Accounting for concessional loans (RMG 115)

1. A concessional loan is a loan made on more favourable terms than the borrower could obtain in the market place.
2. A concessional loan provided by government basically has two embedded components; a ‘market-based loan’ as well as a ‘concessional loan’ component. The concessional component represents the opportunity cost that the government has forgone by providing the loan at a discounted rate (AASB 9: Financial Instruments (AASB 9) paragraphs 5.1.1 and B5.1.2A(a)).
3. Entities that make concessional loans are to calculate the fair value of the loan by using a valuation technique (eg by discounting all future cash receipts at the prevailing market interest rate for a similar financial asset).

4. A concessional loan provided by the government is a combination of a market-based loan with a concessional component that may include:
   • interest rate discounts
   • longer loan maturity, or
   • grace periods before payments of principal or interest are required.
5. The value of a concessional loan is comprised of the market-based loan plus the loan discount component, as shown in Figure 1.

Figure 1: Calculating the value of a concessional loan

6. Initial recognition of concessional loans depends on:

• how the loan is classified under AASB 9; and
• whether a commitment to issue the concessional loan precedes provision of the loan;
  • for simplicity, unless otherwise specified, commitments to issue concessional loans are assumed to have occurred when the loan funds were provided.  However recognition of a liability may be required where there is an extended lag between the inception of the loan and payment of loan funds.

Loan classification

7. Under AASB 9, financial assets (such as concessional loans) are classified as:

• measured at amortised cost—where:
  • they are usually held only to collect contractual cash flows; and
  • the contractual terms only provide payments on specified dates that are solely payments of principal and interest (SPPI test) (AASB 9 paragraph 4.1.2).
• measured at fair value through other comprehensive income (FVOCI)—where:
  • they are held both to collect contractual cash flows and to sell financial assets; and
  • the contractual terms only provide payments on specified dates of principal and interest (AASB 9 paragraph 4.1.2A), or
• measured at fair value through profit or loss (FVPL)—where they do not meet the classification criteria for either held at amortised cost or FVOCI (AASB 9 paragraph 4.1.4).

8. Concessional loans generally meet the criteria for classification as financial assets measured at amortised cost. An exception is Commonwealth concessional loans where repayments are income contingent (eg the Higher Education Loan Program (HELP)). These loans are assessed as not meeting the SPPI criteria and hence are classified as FVPL (AASB 9 paragraphs B4.1.7A and B4.1.13).
9. AASB 9 Paragraphs 4.1.5 and 4.2.2 allow entities to designate financial assets and liabilities on initial recognition as measured at FVPL where it reduces or removes a measurement inconsistency.

Initial recognition and measurement

12. On initial recognition, the market-based loan and the loan discount components that make-up the concessional loan are separated. The difference between the loan’s nominal value at the concessional rate (A) and fair value at the market rate (B) represents the discount implicit in the loan (C), as shown in Figure 2.

Figure 2: Calculating the loan discount

13. The discount component of the concessional loan is immediately recognised as an expense when the entity has a contractual commitment to provide a loan at a below-market interest rate.  Measurement of the initial concessional loan discount expense does not depend on how the loan is categorised under AASB 9.
14. CBMS manages the flow of financial information between Finance and Commonwealth Government entities to facilitate cash and appropriation management, preparation of budget documentation and financial reporting.  The relevant CBMS account and account descriptors are: 

Practical guidance: Journal entries for recognition of a concessional loan

15. The market-based loan is recognised as a financial asset (advances and loans made) on the balance sheet and measured under AASB 9 paragraph 5.1.1 as follows:

• if the loan is categorised as measured at amortised cost or FVOCI, the amount recognised on initial recognition is the fair value of the loan plus transaction costs
• if the loan is categorised as FVPL, the amount recognised on initial recognition will only include the fair value of the loan. Transaction costs will be expensed immediately on recognition.

Practical guidance: Explanation of transaction costs

Fair value

16. The fair value of a concessional loan will usually not be its transaction price^[1].  The fair value of concessional loans should be calculated by using a valuation technique (eg by discounting all future cash receipts at the prevailing market interest rate for a similar financial asset using discounted cash flow (DCF) analysis^[2]).  Estimation of prevailing market interest rates may require review of publicly available commercial loan information or independent valuation advice.
17. For more information regarding the use of fair value measurement valuation techniques see AASB 13: Fair Value Measurement (AASB 13).

Practical guidance: Illustrative example of the discount rate for calculating fair value

Loans held at amortised cost

18. The amortised cost of the market-based loan can be calculated as follows:

Practical guidance: Steps for calculation steps for amortised cost

19. Accounting for concessional loans measured at amortised cost depends on whether the loan’s credit risks have increased significantly since the loan was initially recognised, or the loan has become credit impaired. AASB 9 Appendix A defines ‘credit-impaired’ as financial assets for which adverse events have already occurred which significantly increase the asset’s credit risks, such as loan defaults or general financial difficulties of the borrower.

