Derivative financial instruments and hedging activities
Derivatives are initially recognized at fair value on the date a derivative contract is entered into and are subsequently remeasured at their fair value. Commodity future contract fair values are computed with reference to quoted market prices on future exchanges markets. The fair values of commodity options are calculated using year-end market rates together with common option pricing models. The fair value of interest rate swaps has been calculated using a discounted cash flow analysis.
The Group manages exposures to financial and commodity risks using hedging instruments that provide the appropriate economic outcome. The principal hedging instruments used may include commodity future contracts, put and call options, foreign exchange forward contracts and interest rate swaps. The Group does not use derivative financial instruments for speculative purposes.
The Group’s policy is to apply hedge accounting to hedging relationships where it is both permissible under IAS 39, practical to do so and its application reduces volatility, but transactions that may be effective hedges in economic terms may not always qualify for hedge accounting under IAS 39. Any derivatives that the Group holds to hedge these exposures are classified as “held for trading” and are shown in a separate line on the face of the statement of financial position. The method of recognizing gains or losses on derivatives depends on whether the derivative is designated as a hedging instrument, and if so, the nature of the item being hedged. Gains and losses on commodity derivatives are classified within “Other operating income, net”. Gains and losses on interest rate and foreign exchange rate derivatives are classified within ‘Financial results, net’. The Group designates certain derivatives as hedges of the foreign currency risk associated with highly probable forecast transactions (cash flow hedge).
The Group documents at the inception of the transaction the relationship between hedging instruments and hedged items, as well as its risk management objectives and strategy for undertaking various hedging transactions. The Group also documents its assessment, both at hedge inception and on an ongoing basis, of whether the instruments that are used in hedging transactions are highly effective in offsetting changes in fair value or cash flows of hedged items.
Cash flow hedge
The effective portion of the gain or loss on the instruments that are designated and qualify as cash flow hedges is recognized in other comprehensive income. The gain or loss relating to the ineffective portion is recognized immediately in the statement of income within "Finance income” or “Finance cost”, as appropriate.
Amounts accumulated in equity are reclassified to profit or loss in the periods when the hedged item affects profit or loss. The gain or loss relating to the effective portion is recognized in the statement of income within "Finance income” or “Finance cost”, as appropriate.
When a hedging instrument expires or is sold, or when a hedge no longer meets the criteria for hedge accounting, any cumulative gain or loss existing in equity at that time remains in equity and is recognized when the forecast transaction is ultimately recognized in the statement of income. When a forecast transaction is no longer expected to occur, the cumulative gain or loss that was reported in equity is immediately transferred to the statement of income.
