Risks

Terms not defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed thereto in the Supplemental Listing Document ("SLD") of the relevant Certificate. Investors should ensure that they understand the nature of the Certificates and carefully study the risk factors set out in the Base Listing Document ("BLD") and the relevant SLD.

The following are risk factors relating to the Certificates:

  • investment in Certificates involves substantial risks including market risk, liquidity risk, and the risk that the Issuer and/or the Guarantor will be unable to satisfy its/their obligations under the Certificates. Investors should ensure that they understand the nature of all these risks before making a decision to invest in the Certificates. You should consider carefully whether Certificates are suitable for you in light of your experience, objectives, financial position and other relevant circumstances. Certificates are not suitable for inexperienced investors;
  • the Certificates constitute general unsecured obligations of the Issuer (in the case of any substitution of the Issuer in accordance with the Conditions of the Certificates, the Substituted Obligor as defined in the Conditions of the Certificates) and of no other person, and the Guarantee constitutes direct unconditional unsecured senior preferred obligations of the Guarantor and of no other person. In particular, it should be noted that the Issuer issues a large number of financial instruments, including Certificates, on a global basis and, at any given time, the financial instruments outstanding may be substantial. If you purchase the Certificates, you are relying upon the creditworthiness of the Issuer and the Guarantor and have no rights under the Certificates against any other person;
  • since the Certificates relate to the price of the Underlying Stock (as defined below), certain events relating to the Underlying Stock may cause adverse movements in the value and the price of the Underlying Stock, as a result of which, the Certificate Holders (as defined in the Conditions of the Certificates) may sustain a significant loss of their investment if the price of the Underlying Stock has fallen sharply on the Expiry Date. In some extreme circumstances, the Certificate Holders may even sustain a total loss of their investment;
  • due to their nature, the Certificates can be volatile instruments and may be subject to considerable fluctuations in value. The price of the Certificates may fall in value as rapidly as it may rise due to, including but not limited to, variations in the frequency and magnitude of the changes in the price of the Underlying Stock, dividends and interest rate, the time remaining to expiry, the currency exchange rates and the creditworthiness of the Issuer and the Guarantor, and investors may sustain a total loss of their investment.

    Investors should note that they may only benefit from a partial participation in the positive performance of the Underlying Stock. The potential payout, and therefore the potential profits which may be realised by investing in the Certificates is capped at the sum of (i) 100% of the Notional Amount of the Certificates (as defined below) and (ii) the Distribution(s);

