2019-06-03
The Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA) mandates retirement fund boards to prepare and submit comprehensive annual financial statements covering Schedules A through I, ensuring accurate regulatory reporting and fiduciary accountability. The framework requires funds to demonstrate strict compliance with Regulation 28 investment limits, scaling audit obligations by asset size while emphasizing proactive risk monitoring, service provider oversight, and transparent disclosure of non-compliances. Boards must utilize these financial reports as a core governance tool to evaluate investment policy statements, assess member-level breaches, and implement corrective actions that safeguard long-term fund sustainability and fair member outcomes.
FSCA TRUSTEE WORKSHOP 1 Financial Statements Retirement Funds
A look at retirement funds financials A Governance and Regulatory Tool (Financial Sector Conduct Authority) 27 May 2019 Presenter: Ms Wilma Mokupo Head: Retirement Funds Prudential Supervision
Structure and objectives of twin peaks Consumer Education Market Integrity Conduct of Business Banking Insurance Financial Conglomerates Financial Stability Oversight Committee Financial Market Infrastructure Resolution Authority MARKET CONDUCT PRUDENTIAL FINANCIAL STABILITY FSCA Retirement funds PA SARB
Implications for boards Backward-looking Compliance-based “One-size-fits-all” “Silo” approach Forward-looking Pre-emptive and proactive Outcomes-based Risk-based and proportionate Comprehensive and consistent Intensive and intrusive…
Slide 4 Implications for boards Culture and governance Product value Unfair contract terms Misleading advertising/marketing Ineffective disclosure Conflicted advice Poor claims handling Poor complaints handling Empowered customers Testing outcomes, rather than compliance ‘tick-box’ Rebalancing of responsibilities: Increased scrutiny of the way firms develop products; Product provider oversight of chosen distribution channel Fair outcomes can be achieved in different ways, through emphasising different TCF elements
5 AGENDA: Financial statements 101 “Back2Basics” Legal requirement for financial statements (contained in registered rules of the Fund and Section 15 of PF Act & prescribed format & audit requirements are contained in Board Notice 77 of 2014) Key features of annual financial statements (9 Schedules A to I with Annexures) Schedule A: Regulatory information* Schedule B: Statement of responsibility by the Board* Schedule C: Statement of responsibility by the Principal officer (PO) & Deputy Principal Officer (DPO)* Schedule D: Report of independent auditor (if applicable) Schedule E: Report of the board of Fund Schedule F: Statement of Net Assets and Funds (Balance Sheet) Schedule G: Statement of Changes in Net Assets and Funds (Income Statement) Schedule HA: Notes to the financial statements Schedule HB: Report of the board of the valuator* Schedule I: Report of independent auditor (whichever is applicable to your fund) Annexures to Schedule I*: Annexure A to Schedule I or “Schedule IA”: Investment schedule to the AFS + Investment Notes Annexure B to Schedule I or “Schedule IB”: Assets held in compliance with Regulation 28 Regulation 28: Audit report to Schedule IB Regulatory quarterly reporting : non-compliance with Reg 28: Fund level breaches of limits & non-compliance with Reg 28 Notices/ conduct standards Member level breaches of limits Regulatory reporting – a governance toolkit for all WAY FORWARD – what to expect in the next 12 -18 months? TCF – fairer outcomes for members
Cover Page to AFS Annual Financial Statements Important points to note for boards:
Schedule A: Regulatory Information* Annual Financial Statements Important points to note for boards:
Schedule B: Statement of responsibility by the Board of Fund* Annual Financial Statements Important points to note for boards:
Schedule C: Statement of responsibility by the Principal Officer* Annual Financial Statements Important points to note for boards:
Schedule D: Report by the independent auditor Annual Financial Statements Important points to note for boards:
Schedule E: Report of the Board of Fund* Annual Financial Statements Important points to note for boards:
Schedule F: Statement of Net Assets and Funds Annual Financial Statements Important points to note for boards:
Schedule G: Statement of Changes in Net Assets and Funds Annual Financial Statements Important points to note for boards:
Schedule HA: Notes to the financial statements Annual Financial Statements Important points to note for boards:
Investments extract from Annual Financial Statements Notes to the AFS
Investments extract from Annual Financial Statements Notes to the AFS
