• CA-6.4 CA-6.4 Treatment of Securitisation Exposures

    • Calculation of Capital Requirements

      • CA-6.4.1

        Except as stated in paragraph CA-6.3.2, banks are required to hold regulatory capital against all of their securitisation exposures and re-securitisation exposures, including those arising from the provision of credit risk mitigants to a securitisation 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 securitisation exposures must be treated as retained securitisation exposures.

        Amended: January 2012
        Apr 08

      • (i) Deduction

        • CA-6.4.2

          When a bank is required to deduct a securitisation exposure from regulatory capital, the deduction must be taken 50% from Tier 1 and 50% from Tier 2 with the one exception noted in paragraph CA-6.4.3. Credit enhancing I/Os (net of the amount that must be deducted from Tier 1 as in paragraph CA-6.4.3) are deducted 50% from Tier 1 and 50% from Tier 2. Deductions from capital may be calculated net of any specific provisions taken against the relevant securitisation exposures.

          Apr 08

        • CA-6.4.3

          Banks must deduct from Tier 1 any increase in equity capital resulting from a securitisation transaction, such as that associated with expected future margin income (FMI) resulting in a gain-on-sale that is recognised in regulatory capital. Such an increase in capital is referred to as a "gain-on-sale" for the purposes of the securitisation framework.

          Apr 08

        • CA-6.4.4

          For the purposes of the EL-provision calculation as set out in Section CA-5.7, securitisation exposures do not contribute to the EL amount. Similarly, any specific provisions against securitisation exposures are not to be included in the measurement of eligible provisions.

          Apr 08

      • (ii) Implicit Support

        • CA-6.4.5

          When a bank provides implicit support to a securitisation, it must, at a minimum, hold capital against all of the exposures associated with the securitisation transaction as if they had not been securitised. Additionally, banks would not be permitted to recognise in regulatory capital any gain-on-sale, as defined in paragraph CA-6.4.3. Furthermore, the bank is required to disclose publicly that (a) it has provided non-contractual support and (b) the capital impact of doing so.

          Apr 08

        • Operational Requirements for use of External Credit Assessments

          • CA-6.4.6

            The following operational criteria concerning the use of external credit assessments apply in the standardised and IRB approaches of the securitisation framework:

            (a) To be eligible for risk-weighting purposes, the external credit assessment must take into account and reflect the entire amount of credit risk exposure the bank has with regard to all payments owed to it. For example, if a bank 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;
            (b) The exteral credit assessments must be from an eligible ECAI as recognised by the CBB in accordance with section CA-3.4 with the following exception. In contrast with (c) of paragraph CA-3.4.1, an eligible credit assessment must be publicly available. In other words, a rating must be published in an accessible form and included in the ECAI's transition matrix. Consequently, ratings that are made available only to the parties to a transaction do not satisfy this requirement;
            (c) Eligible ECAIs must have a demonstrated expertise in assessing securitisations, which may be evidenced by strong market acceptance;
            (d) A bank must apply external credit assessments from eligible ECAIs consistently across a given type of securitisation exposure. Furthermore, a bank cannot use the credit assessments issued by one ECAI for one or more tranches and those of another ECAI for other positions (whether retained or purchased) within the same securitisation structure that may or may not be rated by the first ECAI. Where two or more eligible ECAIs can be used and these assess the credit risk of the same securitisation exposure differently, paragraphs CA-3.4.5 and CA-3.4.6 will apply;
            (e) Where CRM is provided directly to an SPSV by an eligible guarantor defined in paragraph CA-4.5.7 and is reflected in the external credit assessment assigned to a securitisation 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 recognised as an eligible guarantor in paragraph CA-4.5.7, the covered securitisation exposures should be treated as unrated; and
            (f) In the situation where a credit risk mitigant is not obtained by the SPSV but rather applied to a specific securitisation exposure within a given structure (e.g. ABS tranche), the bank must treat the exposure as if it is unrated and then use the CRM treatment outlined in chapter CA-4 or in the foundation IRB approach of chapter CA-5, to recognise the hedge.
            Amended: April 2011
            Apr 08