  • the occurrence of the Knock-in Event (as defined below) will be determined only when the closing price of the Underlying Stock on the Knock-in Observation Date (as defined below) is available, which may not be during the trading hours of the Relevant Stock Exchange for the Certificates (as defined below). Investors should note that the Knock-in Event may occur during the SGX-ST trading hours and that while the Issuer will make an appropriate announcement, this announcement will take place after the occurrence of the Knock-in Event and may be after the SGX-ST trading hours. In addition, upon the occurrence of the Knock-in Event, the value of the Certificates may be adversely affected;
  • if, whilst any of the Certificates remain unexercised, trading in the Underlying Stock is suspended or halted on the relevant stock exchange, trading in the Certificates may be suspended for a similar period. In the event that a Distribution is payable and the announcement announcing such Distribution is not published on SGXNet by 8:00 a.m. (Singapore time) on the Business Day immediately following the corresponding Observation Date of such Distribution (if such Observation Date does not fall on the Valuation Date), the trading in the Certificates may be suspended until the publication of such announcement on SGXNet;
  • as indicated in the Conditions of the Certificates and herein, a Certificate Holder must tender a specified number of Certificates at any one time in order to exercise. Thus, Certificate Holders with fewer than the specified minimum number of Certificates in a particular series will either have to sell their Certificates or purchase additional Certificates, incurring transactions costs in each case, in order to realise their investment;
  • Physical Settlement (as defined below) is subject to various conditions, including, without limitation, valid Election Notice (as defined below) for an integral multiple of a Physical Delivery Lot (as defined below) being delivered to the Physical Delivery Agent (as defined below) within the prescribed time frame by the Onboarded Investors (as defined below), Physical Settlement Authorisation (as defined below) being delivered to the Issuer within the prescribed time frame by the Physical Delivery Agent and Occurrence of Physical Settlement Event (as defined below);
  • all matters relating to Onboarding (as defined below) are subject to the sole and absolute discretion of the Physical Delivery Agent. Onboarding will not complete and the Other Investors will not be entitled to deliver the Election Notice to the Physical Delivery Agent if, among others:
    • the Physical Delivery Agent rejects the Other Investor’s application to open an account with it for whatsoever reason;
    • by the Onboarding Completion Date (as defined below), the Physical Delivery Agent does not establish business relations with the Other Investor for any reason;
    • the requisite requirements prescribed by the Physical Delivery Agent for the delivery of the Physical Settlement Stock (as defined below) (including, without limitation, the deposit of the relevant Certificates into the securities account designated by the Physical Delivery Agent by the Onboarding Completion Date) have not been fulfilled; or
    • the delivery of the Physical Settlement Stock to the Other Investor may infringe any applicable law, regulation or rule or necessitate compliance with conditions or requirements which the Physical Delivery Agent, in its absolute discretion, determines to be onerous or impracticable by reason of costs, delay or otherwise;
  • the Physical Delivery Agent may determine that no Physical Settlement Authorisation (as defined below) shall be delivered in respect of the Certificates for which a valid Election Notice has been received. Upon receipt of a valid Election Notice, the Physical Delivery Agent may determine that no Physical Settlement Authorisation shall be delivered in respect of such Certificates if the delivery of the Physical Settlement Stock to the Onboarded Investors (as defined below) may infringe any applicable law, regulation or rule or necessitate compliance with conditions or requirements which the Physical Delivery Agent, in its absolute discretion, determines to be onerous or impracticable by reason of costs, delay or otherwise;
  • the Issuer may determine that the Certificates in respect of which a Physical Settlement Authorisation has been provided shall not be physically settled. Upon the occurrence of a Physical Settlement Event (as defined below), the Issuer is entitled (but not obliged) to physically settle in accordance with the Conditions those Certificates in respect of which it has received a Physical Settlement Authorisation. Without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, the Issuer may determine that the Certificates in respect of which a Physical Settlement Authorisation has been provided shall not be physically settled where:
    • no Physical Settlement Event has occurred; and/or
    • the delivery of the Physical Settlement Stock to the Physical Delivery Agents and/or the Onboarded Investors may infringe any applicable law, regulation or rule or necessitate compliance with conditions or requirements which the Issuer, in its absolute discretion, determines to be onerous or impracticable by reason of costs, delay or otherwise;
  • If the Physical Settlement is applicable, Onboarded Investors will only be able to receive the Physical Settlement Stock after the Physical Delivery Agent’s receipt of the same from the Issuer on the Physical Settlement Date (as defined below), and it will always be later than the date when Onboarded Investors could receive the Cash Settlement Amount if the Certificates are cash settled. When the Onboarded Investors will receive the Physical Settlement Stock and the Cash Residual Amount (as defined below) from the Physical Delivery Agent would be subject to the agreements or arrangements between the Physical Delivery Agent and the Onboarded Investors. Please consult your selected Physical Delivery Agent for further details;
  • If the Physical Settlement is applicable, Onboarded Investors may receive the Physical Settlement Stock and be exposed to the market risk of holding the Underlying Stock after the Valuation Date. Please note that the value of the Physical Settlement Stock after the Valuation Date together with the Cash Residual Amount may be less than the Cash Settlement Amount which Onboarded Investors could receive if the Certificates are cash settled;
  • investors should note that in the event of there being a Market Disruption Event (as defined in the Conditions) determination or payment of the Cash Settlement Amount (as defined below) and the Distribution(s) (as defined below) may be delayed, all as more fully described in the Conditions;
  • investors should note that, in the event of there being a Settlement Disruption Event (as defined in the Conditions), physical delivery of the Physical Settlement Stock may be delayed, as more fully described in the Conditions. Investors should also note that in the event the Issuer determines to physically settle the relevant Certificates, upon occurrence of a Settlement Disruption Event, the Issuer retains the discretion to cash settle the relevant Certificates in the circumstances described in the Conditions;
  • certain events relating to the Underlying Stock require or, as the case may be, permit the Issuer to make certain adjustments or amendments to the Conditions. Investors may refer to the “Information relating to the European Style Structured Certificates (Autocallable Certificates)” section of this document for examples and illustrations of adjustments that may be made to the terms of the Certificates due to certain corporate actions on the Underlying Stock;
  • the Certificates are only exercisable on the Expiry Date or the Early Expiry Date (as defined below), as the case may be, and may not be exercised by Certificate Holders prior to such date. In the event that there is non-occurrence of an Automatic Early Expiry (as defined below), if on the Expiry Date the Cash Settlement Amount is zero and no Distribution is payable, a Certificate Holder will lose the value of his investment;
  • investors should note that there may be an exchange rate risk relating to the Certificates where the Closing Price is converted from a foreign currency into Singapore Dollars when determining the Physical Settlement Stock and the Cash Residual Amount.

