Risk report

Liquidity Risks

Liquidity risks consist of the following risks:

  • Inability to fulfil payment obligations when they come due (liquidity risk in the narrow sense),
  • inability to procure sufficient liquidity when needed at anti­cipated conditions (refinancing risk),
  • inability to terminate, extend or close out a transaction, or only be able to do so at a loss, due to insufficient market depth or market turbulence (market liquidity risk).

MünchenerHyp differentiates between short-term assurance of solvency and mid-term structural liquidity planning.

Short-Term Assurance of Solvency

The purpose of short-term assurance of solvency is to ensure that the Bank is fully able to meet its required payment obligations (payment willingness) as agreed on a daily basis, even during stress situations. All of the currently applicable legal superviso­ry requirements as defined by the terms of MaRisk and CRD IV, regarding liquidity reserves that must be held by banks, are being fully implemented.

In doing so, MünchenerHyp has categorised itself as a capital mar­ket oriented institution per the terms of MaRisk, and therefore also fulfils requirements pursuant to BTR 3.2.

MaRisk distinguishes between five different scenarios, which were implemented accordingly:

  1. Base Case: corresponds to the bank’s control case.
  2. Bank stress: the reputation of the institution deteriorates, for example due to high balance sheet losses.
  3. Market stress: Short-lived event that affects a segment of the financial markets. Examples of this are the September 11, 2001 terror attack, or the financial market/sovereign debt crisis.
  4. Combined stress: Simultaneous occurrence of bank and market
  5. Combined stress without counter-measures: Scenario 5 assumes that it is impossible to obtain any liquidity.

MaRisk demands that an institution must be able to meet its liquidity requirements arising from scenarios 1-4 for at least 30 days. Scenario 5 represents the worst case situation for internal management purposes.

Varying model assumptions for all important cash flows were derived for each scenario; for example utilisation of our liquidity lines or guarantees (Aval), utilisation of previously made lending commitments, or the development of collateral. Beyond this, all securities were divided into different liquidity categories. Based on this, we determined the volume that would be sold, over which time period, or could be used for a repo transaction, to generate additional liquidity in each individual scenario. Legal restrictions, like the Pfandbrief Act’s 180 day rule, were always observed in all cases. The result is a day-certain presentation of the available liquidity for a three year horizon in three currencies: euro, US dollar, and Swiss franc. Positions in other currencies are negligible. Limitation in the stress scenarios takes place using various horizons as early-warning indicators in each scenario.

In addition, the Liquidity Coverage Ratio (LCR), including a forecast, pursuant to CRD IV is calculated at least once a week for all currencies. Furthermore, it is also separately presented on a regular basis for all relevant currencies (currently, the euro and the Swiss franc). The ratio was notably higher than 100 percent at all times in 2017.

Mid-Term Structural Liquidity Planning

The purpose of structural liquidity planning is to ensure mid-term liquidity. The legal basis consists of the MaRisk BTR 3 and CRD IV for the Net Stable Funding Ratio (NSFR).

Mid-term liquidity management in accordance to the terms of MaRisk is based on short-term liquidity management pursuant to the terms of MaRisk, which means that both procedures use the same scenario definitions and modelling assumptions. However, due to the longer observation period, additional modelling assumptions are also taken into account which are not essential for managing short-term liquidity – for example, new business plans or current expenses such as salaries and taxes.

Mid-term liquidity planning involves the following key liquidity figures as components for determining results across all due dates:

  • accumulated total cash flow requirements,
  • available uncovered and covered potential funding including planned new business and prolongations in line with the surplus cover requirements set by the rating agency Moody’s,
  • additional detailed data for planning and control activities.

The limitation of liquidity risks takes place using the structured liquidity forecast and the stress scenarios based on the available liquidity within a year.

In addition, pursuant to CRD IV, the NSFR is calculated on a quar­terly basis for all currencies. Furthermore, it is presented separately for all relevant currencies (currently the euro and the Swiss franc). As the supervisory authority has not yet issued any binding minimum amounts for complying with NSFR requirements, and the values are currently stable at just over 100 percent, this key figure is not being actively managed at this time.

In order to reduce refinancing risks, MünchenerHyp strives to refinance loans with matching maturities and continuously checks if its relevant refinancing sources (primarily those within the Cooperative Financial Network) still remain available. In order to limit market liquidity risks in its lending business with public-sector borrowers and banks, MünchenerHyp primarily acquires securities that are acceptable as collateral by the ECB, and which can be used for open market transactions at any time.

MünchenerHyp does not have any less-liquid bonds, like Mort­gage Backed Securities (MBS) or similar securities, in its portfolio.

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