PRA Proposes Minor Changes to Rules, Guidance, and Returns

The amendments cover the following topics: 

• Pillar 2A.The proposals in Chapter 2 of this paper would result in amendments to the reporting Pillar 2 Part of the PRA Rulebook (Appendix 1); SS32/15 on Pillar 2 reporting (Appendix 2); FSA081 template (Appendix 3); and the associated FSA081 instructions (Appendix 4). In the FSA081 template, PRA proposed to add a new asset category for insured annuities; two new entries for the life expectancies assumed for current and future pensioners; and a tick box to confirm the latest funding valuation documentation has been submitted alongside the FSA081 template. PRA also proposed to remove the asset category for other assets (data item number 220). PRA proposed to require all firms submitting an FSA081 to provide the asset and liability sensitivities known as ‘PV01’ and ’IE01’ (that is, data items 230, 240, 280, and 290 in the existing FSA081); this requirement only applies to significant firms. PRA also proposed to make formatting changes to the FSA081 template. PRA proposed to revise the FSA081 instructions to reflect these change and to improve the guidance for the existing data requirements. FSA081 data item and instructions are contained in SS32/15. Thus PRA proposed to update the relevant appendices in SS32/15, with the links to the amended data item and instructions subject to the outcome of this consultation, as shown in Appendix 2. This chapter is relevant to banks, building societies, and PRA-designated investment firms. 
• Reporting changes due to LIBOR discontinuation. In Chapter 3 of the consultation paper, PRA proposed changes to reporting requirements to delete the Undertakings Collective Investment Transferable Securities (UCITS) legacy template FSA042 and to prepare for the expected discontinuation of LIBOR after the end of 2021. These proposals would result in an update to the regulatory reporting Part of the PRA Rulebook (Appendix 5); an update to SS34/15 on guidelines for completing regulatory reports (Appendix 6); deletion of the UCITS template (FSA042) from the PRA Rulebook; amendments to the "Interest rate gap report" (FSA017) and associated instructions (Appendix 7); and amendments to the Notes for completion of MLAR (Appendix 8). PRA proposed to replace LIBOR in the FSA017 instructions with compounded Sterling Overnight Index Average (SONIA) for the purposes of referencing an interest rate benchmark. This chapter is relevant to banks, building societies, and PRA-designated investment firms
• Definition of Capital. In Chapter 4, PRA sets out a proposal to change the scope of the Definition of Capital Part of the PRA Rulebook, to refer entities as the Capital Requirements Regulation (CRR) firms rather than UK banks. The proposal would result in the deletion of Rule 4.1 in the Definition of Capital Part of the PRA Rulebook (Appendix 9) and in an update to SS7/13 titled "Definition of capital (CRR firms)" (Appendix 10). This chapter is relevant to CRR firms. The Definition of Capital Part of the PRA Rulebook requires firms to assess whether funding to connected counterparties is of a capital nature; if so, it requires firms to treat it in a similar way under the relevant CRR requirements. Due to this change, PRA proposed to replace existing references to "banks" with "firms" in Section 8 of SS7/13, subject to the outcome of this consultation.
• Branch Return. In Chapter 5, PRA sets out proposals with regard to the Branch Return, to amend the method of submission, make minor formatting corrections to the Branch Return, and to clarify the accompanying reporting guidance. These proposals would result in amendments to the Regulatory Reporting Part of the PRA Rulebook (Appendix 5); an update to SS34/15 on guidelines for completing regulatory reports’ (Appendix 11); an updated Branch Return template (Appendix 12); and an updated reporting guidance (Appendix 13). PRA proposed to change the method of submission of the Branch Return from Excel templates submitted via e-mail, to a submission of XML-format documents via the BoE Electronic Data Submission (BEEDS) portal. PRA proposed other minor formatting changes to the Branch Return and note that this chapter is relevant to the PRA-supervised third-country branches. 
• Audit Committee and Auditors. In Chapter 6, PRA sets out proposals to correct and update a reference in Rule 2.4(5) in the Audit Committee Part of the PRA Rulebook (Appendix 14) and to correct an error in SS1/16 titled "Written reports by external auditors to the PRA" (Appendix 15). This chapter is relevant to Audit Committee – CRR firms, UK Solvency II insurance and reinsurance firms, the Society of Lloyd’s and managing agents, and Auditors – major UK banks and building societies, as set out in Chapter 8 of the Auditors Part of the PRA Rulebook. 

Pending consideration of the responses to this consultation, the proposed implementation dates for the changes resulting from this consultation are December 01, 2021 for Chapter 2; January o1, 2022 for Chapters 4 and 6; and on publication of the final policy for Chapters 3 and 5.

Related Links

• Notification
• CP13/21 (PDF)

Comment Due Date: August 25, 2021

Keywords: Europe, UK, Banking, Insurance, Securities, PRA Rulebook, CP13/21, LIBOR, CRR, Reporting, Branch Return, BEEDS, FSA081, Investment Firms, Pillar 2, Basel, Regulatory Capital, PRA