    Exchange rates between currencies are determined by forces of supply and demand in the foreign exchange markets. These forces are, in turn, affected by factors such as international balances of payments and other economic and financial conditions, government intervention in currency markets and currency trading speculation. Fluctuations in foreign exchange rates, foreign political and economic developments, and the imposition of exchange controls or other foreign governmental laws or restrictions applicable to such investments may affect the foreign currency market price and the exchange rate-adjusted equivalent price of the Certificates. Fluctuations in the exchange rate of any one currency may be offset by fluctuations in the exchange rate of other relevant currencies

  • in the event that there is occurrence of an Automatic Early Expiry, the Certificates will expire earlier. Following an Automatic Early Expiry, investors may not be able to reinvest the proceeds from such Automatic Early Expiry at a comparable return for a similar level of risk. Investors should consider such reinvestment risk in light of other available investments when they purchase the Certificates. Please refer to the “Information relating to the European Style Structured Certificates (Autocallable Certificates)” section of this document for the example and illustration of the calculation of the Cash Settlement Amount and the Distribution(s) upon occurrence of an Automatic Early Expiry;
  • certain events may, pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Certificates, trigger (i) the implementation of methods of adjustment or (ii) the early termination of the Certificates. The Issuer will give the investors reasonable notice of any early termination. If the Issuer terminates the Certificates early, then the Issuer will, if and to the extent permitted by applicable law, pay an amount to each Certificate Holder in respect of each Certificate held by such holder equal to the fair market value of the Certificate less the cost to the Issuer of unwinding any underlying related hedging arrangements, all as determined by the Issuer in its sole and absolute discretion. The performance of this commitment shall depend on (i) general market conditions and (ii) the liquidity conditions of the underlying instrument(s) and, as the case may be, of any other hedging transactions. Investors should note that the amount repaid by the Issuer may be less than the amount initially invested. Investors may refer to the Condition 13 for more information;
  • there is no assurance that an active trading market for the Certificates will sustain throughout the life of the Certificates, or if it does sustain, it may be due to market making on the part of the Designated Market Maker. The Issuer acting through its Designated Market Maker may be the only market participant buying and selling the Certificates. Therefore, the secondary market for the Certificates may be limited and you may not be able to realise the value of the Certificates. Do note that the bid-ask spread increases with illiquidity;
  • in the ordinary course of their business, including without limitation, in connection with the Issuer or its appointed designated market maker’s market making activities, the Issuer, the Guarantor and any of their respective subsidiaries and affiliates may have a position or interest in the Underlying Stock, and may effect transactions for their own account or for the account of their customers and hold long or short positions in the

    Underlying Stock. In addition, in connection with the offering of any Certificates, the Issuer, the Guarantor and any of their respective subsidiaries and affiliates may enter into one or more hedging transactions with respect to the Underlying Stock. In connection with such hedging or market-making activities or with respect to proprietary or other trading activities by the Issuer, the Guarantor and any of their respective subsidiaries and affiliates, the Issuer, the Guarantor and any of their respective subsidiaries and affiliates may enter into transactions in the Underlying Stock where conflicts of interest may arise, and/or which may affect the market price, liquidity or value of the Certificates and which may affect the interests of Certificate Holders, and investors consent to the Issuer, Guarantor and any of their respective subsidiaries and affiliates entering into such transactions.

