EBA consults on draft Technical Standards for the definition of material risk-takers for remuneration purposes

21 May 2013

EBA launched a consultation paper on draft RTS on criteria to identify categories of staff whose professional activities have a material impact on an institution's risk profile. The consultation runs until 21 August, 2013.

These material risk-takers will be subject to specific provisions of the Capital Requirements Directive (CRD) related, in particular, to the payment of variable remuneration.

The EBA proposes an identification process based on a combination of standard qualitative and quantitative criteria and internal criteria developed by the institutions. The objective of this combined approach is to ensure an appropriate harmonisation and level playing field across the EU while taking into account each institution’s risk profile.

Staff shall be identified as material risk-takers if they meet one or more of the following criteria:

• Standard qualitative criteria: related to the role and decision-making power of staff members (e.g. staff is a member of a management body, is a senior manager, has the authority to commit significantly to credit risk exposures, etc.)
• Standard quantitative criteria: related to the level of variable or total gross remuneration in absolute or in relative terms. In this respect, staff should be identified as material risk takers if:
  • (i) their total remuneration exceeds, in absolute terms, €500,000 per year, or
  • (ii) they are included in the 0.3 per cent of staff with the highest remuneration in the institution, or
  • (iii) their remuneration bracket is equal or greater than the lowest total remuneration of senior management and other risk takers, or
  • (iv) their variable remuneration exceeds €75,000 and 75 per cent of the fixed component of remuneration.
• Internal criteria: these criteria shall be based on internal risk assessment processes and aim at reflecting the specific institution’s risk profile.

© EBA