932.9—Limits on unsecured extensions of credit to one counterparty or affiliated counterparties; reporting requirements for total extensions of credit to one counterparty or affiliated counterp
(a) Unsecured extensions of credit to a single counterparty.
A Bank shall not extend unsecured credit to any single counterparty (other than a GSE) in an amount that would exceed the limits of this paragraph. A Bank shall not extend unsecured credit to a GSE in an amount that would exceed the limits set forth in paragraph (c) of this section. If a third-party provides an irrevocable, unconditional guarantee of repayment of a credit (or any part thereof), the third-party guarantor shall be considered the counterparty for purposes of calculating and applying the unsecured credit limits of this section with respect the to guaranteed portion of the transaction.
(1) Term limits.
All unsecured extensions of credit by a Bank to a single counterparty that arise from the Bank's on- and off-balance sheet and derivative transactions (but excluding the amount of sales of federal funds with a maturity of one day or less and sales of federal funds subject to a continuing contract) shall not exceed the product of the maximum capital exposure limit applicable to such counterparty, as determined in accordance with paragraph (a)(4) of this section and Table 4 of this part, multiplied by the lesser of:
(ii)
The counterparty's Tier 1 capital, or if Tier 1 capital is not available, total capital (as defined by the counterparty's principal regulator) or some similar comparable measure identified by the Bank.
(2) Overall limits including sales of overnight federal funds.
All unsecured extensions of credit by a Bank to a single counterparty that arise from the Bank's on- and off-balance sheet and derivative transactions, including the amounts of sales of federal funds with a maturity of one day or less and sales of federal funds subject to a continuing contract, shall not exceed twice the limit calculated pursuant to paragraph (a)(1) of this section.
(3) Limits for certain obligations issued by state, local or tribal governmental agencies.
The term limit set forth in paragraph (a)(1) of this section when applied to the marketable direct obligations of state, local or tribal government unit or agencies that are acquired member assets identified in § 955.2(a)(3) of this chapter or are otherwise excluded from the prohibition against investments in whole mortgages or whole loan or interests in such mortgages or loans by § 956.3(a)(4)(iii) of this chapter shall be calculated based on the Bank's total capital and the credit rating assigned to the particular obligation as determined in accordance with paragraph (a)(5) of this section. If a Bank owns series or classes of obligations issued by a particular state, local or tribal government unit or agency or has extended other forms of unsecured credit to such entity falling into different rating categories, the total amount of unsecured credit extended by the Bank to that government unit or agency shall not exceed the term limit associated with the highest-rated obligation issued by the entity and actually purchased by the Bank.
(4) Bank determination of applicable maximum capital exposure limits.
(i)
Except as set forth in paragraph (a)(4)(ii) or (a)(4)(iii) of this section, the applicable maximum capital exposure limits are assigned to each counterparty based upon the long-term credit rating of the counterparty, as determined in accordance with paragraph (a)(5) of this section, and are provided in the following Table 4 of this part:
| Long-term credit rating of counterparty category | Maximum capital exposure limit(in percent) |
|---|---|
| Highest Investment Grade | 15 |
| Second Highest Investment Grade | 14 |
| Third Highest Investment Grade | 9 |
| Fourth Highest Investment Grade | 3 |
| Below Investment Grade or Other | 1 |
(ii)
If a counterparty does not have a long-term credit rating but has received a short-term credit rating from an NRSRO, the maximum capital exposure limit applicable to that counterparty shall be based upon the short-term credit rating, as determined in accordance with paragraph (a)(5) of this section, as follows:
(A)
The highest short-term investment grade credit rating shall correspond to the maximum capital exposure limit provided in Table 4 of this part for the third highest long-term investment grade rating;
(B)
The second highest short-term investment grade rating shall correspond to the maximum capital exposure limit provided in Table 4 of this part for the fourth highest long-term investment grade rating; and
(C)
The third highest short-term investment grade rating shall correspond to the maximum capital exposure limit provided in Table 4 of this part for the fourth highest long-term investment grade rating.
(iii)
If a specific debt obligation issued by a counterparty receives a credit rating from an NRSRO that is lower than the counterparty's long-term credit rating, the total amount of the lower-rated obligation held by the Bank may not exceed a sub-limit calculated in accordance with paragraph (a)(1) of this section, except that the Bank shall use the credit rating associated with the specific obligation to determine the applicable maximum capital exposure limit. For purposes of this paragraph, the credit rating of the debt obligation shall be determined in accordance with paragraph (a)(5) of this section.
(5) Bank determination of applicable credit ratings.
The following criteria shall be applied to determine a counterparty's credit rating:
(ii)
If only one NRSRO has rated the counterparty, that NRSRO's rating shall be used. If a counterparty has received credit ratings from more than one NRSRO, the lowest credit rating from among those NRSROs shall be used;
(iii)
Where a credit rating has a modifier, the credit rating is deemed to be the credit rating without the modifier;
(iv)
If a counterparty is placed on a credit watch for a potential downgrade by an NRSRO, the credit rating from that NRSRO at the next lower grade shall be used; and
(v)
If a counterparty is not rated by an NRSRO, the Bank shall determine the applicable credit rating by using credit rating standards available from an NRSRO or other similar standards.
(b) Unsecured extensions of credit to affiliated counterparties—
(1) In general.
The total amount of unsecured extensions of credit by a Bank to a group of affiliated counterparties that arise from the Bank's on- and off-balance sheet and derivative transactions, including sales of federal funds with a maturity of one day or less and sales of federal funds subject to a continuing contract, shall not exceed thirty percent of the Bank's total capital.
