• CA-4.3 CA-4.3 Collateral

    • Eligible Financial Collateral

      • CA-4.3.1

        The following collateral instruments are eligible for recognition in the simple approach:

        (a) Cash (as well as certificates of deposit or comparable instruments issued by the lending bank) on deposit with the bank which is incurring the counterparty exposure;19,20
        (b) Gold;
        (c) Debt securities rated by a recognised external credit assessment institution where these are either:
        (i) At least BB- when issued by sovereigns or PSEs that are treated as sovereigns by the CBB;
        (ii) At least BBB- when issued by other entities (including banks and securities firms); or
        (iii) At least A-3/P-3 for short-term debt instruments;
        (d) Debt securities not rated by a recognised external credit assessment institution where these are:
        (i) Issued by a bank;
        (ii) Listed on a recognised exchange;
        (iii) Classified as senior debt;
        (iv) All rated issues of the same seniority by the issuing bank must be rated at least BBB- or A-3/P-3 by a recognised external credit assessment institution;
        (v) The bank holding the securities as collateral has no information to suggest that the issue justifies a rating below BBB- or A-3/P-3 (as applicable);
        (vi) The CBB is sufficiently confident about the market liquidity of the security;
        (e) Equities (including convertible bonds) that are included in a main index;
        (f) Undertakings for Collective Investments in Transferable Securities (UCITS) and mutual funds where:
        (i) A price for the units is publicly quoted daily; and
        (ii) The UCITS/mutual fund is limited to investing in the instruments listed in this paragraph21; and
        (g) Re-securitisations (as defined in the securitisation framework), irrespective of any credit ratings, are not eligible financial collateral.

        19 Cash funded credit linked notes issued by the bank against exposures in the banking book which fulfil the criteria for credit derivatives will be treated as cash collateralised transactions.

        20 When cash on deposit, certificates of deposit or comparable instruments issued by the lending bank are held as collateral at a third-party bank in a non-custodial arrangement, if they are openly pledged/assigned to the lending bank and if the pledge /assignment is unconditional and irrevocable, the exposure amount covered by the collateral (after any necessary haircuts for currency risk) will receive the risk weight of the third-party bank.

        21 However, the use or potential use by a UCITS/mutual fund of derivative instruments solely to hedge investments listed in this paragraph and paragraph CA-4.3.2 shall not prevent units in that UCITS /mutual fund from being eligible financial collateral.

        January 2015

      • CA-4.3.2

        The following collateral instruments are eligible for recognition in the comprehensive approach:

        (a) All of the instruments in paragraph CA-4.3.1;
        (b) Equities (including convertible bonds) which are not included in a main index but which are listed on a recognised exchange; and
        (c) UCITS/mutual funds which include such equities.
        January 2015

    • The Comprehensive Approach

      • Calculation of Capital Requirement

        • CA-4.3.3

          For a collateralised transaction, the exposure amount after risk mitigation is calculated as follows:

          E* = Max {0, [E x (1 + He) - C x (1 - Hc - Hfx)]}

          where:
          E* = The exposure value after risk mitigation
          E = Current value of the exposure
          He = Add-on appropriate to the exposure
          C = The current value of the collateral received
          Hc = Haircut appropriate to the collateral
          Hfx = Haircut appropriate for currency mismatch between the collateral and exposure

          January 2015

        • CA-4.3.4

          The exposure amount after risk mitigation is multiplied by the risk weight of the counterparty to obtain the risk-weighted asset amount for the collateralised transaction.

          January 2015

        • CA-4.3.5

          The treatment for transactions where there is a mismatch between the maturity of the counterparty exposure and the collateral is given in Paragraphs CA-4.6.1 to CA-4.6.4.

          January 2015

        • CA-4.3.6

          Where the collateral is a basket of assets, the haircut on the basket will be:

          H = ∑i ai Hi, where ai is the weight of the asset (as measured by units of currency) in the i basket and Hi the haircut applicable to that asset.

