Annual Financial Report - Part 9

Assets pledged

Assets pledged as collateral include all assets categorised as encumbered in the disclosure on page 79 of the Pillar 3 Disclosures at 31 December 2021.

The amount of assets pledged to secure liabilities may be greater than the book value of assets utilised as collateral. For example, in the case of securitisations and covered bonds, the amount of liabilities issued plus mandatory over-collateralisation is less than the book value of the pool of assets available for use as collateral. This is also the case where assets are placed with a custodian or a settlement agent that has a floating charge over all the assets placed to secure any liabilities under settlement accounts.

These transactions are conducted under terms that are usual and customary for collateralised transactions including, where relevant, standard securities lending and borrowing, repurchase agreements and derivative margining. HSBC places both cash and non-cash collateral in relation to derivative transactions.

Hong Kong currency notes in circulation are secured by the deposit of funds in respect of which the Hong Kong Government certificates of indebtedness are held.

Collateral received

The fair value of assets accepted as collateral relating primarily to standard securities lending, reverse repurchase agreements, swaps of securities and derivative margining that HSBC is permitted to sell or repledge in the absence of default was $476,455m (2020: $447,101m). The fair value of any such collateral sold or repledged was $271,582m (2020: $246,520m).

HSBC is obliged to return equivalent securities. These transactions are conducted under terms that are usual and customary to standard securities lending, reverse repurchase agreements and derivative margining.

Assets transferred

The assets pledged include transfers to third parties that do not qualify for derecognition, notably secured borrowings such as debt securities held by counterparties as collateral under repurchase agreements and equity securities lent under securities lending agreements, as well as swaps of equity and debt securities. For secured borrowings, the transferred asset collateral continues to be recognised in full while a related liability, reflecting the Group's obligation to repurchase the assets for a fixed price at a future date, is also recognised on the balance sheet. Where securities are swapped, the transferred asset continues to be recognised in full. There is no associated liability as the non-cash collateral received is not recognised on the balance sheet. The Group is unable to use, sell or pledge the transferred assets for the duration of the transaction, and remains exposed to interest rate risk and credit risk on these pledged assets. With the exception of 'Other sales' in the following table, the counterparty's recourse is not limited to the transferred assets.

1 Principal associates are listed on recognised stock exchanges. The fair values are based on the quoted market prices of the shares held (Level 1 in the fair value hierarchy).

A list of all associates and joint ventures is set out in Note 38. 

Bank of Communications Co., Limited

The Group's investment in Bank of Communications Co., Limited ('BoCom') is classified as an associate. Significant influence in BoCom was established with consideration of all relevant factors, including representation on BoCom's Board of Directors and participation in a resource and experience sharing agreement ('RES'). Under the RES, HSBC staff have been seconded to assist in the maintenance of BoCom's financial and operating policies. Investments in associates are recognised using the equity method of accounting in accordance with IAS 28, whereby the investment is initially recognised at cost and adjusted thereafter for the post-acquisition change in the Group's share of BoCom's net assets. An impairment test is required if there is any indication of impairment.

Impairment testing

At 31 December 2021, the fair value of the Group's investment in BoCom had been below the carrying amount for approximately 10 years. As a result, the Group performed an impairment test on the carrying amount, which confirmed that there was no impairment at 31 December 2021 as the recoverable amount as determined by a value-in-use ('VIU') calculation was higher than the carrying value.

Compared with 31 December 2020, the extent to which the VIU exceeds the carrying value ('headroom') increased by $0.6bn. The increase in headroom was principally due to the impact on the VIU from BoCom's actual performance, which was better than earlier estimates, revisions to management's best estimates of BoCom's future earnings in the short to medium term, and the net impact of revisions to certain long-term assumptions.

In future periods, the VIU may increase or decrease depending on the effect of changes to model inputs. The main model inputs are described below and are based on factors observed at period-end. The factors that could result in a change in the VIU and an impairment include a short-term underperformance by BoCom, a change in regulatory capital requirements or an increase in uncertainty regarding the future performance of BoCom resulting in a downgrade of the forecast of future asset growth or profitability. An increase in the discount rate could also result in a reduction of VIU and an impairment. At the point where the carrying value exceeds the VIU, impairment would be recognised.

If the Group did not have significant influence in BoCom, the investment would be carried at fair value rather than the current carrying value.

