General information

Severfield plc ('the Company') is a company incorporated in the United Kingdom under the Companies Act 2006. The address of the registered office is provided on Addresses and Advisers. The registered number of the Company is 1721262. The nature of the Group's operations and its principal activities are set out on How we deliver sustainable value. These financial statements are presented in sterling, which is the currency of the primary economic environment in which the Group operates.

Basis of preparation

The consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with UK-Adopted international accounting standards and in conformity with the Companies Act 2006.

The consolidated financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention, except for the revaluation of financial instruments. The principal accounting policies adopted are set out below.

Climate change

The Group recognises the systematic risk posed by climate change and the need for urgent mitigating action and are committed to addressing climate-related risks and reducing the Group's environmental impact and carbon emissions.

The impact of climate change has been considered in the preparation of these financial statements across a number of areas, including; the measurement of financial instruments, the carrying value and remaining useful lives of property, plant and equipment, the carrying value of goodwill and the Group's going concern and long-term viability assessments. None of these had a material impact on the consolidated financial statements. The Group will continue to develop its assessment of the financial impacts of climate change.

Financial period

The Group's annual report and accounts are made up to an appropriate Saturday around 31 March each year. For 2023, trading is shown for the 52-week period ended on 25 March 2023 (2022: 52-week period ended 26 March 2022). All references to 'the year ended 25 March 2023', throughout the annual report, relate to the 52-week period ended 25 March 2023.

The financial statements of the Group's joint venture, JSSL, are made up to the year ended 31 March 2023 (2022: year ended 31 March 2022).

Adoption of new and revised standards

The following new and amended standard, adopted in the current financial year, had no significant impact on the financial statements.

• Annual improvements to IFRS Standards 2018–2020;
• Amendments to IAS 16 'Property Plant and Equipment: Proceeds before intended use;
• Amendments to IAS 37: Onerous Contracts – Cost of Fulfilling a contract;
• Amendments to IFRS 9, IAS 39, IFRS 7, IFRS 4 and IFRS 16 'Interest rate benchmark reform – Phase 2'.

Accounting standards not yet adopted by the Group

The following new or revised standards and interpretations issued by the International Accounting Standards Board have not been applied in preparing these financial statements as their effective dates fall in periods beginning on or after 1 April 2023.

• Amendments to IFRS 3 ' Reference to the Conceptual Framework';
• IFRS 17 'Insurance Contracts' and Amendments to IFRS 17 'Insurance contracts';
• Amendments to IAS 1 'Classification of Liabilities as Current or Non-Current';
• Amendments to IAS 1 'Disclosure of accounting policies';
• Amendments to IAS 1 'Non-Current Liabilities with Covenants';
• Amendments to IAS 8 'Definition of accounting estimates';
• Amendments to IFRS 16 'Lease liability in a sale and lease back'; and
• Amendments to IAS 12 ''Deferred Tax Related to Assets' and 'Liabilities Arising from a Single Transaction'.

The group is assessing the impact of these new standards and the Group's financial reporting will be presented in accordance with these standards from the relevant accounting period.

Going concern

In determining whether the Group's annual consolidated financial statements can be prepared on the going concern basis, the directors considered all factors likely to affect its future development, performance and its financial position, including cash flows, liquidity position and borrowing facilities and the risks and uncertainties relating to its business activities.

The following factors were considered as relevant:

• The current market conditions and the impact of these (including the potential future impact of the current inflationary market conditions and similar other significant downside risks linked to our principal risks) on the Group's profits and cash flows;
• The UK and Europe order book and the pipeline of potential future orders; and
• The Group's cash position and its bank finance facilities (see note 22), which are committed until December 2026, including both the level of those facilities and the three financial covenants attached to them (interest cover (>4x), net debt to EBITDA (<3.0x) and cash flow cover (>1x)).

In the current financial year, the Group continued to trade profitably with positive operating cash flows and has a significant order book with strong earnings visibility into the next financial year and beyond. The directors have reviewed the Group's forecasts and projections for 2024 and for at least 12 months from the date of approval of the financial statements, including sensitivity analysis to assess the Group's resilience to potential adverse outcomes including a highly pessimistic 'severe but plausible' scenario. This 'severe but plausible' scenario is based on the combined impact of securing only 25 per cent of budgeted uncontracted orders for the next 12 months, one-off contract losses, a deterioration of market conditions and other downside factors. Given the strong previous performance of the Group, this scenario is only being modelled to stress test our strong financial position and demonstrates the existence of considerable headroom in the Group's covenants and borrowing facilities in this 'severe but plausible' scenario.

