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SECN 4.2 Before holding a securitisation position

SECN 4.2.1R
  1. (1)

    Prior to holding a securitisation position, an institutional investor, other than the originator, sponsor or original lender, shall verify that:

    1. (a)

      where the originator or original lender is established in the United Kingdom and is not a CRR firm or FCA investment firm, the originator or original lender grants all the credits giving rise to the underlying exposures (unless they are trade receivables not originated in the form of a loan) on the basis of:

      1. (i)

        sound and well-defined criteria; and

      2. (ii)

        clearly established processes for approving, amending, renewing and financing those credits,

    1and has effective systems in place to apply those criteria and processes, in accordance with SECN 8.2 (or equivalent PRA rules);

    1. (b)

      where the originator or original lender is not established in the United Kingdom, the originator or original lender grants all the credits giving rise to the underlying exposures (unless they are trade receivables not originated in the form of a loan) on the basis of:

      1. (i)

        sound and well-defined criteria; and

      2. (ii)

        clearly established processes for approving, amending, renewing and financing those credits,

    1and has effective systems in place to apply those criteria and processes, to ensure that credit granting is based on a thorough assessment of the obligor’s creditworthiness;

    1. (c)

      if established in the United Kingdom, the originator, sponsor or original lender retains on an ongoing basis a material net economic interest in accordance with SECN 5 (or equivalent PRA rules) and the risk retention is disclosed to the institutional investor in accordance with SECN 6, SECN 11 and SECN 12 (or equivalent PRA rules);

    2. (d)

      if not established in the United Kingdom, the originator, sponsor or original lender retains on an ongoing basis a material net economic interest which, in any event, must not be less than 5%, determined in accordance with SECN 5 (or equivalent PRA rules), and discloses the risk retention to institutional investors; and

    3. (e)

      the originator, sponsor or SSPE has made available sufficient information to enable the institutional investor independently to assess the risks of holding the securitisation position, and has committed to make further information available on an ongoing basis, as appropriate. That information must include at least the following:

      Information

      Frequency

      11

      In the case of a securitisation which is not an ABCP programme or an ABCP transaction, details of the underlying exposures.

      At least quarterly.

      2

      In the case of an ABCP programme or an ABCP transaction, information on the underlying receivables or credit claims.

      At least monthly.

      3

      Investor reports providing periodic updates on:

      (i) the credit quality and performance of the underlying exposures;

      (ii) any relevant financial or other triggers contained in the transaction documentation, including information on events which trigger changes to the priority of payments or a substitution of any counterparty to the transaction;

      (iii) data on the cash flows generated by the underlying exposures and by the liabilities of the securitisation; and

      (iv) the calculation and modality of retention of a material net economic interest in the transaction by the originator, sponsor or original lender.

      (i) At least quarterly in the case of a securitisation which is not an ABCP programme or an ABCP transaction.

      (ii) At least monthly in the case of an ABCP programme or an ABCP transaction.

      4

      All information on the legal documentation needed to understand the transaction, including detail of the legal provisions governing the structure of the transaction, any credit enhancement or liquidity support features, the cash flows and loss waterfalls, investors’ voting rights, and any triggers or other events that could result in a material impact on the performance of the securitisation position.

      In the case of primary market investments:

      (i) before pricing or commitment to invest in draft or initial form;

      (ii) no later than 15 days after closing of the transaction in final form; and

      (iii) an updated version as soon as practicable following any material change.

      In the case of secondary market investments:

      (i) before a commitment to invest in final form; and

      (ii) an updated version as soon as practicable following any material change.

      5

      Information describing any changes or events materially affecting the transaction, including breaches of obligations under the transaction documents.

      As soon as practicable following that material change or event.

      6

      Any approved prospectus or other offering or marketing document prepared with the cooperation of the originator or sponsor.

      In the case of primary market investments:

      (i) before pricing or commitment to invest in draft or initial form; and

      (ii) no later than 15 days after closing of the transaction in final form.

      In the case of secondary market investments, before a commitment to invest in final form.

      7

      If there is an STS notification or a notification falling within regulation 12(3)(b) of the Securitisation Regulations 2024 in respect of the transaction, that STS notification or that notification falling within regulation 12(3)(b) of the Securitisation Regulations 2024.

      In the case of primary market investments:

      (i) before pricing or commitment to invest in draft or initial form;

      (ii) no later than 15 days after closing of the transaction in final form; and

      (iii) an updated version as soon as practicable following any material change.

      In the case of secondary market investments:

      (i) before a commitment to invest in final form; and

      (ii) an updated version as soon as practicable following any material change.

SECN 4.2.2R
  1. (1)

    Prior to holding a securitisation position, an institutional investor, other than the originator, sponsor or original lender, shall carry out a due diligence assessment, which enables it to assess the risks involved. That assessment shall consider at least all of the following:

    1. (a)

      the risk characteristics of the individual securitisation position and of the underlying exposures;

    2. (b)

      all of the structural features of the securitisation that can materially impact the performance of the securitisation position, including the contractual priorities of payment and priority of payment-related triggers, credit enhancements, liquidity enhancements, market value triggers, and transaction-specific definitions of default;

    3. (c)

      with regard to a securitisation included on the list maintained under regulation 10(2) of the Securitisation Regulations 2024, compliance with SECN 2;

    4. (d)

      with regard to a securitisation that appears to the institutional investor to be an overseas STS securitisation as defined in regulation 12(2) of the Securitisation Regulations 2024, whether the securitisation falls within a description of securitisation specified in regulations made from time to time under regulation 13(1) of the Securitisation Regulations 2024 in relation to a country or territory designated under such regulations;

    5. (e)

      with regard to a securitisation falling within paragraph (3)(b) and (c) of regulation 12 of the Securitisation Regulations 2024, compliance with the requirements referred to in paragraph (3)(a) of that regulation and with Article 27 of the Securitisation Regulation as it had effect in relation to the EU at the time of the notification mentioned in paragraph (3)(b) of that regulation;

    6. (f)

      in considering the matter referred to in point (c), an institutional investor may rely to an appropriate extent on the STS notification and on the information disclosed by the originator, sponsor and SSPE concerning compliance with the STS criteria, without solely or mechanistically relying on that notification or information; and

    7. (g)

      in considering the matter referred to in point (d), an institutional investor may rely to an appropriate extent on the notification referred to in regulation 12(3)(b) of the Securitisation Regulations 2024 and on the information disclosed by the originator, sponsor and SSPE to ESMA concerning compliance with the requirements referred to in regulation 12(3)(a) of the Securitisation Regulations 2024, without solely or mechanistically relying on that notification or information.

  2. (2)

    Notwithstanding (1)(a) and (b), in the case of a fully supported ABCP programme, institutional investors in the commercial paper issued by that ABCP programme shall consider the features of the ABCP programme and the full liquidity support.

SECN 4.2.3R

The requirements in SECN 4.2.1R and SECN 4.2.2R continue to apply where a third party verifier has provided services under SECN 2.5.2R.