i. Definitions
“Financial instrument” is any contract that gives rise to a financial asset of one entity and, simultaneously, to a financial liability or financial interest of another entity.
“Equity instrument” is any agreement that evidences a residual interest in the asset of the issuing entity after deducting all of its liabilities.
“Financial derivative” is a financial instrument whose value changes in response to the change in an observable market variable (such as an interest rate, foreign exchange rate, financial instrument price, market index or credit rating), whose initial investment is zero or very small compared with other financial instruments with a similar response to changes in market factors, and which is settled at a future date.
“Hybrid financial instruments” are contracts that simultaneously include a non-derivative host contract together with a derivative, known as an embedded derivative, that is not separately transferable and has the effect to make part of the cash flow of the hybrid contract vary similar to a stand-alone derivative.
The following transactions are not treated for accounting purposes as financial instruments:
• Investments in subsidiaries, jointly controlled entities and associates (note 3&12).
• Rights and obligations under employee benefit plans (note 23).
ii. Classification of financial assets for measurement purposes
Financial assets are initially classified into the various categories used for management and measurement purposes, unless they have to be presented as Non-current assets held for sale or they relate to Cash, cash balances at Central Banks and other deposits on demand, Changes in the fair value of hedged items in portfolio hedges of interest rate risk (asset side), Hedging derivatives and Investments, which are reported separately.
Financial assets are included for measurement purposes in one of the following categories:
• Financial assets held for trading (at fair value through profit or loss): this category includes the financial assets acquired for the purpose of generating a profit in the near term from fluctuations in their prices and financial derivatives that are not designated as hedging instruments.
• Other financial assets at fair value through profit or loss: this category includes hybrid financial assets not held for trading that are measured entirely at fair value and financial assets not held for trading that are included in this category in order to provide more relevant information, either because this eliminates or significantly reduces recognition or measurement inconsistencies (accounting mismatches) that would otherwise arise from measuring assets or liabilities or recognizing the gains or losses on them on different bases, or because a group of financial assets or financial assets and liabilities is managed and its performance is evaluated on a fair value basis, in accordance with a documented risk management or investment strategy, and information about the group is provided on that basis to the Group's key management personnel.
Financial instruments included in this category (and “Other financial liabilities at fair value through profit or loss”) are permanently subject to a consistent system of measurement, manage and control of all risks and returns that enables all the financial instruments involved to be identified and monitored and allows the effective reduction of risk checked. Financial assets may only be included in this category on the date they are acquired or originated.
Available-for-sale financial assets are stated at fair value. This category includes debt instruments not classified as “Held-to-maturity investments”, “Loans and receivables” or “Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss”, and equity instruments issued by entities other than subsidiaries, associates and jointly controlled entities, provided that such instruments have not been classified as “Financial assets held for trading” or as “Other financial assets at fair value through profit or loss”. Gains and losses arising from changes in fair value are recognized in "Equity" in the line item "Valuation Adjustment" with the exception of cumulative losses for non-recovery, which are recognized in profit or loss. When the investment is disposed of or is determined to be impaired, the cumulative gain or loss previously accumulated in "Equity - Valuation Adjustments" is reclassified to profit or loss.
• Loans and receivables: this category includes financing granted to third parties, based on their nature, irrespective of the type of borrower and the form of financing, including finance lease transactions in which the consolidated entities act as lessors. The consolidated entities generally intend to hold the loans and credits granted by them until their final maturity and, therefore, they are presented in the consolidated balance sheets at their amortized cost (which includes the required adjustments to reflect estimated impairment losses).
• Held-to-maturity investments: this category includes debt instruments traded in an active market, with fixed maturity and with fixed or determinable payments, for which the Bank has both the intention and proven ability to hold to maturity. These investments are measured at amortized cost less any impairment, with revenue recognized on an effective yield basis.
iii. Classification of financial assets for presentation purposes
Financial assets are classified by nature into the following headings in the consolidated financial statements:
• Cash and balances with the Bacen: cash balances and balances receivable on demand relating to deposits with Bacen and credit institutions.