    The Issuer, the Guarantor and their affiliates act or may act in different capacities in relation to the issue of the Certificates, including without limitation:

    • the Issuer is the issuer of the Certificates;
    • Societe Generale acts as designated market maker for the Certificates, and as master placement agent for the Certificates;
    • Societe Generale may at its sole and absolute discretion enter into contracts with other sub-placing agents for the physical delivery of underlying shares; and
    • Societe Generale, Singapore Branch is authorized to distribute and market the Certificates.

    For the avoidance of doubt and as an independent stipulation, investors agree to each of the Issuer, the Guarantor and its affiliates providing different services and/or performing different roles in relation to the issuance, offer and/or dealing in the Certificates. Each investor acknowledges and agrees that the provision of such services or the undertaking of such roles may not always be consistent with the interests of the investors.

    Each investor agrees that subject to mandatory applicable law which cannot be derogated from, no implied duties or obligations shall be imposed on the Issuer, the Guarantor and their affiliates under the Certificates, and in connection with or as a result of the investor’s subscription or purchase of the Certificates.

    The Issuer, the Guarantor and their affiliates may (i) receive benefits, fees, spreads, mark-ups and/or profits as a result of their multiple roles as issuer, guarantor, custodian, calculation agent, designated market maker, master placing agent, hedging party, entering into forward and other derivative contracts, and/or distributor (whether in the nature of a fiduciary, similar or additional duty or relationship or otherwise) and (ii) pay fees and commissions, and/or provide rebates, benefits or discounted prices to sub-placing agents, and each investor fully consents to (i) each of the Issuer, the Guarantor and their affiliates retaining such benefits, fees, spreads, mark-ups and/or profits for their own account, (ii) each of the Issuer, the Guarantor and their affiliates paying fees and commissions and/or providing rebates, benefits and discounted prices to sub-placing agents and (iii) each of the sub-placing agents retaining such fees, commissions, rebates, benefits and/or discounted prices. Each investor acknowledges and agrees that none of the Issuer, the Guarantor and their affiliates acts as fiduciary to any investor nor assumes any such obligations, and that none of the Issuer, the Guarantor and their affiliates is obliged to notify, and is liable to account to, any investor or any other person for (and each investor or such other person shall not be entitled to ask for) disclosure of the fact or the amount of, any benefits, fees, spreads, mark-ups and/or profits resulting from any of the aforementioned roles, other than is already disclosed in this document. Each investor agrees that it will have no claim against the Issuer, the Guarantor and their affiliates for, and it consents to, (i) the receipt, acceptance and retention by the Issuer, the Guarantor and their affiliates of, such benefits, fees, spreads, mark-ups and/or profits arising from any such multiple roles, and (ii) the payment by the Issuer, the Guarantor and their affiliates to, and the receipt, acceptance and retention by, the sub-placing agent of fees, commissions, rebates, benefits and/or discounted prices.

    Subject to mandatory applicable laws which cannot be derogated from, regulations and listing rules, the Guarantor and its affiliates may enter into off-exchange transactions in the capacity of Certificate Holder at their discretion to sell the Certificates at a price which may be different from the price of the Certificates quoted on the SGX-ST by the Guarantor in its capacity of the designated market maker;

  • various potential and actual conflicts of interest may arise from the overall activities of the Issuer, the Guarantor and/or any of their subsidiaries and affiliates.

    The Issuer, the Guarantor and any of their subsidiaries and affiliates are diversified financial institutions with relationships in countries around the world. These entities engage in a wide range of commercial and investment banking, brokerage, funds management, hedging transactions and investment and other activities for their own account or the account of others. In addition, the Issuer, the Guarantor and any of their subsidiaries and affiliates, in connection with their other business activities, may possess or acquire material information about the Underlying Stock. Such activities and information may involve or otherwise affect issuers of the Underlying Stock in a manner that may cause consequences adverse to the Certificate Holders or otherwise create conflicts of interests in connection with the issue of Certificates by the Issuer. Such actions and conflicts may include, without limitation, the exercise of voting power, the purchase and sale of securities, financial advisory relationships and exercise of creditor rights. The Issuer, the Guarantor and any of their subsidiaries and affiliates have no obligation to disclose such information about the Underlying Stock or such activities. The Issuer, the Guarantor and any of their subsidiaries and affiliates and their officers and directors may engage in any such activities without regard to the issue of Certificates by the Issuer or the effect that such activities may directly or indirectly have on any Certificate;

