framework, CRE 44.28]

6.10.3.2. External Ratings-Based Approach (SEC-ERBA)

  1. For exposures with short-term ratings, or when an inferred rating based on a short-term rating is available, the following risk weights shall apply:

    Table 1': SEC-ERBA risk weights for short-term ratings for STC securitizations
    blank External credit assessment
    A–1/P–1 A–2/P–2 A–3/P–3 All other ratings
    Risk weight 10% 30% 60% 1,250%

    [Basel Framework, CRE 42.12]

[Basel Framework, CRE 42.13]

  1. For exposures with long-term ratings, risk weights will be determined according to Table 2 and will be adjusted for tranche maturity (calculated according to paragraphs 26 and 27), and tranche thickness for non-senior tranches according to paragraph 111.

    Table 2': SEC-ERBA risk weights for long-term ratings for STC securitizations
    Rating Senior tranche
    Tranche maturity (MT)
    Non-senior (thin) tranche
    Tranche maturity (MT)
    1 year 5 years 1 year 5 years
    AAA 10% 10% 15% 40%
    AA+ 10% 15% 15% 55%
    AA 15% 20% 15% 70%
    AA- 15% 25% 25% 80%
    A+ 20% 30% 35% 95%
    A 30% 40% 60% 135%
    A- 35% 40% 95% 170%
    BBB+ 45% 55% 150% 225%
    BBB 55% 65% 180% 255%
    BBB- 70% 85% 270% 345%
    BB+ 120% 135% 405% 500%
    BB 135% 155% 535% 655%
    BB- 170% 195% 645% 740%
    B+ 225% 250% 810% 855%
    B 280% 305% 945% 945%
    B- 340% 380% 1015% 1015%
    CCC+/CCC/CCC- 415% 455% 1250% 1250%
    Below CCC- 1250% 1250% 1250% 1250%

6.10.3.3. Standardized Approach (SEC-SA)

  1. The supervisory parameter p in the context of the SEC-SA is set equal to 0.5 for an exposure to an STC securitization. [Basel Framework, CRE 41.21]

6.11. Treatment of securitization exposures under the capital floor

  1. Institutions subject to the capital floor as specified in section 1.5 of Chapter 1 of this guideline must use one of the following approaches when calculating the capital floor for securitization exposures:

    1. the external ratings-based approach (SEC-ERBA) described in section 6.6.2
    2. the standardized approach (SEC-SA) described in section 6.6.4, or
    3. a risk-weight of 1250%

The internal ratings based approach (SEC-IRBA) and internal assessment approach (SEC-IAA) described in sections 6.6.1, and 6.6.3 respectively are ineligible for use under the capital floor.

  1. STC-compliant securitizations are eligible to use the alternative capital treatments for the above approaches described in sections 6.10.3.2 and 6.10.3.3, and subject to the floor described in paragraph 167.

  2. Institutions are expected to follow the hierarchy of approaches outlined in section 6.5.2 when determining which of the above approaches to use for an exposure under the capital floor.

  3. The caps described in section 6.6.5 may be applied to exposures under the capital floor so long as the pool underlying the exposure is treated as an SA pool for the purpose of the cap.

6.12 Treatment of non-performing loan (NPL) securitizations

  1. An institution is precluded from applying the SEC-IRBA to an exposure to an NPL securitization where the institution uses the foundation approach as referred to in section 5.2.2 of Chapter 5 to calculate the KIRB of the underlying pool of exposures. [Basel Framework, CRE 45.3]

  2. The risk weight applicable to exposures to NPL securitizations according to SEC-IRBA (section 6.6.1), SEC-SA (section 6.6.4) or the look-through approach (section 6.6.5.1) is floored at 100%. [Basel Framework, CRE 45.4]

  3. Where, according to the hierarchy of approaches in section 6.5.2 the institution must use the SEC-IRBA or the SEC-SA, an institution may apply a risk weight of 100% to the senior tranche of an NPL securitization provided that the NPL securitization is a traditional securitization and the sum of the non-refundable purchase price discounts (NRPPD) calculated as described in paragraph 179 is equal to or higher than 50% of the outstanding balance of the pool of exposures. [Basel Framework, CRE 45.5]

  4. For the purposes of paragraph 178, NRPPD is the difference between the outstanding balance of the exposures in the underlying pool and the price at which these exposures are sold by the originator to the securitization entity, when neither originator nor the original lender are reimbursed for this difference. In cases where the originator underwrites tranches of the NPL securitization for subsequent sale, the NRPPD may include the differences between the nominal amount of the tranches and the price at which these tranches are first sold to unrelated third parties. For any given piece of a securitization tranche, only the initial sale from the originator to investors is taken into account in the determination of NRPPD. The purchase prices of subsequent re-sales are not considered. [Basel Framework, CRE 45.6]

  5. An originator or sponsor institution may apply the capital requirement cap specified in section 6.6.5.2 to the aggregated capital requirement for its exposures to the same NPL securitization. The same applies to an investor institution, provided that it is using the SEC-IRBA for an exposure to the NPL securitization. [Basel Framework, CRE 45.7]

Appendix 6-1 STC criteria for term securitizations for regulatory capital purposes

  1. This appendix describes the 16 criteria that must all be met in order for a true-sale term securitization exposure to qualify for the alternative capital treatment described in section 6.10. [Basel Framework, CRE 40.72]

6-1.A. Asset risk

A1. Nature of assets

  1. In simple, transparent and comparable securitizations, the assets underlying the securitization should be credit claims or receivables that are homogeneous. In assessing homogeneity, consideration should be given to asset type jurisdiction, legal system and currency. [Basel Framework, CRE 40.73]

  2. Homogeneity should be assessed on the basis of common risk drivers, including similar risk factors and risk profiles. [Basel Framework, CRE 40.73]

  3. The nature of the assets should be such that investors would not need to analyse and assess materially different legal and/or credit risk factors and risk profiles when carrying out risk analysis and due diligence checks. [Basel Framework, CRE 40.73]

  4. As more exotic asset classes require more complex and deeper analysis, credit claims or receivables should have contractually identified periodic payment streams relating to rental,Footnote 21 principal, interest, or principal and interest payments. Any referenced interest payments or discount rates should be based on commonly encountered market interest rates,Footnote 22 but should not reference complex or complicated formulae or exotic derivatives.Footnote 23 Interest rate caps and/or floors would not automatically be considered exotic. [Basel Framework, CRE 40.73]

  5. Credit claims or receivables included in the securitization should have standard obligations, in terms of rights to payments and/or income from assets and that result in a periodic and well-defined stream of payments to investors. For the purposes of this criterion, credit card facilities should be deemed to result in a periodic and well-defined stream of payments to investors. [Basel Framework, CRE 40.73]

  6. Repayment of noteholders should mainly rely on the principal and interest proceeds from the securitized assets. Partial reliance on refinancing or re-sale of the asset securing the exposure may occur provided that re-financing is sufficiently distributed within the pool. [Basel Framework, CRE 40.73]

A2. Asset performance history

  1. In order to provide investors with sufficient information on an asset class to conduct appropriate due diligence and access to a sufficiently rich data set to enable a more accurate calculation of expected loss in different stress scenarios, verifiable loss performance data, such as delinquencyFootnote 24 and default data, should be available for credit claims and receivables with substantially similar risk characteristics to those being securitized, for a time period long enough to permit meaningful evaluation by investors. Sources of and access to data and the basis for claiming similarity to credit claims or receivables being securitized should be clearly disclosed to all market participants. [Basel Framework, CRE 40.74]

  2. In addition to the asset performance history, it is important that both the originator and the original lender should have a minimum track record in originating assets similar to those securitized, for example to avoid an originate-to-distribute model. Therefore, for capital purposes, investors must determine whether the performance history of the originator and the original lender for substantially similar claims or receivables to those being securitized has been established for an "appropriately long period of time". This performance history must be no shorter than a period of seven years for non-retail exposures. For retail exposures, the minimum performance history is five years. These data requirements apply irrespective of the credit risk approach used to determine capital requirements on the underlying pool. [Basel Framework, CRE 40.74]

Additional consideration that is not part of the criterionFootnote 25
  1. In addition to the history of the asset class within a jurisdiction, investors should consider whether the originator, sponsor, servicer and other parties with a fiduciary responsibility to the securitization have an established performance history for substantially similar credit claims or receivables to those being securitized and for an appropriately long period of time. [Basel Framework, CRE 40.74]

  2. It is not the intention of the criteria to form an impediment to the entry of new participants to the market, but rather that investors should take into account the performance history of the asset class and the transaction parties when deciding whether to invest in a securitization. [Basel Framework, CRE 40.74]

A3. Payment status

  1. Non-performing credit claims and receivables are likely to require more complex and heightened analysis. The originator/sponsor must represent that credit claims or receivables being transferred to the securitization do not, at the time of inclusion in the pool, include obligations that are in default (typically defined in the transaction's legal documents) or delinquent so as to be obligations for which the transferor (e.g. the originator/sponsor) or parties to the securitization (e.g. the servicer or a party with a fiduciary responsibility) are aware of evidence indicating a material increase in expected losses or of enforcement actions. In a transaction structure in which the seller sells all receivables including defaulted or delinquent receivables, no funding should be provided against the defaulted receivables or provisions must be included in the transaction documentation requiring the seller to repurchase such ineligible receivables. [Basel Framework, CRE 40.75]

  2. To prevent credit claims or receivables arising from credit-impaired borrowers from being transferred to the securitization, the originator/sponsor should verify that a representative sample of credit claims or receivables in an underlying asset pool materially meet the following conditions:

    1. the obligor has not been the subject of an insolvency or debt restructuring process due to financial difficulties within three years prior to the date of origination;Footnote 26 Footnote 27 and,
    2. the obligor does not have a credit assessment by an ECAI or a credit scoreFootnote 28 indicating a significant risk of default; and
    3. the credit claim or receivable is not currently subject to a dispute between the obligor and the seller.