Step (a): Carrying amount of loan on initial recognition

20. On initial recognition, the market-based loan was recognised at fair value plus transaction costs, as outlined above.

Step (b): Interest income using the EIM

21. The EIM is a method of calculating the amortised cost of a financial asset and allocating the interest income over the relevant period using the effective interest rate (EIR).
22. For loans that have not become credit impaired, the EIR is the rate that exactly discounts contracted future principal and interest receipts through the expected life of the concessional loan back to the loan’s gross carrying amount.  The loan’s gross carrying amount is its amortised cost but before deduction of the ECLA (see AASB 9 Appendix A and paragraph 5.4.1). Future principal and interest receipts should not be adjusted for expected credit losses.
23. The EIR is usually the market interest rate used to calculate the loan’s fair value.  However, where directly attributable transaction costs have been capitalised, the EIR will be lower than the relevant market interest rate in order to equate the loans carrying value at initial recognition with the present value of future principal and interest repayments.
24. For loans that have become credit impaired, the EIR should be applied to the amortised cost of the loan (gross carrying amount of the financial asset after deducting the ECLA).
25. Income calculated using the EIM can be separated into two components:
    • interest income received; and
    • unwinding of the discount.
26. Table 1 provides a template for calculating the unwinding of loan discount expense and the unexpired discount. Appendix A provides illustrative examples, including completed examples of this table.

Table 1: Template for calculating unwinding of discount and unexpired discount

27. The unwinding of the discount (d) is the difference between interest income calculated under the EIM (b) and the interest income calculated using the loan’s contract interest rate (c). The unwinding of the loan discount component, which was expensed on initial recognition over the life of the loan, is treated as a revenue. CBMS account and account descriptors for unwinding a concessional loan are: 

Practical guidance: Journal entries for unwinding a concessional loan

28. Examples are provided at Appendix A of the application of the EIR to loans that:
    • have not become credit impaired (Scenarios: A.1 to A.4)
    • have become credit impaired (Scenario A.5).

Step (c): Gross carrying amount

29. The gross carrying amount of financial assets measured at amortised cost (before ECLA) can be presented in an amortisation schedule. Table 2 provides a template for preparing an amortisation schedule for a market-based loan. Appendix A provides illustrative examples, including completed examples of this table.

Table 2: Template for preparing an amortisation schedule – market-based loan

Step (d): ECLA

30. Concessional loans classified as measured at amortised cost will also need to be reduced by an ECLA as follows:
    • Where there has not been a significant increase in credit risk since initial recognition, the ECLA should reflect the present value of estimated cash shortfalls over the life of the loan, from default events expected to occur over the next year only (see AASB 9 paragraphs 5.5.5 and 5.5.17).   
    • Where there has been a significant increase in credit risk since initial recognition, or the loans have become credit impaired, the ECLA should reflect the present value of estimated cash shortfalls from default events occurring over the life of the loan (see AASB 9 paragraph 5.5.3 and 5.5.17).
31. ‘Significant increases in credit risk’ reflects an increase in the default risk profile over the life of the loan, without the loan already becoming impaired.  ‘Significant increases in credit risk’ are not based on the change in expected credit losses (AASB 9 paragraph 5.5.9).  Consequently, the amount of collateral should not be considered.
32. Entities need to determine their own accounting policy and recording procedures for determining for each loan whether significant increases in credit risk have occurred since initial recognition.  However, AASB 9 provides the following guidance:
    • Entities can assume that credit risk has not increased significantly since initial recognition where a loan has low credit risk at reporting date (AASB 9 paragraph 5.5.10); and
    • Entities should generally presume that credit risk has increased significantly since initial recognition where payments are more than 30 days past due (AASB 9 paragraphs 5.5.11 and B5.5.19).
33. Assessments of significant increases in credit risk may need to incorporate estimates of multiple variables, such as forecast changes in business profitability, general macroeconomic conditions, changes in applicable market credit spreads and changes in internal or external credit ratings.  Loan portfolios may need to be assessed collectively in conjunction with loan specific parameters (overdue ageing). 
    • loans may be grouped on the basis of shared credit risk characteristics, such as loan type, borrower type, industry, geographic location (AASB 9 paragraph B5.5.16). 
    • consistent credit risk assessments on initial recognition for each loan group would facilitate identification of subsequent changes in credit risk (assessment of changes in credit risk are relative to assessments on initial recognition, so assessment of loans to the same borrower may differ depending on when the loans were initially recognised).
34. IFRS 9 Illustrative Examples 5 to 7, available at https://www.aasb.gov.au/admin/file/content105/c9/IFRS9_IE_7-14.pdf, provides further guidance on collective assessment of borrower credit risks.
35. AASB 9 does not specifically define default.  AASB 9 paragraph B5.5.37 states that entities should apply a definition consistent with their internal credit risk management practices, but should generally assume that any loans 90 or more days overdue have defaulted. 
36. ECLA’s are the probability weighted estimate of possible cash receipt shortfalls over the life of the loan (probability of default multiplied by loss given default (LGD)), discounted back to present value as at reporting date using the EIR (AASB 9 paragraphs 5.5.17 and B5.5.28).  LGD should be net of expected collateral recoveries.  ECLA may also be estimated collectively, based on historical credit loss data (eg matrix of loss probabilities by past due ageing categories) adjusted for forward information where available (AASB 9 paragraph B5.5.52). 
37. Because the ECLA reflects estimated cash shortfalls discounted by the EIR, the ECLA will always be a portion of the loans gross carrying amount (after concessional loan discount expense). The ECLA should be revised at each reporting date, including for the unwinding of the present value of estimated cash receipt shortfalls, with any movement posted to the Income Statement (AASB 9 paragraph 5.5.8), as shown below. Recognition of ECLA is treated as an ‘Other Economic Flows’ for Government Finance Statistics (GFS) purposes and has no impact on fiscal balance.

