Capital Structure, Investments, and Financing Activities

(39) Derivative financial instruments

Accounting and measurement policies

Derivative financial instruments

The IFRS 9 provisions are applied for hedge accounting. Hedging transactions are entered into for highly probable forecast transactions in foreign currencies and for hedging fair values of assets on the balance sheet. Cash flow hedge accounting for forecast transactions in foreign currency means the hedged item is recognized at a fixed exchange rate on a net basis instead of being recognized at the spot exchange rate at the transaction date. As a result of hedging fair values of assets on the balance sheet, the compensating changes in value of the corresponding hedged item and hedging instrument offset each other.

The Group mainly only uses derivatives as hedging instruments. The Group uses the dollar offset method as well as regression analyses to measure hedge effectiveness.

Hedging ineffectiveness may occur in the timing of forecast cash flows or if hedged items are dissolved. Derivatives that do not or no longer meet the documentation or effectiveness requirements for hedge accounting, whose hedged item no longer exists, or for which hedge accounting rules are not applied are classified as financial assets or liabilities at fair value through profit or loss depending on their balance.

Where options are used as hedging instruments, only their intrinsic value is designated as the hedging instrument. Changes in the fair value of the time value component of options that are used for hedge accounting are recognized in other comprehensive income and in the cost of cash flow hedge reserve within equity. The subsequent accounting of these amounts depends on the type of hedged transaction.

Where forward contracts are used as hedging instruments, only the spot element is designated as the hedging instrument. Changes in the fair value of the forward element in forward contracts are recognized in other comprehensive income in the cost of cash flow hedge reserve within equity. The subsequent accounting of these amounts depends on the type of hedged transaction.

As the virtual power purchase agreements concluded by the Group are designed as contracts for difference, they fulfill the definition of a derivative financial instrument and are measured at fair value through profit or loss in accordance with IFRS 9. Because no physical electricity is purchased, the own use exemption that allows certain derivative financial instruments to be treated as executory contracts does not apply.

With the exception of the accounting treatment of amounts included directly from the reserve in the initial cost or in the other carrying amount of a non-financial asset or liability, derivative financial instruments are recognized in the consolidated balance sheet, the consolidated income statement and the consolidated statement of comprehensive income as follows:

Derivative financial instruments

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Changes in fair value in the consolidated income statement and the consolidated statement of comprehensive income

Hedging relationship

 

Type of underlying

 

Type of hedged item

 

Market value

 

Presentation on the balance sheet

 

during the term

 

at maturity

Derivatives with a cash flow hedging relationship

 

Currency

 

Transactions in operating business

 

Positive market values

 

Other financial assets

 

Fair value adjustments (in equity)

 

Other operating income

 

 

 

Negative market values

 

Other financial liabilities

 

Fair value adjustments (in equity)

 

Other operating expenses

Derivatives without a hedging relationship

 

Currency

 

Financial transactions

 

Positive market values

 

Other financial assets

 

Financial income and expenses

 

 

 

Negative market values

 

Financial debt

 

 

Virtual power purchase agreements

 

Transactions in operating business

 

Positive market values

 

Other financial assets

 

Other operating income

 

 

 

Negative market values

 

Other financial liabilities

 

Other operating expenses

The nominal amounts of the Group’s derivative exposures at the respective reporting dates were as follows:

Nominal amounts of derivative exposures

 

 

Dec. 31, 2024

 

Dec. 31, 2023

€ million

 

current

 

non-current

 

current

 

non-current

Cash flow hedge

 

2.928

 

 

2.075

 

Currency

 

2.928

 

 

2.075

 

No hedge accounting

 

11.090

 

 

7.412

 

Currency

 

11.090

 

 

7.412

 

Virtual power purchase agreements1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

14.018

 

 

9.487

 

1

The virtual power purchase agreements do not have fixed nominal amounts.

The increase in the nominal amounts of derivatives used in currency hedging without a hedging relationship was due in particular to measures implementing the hedging strategy.

