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  1. Point in time
    2008-12-06

BIPRU 7.3 Equity PRR and basic interest rate PRR for equity derivatives

General rule

BIPRU 7.3.1RRP

  1. (1)

    A firm must calculate its equity PRR by:

    1. (a)

      identifying which positions must be included within the PRR calculation (see BIPRU 7.3.2R);

    2. (b)

      deriving the net position in each equity in accordance with BIPRU 7.3.23R;

    3. (c)

      including each of those net positions in either the simplified equity method (see BIPRU 7.3.29R) or, subject to BIPRU 7.3.27R, the standard equity method (see BIPRU 7.3.32R); and

    4. (d)

      summing the PRR on each net position as calculated under the simplified equity method and standard equity method.

  2. (2)

    All net positions, irrespective of their signs, must be converted on a daily basis into the firm's base currency at the prevailing spot exchange rate before their aggregation.

Scope of the equity PRR calculation

BIPRU 7.3.2RRP

A firm's equity PRR calculation must:

  1. (1)

    include all trading book positions in equities, unless:

    1. (a)

      the position is fully deducted as a material holding under the calculations under the capital resources table, in which case the firm may exclude it; or

    2. (b)

      the position is hedging an option or warrant which is being treated under BIPRU 7.6.26R (Table: Appropriate treatment for equities, debt securities or currencies hedging options);

  2. (2)

    include notional positions arising from trading book positions in the instruments listed in the table in BIPRU 7.3.3R; and

  3. (3)

    (if the firm is the transferor of equities or guaranteed rights relating to title to equities in a repurchase agreement or the lender of equities in an equities lending agreement) include such equities if those equities meet the criteria for inclusion in the trading book.

BIPRU 7.3.3RRP

Table: Instruments which result in notional positions

This table belongs to BIPRU 7.3.2R(2)

Instrument

See

Depository receipts

BIPRU 7.3.12R

Convertibles where:

(a) the convertible is trading at a market price of less than 110% of the underlying equity; and the first date at which conversion can take place is less than three months ahead, or the next such date (where the first has passed) is less than a year ahead; or

BIPRU 7.3.13R

(b) the conditions in (a) are not met but the firm includes the convertible in its equity PRR calculation rather than including it in its interest rate PRR calculation set out in BIPRU 7.2 (Interest rate PRR).

Futures, forwards, CFDs and synthetic futures on a single equity

BIPRU 7.3.14R

Futures, forwards, CFDs and synthetic futures on a basket of equities or equity index

BIPRU 7.3.15R

equity legs of an equity swap

BIPRU 7.3.19R

Options or warrants on a single equity, an equity future, a basket of equities or an equity index (unless the firm calculates a PRR on the option or warrant under BIPRU 7.6).

BIPRU 7.3.21R

BIPRU 7.3.4GRP

BIPRU 7.3.2R(1) includes a trading book position in an equity that is subsequently repo'd under a repurchase agreement or lent under a stock lending agreement. Clearly, if the equity had initially been obtained via a reverse repurchase agreement or stock borrowing agreement, the equity would not have been included in the trading book in the first place.

BIPRU 7.3.5GRP

BIPRU 7.3.2R(1) includes net underwriting positions or reduced net underwriting positions in equities. BIPRU 7.3.27R requires a firm to use the simplified equity method in the case of reduced net underwriting positions. In the case of net underwriting positions that have not been reduced according to BIPRU 7.8.27R (Calculating the reduced net underwriting position), there is no such restriction; a firm can choose which of the two equity methods to use.

BIPRU 7.3.6GRP

Firms are reminded that the table in BIPRU 7.6.5R (Table: Appropriate PRR calculation for an option or warrant) divides equity options and warrants into:

  1. (1)

    those which must be treated under BIPRU 7.6 (Option PRR); and

  2. (2)

    those which must be treated under either BIPRU 7.3 or BIPRU 7.6, the firm being able to choose whether BIPRU 7.3 or BIPRU 7.6 is used.

BIPRU 7.3.7GRP

The table in BIPRU 7.3.3R does not require every convertible to be included in BIPRU 7.3 's PRR calculation. Where a convertible is not included in this PRR calculation, BIPRU 7.2.3R (1) (Scope of the interest rate PRR calculation) requires that it be included in the BIPRU 7.2 PRR calculation.

