Hedge Accounting related Articles

An entity is allowed to designate only the change in the intrinsic value of an option contract in a hedging instrument. Similarly an entity can also designate only the change in the spot value of a forward contract in a hedging instrument. In such cases, the time value of the option/forward points is accounted for depending upon the type of the hedged item that the option/forward contract hedges. The option/forward contract could be to either to hedge a transaction-related hedged item or a time-period-related hedged item.

The time value of options contract may be separated from the fair value of options contracts and the entity can designate only the change in the intrinsic value of the option. If the entity chooses to do so, then the time value of the option contract is dealt with in the following manner:

Rebalancing is permitted for the purpose of maintaining the hedge ratio to comply with the hedge effectiveness requirements. Changes to designate quantities of a hedged item or hedging instrument for a different purpose do not constitute rebalancing.

Rebalancing is a new concept introduced by a major amendment to IFRS 9 during November 2013. Rebalancing means adjustments made to the quantities of the hedged item or the hedging instrument of an existing hedging relationship for the purpose of maintaining a hedge ratio that complies with the hedge effectiveness requirements.

A cash flow hedge is a hedge of the exposure to variability in cash flows attributable to a particular risk associated with a recognised asset or liability or a component thereof. It covers future interest payments on variable-rate debt. It also covers a highly probable forecast transaction. The requirement is that such cash flows should affect the profit and loss account.

As per the new requirements, hedge accounting cannot be voluntarily discontinued. Hedge accounting can be discontinued only if the hedge effectiveness requirements are not met or that the hedging instrument is liquidated. Even when the hedge effectiveness requirements are not met, the entity should adjust the hedge ratio through the process of rebalancing and continue with hedge accounting so long as the hedging relationship continues to meet the risk management objectives of the enterprise.

An entity shall apply the disclosure requirements for those risk exposures that an entity hedges and for which it elects to apply hedge accounting. Hedge accounting disclosures shall provide information about:

To calculate the change in the value of the hedged item for the purpose of measuring hedge ineffectiveness, an entity may use a derivative that would have terms that match the critical terms of the hedged item (this is commonly referred to as a ‘hypothetical derivative’), and, for example, for a hedge of a forecast transaction, would be calibrated using the hedged price (or rate) level.

If a component of the cash flows of a financial or a non-financial item is designated as the hedged item, that component must be less than or equal to the total cash flows of the entire item. However, all of the cash flows of the entire item may be designated as the hedged item and hedged for only one particular risk (for example, only for those changes that are attributable to changes in LIBOR or a benchmark commodity price).

A cash flow hedge is a hedge of the exposure to variability in cash flows attributable to a particular risk associated with a recognised asset or liability or a component thereof. It covers future interest payments on variable-rate debt. It also covers a highly probable forecast transaction. The requirement is that such cash flows should affect the profit and loss account.