3.3 Hedge accounting
A first-time adopter is required in its opening IFRS statement of financial position to:
• measure all derivatives at fair value; and
• eliminate all deferred gains and losses arising on derivatives that were reported under previous GAAP as assets and liabilities.
Under IAS 39, a hedging relationship only qualifies for hedge accounting if a number of restrictive criteria are satisfied, including appropriate
designation and documentation of effectiveness at inception of the hedge and subsequently. A hedging relationship will only qualify for hedge
accounting at the date of transition if the hedging relationship has been fully designated and documented as effective in accordance with IAS 39
on or before the date of transition and is of a type that qualifies for hedge accounting under IAS 39. Designation of a hedging relationship cannot
be made retrospectively.
For a first-time adopter, this may be a significant change from previous GAAP which may not have required such rigorous hedge designation
and documentation. Hedge accounting under IAS 39, and therefore on first-time adoption, can be applied prospectively only from the date that
the hedge relationship is fully designated and documented subject to all other hedge accounting requirements of IAS 39 being met.
However, if an entity designated a net position as a hedged item under previous GAAP, it may designate an individual item within that net position
as a hedged item, provided that the designation is made by the date of transition.
Hedging relationships that were designated as hedges under previous GAAP, but which do not qualify for hedge accounting under IAS 39, are
treated in accordance with the requirements of IAS 39 relating to the discontinuation of hedge accounting.
Under previous GAAP, gains and losses on a cash flow hedge of a forecast transaction may have been deferred in equity. If, at the date of transition,
the transaction is still highly probable and the hedging relationship was designated appropriately and documented as effective, hedge accounting
may be continued in accordance with IAS 39. If the forecast transaction is not highly probable, but is still expected to occur, the entire deferred gain
or loss remains in equity until the forecast transaction occurs.