BIPRU 7.3.8GRP

Some of the instruments listed in the table in BIPRU 7.3.3R are also included in a firm's interest rate PRR calculation. For simplicity, a firm may use the interest rate PRR calculation in BIPRU 7.3 rather than the calculation in BIPRU 7.2 (Interest rate PRR). BIPRU 7.3.44G explains this in more detail.

Derivation of notional positions: General approach

BIPRU 7.3.9GRP

BIPRU 7.3.10R - BIPRU 7.3.21R convert the instruments listed in the table in BIPRU 7.3.3R into notional positions in individual equities, equity baskets or equity indices.

BIPRU 7.3.10RRP

Unless specified otherwise, the value of each notional equity position equals the quantity of that equity underlying the instrument multiplied by the current market value of the equity.

BIPRU 7.3.11GRP

  1. (1)

    An example of BIPRU 7.3.10R is as follows. The current market value of a particular equity is £2.50. If a firm contracts to sell this equity in five year's time for £3 it would treat the notional short equity position as having a value of £2.50 when calculating the equity PRR.

  2. (2)

    In effect, the forward position has been treated as being equivalent to a spot position for the purposes of calculating equity PRR. To capture the risk that the forward price changes relative to the spot price, forward equity positions are included in the firm's interest rate PRR calculation (see BIPRU 7.3.45R or the table in BIPRU 7.2.4R (Table: Instruments which result in notional positions)).

Derivation of notional positions: Depository receipts

BIPRU 7.3.12RRP

A depository receipt must be treated as a notional position in the underlying equity.

Derivation of notional positions: Convertibles

BIPRU 7.3.13RRP

Where a convertible is included in BIPRU 7.3's PRR calculation (see the table in BIPRU 7.3.3R):

  1. (1)

    it must be treated as a position in the equity into which it converts; and

  2. (2)

    the firm's equity PRR must be adjusted by making:

    1. (a)

      an addition equal to the current value of any loss which the firm would make if it did convert to equity; or

    2. (b)

      a deduction equal to the current value of any profit which the firm would make if it did convert to equity (subject to a maximum deduction equal to the PRR on the notional position underlying the convertible).

Derivation of notional positions: Futures, forwards and CFDs on a single equity

BIPRU 7.3.14RRP

A future (including a synthetic future), forward or CFD on a single equity must be treated as a notional position in that equity.

Derivation of notional positions: Futures, forwards and CFDs on equity indices or baskets

BIPRU 7.3.15RRP

A future (including a synthetic future), forward or CFD on an equity index or basket must be treated as either:

  1. (1)

    a position in each of the underlying equities; or

  2. (2)

    the positions shown in the table in BIPRU 7.3.16R.

BIPRU 7.3.16RRP

Table: Instruments which result in notional positions

This table belongs to BIPRU 7.3.15R(2)

Under the simplified equity method (BIPRU 7.3.29R)

Under the standard equity method (BIPRU 7.3.32R)

Only one country in the index or basket (see BIPRU 7.3.32R)

One position in the index or basket

One position in the index or basket

More than one country in the index or basket

One position in the index or basket

Several notional basket positions, one for each country

or

One notional basket position in a separate, notional country

BIPRU 7.3.17GRP

An example of BIPRU 7.3.16R is as follows. A firm decides to treat a FTSE Eurotop 300 future under the standard equity method, and furthermore, chooses to treat it as one notional position. The table in BIPRU 7.3.16R requires that this notional position be treated as if it were from a separate notional country rather than any of the countries to which the underlying equities are from.

BIPRU 7.3.18RRP

The notional positions created under BIPRU 7.3.15R have the following values:

  1. (1)

    where only one notional position is created, it has a value equal to the total market value of the equities underlying the contract; or

  2. (2)

    where more than one notional position is created, each one has a value which reflects the relevant equity's or country's contribution to the total market value of the equities underlying the contract.

Derivation of notional positions: Equity legs of equity swaps

BIPRU 7.3.19RRP

The equity leg of an equity swap must be treated as a position in the underlying equity, equity basket or equity index, which is:

  1. (1)

    long, if the firm has contracted to receive any increase and pay any decrease in the value of the underlying equities or equity index; and

  2. (2)

    short, if the firm has contracted to receive any decrease and pay any increase in the value of the underlying equities or equity index.

