Overview
ICICI Bank Limited (ICICI Bank or the Bank), incorporated in Vadodara, India is a publicly held banking company engaged in providing a wide range of banking and financial services including commercial banking and treasury operations. ICICI Bank is a banking company governed by the Banking Regulation Act, 1949. The Bank also has overseas branches in Bahrain, China, Dubai, Hong Kong, Singapore, South Africa, Sri Lanka, United States of America and Offshore Banking units.
Basis of preparation
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with requirements prescribed under the Third Schedule of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949. The accounting and reporting policies of ICICI Bank used in the preparation of these financial statements conform to Generally Accepted Accounting Principles in India (Indian GAAP), the guidelines issued by Reserve Bank of India (RBI) from time to time and the Accounting Standards notified under Section 133 of the Companies Act, 2013 read together with paragraph 7 of the Companies (Accounts) Rules, 2014 to the extent applicable and practices generally prevalent in the banking industry in India. The Bank follows the historical cost convention and the accrual method of accounting, except in the case of interest and other income on non-performing assets (NPAs) where it is recognised upon realisation.
The preparation of financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions that are considered in the reported amounts of assets and liabilities (including contingent liabilities) as of the date of the financial statements and the reported income and expenses during the reporting period. Management believes that the estimates used in the preparation of the financial statements are prudent and reasonable. Actual results could differ from these estimates. The impact of any revision in these estimates is recognised prospectively from the period of change.
SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
1. Revenue recognition
a) Interest income is recognised in the profit and loss account as it accrues except in the case of non-performing assets (NPAs) where it is recognised upon realisation, as per the income recognition and asset classification norms of RBI.
b) Income from finance leases is calculated by applying the interest rate implicit in the lease to the net investment outstanding on the lease over the primary lease period.
c) Income on discounted instruments is recognised over the tenure of the instrument on a constant yield basis.
d) Dividend income is accounted on accrual basis when the right to receive the dividend is established.
e) Loan processing fee is accounted for upfront when it becomes due.
f) Project appraisal/structuring fee is accounted for on the completion of the agreed service.
g) Arranger fee is accounted for as income when a significant portion of the arrangement/syndication is completed.
h) Commission received on guarantees issued is amortised on a straight-line basis over the period of the guarantee.
i) The annual/renewal fee on credit cards and debit cards are amortised on a straight line basis over one year.
j) Fees paid/received for priority sector lending certificates (PSLC) is amortised on straight-line basis over the period of the certificate.
k) All other fees are accounted for as and when they become due.
l) Net income arising from sell-down/securitisation of loan assets prior to February 1, 2006 has been recognised upfront as interest income. With effect from February 1, 2006, net income arising from securitisation of loan assets is amortised over the life of securities issued or to be issued by the special purpose vehicle/special purpose entity to which the assets are sold. Net income arising from sale of loan assets through direct assignment with recourse obligation is amortised over the life of underlying assets sold and net income from sale of loan assets through direct assignment, without any recourse obligation, is recognised at the time of sale. Net loss arising on account of the sell-down/securitisation and direct assignment of loan assets is recognised at the time of sale.
m) The Bank deals in bullion business on a consignment basis. The difference between price recovered from customers and cost of bullion is accounted for at the time of sales to the customers. The Bank also deals in bullion on a borrowing and lending basis and the interest paid/received is accounted on accrual basis.
2. Investments
I nvestments are accounted for in accordance with the extant RBI guidelines on investment classification and valuation as given below.
1. All investments are classified into ‘Held to Maturity’, ‘Available for Sale’ and ‘Held for Trading’. Reclassifications, if any, in any category are accounted for as per RBI guidelines. Under each classification, the investments are further categorised as (a) government securities, (b) other approved securities, (c) shares, (d) bonds and debentures, (e) subsidiaries and joint ventures and (f) others.
2. ’Held to Maturity’ securities are carried at their acquisition cost or at amortised cost, if acquired at a premium over the face value. Any premium over the face value of fixed rate and floating rate securities acquired is amortised over the remaining period to maturity on a constant yield basis and straight line basis respectively.
