The EBA Recommendation on the creation of temporary capital buffers to restore market confidence was adopted by the Board of Supervisors on 8 December 2011 to address the difficult situation in the EU banking system, especially with regard to the sovereign exposures, by restoring stability and confidence in the markets. The Recommendation was part of a suite of measures agreed at EU level.
The Recommendation called on National Authorities to require banks included in the sample to strengthen their capital positions by building up an exceptional and temporary buffer such that their Core Tier 1 capital ratio reaches a level of 9% by the end of June 2012. In addition, banks were required to an exceptional and temporary capital buffer against sovereign debt exposures to reflect market prices as at the end of September 2011. The amount of the sovereign capital buffer has not been revised.
The initial sample of the Capital Exercise included 71 banks. However, the 6 Greek banks were treated separately as the country is currently under an EU/IMF assistance programme. Moreover, four banks (Öesterreichische Volksbank AG, Dexia, WestLB AG and Bankia) from the original sample have been identified as undergoing a significant restructuring process, and are being monitored separately. Therefore, the final assessment published today refers to 61 banks.In the exercise were included two Slovenian banks: Nova Ljubljanska banka and Nova kreditna banka Maribor. Regarding the final assessment of the capital exercise and fulfillment of the EBA December 2011 Recommendation show the following:
Nova Kreditna banka Maribor has a remaining capital shortfall as of 30 June 2012, which is being addressed through the implementation of the corresponding backstops with the explicit support of the Republic of Slovenia.
OTP banka Group reported a Core Tier I Capital Ratio of 8.1% and 7.4% as of 31 December 2011 and 30 June 2012, respectively.
Activities for the improvement of the capital adequacy are already in progress based on shareholders assembly resolutions from 6 June 2012. OTP banka d.d. has prepared the revised action plan for the improvement of its capital adequacy, according to which the Bank's Core Tier I Capital Ratio would increase to at least 9% by 31 December 2012. The action plan for the improvement of capital adequacy of OTP banka d.d. and OTP banka Group envisages the implementation of the following measures and activities: the sale of Zavarovalnica Maribor d.d., the redemption of subordinated instruments, and raising additional capital.
Further information regarding the methodology and results of the capital exercise are available for inspection on the websites of the EBA and Bank of Slovenia.
The detailed results of the EU capital exercise for OTP banka d.d. are attached.