    [Basel Framework, CRE 40.75]

  3. The assessment of these conditions should be carried out by the originator/sponsor no earlier than 45 days prior to the closing date, or, in the case of revolving transactions, no earlier than 45 days prior to new exposures being added to the transaction. Additionally, at the time of this assessment, there should to the best knowledge of the originator/sponsor be no evidence indicating likely deterioration in the performance status of the credit claim or receivable. [Basel Framework, CRE 40.75]

  4. Additionally, at the time of their inclusion in the pool, at least one payment should have been made on the underlying exposures, except where the sponsor has analyzed performance history for an appropriately long period of time for claims or receivables substantially similar to those being securitized, or in the case of revolving asset trust structures such as those for credit card receivables, trade receivables, and other exposures payable in a single instalment, at maturity. [Basel Framework, CRE 40.75]

A4. Consistency of underwriting

  1. Investor analysis should be simpler and more straightforward where the securitization is of credit claims or receivables that satisfy materially non-deteriorating origination standards. To ensure that the quality of the securitized credit claims and receivables is not affected by changes in underwriting standards, the originator should make representations to investors that any credit claims or receivables being transferred to the securitization have been originated in the ordinary course of the originator's business to materially non-deteriorating underwriting standards. Where underwriting standards materially change, the originator should disclose the timing and purpose of such changes. Underwriting standards should not be less stringent than those applied to credit claims and receivables retained on the balance sheet. [Basel Framework, CRE 40.76]

  2. These should be credit claims or receivables which have satisfied materially non-deteriorating underwriting criteria and for which the obligors have been assessed as having the ability and volition to make timely payments on obligations; or on granular pools of obligors originated in the ordinary course of the originator's business where expected cash flows have been modelled to meet stated obligations of the securitization under prudently stressed loan loss scenarios. [Basel Framework, CRE 40.76]

  3. In all circumstances, all credit claims or receivables must be originated in accordance with sound and prudent underwriting criteria based on an assessment that the obligor has the "ability and volition to make timely payments" on its obligations. [Basel Framework, CRE 40.76]

  4. The originator/sponsor of the securitization is expected, where underlying credit claims or receivables have been acquired from third parties, to review the underwriting standards (i.e. to check their existence and assess their quality) of these third parties and to ascertain that they (i.e. the original lender) have assessed the obligors' "ability and volition to make timely payments on obligations". [Basel Framework, CRE 40.76]

A5. Asset selection and transfer

  1. Whilst recognizing that credit claims or receivables transferred to a securitization will be subject to defined criteria (e.g. the size of the obligation, the age of the borrower or the LTV of the property, debt-to-income, and/or debt service coverage ratios), the performance of the securitization should not rely upon the ongoing selection of assets through active managementFootnote 29 on a discretionary basis of the securitization's underlying portfolio. [Basel Framework, CRE 40.77]

  2. Credit claims or receivables transferred to a securitization should satisfy clearly defined eligibility criteria. Credit claims or receivables transferred to a securitization after the closing date may not be actively selected, actively managed or otherwise cherry-picked on a discretionary basis. Investors should be able to assess the credit risk of the asset pool prior to their investment decisions. [Basel Framework, CRE 40.77]

  3. In order to meet the principle of true sale, the securitization should effect true sale such that the underlying credit claims or receivables:

    1. are enforceable against the obligor and their enforceability is included in the representations and warranties of the securitization;
    2. are beyond the reach of the seller, its creditors or liquidators and are not subject to material re-characterisation or clawback risks;
    3. are not effected through credit default swaps, derivatives or guarantees, but by a transferFootnote 30 of the credit claims or the receivables to the securitization; and
    4. demonstrate effective recourse to the ultimate obligation for the underlying credit claims or receivables and are not a securitization of other securitizations.

    [Basel Framework, CRE 40.78]

  4. In applicable jurisdictions, securitizations employing transfers of credit claims or receivables by other means should demonstrate the existence of material obstacles preventing true sale at issuance (e.g. the immediate realization of transfer tax or the requirement to notify obligors of the transfer) and should clearly demonstrate the method of recourse to ultimate obligors (e.g. equitable assignment, perfected contingent transfer). In such jurisdictions, any conditions where the transfer of the credit claims or receivable is delayed or contingent upon specific events and any factors affecting timely perfection of claims by the securitization should be clearly disclosed. [Basel Framework, CRE 40.79]

  5. The originator should provide representations and warranties that the credit claims or receivables being transferred to the securitization are not subject to any condition or encumbrance that can be foreseen to adversely affect enforceability in respect of collections due. [Basel Framework, CRE 40.79]

A6. Initial and ongoing data

  1. To assist investors in conducting appropriate due diligence prior to investing in a new offering, sufficient loan-level data or, in the case of granular pools, summary stratification data on the relevant risk characteristics of the underlying pool, in each case in accordance with applicable laws, should be available to potential investors before pricing of a securitization. [Basel Framework, CRE 40.80]

  2. To assist investors in conducting appropriate and ongoing monitoring of their investments' performance and so that investors that wish to purchase a securitization in the secondary market have sufficient information to conduct appropriate due diligence, timely loan-level data or granular pool stratification data on the risk characteristics of the underlying pool, in each case in accordance with applicable laws, and standardized investor reports should be readily available to current and potential investors at least quarterly throughout the life of the securitization. Cut-off dates of the loan-level or granular pool stratification data should be aligned with those used for investor reporting. [Basel Framework, CRE 40.80]

  3. To provide a level of assurance that the reporting of the underlying credit claims or receivables is accurate and that the underlying credit claims or receivables meet the eligibility requirements, the initial portfolio should be reviewed for conformity with the eligibility requirements by an appropriate legally accountable and independent third party, such as an independent accounting practice or the calculation agent or management company for the securitization. [Basel Framework, CRE 40.80]

  4. For non-revolving transactions the review should confirm that the credit claims or receivables transferred to the securitization meet the portfolio eligibility requirements. The review could, for example, be undertaken on a representative sample of the initial portfolio, with the application of a minimum confidence level. The verification report need not be provided but its results, including any material exceptions, should be disclosed in the initial offering documentation. The review (and related disclosure) described in paragraph 27 is not required for revolving transactions. [Basel Framework, CRE 40.80]

6-1.B. Structural risk

B1. Redemption cash flows

  1. Liabilities subject to the refinancing risk of the underlying credit claims or receivables are likely to require more complex and heightened analysis. To help ensure that the underlying credit claims or receivables do not need to be refinanced over a short period of time, there should not be a reliance on the sale or refinancing of the underlying credit claims or receivables in order to repay the liabilities, unless the underlying pool of credit claims or receivables is sufficiently granular and has sufficiently distributed repayment profiles. Rights to receive income from the assets specified to support redemption payments should be considered as eligible credit claims or receivables in this regard (e.g. associated savings plans designed to repay principal at maturity). [Basel Framework, CRE 40.81]

B2. Currency and interest rate asset and liability mismatches

  1. To reduce the payment risk arising from the different interest rate and currency profiles of assets and liabilities and to improve investors' ability to model cash flows, interest rate and foreign currency risks should be appropriately mitigated at all times, and if any hedging transaction is executed the transaction should be documented according to industry-standard master agreements. Only derivatives used for genuine hedging of asset and liability mismatches of interest rate and / or currency should be allowed. [Basel Framework, CRE 40.82]

  2. The term "appropriately mitigated" should be understood as not necessarily requiring a completely perfect hedge. The appropriateness of the mitigation of interest rate and foreign currency through the life of the transaction must be demonstrated by making available to potential investors, in a timely and regular manner, quantitative information including the fraction of notional amounts that are hedged, as well as sensitivity analysis that illustrates the effectiveness of the hedge under extreme but plausible scenarios. [Basel Framework, CRE 40.82]

  3. If hedges are not performed through derivatives, then those risk-mitigating measures are only permitted if they are specifically created and used for the purpose of hedging an individual and specific risk, and not multiple risks at the same time (such as credit and interest rate risks). Non-derivative risk mitigation measures must be fully funded and available at all times. [Basel Framework, CRE 40.82]

B3. Payment priorities and observability

  1. To prevent investors being subjected to unexpected repayment profiles during the life of a securitization, the priorities of payments for all liabilities in all circumstances should be clearly defined at the time of securitization and appropriate legal comfort regarding their enforceability should be provided. [Basel Framework, CRE 40.83]

  2. To ensure that junior noteholders do not have inappropriate payment preference over senior noteholders that are due and payable, throughout the life of a securitization, or, where there are multiple securitizations backed by the same pool of credit claims or receivables, throughout the life of the securitization programme, junior liabilities should not have payment preference over senior liabilities which are due and payable. The securitization should not be structured as a "reverse" cash flow waterfall such that junior liabilities are paid where due and payable senior liabilities have not been paid. [Basel Framework, CRE 40.83]

  3. To help provide investors with full transparency over any changes to the cash flow waterfall, payment profile or priority of payments that might affect a securitization, all triggers affecting the cash flow waterfall, payment profile or priority of payments of the securitization should be clearly and fully disclosed both in offering documents and in investor reports, with information in the investor report that clearly identifies the breach status, the ability for the breach to be reversed and the consequences of the breach. Investor reports should contain information that allows investors to monitor the evolution over time of the indicators that are subject to triggers. Any triggers breached between payment dates should be disclosed to investors on a timely basis in accordance with the terms and conditions of all underlying transaction documents. [Basel Framework, CRE 40.83]

  4. Securitizations featuring a revolving period should include provisions for appropriate early amortization events and/or triggers of termination of the revolving period, including, notably: (i) deterioration in the credit quality of the underlying exposures; (ii) a failure to acquire sufficient new underlying exposures of similar credit quality; and (iii) the occurrence of an insolvency-related event with regard to the originator or the servicer. [Basel Framework, CRE 40.84]

  5. Following the occurrence of a performance-related trigger, an event of default or an acceleration event, the securitization positions should be repaid in accordance with a sequential amortization priority of payments, in order of tranche seniority, and there should not be provisions requiring immediate liquidation of the underlying assets at market value. [Basel Framework, CRE 40.85]

  6. To assist investors in their ability to appropriately model the cash flow waterfall of the securitization, the originator/sponsor should make available to investors, both before pricing of the securitization and on an ongoing basis, a liability cash flow model or information on the cash flow provisions allowing appropriate modelling of the securitization cash flow waterfall. [Basel Framework, CRE 40.86]

  7. To ensure that debt forgiveness, forbearance, payment holidays and other asset performance remedies that may affect investors can be clearly identified, policies and procedures, definitions, remedies and actions relating to delinquency, default or restructuring of underlying debtors should be provided in clear and consistent terms, such that investors can clearly identify debt forgiveness, forbearance, payment holidays, restructuring and other asset performance remedies that may affect their investment performanceFootnote 31 on an ongoing basis. [Basel Framework, CRE 40.87]