          • CA-6.4.6A

            A bank 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 bank. For example, if a bank buys ABCP where it provides an unfunded securitisation exposure extended to the ABCP programme (e.g. liquidity facility or credit enhancement), and that exposure plays a role in determining the credit assessment on the ABCP, the bank must treat the ABCP as if it were not rated. The bank must continue to hold capital against the other securitisation exposures it provides (e.g. against the liquidity facility and/or credit enhancement). The treatment described above is also applicable to exposures held in the trading book. A bank's capital requirement for such exposures held in the trading book can be no less than the amount required under the banking book treatment. Banks are permitted to recognise overlap in their exposures, consistent with CA-6.4.23. For example, a bank providing a liquidity facility supporting 100% of the ABCP issued by an ABCP programme and purchasing (for its own account) 20% of the outstanding ABCP of that programme could recognise an overlap of 20% (100% liquidity facility + 20% CP held – 100% CP issued = 20%). If a bank provided a liquidity facility that covered 90% of the outstanding ABCP and purchased 20% of the ABCP, the two exposures would be treated as if 10% of the two exposures overlapped (90% liquidity facility + 20% CP held – 100% CP issued = 10%). If a bank provided a liquidity facility that covered 50% of the outstanding ABCP and purchased 20% of the ABCP, the two exposures would be treated as if there were no overlap.

            Added: January 2012

        • Standardised Approach for Securitisation Exposures

          • (i) Scope

            • CA-6.4.7

              Banks that apply the standardised approach to credit risk for the type of underlying exposure(s) securitised must use the standardised approach under the securitisation framework.

              Apr 08

          • (ii) Risk Weights

            • CA-6.4.8

              The risk-weighted asset amount of a securitisation exposure is computed by multiplying the amount of the position by the appropriate risk weight determined in accordance with the following tables. For off-balance sheet exposures, banks must apply a CCF and then risk weight the resultant credit equivalent amount. If such an exposure is rated, a CCF of 100% must be applied. For positions with long-term ratings of B+ and below and short-term ratings other than A-1/P-1, A-2/P-2, A-3/P-3, deduction from capital as defined in paragraph CA-6.4.2 is required. Deduction is also required for unrated positions with the exception of the circumstances described in paragraphs CA-6.4.12 to CA-6.4.16.

              The following risk weights are applied in the standardised approach.

              Long term rating50 Securitisation Exposure Re-securitisation Exposure
              AAA to AA- 20% 40%
              A+ to A- 50% 100%
              BBB+ to BBB- 100% 225%
              BB+ to BB- 350% 650%
              B+ and below or unrated Deduction Deduction

              Short term rating Securitisation Exposure Re-securitisation Exposure
              A-1/P-1 20% 40%
              A-2/P-2 50% 100%
              A-3/P-3 100% 225%
              All other ratings or unrated Deduction Deduction


              50 The rating designations used in the following tables are for illustrative purposes only and do not indicate any preference for, or endorsement of, any particular external assessment system.

              Amended: January 2012
              Apr 08

            • CA-6.4.9

              The capital treatment of positions retained by originators, liquidity facilities, credit risk mitigants, and securitisations of revolving exposures are identified separately. The treatment of clean-up calls is provided in paragraphs CA-6.3.5 to CA-6.3.7.

              Apr 08

        • Recognition of Ratings on Below-investment Grade Exposures

          • CA-6.4.10

            Only third-party investors, as opposed to banks that serve as originators, may recognise external credit assessments that are equivalent to BB+ to BB- for risk weighting purposes of securitisation exposures.

            Apr 08

        • Originators to Deduct Below-investment Grade Exposures

          • CA-6.4.11

            Originating banks as defined in paragraph CA-6.2.1 must deduct all retained securitisation exposures rated below investment grade (i.e. BBB-).