3. ’Available for Sale’ and ‘Held for Trading’ securities are valued periodically as per RBI guidelines. Any premium over the face value of fixed rate and floating rate investments in government securities, classified as ‘Available for Sale’, is amortised over the remaining period to maturity on constant yield basis and straight line basis respectively. Quoted investments are valued based on the closing quotes on the recognised stock exchanges or prices declared by Primary Dealers Association of India (PDAI) jointly with Fixed Income Money Market and Derivatives Association (FIMMDA)/Financial Benchmark India Private Limited (FBIL), periodically.
The market/fair value of unquoted government securities which are in nature of Statutory Liquidity Ratio (SLR) securities included in the ‘Available for Sale’ and ‘Held for Trading’ categories is as per the rates published by FIMMDA/FBIL. The valuation of other unquoted fixed income securities, including Pass Through Certificates, wherever linked to the Yield-to-Maturity (YTM) rates, is computed with a mark-up (reflecting associated credit risk) over the YTM rates for government securities published by FIMMDA. The sovereign foreign securities and non-INR India linked bonds are valued on the basis of prices published by the sovereign regulator or counterparty quotes.
Unquoted equity shares are valued at the break-up value, if the latest balance sheet is available, or at Rs. 1, as per RBI guidelines.
Securities are valued scrip-wise. Depreciation/appreciation on securities, other than those acquired by way of conversion of outstanding loans, is aggregated for each category. Net appreciation in each category under each investment classification, if any, being unrealised, is ignored, while net depreciation is provided for. The depreciation on securities acquired by way of conversion of outstanding loans is fully provided for. Non-performing investments are identified based on the RBI guidelines.
4. Treasury bills, commercial papers and certificate of deposits being discounted instruments, are valued at carrying cost.
5. The units of mutual funds are valued at the latest repurchase price/net asset value declared by the mutual fund.
6. Costs including brokerage and commission pertaining to investments, paid at the time of acquisition, are charged to the profit and loss account. Cost of investments is computed based on the First-In-First-Out (FIFO) method.
7. Equity investments in subsidiaries/joint ventures are classified under ‘Held to Maturity’ and ‘Available for Sale’. The Bank assesses these investments for any permanent diminution in value and appropriate provisions are made.
8. Profit/loss on sale of investments in the ‘Held to Maturity’ category is recognised in the profit and loss account and profit is thereafter appropriated (net of applicable taxes and statutory reserve requirements) to Capital Reserve. Profit/loss on sale of investments in ‘Available for Sale’ and ‘Held for Trading’ categories is recognised in the profit and loss account.
9. Market repurchase, reverse repurchase and transactions with RBI under Liquidity Adjustment Facility (LAF) are accounted for as borrowing and lending transactions in accordance with the extant RBI guidelines.
10. Broken period interest (the amount of interest from the previous interest payment date till the date of purchase/sale of instruments) on debt instruments is treated as a revenue item.
11. At the end of each reporting period, security receipts issued by the asset reconstruction companies are valued in accordance with the guidelines applicable to such instruments, prescribed by RBI from time to time. Accordingly, in cases where the cash flows from security receipts issued by the asset reconstruction companies are limited to the actual realisation of the financial assets assigned to the instruments in the concerned scheme, the Bank reckons the net asset value obtained from the asset reconstruction company from time to time, for valuation of such investments at each reporting period end. The security receipts which are outstanding and not redeemed as at the end of the resolution period are treated as loss assets and are fully provided for.
12. The Bank follows trade date method of accounting for purchase and sale of investments, except for government of India and state government securities where settlement date method of accounting is followed in accordance with RBI guidelines.
13. The Bank undertakes short sale transactions in dated central government securities in accordance with RBI guidelines. The short positions are categorised under HFT category and are marked to market. The mark-to-market loss is charged to profit and loss account and gain, if any, is ignored as per RBI guidelines.