          January 2015

      • Standard Haircuts and Add-Ons

        • CA-4.3.7

          These are the standardised supervisory haircuts and add-ons (assuming daily mark-to market, daily re-margining and a 10-business day holding period), expressed as percentages:

          Issue rating for debt securities Residual Maturity Sovereigns22,23 Other issuers24 Securitisation Exposures25
          AAA to AA-/A-1 ≤1 year 0.5 1 2
          >1 year, ≤5 years 2 4 8
          >5 years 4 8 16
          A+ to BBB-/ A-2/ A-3/ P-3 and Unrated bank securities ≤1 year 1 2 4
          >1 year, ≤5 years 3 6 12
          >5 years 6 12 24
          BB+ to BB- All 15 Not Eligible Not Eligible
          Main index equities 15
          Other equities 25
          UCITS/mutual funds Highest haircut applicable to any security in fund
          Cash in the same currency26 0

          22 Includes PSEs which are treated as sovereigns by the CBB.

          23 Multilateral development banks receiving a 0% risk weight will be treated as sovereigns.

          24 Includes PSEs which are not treated as sovereigns by CBB.

          25 Securitisation exposures are defined as those exposures that meet the definition set forth in the securitisation framework.

          26 Eligible cash collateral specified in Subparagraph CA-4.3.1(a).

          January 2015

        • CA-4.3.8

          The standard haircut for currency risk where exposure and collateral are denominated in different currencies is 8% (also based on a 10-business day holding period and daily mark-to-market).

          January 2015

        • CA-4.3.9

          For transactions in which the conventional bank licensee lends non-eligible instruments (e.g. non-investment grade corporate debt securities), the add-on to be applied on the exposure must be the same as the one for equity traded on a recognised exchange that is not part of a main index.

          January 2015

      • Adjustment for Different Holding Periods and Non Daily Mark-to-market or Re-Margining

        • CA-4.3.10

          For some transactions, depending on the nature and frequency of the revaluation and re-margining provisions, different holding periods are appropriate. The framework for collateral haircuts distinguishes between repo-style transactions (i.e. repo/reverse repos and securities lending/borrowing), "other capital-market-driven transactions" (i.e. OTC derivatives transactions and margin lending) and secured lending. In capital-market-driven transactions and repo-style transactions, the documentation contains remargining clauses; in secured lending transactions, it generally does not.

          January 2015

        • CA-4.3.11

          The minimum holding period for various products is summarised in the following table.

          Transaction type Minimum holding period Condition
          Repo-style transaction five business days daily re-margining
          Other capital market transactions ten business days daily re-margining
          Secured lending twenty business days daily revaluation
          January 2015

        • CA-4.3.12

          When the frequency of re-margining or revaluation is longer than the minimum, the minimum haircut numbers will be scaled up depending on the actual number of business days between re margining or revaluation using the square root of time formula below:

          where:

          H = Haircut

          HM = Haircut under the minimum holding period

          TM = Minimum holding period for the type of transaction

          NR = Actual number of business days between re margining for capital market transactions or revaluation for secured transactions.

          When a conventional bank licensee calculates the volatility on a TN day holding period which is different from the specified minimum holding period TM, the HM will be calculated using the square root of time formula:

          TN = Holding period used by the bank for deriving HN

          HN = Haircut based on the holding period TN

          January 2015

        • CA-4.3.13

          For example, for conventional bank licensees using the standard CBB haircuts, the 10-business day haircuts provided in paragraph CA-4.3.7 will be the basis and this haircut will be scaled up or down depending on the type of transaction and the frequency of re-margining or revaluation using the formula below:

          where:

          H = Haircut

          H10 = 10-business day standard CBB haircut for instrument

          NR = Actual number of business days between re-margining for capital

          = Market transactions or revaluation for secured transactions.

          TM = Minimum holding period for the type of transaction

          January 2015

      • Conditions for Zero H

        • CA-4.3.14

          For repo-style transactions where the following conditions are satisfied, and the counterparty is a core market participant, conventional bank licensees are not required to apply the haircuts specified in the comprehensive approach and may instead apply a haircut of zero. This carve-out will not be available for conventional bank licensees using the modelling approaches as described in Paragraphs CA-4.3.22 to CA-4.3.25:

          (a) Both the exposure and the collateral are cash or a sovereign security or PSE security qualifying for a 0% risk weight in the standardised approach;
          (b) Both the exposure and the collateral are denominated in the same currency;
          (c) Either the transaction is overnight or both the exposure and the collateral are marked-to-market daily and are subject to daily re-margining;
          (d) Following a counterparty's failure to re-margin, the time that is required between the last mark-to-market before the failure to re-margin and the liquidation27 of the collateral is considered to be no more than four business days;
          (e) The transaction is settled across a settlement system proven for that type of transaction;
          (f) The documentation covering the agreement is standard market documentation for repo-style transactions in the securities concerned;
          (g) The transaction is governed by documentation specifying that if the counterparty fails to satisfy an obligation to deliver cash or securities or to deliver margin or otherwise defaults, then the transaction is immediately terminable; and
          (h) Upon any default event, regardless of whether the counterparty is insolvent or bankrupt, the conventional bank licensee has the unfettered, legally enforceable right to immediately seize and liquidate the collateral for its benefit.

