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Annual Report 2015 Report by the Board of Directors Notes Proposed distribution of earnings Auditor’s report Eleven-year review Quarterly information

Note 18 Financial instruments

All amounts in SEKm unless otherwise stated 

Additional and complementary information is presented in the following notes to the Annual Report: Note 2, Financial risk management, describes the Group’s risk policies in general and regarding the principal financial instruments of Electrolux in more detail. Note 17, Trade receivables, describes the trade receivables and related credit risks.

The information in this note highlights and describes the principal financial instruments of the Group regarding specific major terms and conditions when applicable, and the exposure to risk and the fair values at year-end.

The Group classifies its financial assets in the following categories:

  • Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss
  • Loans and receivables
  • Available-for-sale financial assets

The classification depends on the purpose for which the investments were acquired. Management determines the classification of its investments at initial recognition.

Derivatives are initially recognized at fair value on the date a derivative contract is entered into and are subsequently measured at their fair value. The method of recognizing the resulting gain or loss depends on whether the derivative is designated as a hedging instrument, and if so, the nature of the item being hedged. The Group designates certain derivatives as either hedges of the fair value of recognized assets or liabilities or a firm commitment (fair-value hedges); hedges of highly probable forecast transactions (cash-flow hedges); or hedges of net investments in foreign operations.

Movements on the hedging reserve are shown in other comprehensive income in the consolidated income statement.

Net borrowings

At year-end 2015, the Group’s net borrowings amounted to SEK 1,898m (4,869). The table below presents how the Group calculates net borrowings and what they consist of.

Net borrowings

  December 31, 
  2014 2015
Short-term loans 1,419 1,498
Short-term part of long-term loans 2,595 2,677
Trade receivables with recourse 946 328
Short-term borrowings 4,960 4,503
Derivatives 152 215
Accrued interest expenses and prepaid interest income 63 55
Total short-term borrowings 5,175 4,773
Long-term borrowings 9,529 8,323
Total borrowings 14,704 13,096
Cash and cash equivalents 9,107 10,696
Short-term investments 99 108
Derivatives 356 141
Prepaid interest expenses and accrued interest income 273 254
Liquid funds 9,835 11,199
Financial net debt 4,869 1,898
Net provision for post-employment benefits 4,763 4,509
Net debt 9,632 6,407
Revolving credit facility (EUR 500m, SEK 3,400m, USD 300m)1) 8,137 10,517
Committed bridge facility (USD 3,500m) 27,271

1) The facilities are not included in net borrowings, but can, however, be used for short-term and long-term funding.

Liquid funds

Liquid funds as defined by the Group consist of cash and cash equivalents, short-term investments, derivatives and prepaid interest expenses and accrued interest income. Cash and cash equivalents consist of cash on hand, bank deposits and other short-term highly liquid investments with a maturity of 3 months or less.

The table below presents the key data of liquid funds. The carrying amount of liquid funds is approximately equal to fair value.

Liquidity profile

  December 31, 
  2014 2015
Cash and cash equivalents 9,107 10,696
Short-term investments 99 108
Derivatives 356 141
Prepaid interest expenses and accrued interest income 273 254
Liquid funds 9,835 11,199
% of annualized net sales1) 14.1 17.5
Net liquidity 4,660 6,425
Fixed interest term, days 11 9
Effective yield, % (average per annum) 1.3 1.4

1) Liquid funds plus unused revolving credit facilities of EUR 500m, SEK 3,400m and USD 300m divided by annualized net sales.

For 2015, liquid funds, including unused revolving credit facilities of EUR 500m SEK 3,400m and USD 300m, amounted to 17.5% (14.1) of annualized net sales. The net liquidity is calculated by deducting short-term borrowings from liquid funds.

Interest-bearing liabilities

Borrowings are initially recognized at fair value net of transaction costs incurred. After initial recognition, borrowings are valued at amortized cost using the effective interest method.

