Exposure Draft of proposed amendments to IAS 19 and IFRIC 14 - Agenda paper 6

Background

The IASB issued an ED to amend to IAS 19 Employee Benefits and IFRIC 14 IAS19 — The Limit on a Defined Benefit Asset, Minimum Funding Requirements and their Interaction. The purpose of this session is for the staff to inform the Interpretations Committee about the comments received. The Interpretations Committee will not be asked to make technical decisions.

The staff will present the following agenda papers:

• (a) Agenda paper 6A: Summary of the feedback received on the proposed amendments to IFRIC 14 to address the availability of a refund from a defined benefit plan.
• (b) Agenda paper 6B: Summary of the feedback received on the proposed amendments to IAS 19 to address remeasurement when a plan amendment, curtailment or settlement occurs.

The staff analysis of the feedback received and recommendations will be presented at a future meeting.

Exposure Draft of proposed amendments to IAS 19 and IFRIC 14 - Comment letter summary of proposed amendments to IFRIC 14 - Agenda paper 6A

This paper summarises the feedback on matters that affect IFRIC 14 that the staff thinks will require further consideration. Other issues are presented in Appendix A and B of the agenda paper.

Other parties can wind up a plan without the entity’s consent

The ED proposes to clarify (a) if other parties, such as its trustees, can wind up the plan without the entity’s consent, the entity does not have an unconditional right to a refund of a surplus; (b) amounts that other parties can use for other purposes without the entity’s consent are excluded from the amount of the surplus that the entity recognises as an asset; and (c) the power other parties have to buy annuities or make other investment decisions, without affecting the benefits for plan members, does not affect the availability of a refund.

There was general support for the proposed amendments. However, the following issues will need further analysis:

• (i) Potential inconsistencies between the principles in IAS 19 and IFRIC 14: (a) the effect of uncertain future events on the existence of a right to a refund because of decisions by other parties; (b) inconsistent treatment of events that could affect the surplus; (c) appropriateness of the use of control to recognise any surplus as an asset; (d) the mixed measurement approach proposed; and (e) possible inconsistency between the proposal and the measurement of defined benefit obligations.
• (ii) Reflection of the economic substance of defined benefit plans: (a) the proposal is too prescriptive and do not allow an entity to exercise judgement; (b) an entity should consider other parties powers only when the power is substantive or more likely than not to be executed; and (c) the proposed restrictions on the right to a refund may not be relevant given the practical reality of how decisions are made.
• (iii) Other substantive issues: (a) the distinction between the purchase of annuities and the purchase of annuities as part of a wind-up of a plan; (b) an entity’s right to a refund if decisions must be made jointly between the entity and others; (c) how the proposals affect the availability of a refund in future contributions.

The statutory requirements that affect the economic benefit available to the entity

The proposal is that the entity takes into account the statutory requirements that are substantially enacted, as well as the term and conditions of a plan that are contractually agreed and any constructive obligations. The staff indicates that the majority of respondents agreed with the proposed amendments and the matters raised will be considered during drafting but will not be analysed further—see appendix A of the agenda paper.

Exposure Draft of proposed amendments to IAS 19 and IFRIC 14 - Comment letter summary of proposed amendments to IAS 19 - Agenda paper 6B

This paper summarises the feedback on matters that affect IAS 19 that the staff thinks will require further consideration. Other issues are presented in Appendix A of the agenda paper.

Interaction between the asset ceiling and past service cost or gain or loss on settlement

The ED proposes that when a plan event occurs, an entity: The amendments confirm that an entity recognises the past service cost or a gain or loss on settlement separately from its assessment of the asset ceiling. The staff indicates that most respondents agreed with the proposal. The main issues identified are: (i) inappropriate recognition of a gain or loss on settlement; and (ii) effective recycling of amounts recognised in OCI.

Accounting when a plan amendment, curtailment or settlement occurs

The proposed amendments specify that when an entity remeasures the net defined benefit liability (asset) when a plan event occurs, it determines: (a) the current service cost and the net interest for the period after the remeasurement using the assumptions used for the remeasurement; and (b) the net interest for the remaining period based on the remeasured net defined benefit liability (asset).

The current service cost and the net interest in the current reporting period before a plan event are not affected by, or included in, the past service cost or a gain or loss on settlement.

The staff noted that close to half of respondents agreed with the ED. However, other respondents either disagreed with the proposed amendments or expressed concerns about specific aspects of the ED. The main issues raised were: the consequences of a minor plan event (and materiality judgements); the unit of account and lack of comparability; additional costs in applying the proposed amendments; and the potential to make changes to achieve a particular accounting treatment. Some respondents also expressed concerns about the lack of consistency with IAS 34.

Transition

The ED proposed that the amendments should be applied retrospectively with an exception included for adjustments to the carrying amount of assets outside the scope of IAS 19. The staff indicates that the majority agreed with the proposed amendments. The staff indicates that there were concerns about specific aspects of the transition requirements which are included in appendix A of the agenda paper.