Supervisory Authorities approval of the assessment and classification of own-fund items

1. Without prejudice to Article 90 of Directive 2009/138/EC, where an own-fund item is not included in the list of own-funds items set out in Articles 69, 72, 74, 76 and 78, insurance or reinsurance undertakings shall only consider that item as own funds where an approval of the item's assessment and classification has been received from the supervisory authority.

2. The supervisory authority shall assess the following, on the basis of documents submitted by the insurance or reinsurance undertaking, when approving the assessment and classification of own-fund items not included in the list of own-fund items set out in Articles 69, 72, 74, 76 and 78:

(a) where the undertaking is applying for approval for classification as Tier 1, whether the basic own-fund item substantially possesses the characteristics set out in Article 93(1)(a) and (b) of Directive 2009/138/EC, taking into consideration the features set out in Article 93(2) of that Directive;

(b) where the undertaking is applying for classification as Tier 2 basic own funds, whether the basic own-fund item substantially possesses the characteristics set out in Article 93(1)(b) of Directive 2009/138/EC, taking into consideration the features set out in Article 93(2) of that Directive;

(c) where the undertaking is applying for classification as Tier 2 ancillary own funds, whether the ancillary own-fund item substantially possesses the characteristics in Article 93(1)(a) and (b) of Directive 2009/138/EC, taking into consideration the features set out in Article 93(2) of that Directive;

(d) where the undertaking is applying for classification as Tier 3 basic own funds, whether the basic own-fund item possesses the characteristics set out in Article 93(1)(b) of Directive 2009/138/EC, taking into consideration the features set out in Article 93(2) of that Directive;

(e) the legal enforceability of the contractual terms of the own-fund item in all relevant jurisdictions;

(f) whether the own-fund item has been fully paid-in.

3. Basic own-fund items not included in the list of own-fund items set out in Articles 69, 72 and 76 shall only be classified as Tier 1 basic own funds where they are fully paid-in.

4. The inclusion of own-fund items approved by the supervisory authority in accordance with this Article shall be subject to quantitative limits set out in Article 82.