Investments extract from Annual Financial Statements Notes to the AFS
Investments extract from Annual Financial Statements Notes to the AFS
Investments extract from Annual Financial Statements Notes to the AFS
Schedule HB: Report of the valuator* Annual Financial Statements Important points to note for boards:
Schedule I: Report of the independent auditors* Agreed upon procedures (the AUP) Annual Financial Statements Important points to note for boards:
Schedule IA: Investment schedule pertaining to the annual financial statements* Annual Financial Statements Important points to note for boards:
23 Investments extract from Annual Financial Statements Notes to the Investment schedule
24 Investments extract from Annual Financial Statements Notes to the Investment schedule
25 Investments extract from Annual Financial Statements Notes to the Investment schedule
26 Investments extract from Annual Financial Statements Notes to the Investment schedule
27 Investments extract from Annual Financial Statements Notes to the Investment schedule
Investments extract from Annual Financial Statements Notes to the Investment schedule
29 Investments extract from Annual Financial Statements Notes to the Investment schedule
Investments extract from Annual Financial Statements Notes to the Investment schedule
31 Investments extract from Annual Financial Statements Notes to the Investment schedule
32 Investments extract from Annual Financial Statements Notes to the Investment schedule
Schedule IB: Assets held in compliance with Regulation 28 Annual Financial Statements Important points to note for boards:
Investments extract from Annual Financial Statements Regulation 28 INVESTMENT SUMMARY
Report of the independent auditor on compliance with Regulation 28 (Schedule IB audit report recently revised with IRBA) Annual Financial Statements Important points to note for boards:
Reg 28 asset spreading limits Per Issuer/ Entity limit TOTAL LIMIT CASH 25% 100% GOVT DEBT 100% BANK DEBT 25/15/10/5 75/25 CORP DEBT 10/5 50/25 EQUITY 15/10/5/2.5 75/10 PROPERTY 15/10/5/5 25/15 COMMODITIES 10/5 10% PART. EMPLOYER 5/10 HOUSING LOANS 95% HEDGE FUNDS 5/2.5 10% PRIVATE EQUITY 5/2.5 10% AFRICA 5% FOREIGN FSCA SUB LIMITS PER ASSET CLASS SARB LIMIT 30% ( includes 5% AFRICA) OTHER 2.5% OVERALL LIMITS UNLISTED, ALT. ASSETS 35%
37 A Governance and Regulatory Tool Various scenarios presented to the “registrar” in 2011 with the advent of the revisions to regulation 28 Scenario 1: More than 80% of our fund is not compliant at member level Our Fund operates mainly in the segregated or specialist mandates space This is mainly in the RA & preservation fund space (grandfathered policies mainly) Scenario 2: Our Fund is at least 60% compliant at member level Less than 5% of our portfolios/ member offerings are non compliant Our administrators are reviewing their business models, systems, etc. Should be fully compliant by end Quarter 2 of 2012? What is the status quo almost 9 years later? Mainly occupational – based funds Scenario 3: Our Fund is 100% compliant at member level All investment offerings/ choices have been reg 28 compliant This provides our members with greater protection and diversification from the start Is there a need for another stock taking? Out of mandate trades and wrong codifications have declined. Reported breaches mainly of non-discretionary nature e.g. market movements… What is not being reported? Retirement funds investments: Regulation 28 revised July 2011
38 A Governance and Regulatory Tool List of in-force Regulation 28 Notices that may be withdrawn in future and replaced with conduct or prudential standards under the FSR Act or replaced with financial instruments under the COFI Bill once in force: 2011 Notice no.1 of 2011 – Transitional arrangements: time to adjust monitoring & reporting systems Notice no.2 of 2011 - Transitional arrangements: exemption reg 28(3)(j) quarterly reporting instead of reporting to Registrar “without delay” Notice no.3 of 2011 – Prescribed format for quarterly non-compliance (breach) reports Notice no.4 of 2011 – Public entities for purposes of paragraph 2.1(d) 2012 Notice no.1 of 2012 – Conditions for investments in private equity funds, approval in terms of section 5(2)(e) Notice no.2 of 2012 – Conditions for securities lending Notice no.3 of 2012 – Quarterly non-compliance reporting (30 days) Notice no.4 of 2012 – Implementation date for pension funds to be compliant with the conditions for securities lending transactions Notice no.5 of 2012 – Conditions for investments in private equity funds Notice no.6 of 2012 – Replacing the format of quarterly reporting & 90 days submission deadline Notice no.8 of 2012 – Classification of Eskom guaranteed bonds par 2.1(a) Notice no.9 of 2012 – exemption from 25% per issuer limit for funds in liquidation, transfers, benefits payable, contributions, etc. 2013 – n/a 2014 Notice no.1 of 2014 – exemption for pension funds investing in assets on the stock exchanges which is no longer a full member of the WFE (World Federation of Exchanges) Notice no.2 of 2014 – exemption from Regulation 28(8)(b) requirements for audit confirmation of compliance with regulation 28 where the FYE of insurer, CIS and fund differs 2015 – n/a 2016 – n/a 2017 Notice no.1 of 2017 – exemption in respect of debt instruments issued by a South African bank where the bank itself is not listed but the holding company is listed Retirement funds investments: Regulation 28 revised July 2011
