35.1 Accounting policy

35.1.1. Recognition and classification

Financial assets are recognized in the statement of financial position at the moment when a PZU Group company becomes a party to a binding contract, under which it assumes risk and becomes a beneficiary of the benefits associated with the financial instrument. In the case of transactions concluded on an organized market, the purchase or sale of financial assets are recognized in the books on the date of the transaction. 

35.1.1.1. Rules applicable as of 1 January 2018

The instrument is classified as at the time of application of IFRS 9 for the first time or at the time of recognition of the instrument. The classification may only be changed in rare cases when the business model changes. The classification of financial assets depends on:

• the entity’s business model for managing financial assets and
• the contractual cash flow characteristics of the financial asset. 

According to IFRS 9 financial assets are classified for valuation at:

• amortized cost;
• fair value through profit or loss;
• fair value through other comprehensive income.

Business models

Financial assets are managed in accordance with business models applied to enable the provision of information for management purposes. When analyzing business models, the PZU Group takes the following into account:

• how the performance of the business model and the financial assets held within that business model are evaluated and reported to the entity's key management personnel;
• the risks that affect the performance of the business model (and the financial assets held within that business model) and, in particular, the way in which those risks are managed.

Assets held by the PZU Group as at the first application date of IFRS 9 were classified as business models in effect as at that date. Assets purchased after 1 January 2018 are classified to the business model upon their initial recognition.

Financial assets held for trading and those that are held in a model managed at fair value have been classified as measured at fair value through profit or loss. 

SPPI test

A special test is performed to evaluate whether contractual cash flows consist of solely payments of principal and interest (so called the SPPI test). The principal amount is defined as the fair value of the financial asset at initial recognition. Interest consists of consideration for the time value of money, for the credit risk associated with the principal amount outstanding during a particular period of time and for other basic lending risks and costs, as well as a profit margin.

The SPPI test examines whether a financial asset contains contractual terms that could change the timing or amounts of contractual cash flows so that the condition of obtaining solely payments of principal and interest would not be met. In making its evaluation, the PZU Group takes the following into account:

• conditional events that could change the amounts and timing of cash flows;
• factors modifying the interest rate;
• terms of prepayment and extension;
• terms limiting the right to obtain cash flows;
• factors that modify the time value of money, including periodic resets of the interest rate.

The SPPI test is carried out for financial assets classified into a business model whose objective is achieved by collecting contractual cash flows or a business model whose objective is achieved by both collecting contractual cash flows and selling.

The SPPI test is carried out:

• collectively – for homogeneous groups of standard products;
• on the single contract level – for non-standard products;
• on the ISIN code level – for debt securities.

If a financial asset contains terms causing modification of the value of money over time, the so-called verification benchmark test is carried out to determine the difference between undiscounted cash flows following from the contract and the undiscounted cash flows which would occur if the value of money over time was not modified (cash flow benchmark level). If the difference is material then the instrument does not pass the SPPI test and is measured at fair value through profit or loss.

35.1.1.2. Rules applicable until 31 December 2017

Financial instruments are classified at the time of purchase into one of four categories: held to maturity, available for sale, measured at fair value through profit or loss or loans. At the time of purchase financial instruments are recognized at fair value adjusted for transaction costs that can be attributed directly to the purchase or issue of the financial instrument. Instruments measured at fair value through profit or loss are an exception. In their case, the transaction costs are charged once to the “Net investment income” item. The fair value of a financial instrument at initial recognition is usually its transaction price, unless the nature of the financial instrument suggests otherwise.

In the case of interest-bearing financial instruments, interest accrues from the day following the transaction settlement date.

35.1.2. Measurement principles

35.1.2.1 Rules applicable as of 1 January 2018

Financial assets measured at amortized cost

A financial asset is classified as financial asset measured at amortized cost if both of the following conditions are met:

• the financial asset is held within a business model whose objective is achieved by holding financial assets in order to collect contractual cash flows,
• it passes the SPPI 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 amount outstanding.

