4.12
Derivatives and hedge accounting

Accounting estimates

Accell Group makes estimates to determine the fair value of derivative financial instruments (see accounting policies in note 4.14).

Accounting policy

Accell Group holds derivative financial instruments to hedge its foreign currency and interest rate risk exposures and not as speculative investments. Derivatives are initially measured at fair value; any directly attributable transaction costs are recognised in profit or loss as incurred. Subsequent to initial recognition, derivatives are measured at fair value, and changes therein are recognised in profit or loss except when the derivate is designated as a qualifying cash flow hedging instrument. Derivatives are presented as assets when the fair value is positive and as liabilities when the fair value is negative.

i. Classification of derivatives
Derivatives are only used for economic hedging purposes and not as speculative investments. The accounting policy for the cash flow hedges is set out in section iv. 

ii. Hedge reserves
The hedge reserve relates to cash flow hedges and can be specified as follows:

In the year under review, there were no reclassifications from the cash flow hedge reserve to profit or loss with respect to the foreign currency forwards.

iii. Hedge effectiveness
Hedge effectiveness is determined at the inception of the hedge relationship, and through periodic prospective effectiveness assessments to ensure that an economic relationship exists between the hedged item and the hedging instrument.

Forward exchange contracts
For hedges of foreign currency purchases (and sales), the group enters into hedge relationships where the critical terms of the hedging instrument exactly match the terms of the hedged item. The group therefore performs a qualitative assessment of effectiveness. If changes in circumstances affect the terms of the hedged item such that the critical terms no longer exactly match the critical terms of the hedging instrument, the group uses the hypothetical derivative method to assess effectiveness.

In hedges of foreign currency purchases (and sales), ineffectiveness may arise if the timing of the forecast transaction changes from the original estimate, or if there are changes in the credit risk of Accell Group or the derivative counterparty. In 2020 99% of the hedges were effective. 

Interest rate swap
Accell Group holds an interest rate swap that has the same critical terms as the hedged item, such as reference rate, reset dates, payment dates, maturities and notional amount. Accell Group does not hedge 100% of its loans, therefore the hedged item is identified as a proportion of the outstanding loans up to the notional amount of the swaps. 

Hedge effectiveness for interest rate swaps is assessed using the same principles as for hedges of foreign currency purchases. Accell Group has evaluated the extent to which its cash flow hedging relationships are subject to uncertainty driven by the upcoming interest rate benchmark reform (IBOR) as at 31 December 2020. The hedged items and hedging instruments, with an underlying notional amount of € 85 million, continue to be indexed to Euribor. This benchmark rate is quoted each day and the IBOR cash flows are exchanged with counterparties as usual. The calculation methodology of Euribor changed during 2019 and was granted authorisation in July 2019 by the Belgian Financial Services and Markets Authority. This allows market participants to continue to use Euribor for both existing and new contracts. Accell Group expects that Euribor will continue to exist as a benchmark rate for the foreseeable future. The impact on the financial statements of Accell Group is not expected to be material as the switch to the new benchmark will be at the same moment in time for the hedging instrument and the hedged item because the same counterparty is involved.

Ineffectiveness may occur due to:

• the credit value/debit value adjustment on the interest rate swaps not matching the loans, and
• differences in critical terms between the interest rate swaps and loans.

There was no ineffectiveness with respect to the interest rate swaps in 2020 and 2019, because all critical terms matched during the years.

iv. Accounting policy

When a derivative is designated and qualifies as a cash flow hedging instrument, the effective portion of changes in the fair value of the derivative is recognised in other comprehensive income (OCI) and accumulated in the hedging reserve. The cost of hedging is a separate component in the cash flow hedging reserve and reflects the gain or loss on the portion excluded from the designated hedging instrument that relates to the forward element of forward contracts. It is initially recognised in other comprehensive income and accounted for similarly to gains or losses in the cash flow hedging reserve. Any ineffective portion of changes in the fair value of the derivative is recognised immediately in profit or loss.

Amounts accumulated in equity are reclassified in the periods when the hedged item affects profit or loss, as follows:

- When the hedged item subsequently results in the recognition of a non-financial asset (such as inventory), the deferred hedging gains and losses (including forward points) are included in the initial cost of the asset. The deferred amounts are ultimately recognised in profit or loss as the hedged item affects profit or loss through cost of materials.
- The gain or loss relating to the effective portion of the interest rate swaps hedging variable rate borrowings is recognised in profit or loss within finance cost at the same time as the interest expense on the hedged borrowings.

When a hedging instrument expires, or is sold or terminated, or when a hedge no longer meets the criteria for hedge accounting, any cumulative deferred gain or loss remains in equity until the forecast transaction occurs, resulting in the recognition of a non-financial asset such as inventory. When the forecast transaction is no longer expected to occur, the cumulative gain or loss that was reported in equity is immediately reclassified to profit or loss.