Practical guidance: Journal entries for recognition of ECLA

38. Debt write offs should be deducted from both the loan receivable and the ECLA when the loan is not expected to be recovered, as shown below. Debt write offs also do not impact the fiscal or underlying cash balances.

Practical guidance: Journal entries to reflect debt write off

39. Debt waivers however are treated as economic transactions for GFS purposes, worsening the fiscal balance. Where waivers occur, the expense should be re-classified as follows.

Practical guidance: Journal entries to reflect debt waiver

40. Appendix B provides a detailed example of the calculation of an ECLA as at loan commencement.  AASB 9 paragraphs B5.5.1 to B5.5.55 and IFRS 9 Illustrative Examples 8, 9 and 12 also provide more guidance on ECLAs. In general, agencies should agree proposed approaches with their audit team.

Fair value through profit or loss loans

41. Loans classified at FVPL should be remeasured to fair value at each reporting date, with any adjustment recognised as an expense or gain. No ECLA should be recognised on loans measured at FVPL (AASB 9 paragraph 5.5.1).

42. Accounting for concessional loans may be further complicated where the commitment to issue the loan materially precedes the provision of loan funds. AASB 9 paragraph 4.2.1(d) requires that commitments to provide a loan at a below-market interest rate should be recognised as a liability and measured at the higher of:
    • the provision for ECLA
    • the fair value of the financial liability.
43. AASB 9 Appendix A defines a ‘firm commitment’ as a “binding agreement for the exchange of a specified quantity of resources at a specified price on a specified future date or dates”. Therefore, a loan commitment would only be recognised as a liability where the loan documentation has been signed by all parties and the Commonwealth becomes legally bound to provide the loan.
44. The fair value of the loan commitment liability would usually be its estimated fair value when funds are issued, discounted back to the date of contractual commitment using the entity’s normal discount rate.
45. The ECLA on loan commitments would be the present value of the estimated cash shortfalls that the Commonwealth may incur based on estimated loan drawdowns (AASB 9 paragraph B5.5.30). Estimated loan drawdowns should be for the 12 months after reporting date where estimating 12-month expected credit losses and should be over the expected life of the loan commitment when estimating lifetime expected credit losses (AASB 9 paragraph B5.5.31). Expected credit losses on a loan commitment should be discounted using the EIR (AASB 9 paragraph B5.5.47).      
46. Paragraph B8E of AASB 7 Financial Instruments: Disclosures (AASB 7) states that loss allowances relating to undrawn loan commitments should be classified as provisions.  AASB 9 paragraph 5.7.9 states that any change in the loan commitment liability up until the issuance of loan funds should be recognised in the Income Statement.  Example A.7 in Appendix A provides further guidance on accounting for loan commitments.

47. Financial instrument disclosure requirements are specified in AASB 7. AASB 13 also requires additional fair value measurement disclosures (subject to paragraph 29 of AASB 7).

