FASB Approves Guidance to Assist in Transition to New Reference Rates
FASB approved an Accounting Standards Update (Topic 848) to provide temporary, optional guidance to ease the potential burden in accounting for, or recognizing the effects of, the reference rate reform on financial reporting. FASB is expected to issue the final Accounting Standards Update in early 2020. The guidance will apply only to contracts or hedge accounting relationships that reference LIBOR or another reference rate expected to be discontinued due to reference rate reform. This accounting relief could be applied until January 01, 2023, a year after the expected discontinuation of LIBOR.
The final Accounting Standards Update will provide optional expedients and exceptions for applying the Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, or GAAP, to contract modifications and hedge accounting relationships affected by the reference rate reform, thus facilitating a smoother transition to new reference rates. The final Update will assist stakeholders during the global market-wide reference rate transition period. Therefore, the guidance would be in effect for a limited time. The guidance would be effective once the final Accounting Standards Update is issued and would not apply to contract modifications made and hedging relationships entered into, or evaluated, after December 31, 2022.
With global capital markets expected to move away from LIBOR and other interbank offered rates toward rates that are more observable or transaction-based and less susceptible to manipulation, FASB launched a project in mid-2018 to address potential accounting challenges expected to arise from the transition. For a contract that meets certain criteria, a change in that contract’s reference interest rate would be accounted for as a continuation of that contract rather than the creation of a new contract. This provision applies to loans, debt, leases, and other arrangements. A company or other organization would be permitted to preserve its hedge accounting when updating its hedging strategies in response to the reference rate reform.
Related Links
Keywords: Americas, US, Banking, Insurance, Securities, Accounting, Interest Rate Benchmark, Reference Rate Reform, GAAP, Topic 848, LIBOR, IBORs, FASB
Related Articles
BIS and Central Banks Experiment with GenAI to Assess Climate Risks
A recent report from the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) Innovation Hub details Project Gaia, a collaboration between the BIS Innovation Hub Eurosystem Center and certain central banks in Europe
Nearly 25% G-SIBs Commit to Adopting TNFD Nature-Related Disclosures
Nature-related risks are increasing in severity and frequency, affecting businesses, capital providers, financial systems, and economies.
Singapore to Mandate Climate Disclosures from FY2025
Singapore recently took a significant step toward turning climate ambition into action, with the introduction of mandatory climate-related disclosures for listed and large non-listed companies
SEC Finalizes Climate-Related Disclosures Rule
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has finalized the long-awaited rule that mandates climate-related disclosures for domestic and foreign publicly listed companies in the U.S.
EBA Proposes Standards Related to Standardized Credit Risk Approach
The European Banking Authority (EBA) has been taking significant steps toward implementing the Basel III framework and strengthening the regulatory framework for credit institutions in the EU
US Regulators Release Stress Test Scenarios for Banks
The U.S. regulators recently released baseline and severely adverse scenarios, along with other details, for stress testing the banks in 2024. The relevant U.S. banking regulators are the Federal Reserve Bank (FED), the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC).
Asian Governments Aim for Interoperability in AI Governance Frameworks
The regulatory landscape for artificial intelligence (AI), including the generative kind, is evolving rapidly, with governments and regulators aiming to address the challenges and opportunities presented by this transformative technology.
EBA Proposes Operational Risk Standards Under Final Basel III Package
The European Union (EU) has been working on the final elements of Basel III standards, with endorsement of the Banking Package and the publication of the European Banking Authority (EBA) roadmap on Basel III implementation in December 2023.
EFRAG Proposes XBRL Taxonomy and Standard for Listed SMEs Under ESRS
The European Financial Reporting Advisory Group (EFRAG), which plays a crucial role in shaping corporate reporting standards in European Union (EU), is seeking comments, until May 21, 2024, on the Exposure Draft ESRS for listed SMEs.
ECB to Expand Climate Change Work in 2024-2025
Banking regulators worldwide are increasingly focusing on addressing, monitoring, and supervising the institutions' exposure to climate and environmental risks.