3. Provision/write-offs on loans and other credit facilities
The Bank classifies its loans and investments, including at overseas branches and overdues arising from crystallised derivative contracts, into performing and NPAs in accordance with RBI guidelines. Loans and advances held at the overseas branches that are identified as impaired as per host country regulations for reasons other than record of recovery, but which are standard as per the extant RBI guidelines, are classified as NPAs to the extent of amount outstanding in the host country. Further, NPAs are classified into sub-standard, doubtful and loss assets based on the criteria stipulated by RBI.
in the case of corporate loans and advances, provisions are made for sub-standard and doubtful assets at rates prescribed by RBI. Loss assets and the unsecured portion of doubtful assets are provided/written-off as per the extant RBI guidelines. For loans and advances booked in overseas branches, which are standard as per the extant RBI guidelines but are classified as NPAs based on host country guidelines, provisions are made as per the host country regulations. For loans and advances booked in overseas branches, which are NPAs as per the extant RBI guidelines and as per host country guidelines, provisions are made at the higher of the provisions required under RBI regulations and host country regulations. Provisions on homogeneous retail loans and advances, subject to minimum provisioning requirements of RBI, are assessed on the basis of the ageing of the loans in the non-performing category. As per RBI guidelines, in respect of non-retail loans reported as fraud to RBI and classified in doubtful category, the entire amount, without considering the value of security, is provided for over a period not exceeding four quarters starting from the quarter in which fraud has been detected. In respect of non-retail loans where there has been delay in reporting the fraud to the RBI or which are classified as loss accounts, the entire amount is provided immediately. In case of fraud in retail accounts, the entire amount is provided immediately. In respect of borrowers classified as non-cooperative borrowers or willful defaulters, the Bank makes accelerated provisions as per extant RBI guidelines.
The Bank holds specific provisions against non-performing loans and advances and against certain performing loans and advances in accordance with RBI directions, including RBI direction for provision on accounts referred to the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016. The assessment of incremental specific provisions is made after taking into consideration the existing specific provision held. The specific provisions on retail loans and advances held by the Bank are higher than the minimum regulatory requirements.
a) Provision due to diminution in the fair value of restructured/rescheduled loans and advances is made in accordance with the applicable RBI guidelines.
Non-performing and restructured loans are upgraded to standard as per the extant RBI guidelines.
b) Amounts recovered against debts written-off in earlier years and provisions no longer considered necessary in the context of the current status of the borrower are recognised in the profit and loss account.
c) The Bank maintains general provision on performing loans and advances in accordance with the RBI guidelines, including provisions on loans to borrowers having unhedged foreign currency exposure, provisions on loans to specific borrowers in specific stressed sectors, provision on exposures to step-down subsidiaries of
Indian companies and provision on incremental exposure to borrowers identified as per RBI’s large exposure framework. For performing loans and advances in overseas branches, the general provision is made at higher of host country regulations requirement and RBI requirement.
d) I n addition to the provisions required to be held according to the asset classification status, provisions are held for individual country exposures including indirect country risk (other than for home country exposure). The countries are categorised into seven risk categories namely insignificant, low, moderately low, moderate, moderately high, high and very high, and provisioning is made on exposures exceeding 180 days on a graded scale ranging from 0.25% to 25%. For exposures with contractual maturity of less than 180 days, provision is required to be held at 25% of the rates applicable to exposures exceeding 180 days. The indirect exposure is reckoned at 50% of the exposure. If the country exposure (net) of the Bank in respect of each country does not exceed 1% of the total funded assets, no provision is required on such country exposure.
e) The Bank makes floating provision as per the Board approved policy, which is in addition to the specific and general provisions made by the Bank. The floating provision is utilised, with the approval of Board and RBI, in case of contingencies which do not arise in the normal course of business and are exceptional and non-recurring in nature and for making specific provision for impaired loans as per the requirement of extant RBI guidelines or any regulatory guidance/instructions. The floating provision is netted-off from advances.
4. Transfer and servicing of assets
The Bank transfers commercial and consumer loans through securitisation transactions. The transferred loans are de-recognised and gains/losses are accounted for, only if the Bank surrenders the rights to benefits specified in the underlying securitised loan contract. Recourse and servicing obligations are accounted for net of provisions.