Table 3: Budget implications

The appendix provides illustrative examples for accounting for various concessional loan scenarios, including:

A.1 – Below market-rate loan

A.2 – Interest free loan

A.3 – Below market-rate loan with grace period

A.4 – Interest-free loan with grace period

A.5 – Credit impaired interest-free loan

A.6 – Interest-free loan where repayment is income contingent

A.7 – Forward-year concessional loan

For simplicity, A.1 to A.7 are basic examples.  Some further complexities relating to loans measured at amortised cost may be:

• loans may be issued in successive instalments, rather than in a single amount.  In this case, it may be necessary to account for each instalment as a separate loan.  In particular, estimation of the ECLA requires assessment of the change in credit risk since initial recognition;
• where loans are issued at a variable rather than fixed interest rate.  Where changes in interest receipts due to changes in a floating interest rate are material, the gross carrying amount of the loan should be recalculated using the original EIR, with the adjustment recognised in the Income Statement (AASB 9 paragraph B5.4.6); and
  • loan terms may be modified (eg several years after initial recognition): Judgement may be required to determine if the modifications are so significant that the original loan should be de-recognised and a new loan recognised.  If the original loan is not de-recognised, paragraph 5.4.3 of AASB 9 states that the gross carrying amount of the loan should be recalculated, using the original EIR, with any adjustment recognised as a modification gain or loss.  The ECLA should also be recalculated, based on whether credit risks have increased significantly since initial recognition.  IFRS Illustrative Example 11 provides further guidance.

Agreement of the proposed approach with the audit team is recommended in these instances.

A.1 – Below market-rate loan

Scenario:

On 1 July 20X0, the lending entity agrees to provide a loan on the following terms:

• Principal: $700,000
• Term: 4 years
• Loan interest rate: 3.45 per cent per annum
• Repayments: to be repaid evenly over the loan term ($175,000 per annum).

Other factors/considerations:

• Loan documents: signed at the date of the loan funds being provided
• Market-rate: if the loan was borrowed in the market place, the borrowing would have been subject to an interest rate of 7.45 per cent per annum
• Transaction costs: no transaction costs directly attributable to the issue of the concessional loan were incurred.
• Loan interest: calculated on the amount outstanding at the beginning of the year. Cash flows occur at year-end.
• Credit risks: assessed over the life of the loan to have not significantly increased since initial recognition.

Expected credit losses estimated at the beginning of each financial year, based on the weighted probability of default occurring in the next 12 months, are shown in Table A.1.1:

Table A.1.1: Expected credit loss allowance (ECLA)

^{[3] An example calculation of ECLA is shown at Appendix B.}

Accounting guidance

Entity A should classify the loan as a financial asset measured at amortised cost as it is only held to collect contractual cash flows and contractual cash flows are solely payments of principal and interest on specified dates.

As the loan agreement was finalised at the date the loan funds were provided, no loan commitment needs to be initially recognised.

For this scenario, the entity will need to account for:

• Discounted cash flow analysis
• Amortisation schedule – market-based loan
• Calculation of unwinding of discount and unexpired discount
• Reconciliation of the expected credit loss allowance.

The entity separates the concessional loan (A) into its component parts: a market-based loan (B) and the discount component (C).

Figure 1: Calculating the value of a concessional loan

Discounted cash flow analysis

The market-based loan (B) is recognised at fair value using discounted cash flow (DCF) analysis as follows:

PV of future cash flows = ∑Cash flows / (1 + discount rate) ^{Time period}

Where:

• cash flows are the cash receipts for the period (principal and interest repayments)
• the discount rate is the prevailing market rate of interest for a similar instrument
• the time period is the number of years over which the PV calculation is performed.

Table A.1.2: Discounted cash flow analysis

Calculating loan discount

The difference between the loan’s nominal value at the concessional rate (A) and fair value at the market rate (B) represents the discount implicit in the loan (C):

Figure 2: Calculating the loan discount

From information in Table A.1.2:

(Total column A) $700,000 – (Total column B) $639,216 = Loan discount (C) $60,784

Journal entries

At 1 July 20X0, the entity posts the following journals to recognise:

• fair value of the market-based loan component and expense the associated loan discount component
• an initial ECLA.

Journal entries: Recognition of concessional loan

Journal entries: Recognition of ECLA

^{[4] Refer to Appendix B for the derivation of the ECLA}

Amortisation schedule – market-based loan

The following schedule outlines the amortisation of the market-based loan, and illustrates how the EIM effectively discounts estimated future principal and interest receipts through the expected life of the loan:

Table A.1.3: Amortisation schedule – market-based loan

Calculation of unwinding of discount and unexpired discount

The following table illustrates the unwinding of the loan discount, which is calculated as the difference between the loan discount on initial recognition and any subsequent unwinding (writing back) of the discount component:

Table A.1.4: Calculation of unwinding of discount and unexpired discount

Reconciliation expected credit loss allowance

Table A.1.5: Reconciliation of expected credit loss allowance

Decrease in ECLA reflects reduction in credit risks over loan term.

Subsequent accounting

The lending entity posts the following journals at the end of each financial year:

Journal entries: Recognition of principal repayments ($175,000 per annum)

Journal entries: Recognition of interest income (Table A.1.4 column ‘(c)’)

Journal entries: Recognition of the unwinding of the discount (Table A.1.4 column ‘(d)’)

Journal entries: Recognition of the annual adjustment to expected credit loss allowance

A.2 – Interest free loan with initial transaction costs

Scenario:

On 1 July 20X0, the lending entity agrees to provide the borrowing entity with an interest-free loan. The terms of the loan are as follows:

• Principal: $700,000
• Term: 4 years
• Loan interest rate: interest free
• Repayments: to be repaid evenly over the loan term ($175,000 per annum).

