An estimate is sufficiently conservative when either of the following conditions is met:

1. (a)

   where the investment mandate of the index specifies that a capital instrument of a financial sector entity which is part of the index cannot exceed a maximum percentage of the index, the institution uses that percentage as an estimate for the value of the holdings that is deducted from its Common Equity Tier 1, Additional Tier 1 or Tier 2 items, as applicable in accordance with Paragraph 2 of Article 17 or from Common Equity Tier 1 capital in situations where the institution cannot determine the precise nature of the holding;

2. (b)

   where the institution is unable to determine the maximum percentage referred to in point (a) and where the index, as evidenced by its investment mandate or other relevant information, includes capital instruments of financial sector entities, the institution deducts the full amount of the index holdings from its Common Equity Tier 1, Additional Tier 1 or Tier 2 items, as applicable in accordance with Paragraph 2 of Article 17 or from Common Equity Tier 1 capital in situations where the institution cannot determine the precise nature of the holding.

For the purposes of paragraph 1, the following shall apply:

1. (a)

   an indirect holding arising from an index holding comprises the proportion of the index invested in the Common Equity Tier 1, Additional Tier 1 and Tier 2 instruments of financial sector entities included in the index;

2. (b)

   an index includes, but is not limited to, index funds, equity or bond indices or any other scheme where the underlying instrument is a capital instrument issued by a financial sector entity.

For the purpose of Article 76(3) of Regulation (EU) No 575/2013, operationally burdensome shall mean situations under which look-through approaches to capital holdings in financial sector entities on an ongoing basis are unjustified, as assessed by the competent authorities. In their assessment of the nature of operationally burdensome situations, competent authorities shall take into account the low materiality and short holding period of such positions. A holding period of short duration shall require the strong liquidity of the index to be evidenced by the institution.

For the purpose of paragraph 1, a position shall be deemed to be of low materiality where all of the following conditions are met:

1. (a)

   the individual net exposure arising from index holdings measured before any look-through is performed does not exceed 2 % of Common Equity Tier 1 items as calculated in point (a) of Article 46(1) of Regulation (EU) No 575/2013;

2. (b)

   the aggregated net exposure arising from index holdings measured before any look-through is performed does not exceed 5 % of Common Equity Tier 1 items as calculated in point (a) of Article 46(1) of Regulation (EU) No 575/2013;

3. (c)

   the sum of the aggregated net exposure arising from index holdings measured before any look-through is performed and of any other holdings that shall be deducted pursuant to Article 36(1)(h) of Regulation (EU) No 575/2013 does not exceed 10 % of Common Equity Tier 1 items as calculated in point (a) of Article 46(1) of Regulation (EU) No 575/2013.