The International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) today published narrow-scope amendments to IAS 39, Financial Instruments: Recognition and Measurement entitled Novation of Derivatives and Continuation of Hedge Accounting (Amendments to IAS 39).

The narrow-scope amendments will allow hedge accounting to continue in a situation where a derivative, which has been designated as a hedging instrument, is novated to effect clearing with a central counterparty as a result of laws or regulation, if specific conditions are met (in this context, a novation indicates that parties to a contract agree to replace their original counterparty with a new one).

This relief has been introduced in response to legislative changes across many jurisdictions that would lead to the widespread novation of over-the-counter derivatives. These legislative changes were prompted by a G20 commitment to improve transparency and regulatory oversight of over-the-counter derivatives in an internationally consistent and non-discriminatory way.

Similar relief will be included in IFRS 9 Financial Instruments.