B4. Voting and enforcement rights

  1. To help ensure clarity for securitization note holders of their rights and ability to control and enforce on the underlying credit claims or receivables, upon insolvency of the originator/sponsor, all voting and enforcement rights related to the credit claims or receivables should be transferred to the securitization. Investors' rights in the securitization should be clearly defined in all circumstances, including the rights of senior versus junior note holders. [Basel Framework, CRE 40.88]

B5. Documentation disclosure and legal review

  1. To help investors to fully understand the terms, conditions, legal and commercial information prior to investing in a new offeringFootnote 32 and to ensure that this information is set out in a clear and effective manner for all programmes and offerings, sufficient initial offeringFootnote 33 and draft underlyingFootnote 34 documentation should be made available to investors and potential investors within a reasonably sufficient period of time prior to pricing, or when legally permissible, such that the investor is provided with full disclosure of the legal and commercial information and comprehensive risk factors needed to make informed investment decisions. Final offering documents should be available from the closing date and all final underlying transaction documents shortly thereafter. These should be composed such that readers can readily find, understand and use relevant information. [Basel Framework, CRE 40.89]

  2. To ensure that all the securitization's underlying documentation has been subject to appropriate review prior to publication, the terms and documentation of the securitization should be reviewed by an appropriately experienced third-party legal practice, such as a legal counsel already instructed by one of the transaction parties, e.g. by the arranger or the trustee. Investors should be notified in a timely fashion of any changes in such documents that have an impact on the structural risks in the securitization. [Basel Framework, CRE 40.89]

B6. Alignment of interest

  1. In order to align the interests of those responsible for the underwriting of the credit claims or receivables with those of investors, the originator/sponsor of the credit claims or receivables should retain a material net economic exposure and demonstrate a financial incentive in the performance of these assets following their securitization. [Basel Framework, CRE 40.90]

6-1.C. Fiduciary and servicer risk

C1. Fiduciary and contractual responsibilities

  1. To help ensure servicers have extensive workout expertise, thorough legal and collateral knowledge and a proven track record in loss mitigation, such parties should be able to demonstrate expertise in the servicing of the underlying credit claims or receivables, supported by a management team with extensive industry experience. The servicer should at all times act in accordance with reasonable and prudent standards. Policies, procedures and risk management controls should be well documented and adhere to good market practices and relevant regulatory regimes. There should be strong systems and reporting capabilities in place. [Basel Framework, CRE 40.91]

  2. The party or parties with fiduciary responsibility should act on a timely basis in the best interests of the securitization note holders, and both the initial offering and all underlying documentation should contain provisions facilitating the timely resolution of conflicts between different classes of note holders by the trustees, to the extent permitted by applicable law. [Basel Framework, CRE 40.92]

  3. The party or parties with fiduciary responsibility to the securitization and to investors should be able to demonstrate sufficient skills and resources to comply with their duties of care in the administration of the securitization vehicle. [Basel Framework, CRE 40.92]

  4. To increase the likelihood that those identified as having a fiduciary responsibility towards investors as well as the servicer execute their duties in full on a timely basis, remuneration should be such that these parties are incentivized and able to meet their responsibilities in full and on a timely basis. [Basel Framework, CRE 40.92]

  5. In assessing whether "strong systems and reporting capabilities are in place", well documented policies, procedures and risk management controls, as well as strong systems and reporting capabilities, may be substantiated by a third-party review for non-banking entities. [Basel Framework, CRE 40.91]

  6. Institutions are subject to an ongoing assessment of their internal reporting systems and capabilities, as outlined in Criterion 7 of Principle 15 of the Basel Core Principles for Effective Banking Supervision. To ensure an assessment that is comparable with that of banking entities, other non-bank originating entities not subject to the Basel Core Principles should provide proof of an independent assessment of their reporting capabilities. Evidence of a suitable third-party review can be based on the supervisory regime applicable to this entity (if such supervision covers internal reporting systems).

C2. Transparency to investors

  1. To help provide full transparency to investors, assist investors in the conduct of their due diligence and to prevent investors being subject to unexpected disruptions in cash flow collections and servicing, the contractual obligations, duties and responsibilities of all key parties to the securitization, both those with a fiduciary responsibility and of the ancillary service providers, should be defined clearly both in the initial offering and all underlying documentation. Provisions should be documented for the replacement of servicers, bank account providers, derivatives counterparties and liquidity providers in the event of failure or non-performance or insolvency or other deterioration of creditworthiness of any such counterparty to the securitization. [Basel Framework, CRE 40.93]

  2. To enhance transparency and visibility over all receipts, payments and ledger entries at all times, the performance reports to investors should distinguish and report the securitization's income and disbursements covering items, as applicable, such as scheduled principal, redemption principal, scheduled interest, prepaid principal, past due interest and fees and charges, delinquent, defaulted and restructured amounts under debt forgiveness and payment holidays, including accurate accounting for amounts attributable to principal and interest deficiency ledgers. [Basel Framework, CRE 40.93]

  3. The terms "initial offering" and "underlying transaction documentation" should be understood in the context defined by Criterion B5. The term "income and disbursements" should also be understood as including deferment, forbearance, and repurchases among the items described. [Basel Framework, CRE 40.93]

6-1.D. Additional criteria for capital purposes

D1. Credit risk of underlying exposures

  1. At the portfolio cut-off date the underlying exposures have to meet the conditions under the Standardized Approach for credit risk (Chapter 4), and after taking into account any eligible credit risk mitigation, for being assigned a risk weight equal to or smaller than:

    • 40% on an exposure-weighted average basis for the portfolio where the exposures are loans secured by residential mortgages or fully guaranteed residential loans;
    • 50% on an individual exposure basis where the exposure is a loan secured by a commercial mortgage;
    • 75% on an individual exposure basis where the exposure is a retail exposure; or
    • 100% on an exposure-weighted average basis for the portfolio for any other exposure.

    [Basel Framework, CRE 40.94]

D2. Granularity of the pool

  1. At the portfolio cut-off date, the aggregated value of all exposures to a single obligor shall not exceed 1%Footnote 35 of the aggregated outstanding exposure value of all exposures in the portfolio. This definition of granularity helps to ensure that granular asset portfolios would be at a level where statistical approaches to model losses can be employed, as opposed to having to review the credit quality of individual exposures. [Basel Framework, CRE 40.95]

Appendix 6-2 STC criteria for short-term securitizations for regulatory capital purposes

  1. This appendix describes the 19 criteria that must be met in order for a securitization exposure to an ABCP conduit or transaction financed by an ABCP conduit to qualify for the alternative capital treatment described in section 6.10.

    Terms and definitions
    ABCP conduit / conduit The special purpose vehicle which can issue commercial paper
    ABCP programme The programme of commercial paper issued by an ABCP conduit
    assets / asset pool The credit claims and/or receivables underlying a transaction in which the ABCP conduit holds a beneficial interest
    investor The holder of commercial paper issued under an ABCP programme, or any type of exposure to the conduit representing a financing liability of the conduit, such as loans
    obligor The borrower underlying a credit claim or a receivable that is part of an asset pool
    seller A party that (i) concluded (in its capacity as original lender) the original agreement that created the obligations or potential obligations (under a credit claim or a receivable) of an obligor or purchased the obligations or potential obligations from the original lender(s), and (ii) transferred those assets through a transaction or passed on the interestFootnote 36 to the ABCP conduit
    sponsor Sponsor of an ABCP conduit. It may also be noted that other relevant parties with a fiduciary responsibility in the management and administration of the ABCP conduit could also undertake control of some of the responsibilities of the sponsor
    transaction An individual transaction in which the ABCP conduit holds a beneficial interest. A transaction may qualify as a securitization, but may also be a direct asset purchase, the acquisition of undivided interest in a revolving pool of asset, a secured loan etc.

    [BCBS CF, CRE 40.96]

Scope of application

  1. For an ABCP conduit to be considered STC, the following criteria need to be met both at the conduit level and transaction level.

Scope of application for capital purposes

  1. For exposures to an ABCP conduit (e.g. exposure arising from investing in the commercial papers issued by the ABCP programme or sponsoring arrangements at the conduit/programme level), compliance with the short-term STC capital criteria is only achieved if the criteria are satisfied at both the conduit and transaction levels. [Basel Framework, CRE 40.97]

  2. In the case of exposures to individual transactions financed by an ABCP conduit, compliance with the short-term STC capital criteria is considered to be achieved if the criteria relevant to the transaction level are satisfied for the transactions to which support is provided. [Basel Framework, CRE 40.98]

6-2.A Asset risk

A1. Nature of assets

Relevant to the Conduit level
  1. The sponsor should make representations and warranties to investors that the subsections of Criterion A1 defined at transaction-level are met, and explain how this is the case on an overall basis. Only if specified should this be done for each transaction. [Basel Framework, CRE 40.99]

  2. Provided that each individual underlying transaction is homogeneous in terms of asset type, a conduit may be used to finance transactions of different asset types. [Basel Framework, CRE 40.99]

  3. Programme wide credit enhancement should not prevent a conduit from qualifying for STC, regardless of whether such enhancement technically creates re-securitization. [Basel Framework, CRE 40.99]

Relevant to the Transaction level
  1. The assets underlying a transaction in a conduit should be credit claims or receivables that are homogeneous, in terms of asset type. [Basel Framework, CRE 40.100]

  2. Homogeneity should be assessed on the basis of common risk drivers, including similar risk factors and risk profiles. [Basel Framework, CRE 40.101]

  3. The nature of assets should be such that there would be no need to analyze and assess materially different legal and/or credit risk factors and risk profiles when carrying out risk analysis and due diligence checks for the transaction. [Basel Framework, CRE 40.101]

  4. The assets underlying each individual transaction in a conduit should not be composed of "securitization exposures" as defined in paragraph 5 of this chapter. This requirement is met if the transaction has the same economic characteristics as the purchase of the pool of underlying assets with a refundable purchase price discount, regardless of the legal form of the transaction. [Basel Framework, CRE 40.100 and 40.104]

  5. Credit claims or receivables underlying a transaction in a conduit should have contractually identified periodic payment streams relating to rental,Footnote 37 principal, interest, or principal and interest payments. Credit claims or receivables generating a single payment stream would equally qualify as eligible. Any referenced interest payments or discount rates should be based on commonly encountered market interest rates,Footnote 38 but should not reference complex or complicated formulae or exotic derivatives.Footnote 39 Interest rate caps and/or floors are not automatically considered "exotic derivatives". [Basel Framework, CRE 40.100 and 40.103]

  6. Credit claims or receivables included in the securitization should have standard obligations, in terms of rights to payments and/or income from assets and that result in a periodic and well-defined stream of payments to investors. For the purposes of this criterion, credit card facilities should be deemed to result in a periodic and well-defined stream of payments to investors. [Basel Framework, CRE 40.101]

  7. Repayment of the securitization exposure should mainly rely on the principal and interest proceeds from the securitized assets. Partial reliance on refinancing or re-sale of the asset securing the exposure may occur provided that re-financing is sufficiently distributed within the pool. [Basel Framework, CRE 40.101]

  8. Examples of "commonly encountered market interest rates" include:

    • interbank rates and rates set by monetary policy authorities, such as CDOR, Enhanced CORRA, LIBOR, EURIBOR, the Bank of Canada's target for the overnight rate, the Fed Funds Rate; and
    • sectoral rates reflective of a lender's cost of funds, such as internal interest rates that directly reflect the market costs of a bank's funding or that of a subset of institutions.

