IFRS 9 Is a 'Work in Progress' and Will Eventually Replace IAS 39 in its Entirety On 12 November 2009, the IASB issued

IFRS 9 Financial Instruments as the first step in its project to replace IAS 39 Financial Instruments: Recognition and Measurement. IFRS 9 introduces new requirements for classifying and measuring financial assets that must be applied starting 1 January 2013, with early adoption permitted. Click for IASB Press Release (PDF 101k). On 28 October 2010, the IASB reissued IFRS 9, incorporating new requirements on accounting for financial liabilities, and carrying over from IAS 39 the requrements for derecognition of financial assets and financial liabilities (the Basis for Conclusions was also restructured, and IFRIC 9 and the 2009 version of IFRS 9 were withdrawn). Click for IASB Press Release (PDF 33k). The IASB intends to expand IFRS 9 to add new requirements for impairment of financial assets measured at amortised cost, and hedge accounting. By the end of June 2011, then, IFRS 9 will be a complete replacement for IAS 39. Other sub-projects in the IASB's comprehensive project to replace IAS 39: Impairment of Financial Assets Measured at Amortised Cost Hedge Accounting Offsetting of financial assets and liabilities.

A debt instrument that meets the following two conditions can be measured at amortised cost (net of any writedown for impairment) [IFRS 9, paragraph 4.1.2]: Business model test. The objective of the entity's business model is to hold the financial asset to collect the contractual cash flows (rather than to sell the instrument prior to its contractual maturity to realise its fair value changes). Cash flow characteristics test: The contractual terms of the financial asset give rise on specified dates to cash flows that are solely payments of principal and interest on the principal outstanding.

All other debt instruments must be measured at fair value through profit or loss (FVTPL). [IFRS 9, paragraph 4.1.4] Fair value option Even if an instrument meets the two amortised cost tests, IFRS 9 contains an option to designate a financial asset as measured at FVTPL if doing so eliminates or significantly reduces a measurement or recognition inconsistency (sometimes referred to as an 'accounting mismatch') that would otherwise arise from measuring assets or liabilities or recognising the gains and losses on them on different bases. [IFRS 9, paragraph 4.1.5] IAS 39's AFS and HTM categories are eliminated The available-for-sale and held-to-maturity categories currently in IAS 39 are not included in IFRS 9. Equity instruments

Overview of IFRS 9 Initial measurement of financial instruments All financial instruments are initially measured at fair value plus or minus, in the case of a financial asset or financial liability not at fair value through profit or loss, transaction costs. [IFRS 9, paragraph 5.1.1] Subsequent measurement of financial assets IFRS 9 divides all financial assets that are currently in the scope of IAS 39 into two classifications those measured at amortised cost and those measured at fair value. Classification is made at the time the financial asset is initially recognised, namely when the entity becomes a party to the contractual provisions of the instrument. [IFRS 9, paragraph 4.1.1] Debt instruments All equity investments in scope of IFRS 9 are to be measured at fair value in the statement of financial position, with value changes recognised in profit or loss, except for those equity investments for which the entity has elected to report value changes in 'other comprehensive income'. There is no 'cost exception' for unquoted equities. 'Other comprehensive income' option If an equity investment is not held for trading, an entity can make an irrevocable election at initial recognition to measure it at fair value through other comprehensive income (FVTOCI) with only dividend income recognised in profit or loss. [IFRS 9, paragraph 5.7.5] Measurement guidance

Despite the fair value requirement for all equity investments, IFRS 9 contains guidance on when cost may be the best estimate of fair value and also when it might not be representative of fair value. Subsequent measurement of financial liabilities IFRS 9 doesn't change the basic accounting model for financial liabilities under IAS 39. Two measurement categories continue to exist: fair value through profit or loss (FVTPL) and amortised cost. Financial liabilities held for trading are measured at FVTPL, and all other financial liabilities are measured at amortised cost unless the fair value option is applied. [IFRS 9, paragraph 4.2.1] Fair value option IFRS 9 contains an option to designate a financial liability as measured at FVTPL if [IFRS 9, paragraph 4.2.2]: doing so eliminates or significantly reduces a measurement or recognition inconsistency (sometimes referred to as an 'accounting mismatch') that would otherwise arise from measuring assets or liabilities or recognising the gains and losses on them on different bases, or the liability is part or a group of financial liabilities or financial assets and financial liabilities that is managed and its performance is evaluated on a fair value basis, in accordance with a documented risk management or investment strategy, and information about the group is provided internally on that basis to the entity's key management personnel.

