Response to consultation on draft RTS on gross jump-to-default (JTD) amounts
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We therefore recommend that alternatives to the look-through approach in the DRC are introduced for equity and credit indices.
1. For equity
Given that the main equity indices of advanced economies are composed predominantly of high solvency companies, to assign them to an unrated rating, which is equivalent to a BB rating on average (non investment grade with a RW=15%), will not be consistent with the credit quality and solvency that most of the constituents behind these indices have, resulting in an over-punitive calculation. Therefore, to provide a figure more in line with the credit quality that these indices carry, we propose that a BBB bucket should be used to be more representative with the risk these indices have. It would still be a sufficiently conservative approach, as it is the lowest investment grade rating bucket, and, in general, companies that have heavier weights in these indices usually have superior credit conditions, since there is a link between their economic characteristics and the volumes traded, which is reflected in their index weight. Furthermore, if their situation deteriorated, a reduction in their index weight would follow, and if an index constituent defaults then it is replaced by another constituent of the same index. For indices such as the S&P 500, Nikkei 225, Eurostoxx 50, FTSE 100, and so on a BB credit rating on average would not be realistic.
2. For Credit
Where there is a condition to be met by an index in terms of a minimum credit rating (for example, investment grade) that has to be met by all its constituents, then that rating may be used as a floor and extended to the whole position.
In all these cases a restriction from any offsetting effect with other positions on other underlyings will be kept but there would be a diversification between all corporate exposure positions including non-looked-through indices. Since the SBM approach allows firms not to perform look-through at all on some indices, the same approach could be introduced in DRC as well. I.e. institutions can choose not to do the look-through on some indices.
In addition to the matters raised above, we also want to mention additional points concerning the LGD for Senior Secured Debt under the SA DRC. These points were also made in response to the recent EC consultation paper on CRR3 Implementation.
FRTB SA DRC separates LGD into non-senior (100%), senior (75%) and covered bonds (25%) – however the framework is missing an appropriate LGD for senior secured debt.
Currently the framework has no bifurcation between secured and unsecured LGD assumptions. Senior secured debt experiences lower losses on default owing to the senior (first lien) pledge of specific assets, details of which can be seen in the table below.
Senior secured vs senior unsecured long-run avg recoveries
Moody’s
1st Lien Loan 64%
1st Lien Bond 54%
Sr. Unsec Loan Na
Sr. Unsec Bond 33%
The traded loan market is a significant component of the global credit market. In the US as of year-end 2018 the market totalled $1.15 trillion, and $181bn in Europe (source: S&P Leveraged Loan Primer). The market is the predominant source of funds to lower rated (BB and lower) corporate borrowers.
Failing to factor in the higher recovery rate for secured debt unfairly penalises lower rated corporates. These corporates already see very high default probability (risk weights) in the SA DRC, leading to excessive RWA and increased costs.
Additionally, the FAQ specifying 75% LGD for Agency MBS is very punitive.
Similar to covered bonds, Agency MBS are backed by pools of mortgages that provide significant credit enhancement over senior unsecured debt.
High DRC capital charges for holding Agency MBS will raise costs associated with issuance and secondary trading of these securities, likely resulting in additional mortgage costs for homeowners.
Industry Recommendation
• Agency MBS should use 25% LGD like covered bonds.
• Add an addition LGD category for senior secured debt with an LGD of 40%.
Calibrating LGD for senior secured. Indicates a 40% LGD
Moody’s Volume
1st Lien Loan 36% 291bn
1st Lien Bond 46% 136bn
Weighted Average LGD 39% 427bn
Proposed Text (new bullet 3 added in italics):
22.12 For calculating the gross JTD, LGD is set as follows:
(1) Equity instruments and non-senior debt instruments are assigned an LGD of 100%
(2) Senior debt instruments are assigned an LGD of 75%
(3) Senior secured debt instruments are assigned an LGD of 40%
(4) Covered bonds, as defined within [MAR21.51], are assigned an LGD of 25%
(5) When the price of the instrument is not linked to the recovery rate of the defaulter (e.g. a foreign exchange-credit hybrid option where the cash flows are swap of cash flows, long EUR coupons and short USD coupons with a knockout feature that ends cash flows on an event of default of a particular obligor), there should be no multiplication of the notional by the LGD.
Q1. Do you agree with the proposed specification for the determination of the components 〖P&L〗_long, 〖P&L〗_short, Adjustment_long and Adjustment_short of the CRR formulae for the calculation of gross JTD amounts? If not, please explain why and how you would determine those components for the exposures in scope of the mandate in point (a) of Article 325w(8) of the CRR, including the rationale for your proposal.
The Industry welcomes the proposed definitions as these ensure identical outcomes across the BCBS standard and the CRR. We believe that to avoid undue burden, institutions should not be asked to report the quantities separately as this might lead to unnecessary implementation efforts.Q2. Do you agree with the proposed specification for the estimation of gross JTD amounts of exposures in scope of Article 325w(7) of the CRR? If not, please explain why and how you would determine gross JTD amounts for those exposures, including the rationale for your proposal.
