Revised Basel III leverage ratio framework and disclosure requirements

An underlying feature of the financial crisis was the build-up of excessive on- and off-balance sheet leverage in the banking system. The Basel III reforms introduced a simple, transparent, non-risk based leverage ratio to act as a credible supplementary measure to the risk-based capital requirements. The leverage ratio is intended to:

• restrict the build-up of leverage in the banking sector to avoid destabilising deleveraging processes that can damage the broader financial system and the economy; and
• reinforce the risk-based requirements with a simple, non-risk-based "backstop" measure.

The Basel Committee is of the view that a simple leverage ratio framework is critical and complementary to the risk-based capital framework and that a credible leverage ratio is one that ensures broad and adequate capture of both the on- and off-balance sheet leverage of banks.

Implementation of the leverage ratio requirement has begun with bank-level reporting to supervisors of the leverage ratio and its components from 1 January 2013, and will proceed with public disclosure starting 1 January 2015. Any final adjustments to the definition and calibration of the leverage ratio will be made by 2017, with a view to migrating to a Pillar 1 treatment on 1 January 2018 based on appropriate review and calibration.

The Basel Committee's consultative paper The revised Basel III leverage ratio framework is set out in the remainder of this document, along with the public disclosure requirements starting 1 January 2015. In summary, revisions to the framework relate primarily to the denominator of the leverage ratio, the Exposure Measure. The major changes to the Exposure Measure include:

• specification of a broad scope of consolidation for the inclusion of exposures;
• clarification of the general treatment of derivatives and related collateral;
• enhanced treatment of written credit derivatives; and
• enhanced treatment of Securities Financing Transactions (SFTs) (eg repos).

In parallel with the consultation on the proposals, the Committee will also undertake a Quantitative Impact Study to ensure that the calibration of the leverage ratio, and its relationship with the risk-based framework, remains appropriate.