Capital Framework for South Africa Based on the Basel III Framework

P O Box 427 Pretoria 0001 South Africa
370 Helen Joseph Street Pretoria 0002
+27 12 313 3911 / 0861 12 7272 www.resbank.co.za 1 Ref.: 15/8/1/3 D5/2021 To: All banks, controlling companies, branches of foreign institutions, eligible institutions and auditors of banks or controlling companies Directive 5/2021 issued in terms of section 6(6) of the Banks Act 94 of 1990:
Capital framework for South Africa based on the Basel III framework Executive summary The amended Regulations relating to Banks (the Regulations), which set out, among other things, the prescribed minimum required capital ratios and various components of the capital requirements, were implemented with effect from 1 January 2013. This directive serves to inform all relevant persons of matters related to the prescribed minimum required capital ratios as well as the application of various components of the said capital requirements such as the systemic risk capital requirement (Pillar 2A), the domestic systemically important bank (D-SIB) capital requirement, the countercyclical buffer range and the capital conservation buffer range. This directive replaces Directive 2/2020, issued in April 2020, and Directive 4/2020, issued in August 2020.

1. Introduction
   1.1. In line with the international implementation of the Basel III framework on
   1 January 2013, the South African capital framework is set out in the Regulations, which was implemented with effect from 1 January 2013.
   1.2. In order to prevent any potential ambiguity, Annexure A of this directive stipulates
   the various capital tiers, together with various related elements specified in the Regulations and in the Basel III framework, including the systemic risk capital requirement (Pillar 2A), the bank-specific individual capital requirement (ICR), also known as the Pillar 2B requirement, the D-SIB capital requirement and the minimum requirements that must be maintained by all banks. The D-SIB capital requirement is specific to each bank or banking group, based upon criteria related to systemic importance.
2. Minimum capital requirements
   2.1 Regulation 38(8)(e)(ii) of the Regulations prescribes that the capital requirement
   for systemic risk (i.e. Pillar 2A) will be specified by the Prudential Authority (PA). The Pillar 2A requirement may therefore also be revised from time to time.

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2.2 The Pillar 2A capital requirement, temporarily reduced to 0% of risk-weighted
exposures for all banks at a total capital level since April 2020, will be reinstated, as set out in Annexure B. In order to assist banks in appropriately managing their capital plans, the PA hereby notifies banks that the combined total capital adequacy requirement in respect of the Pillar 2A and the higher loss absorbency (HLA) requirement for D-SIBs will not exceed 3.5% of a bank’s risk-weighted exposure. The aggregate requirement will not exceed 2% for common equity tier 1 (CET 1) and 2.5% for tier 1.
2.3 Furthermore, excluding both bank-specific ICR and the countercyclical buffer
requirement, the highest minimum total capital adequacy requirement to be met by any bank or banking group conducting business within South Africa receiving the highest possible HLA requirement for a D-SIB will not exceed 14%.
2.4 The PA will specify the HLA requirement for each individual bank or banking group
identified as a D-SIB in terms of regulation 38(8)(e)(vi) of the Regulations. The HLA requirement will accordingly vary between banks identified as D-SIBs. The PA has decided to apply a ‘bucketing approach’ when assigning the relevant HLA requirement for D-SIBs. The PA reviews the systemic importance of banks and banking groups on a continuous basis and will continue to advice entities identified as D-SIBs in writing of this fact, including the respective HLA requirements assigned to them. The HLA requirement for a D-SIB is regarded as an extension of the capital conservation buffer, and the consequences applicable to breaching the capital adequacy requirement at the capital conservation buffer level will also apply to breaching the combined total of the capital conservation buffer and the HLA requirement for a D-SIB. The first 1% of the specified D-SIB capital requirement, up to a maximum of 1% of a bank’s risk-weighted exposures, must be fully met by CET 1 capital and reserve funds. Any additional requirement, up to the first 1.5% of risk-weighted exposures may be met by tier 1 capital and reserve funds. Any additional requirement to the aforementioned requirement, up to 2.5% of risk-weighted exposures, may be met with total capital and reserve funds.
2.5 The PA continuously assesses the bank-specific ICR, as part of its supervisory
review and evaluation processes. These supervisory assessments may attribute ICRs in order to address specific risks identified by the PA in terms of the provisions of regulation 38(8)(e)(iii), read with regulation 38(4) of the Regulations. Any ICR may also be based on the levels of economic capital a bank holds to cover risks not regarded as Pillar 1 risks, as observed in the Internal Capital Adequacy Assessment Process (ICAAP) of a bank. The PA will continue to utilise this supervisory tool to increase or decrease the level of ICR; however, factors that form part of the D-SIB capital framework no longer form part of the ICR framework.
2.6 In the event that a bank’s required capital adequacy ratios fall below the levels set
out in Annexure A and Annexure B (South African minima, including the countercyclical buffer, the conservation buffer and the HLA requirement for D- SIBs), and in the absence of other remedial actions acceptable to the PA to improve the bank’s capital adequacy ratios, capital conservation ratios will be imposed that will limit discretionary payments such as dividend distributions. These limits will be increased as a bank’s capital levels approach the specified minimum requirements. Once imposed, capital conservation measures will remain in place until such time as minimum required capital adequacy ratios have been restored. If a bank seeks to make payments in excess of distribution limits, sufficient capital will have to be raised to fully compensate for the excess distribution. A bank will be required to discuss this alternative with the PA as part of the bank’s ICAAP.