            Apr 08

      • (iii) Exceptions to General Treatment of Unrated Securitisation Exposures

        • CA-6.4.12

          As noted in the tables above, unrated securitisation exposures must be deducted with the following exceptions: (i) the most senior exposure in a securitisation, (ii) exposures that are in a second loss position or better in ABCP programmes and meet the requirements outlined in paragraph CA-6.4.15, and (iii) eligible liquidity facilities.

          Apr 08

        • Treatment of Unrated Most Senior Securitisation Exposures

          • CA-6.4.13

            If the most senior exposure in a securitisation of a traditional or synthetic securitisation is unrated, a bank that holds or guarantees such an exposure may determine the risk weight by applying the "look-through" treatment, provided the composition of the underlying pool is known at all times. Banks are not required to consider interest rate or currency swaps when determining whether an exposure is the most senior in a securitisation for the purpose of applying the "look-through" approach.

            Apr 08

          • CA-6.4.14

            In the look-through treatment, the unrated most senior position receives the average risk weight of the underlying exposures subject to CBB review. Where the bank is unable to determine the risk weights assigned to the underlying credit risk exposures, the unrated position must be deducted.

            Apr 08

        • Treatment of Exposures in a Second Loss Position or Better in ABCP Programmes

          • CA-6.4.15

            Deduction is not required for those unrated securitisation exposures provided by sponsoring banks to ABCP programmes that satisfy the following requirements:

            (a) The exposure is economically in a second loss position or better and the first loss position provides significant credit protection to the second loss position;
            (b) The associated credit risk is the equivalent of investment grade or better; and
            (c) The bank holding the unrated securitisation exposure does not retain or provide the first loss position.
            Apr 08

          • CA-6.4.16

            Where these conditions are satisfied, the risk weight is the greater of (i) 100% or (ii) the highest risk weight assigned to any of the underlying individual exposures covered by the facility.

            Apr 08

        • Risk Weights for Eligible Liquidity Facilities

          • CA-6.4.17

            For eligible liquidity facilities as defined in paragraph CA-6.4.19 and where the conditions for use of external credit assessments in paragraph CA-6.4.6 are not met, the risk weight applied to the exposure's credit equivalent amount is equal to the highest risk weight assigned to any of the underlying individual exposures covered by the facility.

            Apr 08

      • (iv) Credit Conversion Factors for Off-balance Sheet Exposures

        • CA-6.4.18

          For risk-based capital purposes, banks must determine whether, according to the criteria outlined below, an off-balance sheet securitisation exposure qualifies as an 'eligible liquidity facility' or an 'eligible servicer cash advance facility'. All other off-balance sheet securitisation exposures will receive a 100% CCF.

          Apr 08

        • Eligible Liquidity Facilities

          • CA-6.4.19

            Banks are permitted to treat off-balance sheet securitisation exposures as eligible liquidity facilities if the following minimum requirements are satisfied:

            (a) The facility documentation must clearly identify and limit the circumstances under which it may be drawn. Draws under the facility must be limited to the amount that is likely to be repaid fully from the liquidation of the underlying exposures and any seller-provided credit enhancements. In addition, the facility must not cover any losses incurred in the underlying pool of exposures prior to a draw, or be structured such that draw-down is certain (as indicated by regular or continuous draws);
            (b) The facility must be subject to an asset quality test that precludes it from being drawn to cover credit risk exposures that are in default as defined in paragraphs CA-5.8.63 to CA-5.8.70. In addition, if the exposures that a liquidity facility is required to fund are externally rated securities, the facility can only be used to fund securities that are externally rated investment grade at the time of funding;
            (c) The facility cannot be drawn after all applicable (e.g. transaction-specific and programme-wide) credit enhancements from which the liquidity would benefit have been exhausted; and
            (d) Repayment of draws on the facility (i.e. assets acquired under a purchase agreement or loans made under a lending agreement) must not be subordinated to any interests of any note holder in the programme (e.g. ABCP programme) or subject to deferral or waiver.
            Apr 08

          • CA-6.4.20

            Where these conditions are met, the bank may apply a 50% CCF to the eligible facility regardless of the maturity of the facility. However, if an external rating of the facility itself is used for risk-weighting the facility, a 100% CCF must be applied.