Having also made appropriate enquiries, the directors consider it reasonable to assume that the Group has adequate resources to be able to operate within the terms and conditions of its financing facilities for at least 12 months from the approval of the Group financial statements. For this reason, the directors continue to adopt the going concern basis in preparing the Group financial statements.

Basis of consolidation

The consolidated financial statements incorporate the financial statements of the Company and the entities controlled by the Company made up to the reporting date each year. Control is achieved where the Company has the power over the investee, is exposed or has rights to variable returns from its involvement with the investee and has the ability to use its power to affect its returns.

Where relevant, the results of subsidiaries acquired or disposed of during the year are included in the consolidated income statement from the effective date of acquisition or up to the effective date of disposal, as appropriate.

Where necessary, adjustments are made to the financial statements of subsidiaries to bring the accounting policies used into line with those used by the Group.

All intra-Group transactions, balances, income and expenses are eliminated on consolidation.

Non-underlying items

Non-underlying items have been separately identified by virtue of their magnitude or nature to enable a full understanding of the Group's financial performance and to make year-on-year comparisons. They are excluded by management for planning, budgeting and reporting purposes and for the internal assessment of operating performance across the Group and are normally excluded by investors, analysts and brokers when making investment and other decisions. For an item to be considered as non-underlying, it must satisfy at least one of the following criteria:

• A significant item, which may span more than one accounting period;
• An item directly incurred as a result of either a business combination, disposal, or related to a major business change or restructuring programme; and
• An item which is unusual in nature (outside the normal course of business).

Non-underlying items have included the non-cash amortisation of acquired intangible assets, acquisition and similar transaction costs, and fair value adjustments for contingent consideration, all of which arise from business combinations and are classified as non-underlying because of the nature and expected infrequency of the events giving rise to them. Other non-underlying items have included, but are not limited to, significant rectification and remediation costs for completed contracts and certain one-off legal and consultancy costs.

Non-underlying items are presented as a separate column within their related consolidated income statement category on a consistent basis for each half year and full year results. The exclusion of non-underlying items may result in underlying earnings being materially higher or lower than total earnings. In particular, when items associated with purchase price allocations on business combinations are excluded, underlying earnings will be higher than total earnings.

Further details of non-underlying items are disclosed in note 5 to the consolidated financial statements.

Business combinations

The acquisition of subsidiaries is accounted for using the acquisition method. The cost of the acquisition is measured at the aggregate of the fair values (at the date of exchange) of assets given, liabilities incurred or assumed, and equity instruments issued by the Group in exchange for control of the acquiree. Acquisition-related costs are expensed as incurred. The acquiree's identifiable assets, liabilities and contingent liabilities that meet the conditions for recognition under IFRS 3 are recognised at their fair value at the acquisition date.

Investments in joint ventures and associates

An associated company is an entity over which the Group is in a position to exercise significant influence, but not control, through participation in the financial and operating policy decisions of the investee. Significant influence is the power to participate in the financial and operating policy decisions of the investee, but is not control over those policies.

A joint venture is an entity over which the Group is in a position to exercise joint control. The Group has adopted the equity method of accounting (as discussed below) for joint ventures and associated companies (together 'JVs and associates'), in accordance with IFRS 11.

The results and assets and liabilities of JVs and associates are incorporated in these financial statements using the equity method of accounting unless it meets the exceptions described in IAS 28. Investments in JVs and associates are carried in the balance sheet at cost as adjusted by post-acquisition changes in the Group's share of their net assets, less any impairment in the value of individual investments. Losses in excess of the Group's interest in those JVs and associates are not recognised unless, and only to the extent that, the Group has incurred legal or constructive obligations on their behalf.

Any excess of the cost of acquisition over the Group's share of the fair values of the identifiable net assets of the JVs and associates at the date of acquisition is recognised as goodwill. Any deficiency of the cost of acquisition below the Group's share of the fair values of the identifiable net assets of the JVs and associates at the date of acquisition (i.e. discount on acquisition) is credited in the consolidated income statement in the period of acquisition.

