3.6 Impairment of Financial Assets
The Group assesses at the end of each reporting period whether there is any objective evidence that a financial asset or group of financial assets except for financial assets at fair value through profit or loss is impaired. A financial asset or a group of financial assets is impaired and impairment losses are incurred, if and only if, there is objective evidence of impairment as a result of one or more events that occurred after the initial recognition of the asset (a ‘loss event’) and that loss event (or events) has an impact on the estimated future cash flows of the financial asset or group of financial assets that can be reliably estimated. However, losses expected as a result of future events, no matter how likely, are not recognized.
Objective evidence that a financial asset or group of assets is impaired includes the following loss events:
| • | Significant financial difficulty of the issuer or obligor. |
| • | A breach of contract, such as a default or delinquency in interest or principal payments. |
| • | The lender, for economic or legal reasons relating to the borrower’s financial difficulty, granting to the borrower a concession that the lender would not otherwise consider. |
| • | It becomes probable that the borrower will declare bankruptcy or undergo financial reorganization. |
| • | The disappearance of an active market for that financial asset because of financial difficulties. |
| • | Observable data indicating that there is a measurable decrease in the estimated future cash flows from a group of financial assets since the initial recognition of those assets, although the decrease cannot yet be identified with the individual financial assets in the portfolio. |
In addition to the types of events in the preceding paragraphs, objective evidence of impairment for an investment in an equity instrument classified as an available-for-sale financial asset includes a significant or prolonged decline in the fair value below its cost. The Group considers the decline in the fair value of over 30% against the original cost as a “significant decline”. A decline is considered as prolonged if the period, in which the fair value of the financial asset has been below its original cost at initial recognition, is same as or more than six months.
If there is objective evidence that an impairment loss has been incurred, the amount of the loss is measured and recognized in profit or loss as either provisions for credit loss or other operating income and expenses.
3.6.1 Loans and receivables
The amount of the loss on loans and receivables carried at amortized cost is measured as the difference between the asset’s carrying amount and the present value of estimated future cash flows (excluding future credit losses that have not been incurred) discounted at the financial asset’s original effective interest rate.
The Group first assesses whether objective evidence of impairment exists individually for financial assets that are individually significant (individual assessment of impairment).
Financial assets that are not individually significant assess objective evidence of impairment individually or collectively. If the Group determines that no objective evidence of impairment exists for an individually assessed financial asset, whether significant or not, it includes the asset in a group of financial assets with similar credit risk characteristics and collectively assesses them for impairment (collective assessment of impairment).
Individual assessment of impairment
Individual assessment of impairment losses are calculated by discounting the expected future cash flows of a loan at its original effective interest rate and comparing the resultant present value with the loan’s current carrying amount. This process normally encompasses management’s best estimate, such as operating cash flow of the borrower and net realizable value of any collateral held.
Collective assessment of impairment
A methodology based on historical loss experience is used to estimate inherent incurred loss on groups of assets for collective assessment of impairment. Such methodology incorporates factors such as type of collateral, product and borrowers, credit rating, loss emergence period, recovery period and applies probability of default on a group of assets and loss given default by type of recovery method. Also, consistent assumptions are applied to form a formula-based model in estimating inherent loss and to determine factors on the basis of historical loss experience and current condition. The methodology and assumptions used for collective assessment of impairment are reviewed regularly to reduce any differences between loss estimates and actual loss experience.
Impairment loss on loans reduces the carrying amount of the asset through use of an allowance account, and when a loan becomes uncollectable, it is written off against the related allowance account. If, in a subsequent period, the amount of the impairment loss decreases and is objectively related to the subsequent event after recognition of impairment, the previously recognized impairment loss is reversed by adjusting the allowance account. The amount of the reversal is recognized in profit or loss.
3.6.2 Available-for-sale financial assets
When a decline in the fair value of an available-for-sale financial asset has been recognized in other comprehensive income and there is objective evidence that the asset is impaired, the cumulative loss (the difference between the acquisition cost and current fair value, less any impairment loss on that financial asset previously recognized in profit or loss) that had been recognized in other comprehensive income is reclassified from equity to profit or loss as part of other operating income and expenses. The impairment loss on available-for-sale financial assets is directly from the carrying amount.
If, in a subsequent period, the fair value of a debt instrument classified as available-for-sale increases and the increase can be objectively related to an event occurring after the impairment loss was recognized in profit or loss, a portion of the impairment loss is reversed up to but not exceeding the previously recorded impairment loss, with the amount of the reversal recognized in profit or loss as part of other operating income and expenses in the statement of comprehensive income. However, impairment losses recognized in profit or loss for an available-for-sale equity instrument classified as available for sale are not reversed through profit or loss.
3.6.3 Held-to-maturity financial assets
If there is objective evidence that an impairment loss on held-to-maturity financial assets carried at amortized cost has been incurred, the amount of the loss is measured as the difference between the asset’s carrying amount and the present value of estimated future cash flows discounted at the financial asset’s original effective interest rate. The amount of the loss is recognized in profit or loss as part of other operating income and expenses. The impairment loss on held-to-maturity financial assets is directly deducted from the carrying amount.
In the case of a financial asset classified as held to maturity, if, in a subsequent period, the amount of the impairment loss decreases and it is objectively related to an event occurring after the impairment is recognized, a portion of the previously recognized impairment loss is reversed up to but not exceeding the extent of amortized cost at the date of recovery. The amount of reversal is recognized in profit or loss as part of other operating income and expenses in the statement of comprehensive income.