(2) Relation to individual limits.
The aggregate limits calculated under this paragraph shall apply in addition to the limits on extensions of unsecured credit to a single counterparty imposed by paragraph (a) of this section.
(c) Special limits for GSEs—
(1) In general.
Unsecured extensions of credit by a Bank to a GSE that arise from the Bank's on- and off-balance sheet and derivative transactions, including from the purchase of any subordinated debt subject to the sub-limit set forth in paragraph (c)(2) of this section, from any sales of federal funds with a maturity of one day or less and from sales of federal funds subject to a continuing contract, shall not exceed the lesser of:
(ii)
The GSE's total capital (as defined by the GSE's principal regulator) or some similar comparable measure identified by the Bank.
(2) Sub-limit for subordinated debt.
The maximum amount of subordinated debt issued by a GSE and held by a Bank shall not exceed the term limit calculated under paragraph (a)(1) of this section, except that a Bank shall use the credit rating of the GSE's subordinated debt to determine the applicable maximum capital exposure limit. The credit rating of the subordinated debt shall be determined in accordance with paragraph (a)(5) of this section.
(3) Limits applying to a GSE after a downgrade.
If any NRSRO assigns a credit rating to any senior debt obligation issued (or to be issued) by a GSE that is below the highest investment grade or downgrades, or places on a credit watch for a potential downgrade of the credit rating on any senior unsecured obligation issued by a GSE to below the highest investment grade, the special limits on unsecured extensions of credit under paragraph (c)(1) of this section shall cease to apply, and instead, the Bank shall calculate the maximum amount of its unsecured extensions of credit to that GSE in accordance with paragraphs (a)(1) and (a)(2) of this section.
(4) Extensions of unsecured credit to other Banks.
The limits of this section do not apply to unsecured credit extended by one Bank to another Bank.
(d) Extensions of unsecured credit after downgrade or placement on credit watch.
If an NRSRO downgrades the credit rating applicable to any counterparty or places any counterparty on a credit watch for a potential downgrade, a Bank need not unwind or liquidate any existing transaction or position with that counterparty that complied with the limits of this section at the time it was entered. In such a case, however, a Bank may extend any additional unsecured credit to such a counterparty only in compliance with the limitations that are calculated using the lower maximum exposure limits. For the purposes of this section, the renewal of an existing unsecured extension of credit, including any decision not to terminate any sales of federal funds subject to a continuing contract, shall be considered an additional extension of unsecured credit that can be undertaken only in accordance with the lower limit.
(e) Reporting requirements—
(1) Total unsecured extensions of credit.
Each Bank shall report monthly to the Finance Board the amount of the Bank's total unsecured extensions of credit arising from on- and off-balance sheet and derivative transactions to any single counterparty or group of affiliated counterparties that exceeds 5 percent of:
(ii)
The counterparty's, or affiliated counterparties' combined, Tier 1 capital, or if Tier 1 capital is not available, total capital (as defined by each counterparty's principal regulator) or some similar comparable measure identified by the Bank.
(2) Total secured and unsecured extensions of credit.
Each Bank shall report monthly to the Finance Board the amount of the Bank's total secured and unsecured extensions of credit arising from on- and off-balance sheet and derivative transactions to any single counterparty or group of affiliated counterparties that exceeds 5 percent of the Bank's total assets.
(3) Extensions of credit in excess of limits.
A Bank shall report promptly to the Finance Board any extensions of unsecured credit that exceeds any limit set forth in paragraphs (a), (b) or (c) of this section. In making this report, a Bank shall provide the name of the counterparty or group of affiliated counterparties to which the excess unsecured credit has been extended, the dollar amount of the applicable limit which has been exceeded, the dollar amount by which the Bank's extension of unsecured credit exceeds such limit, the dates for which the Bank was not in compliance with the limit, and, if applicable, a brief explanation of any extenuating circumstances which caused the limit to be exceeded.
(f) Measurement of unsecured extensions of credit—
(1) In general.
For purposes of this section, unsecured extensions of credit will be measured as follows:
(i)
For on-balance sheet transactions, an amount equal to the sum of the book value of the item plus net payments due the Bank;
(ii)
For off-balance sheet transactions, an amount equal to the credit equivalent amount of such item, calculated in accordance with § 932.4(f) of this part; and
(iii)
For derivative transactions, an amount equal to the sum of the current and potential future credit exposures for the derivative contract, where those values are calculated in accordance with §§ 932.4(g) or 932.4(h) of this part, as applicable, less the amount of any collateral that is held in accordance with the requirements of § 932.4(e)(2)(ii)(B) of this part against the credit exposure from the derivative contract.
(2) Status of debt obligations purchased by the Bank.
Any debt obligation or debt security (other than mortgage-backed securities or acquired member assets that are identified in §§ 955.2(a)(1) and (2) of this chapter) purchased by a Bank shall be considered an unsecured extension of credit for the purposes of this section, except:
(i)
Any amount owed the Bank against which the Bank holds collateral in accordance with § 932.4(e)(2)(ii)(B) of this part; or
(ii)
Any amount which the Finance Board has determined on a case-by-case basis shall not be considered an unsecured extension of credit.
(g) Obligations of the United States.
Obligations of, or guaranteed by, the United States are not subject to the requirements of this section.
[66728, Dec. 27, 2002]