Issue 53, April 2016 Insurance IFRS Newsletter “Many entities will welcome the broader Revised criteria for criteria for insurers to defer application of IFRS 9.” deferring IFRS 9 – oJ achim Klö schbach, KPMGs’ global IFR S At its April meeting, the IASB responded to feedback on its insurancel� eader exposure draft Applying IFRS 9 Financial Instruments with IFRS 4 Insurance Contracts (the ED), by broadening the qualifying criteria for deferring IFRS 9 and introducing additional relevant disclosures. It also made decisions on the overlay approach. Temporary exemption – Qualifying criteria Feedback suggested that the population of entities that would qualify for the temporary exemption was too narrow, and recommended changes to the predominance criterion that would increase the number of entities that would qualify. As a consequence, it revised the qualifying criteria to include activity predominantly ‘related to insurance’, which includes issuing investment contracts that are measured at fair value through proft or loss (FVTPL) and ‘other’ liabilities related to insurance activity, but with an increased threshold. Temporary exemption – Disclosures Contents The IASB confrmed certain disclosures and amended others to help users of Temporary exemption – fnancial statements compare entities that do and do not use the temporary Qualifying criteria 2 exemption without creating excessive costs for preparers. Also, an entity would refer to any IFRS 9 information that is not provided in the consolidated fnancial Temporary exemption – statements but is publicly available for the relevant period in the fnancial statements Disclosures 5 of a subsidiary. Overlay approach 9 Overlay approach Appendix: Summary of The IASB clarifed that qualifying fnancial assets could include fnancial assets related IASB’s redeliberations 13 to surplus assets that an entity holds for regulatory or capital requirements. It also Project milestones and confrmed other aspects of the overlay approach proposed in the ED and amended timeline 16 others related to the presentation of the overlay adjustment in the statement of comprehensive income that may improve comparability between entities. KPMG contacts 17 Keeping you informed 18 Next steps The IASB will discuss the remaining technical issues in May. The fnal amendments to Acknowledgements 20 IFRS 4 are currently expected to be published in September 2016. © 2016 KPMG IFRG Limited, a UK company, limited by guarantee. All rights reserved. 1 Temporary exemption The IASB broadened Qualifying criteria the criteria allowing What’s the issue? entities to apply the The ED proposed that a temporary exemption from applying IFRS 9 would be temporary exemption. permitted for entities that issue contracts in the scope of IFRS 4 if this activity is predominant for the reporting entity.1 It proposed that the assessment of whether the insurance activities are predominant would be based on the carrying amount of the entity’s liabilities arising from contracts that are in the scope of IFRS 4 relative to the total carrying amount of its liabilities at the date on which it would otherwise be required to apply IFRS 9. The ED did not propose a quantitative threshold for assessing the predominance of insurance activities; however, it included an example in which an entity’s insurance activities were not considered predominant even though they made up 75 percent of its total liabilities. Feedback from respondents showed that most believed that the population of entities that would qualify for the temporary exemption was too narrow. The proposed predominance test would have excluded many entities that consider themselves ‘pure insurers’. Respondents therefore recommended changes to the predominance criterion to increase the number of entities that would qualify.2 Some respondents noted that entities would need to assess whether they are eligible for the temporary exemption much earlier than the proposed date of 1 January 2018 because an entity would need enough time to implement IFRS 9 if it fnds that it does not qualify for the temporary exemption. Consequently, the IASB decided to consider revising the ED’s proposed eligibility and assessment criteria for the temporary exemption. What did the staff recommend? The staff recommended the following. Recommendation Rationale Qualifying criteria The criteria under which an entity − Entities should not be permitted should be permitted to apply the to revert back to applying IAS 39 if temporary exemption should: they have already applied IFRS 9, because the concerns raised by 1. retain the requirement that the stakeholders arise only when an entity has not previously applied entity currently applies IAS 39 any version of IFRS 9 (except for and subsequently applies IFRS 9 the own credit requirements in before the forthcoming insurance isolation); and contracts standard. If an entity has already applied IFRS 9, then these costs have already been incurred. − The predominance criterion should be quantitative rather than qualitative, because this would provide a more objective assessment that can be more clearly described, understood and applied. 1. For more information, see our eN w on the oH rioz n : Insurance amendments . 2. For more information on the feedback, see Issue 25 of our IFRS Newsletter: Insurance. 