Other factors/considerations:

• Loan documents: signed at the date the loan funds were provided
• Market-rate: if the loan was borrowed in the market place, the borrowing would have been subject to an interest rate of 7.45 per cent per annum
• Transaction costs: directly attributable to issue of the concessional loan of $6,000 were incurred.
• Credit risk: assessed over the life of the loan to have not significantly increased since the financial asset’s initial recognition. 

Expected credit losses were estimated at the beginning of each financial year based on the probability of default occurring in the next 12 months, as follows:

Table A.2.1: Expected credit loss allowance (ECLA)

^{[10] The calculation of ECLA is shown at Appendix B.}

Accounting guidance

Figure 1: Calculating the value of a concessional loan

As per example A.1, the loan (A) is classified as a financial asset measured at amortised cost and no loan commitment needs to be initially recognised. The loan is separated into a market-based loan (B) and the loan discount (C).

Discounted cash flow analysis

The market-based loan (B) is recognised at fair value using DCF analysis. However, in this case, the cash receipts for the period only consist of the principal repayments as the concessional loan is interest free.

The EIR is 7.00 per cent per annum (even though the market rate is 7.45 per cent per annum) as it is the rate that discounts the contracted future principal and interest receipts through the expected life of the concessional loan back to the loan’s initial gross carrying amount (including capitalised transaction costs).

The PV of the future cash flows at the concessional rate of 0 per cent (column A) and at the market rate (column B) are illustrated in the following table:

Table A.2.2: Discounted cash flow analysis

Calculating loan discount

In this scenario, the difference between the interest free loan (A) and market-based loan (B) (before transaction costs) represents the discount implicit in the loan (C):

From information in Table A.2.2:
(Total column A) $700,000 – (Total column B) $586,790 = Loan discount (C) $113,210

Journal entries

At 1 July 20X0, the lending entity posts the following journals to recognise:

• fair value of the market-based loan component (incorporating transaction costs of $6,000)
• an initial ECLA.

Journal entries: Recognise of the concessional loan at 1 July 20X0

Journal entries: Recognition of ECLA on 1 July 20X0

Amortisation schedule – market-based loan

The following schedule outlines the amortisation of the market-based loan, and illustrates how the EIM effectively discounts estimated future principal and interest receipts through the expected life of the loan:

Table A.2.3: Amortisation schedule – market-based loan

Calculation of unwinding of discount and unexpired discount

The following table illustrates the unwinding of the loan discount (noting that there may be discrepancies in totals due to interest rate rounding):

Table A.2.4: Calculation of the unwinding of discount and unexpired discount

Subsequent accounting

The lending entity posts the following journals at the end of each financial year:

Journal entries: Recognition of principal repayments ($175,000 per annum)

Journal entries: Recognition of the unwinding of the discount (Table A.2.4 column ‘(d)’)

Journal entries: Recognition of the annual adjustment to expected credit loss allowance

A.3 – Below market-rate loan with grace period, credit risks increased since initial recognition

Scenario

On 1 July 20X0, the lending entity agrees to provide a loan with the following terms:

• Principal: $700,000
• Term: 6 years with a grace period of no principal repayments for first 2 years.
• Loan interest rate: 3.45 per cent per annum
• Repayments: to be repaid in four equal instalments ($175,000 per annum) from 20X2-X3 onwards (Year 3 to Year 6).

Other factors/considerations:

• Loan documents: signed at the date of the loan funds being provided
• Market-rate: if the loan was borrowed in the market place, an interest rate of 7.45 per cent per annum would have applied
• Transaction costs: no transaction costs directly attributable to the issue of the concessional loan were incurred.
• Loan interest: calculated on the amount outstanding at the beginning of the year and payable annually. Cash flows occur at year-end.
• Credit risks: in June 20X1 (end of year 1), credit risks were assessed to have significantly increased since initial recognition. 

Expected credit losses were estimated in July 20X0 (beginning of year 1) based on the probability of credit default occurring in the next 12 months, and at the beginning of years 20X1-X2 to 20X5-X6 based on the probability of lifetime credit default (shown in Table A.3.1.)

Table A.3.1: Expected credit loss allowance (ECLA)

^{[16] The calculation of ECLA is shown at Appendix B.}

Accounting guidance

Figure 1: Calculating the value of a concessional loan

As per previous examples, the loan (A) is classified as a financial asset held at ‘amortised cost’ and no loan commitment needs to be initially recognised. The loan is separated into a market-based loan (B) and the loan discount (C).