BIPRU 7.3.20GRP

The interest rate leg of an equity swap is included in a firm's interest rate PRR calculation (see the table in BIPRU 7.2.4R (Table: Instruments which result in notional positions)) unless it is treated under BIPRU 7.3.45R.

Derivation of notional positions: Options

BIPRU 7.3.21RRP

If included in BIPRU 7.3's PRR calculation (see the table in BIPRU 7.3.3R), options must be treated as follows:

  1. (1)

    an option on a single equity must be treated as a notional position in that equity;

  2. (2)

    an option on a basket of equities or equity index must be treated as a future on that basket or index; and

  3. (3)

    an option on an equity future must be treated as:

    1. (a)

      a long position in that future, for purchased call options and written put options; and

    2. (b)

      a short position in that future, for purchased put options and written call options.

Deriving the net position in each equity

BIPRU 7.3.22RRP

The net position in each equity is the difference between the value of the firm's long positions (including notional positions) and the value of its short positions (including notional positions) in the same equity.

BIPRU 7.3.23RRP

  1. (1)

    When deriving the net position in each equity, a firm must not net long and short positions except in accordance with this rule.

  2. (2)

    Subject to (3), a firm may net long and short positions in the same equity. Two equities are the same if and only if they:

    1. (a)

      enjoy the same rights in all respects; and

    2. (b)

      are fungible with each other.

  3. (3)

    Long and short positions in different tranches of the same equity may be treated as being in the same equity for the purpose of (1), where:

    1. (a)

      the tranches enjoy the same rights in all respects; and

    2. (b)

      the tranches become fungible with each other within 180 days, and thereafter the equity of one tranche can be delivered in settlement of the other tranche.

BIPRU 7.3.24RRP

A firm must not net a reduced net underwriting position with any other equity position.

BIPRU 7.3.25GRP

Simplified and standard equity methods

BIPRU 7.3.26GRP

BIPRU 7.3.1R (1) requires that the net position in each equity be included in either the simplified equity method or the standard equity method, subject to the restriction in BIPRU 7.3.27R. A firm does not have to use the same method for all equities.

BIPRU 7.3.27RRP
BIPRU 7.3.28GRP

A firm may use either method for a net underwriting position; BIPRU 7.3.27R only relates to reduced net underwriting positions.

Simplified equity method

BIPRU 7.3.29RRP

Under the simplified equity method, the PRR for each equity, equity index, or equity basket equals the market value of the net position (ignoring the sign) multiplied by the appropriate PRA from the table in BIPRU 7.3.30R. The result must be converted into the firm's base currency at current spot foreign currency rates.

BIPRU 7.3.30RRP

Table: simplified equity method PRAs

This table belongs to BIPRU 7.3.29R

Instrument

PRA

Single equities

12%

Qualifying equity indices (see BIPRU 7.3.38R)

8%

All other equity indices or baskets

12%

If it is necessary to distinguish between the specific risk PRA and the general market risk PRA, the specific risk PRA for the first and third rows is 4% and that for the second row is 0%. The rest of the PRA in the second column is the general market risk PRA.

Standard equity method

BIPRU 7.3.31GRP

The standard equity method divides the risk of loss from a firm's equity positions into the risk of loss from a general move in a country's equity market and the risk of loss from an individual equity's price changing relative to that country's equity market. These are called general market risk and specific risk respectively.

BIPRU 7.3.32RRP

Under the standard equity method, a firm must:

  1. (1)

    group equity positions into country portfolios as follows:

    1. (a)

      a position in an individual equity belongs to:

      1. (i)

        the country it is listed in;

      2. (ii)

        any of the countries it is listed in, if more than one; or

      3. (iii)

        the country it was issued from, if unlisted;

    2. (b)

      a position in an equity basket or index that is treated under BIPRU 7.3.15R(2), is allocated to one or more country portfolios based on the countries to which the underlying equities belong to under (a) or a notional country provided for in the table in BIPRU 7.3.16R; and

  2. (2)

    sum:

    1. (a)

      the PRRs for specific risk calculated under BIPRU 7.3.33R; and

    2. (b)

      the PRRs for general market risk for each country portfolio as calculated under BIPRU 7.3.41R and BIPRU 7.3.42R.

Standard equity method: Specific risk

BIPRU 7.3.33RRP

Under the standard equity method, a firm must calculate a PRR for specific risk based on the net position in each equity, equity index or equity basket by multiplying its market value (ignoring the sign) by the appropriate PRA from the table in BIPRU 7.3.34R.