  • legal considerations which may restrict the possibility of certain investments:

    Some investors’ investment activities are subject to specific laws and regulations or laws and regulations currently being considered by various authorities. All potential investors must consult their own legal advisers to check whether and to what extent (i) they can legally purchase the Certificates (ii) the Certificates can be used as collateral security for various forms of borrowing (iii) if other restrictions apply to the purchase of Certificates or their use as collateral security. Financial institutions must consult their legal advisers or regulators to determine the appropriate treatment of the Certificates under any applicable risk-based capital or similar rules;

  • the credit rating of the Guarantor is an assessment of its ability to pay obligations, including those on the Certificates. Consequently, actual or anticipated declines in the credit rating of the Guarantor may affect the market value of the Certificates;
  • the Certificates are linked to the Underlying Stock and subject to the risk that the price of the Underlying Stock may decline. The following is a list of some of the significant risks associated with the Underlying Stock:

    • Historical performance of the Underlying Stock does not give an indication of future performance of the Underlying Stock. It is impossible to predict whether the price of the Underlying Stock will fall or rise over the term of the Certificates; and
    • The price of the Underlying Stock may be affected by the economic, financial and political events in one or more jurisdictions, including the stock exchange(s) or quotation system(s) on which the Underlying Stock may be traded;
  • two or more risk factors may simultaneously have an effect on the value of a Certificate such that the effect of any individual risk factor may not be predicted. No assurance can be given as to the effect any combination of risk factors may have on the value of a Certificate;
  • as the Certificates are represented by a global warrant certificate which will be deposited with The Central Depository (Pte) Limited (“CDP”):
    • investors should note that no definitive certificate will be issued in relation to the Certificates;
    • there will be no register of Certificate Holders and each person who is for the time being shown in the records maintained by CDP as entitled to a particular number of Certificates by way of interest (to the extent of such number) in the global warrant certificate in respect of those Certificates represented thereby shall be treated as the holder of such number of Certificates;
    • investors will need to rely on any statements received from their brokers/custodians as evidence of their interest in the Certificates; and
    • notices to such Certificate Holders will be published on the web-site of the SGX-ST. Investors will need to check the web-site of the SGX-ST regularly and/or rely on their brokers/custodians to obtain such notices;
  • the US Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (“FATCA”) withholding risk:

    FATCA generally imposes a 30 per cent. withholding tax on certain U.S.-source payments to certain non-US persons that do provide certification of their compliance with IRS rules to disclose the identity of their US owners and account holders (if any) or establish a basis for exemption for such disclosure. The Issuer or an investor’s broker or custodian may be subject to FATCA and, as a result, may be required to obtain certification from investors that they have complied with FATCA disclosure requirements or have established a basis for exemption from FATCA. If an investor does not provide the Issuer or the relevant broker or custodian with such certification, the Issuer and the Guarantor or other withholding agent could be required to withhold U.S. tax on U.S.-source income (if any) paid pursuant to the Certificates. In certain cases, the Issuer or the relevant broker or custodian could be required to close an account of an investor who does not comply with the FATCA certification procedures.

    FATCA IS PARTICULARLY COMPLEX. EACH INVESTOR SHOULD CONSULT ITS OWN TAX ADVISER TO OBTAIN A MORE DETAILED EXPLANATION OF FATCA AND TO DETERMINE HOW THIS LEGISLATION MIGHT AFFECT EACH INVESTOR IN ITS PARTICULAR CIRCUMSTANCES;