Basis of recoverable amount

The impairment test was performed by comparing the recoverable amount of BoCom, determined by a VIU calculation, with its carrying amount. The VIU calculation uses discounted cash flow projections based on management's best estimates of future earnings available to ordinary shareholders prepared in accordance with IAS 36. Significant management judgement is required in arriving at the best estimate. There are two main components to the VIU calculation. The first component is management's best estimate of BoCom's earnings, which is based on explicit forecasts over the short to medium term. This results in forecast earnings growth that is lower than recent historical actual growth and also reflects the uncertainty arising from the current economic outlook. Reflecting management's intent to continue to retain its investment, earnings beyond the short to medium term are then extrapolated into perpetuity using a long-term growth rate to derive a terminal value, which comprises the majority of the VIU. The second component is the capital maintenance charge ('CMC'), which is management's forecast of the earnings that need to be withheld in order for BoCom to meet capital requirements over the forecast period, meaning that CMC is deducted when arriving at management's estimate of future earnings available to ordinary shareholders. The principal inputs to the CMC calculation include estimates of asset growth, the ratio of risk-weighted assets to total assets and the expected capital requirements. An increase in the CMC as a result of a change to these principal inputs would reduce VIU. Additionally, management considers other qualitative factors, to ensure that the inputs to the VIU calculation remain appropriate.

Key assumptions in value-in-use calculation

We used a number of assumptions in our VIU calculation, in accordance with the requirements of IAS 36:

• Long-term profit growth rate: 3% (2020: 3%) for periods after 2025, which does not exceed forecast GDP growth in mainland China and is consistent with forecasts by external analysts.

• Long-term asset growth rate: 3% (2020: 3%) for periods after 2025, which is the rate that assets are expected to grow to achieve long-term profit growth of 3%.

• Discount rate: 10.03% (2020: 11.37%) based on a capital asset pricing model ('CAPM'), using market data. The discount rate used is within the range of 8.7% to 10.1% (2020 equivalent range: 10.9% to 11.9%) indicated by the CAPM. The lower rate reflects the impact of a relative reduction in the volatility of Chinese banks' equity prices and a decrease in mainland China's credit risk due to its relatively quick recovery from the impact of the Covid-19 outbreak. While the CAPM range sits at the lower end of the range adopted by selected external analysts of 9.9% to 13.5% (2020: 10.3% to 15.0%), we continue to regard the CAPM range as the most appropriate basis for determining this assumption.

• Expected credit losses as a percentage of customer advances ('ECL'): ranges from 0.98% to 1.12% (2020: 0.98% to 1.22%) in the short to medium term, reflecting reported credit experience through the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic in mainland China followed by an expected reversion to recent historical levels. For periods after 2025, the ratio is 0.97% (2020: 0.88%), which is higher than BoCom's average ECL in recent years prior to the Covid-19 outbreak.

• Risk-weighted assets as a percentage of total assets: ranges from 61.0% to 62.4% (2020: 61.0% to 62.0%) in the short to medium term, reflecting reductions that may arise from a subsequent lowering of ECL and a continuation of the trend of strong retail loan growth. For periods after 2025, the ratio is 61.0% (2020: 61.0%). These rates are similar to BoCom's actual results in recent years and forecasts disclosed by external analysts.

• Operating income growth rate: ranges from 5.1% to 6.2% (2020: 3.5% to 6.7%) in the short to medium term, and is lower than BoCom's actual results in recent years and the forecasts disclosed by external analysts, reflecting BoCom's most recent actual results, global trade tensions and industry developments in mainland China.

• Cost-income ratio: ranges from 35.5% to 36.1% (2020: 36.3% to 36.8%) in the short to medium term. These ratios are similar to BoCom's actual results in recent years and forecasts disclosed by external analysts.

• Effective tax rate ('ETR'): ranges from 6.8% to 15.0% (2020: 7.8% to 16.5%) in the short to medium term, reflecting BoCom's actual results and an expected increase towards the long-term assumption through the forecast period. For periods after 2025, the rate is 15.0% (2020: 16.8%), which is higher than the recent historical average, and aligned to the minimum tax rate as proposed by the OECD/G20 Inclusive Framework on Base Erosion and Profit Shifting.

• Capital requirements: capital adequacy ratio ('CAR') of 12.5% (2020: 11.5%) and tier 1 capital adequacy ratio of 9.5% (2020: 9.5%), based on BoCom's capital risk appetite and capital requirements respectively. The CAR assumption was updated to 12.5% from 11.5% following the approval of BoCom's capital management plan in March 2021.