Discounted cash flow analysis

The market-based loan (B) is recognised at fair value using DCF analysis.  The market discount rate is still 7.45 per cent per annum.

The PV of the future cash flows at the market rate for (B) and at the concessional rate of
3.45 per cent per annum for (A) are illustrated in Table A.3.2.

Table A.3.2: Discounted cash flow analysis

Calculating loan discount

In this scenario, the difference between the interest free loan (A) and market-based loan (B) (before transaction costs) represents the discount implicit in the loan (C):

From Table A.3.2:
(Total column A) $700,000 – (Total column B) $597,042 = Loan discount (C) $102,958

Journal entries

At 1 July 20X0, the entity posts the following journal to recognise the:

• fair value of the market-based loan component and to expense the associated loan discount component
• an initial ECLA

Journal entries: Recognition of the concessional loan in July 20X0

Journal entries: Recognition of ECLA

Amortisation schedule – market-based loan

The following schedule outlines the amortisation of the market-based loan, and illustrates how the EIM effectively discounts estimated future principal and interest receipts through the expected life of the loan:

Table A.3.3: Amortisation schedule – market-based loan

Calculation of unwinding of discount and unexpired discount

The following table illustrates the unwinding of the loan discount (noting that there may be discrepancies in totals due to interest rate rounding):

Table A.3.4: Calculation of unwinding of discount and unexpired discount

Subsequent accounting

The lending entity posts the following journals at the end of each financial year:

Journal entries: Recognition of principal repayments ($175,000 per annum)

Journal entries: Recognition of interest income (Table A.3.4 column c)

Journal entries: Recognition of the unwinding of the discount (Table A.3.4 column d))

Journal entries: Recognition of the annual adjustment to expected credit loss allowance

A.4 – Interest-free loan with grace period

Scenario

On 1 July 20X0, the lending entity agrees to provide a loan on the following terms:

• Principal: $700,000
• Term: 6 years, with a grace period of no principal repayments in the first 2 years for 20X0-X1 and 20X1-X2
• Loan interest rate: interest free
• Repayments: to be repaid evenly over the loan term ($175,000 per annum).

Other factors/considerations:

• Loan documents: signed at the date of the loan funds being provided
• Market-rate: if the loan was borrowed in the market place, an interest rate of 7.45 per cent per annum would have applied
• Transaction costs: no transaction costs directly attributable to the issue of the concessional loan were incurred.
• Credit risk: Over the life of the loan, credit risks were assessed to have not significantly increased since the financial asset’s initial recognition.  Expected credit losses were therefore estimated at the beginning of each financial year based on the probability of credit default occurring in the next 12 months, as follows:

Table A.4.1: Expected credit loss allowance

^{[21] The calculation of ECLA is shown at Appendix B.}

Accounting guidance

Figure 1: Calculating the value of a concessional loan

The loan (A) is classified as a financial asset held at ‘amortised cost’ and no loan commitment needs to be initially recognised.  The loan is separated into a market-based loan (B) and the loan discount (C).

Discounted cash flow analysis

The market-based loan (B) is recognised at fair value using DCF analysis.

The PV of the future cash flows at the market rate for (B) and at the concessional rate of

0 per cent for (A) are illustrated in Table A.4.2.

Table A.4.2: Discounted cash flow analysis

Calculating loan discount

In this scenario, the difference between the concessional (interest free) loan (A) and a market-based loan (B):

Figure 2: Calculating the loan discount

From Table A.4.2:

(Total column A) $700,000 – (Total column B) $508,241 = Loan discount (C) $191,759

Journal entries

At 1 July 20X0, the entity posts the following journal to recognise:

• fair value of the market-based loan component and to expense the associated loan discount component
• an initial ECLA

Journals entries: Recognition of concessional loan

Journals entries: Recognition of ECLA

Amortisation schedule – market-based loan

The following amortisation schedule outlines the amortisation of the market-based loan:

Table A.4.3: Amortisation schedule – market-based loan

Calculation of unwinding of discount and unexpired discount

The following table illustrates the unwinding of the loan discount:

Table A.4.4: Calculation of unwinding of discount and unexpired discount

Subsequent accounting

The lending entity posts the journals at the end of each financial year:

Journal entries: Recognition of principal repayments ($175,000 per annum)

Journal entries: Recognition of the unwinding of the discount (Table A.4.3 column (b))

Journal entries: Recognition of the annual adjustment to expected credit loss allowance

A.5 – Interest-free loan which becomes credit impaired

Scenario

On 1 July 20X0, the lending entity agrees to provide an interest-free loan. In year 20X1-X2, the lending entity assessed that the loans credit risks had significantly increased since initial recognition. In year 20X2-X3, the loan was assessed as credit impaired. In year 20X3-X4, the borrower was declared bankrupt and the outstanding loan was written off.