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2.7 Banks are required to maintain an additional discretionary capital buffer above the
specified minimum requirements, as envisaged in regulation 38(8)(e)(vii) of the Regulations, to ensure that the execution of internal business objectives or the occurrence of adverse external environmental factors do not prevent banks from operating above the relevant specified minima. The PA will continue to monitor and assess the adequacy of this internal buffer against a bank’s strategy, risk profile and levels of capital.
2.8 As is standard practice in most international jurisdictions and to ensure that no
confusion is created in the market, banks are required to refrain from disclosing to the public their ICR (Pillar 2B) requirement that is based on a combination of various qualitative and quantitative factors that are not directly comparable across banks.
2.9 Banks are required to publicly disclose their D-SIB capital add-on as part of their
composition of regulatory capital disclosure.
3. Acknowledgement of receipt
3.1. Kindly ensure that a copy of this Directive is made available to your institution’s
external auditors. The attached acknowledgement of receipt duly completed and signed by both the chief executive officer of the institution and the said auditors should be returned to the PA at the earliest convenience of the aforementioned signatories. Kuben Naidoo Deputy Governor and CEO: Prudential Authority Date:
Encl. 3
The previous Directive issued was Directive D4/2021, dated 14 April 2021 2021-05-20

ANNEXURE A: Capital Framework for South Africa based on the Basel III framework Capital tiers Reference in the amended Regulations CET 1 Capital Requirement Tier 1 Capital Requirement Total Capital Requirement BCBS Basel III minima 4,5% 6,0% 8,0% South African minima Reg 38(8)(b) & Reg 38(8)(e)(i) 4,5% 6,0% 8,0% Systemic risk add-on1 (Total Pillar 2A range 0,5% to 2,0%) Reg 38(8)(e)(ii) A ≥ 50% of P2A 1 A ≥ 75% of P2A 2 P2A (≤2.0%) South African base minima Reg 38(8)(b) & Reg 38(8)(e)(i) and (ii) 4,5% + A1 6,0% + A2 8,0% + P2A Bank-specific ICR add-on (Pillar 2B) Reg 38(8)(e)(iii) & Reg 38(4) B = 50% of ICR 1 B = 75% of ICR 2 ICR South African minima (prudential minima) 4,5% + A + B 1 1 6,0% + A + B 2 2 8,0% + P2A + ICR Domestic Systemically-Important Bank capital add-on1 (0% to 2.5%) Reg 38(8)(e)(vi) C = up to the first 1% 1 C =up to the first 1,5% 2 DSIB (max of 2,5%) Conservation buffer range (0% to 2.5%) Reg 38(8)(e)(iv) & Reg 38(8)(f) D = 100% of CB 1 D = 100% of CB 2 CB (≤2.5%) Countercyclical buffer range2 (0% to 2.5%) Reg 38(8)(e)(v) & Reg 38(8)(g) E = 100% of CCyB 1 E = 100% of CCyB 2 CCyB SA minima including countercyclical buffer, conservation buffer and D-SIB requirements3 7,0% + B + E + the lower of (2,0% 1 1 or (A + C )) 1 1 8,5% + B + E + the lower of (2,5% 2 2 or (A + C )) 2 2 10,5% + ICR + CCyB + the lower of (3,5% or (P2A + DSIB)) 1 The aggregate requirement for Pillar 2A and D-SIB will not exceed 2,0 per cent for CET1, 2,5 per cent for Tier 1 and 3,5 per cent in respect of the total capital-adequacy ratio. 2 In line with the BCBS’s paper released in December 2010, entitled ”Basel III: Global Regulatory Framework for more Resilient Banks and Banking Systems”, revised June 2011, under paragraph 137, the countercyclical buffer is likely to be imposed on an infrequent basis in order to serve its intended purpose. 3 As specified in regulation 38(9)(a) of the amended Regulations, the South African minima ratios, including the HLA requirement for D-SIBs, the capital conservation buffer and the countercyclical buffer, shall not be lower than 6,5 per cent for CET1, 8 per cent for Tier 1 and 10 per cent in respect of the total capital-adequacy ratio. 1

