5. New standards and interpretations which have not yet been applied

A series of new standards, amendments to standards and interpretations were due to be applied for the first time in the first reporting period of a financial year starting after 1 January 2015 and were not applied in preparing these consolidated financial statements. Those which could be relevant for the Group are outlined below. The Group does not intend to early apply these standards.

IFRS 9 “Financial Instruments” deals with the classification, recognition and measurement of financial assets and financial liabilities. The full version of IFRS 9 was published in July 2014. This standard replaces the regulations of those sections of the existing IAS 39 that address the classification and measurement of financial instruments. IFRS 9 adheres to a mixed measurement model, but it simplifies this and sets out three principal measurement categories for financial assets: measurement of amortised cost, measurement at fair value with value fluctuations recorded in profit/(loss) for the year (fair value through profit and loss) and measurement at fair value with value fluctuations recorded in other comprehensive income (fair value through OCI). The classification depends directly on the company’s business model as well as on the features of the contractually agreed payment flows for the financial assets. Shares of equity instruments must be measured at fair value, with fluctuations in fair value recognised through profit or loss, or with fluctuations in fair value measured through other comprehensive income if the company irrevocably opts to do so upon first-time recognition of the equity instruments (with no subsequent reclassification in net profit for the year). There is also a new measurement model for impairments based on expected losses (expected credit losses model) which replaces the existing measurement model of actual losses incurred that was used in IAS 39 (incurred loss model). Regarding financial liabilities, there are no changes to classification or measurement, with the exception of mandatory reporting of own creditworthiness risk in other comprehensive income for financial liabilities designated at fair value and recognised in profit/(loss) for the year. IFRS 9 eases the requirements in relation to hedging effectiveness by removing the previous narrow limits of hedging effectiveness. There is now a requirement for an economic relationship between the underlying transaction and the hedging instrument, and also that the hedged part (hedged ratio) corresponds with the assumptions and conditions with which the Company manages the items as part of its risk management activities. Furthermore, hedging documentation must be prepared as currently prescribed, whereby it will differ from the documentation required under IAS 39. The standard applies to reporting periods beginning on or after 1 January 2018. Earlier application is permitted. This is expected to have an impact on UNIQA’s consolidated financial statements in relation to the classification and measurement of financial assets, although no statement can be made at present concerning the effects it will have on the company’s financial position. In this context, the IASB published a draft of proposed amendments to IFRS 4 insurance contracts on 9 December 2015, aimed at addressing the concerns surrounding the different implementation dates of IFRS 9 financial instruments and the expected new standard for accounting for insurance contracts.

The amendments are intended to provide two options to companies that issue insurance contracts within the scope of IFRS 4:

• Companies may reclassify some of the expenses and income from the income statement that emerge from qualified assets as other total comprehensive income. This is known as the overlay approach. A company would apply the overlay approach to qualifying assets retrospectively, when it applies IFRS 9 for the first time.
• Companies whose primary business activity involves the awarding of insurance contracts within the scope of IFRS 4 have the option of temporarily deferring their IFRS 9 application. This is known as the deferral approach. According to the amendments that make up the deferral approach, a company would be allowed to apply IAS 39 instead of IFRS 9 for reporting periods that begin prior to 1 January 2021.

This draft could therefore result in the initial application for IFRS 9 being deferred until January 2021, if it is implemented.

IFRS 15 “Revenue from Contracts with Customers” governs revenue recognition and sets out the basic principles for reporting of meaningful information on the type, amount, recognition date and uncertainties regarding revenues and payment flows from contracts with customers. Sales revenues are recorded if a customer has control over a delivered item or a service provided and has the ability to enjoy these goods and services and derive benefits from these. The standard replaces IAS 18 “Revenue” and IAS 11 “Construction Contracts” and the associated interpretations. The standard applies to reporting periods beginning on or after 1 January 2017. The Group is currently ascertaining the impact of IFRS 15.

IFRS 16 “Leases” covers the reporting of leases. UNIQA acts both as a lessee and a lessor, with no changes being made to accounting on the lessor side as a result of the introduction of IFRS 16. The leases from a lessee perspective pertain primarily to land and buildings. The standard applies to reporting periods beginning on or after 1 January 2019. The Group is currently ascertaining the impact of IFRS 16.

The provisions stated have been implemented in these consolidated financial statements if applicable. However, this has not resulted in any significant impact on the presentation of the financial position.