2019-11-13
The Austrian Financial Market Authority issued the Risk Management Regulation for Pensionskassen 2019 to establish minimum standards for the risk management of Pensionskassen. The regulation mandates that management boards implement a comprehensive risk management system, including a distinct risk management function, systematic risk analysis, and regular stress testing. It further requires Pensionskassen to define risk appetite, monitor compliance with established limits, and ensure organizational independence to prevent conflicts of interest.
All English translation of the authentic German text is unofficial and serves merely information purposes. The official wording in German can be found in the Austrian Federal Law Gazette (Bundesgesetzblatt; BGBl.). All translations have been prepared with great care, but linguistic compromises had to be made. The reader should also bear in mind that some provisions of these laws will remain unclear without certain background knowledge of the Austrian legal and political system. Please note that these laws may be amended in the future and check occasionally for updates. Risk Management Regulation for Pensionskassen 2019 (Pensionskassen-Risikomanagementverordnung 2019 – PK-RiMaV 2019) Full title Regulation of the Financial Market Authority (FMA) on minimum standards for the risk management of Pensionskassen 2019 (PK-RiMaV 2019; Risk Management Regulation for Pensionskassen 2019) Original Version: Federal Law Gazette II No. 331/2018 Preamble/Promulgation clause Based on Article 21a para. 5 of the Pensionskassengesetz (PKG; Pensionskasse Act), published in Federal Law Gazette no. 281/1990, last amended by Federal Act published in Federal Law Gazette I no. 81/2018, the following shall be determined by Regulation: Text General Provisions Article 1. (1) This Regulation shall determine requirements for risk management pursuant to Article 21a paras. 1 to 4 PKG, which cover the entirety of the risk management system, risk management processes and the risk management function and which must be implemented by the management board as a permanent process in the form of a continual process. (2) The management board of the Pensionskasse shall ensure that risk management is conducted by persons who are suitably professionally qualified to do so, and that adequate technical resources are made available for the purpose of risk management. (3) The provisions of this Regulation shall apply on a consolidated basis for syndicated investment and risk sharing groups. Risk Management Function Article 2. (1) The risk management function established pursuant to Article 21a para. 1 PKG shall in particular perform the following tasks:
All English translation of the authentic German text is unofficial and serves merely information purposes. The official wording in German can be found in the Austrian Federal Law Gazette (Bundesgesetzblatt; BGBl.). All translations have been prepared with great care, but linguistic compromises had to be made. The reader should also bear in mind that some provisions of these laws will remain unclear without certain background knowledge of the Austrian legal and political system. Please note that these laws may be amended in the future and check occasionally for updates. of interest are avoided that are associated with the asset investment activities. The risk management function is to be organisationally separated from the performance of asset investment activities. (4) Pensionskassen shall prescribe regulations regarding deputisation for the function holders in the risk management function that ensure that the absence or leaving of the company of responsible persons does not lead to significant disruptions to the risk management process. Risk Management System Article 3. Pensionskassen shall ensure that the determination, implementation and maintaining of a risk management system established pursuant to Article 21a paras. 2 to 4 PKG shall in any case cover the following:
All English translation of the authentic German text is unofficial and serves merely information purposes. The official wording in German can be found in the Austrian Federal Law Gazette (Bundesgesetzblatt; BGBl.). All translations have been prepared with great care, but linguistic compromises had to be made. The reader should also bear in mind that some provisions of these laws will remain unclear without certain background knowledge of the Austrian legal and political system. Please note that these laws may be amended in the future and check occasionally for updates. 3. credit risks including sovereign and issuer risks; 4. currency risks; 5. risks arising from the use of derivatives, securitisations and similar obligations; 6. liquidity risks; 7. environmental, social and governance (ESG) risks and 8. the associated risk concentrations and reciprocal effects. (4) Pensionskassen shall estimate the risk bearing capacity for material risks for all risk bearers pursuant to para. 1. In so doing the impacts of unfavourable events must be quantified across a suitable period of observation. The risk bearing capacity is to be estimated in qualitative form for other non-quantifiable risks. (5) The risk appetite is to be determined based on the risk bearing capacity. It must be decided in this context whether risks may be incurred or avoided, mitigated or transferred. (6) When identifying the risk bearing capacity and the risk appetite aspects of asset-liability management are to be taken into consideration. In particular, these include
All English translation of the authentic German text is unofficial and serves merely information purposes. The official wording in German can be found in the Austrian Federal Law Gazette (Bundesgesetzblatt; BGBl.). All translations have been prepared with great care, but linguistic compromises had to be made. The reader should also bear in mind that some provisions of these laws will remain unclear without certain background knowledge of the Austrian legal and political system. Please note that these laws may be amended in the future and check occasionally for updates. perform comparisons of target and actual figures between the actual situation and then risk situation defined on the basis of the risk strategy pursuant to Article 3 no. 1, and to make appropriate adjustments. (2) The limits determined pursuant to Article 6 para. 2 are to be monitored on an ongoing basis within the scope of the risk management system while avoiding conflicts of interest. (3) Processes and appropriate measures to be deployed in the event of limits being exceeding shall be defined in advance. In the event of a limit being exceeding, compliance with the measure deployed shall be documented. (4) Early-warning mechanisms shall help in guaranteeing that changed risk situations, reduced risk bearing capacity as well as imminent over-running of limits are recognised in a timely fashion and necessary measures derived from them. Entry Into Force and Expiry Article 8. This Regulation shall enter into force on 1 January 2019.