IFRS 9

From Open Risk Manual

Definition

IFRS 9 is a financial reporting standard developed and approved by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB), an independent, private-sector body that develops and approves International Financial Reporting Standards. IFRS 9 concerns the accounting and reporting specifically of financial instruments. The standard is applicable for annual periods beginning on or after 1 January 2018 while earlier application is permitted [1].

The objective of IFRS 9 is to establish principles for the financial reporting of financial assets and liabilities that will present relevant and useful information to users of financial statements for their assessment of the amounts, timing and uncertainty of an entity’s future cash flows. Alongside disclosures mandated by regulators (e.g. Basel Pillar III reporting requires for regulated banks) these financial statements are the main source of information about the Balance Sheet of a financial institution.

Motivation

IFRS 9 was issued in response to the mandate received from the G20 in the light of the performance of accounting standards during the global financial crisis.[2] The new standard specifies a fuller and more timely recognition of credit losses, thus enhancing both the size of loss-absorbing allowances and their responsiveness to information pointing to a deterioration or improvement in credit risk.

Status

The European Union endorsed IFRS 9 in November 2016 for mandatory application from 1 January 2018 onwards. A complete list of jurisdictions that will be implementing IFRS 9 can be gleaned from the list of world-wide adopted Financial Reporting Standards.

Risk Management Implications

The introduction of the IFRS 9 standard has significant repercussions for bank Risk Management as it requires:

  • Embedding forward looking risk assessments in the measurement (assessment) of the firm's financial condition
  • Disclosing such assessments to external stakeholders

While the transition to the ECL approach requires a significant investment in new models, the adoption of IFRS 9 could benefit banks by improving their internal credit risk monitoring systems. While banks currently using the advanced internal ratings-based approach (IRB) to establish their capital requirements can adjust their models, banks solely using the standardised approach (SA) to determining their capital requirements may need to develop models from scratch

Scope

The scope of the IFRS 9 standard is quite broad: it is to be applied by all entities to all types of financial instruments with the exception of a prescribed list that includes[3]

  • interest in subsidiaries, associates and joint ventures
  • rights and obligations under leases
  • employer benefit plans (pensions)
  • own equity type instruments (including stock options and warrants)
  • underwritten insurance contracts (except for financial guarantees)

Sections of the Standard

The standard contains four main sections:

  • Recognition and Derecognition
  • Classification
  • Measurement
  • Hedge Accounting

Recognition and Derecognition

(Initial) recognition denotes the first inclusion of an asset or liability in financial reporting. Reporting entities must recognise a financial asset or a financial liability in its statement of financial position when, and only when, the entity becomes party to the contractual provisions of the instrument (e.g. when originating or purchasing an asset).

Derecognition denotes the exclusion of an asset or liability from reporting when when the contractual rights to the cash flows from the financial asset expire, or the reporting entity transfers the financial asset

Classification

Recognition of financial assets and liabilities requires their classification into one of the three available categories (Amortized Cost, FVOCI, FVPL) which subsequently determines how the financial asset or liability is measured and reported in financial statements.

Amortized Cost

If the asset passes the contractual cash flows test, the business model assessment determines how the instrument is classified. If the instrument is being held to collect contractual cash flows, i.e., it is not expected to be sold, it is classified as amortized cost.

FVOCI

If the business model for the instrument is to both collect contractual cash flows and potentially sell the asset, it is reported at FVOCI (Fair Value through Other Comprehensive Income). For a FVOCI asset, the amortized cost basis is used to determine profit and loss, but the asset is reported at fair value on the balance sheet, with the difference between amortized cost and fair value reported in other comprehensive income.

FVPL

For any other business model, such as holding the asset for trading, the asset is reported at FVPL (Fair Value through Profit and Loss)

Measurement

Measurement refers to the assignment of a monetary value to a recognized asset or liability. The first (initial) measurement occurs at recognition, while subsequent reporting requires updated measurements.

IFRS 9 retained the concept of fair value option from IAS 39, but revised the criteria for financial assets. Under a fair value option, an asset or liability that would otherwise be reported at amortized cost or FVOCI can use FVPL instead. IFRS 9 retained most of the measurement guidance for liabilities from IAS 39, meaning most financial liabilities are held at amortized cost.

Under IFRS 9 measurement involves assigning each asset to one of three stages, depending on the relative change in its credit risk. The stage determines principally

  • the way in which the impairment loss is calculated and
  • whether the accrual of interest income is made on the basis of the gross or net carrying amount of the financial asset.

Impairment Loss

One of the most important changes brought by the IFRS 9 standard is the requirement for an Impairment Allowance held against the amortized cost of financial assets. The change in this allowance is to be reported in profit and loss. This new impairment model is intended to address a criticism of the existing impairment model which allows companies to delay recognition of asset impairments.

For most amortized cost assets, when the asset is acquired the impairment allowance is to be measured as the present value of credit losses from default events projected over the next 12 months. The allowance remains based on the Expected Credit Loss from defaults over the next 12 months unless there is a Significant Increase in Credit Risk. If there is a significant increase in credit risk, the allowance is measured as the present value of all credit losses projected for the instrument over its full lifetime. If the credit risk of the asset improves, the allowance can once again be revert to the projected credit losses over the next 12 months.

Hedge accounting

IFRS 9 updates guidance for hedge accounting with the intention to align the accounting treatment with risk management activities.

Issues and Challenges

  • Challenges related to the lack of data or experience relevant to the required ECL modelling
  • Role of managerial judgement and discretion in the ECL modelling process
  • Significant cost in terms of modelling, IT infrastructure, data gathering and dedicated human resources before the first application and subsequently on ongoing basis

References

  1. IFRS Standard 9, Financial Instruments
  2. ESRB, Financial stability implications of IFRS 9, July 2017
  3. IFRS Standard 9, Financial Instruments, Chapter 2.1