    [Basel Framework, CRE 40.102]

A2. Asset performance history

Relevant to the Conduit level
  1. In order to provide investors with sufficient information on the performance history of the asset types backing the transactions, the sponsor should make available to investors, sufficient loss performance data of claims and receivables with substantially similar risk characteristics, such as delinquency and default data of similar claims, and for a time period long enough to permit meaningful evaluation. The sponsor should disclose to investors the sources of such data and the basis for claiming similarity to credit claims or receivables financed by the conduit. Such loss performance data may be provided on a stratified basis.Footnote 40 [Basel Framework, CRE 40.105]

Relevant to the Transaction level
  1. In order to provide the sponsor with sufficient information on the performance history of each asset type backing the transactions and to conduct appropriate due diligence and to have access to a sufficiently rich data set to enable a more accurate calculation of expected loss in different stress scenarios, verifiable loss performance data, such as delinquencyFootnote 41 and default data, should be available for credit claims and receivables with substantially similar risk characteristics to those being financed by the conduit, for a time period long enough to permit meaningful evaluation by the sponsor. [Basel Framework, CRE 40.106]

  2. The sponsor of the securitization, as well as the original lender who underwrites the assets, must have sufficient experience in the risk analysis/underwriting of exposures or transactions with underlying exposures similar to those securitized. The sponsor should have well documented procedures and policies regarding the underwriting of transactions and the ongoing monitoring of the performance of the securitized exposures. The sponsor should ensure that the seller(s) and all other parties involved in the origination of the receivables have experience in originating same or similar assets, and are supported by a management with industry experience. For the purpose of meeting the short-term STC capital criteria, investors must request confirmation from the sponsor that the performance history of the originator and the original lender for substantially similar claims or receivables to those being securitized has been established for an "appropriately long period of time". This performance history must be no shorter than a period of five years for non-retail exposures. For retail exposures, the minimum performance history is three years. [Basel Framework, CRE 40.107]

A3. Payment status

Relevant to the Conduit level
  1. The sponsor should, to the best of its knowledge and based on representations from sellers, make representations and warranties to investors that Criterion A3 at the transaction level is met with respect to each transaction. [Basel Framework, CRE 40.108]

Relevant to the Transaction level
  1. The sponsor should obtain representations from sellers that the credit claims or receivables underlying each individual transaction are not, at the time of acquisition of the interests to be financed by the conduit, in default (typically defined in the transaction's legal documents) or delinquent so as to be subject to a material increase in expected losses or of enforcement actions. In a transaction structure in which the seller sells all receivables including defaulted or delinquent receivables, no funding should be provided against the defaulted receivables or provisions must be included in the transaction documentation requiring the seller to repurchase such ineligible receivables. [Basel Framework CRE 40.109]

  2. To prevent credit claims or receivables arising from credit-impaired borrowers from being transferred to the securitization, the original seller or sponsor should verify that a representative sample of credit claims or receivables in an underlying asset pool materially meet the following conditions for each transaction:

    1. the obligor has not been the subject of an insolvency or debt restructuring process due to financial difficulties in the three years prior to the date of origination;Footnote 42 Footnote 43
    2. the obligor does not have a credit assessment by an external credit assessment institution or a credit scoreFootnote 44 indicating a significant risk of default; and
    3. the credit claim or receivable is not currently subject to a dispute between the obligor and the seller.

    [Basel Framework, CRE 40.110]

  3. The assessment of these conditions should be carried out by the original seller or sponsor no earlier than 45 days prior to acquisition of the transaction by the conduit or, in the case of replenishing transactions, no earlier than 45 days prior to new exposures being added to the transaction. In addition, at the time of the assessment, there should to the best knowledge of the seller or sponsor be no evidence indicating likely deterioration in the performance status of the credit claim or receivable. [Basel Framework, CRE 40.111]

  4. Further, at the time of their inclusion in the pool, at least one payment should have been made on the underlying exposures, except where the sponsor has analyzed performance history for an appropriately long period of time for substantially similar claims or receivables substantially similar to those being securitized, or in the case of replenishing asset trust structures such as those for credit card receivables, trade receivables, and other exposures payable in a single instalment, at maturity. [Basel Framework, CRE 40.111]

A4. Consistency of underwriting

Relevant to the Conduit level
  1. The sponsor should make representations and warranties to investors that:

    • it has taken steps to verify that for the transactions in the conduit, any underlying credit claims and receivables have been subject to consistent materially non-deteriorating underwriting standards, and explain how.
    • when there are material changes to underwriting standards, it will receive from sellers disclosure about the timing and purpose of such changes.

    The sponsor should also inform investors of the material selection criteria applied when selecting sellers (including where they are not financial institutions).

    [Basel Framework, CRE 40.112 and 40.113]

Relevant to the Transaction level
  1. The sponsor should ensure that sellers in transactions with the conduit make representations to it that:

    1. any credit claims or receivables being transferred to or through a transaction held by the conduit have been originated or purchased in the ordinary course of the seller's business to materially non-deteriorating underwriting standards. Those underwriting standards should also not be less stringent than those applied to credit claims and receivables retained on the balance sheet of the seller and not financed by the conduit; and
    2. the obligors have been assessed as having the ability and volition to make timely payments on obligations.

    [Basel Framework, CRE 40.114]

  2. The sponsor should also ensure that sellers disclose to it the timing and purpose of material changes to underwriting standards. [Basel Framework , CRE 40.115]

  3. In all circumstances, all credit claims or receivables must be originated in accordance with sound and prudent underwriting criteria based on an assessment that the obligor has the "ability and volition to make timely payments" on its obligations.Footnote 45 [Basel Framework, CRE 40.116]

  4. The sponsor of the securitization is expected, where underlying credit claims or receivables have been acquired from third parties, to review the underwriting standards (i.e. to check their existence and assess their quality) of these third parties and to ascertain that they have assessed the obligors' "ability and volition to make timely payments" on their obligations. [Basel Framework, CRE 40.116]

A5. Asset selection and transfer

Relevant to the Conduit level
  1. The sponsor should:

    • provide representations and warranties to investors about the checks, in nature and frequency, it has conducted regarding enforceability of underlying assets.
    • disclose to investors the receipt of appropriate representations and warranties from sellers that the credit claims or receivables being transferred to the transactions in the conduit are not subject to any condition or encumbrance that can be foreseen to adversely affect enforceability in respect of collections due.

    [Basel Framework, CRE 40.117]

  2. The standardized investor reports which are made readily available to current and potential investors at least monthly should include the following information:

    • materially relevant data on the credit quality and performance of underlying assets, which may include data allowing investors to identify dilution, delinquencies and defaults, restructured receivables, forbearance, repurchases, losses, recoveries and other asset performance remedies in the pool;
    • the form and amount of credit enhancement provided by the seller and sponsor at transaction and conduit levels, respectively;
    • materially relevant information on the support provided by the sponsor; and
    • the status and definitions of relevant triggers (such as performance, termination or counterparty replacement triggers).

    [Basel Framework, CRE 40.126]

Relevant to the Transaction level
  1. The sponsor should ensure that credit claims or receivables transferred to or through a transaction financed by the conduit:

    1. satisfy clearly defined eligibility criteria;
    2. are not actively selected after the closing date, actively managedFootnote 46 or otherwise cherry-picked on a discretionary basis.

    [Basel Framework, CRE 40.118]

  2. The sponsor should be able to assess thoroughly the credit risk of the asset pool prior to its decision to provide support to any given transaction or to the conduit. [Basel Framework, CRE 40.118]

  3. The sponsor should ensure that the transactions in the conduit effect true sale such that the underlying credit claims or receivables:

    • are enforceable against the obligor;
    • are beyond the reach of the seller, its creditors or liquidators and are not subject to material re-characterization or clawback risks;
    • are not effected through credit default swaps, derivatives or guarantees, but by a transferFootnote 47 of the credit claims or the receivables to the transaction; and
    • demonstrate effective recourse to the ultimate obligation for the underlying credit claims or receivables and are not a re-securitization position.

    [Basel Framework, CRE 40.119]

  4. The sponsor should ensure that in applicable jurisdictions, for conduits employing transfers of credit claims or receivables by other means, sellers can demonstrate to it the existence of material obstacles preventing true sale at issuanceFootnote 48 and should clearly demonstrate the method of recourse to ultimate obligors.Footnote 49 In such jurisdictions, any conditions where the transfer of the credit claims or receivables is delayed or contingent upon specific events and any factors affecting timely perfection of claims by the conduit should be clearly disclosed. [Basel Framework, CRE 40.120]

  5. The sponsor should ensure that it receives from the individual sellers (either in their capacity as original lender or servicer) representations and warranties that the credit claims or receivables being transferred to or through the transaction are not subject to any condition or encumbrance that can be foreseen to adversely affect enforceability in respect of collections due. [Basel Framework, CRE 40.121]

A6. Initial and ongoing data

Relevant to the Conduit level
  1. To assist investors in conducting appropriate due diligence prior to investing in a new programme offering, the sponsor should provide to potential investors sufficient aggregated data that illustrate the relevant risk characteristics of the underlying asset pools in accordance with applicable laws. [Basel Framework, CRE 40.123]

  2. To assist investors in conducting appropriate and ongoing monitoring of their investments' performance and so that investors who wish to purchase commercial paper have sufficient information to conduct appropriate due diligence, the sponsor should provide timely and sufficient aggregated data that provide the relevant risk characteristics of the underlying pools in accordance with applicable laws. The sponsor should ensure that standardized investor reports are readily available to current and potential investors at least monthly. Cut off dates of the aggregated data should be aligned with those used for investor reporting. [Basel Framework, CRE 40.123]

  3. The standardized investor reports which are made readily available to current and potential investors at least monthly should include the following information:

    • materially relevant data on the credit quality and performance of underlying assets, including data allowing investors to identify dilution, delinquencies and defaults, restructured receivables, forbearance, repurchases, losses, recoveries and other asset performance remedies in the pool;
    • the form and amount of credit enhancement provided by the seller and sponsor at transaction and conduit levels, respectively;
    • relevant information on the support provided by the sponsor; and
    • the status and definitions of relevant triggers (such as performance, termination or counterparty replacement triggers).