The consolidated income statement includes the Group's share of the JVs and associates' profit less losses, whilst the Group's share of the net assets of the JVs and associates is shown in the consolidated balance sheet.

Goodwill

The Group recognises goodwill at cost less accumulated impairment losses. Goodwill which is recognised as an asset is reviewed for impairment at least annually. Any impairment is recognised immediately as a loss and is not subsequently reversed.

Any contingent consideration is recognised at the date of acquisition. For acquisitions, subsequent changes to the fair value of the contingent consideration are adjusted against the cost of acquisition where they qualify as measurement period adjustments. The measurement period is the period from the date of acquisition to the date that the Group obtains complete information about facts and circumstances that existed as at the date of acquisition and is subject to a maximum of one year. If the change does not qualify as a measurement period adjustment, it is reflected in the consolidated income statement.

For the purpose of impairment testing, goodwill is allocated to each of the Group's cash-generating units expected to benefit from the synergies of the combination. Cash-generating units to which goodwill has been allocated are tested for impairment annually, or more frequently when there is an indication that the unit may be impaired. If the recoverable amount of the cash-generating unit is less than the carrying amount of the unit, the impairment loss is allocated first to reduce the carrying amount of any goodwill allocated to the unit and then to the other assets of the unit pro-rata on the basis of the carrying amount of each asset in the unit. An impairment loss recognised for goodwill is not reversed in a subsequent period.

On disposal of a subsidiary, associate or jointly controlled entity, the attributable amount of goodwill is included in the determination of the profit or loss on disposal.

Negative goodwill arising on acquisition is recognised immediately in the consolidated income statement.

Revenue recognition

Revenue is measured at the fair value of the consideration received or receivable for goods and services provided, net of sales taxes, rebates and discounts, after eliminating revenue within the Group.

Revenue from construction contracts is recognised in accordance with the Group's accounting policy on construction contracts (see below).

Interest income is accrued on a time basis, by reference to the principal outstanding and at the effective interest rate applicable.

Dividend income from investments is recognised when the shareholders' rights to receive payment have been established.

Construction contracts

Revenue arises mainly from contracts for the design, fabrication and construction of structural steelwork. To determine whether to recognise revenue, the Group applies this five-step process:

• Identify the contract(s) with the customer;
• Identify the performance obligations in the contract(s);
• Determine the transaction price of the contract(s);
• Allocate the transaction price to each of the separate performance obligations; and
• Recognise the revenue as each performance obligation is satisfied.

The Group enters into contracts for the design, fabrication and construction of structural steel projects in exchange for the agreed consideration and recognises the related revenue over time. Due to the high degree of interdependence between the various elements of these projects, they are accounted for as a single performance obligation. The transaction price is measured based on the consideration specified in a contract with a customer and, where applicable, the best estimate of any consideration related to modifications to the contract. Revenue recognised includes retentions and is net of rebates, discounts and value added tax. To depict the progress by which the Group transfers control of the construction to the customer, and to establish when and to what extent revenue can be recognised, the Group measures its progress towards complete satisfaction of the performance obligation by use of the input method (costs to complete). Where a modification to an existing contract occurs, the Group assesses the nature of the modification and whether it represents a separate performance obligation required to be satisfied or whether it is a modification to the existing performance obligation. This method is considered to most faithfully depict the transfer of goods and services to the customer over the life of the performance obligation.

The majority of construction contracts have payment terms based on contractual milestones, which are not necessarily aligned to when revenue is recognised, particularly for those contracts where revenue is recognised over time using the input method to determine the percentage of completion. This generally leads to recognition of revenue in advance of customer billings, for which a contract asset is recognised. Where cash is received from the customer in advance of recognising revenue under a contract, a contract liability is recorded (advance payments from customers). The practical expedient available under IFRS 15 has been taken, thus the Group does not adjust the promised amount of consideration for the effects of financing if the timing difference between the satisfaction of the performance obligations under the contract and the receipt of payment due under the contract are expected to be one year or less.

