Strukturierte Anleihen und Bilanzrechtsauslegung

Abstract

With respect to German accounting standards it is still a critical issue whether to account for hybrid financial instruments as one item or to separate the embedded derivative. The proposals that deal with this problem by adopting, more or less, IAS 39 are not in accordance with the objectives of these standards. We develop criteria within the German GAAP on how to account for these instruments in general, and show how this affects the accounting for specific types. We elaborate on what characterizes an inseparable item and draw the conclusion that the embedded derivative should not be separated mostly. Recognizing an instrument as one item rather than as two or more items results in smaller differences in equity compared to IAS 39 for subsequent periods. The issue is of interest when both accounting frameworks are used: one for financial statements of the group, the other for financial statements of the legal entities.