  • U.S. withholding tax

    The Issuer has determined that this Certificate is not linked to U.S. Underlying Equities within the meaning of applicable regulations under Section 871(m) of the United States Internal Revenue Code, as discussed in the accompanying Base Listing Document under “TAXATION—TAXATION IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA—Section 871(m) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986.” Accordingly, the Issuer expects that Section 871(m) will not apply to the Certificates. Such determination is not binding on the IRS, and the IRS may disagree with this determination. Section 871(m) is complex and its application may depend on a Certificate Holder's particular circumstances. Certificate Holders should consult with their own tax advisers regarding the potential application of Section 871(m) to the Certificates ; and

  • risk factors relating to the BRRD

    French and Luxembourg law and European legislation regarding the resolution of financial institutions may require the write-down or conversion to equity of the Certificates or other resolution measures if the Issuer or the Guarantor is deemed to meet the conditions for resolution.

    Directive 2014/59/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of the European Union dated 15 May 2014 establishing a framework for the recovery and resolution of credit institutions and investment firms (the “BRRD”) entered into force on 2 July 2014. The BRRD, as amended, has been implemented into Luxembourg law by, among others, the Luxembourg act dated 18 December 2015 on the failure of credit institutions and certain investment firms, as amended (the “BRR Act 2015”). Under the BRR Act 2015, the competent authority is the Luxembourg financial sector supervisory authority (Commission de surveillance du secteur financier, the CSSF) and the resolution authority is the CSSF acting as resolution council ( conseil de résolution).

    In April 2023, the EU Commission released a proposal to amend, in particular, the BRRD according to which senior preferred debt instruments would no longer rank pari passu with any non covered non preferred deposits of the Issuer; instead, senior preferred debt instruments would rank junior in right of payment to the claims of all depositors.

    This proposal will be discussed and amended by the European Parliament and the European Council before being final and applicable. If the Commission proposal was adopted as is, there may be an increased risk of an investor in senior preferred debt instruments losing all or some of their investment in the context of the exercise of the Bail-in Power. The proposal may also lead to a rating downgrade for senior preferred debt instruments.

    Moreover, Regulation (EU) No. 806/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 July 2014 establishing uniform rules and a uniform procedure for the resolution of credit institutions and certain investment firms in the framework of a Single Resolution Mechanism (“SRM”) and a Single Resolution Framework (the “SRM Regulation”) has established a centralised power of resolution entrusted to a Single Resolution Board (the “SRB”) in cooperation with the national resolution authorities.

    Since November 2014, the European Central Bank (“ECB”) has taken over the prudential supervision of significant credit institutions in the member states of the Eurozone under the Single Supervisory Mechanism (“SSM”). In addition, the SRM has been put in place to ensure that the resolution of credit institutions and certain investment firms across the Eurozone is harmonised. As mentioned above, the SRM is managed by the SRB. Under Article 5(1) of the SRM Regulation, the SRM has been granted those responsibilities and powers granted to the EU Member States’ resolution authorities under the BRRD for those credit institutions and certain investment firms subject to direct supervision by the ECB. The ability of the SRB to exercise these powers came into force at the beginning of 2016.

    Societe Generale has been, and continues to be, designated as a significant supervised entity for the purposes of Article 49(1) of Regulation (EU) No 468/2014 of the ECB of 16 April 2014 establishing the framework for cooperation within the SSM between the ECB and national competent authorities and with national designated authorities (the “SSM Regulation”) and is consequently subject to the direct supervision of the ECB in the context of the SSM. This means that Societe Generale and SG Issuer (being covered by the consolidated prudential supervision of Societe Generale) are also subject to the SRM which came into force in 2015. The SRM Regulation mirrors the BRRD and, to a large part, refers to the BRRD so that the SRB is able to apply the same powers that would otherwise be available to the relevant national resolution authority.

    The stated aim of the BRRD and the SRM Regulation is to provide for the establishment of an EU-wide framework for the recovery and resolution of credit institutions and certain investment firms. The regime provided for by the BRRD is, among other things, stated to be needed to provide the resolution authority designated by each EU Member State (the “Resolution Authority”) with a credible set of tools to intervene sufficiently early and quickly in an unsound or failing institution so as to ensure the continuity of the institution’s critical financial and economic functions while minimising the impact of an institution’s failure on the economy and financial system (including taxpayers’ exposure to losses).

