Basel ii Accord Section 444 to 485

6. Use of internal ratings
 
444. Internal ratings and default and loss estimates must play an essential role in the
credit approval, risk management, internal capital allocations, and corporate governance
functions of banks using the IRB approach.
 
Ratings systems and estimates designed and implemented exclusively for the purpose of qualifying for the IRB approach and used only to provide IRB inputs are not acceptable. It is recognised that banks will not necessarily be using exactly the same estimates for both IRB and all internal purposes.
 
For example, pricing models are likely to use PDs and LGDs relevant to the life of the asset. Where there are such differences, a bank must document them and demonstrate their reasonableness to the supervisor.
 
445. A bank must have a credible track record in the use of internal ratings information.
Thus, the bank must demonstrate that it has been using a rating system that was broadly in
line with the minimum requirements articulated in this document for at least the three years
prior to qualification.
 
A bank using the advanced IRB approach must demonstrate that it has been estimating and employing LGDs and EADs in a manner that is broadly consistent with the minimum requirements for use of own estimates of LGDs and EADs for at least the three years prior to qualification. Improvements to a bank’s rating system will not render a bank non-compliant with the three-year requirement.
 
7. Risk quantification
 
(i) Overall requirements for estimation
 
Structure and intent
 
446. This section addresses the broad standards for own-estimates of PD, LGD, and
EAD. Generally, all banks using the IRB approaches must estimate a PD (88) for each internal borrower grade for corporate, sovereign and bank exposures or for each pool in the case of retail exposures.
 
(88) Banks are not required to produce their own estimates of PD for certain equity exposures and certain exposures that fall within the SL sub-classes.
 
447. PD estimates must be a long-run average of one-year default rates for borrowers in
the grade, with the exception of retail exposures (see below). Requirements specific to PD
estimation are provided in paragraphs 461 to 467. Banks on the advanced approach must
estimate an appropriate LGD (as defined in paragraphs 468 to 473) for each of its facilities
(or retail pools). Banks on the advanced approach must also estimate an appropriate longrun default-weighted average EAD for each of its facilities as defined in paragraphs 474 and 475.
 
Requirements specific to EAD estimation appear in paragraphs 474 to 479. For
corporate, sovereign and bank exposures, banks that do not meet the requirements for ownestimates of EAD or LGD, above, must use the supervisory estimates of these parameters. Standards for use of such estimates are set out in paragraphs 506 to 524.
 
448. Internal estimates of PD, LGD, and EAD must incorporate all relevant, material and
available data, information and methods. A bank may utilise internal data and data from
external sources (including pooled data). Where internal or external data is used, the bank
must demonstrate that its estimates are representative of long run experience.
 
449. Estimates must be grounded in historical experience and empirical evidence, and
not based purely on subjective or judgmental considerations. Any changes in lending
practice or the process for pursuing recoveries over the observation period must be taken
into account. A bank’s estimates must promptly reflect the implications of technical advances and new data and other information, as it becomes available. Banks must review their estimates on a yearly basis or more frequently.
 
450. The population of exposures represented in the data used for estimation, and
lending standards in use when the data were generated, and other relevant characteristics
should be closely matched to or at least comparable with those of the bank’s exposures and
standards. The bank must also demonstrate that economic or market conditions that underlie the data are relevant to current and foreseeable conditions.
 
For estimates of LGD and EAD, banks must take into account paragraphs 468 to 479. The number of exposures in the sample and the data period used for quantification must be sufficient to provide the bank with confidence in the accuracy and robustness of its estimates. The estimation technique must perform well in out-of-sample tests.
 
451. In general, estimates of PDs, LGDs, and EADs are likely to involve unpredictable
errors. In order to avoid over-optimism, a bank must add to its estimates a margin of
conservatism that is related to the likely range of errors. Where methods and data are less
satisfactory and the likely range of errors is larger, the margin of conservatism must be
larger. Supervisors may allow some flexibility in application of the required standards for data
that are collected prior to the date of implementation of this Framework.
 
However, in such cases banks must demonstrate to their supervisors that appropriate adjustments have been made to achieve broad equivalence to the data without such flexibility. Data collected beyond the date of implementation must conform to the minimum standards unless otherwise stated.
 
(ii) Definition of default
 
452. A default is considered to have occurred with regard to a particular obligor when
either or both of the two following events have taken place.
 
The bank considers that the obligor is unlikely to pay its credit obligations to the
banking group in full, without recourse by the bank to actions such as realising
security (if held).
 