BIPRU 7.3.34RRP

Table: PRAsfor specific risk under the standard equity method

This table belongs to BIPRU 7.3.33R1

Instrument

PRA

Qualifying equities

2%

Qualifying equity indices (see BIPRU 7.3.38R)

0%

All other equities, equity indices or equities baskets

4%

Definition of a qualifying equity

BIPRU 7.3.35R

A qualifying equity is one that satisfies the following conditions:

  1. (1)

    it belongs to a country portfolio that satisfies the following conditions:

    1. (a)

      no individual position exceeds 10% of the portfolio's gross value; and

    2. (b)

      the sum of positions (ignoring the sign) which individually represent between 5% and 10% of the portfolio's gross value, does not exceed 50% of the portfolio's gross value;

  2. (2)

    it is not of an issuer that has issued only traded debt securities that currently attracts an 8% or 12% PRA in the table in BIPRU 7.2.44R (Specific risk PRA) or that attract a lower requirement only because they are guaranteed or secured; and

  3. (3)

    it is a constituent of an index in the table in BIPRU 7.3.39R.

BIPRU 7.3.36G
  1. (1)

    The following example illustrates BIPRU 7.3.35R(1).

  2. (2)

    A country portfolio has a gross value of £100 and is made up of positions in 29 different equities (some are long positions, others are short positions). Not all the equities are constituents of an index used to create the FT All-World Index (this criterion only becomes relevant once a firm has determined whether the country portfolio meets the test in BIPRU 7.3.35R(1)).

  3. (3)

    Six positions exceed the 5% threshold. The following diagram shows the composition of the portfolio.

    BIPRU_Chapter_7_004
  4. (4)

    Part (a): the portfolio meets the first part of the test because no individual position is worth more than 10% of the portfolio's value.

  5. (5)

    Part (b): the portfolio fails the second part of the test because the sum (ignoring the sign) of the six relevant positions is £52; this exceeds 50% of the portfolio's value.

BIPRU 7.3.37G
  1. (1)

    A country portfolio can be split into two sub-portfolios if this enables one sub-portfolio to meet the requirements in BIPRU 7.3.35R(1). Individual positions may be sub-divided between sub-portfolios.

  2. (2)

    Continuing the example above, one of the largest positions is taken out of the portfolio and put into a new portfolio. The new portfolio fails the two tests, but the amended portfolio meets both tests:

    1. (a)

      Part (a): no single remaining position exceeds £9.10.

    2. (b)

      Part (b): the sum of the five relevant positions is £43, this is less than 50% of the new portfolio's value of £91.

      BIPRU_Chapter_7_005

Definition of a qualifying equity index

BIPRU 7.3.38RRP

A qualifying equity index is one which is traded on a recognised investment exchange or a designated investment exchange and:

  1. (1)

    is listed in the table in BIPRU 7.3.39R; or

  2. (2)

    is not listed in the table in BIPRU 7.3.39R, but is constructed in such a way that:

    1. (a)

      it contains at least 20 equities;

    2. (b)

      no single equity represents more than 20% of the total index; and

    3. (c)

      no five equities combined represent more than 60% of the total index.

BIPRU 7.3.39RRP

Table: Qualifying equity indices

This table belongs to BIPRU 7.3.38R

Country or territory

Name of index

Australia

All Ordinaries

Austria

Austrian Traded Index

Belgium

BEL 20

Canada

TSE 35, TSE 100, TSE 300

France

CAC 40, SBF 250

Germany

DAX

European

Dow Jones Stoxx 50 Index, FTSE Eurotop 300, MSCI Euro Index

Hong Kong

Hang Seng 33

Italy

MIB 30

Japan

Nikkei 225, Nikkei 300, TOPIX

Korea

Kospi

Netherlands

AEX

Singapore

Straits Times Index

Spain

IBEX 35

Sweden

OMX

Switzerland

SMI

UK

FTSE 100, FTSE Mid 250, FTSE All Share

US

S&P 500, Dow Jones Industrial Average, NASDAQ Composite, Russell 2000

Standard equity method: General market risk: General

BIPRU 7.3.40RRP

Under the standard equity method, a firm must apply approach one, as set out in BIPRU 7.3.41R, to each country portfolio (or part portfolio) unless the conditions in BIPRU 7.3.42R(3) are met, in which case the firm may instead apply approach two, as set out in BIPRU 7.3.42R, to the relevant country portfolios (or part portfolios).

