| | 3.7 | Derivative financial instruments for risk management purposes and hedge accounting |
Derivatives embedded in financial liabilities or other non-financial asset host contracts are treated as separate derivatives when their risks and characteristics are not closely related to those of the host contracts and the host contracts are not measured at FVTPL.
The Bank applies IFRS 9- “Financial Instruments” the hedge accounting rules in full.
Derivatives held for risk management purposes include all derivative assets and liabilities that are not classified as trading assets or liabilities. Derivatives held for risk management purposes are measured at fair value in the consolidated statement of financial position. Derivatives are initially recognised at fair value at the date a derivative contract is entered into and are subsequently remeasured to their fair value at each balance sheet date. The resulting gain/loss is recognised in profit or loss immediately unless the derivative is designated and effective as a hedging instrument, in which event the timing of the recognition in profit or loss depends on the nature of the hedge relationship.
On initial designation of the hedge, the Bank formally documents the relationship between the hedging instrument(s) and hedged item(s), including the risk management objective and strategy in undertaking the hedge, together with the method that will be used to assess the effectiveness of the hedging relationship. The Bank makes an assessment, both at inception of the hedge relationship and on an ongoing basis, of whether the hedging instrument(s) is(are) expected to be highly effective in offsetting the changes in the fair value or cash flows of the respective hedged item(s) during the period for which the hedge is designated.
The Bank uses derivative financial instruments for its management of interest rate and foreign exchange risks. Interest rate swap contracts, cross-currency swap contracts and foreign exchange forward contracts have been used to manage interest rate and foreign exchange risks respectively associated with debt securities and borrowings with fixed and floating rates, and loans and borrowings in foreign currency.
These derivatives contracts can be classified as fair value and cash flow hedges. In addition, foreign exchange forward contracts are used to hedge exposures to changes in foreign currency in subsidiary companies with functional currencies other than the US dollar. These contracts are classified as net investment hedges.
The accounting for changes in value of a derivative depends on whether the contract is for trading purposes or has been designated and qualifies for hedge accounting.
Derivatives held for trading purposes include interest rate swap, cross-currency swap, foreign exchange forward and future contracts used for risk management purposes that do not qualify for hedge accounting. These derivatives are reported as asset or liabilities, as applicable. Changes in realized and unrealized gains and losses and interest from these financial instruments are included in gain or loss per financial instrument at fair value through profit or loss.
Derivatives for hedging purposes primarily include foreign exchange forward contracts and interest rate swap contracts in US dollar and cross-currency swaps. Derivative contracts designated and qualifying for hedge accounting are reported in the consolidated statement of financial position as derivative financial instruments used for hedging - receivable and payable, as applicable, and hedge accounting is applied. In order to qualify for hedge accounting, a derivative must be considered highly effective at reducing the risk associated with the exposure being hedged. Each derivative must be designated as a hedge, with documentation of the risk management objective and strategy, including identification of the hedging instrument, the hedged item and the risk exposure, as well as how effectiveness will be assessed prospectively. The extent to which a hedging instrument is effective at achieving offsetting changes in fair value or cash flows must be assessed at least quarterly. Any ineffectiveness must be reported in current-year earnings.
Economic relationship
As the Bank enters into a hedging relationship, the first requirement is that the hedging instrument and the hedged item must be expected to move in the opposite direction as a result of the change in the hedged risk. This should be based on an economic rationale, as could be the case if the relationship is based only on a statistical correlation. This requirement is fulfilled for many of the hedging relationships carried by the Bank as the underlying of the hedging instrument matches, or is closely aligned with the hedged risk. Even when there are differences between the hedged item and the hedging instrument, the economic relationship will often be capable of being demonstrated using a qualitative assessment. The assessment considers, whether qualitative or quantitative, the following: a) maturity; b) nominal amount; c) cash flow dates; d) interest rate basis; and e) credit risk, including the effect of collateral, among others.
Hedge ratio
The hedge ratio is the ratio between the amount of hedged item and the amount of the hedging instrument. For most of the hedging relationships, the hedge ratio is 1:1 as the underlying of the hedging instrument perfectly matches the designated hedged risk. For a hedging relationship with a correlation between the hedged item and the hedging instrument that is not 1:1 relationship, generally set the hedge ratio so as to adjust for the type of relation in order to improve effectiveness.
Discontinuation of hedge accounting
The Bank discontinues hedge accounting prospectively in the following situations:
| | 1. | It is determined that the derivative is no longer effective in offsetting changes in the fair value or cash flows of a hedged item. |
| | 2. | The derivative expires or is sold, terminated or exercised. |
| | 3. | It is determined that designation of the derivative as a hedging instrument is no longer appropriate. |
The Bank carries all derivative financial instruments in the consolidated statement of financial position at fair value.
Fair value hedges
When a derivative is designated as the hedging instrument in a hedge of the change in fair value of a recognized asset or liability or a firm commitment that could affect profit or loss, changes in the fair value of the derivative are recognized in the consolidated statement of profit or loss together with changes in the fair value of the hedged item that are attributable to the hedged risk, except when the hedging instrument hedges an equity instrument designated at FVTOCI in which case it is recognized in OCI. The carrying amount of a hedged item not already measured at fair value is adjusted for the fair value change attributable to the hedged risk with a corresponding entry in profit or loss. For debt instruments measured at FVTOCI, the carrying amount is not adjusted as it is already at fair value, but the part of the fair value gain or loss on the hedged item associated with the hedged risk is recognized in profit or loss instead of OCI, except when the hedged item is an equity instrument designated at FVTOCI, the hedging gain/loss remains in OCI to match that of the hedging instrument.
If the hedge relationship is terminated or exercised, or the hedge no longer meets the criteria for fair value hedge accounting, or the hedge designation is revoked, then hedge accounting is discontinued prospectively and the fair value adjustment to the hedged item continues to be reported as part of the basis of the item and is amortized to earnings as a yield adjustment where hedging gains/losses are recognized in profit or loss, they are recognized in the same line as the hedged item.
Cash flow hedges
When a derivative is designated as the hedging instrument in a hedge of variability in cash flows attributable to a particular risk associated with a recognized asset or liability that could affect profit or loss, the effective portion of changes in the fair value of the derivative is recognized in OCI and it is presented in the hedging reserve within equity and recognized in the consolidated statement of profit or loss when the hedged cash flows affect earnings. The ineffective portion is recognized in the consolidated statement of profit or loss as activities of derivative financial instruments and hedging. If the cash flow hedge relationship is terminated or exercised, or the hedge no longer meets the criteria for fair value hedge accounting, or the hedge designation is revoked, then hedge accounting is discontinued prospectively and the related amounts in OCI are reclassified into earnings when hedged cash flows occur.
Net investment hedges
When a derivative instrument or a non-derivative financial liability is designated as the hedging instrument in a hedge of a net investment in a foreign operation, the effective portion of changes in the fair value of the hedging instrument is recognized in OCI and presented in the translation reserve within equity. Any ineffective portion of the changes in the fair value of the derivative is recognized in the consolidated statement of profit or loss. The amount recognized in OCI is reclassified to profit or loss as a reclassification adjustment on disposal of the foreign operation.