    In accordance with the provisions of the SRM Regulation, when applicable, the SRB, has replaced the national resolution authorities designated under the BRRD with respect to all aspects relating to the decision-making process and the national resolution authorities designated under the BRRD continue to carry out activities relating to the implementation of resolution schemes adopted by the SRB. The provisions relating to the cooperation between the SRB and the national resolution authorities for the preparation of the institutions’ resolution plans have applied since 1 January 2015 and the SRM has been fully operational since 1 January 2016.

    The SRB is the Resolution Authority for the Issuer and the Guarantor.

    The powers provided to the Resolution Authority in the BRRD and the SRM Regulation include write-down/conversion powers to ensure that capital instruments (including subordinated debt instruments) and eligible liabilities (including senior debt instruments if junior instruments prove insufficient to absorb all losses) absorb losses of the issuing institution that is subject to resolution in accordance with a set order of priority (the “Bail-in Power”). The conditions for resolution under the SRM Regulation are deemed to be met when: (i) the Resolution Authority determines that the institution is failing or is likely to fail, (ii) there is no reasonable prospect that any measure other than a resolution measure would prevent the failure within a reasonable timeframe, and (iii) a resolution measure is necessary for the achievement of the resolution objectives (in particular, ensuring the continuity of critical functions, avoiding a significant adverse effect on the financial system, protecting public funds by minimizing reliance on extraordinary public financial support, and protecting client funds and assets) and winding up of the institution under normal insolvency proceedings would not meet those resolution objectives to the same extent.

    The Resolution Authority could also, independently of a resolution measure or in combination with a resolution measure, fully or partially write-down or convert capital instruments (including subordinated debt instruments) into equity when it determines that the institution or its group will no longer be viable unless such write-down or conversion power is exercised or when the institution requires extraordinary public financial support (except when extraordinary public financial support is provided in Article 10 of the SRM Regulation). The terms and conditions of the Certificates contain provisions giving effect to the Bail-in Power in the context of resolution and write-down or conversion of capital instruments at the point of non-viability.

    The Bail-in Power could result in the full (i.e., to zero) or partial write-down or conversion of the Certificates into ordinary shares or other instruments of ownership, or the variation of the terms of the Certificates (for example, the maturity and/or interest payable may be altered and/or a temporary suspension of payments may be ordered). Extraordinary public financial support should only be used as a last resort after having assessed and applied, to the maximum extent practicable, the resolution measures. No support will be available until a minimum amount of contribution to loss absorption and recapitalization of 8% of total liabilities including own funds has been made by shareholders, holders of capital instruments and other eligible liabilities through write-down, conversion or otherwise.

    In addition to the Bail-in Power, the BRRD provides the Resolution Authority with broader powers to implement other resolution measures with respect to institutions that meet the conditions for resolution, which may include (without limitation) the sale of the institution’s business, the creation of a bridge institution, the separation of assets, the replacement or substitution of the institution as obligor in respect of debt instruments, modifications to the terms of debt instruments (including altering the maturity and/or the amount of interest payable and/or imposing a temporary suspension on payments), removing management, appointing an interim administrator, and discontinuing the listing and admission to trading of financial instruments.

    Before taking a resolution measure, including implementing the Bail-in Power, or exercising the power to write down or convert relevant capital instruments, the Resolution Authority must ensure that a fair, prudent and realistic valuation of the assets and liabilities of the institution is carried out by a person independent from any public authority.

    The BRRD, the BRR Act 2015 and the SRM Regulation however also state that, under exceptional circumstances, if the bail-in instrument is applied, the SRB, in cooperation with the CSSF, may completely or partially exclude certain liabilities from the application of the impairment or conversion powers under certain conditions.

    Since 1 January 2016, EU credit institutions (such as Societe Generale) and certain investment firms have to meet, at all times, a minimum requirement for own funds and eligible liabilities (“MREL”) pursuant to Article 12 of the SRM Regulation. The MREL, which is expressed as a percentage of the total liabilities and own funds of the institution, aims at preventing institutions from structuring their liabilities in a manner that impedes the effectiveness of the Bail-in Power in order to facilitate resolution.