    [Basel Framework, CRE 40.126]

Relevant to the Transaction level
  1. The sponsor should ensure that the individual sellers (in their capacity of servicers) provide it with:

    1. sufficient asset level data in accordance with applicable laws or, in the case of granular pools, summary stratification data on the relevant risk characteristics of the underlying pool before transferring any credit claims or receivables to such underlying pool.
    2. timely asset level data in accordance with applicable laws or granular pool stratification data on the risk characteristics of the underlying pool on an ongoing basis. Those data should allow the sponsor to fulfil its fiduciary duty at the conduit level in terms of disclosing information to investors including the alignment of cut off dates of the asset level or granular pool stratification data with those used for investor reporting.

    [Basel Framework, CRE 40.124]

  2. The seller may delegate some of these tasks and, in this case, the sponsor should ensure that there is appropriate oversight of the outsourced arrangements. [Basel Framework, CRE 40.125]

6-2.B Structural risk

B1. Redemption cash flow

Relevant to the Transaction level
  1. Unless the underlying pool of credit claims or receivables is sufficiently granular and has sufficiently distributed repayment profiles, the sponsor should ensure that the repayment of the credit claims or receivables underlying any of the individual transactions relies primarily on the general ability and willingness of the obligor to pay rather than the possibility that the obligor refinances or sells the collateral and that such repayment does not primarily rely on the drawing of an external liquidity facility provided to this transaction. [Basel Framework, CRE 40.132]

  2. For capital purposes, sponsors cannot use support provided by their own liquidity and credit facilities towards meeting this criterion. For the avoidance of doubt, the requirement that the repayment shall not primarily rely on the drawing of an external liquidity facility does not apply to exposures in the form of the notes issued by the ABCP conduit. [Basel Framework, CRE 40.133]

B2. Currency and interest rate asset and liability mismatches

Relevant to the Conduit level
  1. The sponsor should ensure that any payment risk arising from different interest rate and currency profiles: (i) not mitigated at transaction-level; or (ii) arising at conduit level; are appropriately mitigated. [Basel Framework, CRE 40.134]

  2. The sponsor should provide sufficient information to investors to allow them to assess how the payment risk arising from the different interest rate and currency profiles of assets and liabilities are appropriately mitigated, whether at the conduit or at transaction level. [Basel Framework, CRE 40.134]

  3. The term "appropriately mitigated" should be understood as not necessarily requiring a completely perfect hedge. The appropriateness of the mitigation of interest rate and foreign currency risks through the life of the transaction must be demonstrated by making available, in a timely and regular manner, quantitative information including the fraction of notional amounts that are hedged, as well as sensitivity analysis that illustrates the effectiveness of the hedge under extreme but plausible scenarios. [Basel Framework, CRE 40.136]

  4. The sponsor should ensure that derivatives are only used for genuine hedging purposes and that hedging transactions are documented according to industry-standard master agreements. [Basel Framework, CRE 40.134]

  5. The use of risk-mitigating measures other than derivatives is permitted only if the measures are specifically created and used for the purpose of hedging an individual and specific risk. Nonderivative risk mitigation measures must be fully funded and available at all times. [Basel Framework, CRE 40.136]

Relevant to the Transaction level
  1. To reduce the payment risk arising from the different interest rate and currency profiles of assets and liabilities, if any, and to improve the sponsor's ability to analyze cash flows of transactions, the sponsor should ensure that interest rate and foreign currency risks are appropriately mitigated.Footnote 50 [Basel Framework, CRE 40.135]

  2. The sponsor should ensure that derivatives are only used for genuine hedging purposes and that hedging transactions are documented according to industry-standard master agreements. [Basel Framework, CRE 40.135]

  3. The use of risk-mitigating measures other than derivatives is permitted only if the measures are specifically created and used for the purpose of hedging an individual and specific risk. Nonderivative risk mitigation measures must be fully funded and available at all times. [Basel Framework, CRE 40.136]

B3. Payment priorities and observability

Relevant to the Conduit level
  1. The commercial paper issued by the ABCP programme should not include extension options or other features which may extend the final maturity of the asset-backed commercial paper, where the right of trigger does not belong exclusively to investors. The sponsor should:

    1. make representations and warranties to investors that Criterion B3 is met at a transaction level and in particular, that it has the ability to appropriately analyze the cash flow waterfall for each transaction which qualifies as a securitization; and
    2. make available to investors a summary (illustrating the functioning) of these waterfalls and of the credit enhancement available at programme level and transaction level.

    [Basel Framework, CRE 40.137]

Relevant to the Transaction level
  1. To prevent the conduit from being subjected to unexpected repayment profiles from the transactions, the sponsor should ensure that:

    • priorities of payments are clearly defined at the time of acquisition of the interests in these transactions by the conduit; and
    • appropriate legal comfort regarding the enforceability is provided.

    [Basel Framework, CRE 40.138]

  2. For all transactions which qualify as a securitization, the sponsor should ensure that all triggers affecting the cash flow waterfall, payment profile or priority of payments are clearly and fully disclosed to the sponsor both in the transactions' documentation and reports, with information in the reports that clearly identifies any breach status, the ability for the breach to be reversed and the consequences of the breach. Reports should contain information that allows sponsors to assess the likelihood of a trigger being breached or reversed. Any triggers breached between payment dates should be disclosed to sponsors on a timely basis in accordance with the terms and conditions of the transaction documents. [Basel Framework, CRE 40.139]

  3. For any of the transactions where the beneficial interest held by the conduit qualifies as a securitization position, the sponsor should ensure that any subordinated positions do not have inappropriate payment preference over payments to the conduit (which should always rank senior to any other position) and which are due and payable. [Basel Framework, CRE 40.140]

  4. Transactions featuring a revolving period should include provisions for appropriate early amortization events and/or triggers of termination of the revolving period, including, notably:

    1. deterioration in the credit quality of the underlying exposures;
    2. a failure to replenish sufficient new underlying exposures of similar credit quality; and
    3. the occurrence of an insolvency related event with regard to the individual sellers.
      [Basel Framework, CRE 40.141]
  5. To ensure that debt forgiveness, forbearance, payment holidays, restructuring, dilution and other asset performance remedies that affect the securitization can be clearly identified, policies and procedures, definitions, remedies and actions relating to delinquency, default, dilution or restructuring of underlying debtors should be provided in clear and consistent terms, such that the sponsor can clearly identify debt forgiveness, forbearance, payment holidays, restructuring, dilution and other asset performance remedies that may affect their performanceFootnote 51 on an ongoing basis. [Basel Framework, CRE 40.142]

  6. For each transaction which qualifies as a securitization, the sponsor should ensure it receives both before the conduit acquires a beneficial interest in the transaction and on an ongoing basis, the liability cash flow analysis or information on the cash flow provisions allowing appropriate analysis of the cash flow waterfall of these transactions. [Basel Framework, CRE 40.143]

B4. Voting and enforcement rights

Relevant to the Conduit level
  1. To provide clarity to investors, the sponsor should make sufficient information available in order for investors to understand their enforcement rights on the underlying credit claims or receivables in the event of insolvency of the sponsor. [Basel Framework, CRE 40.144]

Relevant to the Transaction level
  1. For each transaction, the sponsor should ensure, in particular upon insolvency of the seller or where the obligor is in default on its obligation, that, if applicable, all voting and enforcement rights related to the credit claims or receivables are:

    • transferred to the conduit; and
    • clearly defined under all circumstances, including with respect to the rights of the conduit versus other parties with an interest (e.g. sellers), where relevant.

    [Basel Framework, CRE 40.145]

B5. Documentation disclosure and legal review

Relevant to the Conduit level
  1. To help investors understand fully the terms, conditions, and legal information prior to investing in a new programme offering and to ensure that this information is set out in a clear and effective manner for all programme offerings, the sponsor should ensure that sufficient initial offering documentation for the ABCP programme is provided to investors and potential investors within a reasonably sufficient period of time prior to issuance, such that the investor is provided with full disclosure of the legal information and comprehensive risk factors needed to make informed investment decisions. [Basel Framework, CRE 40.146]

  2. These should be composed such that readers can readily find, understand and use relevant information. The sponsor should ensure that the terms and documentation of a conduit and the ABCP programme it issues are reviewed and verified by an appropriately experienced and independent legal practice prior to publication and in the case of material changes. The sponsor should notify investors in a timely fashion of any changes in such documents that have an impact on the structural risks in the ABCP programme. [Basel Framework, CRE 40.147]

Relevant to the Transaction level
  1. To understand fully the terms, conditions and legal information prior to including a new transaction in the ABCP conduit and ensure that this information is set out in a clear and effective manner, the sponsor should ensure that it receives sufficient initial offering documentation for each transaction and that it is provided within a reasonably sufficient period of time prior to the inclusion in the conduit, with full disclosure of the legal information and comprehensive risk factors needed to supply liquidity and/or credit support facilities. The initial offering document for each transaction should be composed such that readers can readily find, understand and use relevant information. [Basel Framework, CRE 40.148]

  2. The sponsor should also ensure that the terms and documentation of a transaction are reviewed and verified by an appropriately experienced and independent legal practice prior to the acquisition of the transaction and in the case of material changes. [Basel Framework, CRE 40.148]

B6. Alignment of interest

Relevant to the Conduit level
  1. In order to align the interests of those responsible for the underwriting of the credit claims and receivables with those of investors, a material net economic exposure should be retained by the sellers or the sponsor at transaction level, or by the sponsor at the conduit level. [Basel Framework, CRE 40.149]

  2. Ultimately, the sponsor should disclose to investors how and where a material net economic exposure is retained by the seller at transaction level or by the sponsor at transaction or conduit level, and demonstrate the existence of a financial incentive in the performance of the assets. [Basel Framework, CRE 40.149]

B7. Full support

Relevant to the Conduit level
  1. The sponsor should provide the liquidity facility(ies) and the credit protection supportFootnote 52 for any ABCP programme issued by a conduit. Such facility(ies) and support should ensure that investors are fully protected against credit risks, liquidity risks and any material dilution risks of the underlying asset pools financed by the conduit. As such, investors should be able to rely on the sponsor to ensure timely and full repayment of the commercial paper. [Basel Framework, CRE 40.127]

  2. While liquidity and credit protection support at both the conduit level and transaction level can be provided by more than one sponsor, the majority of the support (assessed in terms of coverage) has to be made by a single sponsor (referred to as the "main sponsor").Footnote 53 An exception can however be made for a limited period of time, where the main sponsor has to be replaced due to a material deterioration in its credit standing. [Basel Framework, CRE 40.128]

  3. The full support provided should be able to irrevocably and unconditionally pay the ABCP liabilities in full and on time. The list of risks provided in Criterion B7 that have to be covered is not comprehensive but rather provides typical examples. [Basel Framework, CRE 40.120]

  4. Under the terms of the liquidity facility agreement:

    • Upon specified events affecting its creditworthiness, the sponsor shall be obliged to collateralize its commitment in cash to the benefit of the investors or otherwise replace itself with another liquidity provider.