In 2015, SEK 2,632m of long-term borrowings matured or were amortized. These maturities were refinanced with SEK 1,447m.

At year-end 2015, the Group’s total interest-bearing liabilities amounted to SEK 12,498m (13,543), of which SEK 11,000m (12,124) referred to long-term borrowings including maturities within 12 months. Long-term borrowings with maturities within 12 months amounted to SEK 2,677m (2,595). The outstanding long-term borrowings have mainly been made under the European Medium-Term Note Program and via bilateral loans. The majority of total long-term borrowings, SEK 10,520m (11,666), is taken up at the parent company level. Electrolux also has an unused committed multicurrency revolving credit facility of SEK 3,400m maturing 2017, an unused committed multicurrency revolving credit facility of EUR 500m maturing 2018 and an unused bilateral credit facility of USD 300m maturing 2018. These three facilities can be used as either long-term or short-term back-up facilities. However, Electrolux expects to meet any future requirements for short-term borrowings through bilateral bank facilities and capital-market programs such as commercial paper programs. In 2014 Electrolux signed a committed bridge facility of USD 3,500m to fund the planned acquisition of GE Appliances. Due to the cancellation of the bridge facility in December 2015, the SEK 187m capitalized fee was expensed.

At year-end 2015, the average interest-fixing period for long-term borrowings was 0.8 years (1.2). The calculation of the average interest-fixing period includes the effect of interest-rate swaps used to manage the interest-rate risk of the debt portfolio. The average interest rate for the total borrowings was 2.7% (2.4) at year end.

The fair value of the interest-bearing borrowings was SEK 12,433m. The fair value including swap transactions used to manage the interest fixing was approximately SEK 12,443m. The borrowings and the interest-rate swaps are valued marked-to-market in order to calculate the fair value.

The table below sets out the carrying amount of the Group’s borrowings.

Borrowings

          Carrying amount,  December 31, 
Issue/maturity date Description of loan  Interest rate, % Currency Nominal value
(in currency)
2014 2015
Bond loans1)            
2008-2016 Euro MTN Program Floating USD 779
2011-2016 Euro MTN Program Floating SEK 769
2011-2016 Euro MTN Program 4.500 SEK 1,084
2012-2017 Euro MTN Program 2.625 SEK 100 100 100
2012-2017 Euro MTN Program Floating SEK 400 400 400
2012-2018 Euro MTN Program 2.910 SEK 270 270 270
2012-2018 Euro MTN Program Floating SEK 730 730 730
2013-2020 Euro MTN Program 3.440 SEK 170 170 170
2013-2020 Euro MTN Program Floating SEK 830 830 830
2013-2018 Euro MTN Program Floating SEK 600 599 600
2013-2018 Euro MTN Program 2.875 SEK 400 398 399
2014–2019 Euro MTN Program Floating SEK 750 749 750
2014–2019 Euro MTN Program 2.340 SEK 250 250 250
2014–2019 Euro MTN Program 1.000 EUR 100 943 918
Total bond loans         8,071 5,417
Other long-term loans1)            
1996–2036 Fixed rate loans in Germany 7.870 EUR 39 367 355
2013–2021 Long-term bank loans in Sweden Floating SEK 1,000 1,000 1,000
2015–2021 Long-term bank loans in Sweden Floating USD 170 1,426
Other long-term loans         91 125
Total other long-term loans         1,458 2,906
Long-term borrowings         9,529 8,323
Short-term part of long-term loans2)            
2012-2015 Euro MTN Program 3.250 SEK 550
2012-2015 Euro MTN Program Floating SEK 164
2008–2015 Long-term bank loans in Sweden Floating PLN 744
2008–2015 Long-term bank loans in Sweden Floating EUR 1,137
2008-2016 Euro MTN Program Floating USD 100 841
2011-2016 Euro MTN Program Floating SEK 769 769
2011-2016 Euro MTN Program 4.500 SEK 1,067 1,067
Total short-term part of long-term loans         2,595 2,677
Other short-term loans            
  Short-term bank loans in Egypt Floating EGP 335 746 359
  Short-term bank loans in Brazil Floating BRR 234 53 503
  Other bank borrowings and
​­commercial papers
      620 636
Total other short-term loans         1,419 1,498
Trade receivables with recourse         946 328
Short-term borrowings         4,960 4,503
Fair value of derivative liabilities         152 215
Accrued interest expenses and prepaid interest income         63 55
Total borrowings         14,704 13,096

