Statement No. 64
Derivative Instruments: Application of Hedge Accounting Termination Provisions—an amendment of GASB Statement No. 53
(Issued 06/11)
Some governments have entered into interest rate swap agreements and commodity swap agreements in which a swap counterparty, or the swap counterparty’s credit support provider, commits or experiences either an act of default or a termination event as both are described in the swap agreement. Many of those governments have replaced their swap counterparty, or swap counterparty’s credit support providers, either by amending existing swap agreements or by entering into new swap agreements. When these swap agreements have been reported as hedging instruments, questions have arisen regarding the application of the termination of hedge accounting provisions in Statement No. 53, Accounting and Financial Reporting for Derivative Instruments. Those provisions require a government to cease hedge accounting upon the termination of the hedging derivative instrument, resulting in the immediate recognition of the deferred outflows of resources or deferred inflows of resources as a component of investment income.
The objective of this Statement is to clarify whether an effective hedging relationship continues after the replacement of a swap counterparty or a swap counterparty’s credit support provider. This Statement sets forth criteria that establish when the effective hedging relationship continues and hedge accounting should continue to be applied.
The provisions of this Statement are effective for financial statements for periods beginning after June 15, 2011. Earlier application is encouraged.
How the Changes in This Statement Improve Financial Reporting
The requirements of this Statement enhance comparability and improve financial reporting by clarifying the circumstances in which hedge accounting should continue when a swap counterparty, or a swap counterparty’s credit support provider, is replaced.
Unless otherwise specified, pronouncements of the GASB apply to financial reports of all state and local governmental entities, including general purpose governments; public benefit corporations and authorities; public employee retirement systems; and public utilities, hospitals and other healthcare providers, and colleges and universities. Paragraph 3 discusses the applicability of this Statement.