    • If the sponsor does not renew its funding commitment for a specific transaction or the conduit in its entirety, the sponsor shall collateralize its commitments regarding a specific transaction or, if relevant, to the conduit in cash at the latest 30 days prior to the expiration of the liquidity facility, and no new receivables should be purchased under the affected commitment.

    [Basel Framework, CRE 40.130]

  5. The sponsor should provide investors with full information about the terms of the liquidity facility (facilities) and the credit support provided to the ABCP conduit and the underlying transactions (in relation to the transactions, redacted where necessary to protect confidentiality). [Basel Framework, CRE 40.131]

B8. Cap on maturity transformation

Relevant to the Conduit level
  1. Maturity transformation undertaken through ABCP conduits should be limited. The sponsor should verify and disclose to investors that the weighted average maturity of all the transactions financed under the ABCP conduit is three years or less. [Basel Framework, CRE 40.150]

  2. This number should be calculated as the higher of:

    1. the exposure-weighted average residual maturity of the conduit's beneficial interests held or the assets purchased by the conduit in order to finance the transactions of the conduitFootnote 54 and;
    2. the exposure-weighted average maturity of the underlying assets financed by the conduit calculated by:
      1. taking an exposure-weighted average of residual maturities of the underlying assets in each pool and then
      2. taking an exposure-weighted average across the conduit of the pool-level averages as calculated in Step 2a.

    [Basel Framework, CRE 40.150]

  3. Where it is impractical for the sponsor to calculate the pool-level weighted average maturity in Step 2a (because the pool is very granular or dynamic), sponsors may instead use the maximum maturity of the assets in the pool as defined in the legal agreements governing the pool (e.g. investment guidelines). [Basel Framework, CRE 40.150]

6-2. C Fiduciary and servicer risk

C1. Fiduciary and contractual responsibilities

Relevant to the Conduit level
  1. The sponsor should, based on the representations received from seller(s) and all other parties responsible for originating and servicing the asset pools, make representations and warranties to investors that:

    • the various criteria defined at the level of each underlying transaction are met, and explain how;
    • Seller(s)'s policies, procedures and risk management controls are well-documented, adhere to good market practices and comply with the relevant regulatory regimes; and that strong systems and reporting capabilities are in place to ensure appropriate origination and servicing of the underlying assets.

    [Basel Framework, CRE 40.152]

  2. The sponsor should be able to demonstrate expertise in providing liquidity and credit support to in the context of ABCP conduits, and is supported by a management team with extensive industry experience. [Basel Framework, CRE 40.153]

  3. The sponsor should at all times act in accordance with reasonable and prudent standards. Policies, procedures and risk management controls of the sponsor should be well documented and the sponsor should adhere to good market practices and relevant regulatory regime. There should be strong systems and reporting capabilities in place at the sponsor. [Basel Framework, CRE 40.153]

  4. The party or parties with fiduciary responsibility should act on a timely basis in the best interests of the investors. [Basel Framework, CRE 40.153]

Relevant to the Transaction level
  1. The sponsor should ensure that it receives representations from the seller(s) and all other parties responsible for originating and servicing the asset pools that they:

    • have well-documented procedures and policies in place to ensure appropriate servicing of the underlying assets;
    • have expertise in the origination of same or similar assets to those in the asset pools;
    • have extensive servicing and workout expertise, thorough legal and collateral knowledge and a proven track record in loss mitigation for the same or similar assets;
    • have expertise in the servicing of the underlying credit claims or receivables; and
    • are supported by a management team with extensive industry experience.

    [Basel Framework, CRE 40.154]

  2. In assessing whether "strong systems and reporting capabilities are in place", well documented policies, procedures and risk management controls, as well as strong systems and reporting capabilities, may be substantiated by a third-party review for sellers that are non-banking entities. Evidence of a suitable third-party review can be based on the supervisory regime applicable to this entity (if such supervision covers internal reporting systems). [Basel Framework, CRE 40.155]

C2. Transparency to investors

Relevant to the Conduit level
  1. To help provide full transparency to investors and to assist them in their conduct of their due diligence, the sponsor should ensure that the contractual obligations, duties and responsibilities of all key parties to the conduit, both those with a fiduciary responsibility and the ancillary service providers, are defined clearly both in the initial offering and any relevant underlying documentationFootnote 55 of the conduit and the ABCP programme it issues. [Basel Framework, CRE 40.156]

  2. The sponsor should also make representations and warranties to investors that the duties and responsibilities of all key parties are clearly defined at transaction level. [Basel Framework, CRE 40.157]

  3. The sponsor should ensure that the initial offering documentation disclosed to investors contains adequate provisions regarding the replacement of key counterparties of the conduit (e.g. bank account providers and derivatives counterparties) in the event of failure or non-performance or insolvency or deterioration of creditworthiness of any such counterparty. [Basel Framework, CRE 40.158]

  4. The sponsor should also make representations and warranties to investors that provisions regarding the replacement of key counterparties at transaction level are well-documented. [Basel Framework, CRE 40.159]

  5. The sponsor should provide sufficient information to investors about the liquidity facility(ies) and credit support provided to the ABCP programme for them to understand its functioning and key risks. [Basel Framework, CRE 40.160]

Relevant to the Transaction level
  1. The sponsor should conduct due diligence with respect to the transactions on behalf of the investors. [Basel Framework, CRE 40.161]

  2. To assist the sponsor in meeting its fiduciary and contractual obligations, the duties and responsibilities of all key parties to all transactions (both those with a fiduciary responsibility and of the ancillary service providers) should be defined clearly in all underlying documentation of these transactions and made available to the sponsor. [Basel Framework, CRE 40.161]

  3. The sponsor should ensure that provisions regarding the replacement of key counterparties (in particular the servicer or liquidity provider) in the event of failure or non-performance or insolvency or other deterioration of any such counterparty for the transactions are well-documented (in the documentation of these individual transactions). [Basel Framework, CRE 40.162]

  4. To enhance transparency and visibility over all receipts, payments and ledger entries at all times, the sponsor should ensure that for all transactions the performance reports include all of the transactions' income and disbursements covering items, as applicable, such as scheduled principal, redemption principal, scheduled interest, prepaid principal, past due interest and fees and charges, delinquent, defaulted, restructured and diluted amounts, as well as accurate accounting for amounts attributable to principal and interest deficiency ledgers. [Basel Framework, CRE 40.163]

C3. Financial institution

Relevant to the Conduit level
  1. The sponsor should be a financial institution that is licensed to take deposits from the public, and is subject to appropriate prudential standards and levels of supervision.Footnote 56 [Basel Framework, CRE 40.151]

6-2. D Additional criteria for capital purposes

D1. Credit risk of the underlying exposures

Relevant to the Transaction level
  1. At the date of acquisition of the assets, the underlying exposures have to meet the conditions under the Standardized Approach for credit risk and, after account is taken of any eligible credit risk mitigation, be assigned a risk weight equal to or smaller than:

    • 40% on an exposure-weighted average basis for the portfolio where the exposures are loans secured by residential mortgages or fully guaranteed residential loans;
    • 50% on an individual exposure basis where the exposure is a loan secured by a commercial mortgage;
    • 75% on an individual exposure basis where the exposure is a retail exposure; or
    • 100% on an exposure-weighted average basis for the portfolio for any other exposure.

    [Basel Framework, CRE 40.164]

D2. Granularity of the pool

Relevant to the Conduit level
  1. At the date of acquisition of any assets securitized by one of the conduits' transactions, the aggregated value of all exposures to a single obligor at that date shall not exceed 2%Footnote 57 of the aggregated outstanding exposure value of all exposures in the programme. [Basel Framework, CRE 40.165]

  2. In the case of trade receivables where the credit risk of those trade receivables is fully covered by credit protection, provided that the protection provider is a financial institution, only the portion of the trade receivables remaining after taking into account the effective of any purchase price discount and overcollateralization shall be included in the determination of whether the 2% limit is breached.

Appendix 6- 3 Illustrative examples for recognition of dilution risk when applying the SEC-IRBA to securitization exposures

The following examples are provided to illustrate the recognition of dilution risk according to paragraphs 93 and 94.

6-3.A. Common waterfall for default and dilution losses

In this example, it is assumed that losses resulting from either defaults or dilution within the securitized pool will be subject to a common waterfall, i.e. the loss allocation process does not distinguish between different sources of losses within the pool.