Amounts presented in other comprehensive income shall not be subsequently transferred to profit or loss, the entity may only transfer the cumulative gain or loss within equity. Derecognition of financial assets The basic premise for the derecognition model in IFRS 9 (carried over from IAS 39) is to determine whether the asset under consideration for derecognition is: [IFRS 9, paragraph 3.2.2] an asset in its entirety or specifically identified cash flows from an asset (or a group of similar financial assets) or a fully proportionate (pro rata) share of the cash flows from an asset (or a group of similar financial assets). or a fully proportionate (pro rata) share of specifically identified cash flows from a financial asset (or a group of similar financial assets)

Once the asset under consideration for derecognition has been determined, an assessment is made as to whether the asset has been transferred, and if so, whether the transfer of that asset is subsequently eligible for derecognition. An asset is transferred if either the entity has transferred the contractual rights to receive the cash flows, or the entity has retained the contractual rights to receive the cash flows from the asset, but has assumed a contractual obligation to pass those cash flows on under an arrangement that meets the following three conditions: [IFRS 9, paragraphs 3.2.43.2.5] the entity has no obligation to pay amounts to the eventual recipient unless it collects equivalent amounts on the original asset the entity is prohibited from selling or pledging the original asset (other than as security to the eventual recipient), the entity has an obligation to remit those cash flows without material delay

A financial liability which does not meet any of these criteria may still be designated as measured at FVTPL when it contains one or more embedded derivatives that would require separation. [IFRS 9, paragraph 4.3.5] IFRS 9 requires gains and losses on financial liabilities designated as at fair value through profit or loss to be split into the amount of change in the fair value that is attributable to changes in the credit risk of the liability, which shall be presented in other comprehensive income, and the remaining amount of change in the fair value of the liability which shall be presented in profit or loss. The new guidance allows the recognition of the full amount of change in the fair value in the profit or loss only if the recognition of changes in the liability's credit risk in other comprehensive income would create or enlarge an accounting mismatch in profit or loss. That determination is made at initial recognition and is not reassessed. [IFRS 9, paragraphs 5.7.7-5.7.8]

Once an entity has determined that the asset has been transferred, it then determines whether or not it has transferred substantially all of the risks and rewards of ownership of the asset. If substantially all the risks and rewards have been transferred, the asset is derecognised. If substantially all the risks and rewards have been retained, derecognition of the asset is precluded. [IFRS 9, paragraphs 3.2.6]

If the entity has neither retained nor transferred substantially all of the risks and rewards of the asset, then the entity must assess whether it has relinquished control of the asset or not. If the entity does not control the asset then derecognition is appropriate; however if the entity has retained control of the asset, then the entity continues to recognise the asset to the extent to which it has a continuing involvement in the asset. [IFRS 9, paragraph 3.2.9] These various derecognition steps are summarised in the decision tree in paragraph B3.2.1. Derecognition of financial liabilities A financial liability should be removed from the balance sheet when, and only when, it is extinguished, that is, when the obligation specified in the contract is either discharged or cancelled or expires. [IFRS 9, paragraph 3.3.1] Where there has been an exchange between an existing borrower and lender of debt instruments with substantially different terms, or there has been a substantial modification of the terms of an existing financial liability, this transaction is accounted for as an extinguishment of the original financial liability and the recognition of a new financial liability. A gain or loss from extinguishment of the original financial liability is recognised in profit or loss. [IFRS 9, paragraphs 3.3.2-3.3.3] Derivatives All derivatives, including those linked to unquoted equity investments, are measured at fair value. Value changes are recognised in profit or loss unless the entity has elected to treat the derivative as a hedging instrument in accordance with IAS 39, in which case the requirements of IAS 39 apply. Embedded derivatives An embedded derivative is a component of a hybrid contract that also includes a non-derivative host, with the effect that some of the cash flows of the combined instrument vary in a way similar to a stand-alone derivative. A derivative that is attached to a financial instrument but is contractually transferable independently of that instrument, or has a different counterparty, is not an embedded derivative, but a separate financial instrument. [IFRS 9, paragraph 4.3.1] The embedded derivative concept of IAS 39 has been included in IFRS 9 to apply only to hosts that are not assets within the scope of the standard, Consequently, embedded derivatives that under IAS 39 would have been

