CySEC announces a change in the treatment of the Investors Compensation Fund Contribution

The Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission ( CySEC) has informed the Cyprus Investment Firms (CIFs) about the following:

According to the Investment Services and Activities and Regulated Markets Law CIFs are obliged to be members of, and contribute to, the Investors Compensation Fund (ICF). By now for capital adequacy purposes, the ICF contribution has been categorised as an ‘exposure to public sector entities’.

Having in mind:

  • the aim of the prudential supervision, which is to establish rules to make sure that institutions hold enough capital to ensure continuation of a safe and efficient market and able to withstand any foreseeable problems,
  • the nature of the ICF contribution, the treatment of the ICF contribution, for capital adequacy purposes, is changing as of today. In particular, CIFs must deduct the ICF contribution presented in their records from Common Equity Tier 1 Capital and must no longer risk weight the relevant amount, when total risk exposure amount is calculated.

In case the own funds and/or capital adequacy ratio of a CIF fall below the minimum allowable limits as a consequence of the above change, the CIF must take all necessary measures so as to comply with CRD requirements, immediately and not later than December 31, 2016.

It is expected that own funds and capital adequacy ratio as at December 31, 2016, which will be reported to CySEC by February 11, 2016, will be above the minimum allowable limits.

For the full announcement, click here.

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