39 A Governance and Regulatory Tool Regulation 28 (adherence to the asset spreading requirements): • 9 Principles (i) Promote trustee education iro PF investments, governance & related matters; (ii) Monitor compliance with Reg28 by its advisors & service providers; (iii) In contracting services consider B-BBEE; (iv) Ensure fund’s assets appropriate for liabilities (ALM); (v) Perform due diligence, risk analysis before contracting e.g. credit, mkt & liquidity risks, operational risk for assets not listed on an exchange, etc.. (vi) Before making contractual commitment in 3rd party managed foreign asset or in foreign asset, perform reasonable due diligence iro currency risk & sovereign risks etc.. (vii) In risk analysis take credit rating into account (but not sole criteria & not to exclusion of fund’s own due diligence) (viii) Understand changing risk profile of assets of fund over time through comprehensive risk analysis e.g. credit risk, mkt risk, liquidity & operational risk, currency risk, geographic & sovereign risk of foreign assets; (ix) Consider any other factors that may materially affect sustainable LT performance of fund assets incl. Environmental, social & governance factors (ESG) …. Retirement funds investments: Regulation 28
40 A Governance Tool for Boards and Investments board sub committees Financial statements, statistics, reports (schedule IB audit report > NAV R50m) Regulation 28 asset spreading requirements It has crucial information on investment activities of your fund (Schedule E, Notes to the financials, schedule IA on look through where required and Schedule IB reports) Use regulatory reports & other financial info as a Governance Tool Have direct access to your auditor with regards to fund financials, when necessary Engage auditor & ask for assistance with interpretation issues around Regulation 28 Seek independent legal advice if the costs justify it (cost v benefit) Retirement funds investments: Regulation 28
41 A Governance Tool for Boards and Investments board sub committees Boards by now you should have considered following when developing IPS: •Current investments •Degree of risk tolerance •Volatility of contributions •Current & future liabilities •Structure of your fund DB or DC or hybrid •Liquidity & cash flow requirements •Maturity of your fund •Profile of your members & beneficiaries Essential elements of an IPS: •Asset mix & expected rate of return •Categories of investments e.g. list of acceptable derivative instruments to be used by the fund, if any) (see Notice conditions for the use of derivatives by retirement funds) •Diversification •Liquidity requirements •Pledging & borrowing of fund assets (exercise extreme care) •Securities lending (see Notice containing conditions) •Management fees & compensation •ESG (environmental, social & governance factors) •Voting rights (transformation) •Valuation procedures
The IPS - Investment Policy Statement
42 A Governance Tool for Boards and Investments board sub committees WHAT BOARDS NEED TO ASK THEIR INVESTMENT/ ASSET MANAGERS & CONSULTANTS? •What processes & procedures are we going to insist on ? •Do we take a more active interest in proxy voting ( e.g. via securities lending)? How has our asset manager(s) been voting on our fund’s behalf, if at all? •How do we rewrite our management agreements & mandates with our asset managers? •How regularly do we need feedback from asset managers? •How & when should breaches be reported & corrective action taken? What is the cause of the breaches? e.g. do we have any out of mandate trades/ member switches/ market movements that caused non compliance? •Do we ask for more meaningful reporting from all service providers so as to better monitor & measure their performance or lack thereof & report breaches to Registrar within the required timeframes (quarterly, annually)? Note: even if the board of trustees outsource these functions they will still be held jointly and severally liable as the fiduciaries/ decision-makers of the fund
Retirement funds investments: Regulation 28