1) The interest-rate fixing profile of the borrowings has been adjusted with interest-rate swaps.

2) Long-term borrowings with maturities within 12 months are classified as short-term borrowings in the Group’s balance sheet.

Short-term borrowings pertain mainly to countries with capital restrictions. The average maturity of the Group’s long-term borrowings including long-term borrowings with maturities within 12 months was 2.8 years (2.8), at the end of 2015. The table below presents the repayment schedule of long-term borrowings.

Repayment schedule of long-term borrowings, December 31

  2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021— Total
Debenture and bond loans 500 1,999 1,918 1,000 5,417
Bank and other loans 125 231 308 308 1,934 2,906
Short-term part of long-term loans 2,677 2,677
Total 2,677 625 2,230 2,226 1,308 1,934 11,000

Other interest-bearing investments

Interest-bearing receivables from customer financing amounting to SEK 98m (100) are included in the item Trade receivables in the consolidated balance sheet. The Group’s customer-financing activities are performed in order to provide sales support and are directed mainly to independent retailers in Scandinavia. The majority of the financing is shorter than 12 months. There is no major concentration of credit risk related to customer financing. Collaterals and the right to repossess the inventory also reduce the credit risk in the financing operations. The income from customer financing is subject to interest-rate risk. This risk is immaterial to the Group.

Commercial flows

The table below shows the forecasted transaction flows, imports and exports, for the 12-month period of 2016 and hedges at year-end 2015.

The hedged amounts are dependent on the hedging policy for each flow considering the existing risk exposure. Hedges with maturity above 12 months have a market value of SEK 0m (0) at year-end. The effect of hedging on operating income during 2015 amounted to SEK 192m (–25). At year-end 2015, the unrealized fair value of forward contracts for hedging of forecasted transaction flows amounted to SEK –18m (14).

Forecasted transaction flows and hedges

  AUD BRL CAD CHF CLP CNY EUR GBP THB USD Other Total
Inflow of currency, long position 2,987 2,936 2,627 1,657 1,077 311 5,723 2,978 990 4,795 10,416 36,498
Outflow of currency, short position –163 –4 –3,400 –9,633 –2,269 –14,486 –6,543 –36,498
Gross transaction flow 2,824 2,936 2,627 1,653 1,077 –3,089 –3,910 2,978 –1,278 –9,691 3,873
Hedges –1,147 –261 –839 –633 –259 2,892 807 –1,273 261 711 –259
Net transaction flow 1,677 2,675 1,788 1,021 818 –197 –3,103 1,704 –1,017 –8,980 3,614

Maturity profile of financial liabilities and derivatives

The table below presents the undiscounted cash flows of the Group’s contractual liabilities related to financial instruments based on the remaining period at the balance sheet to the contractual maturity date. Floating interest cash flows with future fixing dates are estimated using the forward–forward interest rates at year–end. Any cash flow in foreign currency is converted to Swedish krona using the FX spot rates at year–end.

Maturity profile of financial liabilities and derivatives – undiscounted cash flows

   1 year > 1 year  < 2 years > 2 years  < 5 years > 5 years Total
Loans –2,192 –2,458 –5,312 –355 –10,317
Net settled derivatives –10 –10
Gross settled derivatives –10 –10
Outflow –28,928 –28,928
Inflow 28,918 28,918
Accounts payable –26,467 –26,467
Financial guarantees –1,188 –1,188
Total –29,867 –2,458 –5,312 –355 –37,992

Net gain/loss, fair value and carrying amount on financial instruments

The tables below present net gain/loss on financial instruments, the effect in the income statement and equity, and the fair value and carrying amount of financial assets and liabilities. Net gain/loss can include both exchange–rate differences and gain/loss due to changes in ­interest–rate levels.