The obligor is past due more than 90 days on any material credit obligation to the
banking group. (89) Overdrafts will be considered as being past due once the customer
has breached an advised limit or been advised of a limit smaller than current
outstandings.
 
(89) In the case of retail and PSE obligations, for the 90 days figure, a supervisor may substitute a figure up to 180 days for different products, as it considers appropriate to local conditions. In one member country, local conditions make it appropriate to use a figure of up to 180 days also for lending by its banks to corporates; this applies for a transitional period of 5 years.
 
453. The elements to be taken as indications of unlikeliness to pay include:
 
The bank puts the credit obligation on non-accrued status.
 
The bank makes a charge-off or account-specific provision resulting from a
significant perceived decline in credit quality subsequent to the bank taking on the
exposure. (90)
 
The bank sells the credit obligation at a material credit-related economic loss.
The bank consents to a distressed restructuring of the credit obligation where this is
likely to result in a diminished financial obligation caused by the material
forgiveness, or postponement, of principal, interest or (where relevant) fees. (91)
 
The bank has filed for the obligor’s bankruptcy or a similar order in respect of the
obligor’s credit obligation to the banking group.
 
The obligor has sought or has been placed in bankruptcy or similar protection where
this would avoid or delay repayment of the credit obligation to the banking group.
 
(90) In some jurisdictions, specific provisions on equity exposures are set aside for price risk and do not signal default.
 
(91) Including, in the case of equity holdings assessed under a PD/LGD approach, such distressed restructuring of the equity itself.
 
454. National supervisors will provide appropriate guidance as to how these elements
must be implemented and monitored.
 
455. For retail exposures, the definition of default can be applied at the level of a
particular facility, rather than at the level of the obligor. As such, default by a borrower on one obligation does not require a bank to treat all other obligations to the banking group as
defaulted.
 
456. A bank must record actual defaults on IRB exposure classes using this reference
definition. A bank must also use the reference definition for its estimation of PDs, and (where
relevant) LGDs and EADs. In arriving at these estimations, a bank may use external data
available to it that is not itself consistent with that definition, subject to the requirements set
out in paragraph 462.
 
However, in such cases, banks must demonstrate to their supervisors that appropriate adjustments to the data have been made to achieve broad equivalence with the reference definition. This same condition would apply to any internal data used up to implementation of this Framework. Internal data (including that pooled by banks) used in such estimates beyond the date of implementation of this Framework must be consistent with
the reference definition.
 
457. If the bank considers that a previously defaulted exposure’s status is such that no
trigger of the reference definition any longer applies, the bank must rate the borrower and
estimate LGD as they would for a non-defaulted facility. Should the reference definition
subsequently be triggered, a second default would be deemed to have occurred.
 
(iii) Re-ageing
 
458. The bank must have clearly articulated and documented policies in respect of the
counting of days past due, in particular in respect of the re-ageing of the facilities and the
granting of extensions, deferrals, renewals and rewrites to existing accounts. At a minimum,
the re-ageing policy must include:
(a) approval authorities and reporting requirements;
(b) minimum age of a facility before it is eligible for re-ageing;
(c) delinquency levels of facilities that are eligible for re-ageing;
(d) maximum number of re-ageings per facility; and
(e) a reassessment of the borrower’s capacity to repay.
 
These policies must be applied consistently over time, and must support the ‘use test’ (i.e. if a bank treats a re-aged exposure in a similar fashion to other delinquent exposures more than the past-due cut off point, this exposure must be recorded as in default for IRB purposes). Some supervisors may choose to establish more specific requirements on re-ageing for banks in their jurisdiction.
 
(iv) Treatment of overdrafts
 
459. Authorised overdrafts must be subject to a credit limit set by the bank and brought to
the knowledge of the client. Any break of this limit must be monitored; if the account were not brought under the limit after 90 to 180 days (subject to the applicable past-due trigger), it
would be considered as defaulted. Non-authorised overdrafts will be associated with a zero
limit for IRB purposes.
 
Thus, days past due commence once any credit is granted to an unauthorised customer; if such credit were not repaid within 90 to 180 days, the exposure would be considered in default. Banks must have in place rigorous internal policies for assessing the creditworthiness of customers who are offered overdraft accounts.
 
(v) Definition of loss for all asset classes
 
460. The definition of loss used in estimating LGD is economic loss. When measuring
economic loss, all relevant factors should be taken into account. This must include material
discount effects and material direct and indirect costs associated with collecting on the
exposure. Banks must not simply measure the loss recorded in accounting records, although they must be able to compare accounting and economic losses. The bank’s own workout and collection expertise significantly influences their recovery rates and must be reflected in their LGD estimates, but adjustments to estimates for such expertise must be conservative until the bank has sufficient internal empirical evidence of the impact of its expertise.
 
