EBA · 2021_6239 Final Q&A

Nature and treatment of off-balance financial leasing exposures (generated by the lag between the order of the asset and the rental starting date)

Regulation
Regulation (EU) No 575/2013 (CRR)
Article
166, para. 8 and 10
Topic
Credit risk
Submitted by
Consultancy firm
Submitted
2021-10-18
Answered
2022-11-11
Answer provided by
ESAs (EBA, ESMA, EIOPA)
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Question

Should off-balance financial leasing exposures (generated by the lag between the order of the asset and the rental starting date) be considered as a “credit line” and hence fall into Article 166.8(d) of the CRR or as an “undrawn credit facility” and hence fall into Article 166.10?

Background

According to the euro bank lending survey No 179/ September 2016 published by the ECB, a credit line is defined as a product the borrower can use without reference to any drawing schedule: “A credit line is a facility with a stated maximum amount which an enterprise is entitled to borrow from a bank at any given time […]”. For financial leasing products, the exposure appears off-balance between the moment the contract is signed, until the rental starting date. As soon as the client proceeds to the first leasing payment, the full exposure directly goes on-balance. There is no possibility for the client to draw part or the full exposure at any given time. The timing of drawing corresponds to the moment the asset is delivered and the leasing payment starts. This resembles more to a single drawing of a committed facility than a credit line at the disposal of the client. Hence, off-balance financial leasing exposures should not be considered as a credit line but as an undrawn credit facility.

Answer

Article 166(8) CRR entails provisions for the calculation of the exposure value of off-balance sheet items listed in letters (a) to (d) of that paragraph, including credit lines.   When a “credit line” (or a note issuance facility or a revolving underwriting facility) cannot be attached to one of the more specific definitions in letters (a), (b) or (c) of Article 166(8) CRR, it shall be treated under letter (d) of the same paragraph. In this context “other credit lines” will entail all credit lines other than unconditionally cancellable credit lines described under letter (a) as explained in Q&A 2663 .     Since off-balance sheet financial leasing transactions (generated by the time lag between the order of the asset and the rental starting date) cannot be considered as a “credit line” and they are not mentioned elsewhere in Article 166(8) letters (a) to (d) CRR, these items should be treated in accordance with Article 166(10) CRR.

Original source: European Banking Authority, Q&A ID 2021_6239

This Q&A is published by European Banking Authority and is non-binding. It does not constitute legal advice. Updated weekly from official ESA sources.

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