The following table shows the change to each key assumption in the VIU calculation that on its own would reduce the headroom to nil:

The following table further illustrates the impact on VIU of reasonably possible changes to key assumptions. This reflects the sensitivity of the VIU to each key assumption on its own and it is possible that more than one favourable and/or unfavourable change may occur at the same time. The selected rates of reasonably possible changes to key assumptions are largely based on external analysts' forecasts, which can change period to period.

1 The reasonably possible ranges of the long-term profit growth rate and long-term asset growth rate assumptions reflect the close relationship between these assumptions, which would result in offsetting changes to each assumption.

2 The unfavourable change in the reasonably possible ranges of the discount rate assumption reflects the impact of adopting the average of the rates adopted by selected external analysts.

Considering the interrelationship of the changes set out in the table above, management estimates that the reasonably possible range of VIU is $19.0bn to $29.3bn (2020 equivalent range: $17.2bn to $25.7bn). The range is based on impacts set out in the table above arising from the favourable/unfavourable change in the earnings in the short to medium term, the long-term expected credit losses as a percentage of customer advances, and a 50bps increase/decrease in the discount rate. The discount rate has been included this year, reflecting the relative materiality of movements in this assumption. All other long-term assumptions and the basis of the CMC have been kept unchanged when determining the reasonably possible range of the VIU.

Selected financial information of BoCom

The statutory accounting reference date of BoCom is 31 December. For the year ended 31 December 2021, HSBC included the associate's results on the basis of the financial statements for the 12 months ended 30 September 2021, taking into account changes in the subsequent period from 1 October 2021 to 31 December 2021 that would have materially affected the results.

The Saudi British Bank

The Group's investment in The Saudi British Bank ('SABB') is classified as an associate. HSBC is the largest shareholder in SABB with a shareholding of 31%. Significant influence in SABB is established via representation on the Board of Directors. Investments in associates are recognised using the equity method of accounting in accordance with IAS 28, as described previously for BoCom.

Impairment testing

There were no indicators of impairment at 31 December 2021. The fair value of the Group's investment in SABB of $5.6bn was above the carrying amount of $4.4bn.

Details of the debt, subordinated debt and preference shares issued by the main subsidiaries to parties external to the Group are included in Note 25 'Debt securities in issue' and Note 28 'Subordinated liabilities', respectively.

A list of all related undertakings is set out in Note 38. The principal countries of operation are the same as the countries and territories of incorporation except for HSBC Life (International) Limited, which operates mainly in Hong Kong.

HSBC is structured as a network of regional banks and locally incorporated regulated banking entities. Each bank is separately capitalised in accordance with applicable prudential requirements and maintains a capital buffer consistent with the Group's risk appetite for the relevant country or region. HSBC's capital management process is incorporated in the annual operating plan, which is approved by the Board.

HSBC Holdings is the primary provider of equity capital to its subsidiaries and also provides them with non-equity capital where necessary. These investments are substantially funded by HSBC Holdings' issuance of equity and non-equity capital, and by profit retention. The net increase in investments in subsidiaries was partly due to the reversal of impairment of HSBC Overseas Holdings (UK) Limited of $3.1bn. The cumulative impairment for HSBC Overseas Holdings (UK) Limited as at 31 December 2021 is $7.2bn. It is reasonably possible that outcomes in the future may be different from the assumptions made as at December 2021 that could require a material change to the carrying amount of HSBC Overseas Holdings (UK) Limited. The carrying value is $33.1bn as at 31 December 2021 (2020:$30.7bn).

As part of its capital management process, HSBC Holdings seeks to maintain a balance between the composition of its capital and its investment in subsidiaries. Subject to this, there is no current or foreseen impediment to HSBC Holdings' ability to provide funding for such investments. During 2021, consistent with the Group's capital plan, the Group's subsidiaries did not experience any significant restrictions on paying dividends or repaying loans and advances. Also, there are no foreseen restrictions envisaged with regard to planned dividends or payments. However, the ability of subsidiaries to pay dividends or advance monies to HSBC Holdings depends on, among other things, their respective local regulatory capital and banking requirements, exchange controls, statutory reserves, and financial and operating performance.

The amount of guarantees by HSBC Holdings in favour of other Group entities is set out in Note 32.

Information on structured entities consolidated by HSBC where HSBC owns less than 50% of the voting rights is included in Note 20 'Structured entities'. In each of these cases, HSBC controls and consolidates an entity when it is exposed, or has rights, to variable returns from its involvement with the entity and has the ability to affect those returns through its power over the entity.