In accordance with the RBI guidelines for securitisation of standard assets, with effect from February 1, 2006, the Bank accounts for any loss arising from securitisation immediately at the time of sale and the profit/premium arising from securitisation is amortised over the life of the securities issued or to be issued by the special purpose vehicle to which the assets are sold. With effect from May 7, 2012, the RBI guidelines require the profit/premium arising from securitisation to be amortised over the life of the transaction based on the method prescribed in the guidelines.
In accordance with RBI guidelines, in case of non-performing/special mention account-2 loans sold to securitisation company (SC)/reconstruction company (RC), the Bank reverses the excess provision in profit and loss account in the year in which amounts are received. Any shortfall of sale value over the net book value on sale of such assets is recognised by the Bank in the year in which the loan is sold.
5. Fixed assets
Fixed assets, other than premises, are carried at cost less accumulated depreciation and impairment, if any. Premises are carried at revalued amount, being fair value at the date of revaluation less accumulated depreciation. Cost includes freight, duties, taxes and incidental expenses related to the acquisition and installation of the asset. Depreciation is charged over the estimated useful life of fixed assets on a straight-line basis. The useful lives of the groups of fixed assets are given below.
a) Assets purchased/sold during the year are depreciated on a pro-rata basis for the actual number of days the asset has been capitalised.
b) Items individually costing upto Rs. 5,000/- are depreciated fully over a period of 12 months from the date of purchase.
c) Assets at residences of Bank’s employees are depreciated over the estimated useful life of 5 years.
d) I n case of revalued/impaired assets, depreciation is provided over the remaining useful life of the assets with reference to revised asset values. In case of premises, which are carried at revalued amounts, the depreciation on the excess of revalued amount over historical cost is transferred from Revaluation Reserve to General Reserve annually.
e) The profit on sale of premises is appropriated to capital reserve, net of transfer to Statutory Reserve and taxes, in accordance with RBI guidelines.
Non-banking assets
Non-Banking Assets (NBAs) acquired in satisfaction of claims are carried at lower of net book value and net realisable value. Further, the Bank creates provision on non-banking assets as per specific RBI directions.
6. Transactions involving foreign exchange
Foreign currency income and expenditure items of domestic operations are translated at the exchange rates prevailing on the date of the transaction. Income and expenditure items of integral foreign operations (representative offices) are translated at daily closing rates, and income and expenditure items of non-integral foreign operations (foreign branches and offshore banking units) are translated at quarterly average closing rates.
Monetary foreign currency assets and liabilities of domestic and integral foreign operations are translated at closing exchange rates notified by Foreign Exchange Dealers’ Association of India (FEDAI) relevant to the balance sheet date and the resulting gains/losses are included in the profit and loss account.
Both monetary and non-monetary foreign currency assets and liabilities of non-integral foreign operations are translated at relevant closing exchange rates notified by FEDAI at the balance sheet date and the resulting gains/losses from exchange differences are accumulated in the foreign currency translation reserve until the disposal of the net investment in the non-integral foreign operations. Pursuant to RBI guideline, the Bank does not recognise the cumulative/proportionate amount of such exchange differences as income or expenses, which relate to repatriation of accumulated retained earnings from overseas operations.
The premium or discount arising on inception of forward exchange contracts that are entered into to establish the amount of reporting currency required or available at the settlement date of a transaction is amortised over the life of the contract. All other outstanding forward exchange contracts are revalued based on the exchange rates notified by FEDAI for specified maturities and at interpolated rates for contracts of interim maturities. The contracts of longer maturities where exchange rates are not notified by FEDAI are revalued based on the forward exchange rates implied by the swap curves in respective currencies. The resultant gains or losses are recognised in the profit and loss account.
Contingent liabilities on account of guarantees, endorsements and other obligations denominated in foreign currencies are disclosed at the closing exchange rates notified by FEDAI relevant to the balance sheet date.
7. Accounting for derivative contracts
The Bank enters into derivative contracts such as interest rate and currency options, interest rate and currency futures, interest rate and currency swaps, credit default swaps and cross currency interest rate swaps.