          27 This does not require the bank to always liquidate the collateral but rather to have the capability to do so within the given time frame.

          January 2015

        • CA-4.3.15

          Core market participants include the following entities:

          (a) Sovereigns, central banks and PSEs;
          (b) Banks and securities firms;
          (c) Other financial companies (including insurance companies) eligible for a 20% risk weight in the standardised approach;
          (d) Regulated mutual funds that are subject to capital or leverage requirements;
          (e) Regulated pension funds; and
          (f) Recognised clearing organisations.
          January 2015

        • CA-4.3.16

          Where a supervisor has applied a specific carve-out to repo-style transactions in securities issued by its domestic government, then banks incorporated in Bahrain are allowed to adopt the same approach to the same transactions.

          January 2015

      • Treatment of Repo-Style Transactions Covered under Master Netting Agreements

        • CA-4.3.17

          The effects of bilateral netting agreements covering repo-style transactions will be recognised on a counterparty-by-counterparty basis if the agreements are legally enforceable in each relevant jurisdiction upon the occurrence of an event of default and regardless of whether the counterparty is insolvent or bankrupt. In addition, netting agreements must:

          (a) Provide the non-defaulting party the right to terminate and close-out in a timely manner all transactions under the agreement upon an event of default, including in the event of insolvency or bankruptcy of the counterparty;
          (b) Provide for the netting of gains and losses on transactions (including the value of any collateral) terminated and closed out under it so that a single net amount is owed by one party to the other;
          (c) Allow for the prompt liquidation or setoff of collateral upon the event of default; and
          (d) Be, together with the rights arising from the provisions required in (a) to (c) above, legally enforceable in each relevant jurisdiction upon the occurrence of an event of default and regardless of the counterparty's insolvency or bankruptcy.
          January 2015

        • CA-4.3.18

          Netting across positions in the banking and trading book will only be recognised when the netted transactions fulfil the following conditions:

          (a) All transactions are marked to market daily28; and
          (b) The collateral instruments used in the transactions are recognised as eligible financial collateral in the banking book.

          28 The holding period for the haircuts will depend as in other repo-style transactions on the frequency of margining.

          January 2015

        • CA-4.3.19

          The formula in Paragraph CA-4.3.3 will be adapted to calculate the capital requirements for transactions with netting agreements.

          January 2015

        • CA-4.3.20

          For conventional bank licensees using the standard haircuts, the framework below will apply to take into account the impact of master netting agreements.

          E* = Max {0, [(∑(E) – ∑(C)) + ∑ (ES x HS) + ∑ (EFX x HFX)]}29

          Where:

          E* = The exposure value after risk mitigation
          E = Current value of the exposure
          C = The value of the collateral received
          ES = Absolute value of the net position in a given security
          HS = Haircut appropriate to ES
          EFX = Absolute value of the net position in a currency different from the settlement currency
          HFX = Haircut appropriate for currency mismatch


          29 The starting point for this formula is the formula in paragraph CA-4.3.3 which can also be presented as the following: E* = max {0, [(E – C) + (E x He) + (C x Hc) + (C x Hfx)]}

          January 2015

        • CA-4.3.21

          The net long or short position of each security included in the netting agreement will be multiplied by the appropriate haircut. All other rules regarding the calculation of haircuts stated in Paragraphs CA4.3.3 to CA-4.3.16 equivalently apply for conventional bank licensees using bilateral netting agreements for repo-style transactions.

          January 2015

      • Use of Models

        • CA-4.3.22

          As an alternative to the use of standard haircuts, CBB may allow conventional bank licensees to use a VaR models approach to reflect the price volatility of the exposure and collateral for repo-style transactions, taking into account correlation effects between security positions. This approach would apply to repo-style transactions covered by bilateral netting agreements on a counterparty-by-counterparty basis. At the discretion of CBB, firms are also eligible to use the VaR model approach for margin lending transactions, if the transactions are covered under a bilateral master netting agreement that meets the requirements of Paragraphs CA-4.3.17 and CA-4.3.18. The VaR models approach is available to conventional bank licensees that have received CBB's recognition for an internal market risk model under Chapter CA-14. Conventional bank licensees which have not received CBB's recognition for use of models under Chapter CA-14 can separately apply for CBB's recognition to use their internal VaR models for calculation of potential price volatility for repo-style transactions. Internal models will only be accepted when a conventional bank licensee can prove the quality of its model to CBB through the backtesting of its output using one year of historical data.

