National Grid 2015 Annual Report Download - page 122

Financial Statements
15. Derivative financial instruments continued
Cash flow hedges continued
When a forecast transaction is no longer expected to occur, the cumulative gain or loss previously reported in equity is transferred to the
income statement.
Where a non-financial asset or a non-financial liability results from a forecast transaction or firm commitment being hedged, the amounts
deferred in equity are included in the initial measurement of that non-monetary asset or liability.
2015
£m
2014
£m
Cross-currency interest rate/interest rate swaps (453) 224
Foreign exchange forward contracts (34) (11)
Inflation linked swaps (109) (32)
(596) 181
Net investment hedges
Borrowings, cross-currency swaps and forward currency contracts are used in the management of the foreign exchange exposure arising
from the investment in non-sterling denominated subsidiaries. Where these contracts qualify for hedge accounting they are designated as
net investment hedges.
2015
£m
2014
£m
Cross-currency interest rate swaps (72) 342
Foreign exchange forward contracts (218) 66
(290) 408
The cross-currency swaps and forward foreign currency contracts are hedge accounted using the spot to spot method. The foreign
exchange gain or loss on retranslation of the borrowings and the spot to spot movements on the cross-currency swaps and forward
currency contracts are transferred to equity to offset gains or losses on translation of the net investment in the non-sterling denominated
subsidiaries, with any ineffective portion recognised immediately in the income statement.
Derivatives not in a formal hedge relationship
Our policy is not to use derivatives for trading purposes. However, due to the complex nature of hedge accounting under IAS 39 some
derivatives may not qualify for hedge accounting, or are specifically not designated as a hedge where natural offset is more appropriate.
Changes in the fair value of any derivative instruments that do not qualify for hedge accounting are recognised in remeasurements within
the income statement.
2015
£m
2014
£m
Cross-currency interest rate/interest rate swaps 119 15
Foreign exchange forward contracts (24) 1
Inflation linked swaps (271) (165)
(176) (149)
Discontinuation of hedge accounting
Hedge accounting is discontinued when the hedging instrument expires or is sold, terminated, exercised or no longer qualifies for hedge
accounting. At that time, any cumulative gains or losses relating to cash flow hedges recognised in equity are initially retained in equity
andsubsequently recognised in the income statement in the same periods in which the previously hedged item affects profit or loss.
Amounts deferred in equity with respect to net investment hedges are subsequently recognised in the income statement in the event of
the disposal of the overseas operations concerned. For fair value hedges, the cumulative adjustment recorded to the carrying value of the
hedged item at the date hedge accounting is discontinued is amortised to the income statement using the effective interest method.
Embedded derivatives
No adjustment is made with respect to derivative clauses embedded in financial instruments or other contracts that are defined as closely
related to those instruments or contracts. Consequently these embedded derivatives are not accounted for separately from the debt
instrument. Where there are embedded derivatives in host contracts not closely related, the embedded derivative is separately accounted
for as a derivative financial instrument.
– analysis of items in the primary statements continued
Notes to the consolidated financial statements
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