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AI Summary of Article 204a Eligible types of equity derivatives

This guidance outlines the conditions under which institutions may utilise equity derivatives, specifically total return swaps, as eligible credit protection for internal hedging. It emphasises that net income from such swaps must be appropriately recorded alongside any asset value deterioration to qualify as eligible credit protection.

Moreover, for an internal hedge to be deemed eligible, the associated credit risk must be transferred to an external third party. Compliance with these stipulations enables institutions to apply specified rules for calculating risk-weighted exposure amounts and expected losses when acquiring unfunded credit protection, fostering regulatory adherence and financial stability.

Version status: Inserted | Document consolidation status: Updated to reflect all known changes
Version date: 28 June 2023 - onwards

Article 204a Eligible types of equity derivatives

1. Institutions may use equity derivatives which are total return swaps or economically effectively similar, as eligible credit protection only for the purpose of conducting internal hedges.

Where an institution buys credit protection through a total return swap and records the net payments received on the swap as net income, but does not record the offsetting deterioration in the value of the asset that is protected either through reductions in fair value or by an addition to reserves, that credit protection shall not qualify as eligible credit protection.

2. Where an institution conducts an internal hedge using an equity derivative, in order for the internal hedge to qualify as eligible credit protection for the purposes of this Chapter, the credit risk transferred to the trading book shall be transferred out to a third party or parties.

Where an internal hedge has been conducted in accordance with the first subparagraph and the requirements in this Chapter have been met, institutions shall apply the rules set out in Sections 4 to 6 of this Chapter for the calculation of risk-weighted exposure amounts and expected loss amounts where they acquire unfunded credit protection.