The general principles for revenue recognition are as follows:

• Revenues on contracts are recognised over time, using the input method, when progress towards complete satisfaction of the performance obligation can be reasonably measured.
• Provision is made for total losses incurred or foreseen in bringing the contract to completion as soon as they become apparent.
• Variations are included in the transaction price when the customer has agreed the revised scope of work, or a new legally enforceable right has arisen. Where a new legally enforceable right has arisen or a contract modification agreed, but the corresponding change in price has not yet been agreed by the customer; only the amount that is considered highly probably not to reverse in the future, and that can be measured reliably, is included in the transaction price and therefore revenue when the associated performance obligations are met.
• Incentive payments are included in forecast contract revenues when the contract is sufficiently advanced that it is highly probable that the specified performance standards will be met or exceeded and the amount of the incentive payment can be reliably measured.
• Claims receivable are recognised as income when negotiations have reached an advanced stage such that it is highly probable that the customer will accept the claim, and the amount that it is probable will be accepted by the customer can be measured reliably.
• Rectification work which is reasonably foreseeable is provided for as a cost of the contract and taken into account when assessing its overall profitability. Claims for rectification arising after the end of a contract and which have not been provided for are recognised as losses as they arise.

When determining whether a contract's outcome can be estimated reliably, management considers a number of indicators, including the stage of completion of the contract to provide assurance over the reliability of costs to complete, cumulative cash received and agreed certifications, the inherent risk in certain industry sectors and whether certain contract milestones have been satisfied.

All costs relating to contracts are recognised as expenses in the period in which they are incurred. Where the outcome of a contract cannot be reliably estimated, contract revenue is recognised only to the extent that contract costs incurred are expected to be recovered.

The input method is used to determine the percentage of completion by reference to the contract costs incurred to date (the proportion that estimated total contract costs are accounted for by contract costs incurred for work performed to date). Only those contract costs that reflect work performed are included in costs incurred to date.

Total expected contract costs are initially determined by the estimating function during the contract tender process. At launch, responsibility for the contract is handed over to the commercial function (consisting of qualified quantity surveyors) which, on an ongoing basis, reassesses the expected contract costs as the contract progresses, taking into account the risks identified in contract risk registers.

The assessment of the final outcome of each contract is determined by regular review of the revenues and costs to complete that contract. Regular monthly contract reviews form an integral part of the contract forecasting procedures.

Contract assets

Contract assets primarily relate to the Group's enforceable rights to consideration for work completed on construction contracts that has not yet been billed at the reporting date. Contract assets are transferred to receivables when the right to consideration becomes unconditional. This usually occurs when the Group issues an invoice to the customer.

Pre-contract tender costs are not considered material costs to the Group.

Contract liabilities

Contract liabilities primarily relate to the advance payments from customers for construction contracts, for which revenue is recognised over time.

Retirement benefit obligations

The Group operates two defined contribution pension schemes and costs of these schemes are charged to the income statement in the period in which they are incurred.

The Group has a defined benefit pension scheme which is now closed to new members. The liability recognised in the balance sheet comprises the present value of the defined benefit pension obligation, determined by discounting the estimated future cash flows using the market yield on a high-quality corporate bond, less the fair value of the scheme assets.

The cost of providing benefits recognised within operating costs in the income statement and the defined benefit obligations is determined at the reporting date by independent actuaries, using the projected unit credit method.

Actuarial gains and losses are recognised in the period in which they occur in the statement of comprehensive income.

Taxation

The tax expense represents the sum of the tax currently payable and deferred tax.

Tax currently payable is based on taxable profit for the year. Taxable profit differs from net profit as reported in the income statement because it excludes items of income or expense that are taxable or deductible in other years and it further excludes items that are never taxable or deductible. The Group's liability for current tax is calculated using tax rates that have been enacted or substantively enacted by the balance sheet date.

Deferred tax is the tax expected to be payable or recoverable on differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities in the consolidated financial statements and the corresponding tax bases used in the computation of taxable profit, and is accounted for using the balance sheet liability method. Deferred tax liabilities are generally recognised for all taxable temporary differences and deferred tax assets are recognised to the extent that it is probable that taxable profits will be available against which deductible temporary differences can be utilised.

Such assets and liabilities are not recognised if the temporary difference arises from the initial recognition of goodwill or from the initial recognition (other than in a business combination) of other assets and liabilities in a transaction that affects neither the tax profit nor the accounting profit.

The carrying amount of deferred tax assets is reviewed at each balance sheet date and reduced to the extent that it is no longer probable that sufficient taxable profits will be available to allow all, or part of, the asset to be recovered.

Deferred tax is calculated at the tax rates that are expected to apply in the period when the liability is settled or the asset is realised. These are determined based on future changes in tax rates that have been enacted rather than simply future changes that have been proposed but not enacted. Deferred tax is charged or credited in the income statement, except when it relates to items charged or credited directly to equity, in which case the deferred tax is also dealt with in equity.