• Loans and receivables: includes the debit balances of all credit and loans granted by the Bank, other than those represented by securities, as well as finance lease receivables and other debit balances of a financial nature in favor of the Bank, such as checks drawn on credit institutions, balances receivable from clearing houses and settlement agencies for transactions on the stock exchange and organized markets, bonds given in cash, capital calls, fees and commissions receivable for financial guarantees and debit balances arising from transactions not originating in banking transactions and services, such as the collection of rentals and similar items.
• Loans and other amounts with credit institutions: credit of any nature in the name of financial institutions.
• Loans and advances to clients: includes debit balances of all the remaining credit and loans granted by the Bank, including money market operations through centralized counterparties.
• Debt instruments: bonds and other securities that represent a debt for their issuer, that generate an interest return, and that are in the form of certificates or book entries.
• Equity instruments: Financial instruments issued by other entities, such as shares, which have the nature of equity instruments for the issuer, other than investments in subsidiaries, joint ventures or associates. Investment fund units are included in this item.
• Trading derivatives: includes the fair value in favor of the Bank of derivatives which do not form part of hedge accounting.
• Hedging derivatives: includes the fair value in favor of the Bank of derivatives designated as hedging instruments in hedge accounting.
• Investments in associates and jointly controlled companies: includes the investments made in the share capital of associates and jointly controlled companies.
iv. Classification of financial liabilities for measurement purposes
Financial liabilities are classified for measurement purposes into one of the following categories:
• Financial liabilities held for trading (at fair value through profit or loss): this category includes financial liabilities incurred for the purpose of generating a profit in the near term from fluctuations in their prices, financial derivatives not designated as hedging instruments, and financial liabilities arising from the outright sale of financial assets acquired under reverse repurchase agreements ("reverse repos") or borrowed (short positions).
• Other financial liabilities at fair value through profit or loss: financial liabilities are included in this category when they provide more relevant information, either because this eliminates or significantly reduces recognition or measurement inconsistencies (accounting mismatches) that would otherwise arise from measuring assets or liabilities or recognizing the gains or losses on them on different bases, or because a group of financial liabilities or financial assets and liabilities is managed and its performance is evaluated on a fair value basis, in accordance with a documented risk management or investment strategy, and information about the group is provided on that basis to the Group's key management personnel.
• Financial liabilities at amortized cost: financial liabilities, irrespective of their instrumentation and maturity, not included in any of the above-mentioned categories which arise from the ordinary borrowing activities carried on by financial institutions.
v. Classification of financial liabilities for presentation purposes
Financial liabilities are classified by nature into the following items in the consolidated financial statements:
• Deposits from Bacen: deposits of any nature received from Bacen.
• Deposits from credit institutions: deposits of any nature, including credit received and money market operations in the name of credit institutions.
• Client deposits: includes deposits of any nature such as demand deposits, saving deposits and time deposits including money market operation received from client.
• Marketable debt securities: includes the amount of bonds and other debt represented by marketable securities, other than subordinated liabilities.
• Trading derivatives: includes the fair value, with a negative balance for the Bank, of derivatives which do not form part of hedge accounting.
• Short positions: includes the amount of financial liabilities arising from the outright sale of financial assets purchased under reverse repurchase agreements or borrowed.
• Subordinated liabilities: amount of financing received which, for the purposes of payment priority, ranks behind ordinary debt. This category also includes the financial instruments issued by the Bank which, although equity for legal purposes, do not meet the requirements for classification as equity.
• Other financial liabilities: includes the amount of payment obligations having the nature of financial liabilities not included in other items, and liabilities under financial guarantee contracts, unless they have been classified as non-performing.
• Hedging derivatives: includes the fair value of the Bank's liability in respect of derivatives, including embedded derivatives separated from hybrid financial instruments, designated as hedging instruments in hedge accounting.