ECB: Working group on euro risk-free rates issues recommendations to address accounting impact of euro risk-free rates transition

05 November 2019

The report highlights IFRS and IAS accounting consequences of the benchmark rate transition. The recommendations of the working group focus on hedge accounting.

The private sector working group on euro risk-free rates has published a report with recommendations, from an accounting perspective, on the transition to new risk-free rates. The report focuses on the implications for International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) and International Accounting Standards (IAS) as the most widely used reporting frameworks in Europe.

The report describes the overall consequences for financial accounting and potential issues that may arise, especially concerning hedge accounting. The report also sets out the challenges for non-hedge-related topics.

The recommendations cover three areas:

• the impact of the transition from the euro overnight index average (EONIA) to the euro short-term rate (the €STR) on the modification of contracts and hedge accounting,
• fallbacks for EURIBOR and hedge accounting, and
• general accounting and financial reporting. Among the recommendations it makes, the working group on euro risk-free rates suggests that preparers of financial statements should closely monitor the IAS Board’s project on interbank offered rate reforms and any amendments or clarifications to the standards that result from it.

Full press release on ECB

Full report on ECB

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