The swap contracts entered to hedge on-balance sheet assets and liabilities are structured such that they bear an opposite and offsetting impact with the underlying on-balance sheet items. The impact of such derivative instruments is correlated with the movement of underlying assets and liabilities and accounted pursuant to the principles of hedge accounting. Hedge swaps are accounted for on an accrual basis and are not marked to market unless their underlying transaction is marked to market.
Foreign currency and rupee derivative contracts entered into for trading purposes are marked to market and the resulting gain or loss is accounted for in the profit and loss account. Pursuant to RBI guidelines, any receivables under derivative contracts which remain overdue for more than 90 days and mark-to-market gains on other derivative contracts with the same counter-parties are reversed through profit and loss account.
8. Employee Stock Option Scheme (ESOS)
The Employees Stock Option Scheme (the Scheme) provides for grant of options on the Bank’s equity shares to wholetime directors and employees of the Bank and its subsidiaries. The Scheme provides that employees are granted an option to subscribe to equity shares of the Bank that vest in a graded manner. The options may be exercised within a specified period. The Bank follows the intrinsic value method to account for its stock-based employee compensation plans. Compensation cost is measured as the excess, if any, of the fair market price of the underlying stock over the exercise price on the grant date and amortised over the vesting period. The fair market price is the latest closing price, immediately prior to the grant date, which is generally the date of the meeting of the Board Governance, Remuneration & Nomination Committee in which the options are granted, on the stock exchange on which the shares of the Bank are listed. If the shares are listed on more than one stock exchange, then the stock exchange where there is highest trading volume on the said date is considered.
9. Employee Benefits Gratuity
The Bank pays gratuity, a defined benefit plan, to employees who retire or resign after a minimum prescribed period of continuous service and in case of employees at overseas locations as per the rules in force in the respective countries. The Bank makes contribution to a trust which administers the funds on its own account or through insurance companies. The actuarial gains or losses arising during the year are recognised in the profit and loss account.
Actuarial valuation of the gratuity liability is determined by an actuary appointed by the Bank. Actuarial valuation of gratuity liability is determined based on certain assumptions regarding rate of interest, salary growth, mortality and staff attrition as per the projected unit credit method.
Superannuation Fund and National Pension Scheme
The Bank contributes 15.0% of the total annual basic salary of certain employees to superannuation funds, a defined contribution plan, managed and administered by insurance companies. Further, the Bank contributes 10.0% of the total basic salary of certain employees to National Pension Scheme (NPS), a defined contribution plan, which is managed and administered by pension fund management companies. The Bank also gives an option to its employees allowing them to receive the amount in lieu of such contributions along with their monthly salary during their employment.
The amounts so contributed/paid by the Bank to the superannuation fund and NPS or to employees during the year are recognised in the profit and loss account.
Pension
The Bank provides for pension, a defined benefit plan covering eligible employees of erstwhile Bank of Madura, erstwhile Sangli Bank and erstwhile Bank of Rajasthan. The Bank makes contribution to a trust which administers the funds on its own account or through insurance companies. The plan provides for pension payment including dearness relief on a monthly basis to these employees on their retirement based on the respective employee’s years of service with the Bank and applicable salary.
Actuarial valuation of the pension liability is determined by an actuary appointed by the Bank. Actuarial valuation of pension liability is calculated based on certain assumptions regarding rate of interest, salary growth, mortality and staff attrition as per the projected unit credit method. The actuarial gains or losses arising during the year are recognised in the profit and loss account.
Employees covered by the pension plan are not eligible for employer’s contribution under the provident fund plan.
Provident Fund
The Bank is statutorily required to maintain a provident fund, a defined benefit plan, as a part of retirement benefits to its employees. Each employee contributes a certain percentage of his or her basic salary and the Bank contributes an equal amount for eligible employees. The Bank makes contribution as required by The Employees’ Provident Funds and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952 to Employees’ Pension Scheme administered by the Regional Provident Fund Commissioner. The Bank makes balance contributions to a fund administered by trustees. The funds are invested according to the rules prescribed by the Government of India.