(vi) Requirements specific to PD estimation
 
Corporate, sovereign, and bank exposures
 
461. Banks must use information and techniques that take appropriate account of the
long-run experience when estimating the average PD for each rating grade. For example,
banks may use one or more of the three specific techniques set out below: internal default
experience, mapping to external data, and statistical default models.
 
462. Banks may have a primary technique and use others as a point of comparison and
potential adjustment. Supervisors will not be satisfied by mechanical application of a
technique without supporting analysis. Banks must recognise the importance of judgmental
considerations in combining results of techniques and in making adjustments for limitations
of techniques and information.
 
A bank may use data on internal default experience for the estimation of PD. A bank
must demonstrate in its analysis that the estimates are reflective of underwriting
standards and of any differences in the rating system that generated the data and
the current rating system. Where only limited data are available, or where
underwriting standards or rating systems have changed, the bank must add a
greater margin of conservatism in its estimate of PD. The use of pooled data across
institutions may also be recognised. A bank must demonstrate that the internal
rating systems and criteria of other banks in the pool are comparable with its own.
 
Banks may associate or map their internal grades to the scale used by an external
credit assessment institution or similar institution and then attribute the default rate
observed for the external institution’s grades to the bank’s grades. Mappings must
be based on a comparison of internal rating criteria to the criteria used by the
external institution and on a comparison of the internal and external ratings of any
common borrowers. Biases or inconsistencies in the mapping approach or
underlying data must be avoided. The external institution’s criteria underlying the
data used for quantification must be oriented to the risk of the borrower and not
reflect transaction characteristics. The bank’s analysis must include a comparison of
the default definitions used, subject to the requirements in paragraph 452 to 457.
The bank must document the basis for the mapping.
 
A bank is allowed to use a simple average of default-probability estimates for
individual borrowers in a given grade, where such estimates are drawn from
statistical default prediction models. The bank’s use of default probability models for
this purpose must meet the standards specified in paragraph 417.
 
463. Irrespective of whether a bank is using external, internal, or pooled data sources, or
a combination of the three, for its PD estimation, the length of the underlying historical
observation period used must be at least five years for at least one source. If the available
observation period spans a longer period for any source, and this data are relevant and
material, this longer period must be used.
 
Retail exposures
 
464. Given the bank-specific basis of assigning exposures to pools, banks must regard
internal data as the primary source of information for estimating loss characteristics. Banks
are permitted to use external data or statistical models for quantification provided a strong
link can be demonstrated between (a) the bank’s process of assigning exposures to a pool
and the process used by the external data source, and (b) between the bank’s internal risk
profile and the composition of the external data. In all cases banks must use all relevant and
material data sources as points of comparison.
 
465. One method for deriving long-run average estimates of PD and default-weighted
average loss rates given default (as defined in paragraph 468) for retail would be based on
an estimate of the expected long-run loss rate. A bank 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 recognise that the LGD used for the IRB capital calculation
cannot be less than the long-run default-weighted average loss rate given default and must
be consistent with the concepts defined in paragraph 468.
 
466. Irrespective of whether banks are using external, internal, pooled data sources, or a
combination of the three, for their estimation of loss characteristics, the length of the
underlying historical observation period used must be at least five years. If the available
observation spans a longer period for any source, and these data are relevant, this longer
period must be used. A bank need not give equal importance to historic data if it can
convince its supervisor that more recent data are a better predictor of loss rates.
 
467. The Committee recognises that seasoning can be quite material for some long-term
retail exposures characterised by seasoning effects that peak several years after origination.
Banks should anticipate the implications of rapid exposure growth and take steps to ensure
that their estimation techniques are accurate, and that their current capital level and earnings and funding prospects are adequate to cover their future capital needs. In order to avoid gyrations in their required capital positions arising from short-term PD horizons, banks are also encouraged to adjust PD estimates upward for anticipated seasoning effects, provided such adjustments are applied in a consistent fashion over time. Within some jurisdictions, such adjustments might be made mandatory, subject to supervisory discretion.
 
(vii) Requirements specific to own-LGD estimates
 
Standards for all asset classes
 
468. A bank must estimate an LGD for each facility that aims to reflect economic
downturn conditions where necessary to capture the relevant risks. This LGD cannot be less
than the long-run default-weighted average loss rate given default calculated based on the
average economic loss of all observed defaults within the data source for that type of facility.
 
