24 July 2014
The International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) today completed the final element of its comprehensive response to the financial crisis by issuing IFRS 9 Financial Instruments. The package of improvements introduced by IFRS 9 includes a logical model for classification and measurement, a single, forward-looking ‘expected loss’ impairment model and a substantially-reformed approach to hedge accounting. The new Standard will come into effect on 1 January 2018 with early application permitted.
Classification and Measurement
Classification
determines how financial assets and financial liabilities are accounted for in
financial statements and, in particular, how they are measured on an ongoing
basis. IFRS 9 introduces a logical approach for the classification of financial
assets, which is driven by cash flow characteristics and the business model in
which an asset is held. This single, principle-based approach replaces
existing rule-based requirements that are generally considered to be overly
complex and difficult to apply. The new model also results in a single
impairment model being applied to all financial instruments, thereby removing a
source of complexity associated with previous accounting requirements.
Impairment
During the financial crisis, the
delayed recognition of credit losses on loans (and other financial instruments)
was identified as a weakness in existing accounting standards. As part of IFRS
9, the IASB has introduced a new, expected-loss impairment model that will
require more timely recognition of expected credit losses. Specifically, the new
Standard requires entities to account for expected credit losses from when
financial instruments are first recognised and to recognise full lifetime
expected losses on a more timely basis. The IASB has already announced its
intention to create a transition resource group to support stakeholders in the
transition to the new impairment requirements.
Hedge accounting
IFRS 9 introduces a
substantially-reformed model for hedge accounting, with enhanced disclosures
about risk management activity. The new model represents a significant
overhaul of hedge accounting that aligns the accounting treatment with risk
management activities, enabling entities to better reflect these activities in
their financial statements. In addition, as a result of these changes,
users of the financial statements will be provided with better information about
risk management and the effect of hedge accounting on the financial
statements.
Own credit
IFRS 9 also removes the volatility in
profit or loss that was caused by changes in the credit risk of liabilities
elected to be measured at fair value. This change in accounting means that
gains caused by the deterioration of an entity’s own credit risk on such
liabilities are no longer recognised in profit or loss. Early application of
this improvement to financial reporting, prior to any other changes in the
accounting for financial instruments, is permitted by IFRS 9.
Hans Hoogervorst, Chairman of the IASB commented:
The reforms introduced by IFRS 9 are much needed improvements to the reporting of financial instruments and are consistent with requests from the G20, the Financial Stability Board and others for a forward-looking approach to loan-loss provisioning.
The new Standard will enhance investor confidence in banks’ balance sheets and the financial system as a whole.
A Project Summary providing an overview of the new Standard is available to download here.