As at 1 January 2018, the following assets were classified as investment financial assets measured at amortized cost:

• assets classified according to IAS 39 as loans and receivables and as financial assets held to maturity, except for the financial assets, for which it was determined after SPPI tests that their terms may result in cash flows that are not solely payments of principal and interest on the principal amount outstanding;
• certain assets classified under IAS 39 as available for sale, for which the assessment of the business model has shown that it was common practice to hold them to obtain cash flows and the intentions with respect to them have not changed;
• purchased financial assets impaired due to credit risk. Such financial assets were acquired in connection with the merger with a spun-off portion of Bank BPH in 2016 and Bank Meritum in 2015. As a result, loans and debt securities of an investment nature were classified as measured at amortized cost. Under IAS 39 provisions, which were applied until 31 December 2017, the items were classified respectively as loans and receivables, financial assets available for sale and financial assets held to maturity.

Financial assets measured at amortized cost include, among others:

• payment made for debt securities purchased under a contract which shows that the seller has retained substantially all risks and benefits associated with such securities (buy-sell-back and reverse repo transactions);
• debt securities;
• term deposits with credit institutions;
• loans granted.

Upon first recognition, financial assets measured at amortized cost are recognized at fair value plus transaction costs which can be allocated directly to the purchase of issue of such assets.

The results of the measurement at amortized cost are recognized in the profit and loss account in the “Net investment income” item.   

Financial assets measured at fair value through other comprehensive income

Financial assets are measured at fair value through other comprehensive income if both of the following conditions are met:

• the financial asset is held within a business model whose objective is achieved by both collecting contractual cash flows and selling financial assets;
• it passes the SPPI 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 amount outstanding.

As at 1 January 2018, in particular the following asset were classified into this category:

• debt instruments which under IAS 39 were classified as financial assets available for sale;
• some assets from the portfolio of securities previously held to maturity – due to their possible sale, because the relevant business model for these securities is a model whose objective is achieved by both collecting cash flows and selling financial assets.

Interest on debt instruments accrued using the effective interest rate are recognized in the profit and loss account in the “Net investment income” item.

Fair value measurement principles are described in section 9.1. The effects of changes in the fair value are recognized in other comprehensive income until exclusion of the asset from the statement of financial position, when the cumulative effects of the measurement are moved to the profit and loss account, to the “Net result on realization of financial instruments and investments” item.

The allowances for expected credit losses is recognized in other comprehensive income and on the other side in the profit and loss account in the “Movement in allowances for expected credit losses and impairment losses on financial instruments” item. The value of the recognized allowance does not reduce the carrying amount of the asset.

This category of financial assets also includes equity instruments, for which an irrevocable designation has been made to be measured at fair value, with subsequent changes in fair value recognized in other comprehensive income. The decision on such classification is made individually for each instrument. If such assets are sold, the result on sales is transferred to supplementary capital. 

Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss

This category includes other financial instruments that do not meet the conditions for being classified as financial assets measured at amortized cost or fair value through other comprehensive income. This pertains in particular to:

• financial assets designated for measurement at fair value through profit or loss;
• financial assets classified under IAS 39 as held for trading;
• participation units that are not equity instruments and to which the SPPI condition does not apply, which solely payment of principal and interest;
• financial assets that have not passed the SPPI test - for which contractual terms result in cash flows not being solely payments of principal and interest;
• financial assets held within a business model other than the one whose objective is to hold financial assets in order to collect contractual cash flows or both to collect contractual cash flows and to sell financial assets;
• equity instruments that, in accordance with IAS 39, were classified as available for sale and measured at fair value through other comprehensive income but not irrevocably designated as at fair value through other comprehensive income under IFRS9;

Fair value measurement principles are described in section 9.1. The effects of change of the measurement of financial instruments carried at fair value, including the interest income related to them and changes in the value of liabilities on account of investment contracts for the client’s account and risk are recognized in the “Net movement in fair value of assets and liabilities measured at fair value” item in the period to which they pertain.   

35.1.2.2. Rules applicable until 31 December 2017

Financial assets held to maturity

Financial assets held to maturity include financial assets held to maturity that are not derivatives, with fixed or determinable payments and fixed maturity, which have been purchased with the intention of holding and the PZU Group is able to hold them to maturity.

