Measurement of Financial Instruments (IFRS 9)

Subsequent measurement of financial assets and financial liabilities depends on their classification. The table below summarises the subsequent measurement for each category and more discussion follows:

Classification and measurement of financial assets under IFRS 9
Classification and measurement of financial assets under IFRS 9

Fair value measurements are covered in IFRS 13.

Initial measurement is covered on a separate page.

Assets measured at amortised cost are accounted for using the effective interest method with interest income recognised in P/L. These assets are also subject to impairment losses recognised in P/L (IFRS 9.5.2.2) and foreign currency translation with gains/losses recognised in P/L as well (IFRS 9.B5.7.2).

Amortised cost and effective interest method are discussed on a separate page with excel examples given there.

As debt instruments are monetary items, general IAS 21 provisions apply. Firstly, the amortised cost is determined in the foreign currency in which the item is denominated. Then, the foreign currency amount is translated into the functional currency and any foreign gains/losses are recognised in P/L (IFRS 9.B5.7.2; IFRS 9 IG.E.3.4).

Hedge accounting is discussed on a separate page.

As mentioned on the classification page, FVOCI with recycling category can be used for debt investments only. For these instruments (IFRS 9.5.7.10-11):

  • interest calculated using the effective interest method is recognised in P/L,
  • impairment gains/losses are recognised in P/L,
  • foreign exchange gains/losses (calculated based on the amortised cost) are recognised in P/L,
  • fair value remeasurements, excluding impacts listed above, are recognised in OCI.

Interest and impairment are calculated and accounted for in exact the same way as for assets measured at amortised cost described above. Therefore the P/L impact for both categories is the same, but assets in the FVOCI with recycling category are additionally remeasured to fair value with fair value changes (excluding impacts of earned interest, impairment and foreign exchange) recognised in OCI (IFRS 9.5.7.10).

On derecognition, cumulative gains/losses recognised in OCI are reclassified to P/L as a reclassification adjustment.

As debt instruments are monetary items, general IAS 21 provisions apply (see above).

See also the illustrative example on separation of currency component for financial assets measured at FVOCI with recycling contained in paragraph IFRS 9 IG.E.3.2.

General impairment requirements are discussed on a separate page with additional aspects specific to assets at FVOCI with recycling.

As mentioned on the classification page, this category can be applied to equity investments only. Fair value remeasurements are recognised in OCI and are not subsequently recycled to P/L (IFRS 9.5.7.5; B5.7.1). There is no P&L impact even when the investment is disposed of as the fair value remeasurement is required on derecognition date as well (IFRS 9.3.2.12).

Dividends on equity investments designated at FVOCI are still recognised in P/L (IFRS 9.5.7.6) unless the dividend clearly represents a recovery of part of the cost of the investment (IFRS9.B5.7.1). IFRS 9 contains no further guidance on determining whether a dividend clearly represents a recovery of part of the cost of the investment.

Equity investments are non-monetary items, therefore fair value gains/losses include also foreign exchange impacts and are recognised in OCI altogether (IFRS 9.B5.7.3; IFRS 9 IG.E.3.4).

Assets measured at FVOCI no recycling are not subject to impairment requirements of IFRS 9 (IFRS 9.5.5.1).

Although IFRS 9 requires all equity instruments to be measured at fair value, it acknowledges that, in limited circumstances, cost may be an appropriate estimate of fair value for unquoted equity instruments. See the discussion in paragraphs IFRS 9.B5.2.3-B5.2.6.

Liabilities measured at amortised cost are accounted for using the effective interest method with interest expense recognised in P/L.

See the paragraph on foreign exchange gains/losses arising on assets measured at amortised cost.

As the category name implies, financial assets/ liabilities measured at fair value through profit or loss are measured, subsequent to recognition, at fair value with gains/losses arising on remeasurements recognised in P/L (IFRS 9.5.7.1). An exception relates to changes in fair value of financial liabilities designated at FVTPL which is attributable to own credit risk, which is discussed below.

Changes in fair value of a financial liability designated at FVTPL attributable to changes in the credit risk of that liability are recognised in OCI and are not subsequently transferred to P/L (IFRS 9.5.7.7(a); B5.7.9). If recognition of own credit risk in OCI ‘would create or enlarge an accounting mismatch in P/L’, all fair value gains/losses are recognised in P/L (IFRS 9.5.7.8). More information on accounting mismatch applicable to these requirements can be found in paragraphs IFRS 9.B5.7.5 -B5.7.7 and B5.7.10–B5.7.12 with an illustrative example in paragraph IFRS 9.B5.7.10.

Credit risk is defined by IFRS 7 as the risk that one party to a financial instrument will cause a financial loss for the other party by failing to discharge an obligation (IFRS 7.Appendix A). The requirement in paragraph IFRS 9.5.7.7(a) relates to the risk that the issuer will fail to perform on that particular liability. Paragraphs IFRS 9.B5.7.13-20 contain a very good discussion on what is meant on credit risk of a liability, how it is impacted by a collateral, how it differs from asset-specific performance risk and how to determine the effects of changes in credit risk. Requirements on how to determine the effects of changes in credit risk are illustrated in illustrative example contained in paragraphs IFRS 9.IE1-IE5.

Changes in fair value of loan commitments and financial guarantee contracts designated at FVTPL are recognised in P/L in full, even for impacts resulting from changes in own credit risk (IFRS 9.5.7.9).

IFRIC update from March 2018 clarifies that amortised cost accounting is not applied to assets or liabilities measured at FVTPL. Therefore, the disclosure of interest revenue calculated using the effective interest method (IAS 1.82(a)) does not concern assets measured at FVTPL.

Dividends earned on financial assets carried at FVTPL are recognised in P&L under IFRS 9.5.7.1A. However, distribution of dividends can negatively impact fair value of an asset, therefore entities need reassess their fair value measurements after recognising dividend income (read more).

Assets measured at FVTPL are not subject to impairment requirements of IFRS 9 (IFRS 9.5.5.1).

Financial guarantee contract is a contract that requires the issuer to make specified payments to reimburse the holder for a loss it incurs because a specified debtor fails to make payment when due in accordance with the original or modified terms of a debt instrument (IFRS 9.Appendix A). See also distinguishing financial guarantees from other guarantees.

Financial guarantee contracts are subsequently measured by the issuer at the higher of (IFRS 9.4.2.1(c)):

  • the amount of loss allowance according to the impairment requirements of IFRS 9 and
  • the amount initially recognised less, when appropriate, the cumulative amount of income recognised under IFRS 15

The above requirements do not apply if the financial guarantee is designated at FVTPL.

Commitments to provide a loan at a below-market interest rate are subsequently measured by the issuer at the higher of (IFRS 9.4.2.1(d)):

  • the amount of loss allowance according to the impairment requirements of IFRS 9 and
  • the amount initially recognised less, when appropriate, the cumulative amount of income recognised under IFRS 15

The above requirements do not apply if the commitment is designated at FVTPL.

See other pages relating to financial instruments:

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