Pool description:Footnote 58

  • Pool of $1,000,000 of corporate receivables
  • N = 100
  • M = 2.5 yearsFootnote 59
  • PDDilution = 0.55%
  • LGDDilution = 100%
  • PDDefault = 0.95%
  • LGDDefault = 45%

Capital structure:

  • Tranche A = senior note of $700,000
  • Tranche B = second-loss guarantee of $250,000
  • Tranche C = purchase discount of $50,000
  • Final legal maturity of transaction/all tranches = 2.875 years; i.e. MT = 2.5 yearsFootnote 60

RWA calculation:

Step 1: Calculate KIRB,Dilution and KIRB,Default for the underlying portfolio:
  • K IRB,Dilution = $1,000,000 × 161.44% × 8% + 0.55% × 100% $1,000,000 = 13.47%
  • K IRB,Default = ( $1,000,000 $136,900 ) x 90.62% × 8% + 0.95% × 45% $1,000,000 = 6.69% Footnote 61
Step 2: Calculate KIRB,Pool

K IRB , Pool = K IRB , Dilution + K IRB , Default = 13.47% + 6.69% = 20.16%

Step 3: Apply the SEC-IRBA to the three tranches

Pool parameters

  • N = 100
  • LGD Pool = LGD Default × K IRB,Default + LGD Dilution × K IRB,Dilution / K IRB,Pool = 45% × 6.69% + 100% × 13.47% 20.16% = 81.87%

Tranche parameters

  • MT = 2.5 years
  • Attachment and detachment points
Tranche structure
blank Attachment point Detachment point
Tranche A 30% 100%
Tranche B 5% 30%
Tranche C 0% 5%
Resulting risk-weighted exposure amounts
blank SEC-IRBA risk weight RWA
Tranche A 21.22% $148,540
Tranche B 1013.85% $2,534,625
Tranche C 1250% $625,000

6-3. B Non-common waterfall for default and dilution losses

In this example, it is assumed that the securitization transaction does not have one common waterfall for losses due to defaults and dilutions, i.e. for the determination of the risk of a specific tranche it is not only relevant what losses might be realized within the pool but also if those losses are resulting from default or a dilution event.

As the SEC-IRBA assumes that there is one common waterfall, it cannot be applied without adjustments. The following example illustrates one possible scenario and a possible adjustment specific to this scenario.

While this example is a useful reference, an institution should consult with OSFI as to how the capital calculation should be performed (see paragraph 94).

Pool description:Footnote 62

  • Pool of $1,000,000 of corporate receivables
  • N = 100
  • M = 2.5 yearsFootnote 63
  • PDDilution = 0.55%
  • LGDDilution = 100%
  • PDDefault = 0.95%
  • LGDDefault = 45%

Capital structure:

  • Tranche A = senior note of $950,000
  • Tranche C = purchase discount of $50,000
  • Tranches A and C will cover both default and dilution losses.
  • In addition, the structure also contains a second-loss guarantee of $250,000 (Tranche B)Footnote 64 that covers only dilution losses exceeding a threshold of $50,000 up to maximum aggregated amount of $300,000, which leads to the following two waterfalls:
    1. Default waterfall
      Tranche A = senior note of $950,000
      Tranche C = purchase discount of $50,000Footnote 65

    2. Dilution waterfall
      Tranche A = senior note of $700,000
      Tranche B = second-loss guarantee of $250,000
      Tranche C = purchase discount of $50,000Footnote 66

  • MT of all three tranches = 2.5 years

Treatment of Tranche C

Tranche C is treated as described in Example A.

Treatment of Tranche B

Tranche B (second-loss guarantee) is exposed only to dilution risk, but not to default risk. Therefore, KIRB, for the purpose of calculating a capital requirement for Tranche B, can be limited to KIRB,Dilution. However, as the holder of Tranche B cannot be sure that Tranche C will still be available to cover the first dilution losses when they are realized – because the credit enhancement might already be depleted due to earlier default losses – to ensure a prudent treatment, it cannot recognize the purchase discount as credit enhancement for dilution risk. In the capital calculation, the institution providing Tranche B should assume that $50,000 of the securitized assets have already been defaulted and hence Tranche C is no longer available as credit enhancement and the exposure of the underlying assets has been reduced to $950,000. When calculating KIRB for Tranche B, the institution can assume that KIRB is not affected by the reduced portfolio size.

RWA calculation for Tranche B:
Step 1: Calculate KIRB,Pool
  • K IRB , Pool = K IRB , Dilution = 13.47%
Step 2: Apply the SEC-IRBA

Pool parameters

  • N = 100
  • LGD Pool = LGD Dilution = 100%

Tranche parameters

  • MT = 2.5 years
  • Attachment point = 0%
  • Detachment point = $250,000 / $950,000 = 26.32%
Resulting risk-weighted exposure amounts
blank SEC-IRBA risk weight RWA
Tranche B 886.94% $2,217,350

Treatment of Tranche A

The holder of Tranche A (senior note) will take all default losses not covered by the purchase discount and all dilution losses not covered by the purchase discount or the second-loss guarantee. A possible treatment for Tranche A would be to add KIRB,Default and KIRB,Dilution (as in Example A), but not to recognize the second-loss guarantee as credit enhancement at all because it is covering only dilution risk.

Although this is a simple approach, it is also fairly conservative. Therefore the following alternative for the senior tranche could be considered:

  1. Calculate the RWA amount for Tranche A under the assumption that it is only exposed to losses resulting from defaults. This assumption implies that Tranche A is benefiting from a credit enhancement of $50,000.

  2. Calculate the RWA amounts for Tranche C and (hypothetical) Tranche A' under the assumption that they are only exposed to dilution losses. Tranche A' should be assumed to absorb losses above $300,000 up to $1,000,000.

    With respect to dilution losses, this approach would recognize that the senior tranche investor cannot be sure if the purchase price discount will still be available to cover those losses when needed as it might have already been used for defaults. Consequently, from the perspective of the senior investor, the purchase price discount could only be recognized for the calculation of the capital requirement for default or dilution risk but not for both.Footnote 67 Footnote 68

  3. Sum up the RWA amounts under (i) and (ii) to determine the final RWA amount for the senior note investor.

RWA calculation for Tranche A:
Step 1: Calculate RWA for (i)

Pool parameters

  • K IRB , Pool = K IRB , Default = 6.69%
  • LGD Pool = LGD Default = 45%

Tranche parameters

  • MT = 2.5 years
  • Attachment point = $50,000 / $1,000,000 = 5%
  • Detachment point = $1,000,000 / $1,000,000 = 100%
Resulting risk-weighted exposure amounts
blank SEC-IRBA risk weight RWA
Component (i) 51.67% $490,865
Step 2: Calculate RWA for (ii)

Pool parameters

  • K IRB , Pool = K IRB , Dilution = 13.47%
  • LGD Pool = LGD Dilution = 100%

Tranche parameters

  • MT = 2.5 years
  • Attachment and detachment points
Tranche structure
blank Attachment point Detachment point
Tranche A' 30% 100%
Tranche C 0% 5%
Resulting risk-weighted exposure amounts
blank SEC-IRBA risk weight RWA
Tranche A' 11.16% $78,120
Tranche C 1250% $625,000
Step 3: Sum up the RWA of components (i) and (ii)
  • Final RWA amount for investor in Tranche A = $490,865 + $78,120 + $625,000 = $1,193,985
  • Implicit risk weight for Tranche A = MAX (15%, $1,193,985 / $950,000) = 125.68%

Footnotes

Footnote 1

The Basel Framework

Return to footnote 1

Footnote 2

Following the format: [Basel Framework, XXX yy.zz].

Return to footnote 2

Footnote 3

If a senior tranche is retranched or partially hedged (i.e. not on a pro rata basis), only the new senior part would be treated as senior for capital purposes.

Return to footnote 3

Footnote 4

Vanilla interest rate and/or currency swap exposures to the securitization are not considered retained positions for the purposes of this paragraph.

Return to footnote 4

Footnote 5

Legal opinion is not limited to legal advice from qualified legal counsel, but allows written advice from in-house lawyers.

Return to footnote 5

Footnote 6

Under IFRS 9, Stage 3 allowances and partial write-offs are considered to be specific allowances, while Stage 1 and Stage 2 allowances are considered to be general allowances.

Return to footnote 6

Footnote 7

Institutions extend securitization commitments to their clients directly or through an ABCP conduit. The undrawn amount of a securitization commitment is equal to the difference, if any, between the notional amount of the securitization commitment and the amount that the client has drawn and is outstanding on the date of determination (sometimes referred to as the utilized amount of the securitization commitment). When an institution extends a securitization commitment directly to a client, the 40% CCF applies to the undrawn amount of the securitization commitment. For the purposes of determining the backstop facility exposure to an ABCP conduit, when the securitization commitment to the client is provided through an ABCP conduit, the 40% factor would be applied to the undrawn amount of the securitization commitment to the client the same as when an institution provides a securitization commitment directly to the client.

Return to footnote 7

Footnote 8

That is, splitting exposures into portions that overlap with another exposure held by the institution and other portions that do not overlap; and expanding exposures by assuming for capital purposes that obligations with respect to one of the overlapping exposures are larger than those established contractually. The latter could be done, for instance, by expanding either the trigger events to exercise the facility and/or the extent of the obligation.

Return to footnote 8

Footnote 9

KIRB must also include the unexpected loss and the expected loss associated with defaulted exposures in the underlying pool.

Return to footnote 9

Footnote 10

Undrawn balances should not be included in the calculation of KIRB in cases where only the drawn balances of revolving facilities have been securitized.

Return to footnote 10

Footnote 11

Contra-accounts involve a customer buying from and selling to the same firm. The risk is that debts may be settled through payments in kind rather than cash. Invoices between the companies may be offset against each other instead of being paid. This practice can defeat a security interest when challenged in court.

Return to footnote 11

Footnote 12

The firm-size adjustment for SME, as defined in section 5.3.1 (ii) of Chapter 5 of this guideline, will be the weighted average by individual exposure of the pool of purchased corporate receivables. If the institution does not have the information to calculate the average size of the pool, the firm-size adjustment will not apply.

Return to footnote 12

Footnote 13

The rating designations used in Tables 1 and 2 are for illustrative purposes only and do not indicate any preference for, or endorsement of, any particular external assessment system. See section 4.2 of Chapter 4 for mapping of ratings for recognized ECAIs.

Return to footnote 13

Footnote 14

Where the eligible credit assessment is not publicly available free of charge, the ECAI should provide an adequate justification, within its own publicly available code of conduct, in accordance with the "comply or explain" nature of the IOSCO Code of Conduct Fundamentals for Credit Rating Agencies.

Return to footnote 14

Footnote 15

That is, splitting exposures into portions that overlap with another exposure held by the institution and other portions that do not overlap; and expanding exposures by assuming for capital purposes that obligations with respect to one of the overlapping exposures are larger than those established contractually. The latter could be done, for instance, by expanding either the trigger events to exercise the facility and/or the extent of the obligation.