Financial assets held to maturity are carried at amortized cost and the measurement results are recognized in the “Net investment income” item.

Information on the principles of recognizing impairment losses prevailing until 31 December 2017 is presented in section 36.1.2. 

Financial assets available for sale

Financial instruments available for sale include financial instruments not classified into other categories.

The instruments classified into this category are carried at fair value according to the principles described in section 9.1. The difference between the fair value at the end of the reporting period and the purchase price is recognized directly in revaluation reserve. In the case of debt securities interest accrued using the effective interest rate are recognized in the “Net investment income” item, and the difference between the fair value and the value at amortized cost is recognized in revaluation reserve.

In the case of sale of financial instruments available for sale, the value of revaluation reserve is reversed and recognized in the “Net result on realization and impairment losses on financial assets” item.

Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss

Financial instruments measured at fair value through profit or loss include:

• financial instruments held for trading – assets purchased for sale in the near future or liabilities incurred to be redeemed in the near future;
• financial instruments classified at the time of purchase as measured at fair value through profit or loss, if their fair value can be reliably estimated. Such financial instruments include:
• some instruments earmarked to cover technical provisions and investment contracts in life insurance. The adopted classification of instruments eliminates or significantly reduces the mismatch of measurement and recognition of liabilities and assets covering them;
• financial instruments managed and assessed in accordance with documented risk management principles on the basis of fair value.

Fair value measurement principles are described in section 9.1. The effects of change of the measurement of financial instruments carried at fair value, including the interest income related to them and changes in the value of liabilities on account of investment contracts for the client’s account and risk are recognized in the “Net movement in fair value of assets and liabilities measured at fair value” item in the period to which they pertain. 

Loans 

Credits, loans and other receivables are financial assets which are not derivatives, with fixed or determinable payments that are not quoted on an active market, other than:

• financial assets that the entity intends to sell immediately or in the near future, which are classified as held for trading and which, upon first recognition, were designated by the entity as measured at fair value through profit or loss;
• financial assets designated by the entity upon first recognition as available for sale;
• financial assets whose holder may not recover substantially the full amount of the initial investment due reasons other than deterioration of the loan service, which are classified as available for sale.

Credits, loans and other receivables include in particular:

• payment made for debt securities purchased under a contract which shows that the seller has retained substantially all risks and benefits associated with such securities (buy-sell-back and reverse repo transactions);
• debt securities not quoted on an active market;
• term deposits with credit institutions;
• loans granted;
• receivables under concluded insurance contracts (including reinsurance);
• other receivables.

Credits, loans and other receivables, except for receivables under concluded insurance agreements an other short-term receivables are carried at the end of the reporting period at amortized cost.

Due to their nature, receivables under concluded insurance agreements and other short-term receivables are carried at nominal value, taking into account the impairment losses on doubtful receivables (the method of estimation of these losses for insurance receivables is presented in section 36.1.1.6).

The result of the measurement of credits, loans and other receivables at amortized cost is recognized in the “Net investment income” item. 

35.1.3. Exclusion from the statement of financial position

Financial assets are excluded from the consolidated statement of financial position when the contractual rights to the cash flows from the asset expire or are transferred to another entity. The transfer also takes place when the contractual rights to the cash flows from the asset are retained but the contractual obligation to transfer such cash flow to an entity outside the PZU Group is assumed.

When transferring financial assets, the entity assesses to that extent the risk and benefits associated with the holding of the asset is retained:

• if substantially all the risks and rewards incidental to ownership of the asset are transferred, the financial asset is excluded from the consolidated statement of financial position;
• if substantially all the risks and rewards incidental to ownership of the financial asset are retained, the financial asset continues to be recognized in the consolidated statement of financial position;
• if substantially all the risks and rewards incidental to ownership of the financial asset are not transferred and not retained, it is determined whether control over the financial asset is retained.

If control is retained the financial asset is recognized in the consolidated statement of financial position up to the value following from the permanent exposure and if there is no control the asset is excluded from the consolidated statement of financial position.