Accounting for ESG Bonds under IFRS 9
ESG bonds are growing in popularity due to the rise in interest in environmental, social, and corporate governance issues. Investors are placing more importance on companies being environmentally and socially responsible. Just as is the case with other bonds, companies use ESG bonds as a means of raising funds. In this post, we look at ESG bond types and discuss the accounting for ESG bonds under IFRS 9.
Types of ESG bonds
ESG bonds are debt instruments that are typically linked to ESG activities. Some examples of ESG bonds are green bonds, social bonds, sustainability bonds, and sustainability-linked bonds.
Green bonds
Green bonds require the issuance proceeds to be used to fund “green” or environmentally beneficial projects or activities, such as:
- Energy efficiency projects
- Renewable energy projects
- Pollution prevention and control projects
- Natural resources and land management projects
- Clean transportation projects
- Wastewater and water management projects
Social bonds
Social bonds finance socially beneficial projects or activities, such as projects related to:
- Socioeconomic advancement
- Sustainable food systems
- Affordable housing
- Access to essential services
Sustainability bonds
Sustainability bonds are those where the funds are earmarked to finance a combination of green or social projects or activities.
Sustainability-linked bonds
Green bonds, social bonds, and sustainability bonds are use of proceeds bonds, meaning the funds raised are earmarked for specific use.
Sustainability-linked bonds have more flexibility in terms of how the funds can used (can be for general funding purposes). They do, however, have terms that are linked to the achievement of a sustainability target or sustainability goal of the issuer.
Accounting for ESG bonds under IFRS 9
ESG bonds are similar to any other bond with the key difference being that the issuer states that the funds will be used for environmental or social projects in the case of green, social, or sustainability bonds, or the terms of the bonds are linked to sustainability goals of the issuer in the case of sustainability-linked bonds.
ESG bonds are financial instruments and, therefore, the IFRS accounting falls under IFRS 9 Financial Instruments. However, the accounting is different depending on whether you hold the ESG bond (investor) or whether you issue the ESG bond (issuer).
Investor accounting for ESG bonds under IFRS
A key accounting consideration for the investor is whether the bond should be accounted for at amortized cost or at fair value. In accordance with IFRS 9, this determination is based on an assessment of the contractual cash flow characteristics and the business model.
Under the contractual cash flow characteristic test, an assessment is done to determine whether the asset’s contractual cash flows are solely payments of principal and interest (referred to as “SPPI”) on the principal amount outstanding. If the bond meets the SPPI criterion, a business model assessment is needed to determine whether the financial assets meet the criteria for classification as subsequently measured at amortized cost or fair value through OCI. Bonds are accounted for subsequently at amortized cost when the cash flows are based solely on principal and interest and where the business model is to hold and collect cash flows.
To learn more about the classification and measurement of financial instruments under IFRS 9, check out this eLearning course.
Issuer accounting for ESG bonds under IFRS
The accounting for a financial liability under IFRS 9 is totally different than the accounting for a financial assets. Therefore, an issuer of sustainability-linked bonds must assess whether the bond is a hybrid contract and if so, whether the related embedded derivative needs to be bifurcated.
A derivative embedded in a financial liability should be separated ONLY IF:
- It is not closely related to the economic characteristics and risks of the host,
- A separate instrument with the same terms would meet the definition of a derivative, and
- The hybrid instrument is not measured at FV with changes in the P&L.
A common feature in sustainability-linked bonds is a step-up feature in the interest rate where the interest rate paid changes depending upon whether specified sustainable development goals are met. The step-up feature needs to be assessed based on the separation criteria. This feature may not meet the definition of a derivative under IFRS 9. This is because of the definition is not met if the underlying variable is non-financial and is specific to a party to the contract.
To learn more about embedded derivatives within financial liabilities and whether or not they need to be bifurcated under IFRS 9, check out this eLearning course.
Final thoughts
Environmental, social, and governance activities are expected to continue to grow. As such, it will continue to remain a “hot topic” for IFRS financial statements for years to come. If you want to continue learning about the accounting for financial instruments under IFRS 9, check out our online course collection IFRS 9: Financial Instruments.
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Disclaimer
This post is for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon as official accounting guidance. While we’ve ensured accuracy as of the publishing date, standards evolve. Please consult a professional for specific advice.