The fair values of the derivatives were as follows:

December 31, 2024

 

 

Positive market values

 

Negative market values

 

 

Financial transactions

 

Transactions in operating business

 

Financial transactions

 

Transactions in operating business

€ million

 

current

 

non-current

 

current

 

non-current

 

current

 

non-current

 

current

 

non-current

Cash flow hedge

 

 

 

8

 

 

 

 

36

 

Currency

 

 

 

8

 

 

 

 

36

 

No hedge accounting

 

70

 

 

5

 

57

 

31

 

 

2

 

18

Currency

 

70

 

 

 

 

31

 

 

 

Virtual power purchase agreements

 

 

 

5

 

57

 

 

 

2

 

18

 

 

70

 

 

13

 

57

 

31

 

 

38

 

18

December 31, 2023

 

 

Positive market values

 

Negative market values

 

 

Financial transactions

 

Transactions in operating business

 

Financial transactions

 

Transactions in operating business

€ million

 

current

 

non-current

 

current

 

non-current

 

current

 

non-current

 

current

 

non-current

Cash flow hedge

 

 

 

37

 

 

 

 

5

 

Currency

 

 

 

37

 

 

 

 

5

 

No hedge accounting

 

27

 

 

3

 

47

 

77

 

 

2

 

18

Currency

 

27

 

 

 

 

77

 

 

 

Virtual power purchase agreements

 

 

 

3

 

47

 

 

 

2

 

18

 

 

27

 

 

40

 

47

 

77

 

 

7

 

18

As in the previous year, all hedging relationships were transaction related. Netting of derivatives from an economic perspective was possible due to the existing framework agreements on derivatives trading that the Group had entered into with commercial banks. Actual netting only takes place in the case of insolvency of the contract partner. Derivatives were not offset on the face of the balance sheet.

The following table presents the potential netting volume of the reported derivative assets and liabilities:

December 31, 2024

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Potential netting volume

 

 

€ million

 

Gross presentation

 

Netting

 

Net presentation

 

due to master netting agreements

 

due to financial collateral

 

Potential net amount

Derivative assets

 

139

 

 

139

 

48

 

 

91

Derivative liabilities

 

-88

 

 

-88

 

-48

 

 

-40

December 31, 2023

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Potential netting volume

 

 

€ million

 

Gross presentation

 

Netting

 

Net presentation

 

due to master netting agreements

 

due to financial collateral

 

Potential net amount

Derivative assets

 

114

 

 

114

 

40

 

 

74

Derivative liabilities

 

-102

 

 

-102

 

-40

 

 

-62

The reserves for cash flow hedges and the cost of cash flow hedging of the Group related to the following hedging instruments (see also Note (34) “Equity”):

Hedging instruments

 

 

Cost of cash flow hedge reserve

 

Cash flow hedge reserve

€ million

 

Time value of options

 

Forward component of currency forwards

 

Total

 

Intrinsic value of options

 

Spot component of currency forwards

 

Total

Jan. 1, 2023

 

-1

 

-11

 

-12

 

-4

 

-50

 

-54

Fair value adjustment
(directly recognized in equity)

 

-5

 

-12

 

-17

 

31

 

67

 

98

Reclassification to profit or loss

 

 

22

 

22

 

-36

 

-59

 

-95

Reclassification to assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tax effect

 

 

 

 

 

-4

 

-5

Dec. 31, 2023

 

-6

 

-1

 

-7

 

-10

 

-46

 

-56

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jan. 1, 2024

 

-6

 

-1

 

-7

 

-10

 

-46

 

-56

Fair value adjustment
(directly recognized in equity)

 

-8

 

8

 

 

109

 

-17

 

92

Reclassification to profit or loss

 

 

-2

 

-2

 

-121

 

-28

 

-149

Reclassification to assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tax effect

 

 

 

 

 

4

 

5

Dec. 31, 2024

 

-13

 

4

 

-9

 

-21

 

-86

 

-108

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