CA-5.2 CA-5.2 De Minimis exemptions
CA-5.2.1
A bank doing negligible business in foreign currencies and which does not take foreign exchange positions for its own account may, at the discretion of the Agency and as evidenced by the Agency's prior written approval, be exempted from calculating the capital requirements on these positions. The Agency is likely to be guided by the following criteria in deciding to grant exemption to any bank:
(a) The bank's holdings or taking of positions in foreign currencies, including gold, defined as the greater of the sum of the gross asset positions and the sum of the gross liability position in all foreign positions and gold, does not exceed 100% of its eligible capital; and(b) The bank's overall net open position, as defined in section CA-5.3, does not exceed 2% of its eligible capital.CA-5.2.2
The criteria listed in paragraph CA-5.2.1 above are only intended to be guidelines, and a bank will not automatically qualify for exemptions upon meeting them. Banks doing negligible foreign currency business, which do not take foreign exchange positions for the bank's own account, and wish to seek exemption from foreign exchange risk capital requirements, should submit an application to the Agency, in writing. The Agency will have the discretion to grant such exemptions. The Agency may also, at its discretion, fix a minimum capital requirement for a bank that is exempted from calculating its foreign exchange risk capital requirement, to cover the risks inherent in its foreign currency business.
CA-5.2.3
The Agency may, at a future date, revoke an exemption granted to a bank, if the Agency is convinced that the conditions on which the exemption was granted no longer exist.
