The process of derivative risk management is integrated with the management of: interest rate, currency, liquidity and credit risks. However, due to the specific nature of derivatives it is subject to special control specified in the internal regulations of the Bank.
The risk of derivative instruments is a risk arising from taking up a position in financial instruments, which meet all of the following conditions:
- the value of an instrument changes with the change of the underlying instrument,
- it does not require any initial net investment or requires only a small initial net investment compared with other types of contracts which similarly respond to changes in market terms,
- it is to be settled at a future date.
The process of derivative risk management is integrated with the management of: interest rate, currency, liquidity and credit risks. However, due to the specific nature of derivatives it is subject to special control specified in the internal regulations of the Bank.
The Bank measures the derivative instrument risk using, i.a, the Value at Risk (VaR) model, which is discussed in the chapter concerning interest rate risk or in the chapter concerning currency risk, depending on the risk factor which affects the value of the instrument.
Risk management is carried out by imposing limits on derivative instruments divided into banking and trading portfolio, monitoring the use of limits and reporting risk level.
Master agreements concluded by the Bank with the major business partners based on the standards developed by the Polish Bank Association (domestic banks) and ISDA (foreign banks and credit institutions), which allow offsetting mutual liabilities, both due (mitigation of settlement risk) and not yet due (mitigation of pre-settlement risk), are particularly important for mitigating the risk associated with derivative instruments. Additional collateral for exposures, resulting from derivative instruments are collateral deposits escrowed by counterparties as a part of CSA agreements (Credit Support Annex).
Methods of derivative risk management in the Group’s subsidiaries are defined by internal regulations implemented by these entities which take up positions in derivative instruments or plan to take positions in such instruments. These regulations are developed after consultation with the Bank and take into account the recommendations issued to entities by the Bank.
Positions taken by the other Group entities in particular derivative instruments are determined in a similar manner to positions taken by the Bank in such instruments, taking into account the specifics of the economic activity of companies.