            Amended: January 2012
            Apr 08

        • [Deleted]

          Deleted: January 2012

          • CA-6.4.21 [Deleted]

            [This Paragraph has been deleted in January 2012].

            Deleted: January 2012

          • CA-6.4.22 [Deleted]

            [This Paragraph has been deleted in January 2012].

            Deleted: January 2012

        • Treatment of Overlapping Exposures

          • CA-6.4.23

            A bank may provide several types of facilities that can be drawn under various conditions. The same bank may be providing two or more of these facilities. Given the different triggers found in these facilities, it may be the case that a bank provides duplicative coverage to the underlying exposures. In other words, the facilities provided by a bank may overlap since a draw on one facility may preclude (in part) a draw under the other facility. In the case of overlapping facilities provided by the same bank, the bank does not need to hold additional capital for the overlap. Rather, it is only required to hold capital once for the position covered by the overlapping facilities (whether they are liquidity facilities or credit enhancements). Where the overlapping facilities are subject to different conversion factors, the bank must attribute the overlapping part to the facility with the highest conversion factor. However, if overlapping facilities are provided by different banks, each bank must hold capital for the maximum amount of the facility (see also Paragraph CA-6.4.6A).

            Amended: January 2012
            Apr 08

        • Eligible Servicer Cash Advance Facilities

          • CA-6.4.24

            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. A 0% CCF must be applied to such un-drawn servicer cash advances or facilities provided that these are unconditionally cancellable without prior notice.

            Apr 08

        • Treatment of Credit Risk Mitigation for Securitisation Exposures

          • CA-6.4.25

            The treatment below applies to a bank that has obtained a credit risk mitigant on a securitisation exposure. Credit risk mitigants include guarantees, credit derivatives, collateral and on-balance sheet netting. Collateral in this context refers to that used to hedge the credit risk of a securitisation exposure rather than the underlying exposures of the securitisation transaction.

            Apr 08

          • CA-6.4.26

            When a bank other than the originator provides credit protection to a securitisation exposure, it must calculate a capital requirement on the covered exposure as if it were an investor in that securitisation. If a bank provides protection to an unrated credit enhancement, it must treat the credit protection provided as if it were directly holding the unrated credit enhancement.

            Apr 08

        • Collateral

          • CA-6.4.27

            Eligible collateral is limited to that recognised under the standardised approach for CRM (paragraphs CA-4.3.1 and CA-4.3.2). Collateral pledged by SPSVs may be recognised.

            Apr 08

        • Guarantees and Credit Derivatives

          • CA-6.4.28

            Credit protection provided by the entities listed in paragraph CA-4.5.7 may be recognised. SPSVs cannot be recognised as eligible guarantors. A bank must not recognise any support provided by itself (see also Paragraph CA-6.4.6).

            Amended: January 2012
            Apr 08

          • CA-6.4.29

            Where guarantees or credit derivatives fulfill the minimum operational conditions as specified in paragraphs CA-4.5.1 to CA-4.5.6, banks can take account of such credit protection in calculating capital requirements for securitisation exposures.

            Apr 08

          • CA-6.4.30

            Capital requirements for the guaranteed/protected portion will be calculated according to CRM for the standardised approach as specified in paragraphs CA-4.5.8 to CA-4.5.13.

            Apr 08

        • Maturity Mismatches

          • CA-6.4.31

            For the purpose of setting regulatory capital against a maturity mismatch, the capital requirement will be determined in accordance with paragraphs CA-4.6.1 to CA-4.6.4. When the exposures being hedged have different maturities, the longest maturity must be used.

            Apr 08

      • (vi) Capital Requirement for Early Amortisation Provisions

        • Scope

          • CA-6.4.32

            As described below, an originating bank is required to hold capital against all or a portion of the investors' interest (i.e. against both the drawn and un-drawn balances related to the securitised exposures) when:

            (a) It sells exposures into a structure that contains an early amortisation feature; and
            (b) The exposures sold are of a revolving nature. These involve exposures where the borrower is permitted to vary the drawn amount and repayments within an agreed limit under a line of credit (e.g. credit card receivables and corporate loan commitments).
            Apr 08

          • CA-6.4.33

            The capital requirement should reflect the type of mechanism through which an early amortisation is triggered.

