Derivative instruments entered into to hedge identifiable foreign exchange and interest rate risks are accounted for in accordance with hedge accounting principles.
Forward foreign exchange contracts and options are put in place in order to hedge items recorded in the balance sheet (fair value hedges) and cash flows on highly probable future commercial transactions (cash flow hedges).
All foreign exchange hedging instruments are recorded on the balance sheet at their market value, including those which relate to purchases and sales in the next accounting period. Hence changes in the fair value of these hedging instruments is recorded in shareholders’ equity and the amount accumulated in shareholders’ equity impacts the result on the date of completion of hedged transactions.
Any remaining hedge ineffectiveness is recognised directly in the income statement.
In accordance with hedge accounting, unrealised exchange gains and losses relating to unsold inventories are deferred in the inventories item in the balance sheet. Similarly, if a currency hedge has been taken out in respect of fixed assets purchased with foreign currency, these assets are valued in the balance sheet on the basis of the hedging rate.
The Group may decide to hedge certain investments in foreign companies. Exchange gains or losses relating to these hedges are directly charged to consolidated equity, under the item Cumulative translation adjustments.
With regard to interest rate risk, fixed rate debt and financial loans hedged by interest rate swaps are valued in the balance sheet at their market value. Changes in the fair value of these items are recorded as finance costs and offset by adjustments to the fair value of the related hedging derivatives. Floating rate debt and financial loans are valued at cost, which corresponds to their market value. The swaps or caps which hedge these items are valued in the balance sheet at their market value, with changes in value recorded directly through equity on the Other comprehensive income item.
The fair value of interest rate derivative instruments is their market value. This market value is calculated by the discounted cash flow method at the interest rate effective at the closing date.
To manage its exposure to currency and interest rate risks arising in the course of its normal operations, the Group uses derivatives negotiated with counterparties rated investment grade.
In accordance with Group rules, currency and interest rate derivatives are set up exclusively for hedging purposes.
The Group is exposed to currency risk on commercial transactions recorded on the balance sheet and on highly probable future transactions.
The Group’s policy regarding its exposure to currency risk on future commercial transactions is to hedge, before the end of the year, a large part of the currency risk for the following year, using derivatives based on operating budgets in each subsidiary.
All the Group’s future foreign currency flows are analysed in detailed forecasts for the coming budgetary year. Any currency risks identified are hedged by forward contracts or options in order to reduce as far as possible the currency exposure of each subsidiary. The term of the derivatives is aligned with the Group’s settlements. Exchange rate derivatives are negotiated by FINVAL or, in exceptional cases, directly by the Group’s subsidiaries. Such transactions are supervised by the Group’s Treasury department.
As a non financial corporation, FINVAL is subject to the European Market Infrastructure Regulations (EMIR). Published by the European Commission in September 2012, EMIR is aimed at moving OTC markets towards a centralised model, thereby enhancing market transparency and regulatory oversight and decreasing systemic risk using a guarantee mechanism. As the Group’s companies must borrow and invest their cash in their own currency, the exchange rate risks generated by managing their own cash and debt are almost non existent.
Owing to the Group’s policy of currency risk hedging a large part of annual requirements for the following year before the end of the current year, the sensitivity of profit or loss to changes in foreign exchange rates at 31 December is marginal. The impact of changes in foreign exchange rates on the foreign exchange cash flow hedges reserve is described in note 11.3.