In addition, a bank must take into account the potential for the LGD of the facility to be higher than the default-weighted average during a period when credit losses are substantially higher than average.
 
For certain types of exposures, loss severities may not exhibit such cyclical variability and LGD estimates may not differ materially (or possibly at all) from the long-run default-weighted average. However, for other exposures, this cyclical variability in loss severities may be important and banks will need to incorporate it into their LGD estimates.
 
For this purpose, banks may use averages of loss severities observed during periods of high
credit losses, forecasts based on appropriately conservative assumptions, or other similar
methods. Appropriate estimates of LGD during periods of high credit losses might be formed using either internal and/or external data. Supervisors will continue to monitor and encourage the development of appropriate approaches to this issue.
 
469. In its analysis, the bank must consider the extent of any dependence between the
risk of the borrower and that of the collateral or collateral provider. Cases where there is a
significant degree of dependence must be addressed in a conservative manner. Any
currency mismatch between the underlying obligation and the collateral must also be
considered and treated conservatively in the bank’s assessment of LGD.
 
470. LGD estimates must be grounded in historical recovery rates and, when applicable,
must not solely be based on the collateral’s estimated market value. This requirement
recognises the potential inability of banks to gain both control of their collateral and liquidate
it expeditiously. To the extent, that LGD estimates take into account the existence of
collateral, banks must establish internal requirements for collateral management, operational procedures, legal certainty and risk management process that are generally consistent with those required for the standardised approach.
 
471. Recognising the principle that realised losses can at times systematically exceed
expected levels, the LGD assigned to a defaulted asset should reflect the possibility that the
bank would have to recognise additional, unexpected losses during the recovery period. For
each defaulted asset, the bank must also construct its best estimate of the expected loss on
that asset based on current economic circumstances and facility status.
 
The amount, if any, by which the LGD on a defaulted asset exceeds the bank’s best estimate of expected loss on the asset represents the capital requirement for that asset, and should be set by the bank on a risk-sensitive basis in accordance with paragraphs 272 and 328 to 330. Instances where the best estimate of expected loss on a defaulted asset is less than the sum of specific provisions and partial charge-offs on that asset will attract supervisory scrutiny and must be justified by the bank.
 
Additional standards for corporate, sovereign, and bank exposures
 
472. Estimates of LGD must be based on a minimum data observation period that should
ideally cover at least one complete economic cycle but must in any case be no shorter than a
period of seven years for at least one source. If the available observation period spans a
longer period for any source, and the data are relevant, this longer period must be used.
 
Additional standards for retail exposures
 
473. The minimum data observation period for LGD estimates for retail exposures is five
years. The less data a bank has, the more conservative it must be in its estimation. A bank
need not give equal importance to historic data if it can demonstrate to its supervisor that
more recent data are a better predictor of loss rates.
 
(viii) Requirements specific to own-EAD estimates
 
Standards for all asset classes
 
474. EAD for an on-balance sheet or off-balance sheet item is defined as the expected
gross exposure of the facility upon default of the obligor. For on-balance sheet items, banks
must estimate EAD at no less than the current drawn amount, subject to recognising the
effects of on-balance sheet netting as specified in the foundation approach. The minimum
requirements for the recognition of netting are the same as those under the foundation
approach.
 
The additional minimum requirements for internal estimation of EAD under the
advanced approach, therefore, focus on the estimation of EAD for off-balance sheet items
(excluding transactions that expose banks to counterparty credit risk as set out in Annex 4).
Advanced approach banks must have established procedures in place for the estimation of
EAD for off-balance sheet items. These must specify the estimates of EAD to be used for
each facility type. Banks estimates of EAD should reflect the possibility of additional drawings by the borrower up to and after the time a default event is triggered. Where estimates of EAD differ by facility type, the delineation of these facilities must be clear and unambiguous.
 
475. Advanced approach banks must assign an estimate of EAD for each facility. It must
be an estimate of the long-run default-weighted average EAD for similar facilities and
borrowers over a sufficiently long period of time, but with a margin of conservatism
appropriate to the likely range of errors in the estimate.
 
If a positive correlation can reasonably be expected between the default frequency and the magnitude of EAD, the EAD estimate must incorporate a larger margin of conservatism. Moreover, for exposures for which EAD estimates are volatile over the economic cycle, the bank must use EAD estimates that are appropriate for an economic downturn, if these are more conservative than the longrun average.
 
For banks that have been able to develop their own EAD models, this could be
achieved by considering the cyclical nature, if any, of the drivers of such models. Other
banks may have sufficient internal data to examine the impact of previous recession(s).
However, some banks may only have the option of making conservative use of external data.
 