HSBC is mainly involved with both consolidated and unconsolidated structured entities through the securitisation of financial assets, conduits and investment funds, established either by HSBC or a third party.

Consolidated structured entities

Conduits

HSBC has established and manages two types of conduits: securities investment conduits ('SICs') and multi-seller conduits.

Securities investment conduits

The SICs purchase highly rated ABSs to facilitate tailored investment opportunities.

• At 31 December 2021, Solitaire, HSBC's principal SIC, held $1.6bn of ABSs (2020: $1.9bn). It is currently funded entirely by commercial paper ('CP') issued to HSBC. At 31 December 2021, HSBC held $1.8bn of CP (2020: $2.1bn).

Multi-seller conduit

HSBC's multi-seller conduit was established to provide access to flexible market-based sources of finance for its clients. Currently, HSBC bears risk equal to the transaction-specific facility offered to the multi-seller conduit, amounting to $6.7bn at 31 December 2021 (2020: $9.6bn). First loss protection is provided by the originator of the assets, and not by HSBC, through transaction-specific credit enhancements. A layer of secondary loss protection is provided by HSBC in the form of programme-wide enhancement facilities.

Securitisations

HSBC uses structured entities to securitise customer loans and advances it originates in order to diversify its sources of funding for asset origination and capital efficiency purposes. The loans and advances are transferred by HSBC to the structured entities for cash or synthetically through credit default swaps, and the structured entities issue debt securities to investors.

HSBC managed funds

HSBC has established a number of money market and non-money market funds. Where it is deemed to be acting as principal rather than agent in its role as investment manager, HSBC controls these funds.

Other

HSBC has entered into a number of transactions in the normal course of business, which include asset and structured finance transactions where it has control of the structured entity. In addition, HSBC is deemed to control a number of third-party managed funds through its involvement as a principal in the funds.

Unconsolidated structured entities

The term 'unconsolidated structured entities' refers to all structured entities not controlled by HSBC. The Group enters into transactions with unconsolidated structured entities in the normal course of business to facilitate customer transactions and for specific investment opportunities.

The maximum exposure to loss from HSBC's interests in unconsolidated structured entities represents the maximum loss it could incur as a result of its involvement with these entities regardless of the probability of the loss being incurred.

• For commitments, guarantees and written credit default swaps, the maximum exposure to loss is the notional amount of potential future losses.

• For retained and purchased investments and loans to unconsolidated structured entities, the maximum exposure to loss is the carrying value of these interests at the balance sheet reporting date.

The maximum exposure to loss is stated gross of the effects of hedging and collateral arrangements that HSBC has entered into in order to mitigate the Group's exposure to loss.

Securitisations

HSBC has interests in unconsolidated securitisation vehicles through holding notes issued by these entities. In addition, HSBC has investments in ABSs issued by third-party structured entities.

HSBC managed funds

HSBC establishes and manages money market funds and non-money market investment funds to provide customers with investment opportunities. Further information on funds under management is provided on page 104.

HSBC, as fund manager, may be entitled to receive management and performance fees based on the assets under management. HSBC may also retain units in these funds.

Non-HSBC managed funds

HSBC purchases and holds units of third-party managed funds in order to facilitate business and meet customer needs.

Other

HSBC has established structured entities in the normal course of business, such as structured credit transactions for customers, to provide finance to public and private sector infrastructure projects, and for asset and structured finance transactions.

In addition to the interests disclosed above, HSBC enters into derivative contracts, reverse repos and stock borrowing transactions with structured entities. These interests arise in the normal course of business for the facilitation of third-party transactions and risk management solutions.

HSBC sponsored structured entities

The amount of assets transferred to and income received from such sponsored structured entities during 2021 and 2020 were not significant.

1 Included within other intangible assets is internally generated software with a net carrying value of $5,430m (2020: $4,452m). During the year, capitalisation of internally generated software was $2,373m (2020: $1,934m), impairment was $137m (2020: $1,322m) and amortisation was $1,183m (2020: $1,085m).

Goodwill

Impairment testing

The Group's impairment test in respect of goodwill allocated to each cash-generating unit ('CGU') is performed at 1 October each year. A review for indicators of impairment is undertaken at each subsequent quarter-end and at 31 December 2021.

As a result of the 1 October 2021 annual impairment test, we recognised $0.6bn of goodwill impairment related to the Latin America - WPB CGU. Impairment resulted from a combination of factors, including our macroeconomic outlook and the impact of inflationary pressure on judgements made to estimate value in use ('VIU'). Significant inputs to the VIU calculation are discussed in more detail within 'Basis of the recoverable amount' below. Management considered the sensitivity of certain assumptions, in particular the discount rate, and the outcome of reasonably possible alternative scenarios. This resulted in full impairment of goodwill allocated to Latin America - WPB.