43 A Governance Tool for Boards and Investments board sub committees WHAT BOARDS NEED TO ASK THEIR BENEFIT ADMINSITRATOR? •What systems changes have been implemented since the publication of the revisions to Reg 28 especially to check member-level compliance? •What types of breach reports can be provided to the fund and how often? By whom, when & how? i.e. level, frequency, responsible person, etc. •How many member portfolios/ offerings are non compliant with Reg28? •What does the benefit administrator’s systems capabilities look like? e.g. capacity, resources, restrictions, ability to detect breaches (fund & member level)? •What changes has been made to the systems (if any) to ensure on-going compliance monitoring? e.g. compliance monitoring at fund level, member level, sub limit levels, asset classes? •What is the extent of the administrator’s legal liability? e.g. wrong switches? Does the admin agreement & SLAs sufficiently cover these issues? Retirement funds investments: Regulation 28
44 A Regulatory Tool Legislation Constitution of the Republic of South Africa (FSR Act) Financial Sector Regulation Act (primary law) (PF Act) Pension Funds Act Regulations Board Notices Directives PF Circulars & Information Circulars Conduct standards or prudential standards (next under FSR Act) Financial instruments under COFI Bill (next)
Retirement funds investments: Regulation 28
45 A Regulatory Tool All funds must submit annual financial statements: section 15 requirement Large funds > R50 million full scope audit including schedule IB audit report Small funds > R6 million < R50 million agreed upon procedures Mini funds < R6 million assets are audit exempt but submits unaudited financials and section 15 report signed by trustees Analysis by FSCA: •Early warning system •Ratio analysis •Analyst checklists •Audit reports, trustee reports •Section 15 report (compliance report) •Peer review (high risk cases) •Manager/ peer reviews (all cases) •Business intelligence (trend analysis) •Onsite visits inspections esp. flagging of 12 month rectifications & rebalancing •Investigations under FSR Act •Statutory management •Curatorships •Section 26 board appointments •New penalty regime under FSR Act and admin penalties continue under sectoral laws for late & non-submissions R4k per day for 2018 FYEs Retirement funds investments: Regulation 28
46 A Regulatory Tool Retirement funds investments: Regulation 28 Proposed changes to the existing reporting to FSCA:
47 WAY FORWARD – what to expect in the next 12 -18 months? proposed enhancements to format of quarterly report & submission criteria (all funds to submit) proposed reduction in quarterly reporting/ submission times (3 to 2 months or less) alignment with SARB’s QAAR reports [all funds to submit on quarterly basis] use of SARB’s D427 glossary/ dictionary containing definitions for all foreign assets proposed reduction in annual reporting submissions from 6 to 3 months* withdrawal of audit exemption* use JSE Ltd naming convention fro all listed instruments use Issuer’s naming convention/ codification for all unlisted instruments issued *s.t. Omnibus Bill 2020 and new Cabinet post-elections 2019 POSSIBLE REVISION areas highlighted: Definitions i.e. Banks Act vs CISCA vs FMA vs FAIS e.g. money mkt instruments –is it defined as cash or debt depending on time to maturity? Look-through – revised schedule IA to AFS? Member-level compliance monitoring versus reporting requirements? Systems: grand-fathering protection – what triggers a loss of grand-fathering? De minimus rule –schedule IA must balance with schedule F and schedule IB & provide look-through? Hedge funds & derivatives & private equity & sec lending notices – to be revised / issued? Guidance to trustees e.g. due diligence, interpretations, criteria etc.? Alternative investments esp. risks contained in structured products not well understood, complex? Skills levels of trustees – FSCA to set minimum criteria & consult? Future standards as needed (Conduct. Prudential/ Joint standards with SARB)? Regulation 28(9) exemption criteria & conditions? Participation in industry workgroups e.g. ASISA, SAICA, IRBA, Batseta, IRFA, etc. and during public comment period
The regulatory framework will hold all regulated entities in this value chain accountable to deliver TCF outcomes relevant to their role 48 Sponsor / Employer Administrator (Benefit & Investments) Member advisor Fund & Trustees (rules and benefit options) Insurer/ other product providers Fund advisors & other service providers
THANK YOU “It always seems impossible until it is done” Tata Nelson Mandela Remember to SPEAK OUT!!! When something wrong is happening… Thank You Q&A Useful links: www.fsca.co.za www.trusteetoolkit.co.za wilma.mokupo@fsca.co.za