Capital adequacy ratio

Capital Adequacy Ratio (CAR) is also known as Capital to Risk (Weighted) Assets Ratio (CRAR),

.

It is a measure of a bank's capital. It is expressed as a percentage of a bank's risk-weighted credit exposures. The enforcement of regulated levels of this ratio is intended to protect depositors and promote stability and efficiency of financial systems around the world.

Two types of capital are measured: tier one capital, which can absorb losses without a bank being required to cease trading, and tier two capital, which can absorb losses in the event of a winding-up and so provides a lesser degree of protection to depositors.

Formula

Capital adequacy ratios (CARs) are a measure of the amount of a bank's core capital expressed as a percentage of its risk-weighted asset.

Capital adequacy ratio is defined as:

${\displaystyle {\mbox{CAR}}={\cfrac {\mbox{Tier 1 capital + Tier 2 capital}}{\mbox{Risk weighted assets}}}}$

TIER 1 CAPITAL = (paid up capital + statutory reserves + disclosed free reserves) - (equity investments in subsidiary + intangible assets + current & brought-forward losses)

TIER 2 CAPITAL = A) Undisclosed Reserves + B) General Loss reserves + C) hybrid debt capital instruments and subordinated debts

where Risk can either be weighted assets (${\displaystyle \,a}$) or the respective

,

${\displaystyle {\mbox{CAR}}={\cfrac {T_{1}+T_{2}}{a}}}$ ≥ 10%.[1]

The percent threshold varies from bank to bank (10% in this case, a common requirement for regulators conforming to the Basel Accords) and is set by the national banking regulator of different countries.^[2]

Two types of capital are measured: tier one capital (${\displaystyle T_{1}}$ above), which can absorb losses without a bank being required to cease trading, and tier two capital (${\displaystyle T_{2}}$ above), which can absorb losses in the event of a winding-up and so provides a lesser degree of protection to depositors.

Use

Capital adequacy ratio is the ratio which determines the bank's capacity to meet the time liabilities and other risks such as

CAR is similar to

.

Risk weighting

Since different types of

is allowed a 0% "risk weighting" - that is, they are subtracted from total assets for purposes of calculating the CAR.

Risk weighting example

Risk weighted assets - Fund Based : Risk weighted assets mean fund based assets such as cash, loans, investments and other assets. Degrees of credit risk expressed as percentage weights have been assigned by the national regulator to each such assets.

Non-funded (Off-Balance sheet) Items : The credit risk exposure attached to off-balance sheet items has to be first calculated by multiplying the face amount of each of the off-balance sheet items by the Credit Conversion Factor. This will then have to be again multiplied by the relevant weightage.

Local

have a 50% risk weighting. All other types of assets (loans to customers) have a 100% risk weighting.

Bank "A" has assets totaling 100 units, consisting of:

• Cash: 10 units
• Government bonds: 15 units
• Mortgage loans: 20 units
• Other
  loans
  : 50 units
• Other assets: 5 units

Bank "A" has debt of 95 units, all of which are deposits. By definition,

is equal to assets minus debt, or 5 units.

Bank A's risk-weighted assets are calculated as follows

Cash	${\displaystyle 10*0\%=0}$
Government securities	${\displaystyle 15*0\%=0}$
Mortgage loans	${\displaystyle 20*50\%=10}$
Other loans	${\displaystyle 50*100\%=50}$
Other assets	${\displaystyle 5*100\%=5}$
Total risk
Weighted assets	65
Equity	5
CAR (Equity/RWA)	7.69%

Even though Bank A would appear to have a debt-to-equity ratio of 95:5, or equity-to-assets of only 5%, its CAR is substantially higher. It is considered less risky because some of its assets are less risky than others.

Types of capital

The

recognize that different types of equity are more important than others. To recognize this, different adjustments are made:

1. Tier I Capital: Actual contributed equity plus retained earnings...
2. Tier II Capital: Preferred shares plus 50% of subordinated debt...

Different minimum CARs are applied. For example, the minimum

may be 8%.

There is usually a maximum of Tier II capital that may be "counted" towards CAR, which varies by jurisdiction.

See also

• Capital requirement
  • Capital requirement § Common capital ratios
• Tier 1 capital
• Tier 2 capital
• Basel accords
• Tier 1 Capital Ratio
• TLAC,
  Total Loss Absorbency Capacity
• LR, Leverage Ratio
• NSFR,
  Net Stable Funding Ratio
• LCR,
  Liquidity Coverage Ratio

References

External links

• Capital Adequacy Ratio at Investopedia.