The Industry welcomes the proposed definitions as these ensure identical outcomes across the BCBS rules and its EU implementation.Q3. Do you agree with the proposed specification of the notional amount of instruments for the purposes of the mandate in point (c) of Article 325w(8) of the CRR? If not, please explain why and how you would determine the notional amount of instruments falling in scope of the mandate, including the rationale for your proposal.
The Industry welcomes the proposed definitions as these ensure identical outcomes between the BCBS rules and its EU implementation. In order to avoid undue operational burden, institutions should not be asked to report the quantities separately as this might lead to unnecessary implementation efforts. If it is required, a cost-benefit analysis should be carried out.Q4. Do you have any other comments that you wish to highlight on these draft RTS?
There is a lack of clarity around the treatment of equity and credit indices. In the SBM calculations a method of how to treat equity and credit indices without looking through to the constituents has been introduced, whereas this has not been done for DRC, resulting in an inconsistency. This is problematic because constituent data is often costly and performing the look-through can be burdensome. In particular, if the data is not of high quality or the number of constituents for all indices in a portfolio is large, the process can be challenging, or even unmanageable. Furthermore, for indices that institutions hold for only a short period of time and which are not part of the core business for the institution, the look-through approach is not feasible.We therefore recommend that alternatives to the look-through approach in the DRC are introduced for equity and credit indices.
1. For equity
Given that the main equity indices of advanced economies are composed predominantly of high solvency companies, to assign them to an unrated rating, which is equivalent to a BB rating on average (non investment grade with a RW=15%), will not be consistent with the credit quality and solvency that most of the constituents behind these indices have, resulting in an over-punitive calculation. Therefore, to provide a figure more in line with the credit quality that these indices carry, we propose that a BBB bucket should be used to be more representative with the risk these indices have. It would still be a sufficiently conservative approach, as it is the lowest investment grade rating bucket, and, in general, companies that have heavier weights in these indices usually have superior credit conditions, since there is a link between their economic characteristics and the volumes traded, which is reflected in their index weight. Furthermore, if their situation deteriorated, a reduction in their index weight would follow, and if an index constituent defaults then it is replaced by another constituent of the same index. For indices such as the S&P 500, Nikkei 225, Eurostoxx 50, FTSE 100, and so on a BB credit rating on average would not be realistic.
2. For Credit
Where there is a condition to be met by an index in terms of a minimum credit rating (for example, investment grade) that has to be met by all its constituents, then that rating may be used as a floor and extended to the whole position.
In all these cases a restriction from any offsetting effect with other positions on other underlyings will be kept but there would be a diversification between all corporate exposure positions including non-looked-through indices. Since the SBM approach allows firms not to perform look-through at all on some indices, the same approach could be introduced in DRC as well. I.e. institutions can choose not to do the look-through on some indices.
In addition to the matters raised above, we also want to mention additional points concerning the LGD for Senior Secured Debt under the SA DRC. These points were also made in response to the recent EC consultation paper on CRR3 Implementation.
FRTB SA DRC separates LGD into non-senior (100%), senior (75%) and covered bonds (25%) – however the framework is missing an appropriate LGD for senior secured debt.
Currently the framework has no bifurcation between secured and unsecured LGD assumptions. Senior secured debt experiences lower losses on default owing to the senior (first lien) pledge of specific assets, details of which can be seen in the table below.
Senior secured vs senior unsecured long-run avg recoveries
Moody’s
1st Lien Loan 64%
1st Lien Bond 54%
Sr. Unsec Loan Na
Sr. Unsec Bond 33%
The traded loan market is a significant component of the global credit market. In the US as of year-end 2018 the market totalled $1.15 trillion, and $181bn in Europe (source: S&P Leveraged Loan Primer). The market is the predominant source of funds to lower rated (BB and lower) corporate borrowers.
Failing to factor in the higher recovery rate for secured debt unfairly penalises lower rated corporates. These corporates already see very high default probability (risk weights) in the SA DRC, leading to excessive RWA and increased costs.
Additionally, the FAQ specifying 75% LGD for Agency MBS is very punitive.
Similar to covered bonds, Agency MBS are backed by pools of mortgages that provide significant credit enhancement over senior unsecured debt.
High DRC capital charges for holding Agency MBS will raise costs associated with issuance and secondary trading of these securities, likely resulting in additional mortgage costs for homeowners.
Industry Recommendation
• Agency MBS should use 25% LGD like covered bonds.
• Add an addition LGD category for senior secured debt with an LGD of 40%.
Calibrating LGD for senior secured. Indicates a 40% LGD
Moody’s Volume
1st Lien Loan 36% 291bn
1st Lien Bond 46% 136bn
Weighted Average LGD 39% 427bn
Proposed Text (new bullet 3 added in italics):
22.12 For calculating the gross JTD, LGD is set as follows:
(1) Equity instruments and non-senior debt instruments are assigned an LGD of 100%
(2) Senior debt instruments are assigned an LGD of 75%
(3) Senior secured debt instruments are assigned an LGD of 40%
(4) Covered bonds, as defined within [MAR21.51], are assigned an LGD of 25%
(5) When the price of the instrument is not linked to the recovery rate of the defaulter (e.g. a foreign exchange-credit hybrid option where the cash flows are swap of cash flows, long EUR coupons and short USD coupons with a knockout feature that ends cash flows on an event of default of a particular obligor), there should be no multiplication of the notional by the LGD.
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