Basis of the recoverable amount

The recoverable amount of all CGUs to which goodwill has been allocated was equal to its value in use at each respective testing date. The VIU is calculated by discounting management's cash flow projections for the CGU. The key assumptions used in the VIU calculation for each individually significant CGU that is not impaired are discussed below.

At 1 October 2021, aggregate goodwill of $2,108m (1 October 2020: $2,059m) had been allocated to CGUs that were not considered individually significant. The Group's CGUs do not carry on their balance sheets any significant intangible assets with indefinite useful lives, other than goodwill.

Management's judgement in estimating the cash flows of a CGU

The cash flow projections for each CGU are based on forecast profitability plans approved by the Board and minimum capital levels required to support the business operations of a CGU. The Board challenges and endorses planning assumptions in light of internal capital allocation decisions necessary to support our strategy, current market conditions and macroeconomic outlook including climate risk. For the 1 October 2021 impairment test, cash flow projections until the end of 2026 were considered, in line with our internal planning horizon. As required by IFRSs, estimates of future cash flows exclude estimated cash inflows or outflows that are expected to arise from restructuring initiatives before an entity has a constructive obligation to carry out the plan, and would therefore have recognised a provision for restructuring costs.

Discount rate

The rate used to discount the cash flows is based on the cost of equity assigned to each CGU, which is derived using a capital asset pricing model ('CAPM') and market implied cost of equity. CAPM depends on a number of inputs reflecting financial and economic variables, including the risk-free rate and a premium to reflect the inherent risk of the business being evaluated. These variables are based on the market's assessment of the economic variables and management's judgement. The discount rates for each CGU are refined to reflect the rates of inflation for the countries within which the CGU operates. In addition, for the purposes of testing goodwill for impairment, management supplements this process by comparing the discount rates derived using the internally generated CAPM, with the cost of equity rates produced by external sources for businesses operating in similar markets.

Long-term growth rate

The long-term growth rate is used to extrapolate the cash flows in perpetuity because of the long-term perspective within the Group of business units making up the CGUs. These growth rates reflect inflation for the countries within which the CGU operates or from which it derives revenue.

Sensitivities of key assumptions in calculating VIU

At 1 October 2021, Europe - WPB was sensitive to reasonably possible adverse changes in key assumptions supporting the recoverable amount. In making an estimate of reasonably possible changes to assumptions, management considers the available evidence in respect of each input to the VIU calculation, such as the external range of discount rates observable, historical performance against forecast and risks attaching to the key assumptions underlying cash flow projections. A reasonable change in a single key assumption may not result in impairment, although taken together a combination of reasonable changes in key assumptions could result in a recoverable amount that is lower than the CGU's carrying amount.

Other intangible assets

Impairment testing

Impairment of other intangible assets is assessed in accordance with our policy explained in Note 1.2(n) by comparing the net carrying amount of CGUs containing intangible assets with their recoverable amounts. Recoverable amounts are determined by calculating an estimated VIU or fair value, as appropriate, for each CGU. No significant impairment was recognised during the year.

In 2020, having considered the pervasive macroeconomic deterioration caused by the outbreak of Covid-19, along with the impact of forecast profitability in some businesses, we recognised $1.3bn of capitalised software impairment related principally to businesses within HSBC Bank plc, our non-ring-fenced bank in Europe, and to a lesser degree businesses within HSBC USA Inc. This impairment reflected underperformance and deterioration in the future forecasts of these businesses, substantially relating to prior periods in HSBC Bank plc.

Key assumptions in VIU calculation

We used a number of assumptions in our VIU calculation, in accordance with the requirements of IAS 36:

• Management's judgement in estimating future cash flows: We considered past business performance, current market conditions and our macroeconomic outlook to estimate future earnings. As required by IFRSs, estimates of future cash flows exclude estimated cash inflows or outflows that are expected to arise from restructuring initiatives before an entity has a constructive obligation to carry out the plan, and would therefore have recognised a provision for restructuring costs. For some businesses, this means that the benefit of certain strategic actions may not be included in the impairment assessment, including capital releases.

• Long-term growth rates: The long-term growth rate is used to extrapolate the cash flows in perpetuity because of the long-term perspective of the businesses within the Group.