separately accounted for at FVTPL because they were not closely related to the financial host asset will no longer be separated. Instead, the contractual cash flows of the financial asset are assessed in their entirety, and the asset as a whole is measured at FVTPL if any of its cash flows do not represent payments of principal and interest. The embedded derivative concept of IAS 39 is now included in IFRS 9 and continues to apply to financial liabilities and hosts not within the scope of the standard (e.g. leasing contracts, insurance contracts, contracts for the purchase or sale of a non-financial items). Reclassification For financial assets, reclassification is required between FVTPL and amortised cost, or vice versa, if and only if the entity's business model objective for its financial assets changes so its previous model assessment would no longer apply. [IFRS 9, paragraph 4.4.1] If reclassification is appropriate, it must be done prospectively from the reclassification date. An entity does not restate any previously recognised gains, losses, or interest. IFRS 9 does not allow reclassification where: the 'other comprehensive income' option has been exercised for a financial asset, or the fair value option has been exercised in any circumstance for a financial assets or financial liability.

Disclosures IFRS 9 amends some of the requirements of IFRS 7 Financial Instruments: Disclosures including added disclosures about investments in equity instruments designated as at FVTOCI. Objective 1.1 The objective of this IFRS is to establish principles for the financial reporting of financial assets that will present relevant and useful information to users of financial statements for their assessment of the amounts, timing and uncertainty of the entitys future cash flows. The objective of this project is to improve the usefulness for users of financial statements by simplifying the classification and measurement

requirements for financial instruments. In November 2008 the IASB added this project to their active agenda. The FASB also added this project to their agenda in December 2008. Scope 2.1 An entity shall apply this IFRS to all assets within the scope of IAS 39 Financial Instruments: Recognition and Measurement. Initial recognition of financial assets 3.1.1 An entity shall recognise a financial asset in its statement of financial position when, and only when, the entity becomes party to the contractual provisions of the instrument (see paragraphs AG34 and AG35 of IAS 39). When an entity first recognises a financial asset, it shall classify it in accordance with paragraphs 4.14.5 and measure it in accordance with paragraph 5.1.1. 3.1.2 A regular way purchase or sale of a financial asset shall be recognised and derecognised in accordance with paragraphs 38 and AG53AG56 of IAS 39. Classification 4.1 Unless paragraph 4.5 applies, an entity shall classify financial assets as subsequently measured at either amortised cost or fair value on the basis of both: (a) the entitys business model for managing the financial assets; and (b) the contractual cash flow characteristics of the financial asset. A financial asset shall be measured at amortized cost if both of the following conditions are met: (a) the asset is held within a business model whose objective is to hold assets in order to collect contractual cash flows. (b) the contractual terms of the financial asset give rise on specified dates to cash flows that are solely payments of principal and interest on the principal amount outstanding. Paragraphs B4.1B4.26 provide guidance on how to apply these conditions.

4.3 For the purpose of this IFRS, interest is consideration for the time value of money and for the credit risk associated with the principal amount outstanding during a particular period of time. 4.4 A financial asset shall be measured at fair value unless it is measured at amortized cost in accordance with paragraph 4.2. IFRS 9 was issued in November 2009, and subsequently reissued to incorporate new requirements in October 2010, When complete, IFRS 9 will replace IAS 39 in its entirety. The new standard uses a single approach to determine whether a financial asset is measured at amortised cost or fair value, replacing the many different rules in IAS 39. The approach in IFRS 9 is based on how an entity manages its financial instruments (its business model) and the contractual cash flow characteristics of the financial assets. Gains and losses on those financial assets classified as measured at fair value are recognised in profit or loss except where an entity has elected to recognise gains and losses on an equity investment in other comprehensive income. The standard does not change the basic accounting model for financial liabilities under IAS 39. Two measurement categories continue to exist: fair value through profit or loss and amortised cost. IFRS 9 requires gains and losses on financial liabilities designated as at fair value through profit or loss to be split into the amount of change in the fair value that is attributable to changes in the credit risk of the liability, which is presented in other comprehensive income, and the remaining amount of change in the fair value of the liability, which is presented in profit or loss. Amounts presented in other comprehensive income are not subsequently recycled to profit or loss. All derivatives are measured at fair value with gains and losses recognised in profit or loss, unless the hedging provisions of IAS 39 are applied. Embedded derivatives are only separated from the host contract where that contract is not an asset within the scope of IFRS 9. Otherwise the entire hybrid contract is accounted for as one instrument. The new standard also provides rules for the derecognition of both financial assets and liabilities, and the reclassification of financial assets. Reclassification of financial liabilities is not allowed.