ANNEXURE B: Phase-in Arrangements for the minimum requirements Shading indicates transition periods – unless otherwise indicated, all dates are as of 1 January Basel III 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 6 Apr 2020 2022 Common Equity Tier 1 requirements (CET1) Minimum CET1 Ratio (per Basel III) 4,5% 3,5% 4,0% 4,5% 4,5% 4,5% 4,5% 4,5% 4,5% 4,5% Pillar 2A for CET1 1,0% 1,5% 2,0% 1,75% 1,50% 1,0% 0,50% 0,0% 0.5% Minimum CET1 plus Pillar 2A 4,5% 5,5% 6,5% 6,25% 6,0% 5,5% 5,0% 4.5% 5,0% Phasing in of D-SIB requirements at CET1 level 1 25% 50% 75% 100% 100% 100% Capital Conservation buffer 2 2,5% 0,625% 1,25% 1,875% 2,5% 2,5% 2,5% Countercyclical buffer (maximum per cent, if imposed) 2 2,5% 0,625% 1,25% 1,875% 2,5% 2,5% 2,5% Tier 1 requirements (T1) Minimum Tier 1 Ratio (per Basel III) 6,0% 4,5% 5,5% 6,0% 6,0% 6,0% 6,0% 6,0% 6,0% 6,0% Pillar 2A for T1 1,5% 1,5% 2,0% 1,5% 1,25% 1,0% 0,75% 0.0% 0,75% Minimum T1 plus Pillar 2A 6,0% 7,0% 8,0% 7,5% 7,25% 7,0% 6,75% 6,0% 6,75% Phasing in of D-SIB requirements at Tier 1 level 1 25% 50% 75% 100% 100% 100% Total capital requirements Minimum Total Capital Ratio (per Basel III) 8,0% 8,0% 8,0% 8,0% 8,0% 8,0% 8,0% 8,0% 8,0% 8,0% Pillar 2A for Total Capital (maximum 2.0%) 1,5% 2,0% 2,0% 1,75% 1,50% 1,25% 1,0% 0,0% 1,0% Minimum Total Capital plus Pillar 2A 9,5% 10,0% 10,0% 9,75% 9,5% 9,25% 9,0% 8,0% 9,0% Phasing in of specified D-SIB charge at Total Capital level 1 25% 50% 75% 100% 100% 100% Capital instruments that no longer qualify as additional Tier 1 or Tier 2 capital 1 The aggregate requirement for Pillar 2A and D-SIB will not exceed 2,0 per cent for CET1, 2,5 per cent for Tier 1 and 3,5 per cent in respect of the total capital-adequacy ratio 2 The capital conservation buffer together with the countercyclical buffer will be applied at CET1 level and will also be required to be met at both a Tier 1 and Total capital level. 1