The terms for the loan are as follows:

• Principal: $700,000
• Term: 4 Years
• Loan interest rate: interest free
• Repayments: to be repaid evenly over the loan term ($175,000 per annum).

Other factors/considerations:

• Loan documents signed: at the date of the loan funds being provided
• Market-rate: if the loan was borrowed commercially an interest rate of 7.45 per cent per annum would have applied.
• Transaction costs: no transaction costs directly attributable to the issue of the concessional loan were incurred.
• Credit risk: In year 20X1-X2, credit risks were assessed to have significantly increased since the financial asset’s initial recognition. In year 20X2-X3, the loan was assessed as credit impaired. In year 20X3-X4, the borrower was declared bankrupt and the outstanding loan was written off. Expected credit losses were estimated in July 20X0 based on the probability of credit default occurring in the next 12 months. From 20X1-X2 to 20X3-X4, expected credit losses were estimated based on the probability of credit default occurring over the life of the loan.

Table A.5.1: Expected credit loss allowance

^{[27] The calculation of ECLA is shown at Appendix B.}

Accounting guidance

As per the other Illustrative examples, the loan (A) is classified as a financial asset held at ‘amortised cost’ and no loan commitment needs to be initially recognised. 

Figure 1: Calculating the value of a concessional loan

The loan is separated into a market-based loan (B) and the loan discount (C).

Discounted cash flow analysis

The market-based loan (B) is recognised at fair value using DCF analysis.

Table A.5.2 illustrates the PV of the future cash flows at the market rate for (B) and at the concessional rate of 0 per cent for (A).

Table A.5.2: Discounted cash flow analysis

Calculating loan discount

In this scenario, the difference between the concessional (interest free) loan (A) and a market-based loan (B) is:

Figure 2: Calculating the loan discount

From Table A.5.2:

(Total column A) $700,000 – (Total column B) $586,789 = Loan discount (C) $113,211

Journal entries

At 1 July 20X0, the lending entity posts the following journals to recognise:

• fair value of the market-based loan component and to expense the associated loan discount component
• an initial ECLA.

Journal entries: Recognition of the concessional loan at 1 July 20X0

Journals entries: Recognition of ECLA

Amortisation schedule – market-based loan

The following amortisation schedule outlines the planned amortisation of the loan:

Table A.5.3: Amortisation schedule – market-based loan (as at July 20X0)

Calculation of unwinding of discount and unexpired discount

The following table schedules the planned unwinding of the loan discount:

Table A.5.4: Calculation of unwinding of discount and unexpired discount (as at July 20X0)

^{[30] Income from column ‘(b)’ in Table A.5.3: Amortisation Schedule.}

Subsequent accounting

The lending entity posts the following journals at the end of each financial year:

Journal entries: Recognition of principal repayments ($175,000 per annum)

^{[31] Principal repayments were only received in 20X0-X1 and 20X1-X2. Default in repayments occurred in 20X2-X3.}

Journal entries: Recognition of the unwinding of the discount (Table 3 column ‘(d)’)

^{[32] Unwinding of the concessional loan expense in 20X2-X3 and 20X3-X4 differs from the planned schedule in Tables 2 and 3. This is because once the loan is assessed as credit impaired, the EIR is applied to the amortised cost of the loan (after deducting ECLA) rather than the loan’s gross carrying value (before ECLA). Unwinding revenue in 20X2-X3 of $14,486 was calculated as 7.45 per cent per annum EIR applied to amortised cost of loan of $194,440 (gross carrying value of loan of $314,440 less revised ECLA as at beginning of 20X2-X3 of $120,000).}

Journal entries: Recognition of annual adjustment to ECLA

^{[33] Amortised cost of loan as at July 20X2 of $194,440 less further increase in ECLA in 20X2-X3 of $60,000 plus unwinding of concessional loan expense of $14,486 in 20X2-X3.}

Debt write off

At the end of Year 4, the loan is written off. The balance of the ECLA is increased to $328,926 and then reversed against the asset. Unilateral debt write offs are treated as ‘Other Economic Flows’ for GFS purposes and therefore have no impact on fiscal balance.

Journal entries: Recognition of the write off of the outstanding loan

A.6 – Interest-free loan where repayment is income contingent

Scenario

On 1 July 20X0, the lending entity provided a 2-year interest-free concessional loan of $90,000 to the borrowing entity, with loan discount expense of $10,000 at initial recognition (initial fair value of loan estimated to be $80,000). The terms of the loan are as follows:

• Principal: $90,000
• Term: 2 years
• Loan interest rate: interest-free
• Repayment: to be repaid at end of the loan term, contingent on the borrowing entity’s income.
• Loan documents: signed the date that the loan funds were provided
• Transaction costs: directly attributable to the issue of the concessional loan were $3,000.

Accounting guidance

Because the loan is contingent on the borrower’s income, it is classified by the lending entity as a financial asset at FVPL.