Actuarial valuation for the interest rate guarantee on the provident fund balances is determined by an actuary appointed by the Bank.
The actuarial gains or losses arising during the year are recognised in the profit and loss account.
The overseas branches of the Bank and its eligible employees contribute a certain percentage of their salary towards respective government schemes as per local regulatory guidelines. The contribution made by the overseas branches is recognised in profit and loss account at the time of contribution.
Compensated absences
The Bank provides for compensated absence based on actuarial valuation conducted by an independent actuary.
10. Income Taxes
Income tax expense is the aggregate amount of current tax and deferred tax expense incurred by the Bank. The current tax expense and deferred tax expense is determined in accordance with the provisions of the Income Tax Act, 1961 and as per Accounting Standard 22 - Accounting for Taxes on Income respectively. Deferred tax adjustments comprise changes in the deferred tax assets or liabilities during the year.
Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognised by considering the impact of timing differences between taxable income and accounting income for the current year, and carry forward losses. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using tax rates and tax laws that have been enacted or substantively enacted at the balance sheet date. The impact of changes in deferred tax assets and liabilities is recognised in the profit and loss account.
Deferred tax assets are recognised and re-assessed at each reporting date, based upon management’s judgement as to whether their realisation is considered as reasonably certain. However, in case of unabsorbed depreciation or carried forward loss, deferred tax assets will be recognised only if there is virtual certainty of realisation of such assets.
Minimum Alternate Tax (MAT) credit is recognised as an asset to the extent there is convincing evidence that the Bank will pay normal income tax during specified period, i.e. the period for which MAT credit is allowed to be carried forward as per prevailing provisions of the Income Tax Act, 1961. In accordance with the recommendation contained in the guidance note issued by ICAI, MAT credit is to be recognised as an asset in the year in which it becomes eligible for set off against normal income tax. The Bank reviews MAT credit entitlements at each balance sheet date and writes down the carrying amount to the extent there is no longer convincing evidence to the effect that the Bank will pay normal income tax during the specified period.
11. Impairment of Assets
The Bank follows revaluation model of accounting for its premises and the recoverable amount of the revalued assets is considered to be close to its revalued amount. Accordingly, separate assessment for impairment of premises is not required.
12. Provisions, contingent liabilities and contingent assets
The Bank estimates the probability of any loss that might be incurred on outcome of contingencies on the basis of information available up to the date on which the financial statements are prepared. A provision is recognised when an enterprise has a present obligation as a result of a past event and it is probable that an outflow of resources will be required to settle the obligation, in respect of which a reliable estimate can be made. Provisions are determined based on management estimates of amounts required to settle the obligation at the balance sheet date, supplemented by experience of similar transactions. These are reviewed at each balance sheet date and adjusted to reflect the current management estimates. In cases where the available information indicates that the loss on the contingency is reasonably possible but the amount of loss cannot be reasonably estimated, a disclosure to this effect is made in the financial statements. In case of remote possibility neither provision nor disclosure is made in the financial statements. The Bank does not account for or disclose contingent assets, if any.
The Bank estimates the probability of redemption of customer loyalty reward points using an actuarial method by employing an independent actuary and accordingly makes provision for these reward points. Actuarial valuation is determined based on certain assumptions regarding mortality rate, discount rate, cancellation rate and redemption rate.
13. Earnings per share (EPS)
Basic earnings per share is calculated by dividing the net profit or loss after tax for the year attributable to equity shareholders by the weighted average number of equity shares outstanding during the year.
Diluted earnings per share reflect the potential dilution that could occur if contracts to issue equity shares were exercised or converted during the year. Diluted earnings per equity share is computed using the weighted average number of equity shares and dilutive potential equity shares outstanding during the year, except where the results are anti-dilutive.
14. Lease transactions
Lease payments for assets taken on operating lease are recognised as an expense in the profit and loss account over the lease term on straight line basis.
15. Cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents include cash in hand, balances with RBI, balances with other banks and money at call and short notice.
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