• Discount rates: Rates are based on a combination of CAPM and market-implied calculations considering market data for the businesses and geographies in which the Group operates.

Future software capitalisation

We will continue to invest in digital capabilities to meet our strategic objectives. However, software capitalisation within businesses where impairment was identified will not resume until the performance outlook for each business indicates future profits are sufficient to support capitalisation. The cost of additional software investment in these businesses will be recognised as an operating expense until such time.

Sensitivity of estimates relating to non-financial assets

As explained in Note 1.2(a), estimates of future cash flows for CGUs are made in the review of goodwill and non-financial assets for impairment. Non-financial assets include other intangible assets shown above, and owned property, plant and equipment and right-of-use assets (see Note 22). The most significant sources of estimation uncertainty are in respect of the goodwill balances disclosed above. There are no non-financial asset balances relating to individual CGUs which involve estimation uncertainty that represents a significant risk of resulting in a material adjustment to the results and financial position of the Group within the next financial year.

Non-financial assets are widely distributed across CGUs within the legal entities of the Group, including Corporate Centre assets that cannot be allocated to CGUs and are therefore tested for impairment at consolidated level. The recoverable amounts of other intangible assets, owned property, plant and equipment, and right-of-use assets cannot be lower than individual asset fair values less costs to dispose, where relevant. At 31 December 2021 none of the CGUs were sensitive to reasonably possible adverse changes in key assumptions supporting the recoverable amount. In making an estimate of reasonably possible changes to assumptions, management considers the available evidence in respect of each input to the VIU calculation, such as the external range of discount rates observable, historical performance against forecast and risks attaching to the key assumptions underlying cash flow projections.

Present value of in-force long-term insurance business

When calculating the present value of in-force long-term ('PVIF') insurance business, expected cash flows are projected after adjusting for a variety of assumptions made by each insurance operation to reflect local market conditions, and management's judgement of future trends and uncertainty in the underlying assumptions is reflected by applying margins (as opposed to a cost of capital methodology) including valuing the cost of policyholder options and guarantees using stochastic techniques.

Actuarial Control Committees of each key insurance entity meet on a quarterly basis to review and approve PVIF assumptions. All changes to non-economic assumptions, economic assumptions that are not observable and model methodologies must be approved by the Actuarial Control Committee.

1 'Expected return' represents the unwinding of the discount rate and reversal of expected cash flows for the period.

1

Assumption changes and experience variances

Included within this line item are:

• $59m (2020: $132m), directly offsetting interest rate-driven changes to the valuation of liabilities under insurance contracts;

• $(324)m (2020: $247m), reflecting the future expected sharing of returns with policyholders on contracts with discretionary participation features ('DPF'), to the extent this sharing is not already included in liabilities under insurance contracts; and

• $160m (2020: $225m), driven by other assumptions changes and experience variances.

Key assumptions used in the computation of PVIF for main life insurance operations

Economic assumptions are set in a way that is consistent with observable market values. The valuation of PVIF is sensitive to observed market movements and the impact of such changes is included in the sensitivities presented below.

1 For 2021, the calculation of France's PVIF assumes a risk discount rate of 1.55% (2020: 1.34%) plus a risk margin of $215m (2020: $213m).

Sensitivity to changes in economic assumptions

The Group sets the risk discount rate applied to the PVIF calculation by starting from a risk-free rate curve and adding explicit allowances for risks not reflected in the best-estimate cash flow modelling. Where the insurance operations provide options and guarantees to policyholders, the cost of these options and guarantees is accounted for as a deduction from the PVIF asset, unless the cost of such guarantees is already allowed for as an explicit addition to liabilities under insurance contracts. For further details of these guarantees and the impact of changes in economic assumptions on our insurance manufacturing subsidiaries, see page 214.

Sensitivity to changes in non-economic assumptions

Policyholder liabilities and PVIF are determined by reference to non-economic assumptions, including mortality and/or morbidity, lapse rates and expense rates. For further details on the impact of changes in non-economic assumptions on our insurance manufacturing operations, see page 216.

1 'Assets held for sale' includes $2.6bn of loans and advances to customers that were classified as assets held for sale, reflecting our exit of mass market retail banking in the US.

Prepayments, accrued income and other assets include $91,045m (2020: $105,469m) of financial assets, the majority of which are measured at amortised cost.

1 'Deposits by banks' and 'Customer accounts' include repos, stock lending and other amounts.

1

1 Structured deposits placed at HSBC Bank USA are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, a US government agency, up to $250,000 per depositor.