            Apr 08

          • CA-6.4.34

            For securitisation structures wherein the underlying pool comprises revolving and term exposures, a bank must apply the relevant early amortisation treatment (outlined below in paragraphs CA-6.4.36 to CA-6.4.47) to that portion of the underlying pool containing revolving exposures.

            Apr 08

          • CA-6.4.35

            Banks are not required to calculate a capital requirement for early amortisations in the following situations:

            (a) Replenishment structures where the underlying exposures do not revolve and the early amortisation ends the ability of the bank to add new exposures;
            (b) Transactions of revolving assets containing early amortisation features that mimic term structures (i.e. where the risk on the underlying facilities does not return to the originating bank);
            (c) Structures where a bank securitises one or more credit line(s) and where investors remain fully exposed to future draws by borrowers even after an early amortisation event has occurred;
            (d) The early amortisation clause is solely triggered by events not related to the performance of the securitised assets or the selling bank, such as material changes in tax laws or regulations.
            Apr 08

        • Maximum Capital Requirement

          • CA-6.4.36

            For a bank subject to the early amortisation treatment, the total capital charge for all of its positions will be subject to a maximum capital requirement (i.e. a 'cap') equal to the greater of (i) that required for retained securitisation exposures, or (ii) the capital requirement that would apply had the exposures not been securitised. In addition, banks must deduct the entire amount of any gain-on-sale and credit enhancing I/Os arising from the securitisation transaction in accordance with paragraphs CA-6.4.2 to CA-6.4.4.

            Apr 08

        • Mechanics

          • CA-6.4.37

            The originator's capital charge for the investors' interest is determined as the product of (a) the investors' interest, (b) the appropriate CCF (as discussed below), and (c) the risk weight appropriate to the underlying exposure type, as if the exposures had not been securitised. As described below, the CCFs depend upon whether the early amortisation repays investors through a controlled or non-controlled mechanism. They also differ according to whether the securitised exposures are uncommitted retail credit lines (e.g. credit card receivables) or other credit lines (e.g. revolving corporate facilities). A line is considered uncommitted if it is unconditionally cancellable without prior notice.

            Apr 08

      • (vii) Determination of CCFs for Controlled Early Amortisation Features

        • CA-6.4.38

          An early amortisation feature is considered controlled when the definition as specified in paragraph CA-6.2.6 is satisfied.

          Apr 08

        • Uncommitted Retail Exposures

          • CA-6.4.39

            For uncommitted retail credit lines (e.g. credit card receivables) in securitisations containing controlled early amortisation features, banks must compare the three-month average excess spread defined in paragraph CA-6.2.8 to the point at which the bank is required to trap excess spread as economically required by the structure (i.e. excess spread trapping point).

            Apr 08

          • CA-6.4.40

            In cases where such a transaction does not require excess spread to be trapped, the trapping point is deemed to be 4.5 percentage points.

            Apr 08

          • CA-6.4.41

            The bank must divide the excess spread level by the transaction's excess spread trapping point to determine the appropriate segments and apply the corresponding conversion factors, as outlined in the following table.

            Controlled Early Amortisation Features

              Uncommitted Committed
            Retail credit lines 3-month average excess spread Credit Conversion Factor (CCF)

            133.33% of trapping point or more

            0% CCF

            less than 133.33% to 100% of trapping point

            1% CCF

            less than 100% to 75% of trapping point

            2% CCF

            less than 75% to 50% of trapping point

            10% CCF

            less than 50% to 25% of trapping point

            20% CCF

            less than 25%

            40% CCF
            90% CCF
            Non-retail credit lines 90% CCF 90% CCF
            Amended: April 2011
            Apr 08

          • CA-6.4.42

            Banks are required to apply the conversion factors set out above for controlled mechanisms to the investors' interest referred to in paragraph CA-6.4.37.

