As part of the group that was the second company worldwide to become IFRS9 compliant, IFRS9 has been at the forefront of what we do. We have assisted nearly 20 companies on their IFRS9 journey over the last two years. This blog forms part of a more extensive series on IFRS9.
In a previous blog, we highlighted some tips for managing manual overrides for IFRS9 models. In this blog, we explore some of our learnings in economic modelling with IFRS9.
Part of IFRS9 is the creation of data-driven models to most accurately predict expected credit losses. Much of the prediction is derived on historical data, but IFRS9 also requests that we need to consider forward-looking projections or considerations, as the future may not be exactly like the past that is often the underlying premise of forecasting models. Hence the requirement for expert adjustments with management foresight. These expert based adjustments could be in the form of:
- economic outlook forecasting with potentially an analytical model that defines the complicated relationship between economic indicators and portfolio performance or
- management judgement of policy, strategy or environmental events that would not be reflected in historical data and thus not in the expected credit loss outlooks
Economic forecasting and credit loss relationship modelling
Below we summarise some of the lessons learnt by Principa within the three primary considerations in building a forward-looking economic indicator adjustment modelling solution:
Macro-Economic Indicator Forecasting and Outlook Scenarios
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While modelling might happen on historical actuals, the model execution would be on economic forecasting to create economic scenario’s. Modelling on the historical forecast is an option, but then you run the risk of forecasting sentiment changes impacting the model. Source a credible forecast, potentially from an independent 3rd party. Internally sourced, requires evidence of approach and outcome to evidence objectivity and rational. At minimum define three possible scenarios (with possibly a strictly data-driven base scenario) with the associated likelihood of each situation. |
Modelling the Relationship between Macro Economic Indicators and the Components of Credit Losse
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Models would look at the key credit performance indicators that drive credit losses such as modelling the relationship for the probability of default or loss given default separately. One can, however, go even deeper to identify key leading indicators such as flow into collections or debt sale price. Consider that both timing and magnitude could be significant. It is important to note that the outcome variables are net of mitigating actions. So often the relationships might prove weak or counter-intuitive. As you are looking to create scenarios with logical ranking, avoiding illogical relationships within your model is advised. Also, consider lagged relationships. E.g. it might take 6 to 12 months for suppressed economic growth to wash through to unemployment or other constraints on disposable income and then for the effects to wash through of credit performance from early stresses to actual losses. Lastly be careful to double count the macroeconomic impacts. In other words, consider macroeconomic effects already embedded in outlook. At Principa we look to avoid this by modelling the relationship of macroeconomic indicators to the model error with the underlying assumption that the model would be perfectly accurate if the environment did not change. Economic indicators could include:
While these could be expansive after also considering various lags and permutations, consider reducing the variables through considering the correlation between all economic variables, removing the variables where correlation is high, and removing variables with insignificant coefficients. Ensure that the models follow a robust development methodology with detailed modelling write-ups and model validations and back-testing. |
ECL Procedure to Provide the Scenario Weighted Outcomes
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IFRS9 requires that forward-looking overrides are scenario weighted and as such requires that an organisation to:
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Forward-looking overrides through management judgement
Forward-looking management judgement should be exceptional and reserved for “out of the ordinary” events that would not be reflected in historical data and thus not in the expected credit loss outlook even after considering the scenario weighted economic indicator overlays. We covered key considerations of management judgment in a previous blog.
Principa offers a wide range of products and services relating to IFRS9. These include analytical, advisory, model templates, reporting packs, deployment support, model software, etc. We’ve also been able to help companies post-IFRS9 to make the most of their models. Contact us to find out how Principa might be able to help your business.
