Tier 2 Capital

Last Updated :

21 Aug, 2024

Blog Author :

Edited by :

Ashish Kumar Srivastav

Reviewed by :

Dheeraj Vaidya, CFA, FRM

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What is Tier 2 Capital?

In addition to Tier 1, Tier 2 is an additional component of the bank's core capital base under the Basel accord, which includes revaluation reserves, undisclosed reserves, hybrid instruments, and subordinated debt instruments to support bank's total capital requirement.

  • However, some countries require banks to have more capital than required by the accord at the discretion of bank supervisors.
  • Banks on and off-balance sheet items had to be used to calculate risk-weighted assets (RWA). RWA is intended to measure bank total market, credit, and operation exposure Risk-based capital requirement was a key change to capital regulation.
  • Basel 3 accord includes a capital conservation buffer as a part of the total capital requirement to protect banks in times of financial crisis. Banks must build up a buffer of Tier1 equity capital equal to 2.5% of risk-weighted assets in normal times, which will then be used to cover losses during the stress period.
  • This means that in normal times a bank should have a minimum of 7% of tier 1 equity capital and total capital, which is adding tier 1 and tier 2 must be equal to 10.5% risk weighted assets.

Types of Tier 2 Capital

#1 - Undisclosed Reserves

Undisclosed or hidden reserves are those that have been passed through profit and loss account and are accepted by the bank's supervisory authorities. They may be as valuable and hold the same intrinsic value as other published retained earnings. Still, due to lack of transparency and the fact that some countries do not recognize reserves as accepted accounting practices, it is their opinion to exclude them from the core equity capital element.

#2 - Subordinated Debt

The Basel committee has a different view about including it as tier 2 capital due to its fixed maturity and the inability to absorb losses except in the case of liquidation. However, it has been agreed that subordinated debt instruments should have a minimum maturity of at least five years to be included in supplementary capital elements.

#3 - Hybrid Debt Instruments

These instruments include the characteristics of both debt and equity instruments. They are considered a part of additional capital because of their ability to support losses on an ongoing basis without triggering liquidation, just like equities capital.

#4 - General Provision / General Loan Reserves

These reserves are created against the possibility of loss that has not been incurred nor yet identified. As they do not reflect general deterioration in the valuation of particular assets, these reserves can constitute part of Tier 2 capital. However, provisions or reserves created against identified losses or an identified deterioration in the value of any asset or group of assets subject to country risk, or if the provision is created to meet identified losses that arise subsequently in the portfolio, do not constitute part of the reserves.

#5 - Revaluation Reserves

Some assets are revalued to reflect their current value, or something closer to their current value rather than historic costs should be included under Tier 2 capital. Revaluation reserve arises in two ways:

  1. From a formal revaluation carried through the balance sheet.
  2. Notional addition to the capital of hidden values which arise from holding securities in the balance balance sheet valued at historic costs.
Tier 2 Capital

Characteristics of Tier 2 Capital

#1 - No Change in Tier 2 Constituents

Basel IIIincreased capital risk and tightened the definition of capital in response to the 2007-2009 financial crises. Tier 1 capital should be adjusted downward to reflect defined benefit pension plan deficits but is not raised upward for surplus. It also excludes changes in retained earnings arising from bank's credit risks called debt value adjustments or arising from the securitized transaction.

Tier 2 supplementary capital includes debt subordinated to depositors with an original maturity of 5 years or more and cumulative perpetual preferred stock. There was no change in tier 2 constituents.

#2 - Capital Requirements in Basel III

  • Tier 1 equity capital must be 4.5% of risk-weighted assets.
  • Total Tier 1 capital such as equity capital plus additional tier 1 capital such as preferred perpetual stock must be 6% of risk-weighted assets.
  • Total Capital including Tier1 and Tier2 capital must be at least 8% of risk-weighted assets all the time.

Advantages

  • Regulatory Relaxation: Supplementary capital is subordinate to depositors and thus protects depositors in the event of bank failure, whereas equity capital absorbs losses. At least 50% of the total capital must be Tier 1 per the regulatory requirement. This means a 4% tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets requirement (i.e., 8% *0.5), i.e., half of the tier 1 requirement must be met with common equity. No such requirement was implemented for Tier 2 Capital.
  • Last Resort in Case of Liquidation: Common equity is known as going concern capital. It absorbs losses when the bank has positive equity. (going concern) Tier 2 capital is gone concerning capital. When the bank has negative capital and is no longer concerned, it helps absorb losses. Depositors are ranked above Tier2 capital as long as Tier2 capital is positive, depositors should be paid in full.

Disadvantages

Tier 2 Capital is Burden to Firm Assets: Tier 1 capital is regarded as a bank's own capital as the money helps a bank to fund its ongoing regular operations and forms the basis of a financial institution's strength. However, Tier 2 capital does not comprise the firm's capital as dividends or interests need to be paid periodically. Failure to pay principal or accrued interest may result in the default of the company.

Conclusion

Tier II items are qualified as regulatory capital as it helps the firm to carry out its day on daily business activities. However, the firm has to meet its obligation of dividend, interest and principal repayment failure, which may result in default.

This has been a guide to Tier 2 capital and its definition. Here we discuss the characteristics and types of tier 2 capital and its advantages and disadvantages. You can learn more about accounting from the following articles –