2 © 2016 KPMG IFRG Limited, a UK company, limited by guarantee. All rights reserved. Recommendation Rationale 2. modify the requirement that the − Using liabilities as a basis for the entity’s activities are predominantly calculation of a ratio is better than related to insurance so as to using amounts from the statement comprise: of comprehensive income, which may be more volatile. a. issuing contracts in the scope of IFRS 4 that give rise to liabilities − If they are issued by an insurance whose carrying amount is company, then investment signifcant compared with the contracts measured at FVTPL under total carrying amount of the IAS 39 should be considered an entity’s liabilities; and insurance activity, because they are often sold alongside similar b. issuing investment contracts that products with signifcant insurance are measured at FVTPL under risk and are regulated as insurance IAS 39 Financial Instruments: contracts (i.e. they are related Recognition and Measurement. to insurance). Assessing whether the entity’s activities are predominantly related to insurance The predominance ratio should be − Other liabilities not in the scope of drafted as follows. IFRS 4 should also be included in the calculation if they are related to [Liabilities arising from insurance activity. activities related to insurance] + [‘other’ liabilities − Any adjustments to the that are connected to those Predominance predominance ratio for liabilities activities] ratio = should be refected in the Total carrying amount of the numerator, so that the denominator entity’s liabilities refects the entity’s total liabilities, − Liabilities arising from activities which is simple to understand and related to insurance should be the is anchored to an amount on the liabilities arising from the contracts balance sheet. described in paragraphs (2)(a) and − The threshold suggested in the ED (b) above. should be increased to refect the − The IASB should provide examples revised predominance criterion. of ‘other’ liabilities that are − Requiring an entity to consider connected to those activities. additional factors when the ratio In addition, an entity’s activities is greater than 80% and less than, should be deemed to be or equal to, 90% could provide predominantly related to insurance an appropriate assessment of only if the predominance ratio is: whether the entity has at least one non-insurance activity that is − greater than 90%; or considered signifcant. − greater than 80% but less than, or equal to, 90% and the entity can provide evidence that it does not have a signifcant activity that is unrelated to insurance. © 2016 KPMG IFRG Limited, a UK company, limited by guarantee. All rights reserved. 3 Recommendation Rationale Date of assessment 1. First test: An entity should − There is a trade-off between ordinarily be required to calculate requiring an entity to use the most the predominance ratio using the up-to-date information and reducing carrying amounts of the liabilities the ‘waiting’ period during which reported at the annual reporting the entity is uncertain whether date between 1 April 2015 and it qualifes for the temporary 31 March 2016 (i.e. the date exemption. of assessment). − A date of assessment in 2017 2. Second test: However, if market may not signifcantly reduce the fuctuations in the annual uncertainty about whether the period leading up to the date of entity is required to apply IFRS 9 assessment have signifcantly in 2018. affected an entity’s predominance − Unusual market fuctuations in the ratio (i.e. they have affected period leading up to the date of the carrying amounts of any of assessment could affect whether its liabilities), then the entity an entity meets the predominance should be required to calculate criterion because they could affect the predominance ratio using an the carrying amounts of liabilities average of the relevant carrying that are measured using a current amounts on its annual balance discount rate (e.g. those liabilities sheet for the three years before the measured at fair value). date referred to in the frst test. What did the IASB discuss? oB ard members suggested minor claric� ations to the meaning o f activities r‘ elated to insurance ’ and o‘ ther ’ liabilities, hw ich the sta f f iw ll consider during the dratf ing process. hT ey also asek d the sta f f to consider eax mples to be included in the n� al amendments of r other liabilities that ow uld be considered in the predominance test and maek sure that they are not too ecx lusive. oS me members suggested that the ow rding in the n� al amendments should maek it clear that hw en an entitys’ predominance ratio is 08 09– percent, then the entity should assess hw ether the remainder i( .e. 102– 0 percent o f noni- nsurance liabilities ) includes at least one signic� ant activity not related to its insurance activities. hT e oB ard members also suggested that the predominance assessment should be done only at the annual reporting date betew en 1 April 201 5 and 13 March 2016 i( .e.t� he r� st test,) iw thout the availability o f the second test. What did the IASB decide? hT e IA BS agreed iw th the sta f f recommendations on uq aliyf ing criteria and assessing hw ether the entitys’ activities are predominantly related to insurance. hT ey also agreed only to allo w a date o f assessment of r computation o f the predominance ratio at the annual reporting date betew en 1 April 201 5 and 13 March 2016 i( .e. the r� st test.) 4 © 2016 KPMG IFRG Limited, a UK company, limited by guarantee. All rights reserved. Additional disclosures Disclosures would be made for all What’s the issue? fnancial assets held As part of the feedback received via outreach, users of fnancial statements by an entity. expressed concerns that the temporary exemption would result in a lack of comparability both within the insurance industry and with other industries. To address this concern, the IASB proposed disclosure requirements to help users make comparisons between entities that do and do not apply the temporary exemption without creating excessive costs for preparers. The proposed requirements are similar to some of the disclosures required under IFRS 9. However, they focus on the assessment of the contractual terms of fnancial assets, which reduces an entity’s need to assess its business model before applying the forthcoming insurance contracts standard. These proposed disclosures include: − for fnancial assets that would be measured at FVTPL under IFRS 9 because they do not meet the ‘solely payments of principal and interest test’ (SPPI test): the fair value at the reporting date and the fair value change during the reporting period; − credit risk information about fnancial assets that would meet the SPPI test under IFRS 9 and are not held for trading or managed on a fair value basis; and − how an entity concluded that it is eligible for the temporary exemption. Preparers responding to the ED considered the proposed disclosure requirements to be overly burdensome – e.g. disclosures that would require the entity to run IFRS 9 and IAS 39 systems in parallel should be avoided. Conversely, users supported the disclosures and believed that they would achieve the objectives expressed by the IASB. However, the users also stated that the IASB should require additional disclosures of IFRS 9 information, including more disclosures about expected credit losses, including quantitative information. What did the staff recommend? Based on the feedback received, the staff recommended the following. Recommendation Rationale Fair value for fnancial assets that fail the SPPI test Amend the disclosure proposed in − The recommended amendments paragraph 37A(c) of the ED to require to the proposed disclosure an entity to disclose the fair value at requirements would provide more the reporting date and the fair value useful information to users of change during the reporting period fnancial statements. separately for: − To provide context for users of − fnancial assets that do not meet fnancial statements to understand the SPPI test; and the magnitude of an entity’s assets that fail the SPPI test (a proposed − all other fnancial assets. disclosure in the ED), an entity If the carrying amount under IAS 39 should also disclose the fair value is a reasonable approximation of the of fnancial assets that meet the fair value, then an entity should not SPPI test. be required to disclose the fair value in accordance with paragraph 29(a) of IFRS 7 Financial Instruments: Disclosures. © 2016 KPMG IFRG Limited, a UK company, limited by guarantee. All rights reserved. 5 Recommendation Rationale − Given that entities are already required to provide fair value information under IFRS 7, the staff did not believe that this additional disclosure would be overly burdensome to preparers. − To maintain consistency with IFRS 7, the staff suggested allowing entities to use the carrying amount under IAS 39 when it reasonably approximates fair value. Add to the disclosure proposed in − An entity that applies this approach paragraph 37A(c) to require an entity should apply the level of granularity to present this information with in this disclosure that is expected enough granularity to enable users of to be presented by entities applying fnancial statements to understand IFRS 9. the nature and characteristics of the fnancial assets. Credit risk exposure for fnancial assets that meet the SPPI test Add to the disclosure proposed in − The staff agreed with the paragraph 37A(d) to require that, for feedback from some users that fnancial assets in the scope of this entities should provide additional disclosure that do not have low credit information only for certain fnancial risk at the reporting date, an entity assets that do not have low credit would disclose the fair value and the risk because the differences in the gross carrying amount measured impairment amounts calculated under IAS 39. applying IFRS 9 and IAS 39 could be signifcant. − Because most insurers tend to hold high-quality fnancial assets and this requirement would apply only to certain fnancial assets, the staff believed that this should not be overly burdensome. − Entities should only be required to disclose the fair value and gross carrying amounts to balance the needs of users and limit the additional costs to preparers. 6 © 2016 KPMG IFRG Limited, a UK company, limited by guarantee. All rights reserved. Recommendation Rationale Eligibility for the temporary exemption Retain the requirement that an entity − Respondents did not express any disclose the fact that it is applying concerns about these proposed the temporary exemption and how disclosures. it concluded that it is eligible for the − As a result of the staff’s temporary exemption. recommendations on the In addition, an entity should disclose: predominance criterion and the predominance ratio, additional − any liabilities, other than those disclosures should be required to arising from contracts in the scope explain how entities conclude that of IFRS 4, that are included in the they are eligible for the temporary numerator of the predominance exemption. ratio; and − the information used to determine that the entity’s activities are predominantly related to insurance if the predominance ratio is greater than 80% but less than, or equal to, 90%. Other disclosures Add a disclosure to require an entity − This additional disclosure should: to refer to any IFRS 9 information that - not impose an additional burden is not provided in the consolidated on preparers because it would fnancial statements but is publicly only refer to another source of available for the relevant period in the information; and individual fnancial statements. - provide a link to additional information if an entity applies the temporary exemption at one level within the entity but reports under IFRS 9 at another level. What did the IASB discuss? Responding to a uq estion rf om one oB ard member, the sta f f said that the term c‘ redit ris ’k of r the purposes o f the recommended disclosure ow uld be den� ed consistently iw th the den� ition in IFR S 9 and this ow uld be made clear in the dratf ing o f the n� al amendments. Another oB ard member suggested that the sta f f maek it clear that the disclosures about changes in af ir value ow uld be reuq ired atf er the r� st year o f adoption o f the temporary eex mption. What did the IASB decide? hT e IA BS agreed iw th the sta f f recommendations, but agreed to clariyf the recommendation on eligibility disclosures : an entity ow uld disclose any liabilities, other than those arising rf om contracts in the scope o f IFR S ,4 that are included in the numerator o f the predominance ratio only i f the ratio is not greater than 09 p� ercent. © 2016 KPMG IFRG Limited, a UK company, limited by guarantee. All rights reserved. 