Journal entries

At initial recognition, the market-based loan component was recognised in the balance sheet and the discount component was expensed with the following journal entries.
 

Journals entries: Recognition of concessional loan in July 20X0

Reconciliation of expected credit loss allowance

No ECLA is recognised for loans at FVPL. Transaction costs are expensed as they are incurred.

Calculation of unwinding of discount and unexpired discount

Over the next 2 years, the discount expense of $10,000 will need to be unwound to ensure the receivable will equal $90,000 at the end of the loan.  If loan interest was received, it would be separately recognised as interest revenue.

Assuming the discount expense is unwound evenly the following journal would be posted at the end of year’s 1 and 2 (for the purposes of this example it’s assumed no credit risk remains at end of loan term and therefore principal outstanding equals fair value):

Journals entries: Recognition of unwinding revenue in 20X0-X1 and 20X1-X2

At the end of year 2, the discount is fully unwound resulting in the full receivable of $90,000 (the amount to be received from the borrowing entity).

When the loan is repaid the lending entity posts the following journal entries:

Journals entries: Recognition of the repayment of the concessional loan in June 20X2

If in year 2, the entity’s profitability falls below the required threshold for payment and the entity cannot repay the loan, the following journal is posted to recognise the write off of the loan:

A.7 – Forward-year concessional loan

Scenario

A loan agreement is signed on 1 July 20X0 for the loan to be advanced on 1 July 20X1, on the following terms: 

• Principal: $700,000 to be provided
• Term: 4 years commencing 1 July 20X1
• Loan interest rate: 3.45 per cent per annum, calculated on the amount outstanding at the beginning of the year.
• Repayments: annually over the loan term ($175,000 per annum).

Other factors/considerations:

• Loan documents: signed on 1 July 20X0
• Market-rate: a commercial borrowing would have been subject to an interest rate of 7.45 per cent per annum
• Transaction costs: no transaction costs directly attributable to the issue of the concessional loan were incurred.
• Credit risks: over the life of the loan, credit risks were assessed to have not significantly increased since initial recognition. Expected credit losses were estimated at the beginning of each financial year based on the probability of default occurring in the next 12 months, as follows:

Table A.7.1: Expected credit loss allowance

^{[34]  The calculation of ECLA is shown at Appendix B.}

Accounting guidance

Figure 1: Calculating the value of a concessional loan

As per Illustrative example 1, the entity separates the concessional loan (A) into its component parts: a market-based loan (B) and the discount component (C).

Discounted cash flow analysis

A liability is recognised at 1 July 20X0 to reflect the obligation to make the loan
at 1 July 20X1.

Table A.7.2: Discounted cash flow analysis (as at 1 July 20X1)

Calculating loan discount

The loan commitments’ fair value as at 1 July 20X0 is calculated as $56,570. This is:

• the concessional loan expense as at 1 July 20X1 of $60,784 ($700,000 - $639,216), discounted back to 1 July 20X0 using the EIR of 7.45 per cent.
   
  • This exceeds the present value of the ECLA as at 1 July 20X0 of $46,533 (ECLA as at 1 July 20X1 of $50,000 discounted back to 1 July 20X0 using the EIR of 7.45 per cent).

Journal entries

Journal entries: Recognition of loan commitment liability at fair value as at 1 July 20X0

Journal entries: Recognition of unwinding of present value of loan commitment liability as at 30 June 20X1 ($56,570 * 7.45%)

Journal entries: Recognition of the provision of loan funds on 1 July 20X1

Journal entries: Recognition of initial ECLA on 1 July 20X1

Subsequent accounting

The lending entity posts the following journals at the end of each financial year:

Journal entries: Recognition of principal repayments ($175,000 per annum)

Journal entries: Recognition of interest income (Table A.7.2)

Journal entries: Recognition of the unwinding of the discount (see for reference Table A.1.4 column ‘(d)’)

Journal entries: Recognition of the annual adjustment to expected credit loss allowance

In July 20X0, the lending entity estimates the possible cash flows it would receive over the life of the loan, if the borrowing entity defaults in the next 12 months.  Estimated cash flows and the probability of each scenario occurring are set out in Table B.1.1.

Table B.1.1: Expected cash flows by default scenarios

Scenario A: liquidation of the borrower

Scenario B: borrower continues under insolvency administration

Scenario C and D: borrower continues operations under unfavourable/favourable industry conditions respectively.

Expected cash flows (FV) for each scenario are then discounted by the original Effective Interest Rate (EIR=7.45%) to determine present value (PV) amount, using the formula:

PV of future cash flows = ∑Cash flows / (1 + effective interest rate) ^{Time period}

(where time period is the number of periods.)

The present value for credit risks are shown in Table B.1.2 (note figures are rounded).

Table B.1.2: Present value for credit risk scenarios