            Apr 08

        • Other Exposures

          • CA-6.4.43

            All other securitised revolving exposures (i.e. those that are committed and all non-retail exposures) with controlled early amortisation features will be subject to a CCF of 90% against the off-balance sheet exposures.

            Apr 08

      • (viii) Determination of CCFs for Non-controlled Early Amortisation Features

        • CA-6.4.44

          Early amortisation features that do not satisfy the definition of a controlled early amortisation as specified in paragraph CA-6.2.6 will be considered non-controlled and treated as follows.

          Apr 08

        • Uncommitted Retail Exposures

          • CA-6.4.45

            For uncommitted retail credit lines (e.g. credit card receivables) in securitisations containing non-controlled early amortisation features, banks must make the comparison described in paragraphs CA-6.4.38 and CA-6.4.40.

            Apr 08

          • CA-6.4.46

            The bank must divide the excess spread level by the transaction's excess spread trapping point to determine the appropriate segments and apply the corresponding conversion factors, as outlined in the following table.

            Non-controlled Early Amortisation Features

              Uncommitted Committed
            Retail credit lines 3-month average excess spread Credit Conversion Factor (CCF)

            133.33% or more of trapping point

            0% CCF

            less than 133.33% to 100% of trapping point

            5% CCF

            less than 100% to 75% of trapping point

            15% CCF

            less than 75% to 50% of trapping point

            50% CCF

            less than 50% of trapping point

            100% CCF
            100% CCF
            Non-retail credit lines 100% CCF 100% CCF
            Amended: April 2011
            Apr 08

        • Other Exposures

          • CA-6.4.47

            All other securitised revolving exposures (i.e. those that are committed and all non-retail exposures) with non-controlled early amortisation features will be subject to a CCF of 100% against the off-balance sheet exposures.

            Apr 08

        • Internal Ratings-based Approach for Securitisation Exposures

          • (i) Scope

            • CA-6.4.48

              Banks that have received approval from CBB to use the IRB approach for the type of underlying exposures securitised (e.g. for their corporate or retail portfolio) must use the IRB approach for securitisations. Conversely, banks may not use the IRB approach to securitisation unless they receive approval to use the IRB approach for the underlying exposures from CBB.

              Apr 08

            • CA-6.4.49

              If the bank is applying the IRB approach for some exposures and the standardised approach for other exposures in the underlying pool, it should generally use the approach corresponding to the predominant share of exposures within the pool. The bank must consult with the CBB on which approach to apply to its securitisation exposures. To ensure appropriate capital levels, there may be instances where the CBB requires a treatment other than this general rule.

              Apr 08

            • CA-6.4.50

              Where there is no specific IRB treatment for the underlying asset type, originating banks that have received approval to use the IRB approach must calculate capital charges on their securitisation exposures applying the standardised approach in the securitisation framework, and investing banks with approval to use the IRB approach must apply the RBA.

              Apr 08

          • (ii) Hierarchy of Approaches

            • CA-6.4.51

              The Ratings-Based Approach (RBA) must be applied to securitisation exposures that are rated, or where a rating can be inferred as described in paragraph CA-6.4.60. Where an external or an inferred rating is not available, either the Supervisory Formula (SF) or the Internal Assessment Approach (IAA) must be applied. The IAA is only available to exposures (e.g. liquidity facilities and credit enhancements) that banks (including third-party banks) extend to ABCP programmes. Such exposures must satisfy the conditions of paragraphs CA-6.4.62 and CA-6.4.63. For liquidity facilities to which none of these approaches can be applied, banks may apply the treatment specified in paragraph CA-6.4.84. Exceptional treatment for eligible servicer cash advance facilities is specified in paragraph CA-6.4.86. Securitisation exposures to which none of these approaches can be applied must be deducted.