The carrying amount of financial liabilities designated at fair value was $827m more than the contractual amount at maturity. The cumulative amount of change in fair value attributable to changes in credit risk was a loss of $2,084m (2020: loss of $2,542m).

The carrying amount of financial liabilities designated at fair value was $1,766m more than the contractual amount at maturity(2020: $3,019m more). The cumulative amount of change in fair value attributable to changes in credit risk was a loss of $951m (2020: $1,210m).

 1 Includes $8.8bn of customer accounts that were classified as liabilities of disposal groups held for sale, reflecting our exit of mass market retail banking in the US.

Accruals, deferred income and other liabilities include $111,887m (2020: $120,229m) of financial liabilities, the majority of which are measured at amortised cost.

1 Contractual commitments include the provision for contingent liabilities measured under IFRS 9 'Financial Instruments' in respect of financial guarantees and the expected credit loss provision on off-balance sheet guarantees and commitments.

Further details of 'Legal proceedings and regulatory matters' are set out in Note 34. Legal proceedings include civil court, arbitration or tribunal proceedings brought against HSBC companies (whether by way of claim or counterclaim) or civil disputes that may, if not settled, result in court, arbitration or tribunal proceedings. Regulatory matters refer to investigations, reviews and other actions carried out by, or in response to the actions of, regulators or law enforcement agencies in connection with alleged wrongdoing by HSBC.

Customer remediation refers to HSBC's activities to compensate customers for losses or damages associated with a failure to comply with regulations or to treat customers fairly. Customer remediation is often initiated by HSBC in response to customer complaints and/or industry developments in sales practices and is not necessarily initiated by regulatory action. Further details of customer remediation are set out in this note.

At 31 December 2021, $173m (2020: $328m) of the customer remediation provision related to the estimated liability for redress in respect of the possible mis-selling of payment protection insurance ('PPI') policies in previous years. Of the $328m balance at 31 December 2020, $192m was utilised during 2021 and the provision was increased by $37m.

At 31 December 2021, a provision of $87m (2020: $302m) was held relating to the estimated liability for redress payable to customers following a review of historical collections and recoveries practices in the UK. During 2021, redress payments and incurred operating costs totalled $197m, in addition to the net release of $18m of provision. This release reflect the actual number of customers impacted and cost of redress paid, which were lower than has been previously estimated.

For further details of the impact of IFRS 9 on undrawn loan commitments and financial guarantees, presented in 'Contractual commitments', see Note 32. This provision results from the adoption of IFRS 9 and has no comparatives. Further analysis of the movement in the expected credit loss provision is disclosed within the 'Reconciliation of allowances for loans and advances to banks and customers including loan commitments and financial guarantees' table on page 153.

Subordinated liabilities rank behind senior obligations and generally count towards the capital base of HSBC. Capital securities may be called and redeemed by HSBC subject to prior notification to the PRA and, where relevant, the consent of the local banking regulator. If not redeemed at the first call date, coupons payable may reset or become floating rate based on relevant market rates. On subordinated liabilities other than floating rate notes, interest is payable at fixed rates of up to 10.176%.

The balance sheet amounts disclosed in the following table are presented on an IFRS basis and do not reflect the amount that the instruments contribute to regulatory capital, principally due to regulatory amortisation and regulatory eligibility limits.

1 See paragraph below, 'Guaranteed by HSBC Holdings or HSBC Bank plc'.

2 The interest rate payable after June 2030 is the sum of the three-month Libor plus 4.98%.

3 The interest rate payable after November 2031 is the sum of the compounded daily Sonia rate plus 2.0366%.

4 The interest rate payable after November 2025 is the sum of the compounded daily Sonia rate plus 1.6193%.

5 These securities are ineligible for inclusion in the capital base of HSBC.

6 The interest rate payable after November 2022 is 6.05%.

7 These securities matured in 2021 and were redeemed.

8 HSBC tendered for these securities in November 2019. The principal balance is $357m and $383m respectively. The original notional values of these securities are $1,000m and $750m respectively.

9 HSBC tendered for these securities in 2017. In January 2018, a further tender was conducted. The principal balance is $509m. The original notional of these securities is $2,939m. This instrument matured and settled in January 2021.

10 These securities are included in the capital base of HSBC, in accordance with the grandfathering provisions under CRR II. In 2021, securities of $49m matured and were redeemed, and in addition approximately $109m were redeemed in June 2021 in relation to securities that matured at 31 December 2020. The latter were no longer eligible for inclusion in the capital base of HSBC at the end of 2020.

