| (g) | Derivative financial instruments including hedge accounting |
Derivatives are initially recognized at fair value. Subsequent to initial recognition, derivatives are measured at fair value, and changes therein are accounted for as described below.
i) Hedge accounting
The Group holds forward exchange contracts, interest rate swaps, currency swaps and other derivative contracts to manage interest rate risk and foreign exchange risk. The Group designated derivatives as hedging instruments to hedge the risk of changes in the fair value of assets, liabilities or firm commitments (a fair value hedge) and foreign currency risk of highly probable forecasted transactions or firm commitments (a cash flow hedge).
On initial designation of the hedge, the Group formally documents the relationship between the hedging instrument(s) and hedged item(s), including the risk management objectives and strategy in undertaking the hedge transaction, together with the methods that will be used to assess the effectiveness of the hedging relationship.
| • | Fair value hedge – Changes in the fair value of a derivative hedging instrument designated as a fair value hedge are recognized in profit or loss. The gain or loss from remeasuring the hedging instrument at fair value for a derivative hedging instrument and the gain or loss on the hedged item attributable to the hedged risk are recognized in profit or loss in the same line item of the consolidated statement of comprehensive income. The Group discontinues fair value hedge accounting if the hedging instrument expires or is sold, terminated or exercised, or if the hedge no longer meets the criteria for hedge accounting. Any adjustment arising from gain or loss on the hedged item attributable to the hedged risk is amortized to profit or loss from the date the hedge accounting is discontinued. |
| • | Cash flow hedge – When a derivative is designated to hedge the variability in cash flows attributable to a particular risk associated with a recognized asset or liability or a highly probable forecasted transaction that could affect profit or loss, the effective portion of changes in the fair value of the derivative is recognized in other comprehensive income, net of tax, and presented in the hedging reserve in equity. Any ineffective portion of changes in the fair value of the derivative is recognized immediately in profit or loss. If the hedging instrument no longer meets the criteria for hedge accounting, expires or is sold, terminated, exercised, or the designation is revoked, then hedge accounting is discontinued prospectively. The cumulative gain or loss on the hedging instrument that has been recognized in other comprehensive income is reclassified to profit or loss in the periods during which the forecasted transaction occurs. If the forecasted transaction is no longer expected to occur, then the balance in other comprehensive income is recognized immediately in profit or loss. |
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Hedge of net investment – Foreign currency differences arising on the retranslation of a derivative designated as a hedge of a net investment in a foreign operation are recognized in other comprehensive income to the extent that the hedge is effective. To the extent that the hedge is ineffective, such differences are recognized in profit or loss. When the hedged part of a net investment is disposed of, the relevant amount in the accumulated other comprehensive income is transferred to profit or loss as part of the profit or loss on disposal in accordance with IAS 21, ‘The Effects of Changes in Foreign Exchange Rates’. |
ii) Separable embedded derivatives
Embedded derivatives are separated from the host contract and accounted for separately only if the following criteria has been met: (a) the economic characteristics and risks of the embedded derivative are not closely related to those of the host contract; (b) a separate instrument with the same terms as the embedded derivative would meet the definition of a derivative; and (c) the hybrid instrument is not measured at fair value with changes in fair value recognized in profit or loss. Changes in the fair value of separable embedded derivatives are recognized immediately in profit or loss.
iii) Other derivative financial instruments
Changes in the fair value of other derivative financial instrument not designated as a hedging instrument are recognized immediately in profit or loss.
iv) Unobservable valuation differences at initial recognition
Any difference between the fair value of over the counter derivatives at initial recognition and the amount that would be determined at that date using a valuation technique in a situation in which the valuation is dependent on unobservable parameters is not recognized in profit or loss but is recognized on a straight-line basis over the life of the instrument or immediately when the fair value becomes observable.