          January 2015

        • CA-4.3.23

          The quantitative and qualitative criteria for recognition of internal market risk models for repo-style transactions and other similar transactions are in principle the same as in Chapter CA-14. With regard to the holding period, the minimum will be 5-business days for repo-style transactions, rather than the 10-business days in the Market Risk Amendment. For other transactions eligible for the VaR models approach, the 10-business day holding period will be retained. The minimum holding period should be adjusted upwards for market instruments where such a holding period would be inappropriate given the liquidity of the instrument concerned.

          January 2015

        • CA-4.3.24

          The calculation of the exposure E* for banks using their internal model will be the following:

          E* = Max {0, [(∑E – ∑c) + VaR output from internal model]}

          In calculating capital requirements banks will use the previous business day's VaR number.

          January 2015

        • CA-4.3.25

          [This paragraph was deleted in January 2015.]

          January 2015

    • The Simple Approach

      • Minimum Conditions

        • CA-4.3.26

          For collateral to be recognised in the simple approach, the collateral must be pledged for at least the life of the exposure and it must be marked to market and revalued with a minimum frequency of six months. Those portions of claims collateralised by the market value of recognised collateral receive the risk weight applicable to the collateral instrument. The risk weight on the collateralised portion will be subject to a floor of 20% except under the conditions specified in Paragraphs CA-4.3.27 to CA-4.3.29. The remainder of the claim should be assigned to the risk weight appropriate to the counterparty. A capital requirement will be applied to conventional bank licensees on either side of the collateralised transaction: for example, both repos and reverse repos will be subject to capital requirements.

          January 2015

    • Exceptions to the Risk Weight Floor

      • CA-4.3.27

        Transactions which fulfil the criteria outlined in Paragraph CA-4.3.14 and are with a core market participant, as defined in Paragraph CA-4.3.15, receive a risk weight of 0%. If the counterparty to the transactions is not a core market participant the transaction should receive a risk weight of 10%.

        January 2015

      • CA-4.3.28

        OTC derivative transactions subject to daily mark-to-market, collateralised by cash and where there is no currency mismatch receive a 0% risk weight. Such transactions collateralised by sovereign or PSE securities qualifying for a 0% risk weight in the standardised approach will receive a 10% risk weight.

        January 2015

      • CA-4.3.29

        The 20% floor for the risk weight on a collateralised transaction will not be applied and a 0% risk weight can be applied where the exposure and the collateral are denominated in the same currency, and either:

        (a) The collateral is cash on deposit as defined in Paragraph CA-4.3.1(a); or
        (b) The collateral is in the form of sovereign/PSE securities eligible for a 0% risk weight, and its market value has been discounted by 20%.
        January 2015

    • Collateralised OTC Derivatives Transactions

      • CA-4.3.30

        Under the Current Exposure Method, the calculation of the counterparty credit risk charge for an individual contract is as follows:

        Counterparty charge = [(RC + add-on) – CA] x r x 8%

        Where:

        RC = The replacement cost,
        Add-on = The amount for potential future exposure calculated according to paragraph 45 of Appendix CA-2.
        CA = The volatility adjusted collateral amount under the comprehensive approach prescribed in Paragraphs CA-4.3.3 to CA-4.3.16, or zero if no eligible collateral is applied to the transaction, and
        r = The risk weight of the counterparty.

        January 2015

      • CA-4.3.31

        When effective bilateral netting contracts are in place, RC is the net replacement cost and the add-on is ANet as calculated according to paragraph 50 (i) to 50 (vi) of Appendix CA-2. The haircut for currency risk (Hfx) must be applied when there is a mismatch between the collateral currency and the settlement currency. Even in the case where there are more than two currencies involved in the exposure, collateral and settlement currency, a single haircut assuming a 10-business day holding period scaled up as necessary depending on the frequency of mark-to-market must be applied.

        January 2015

      • CA-4.3.32

        As an alternative to the Current Exposure Method for the calculation of the counterparty credit risk charge, conventional bank licensees may also use the Standardised Method.

        January 2015