              Apr 08

          • (iii) Maximum Capital Requirement

            • CA-6.4.52

              For a bank applying the IRB approach to securitisation, the maximum capital requirement for the securitisation exposures it holds is equal to the IRB capital requirement that would have been assessed against the underlying exposures had they not been securitised and treated under the appropriate sections of the IRB framework including section CA-5.7. In addition, banks must deduct the entire amount of any gain-on-sale and credit enhancing I/Os arising from the securitisation transaction in accordance with paragraphs CA-6.4.2 to CA-6.4.4.

              Apr 08

          • (iv) Ratings-Based Approach (RBA)

            • CA-6.4.53

              Under the RBA, the risk-weighted assets are determined by multiplying the amount of the exposure by the appropriate risk weights, provided in the tables in paragraph CA-6.4.58 and CA-6.4.59.

              Apr 08

            • CA-6.4.54

              The risk weights depend on (i) the external rating grade or an available inferred rating, (ii) whether the credit rating (external or inferred) represents a long-term or a short term credit rating, (iii) the granularity of the underlying pool and (iv) the seniority of the position.

              Apr 08

            • CA-6.4.55

              For purposes of the RBA, a securitisation exposure is treated as a senior tranche if it is effectively backed or secured by a first claim on the entire amount of the assets in the underlying securitised pool. While this generally includes only the most senior position within a securitisation transaction, in some instances there may be some other claim 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 subject to the "senior tranches" column.

              Apr 08

            • CA-6.4.56

              Examples:

              (a) In a typical synthetic securitisation, the "super-senior" tranche would be treated as a senior tranche, provided that all of the conditions for inferring a rating from a lower tranche are fulfilled;
              (b) In a traditional securitisation where all tranches above the first-loss piece are rated, the most highly rated position would be treated as a senior tranche. However, when there are several tranches that share the same rating, only the most senior one in the waterfall would be treated as senior; and
              (c) 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 or reserves provided by the seller and as being most senior only 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 other creditors until any liquidity draws were repaid in full. In such a case, the RBA risk weights in the left-most column can be used. If these conditions are not satisfied or for other reasons the liquidity facility constitutes a mezzanine position in economic substance rather than a senior position in the underlying pool, then the "Base risk weights" column is applicable.
              Amended: January 2012
              Amended: April 2011
              Apr 08

            • CA-6.4.57

              The risk weights provided in the table in paragraph CA-6.4.58 apply when the external assessment represents a long-term credit rating, as well as when an inferred rating based on a long-term rating is available.

              Apr 08

            • CA-6.4.58

              Banks may apply the risk weights for senior positions if the effective number of underlying exposures (N, as defined in paragraph CA-6.4.77) is 6 or more and the position is senior as defined above. When N is less than 6, the risk weights in column 4 of the first table below apply. In all other cases, the risk weights in column 3 of the first table below apply.

              RBA risk weights when the external assessment represents a long-term credit rating and/or an inferred rating derived from a long-term assessment
              External Rating (Illustrative) Risk weights for senior positions and eligible senior IAA exposures Base risk weights Risk weights for tranches backed by non-granular pools
              AAA 7% 12% 20%
              AA 8% 15% 25%
              A+ 10% 18% 35%
              A 12% 20%
              A- 20% 35%
              BBB+ 35%   50%
              BBB 60%   75%
              BBB- 100%
              BB+ 250%
              BB 425%
              BB- 650%
              Below BB- and unrated Deduction
              Apr 08

            • CA-6.4.59

              The risk weights in the table below apply when the external assessment represents a short-term credit rating, as well as when an inferred rating based on a short-term rating is available. The decision rules outlined in paragraph CA-6.4.58 also apply for short-term credit ratings.

              RBA risk weights when the external assessment represents a short-term credit rating and/or an inferred rating derived from a short-term assessment
              External Rating (Illustrative) Risk weights for senior positions and eligible senior IAA exposures Base risk weights Risk weights for tranches backed by non-granular
              A-1/P- 7% 12% 2
              A-2/P- 12% 20% 3
              A-3/P- 60% 75% 7
              All other ratings/unrated Deduction Deduction Deduction
              Apr 08

            • Use of Inferred Ratings