| 2.8 | Derivative financial instruments and hedging accounting |
A derivative is a financial instrument whose value changes in response to changes in one or more variables denominated as an “underlying” (a specific interest rate, the price of a financial instrument, a listed commodity, a foreign currency exchange rate, etc.), that has an initial net investment smaller than would be required for other instruments that have a similar response to the mentioned variable and that is settled in a future date.
Grupo Aval trades in financial markets, forward contracts, future contracts, swaps and options that fulfil the definition of a derivative.
Derivative transactions are initially recognized at fair value. Subsequent changes in the fair value are recognized in profit or loss, unless the derivative instrument is designated as a hedging instrument and, in this case, the accounting criteria will depend on the nature of the hedged item, as described below:
| · | For fair value hedge of assets or liabilities and firm commitments, changes in the fair value of the derivative instrument are recognized in profit or loss, as well as any other change in the fair value of the asset, liability or firm commitment attributable to the hedge risk. |
| · | For cash flow hedge of a particular risk associated with a recognized asset or liability or a projected highly probable transaction, the effective portion of changes in the fair value of the derivative is recognized in other comprehensive income. The gain or loss relating to the portion that is not effective for hedging or that does not relate to the hedged risk is immediately recognized in profit or loss. |
The values accumulated in other comprehensive income are transferred to profit or loss in the same period in which the hedged item is recognized in profit or loss.
| · | Hedging of net investments in a foreign operation is recognized similarly to cash flow hedging: the effective portion of changes in fair value of the hedging instrument is recognized in other comprehensive income, and the ineffective portion of the changes in fair value of the derivative is recognized in profit or loss. The hedging instrument's gains or losses accumulated in equity will be recognized in profit or loss when the net investment in foreign operations is sold in whole or proportionally, if partially disposed of. |
At the beginning of the hedging transaction, Grupo Aval formally documents the relationship existing between the hedging instrument and the hedged item, including the risk management objective and strategy in undertaking the hedging relationship. It also documents its assessment, both initially as well as on a recurring basis, of whether the hedging relationship is highly effective in offsetting the changes in fair value or cash flows of the hedged items.
Financial assets and liabilities from transactions with derivatives are not offset in the consolidated statement of financial position. However, when there is a legal and exercisable right to offset the recognized values and Grupo Aval intends to be settle them on a net basis or to realize the assets and settle the liability simultaneously, derivatives are presented as net values in the consolidated statement of financial position.