Deferred tax assets and liabilities are offset when there is a legally enforceable right to set off current tax assets against current tax liabilities and when they relate to income taxes levied by the same taxation authority and the Group intends to settle its current tax assets and liabilities on a net basis.

Dividends

Dividends are recorded in the consolidated financial statements in the period in which they are declared, appropriately authorised and no longer at the discretion of the Company.

Property, plant and equipment

Property, plant and equipment is stated at cost less accumulated depreciation and any impairment losses.

Land and buildings held for use in the production or supply of goods or services, or for administrative purposes, and plant and machinery are stated at cost in the balance sheet. Depreciation on buildings is included within operating costs.

Depreciation is provided on other property, plant and equipment to write off the cost of each asset over its estimated useful life at the following rates:

The gain or loss arising on the disposal or retirement of an asset is determined as the difference between the sales proceeds and the carrying amount of the asset and is included within operating costs.

Right-of-use assets and lease liabilities

The Group adopted IFRS 16 'Leases' on 1 April 2019 using the modified retrospective approach. The standard has resulted in operating leases being recognised as right-of-use assets and lease liabilities on the consolidated balance sheet, as the classification as either operating leases or finance leases has been eliminated.

Under IFRS 16 'Leases', at the inception of a contract, the Group assesses whether a contract is, or contains, a lease. A contract is, or contains, a lease if the contract conveys the right to control the use of an identified asset for a period of time in exchange for consideration. To assess whether a contract conveys the right to control the use of an identified asset, the Group assesses whether it has both the right to obtain substantially all of the economic benefits from use of the identified asset and the right to direct the use of the identified asset throughout the period of use.

Leases in which the Group is a lessee

The Group recognises a right-of-use asset and a lease liability at the lease commencement date. The right-of-use asset is measured equal to the lease liability and adjusted for the amount of any prepaid or accrued lease payments relating to the lease before the commencement date, any lease incentives received, initial direct costs associated with the lease and an initial estimate of restoration costs. The right-of-use asset is subsequently depreciated using the straight-line method from the commencement date to the end of the lease term.

The lease liability is initially measured at the present value of the lease payments that are not paid at the commencement date, discounted using the interest rate implicit in the lease or, if that rate cannot be readily determined, the Group's incremental borrowing rate.

Lease payments included in the measurement of the lease liability comprise the following:

• Fixed payments, including in-substance fixed payments;
• Variable lease payments that depend on an index or a rate, initially measured using the index or rate as at the commencement date;
• Amounts expected to be payable under a residual value guarantee;
• The exercise price under a purchase option that the Group is reasonably certain to exercise; and
• Penalties for early termination of a lease unless the Group is reasonably certain not to terminate early.

Short-term leases and leases of low-value assets

The Group has elected not to recognise right-of-use assets and lease liabilities for leases of low-value assets and short-term leases, in accordance with the exemption available under IFRS 16. The Group recognises the lease payments associated with these leases as an expense on a straight-line basis over the lease term.

Intangibles

The Group recognises intangible assets at cost less accumulated amortisation and impairment losses. Intangible assets acquired through acquisitions arise as a result of applying IFRS 3, which requires the separate recognition of intangible assets from goodwill.

Other acquired intangible assets include software costs.

Intangible assets are amortised on a straight-line basis over their useful economic lives as follows:

Impairment of tangible and intangible assets excluding goodwill

At each balance sheet date, the Group reviews the carrying amounts of its tangible and intangible assets to determine whether there is any indication that those assets have suffered an impairment loss. If any such indication exists, the recoverable amount of the asset is estimated in order to determine the extent of the impairment loss (if any). Where the asset does not generate cash flows that are independent from other assets, the Group estimates the recoverable amount of the cash-generating unit to which the asset belongs. An intangible asset with an indefinite useful life is tested for impairment annually and whenever there is an indication that the asset may be impaired.

The recoverable amount is the higher of fair value less costs to sell and value in use. In assessing value in use, the estimated future cash flows are discounted to their present value using a pre-tax discount rate that reflects current market assessments of the time value of money and the risks specific to the asset for which the estimates of future cash flows have not been adjusted.