1 Amounts owed to third parties represent securities included in the capital base of HSBC as tier 2 securities in accordance with the grandfathering provisions under CRR II.

2 These securities are included in the capital base of HSBC as fully CRR II-compliant tier 2 securities on an end point basis.

3 These subordinated notes are measured at amortised cost in HSBC Holdings, where the interest rate risk is hedged using a fair value hedge, while they are measured at fair value in the Group.

Guaranteed by HSBC Holdings or HSBC Bank plc

Capital securities guaranteed by HSBC Holdings or HSBC Bank plc were issued by the Jersey limited partnerships. The proceeds of these were lent to the respective guarantors by the limited partnerships in the form of subordinated notes. They qualified as additional tier 1 capital for HSBC under CRR II until 31 December 2021 by virtue of the application of grandfathering provisions. The capital security guaranteed by HSBC Bank plc also qualified as additional tier 1 capital for HSBC Bank plc (on a solo and a consolidated basis) under CRR II until 31 December 2021 by virtue of the same grandfathering process. Since 31 December 2021, these securities have no longer qualified as regulatory capital for HSBC or HSBC Bank plc.

These preferred securities, together with the guarantee, are intended to provide investors with rights to income and capital distributions and distributions upon liquidation of the relevant issuer that are equivalent to the rights that they would have had if they had purchased non-cumulative perpetual preference shares of the relevant issuer. There are limitations on the payment of distributions if such payments are prohibited under UK banking regulations or other requirements, if a payment would cause a breach of HSBC's capital adequacy requirements, or if HSBC Holdings or HSBC Bank plc has insufficient distributable reserves (as defined).

HSBC Holdings and HSBC Bank plc have individually covenanted that, if prevented under certain circumstances from paying distributions on the preferred securities in full, they will not pay dividends or other distributions in respect of their ordinary shares, or repurchase or redeem their ordinary shares, until the distribution on the preferred securities has been paid in full.

If the consolidated total capital ratio of HSBC Holdings falls below the regulatory minimum required or if the Directors expect it to do so in the near term, provided that proceedings have not been commenced for the liquidation, dissolution or winding up of HSBC Holdings, the holders' interests in the preferred securities guaranteed by HSBC Holdings will be exchanged for interests in preference shares issued by HSBC Holdings that have economic terms which are in all material respects equivalent to the preferred securities and their guarantee.

If the preferred securities guaranteed by HSBC Bank plc are outstanding in November 2048, or if the total capital ratio of HSBC Bank plc (on a solo or consolidated basis) falls below the regulatory minimum required, or if the Directors expect it to do so in the near term, provided that proceedings have not been commenced for the liquidation, dissolution or winding up of HSBC Bank plc, the holders' interests in the preferred security guaranteed by HSBC Bank plc will be exchanged for interests in preference shares issued by HSBC Bank plc that have economic terms which are in all material respects equivalent to the preferred security and its guarantee.

Tier 2 securities

The table on page 374 provides an analysis of consolidated total assets, liabilities and off-balance sheet commitments by residual contractual maturity at the balance sheet date. These balances are included in the maturity analysis as follows:

• Trading assets and liabilities (including trading derivatives but excluding reverse repos, repos and debt securities in issue) are included in the 'Due not more than 1 month' time bucket, because trading balances are typically held for short periods of time.

• Financial assets and liabilities with no contractual maturity (such as equity securities) are included in the 'Due over 5 years' time bucket. Undated or perpetual instruments are classified based on the contractual notice period, which the counterparty of the instrument is entitled to give. Where there is no contractual notice period, undated or perpetual contracts are included in the 'Due over 5 years' time bucket.

• Non-financial assets and liabilities with no contractual maturity are included in the 'Due over 5 years' time bucket.

• Financial instruments included within assets and liabilities of disposal groups held for sale are classified on the basis of the contractual maturity of the underlying instruments and not on the basis of the disposal transaction.

• Liabilities under insurance contracts are irrespective of contractual maturity included in the 'Due over 5 years' time bucket in the maturity table provided below. An analysis of the expected maturity of liabilities under insurance contracts based on undiscounted cash flows is provided on page 215. Liabilities under investment contracts are classified in accordance with their contractual maturity. Undated investment contracts are included in the 'Due over 5 years' time bucket, although such contracts are subject to surrender and transfer options by the policyholders.

• Loan and other credit-related commitments are classified on the basis of the earliest date they can be drawn down.

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HSBC