Standard equity method: General market risk: Approach One: No offset between different country portfolios

BIPRU 7.3.41RRP

Under approach one as referred to in BIPRU 7.3.40R, the PRR for general market risk equals the net value (ignoring the sign) of the country portfolio multiplied by 8%.

Standard equity method: General market risk: Approach Two: Limited offset between different country portfolios

BIPRU 7.3.42RRP

  1. (1)

    Under approach two as referred to in BIPRU 7.3.40R, the PRR for general market risk is calculated using the following formula:

  2. BIPRU_Chapter_7_006
  3. (2)

    In the formula in (1) CPi denotes the net value of ith country portfolio (converted to the firm's base currency using current spot foreign currency rates).

  4. (3)

    The conditions referred to in BIPRU 7.3.40R that must be met for a firm to be able to use approach two as referred to in BIPRU 7.3.40R are as follows:

    1. (a)

      at least four country portfolios are included (that is: n 4);

    2. (b)

      only country portfolios for countries which are full members of the OECD, Hong Kong or Singapore are included;

    3. (c)

      no individual country portfolio comprises more than 30% of the total gross value of country portfolios included; and

    4. (d)

      the total net value of country portfolios included equals zero, that is:

    5. BIPRU_Chapter_7_007
BIPRU 7.3.43GRP

In order to meet BIPRU 7.3.42R(3)(d), it is likely that part of a country portfolio will have to be excluded from approach two under BIPRU 7.3.42R (and therefore included in approach one under BIPRU 7.3.41R), even if that country portfolio meets BIPRU 7.3.42R(3)(a) - (c).

Basic interest rate calculation for equity instruments

BIPRU 7.3.44GRP

A basic interest rate PRR calculation is included in BIPRU 7.3 for a firm that does not wish to use the calculation in BIPRU 7.2 (Interest rate PRR). However, it tends to result in higher charges than the methods in BIPRU 7.2, largely because the interest rate PRR is calculated on each notional equity position separately and then summed without offsetting long and short positions.

BIPRU 7.3.45RRP

This rule applies to a firm that does not include a forward, future, option or swap on an equity, basket of equities or equity index in the calculation of its interest rate PRR calculation under BIPRU 7.2 (Interest rate PRR). However it does not apply to cliquet as defined in BIPRU 7.6.18R (Table: Option PRR: methods for different types of option). A firm must calculate the interest rate PRR for a position being treated under this rule as follows:

  1. (1)

    multiply the market value of the notional equity position underlying the instrument by the appropriate percentage from the table in BIPRU 7.3.47R; and

  2. (2)

    sum the results from (1), ignoring the sign.

BIPRU 7.3.46GRP

Cliquets on equities, baskets of equities or equity indices do not attract an interest rate PRR. BIPRU 7.3.45R excludes them from the basic interest rate PRR calculation and the table in BIPRU 7.2.4R (Table: Instruments which result in notional positions) excludes them from the scope of the interest rate PRR calculation in BIPRU 7.2 (Interest rate PRR).

BIPRU 7.3.47RRP

Table: Percentages used in the basic interest rate PRR calculation for equity instruments

This table belongs to BIPRU 7.3.45R(1)

Time to expiration

Percentage (%)

0 ≤ 3 months

0.20

> 3 ≤ 6 months

0.40

> 6 ≤ 12 months

0.70

> 1 ≤ 2 years

1.25

> 2 ≤ 3 years

1.75

> 3 ≤ 4 years

2.25

> 4 ≤ 5 years

2.75

> 5 ≤ 7 years

3.25

> 7 ≤ 10 years

3.75

> 10 ≤ 15 years

4.50

> 15 ≤ 20 years

5.25

> 20 years

6.00

Additional capital charge in relation to equity indices

BIPRU 7.3.48RRP

If a firm nets off positions in one or more of the equities constituting an equity index future, forward or CFD against one or more positions in the equity index future, forward or CFD itself, the firm must apply an additional equity PRR to the netted position to cover the risk of loss caused by the value of the future, forward or CFD not moving fully in line with that of its constituent equities. The same applies if a firm holds opposite positions in a future, forward or CFD on an equity index that are not identical in respect of either their maturity or their composition or both.