If the recoverable amount of an asset (or cash-generating unit) is estimated to be less than its carrying amount, the carrying amount of the asset (or cash-generating unit) is reduced to its recoverable amount. An impairment loss is recognised as an expense immediately, unless the relevant asset is carried at a revalued amount, in which case the impairment loss is treated as a revaluation decrease.

Where an impairment loss subsequently reverses, the carrying amount of the asset (or cash-generating unit) is increased to the revised estimate of its recoverable amount, but so that the increased carrying amount does not exceed the carrying amount that would have been determined had no impairment loss been recognised for the asset (or cash-generating unit) in prior years. A reversal of an impairment loss is recognised as income immediately, unless the relevant asset is carried at a revalued amount, in which case, the reversal of the impairment loss is treated as a revaluation increase.

Inventories

Inventories (raw materials and consumables and work in progress) are stated at the lower of cost and net realisable value. Cost comprises direct materials and, where applicable, direct labour costs and those overheads that have been incurred in bringing the inventories to their present location and condition. Net realisable value represents the estimated selling price less all estimated costs of completion and costs to be incurred in marketing, selling and distribution.

Financial instruments

Financial assets and financial liabilities are recognised on the Group's balance sheet when the Group becomes a party to the contractual provisions of the instrument.

Trade receivables

Trade receivables are classified as loans and receivables, and therefore measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method, with an appropriate allowance for estimated irrecoverable amounts recognised in the income statement in line with the requirements of IFRS 9. No expected credit losses (ECLs) have been provided for in respect of trade receivables, contract assets and intercompany receivables as these are not material.

Cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents comprise cash in hand and demand deposits, and other short-term highly liquid investments that are readily convertible to a known amount of cash and are subject to an insignificant risk of changes in value. Bank overdrafts are shown in current liabilities on the balance sheet unless a right of offset exists, in accordance with IFRS 7, to allow net presentation of a financial asset and a financial liability.

Bank borrowings

Interest-bearing bank loans and overdrafts are recorded at the proceeds received, net of direct issue costs. Finance charges, including premiums payable on settlement or redemption and direct issue costs, are accounted for in the income statement using the effective interest method and are added to the carrying amount of the instrument to the extent that they are not settled in the period in which they arise. The effective interest method is a method of calculating the amortised cost of a financial liability and of allocating interest over the relevant period.

Trade payables

Trade payables are initially measured at fair value, and are subsequently measured at amortised cost.

Equity instruments

Equity instruments issued by the Company are recorded at the proceeds received, net of direct issue costs.

Share-based payment transactions

The Group issues equity-settled share-based payments. These share-based payments are measured at fair value at the date of grant based on the Group's estimate of shares that will eventually vest. The fair value determined is then expensed in the consolidated income statement on a straight-line basis over the vesting period, with a corresponding increase in equity. Further details regarding the determination of the fair value of equity-settled share-based transactions are set out in note 22.

Provisions

Provisions are recognised when the Group has a present obligation as a result of a past event, and it is probable that the Group will be required to settle that obligation. Provisions are measured at the directors' best estimate of the expenditure required to settle the obligation at the balance sheet date and, as appropriate, are discounted to present value where the effect is material.

Derivative financial instruments and hedge accounting

The Group enters into certain foreign exchange forward contracts to manage its exposure to currency movements. Further details of derivative financial instruments are disclosed in note 21.

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 or loss is recognised in profit or loss, except where hedge accounting is used, provided the conditions specified by IFRS 9 are met. Hedge accounting is applied in respect of hedge relationships where it is both permissible under IFRS 9 and practical to do so. When hedge accounting is used, the relevant hedging relationships are classified as cash flow hedges.

Where the hedging relationship is classified as a cash flow hedge, to the extent that the hedge is effective, changes in the fair value of the hedging instrument will be recognised directly in other comprehensive income rather than in the income statement. When the hedged item is recognised in the financial statements, the accumulated gains and losses recognised in other comprehensive income will be recycled to the income statement (operating costs).

Hedge accounting is discontinued when the hedging instrument expires or is sold, terminated or exercised, or no longer qualifies for hedge accounting. At that point in time, any cumulative gain or loss on the hedging instrument recognised in other comprehensive income is kept in other comprehensive income until the forecasted transaction occurs. If a hedged transaction is no longer expected to occur, the net cumulative gain or loss recognised in other comprehensive income is transferred to net profit or loss for the period.