Return to footnote 15

Footnote 16

KIRB must also include the unexpected loss and expected loss associated with defaulted exposures in the underlying pool.

Return to footnote 16

Footnote 17

As in the case of swaps other than credit derivatives, the numerator of KIRB (i.e.: quantity (a)) must include the exposure amount of the collateral times its risk weight times 8%, but the denominator should be calculated without recognition of the collateral.

Return to footnote 17

Footnote 18

The envisioned decomposition is theoretical and it should not be viewed as a new securitization transaction. The resulting sub-tranches should not be considered resecuritizations solely due to the presence of the credit protection.

Return to footnote 18

Footnote 19

'Sub-tranche of highest priority' only describes the relative priority of the decomposed tranche. The calculation of the risk weight of each sub-tranche is independent from the question if this sub-tranche is protected (i.e. risk is taken by the protection provider) or is unprotected (i.e. risk is taken by the protection buyer).

Return to footnote 19

Footnote 20

Institutions may apply the short term criteria to other exposures only if the exposures were evaluated using the same or similar processes and information and meet all relevant criteria for inclusion into an ABCP conduit sponsored by the institution.

Return to footnote 20

Footnote 21

Payments on operating and financing leases are typically considered to be rental payments rather than payments of principal and interest.

Return to footnote 21

Footnote 22

Commonly encountered market interest rates may include rates reflective of a lender's cost of funds, to the extent that sufficient data are provided to investors to allow them to assess their relation to other market rates. Examples of these would include: (i) interbank rates and rates set by monetary policy authorities, such as CDOR, Enhanced CORRA, LIBOR, EURIBOR, the Bank of Canada's target for the overnight rate, and the Fed Funds Rate; and (ii) sectoral rates reflective of a lender's cost of funds, such as internal interest rates that directly reflect the market costs of an institution's funding or that of a subset of institutions.

Return to footnote 22

Footnote 23

The Global Association of Risk Professionals (GARP) defines an exotic instrument as a financial asset or instrument with features making it more complex than simpler, plain vanilla products.

Return to footnote 23

Footnote 24

Delinquency disclosures may vary by asset class; however, 30+ day delinquencies should be disclosed for most asset classes.

Return to footnote 24

Footnote 25

This "additional consideration" may form part of investors' due diligence process, but does not form part of the criteria when determining whether a securitization can be considered STC.

Return to footnote 25

Footnote 26

This condition would not apply to borrowers that previously had credit incidents but were subsequently removed from credit registries as a result of the borrower cleaning their records. This is the case in jurisdictions in which borrowers have the "right to be forgotten".

Return to footnote 26

Footnote 27

Original sellers or sponsors may satisfy this verification requirement through an assessment of related metrics that can be shown to address an obligor's financial difficulty, insolvency or debt restructuring over the prescribed period of time.

Return to footnote 27

Footnote 28

For this purpose, a credit score may be from a credit rating bureau (such as a FICO score), or may be an internal score (such as from the original lender).

Return to footnote 28

Footnote 29

Provided they are not actively selected or otherwise cherry-picked on a discretionary basis, the addition of credit claims or receivables during the revolving periods or their substitution or repurchasing due to the breach of representations and warranties do not represent active portfolio management.

Return to footnote 29

Footnote 30

The requirement should not affect jurisdictions whose legal frameworks provide for a true sale with the same effects as described above, but by means other than a transfer of the credit claims or receivables.

Return to footnote 30

Footnote 31

If agreements were in place for the originator/sponsor to repurchase loans at market rates prior to modification then the loan modification policies would not affect the investment performance and so would not need to be disclosed.

Return to footnote 31

Footnote 32

For the avoidance of doubt, any type of securitization should be allowed to fulfil the requirements of Criterion B5 once it meets its prescribed standards of disclosure and legal review.

Return to footnote 32

Footnote 33

For example, draft offering circular, draft offering memorandum, draft offering document or draft prospectus, such as a "red herring".

Return to footnote 33

Footnote 34

For example, any relevant agreements, contracts, terms; and any other relevant underlying documentation, including legal opinions.

Return to footnote 34

Footnote 35

For corporate exposures, the applicable maximum concentration threshold can be increased to 2% if the securitization transaction benefits from a loss absorbing credit enhancement, as defined in paragraph 13, which covers at least the first 10% of losses. Subordinated tranche(s) for the purposes of a loss absorbing credit enhancement used to meet this requirement shall not be eligible for the STC capital treatment.

Return to footnote 35

Footnote 36

For instance, transactions in which assets are sold to a special purpose entity sponsored by an institution's customer and then either a security interest in the assets is granted to the ABCP conduit to secure a loan made by the ABCP conduit to the sponsored special purpose entity, or an undivided interest is sold to the ABCP conduit.

Return to footnote 36

Footnote 37

Payments on operating and financing leases are typically considered to be rental payments rather than payments of principal and interest.

Return to footnote 37

Footnote 38

Commonly encountered market interest rates may include rates reflective of a lender's cost of funds, to the extent sufficient data is provided to the sponsors to allow them to assess their relation to other market rates.

Return to footnote 38

Footnote 39

The Global Association of Risk Professionals (GARP) defines an exotic instrument as a financial asset or instrument with features making it more complex than simpler, plain vanilla, products.

Return to footnote 39

Footnote 40

Stratified means by way of example:

  • all materially relevant data on the conduit's composition (outstanding balances, industry sector, obligor concentrations, maturities, etc.) and conduit's overview;
  • all materially relevant data on the credit quality and performance of underlying transactions, allowing investors to identify collections, and as applicable, debt restructuring, forgiveness, forbearance, payment holidays, repurchases, delinquencies and defaults.

Return to footnote 40

Footnote 41

Delinquency disclosures may vary by asset class; however, 30+ day delinquencies should be disclosed for most asset classes.

Return to footnote 41

Footnote 42

This condition would not apply to borrowers that previously had credit incidents but were subsequently removed from credit registries as a result of the borrowers cleaning their records. This is the case in jurisdictions in which borrowers have the "right to be forgotten".

Return to footnote 42

Footnote 43

Original sellers or sponsors may satisfy this verification requirement through an assessment of related metrics that can be shown to address an obligor's financial difficulty, insolvency or debt restructuring over the prescribed period of time.

Return to footnote 43

Footnote 44

For this purpose, a credit score may be from a credit rating bureau (such as a FICO score), or may be an internal score (such as from the original lender).

Return to footnote 44

Footnote 45

There is no obligation for the seller to perform this assessment itself.

Return to footnote 45

Footnote 46

Provided they are not actively selected or otherwise cherry picked on a discretionary basis, the addition of credit claims or receivables during the revolving periods, their substitution or repurchasing due to the breach of representations and warranties or their repurchases for sale to term securitizations do not represent active portfolio management.

Return to footnote 46

Footnote 47

This requirement should not affect jurisdictions whose legal frameworks provide for a true sale with the same effects as described above, but by means other than a transfer of the credit claims or receivables.

Return to footnote 47

Footnote 48

For instance, the immediate realization of transfer tax or the requirement to notify all obligors of the transfer.

Return to footnote 48

Footnote 49

For instance, equitable assignment, perfected contingent transfer.

Return to footnote 49

Footnote 50

The term "appropriately mitigated" should be understood as not necessarily requiring a completely perfect hedge and should not be seen from an accounting perspective.

Return to footnote 50

Footnote 51

If agreements were in place for the originator/sponsor to repurchase loans at market rates prior to modification then the loan modification policies would not affect the investment performance and so would not need to be disclosed.

Return to footnote 51

Footnote 52

A sponsor can provide full support either at ABCP programme level or at transaction level, i.e. by fully supporting each transaction within an ABCP programme.

Return to footnote 52

Footnote 53

"Liquidity and credit protection support" refers to support provided by the sponsors. Any support provided by the seller is excluded.

Return to footnote 53

Footnote 54

Including purchased securitization notes, loans, asset-backed deposits and purchased credit claims and/or receivables held directly on the conduit's balance sheet.

Return to footnote 54

Footnote 55

"Underlying documentation" does not refer to the documentation of the underlying transactions.

Return to footnote 55

Footnote 56

Prudential standards and the level of supervision should be comparable to those under the Basel II framework (including, in particular, risk-based capital requirements comparable to those applied in this guideline).

Return to footnote 56

Footnote 57

For corporate exposures, the applicable maximum concentration threshold can be increased to 3% if the securitization transaction benefits from a loss-absorbing credit enhancement, as defined in paragraph 94, which covers at least the first 10% of losses. Subordinated tranche(s) retained for the purposes of a loss absorbing credit enhancement by the sellers or sponsor shall not be eligible for the STC capital treatment.

Return to footnote 57

Footnote 58

For the sake of simplicity, it is assumed that all exposures have the same size, same PD, same LGD and same maturity.

Return to footnote 58

Footnote 59

For the sake of simplicity, the possibility described in paragraph 369 to set MDilution = 1 is not used in this example.

Return to footnote 59

Footnote 60

The rounding of the maturity calculation is shown for example purposes.

Return to footnote 60

Footnote 61

As described in paragraph 73, when calculating the default risk of exposures with non-immaterial dilution risk "EAD will be calculated as the outstanding amount minus the capital charge for dilution prior to credit risk mitigation".

Return to footnote 61

Footnote 62

See footnote 23.

Return to footnote 62

Footnote 63

See footnote 24.

Return to footnote 63

Footnote 64

For the sake of simplicity, it is assumed that the second loss guarantee is cash-collateralized.

Return to footnote 64

Footnote 65

Subject to the condition that it is not already being used for realized dilution losses.

Return to footnote 65

Footnote 66

Subject to the condition that it is not already being used for realized default losses.

Return to footnote 66

Footnote 67

In this example, the purchase price discount was recognized in the default risk calculation, but institutions could also choose to use it for the dilution risk calculation.

Return to footnote 67

Footnote 68

In this example, it is assumed that the second-loss dilution guarantee explicitly covers dilution losses above $50,000 up to $300,000. If the guarantee instead covered $250,000 dilution losses after the purchase discount has been depleted (irrespective of whether the purchase discount has been used for dilution or default losses), then the senior note holder should assume that he is exposed to dilution losses from $250,000 up to $1,000,000 (instead of $0 to $50,000 + $300,000 to $1,000,000).

Return to footnote 68