7 KPMG insight Comparability Under the broader qualifying criteria, more entities that are considered to be insurers by users of fnancial statements are likely to qualify for the temporary exemption. However, entities with any signifcant activities that are unrelated to insurance (e.g. banking activities) would still not qualify. Because the revised (and more tailored) predominance ratio would result in more insurers being able to apply the temporary exemption, it would result in increased comparability between entities considered to be insurers. However, it may also result in an additional lack of comparability for users when comparing entities within the insurance industry with other industries. Complexity The calculation of the predominance ratio would be more complex than that proposed in the ED, because additional liabilities would be included in the numerator. This added complexity should not typically outweigh the benefts of a broader approach. Costs As entities determine whether to apply the temporary exemption, they should also consider the additional costs related to the disclosures proposed in the ED and those agreed by the Board this month. Although some of this information may already be available to insurers (e.g. fair value information is currently required under IFRS 7), costs to implement new processes and controls could result in added costs that would not be incurred if an entity chose to implement IFRS 9 instead. 8 © 2016 KPMG IFRG Limited, a UK company, limited by guarantee. All rights reserved. Overlay approach The IASB amended the What’s the issue? overlay approach to Respondents to the ED broadly agreed with the proposed requirements of the enhance comparability overlay approach. However, some were concerned that the approach would not be applied consistently due to the proposed criteria for qualifying assets and between entities. on how to present the effects of the overlay adjustment in the statement of comprehensive income. aB sed on the ef edbac,k the IA BS considered hw ether any aspect o f the overlay approach should be amended. What did the staff recommend? Based on feedback received through previous outreach conducted and responses received on the ED, the staff recommended the following. Recommendation Rationale Qualifying fnancial assets for the overlay approach and related disclosure Confrm the ED proposals on: − It was necessary to weigh the benefts of providing more guidance − the qualifying criteria for the on how entities should identify approach (paragraph 35B of the ED); fnancial assets that relate to − the designation requirements of contracts in the scope of IFRS 4 previously recognised fnancial against the risk of unintended assets (paragraphs 35E(a)–(c)); and restrictions on the fnancial assets that can be eligible for the − certain disclosures (paragraphs 37C overlay approach. and 37D(a)–(d))3. − Prohibiting entities from applying The staff also recommended that the overlay approach to fnancial the Board: assets held in legal entities that do − clarify that qualifying fnancial not issue contracts in the scope assets could include surplus assets of IFRS 4 would be inappropriate that an entity holds for the purposes because insurers may reasonably of regulatory, credit rating or organise their assets in different internal capital requirements; and ways – e.g. an entity that issues contracts in the scope of IFRS 4 − require an entity to disclose the may have a subsidiary that holds basis for determining the fnancial and manages fnancial instruments assets to which the overlay that relate to the entity’s IFRS 4 approach is applied, when the contracts. designated fnancial assets are held by one legal entity as relating to contracts in the scope of IFRS 4 but the insurance contracts are issued by a different legal entity within the same reporting entity. 3. To read the specifc wording recommended for confrmation by the staff, see 2/DE 011/5 1 Applying IFRS 9 with IFRS 4. © 2016 KPMG IFRG Limited, a UK company, limited by guarantee. All rights reserved. 9 Recommendation Rationale − The staff noted that the term ‘fnancial assets relating to contracts within the scope of IFRS 4’ should include fnancial assets that an entity holds to fund the settlement of liabilities arising from expected levels of claims and expenses; and additional/surplus assets that an entity holds to meet regulatory, credit rating or its own (internal) capital requirements. Presentation of the overlay approach Amend paragraphs 35C and 37D(e) of − The presentation in proft or loss the ED concerning the presentation of should refect the application of gains and losses for fnancial assets to IFRS 9, with an additional overlay which the overlay approach is applied, adjustment, because this would to require an entity: enhance comparability with entities that apply IFRS 9 without − to present: the overlay approach and avoid possible confusion. - in proft or loss, information that refects the application of IFRS 9, − This requirement is important for with a single, separate line item fnancial conglomerates that have for the overlay adjustment; and fnancial assets to which the overlay approach is applied and fnancial - in OCI, the overlay adjustment assets to which IFRS 9 without the separately from other overlay approach is applied. components of OCI consistently with IAS 1 Presentation of Financial Statements; and − to disclose the effect of the overlay approach on individual line items in the notes to the fnancial statements. 10 © 2016 KPMG IFRG Limited, a UK company, limited by guarantee. 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