476. The criteria by which estimates of EAD are derived must be plausible and intuitive,
and represent what the bank believes to be the material drivers of EAD. The choices must be supported by credible internal analysis by the bank. The bank must be able to provide a
breakdown of its EAD experience by the factors it sees as the drivers of EAD. A bank must
use all relevant and material information in its derivation of EAD estimates. Across facility
types, a bank must review its estimates of EAD when material new information comes to light and at least on an annual basis.
 
477. Due consideration must be paid by the bank to its specific policies and strategies
adopted in respect of account monitoring and payment processing. The bank must also
consider its ability and willingness to prevent further drawings in circumstances short of
payment default, such as covenant violations or other technical default events. Banks must
also have adequate systems and procedures in place to monitor facility amounts, current
outstandings against committed lines and changes in outstandings per borrower and per
grade. The bank must be able to monitor outstanding balances on a daily basis.
 
477 (i). For transactions that expose banks to counterparty credit risk, estimates of EAD
must fulfil the requirements set forth in Annex 4 of this Framework.
 
Additional standards for corporate, sovereign, and bank exposures
 
478. Estimates of EAD must be based on a time period that must ideally cover a
complete economic cycle but must in any case be no shorter than a period of seven years. If
the available observation period spans a longer period for any source, and the data are
relevant, this longer period must be used. EAD estimates must be calculated using a defaultweighted average and not a time-weighted average.
 
Additional standards for retail exposures
 
479. The minimum data observation period for EAD estimates for retail exposures is five
years. The less data a bank has, the more conservative it must be in its estimation. A bank
need not give equal importance to historic data if it can demonstrate to its supervisor that
more recent data are a better predictor of drawdowns.
 
(ix) Minimum requirements for assessing effect of guarantees and credit derivatives
 
Standards for corporate, sovereign, and bank exposures where own estimates of LGD are
used and standards for retail exposures
 
Guarantees
 
480. When a bank uses its own estimates of LGD, it may reflect the risk-mitigating effect
of guarantees through an adjustment to PD or LGD estimates. The option to adjust LGDs is
available only to those banks that have been approved to use their own internal estimates of
LGD. For retail exposures, where guarantees exist, either in support of an individual
obligation or a pool of exposures, a bank may reflect the risk-reducing effect either through
its estimates of PD or LGD, provided this is done consistently. In adopting one or the other
technique, a bank must adopt a consistent approach, both across types of guarantees and
over time.
 
481. In all cases, both the borrower and all recognised guarantors must be assigned a
borrower rating at the outset and on an ongoing basis. A bank must follow all minimum
requirements for assigning borrower ratings set out in this document, including the regular
monitoring of the guarantor’s condition and ability and willingness to honour its obligations.
Consistent with the requirements in paragraphs 430 and 431, a bank must retain all relevant
information on the borrower absent the guarantee and the guarantor. In the case of retail
guarantees, these requirements also apply to the assignment of an exposure to a pool, and
the estimation of PD.
 
482. In no case can the bank assign the guaranteed exposure an adjusted PD or LGD
such that the adjusted risk weight would be lower than that of a comparable, direct exposure
to the guarantor. Neither criteria nor rating processes are permitted to consider possible
favourable effects of imperfect expected correlation between default events for the borrower
and guarantor for purposes of regulatory minimum capital requirements. As such, the
adjusted risk weight must not reflect the risk mitigation of “double default.”
 
Eligible guarantors and guarantees
 
483. There are no restrictions on the types of eligible guarantors. The bank must,
however, have clearly specified criteria for the types of guarantors it will recognise for
regulatory capital purposes.
 
484. The guarantee must be evidenced in writing, non-cancellable on the part of the
guarantor, in force until the debt is satisfied in full (to the extent of the amount and tenor of
the guarantee) and legally enforceable against the guarantor in a jurisdiction where the
guarantor has assets to attach and enforce a judgement. However, in contrast to the
foundation approach to corporate, bank, and sovereign exposures, guarantees prescribing
conditions under which the guarantor may not be obliged to perform (conditional guarantees) may be recognised under certain conditions. Specifically, the onus is on the bank to demonstrate that the assignment criteria adequately address any potential reduction in the risk mitigation effect.
 
Adjustment criteria
 
485. A bank must have clearly specified criteria for adjusting borrower grades or LGD
estimates (or in the case of retail and eligible purchased receivables, the process of
allocating 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 paragraphs 410 and 411, and must follow all minimum requirements
for assigning borrower or facility ratings set out in this document.
   
 

 

 

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