Net gain/loss, income and expense on financial instruments

  2014 2015
  Gain/loss
in profit
and loss
Gain/loss
in OCI
Income Expense Gain/loss
in profit
and loss
Gain/loss
in OCI
Income Expense
Recognized in the operating income                
Financial assets and liabilities at fair value through profit and loss –25 192
Loans and receivables –700 -516
Available–for–sale financial assets 19 -39
Total net gain/loss, income and expense –725 19 -324 -39
Recognized in the financial items                
Financial assets and liabilities at fair value through profit and loss 338 –13 14 -273 -28 5
Loans and receivables –233 122 222 89
Other financial liabilities –235 –578 -1 -654
Total net gain/loss, income and expense –130 –13 122 –564 –52 –28 89 -649

Fair value and carrying amount on financial assets and liabilities

  2014
Carrying amount
20151)
Carrying amount
Financial assets    
Financial assets 312 284
Financial assets at fair value through profit and loss 135 147
Available-for-sale 177 137
Trade receivables 20,663 17,745
Loans and receivables 20,663 17,745
Derivatives 375 149
Short-term investments 99 108
Financial assets at fair value through profit and loss 96 105
Loans and receivables 3 3
Cash and cash equivalents 9,107 10,696
Financial assets at fair value through profit and loss 2,360 3,237
Loans and receivables 1,458 1,011
Cash 5,289 6,448
Total financial assets 30,556 28,982
Financial liabilities    
Long-term borrowings 9,528 8,323
Financial liabilities measured at amortized cost 9,227 8,323
Financial liabilities measured at amortized cost for which fair value hedge accounting is applied 301
Accounts payable 25,705 26,467
Financial liabilities at amortized cost 25,705 26,467
Short-term borrowings 4,014 4,175
Financial liabilities measured at amortized cost 3,860 3,972
Financial liabilities measured at amortized cost for which fair value hedge accounting is applied 154 203
Derivatives 156 222
Total financial liabilities 39,403 39,187

1) Carrying amount equals fair value except for long and short-term borrowings where the fair value is SEK 138m (152), respectively SEK 47m (16) higher than the carrying amount.

Fair value estimation

Valuation of financial instruments at fair value is done at the most accurate market prices available. Instruments which are quoted on the market, e.g., the major bond and interest-rate future markets, are all marked-to-market with the current price. The foreign-exchange spot rate is used to convert the value into SEK. For instruments where no reliable price is available on the market, cash flows are discounted using the deposit/swap curve of the cash-flow currency. If no proper cash-flow schedule is available, e.g., as in the case with forward-rate agreements, the underlying schedule is used for valuation purposes. To the extent option instruments are used, the valuation is based on the Black & Scholes’ formula.

The carrying value less impairment provision of trade receivables and payables are assumed to approximate their fair values. The fair value of financial liabilities is estimated by discounting the future contractual cash flows at the current market-interest rate that is available to the Group for similar financial instruments. The Group’s financial assets and liabilities are measured according to the following hierarchy:

Level 1: Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities. At year-end 2015, the fair value for level 1 financial assets was SEK 3,626m (2,768) and for the total financial liabilities SEK 0m (0).

Level 2: Inputs other than quoted prices included in level 1 that are observable for assets or liabilities either directly or indirectly. At year-end 2015, the fair value for level 2 financial assets was SEK 148m (375) and for the total financial liabilities SEK 220 (157).

Level 3: Inputs for the assets or liabilities that are not entirely based on observable market date. Electrolux has no financial assets or liabilities qualifying for level 3.