    The regime has evolved as a result of the changes adopted by the EU legislators. On 7 June 2019, as part of the contemplated amendments to the so-called “EU Banking Package”, the following legislative texts were published in the Official Journal of the EU 14 May 2019:

    • Directive (EU) 2019/879 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 May 2019 amending the BRRD as regards the loss-absorbing and recapitalisation capacity of credit institutions and investment firms (“BRRD II”); and
    • Regulation (EU) 2019/877 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 May 2019 amending the SRM Regulation as regards the loss-absorbing and recapitalisation capacity (“TLAC”) of credit institutions and investment firms (the “SRM II Regulation” and, together with the BRRD II, the “EU Banking Package Reforms”).

    The EU Banking Package Reforms introduced, among other things, the TLAC standard as implemented by the Financial Stability Board's TLAC Term Sheet (“FSB TLAC Term Sheet”), by adapting, among other things, the existing regime relating to the specific MREL with aim of reducing risks in the banking sector and further reinforcing institutions’ ability to withstand potential shocks will strengthen the banking union and reduce risks in the financial system.

    The TLAC has been implemented in accordance with the FSB TLAC Term Sheet, which impose a level of “Minimum TLAC” that will be determined individually for each global systemically important bank (“G-SIB”), such as Societe Generale, in an amount at least equal to (i) 16%, plus applicable buffers, of risk weight assets since January 1, 2022 and 18%, plus applicable buffers, thereafter and (ii) 6% of the Basel III leverage ratio denominator since January 1, 2022 and 6.75% thereafter (each of which could be extended by additional firm-specific requirements).

    Regulation (EU) No 575/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 June 2013 on prudential requirements for credit institutions and investment firms (the “CRR”), as amended by Regulation (EU) 2019/876 as regards the leverage ratio, the net stable funding ratio, requirements for own funds and eligible liabilities, counterparty credit risk, market risk, exposures to central counterparties, exposures to collective investment undertakings, large exposures, reporting and disclosure requirements (the “CRR II”), EU G-SIBs, such as Societe Generale, have to comply with TLAC requirements, on top of the MREL requirements, since the entry into force of the CRR II. As such, G-SIBs, such as Societe Generale have to comply with both the TLAC and MREL requirements.

    Consequently, the criteria for MREL-eligible liabilities have been closely aligned with the criteria for TLAC-eligible liabilities under CRR II, but subject to the complementary adjustments and requirements introduced in the BRRD II. In particular, certain debt instruments with an embedded derivative component, such as certain structured notes, will be eligible, subject to certain conditions, to meet MREL requirements to the extent that they have a fixed or increasing principal amount repayable at maturity that is known in advance with only an additional return permitted to be linked to that derivative component and dependent on the performance of a reference asset.

    The level of capital and eligible liabilities required under MREL is set by the SRB for Societe Generale on an individual and/or consolidated basis based on certain criteria including systemic importance and may also be set for SG Issuer. Eligible liabilities may be senior or subordinated, provided, among other requirements, that they have a remaining term of at least one year and, they recognise contractually the Resolution Authority's power to write down or convert the liabilities governed by non-EU law.

    The scope of liabilities used to meet MREL includes, in principle, all liabilities resulting from claims arising from ordinary unsecured creditors (non-subordinated liabilities) unless they do not meet specific eligibility criteria set out in BRRD, as amended by BRRD II. To enhance the resolvability of institutions and entities through an effective use of the bail-in tool, the SRB should be able to require that MREL be met with own funds and other subordinated liabilities, in particular where there are clear indications that bailed-in creditors are likely to bear losses in resolution that would exceed the losses that they would incur under normal insolvency proceedings. Moreover the SRB should assess the need to require institutions and entities to meet the MREL with own funds and other subordinated liabilities where the amount of liabilities excluded from the application of the bail- in tool reaches a certain threshold within a class of liabilities that includes MREL-eligible liabilities. Any subordination of debt instruments requested by the SRB for the MREL shall be without prejudice to the possibility to partly meet the TLAC requirements with non-subordinated debt instruments in accordance with the CRR, as amended by the CRR II, as permitted by the TLAC standard. Specific requirements apply to resolution groups with assets above EUR 100 billion (top-tier banks, including Societe Generale).