29. Additional Disclosures on Financial Instruments, Financial Risk Management, and Derivative Financial Instruments

The table below shows the carrying amounts and fair values of the Group’s financial instruments as of December 31, 2022, and December 31, 2023:

The following overview shows the IFRS 13 fair value hierarchy levels used to classify financial instruments that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis:

In the Beiersdorf Group, securities carried at fair value are allocated to fair value hierarchy Level 1 and are measured at quoted prices on the balance sheet date.

Derivative financial instruments are assigned to fair value hierarchy Level 2. The fair values of currency forwards are calculated using the exchange rate as of the reporting date and discounted to the reporting date on the basis of their respective yield curves.

Fair value hierarchy Level 3 mainly comprises fair values of equity investments. These are allocated to the “at fair value through other comprehensive income” (FVOCI) category.

During 2023, Beiersdorf sold bonds with a book value of €330 million from the “at amortized cost” (AC) category. This resulted in a loss of €3 million, which is recognized within “Other financial result.”

Financial instruments that are not measured at fair value predominantly have remaining contractual maturities of less than 12 months as of the reporting date. Therefore, their carrying amounts at the balance sheet date correspond approximately to their fair value. Securities belonging to the “at amortized cost” (AC) category are an exception. The fair values for this item have been assigned to fair value hierarchy Level 1.

Risk management principles

As a result of its operations, the Beiersdorf Group is exposed to various risks such as currency risk, interest rate risk, and default risk. These risks are countered by active treasury management based on a global directive. They are managed and hedged centrally to a very large extent.

Derivative financial instruments are used to hedge the operational business and material financial transactions. The transactions are conducted exclusively with marketable instruments. IFRS 7 requires sensitivity analyses, which show the effects of hypothetical changes in relevant risk variables on profit or loss and equity, to be used in presenting market risk. For the Beiersdorf Group, this mainly relates to currency risk. The effects are ascertained by applying the hypothetical changes in risk variables to the portfolio of financial instruments as of the balance sheet date. It is assumed that the portfolio at the reporting date is representative for the full year.

Currency risk

Currency risk is the risk of fluctuations in the fair value or future cash flows of a financial instrument as a result of changes in exchange rates.

Currency risk within the meaning of IFRS 7 arises through monetary financial instruments that are reported in a currency other than the functional currency. Exchange rate differences arising from the translation of financial statements of affiliates into the Group currency are not included. Relevant risk variables are therefore basically all non-functional currencies in which financial instruments are held by the Beiersdorf Group. As a result of the Beiersdorf Group’s international orientation with an emphasis on the eurozone, the euro serves as the key currency. Consequently, the Beiersdorf Group is exposed to risks through financing measures and operational activities when other currencies fluctuate against the euro.

As a matter of principle, currency risks relating to cross-border intragroup financing are hedged centrally in full and at matching maturities using currency forwards (fair value hedges). Owing to these hedging activities, the Beiersdorf Group is not exposed to any significant currency risks in its financing activities as of the balance sheet date. Gains and losses on these currency forwards are offset in full by gains and losses on the hedged items.

With regard to operations, a majority of cash flows in non-functional currencies in the Beiersdorf Group are generally hedged for the next 12 months using standard currency forwards. These transactions are recorded, measured, and managed centrally in the treasury management system. As a result, the Beiersdorf Group is not exposed to any significant currency risks in its operations as of the balance sheet date.

Since material non-derivative financial instruments are either denominated directly in the functional currency or transformed into the functional currency through the use of derivatives, changes in the exchange rate do not have any material effects on profit or loss or equity. Consequently, the Beiersdorf Group is primarily only exposed to risks arising from currency forwards which are designated as hedging instruments, and which meet the criteria for recognition as cash flow hedges on forecasted transactions. Changes in market prices largely affect the hedging reserve in equity and the fair values of the hedging transactions.

The fair value of the currency forwards at the balance sheet date was €13 million (previous year: €33 million), and their notional value was €2,167 million (previous year: €1,712 million). Currency forwards with a market value of €2 million have a remaining maturity of more than one year; the remaining forward contracts have a remaining maturity of up to one year. In the previous year all contracts had a remaining maturity of under one year. The notional values represent the aggregate of all purchase and selling amounts for derivatives. The notional values shown are not netted.

If the euro had appreciated by 10% against all currencies as of December 31, 2023, the fair values of the currency forwards recognized directly within the hedging reserves in equity would have increased by €62 million (previous year: €42 million). If the euro had depreciated by 10%, the fair values of the currency forwards recognized directly within the hedging reserves in equity would have decreased by €73 million (previous year: €49 million). An appreciation of the euro by 10% would have decreased the value of currency forwards not included in a hedging relationship by €4 million within financial result. A corresponding decrease in the value of the euro by 10% would have increased the financial result by €7 million.

Interest rate risk

Interest rate risk is the risk that the fair value or future cash flows of a financial instrument may fluctuate as a result of changes in market interest rates.

Beiersdorf has only a small volume of non-current financial instruments that are not measured at amortized cost and does not have any interest rate derivatives. Changes in fair values are therefore of no more than minor significance for the Beiersdorf Group. These are subject to interest rate risk within the meaning of IFRS 7 for the entire fiscal year.

If the interest rates at the quarter-ends of the fiscal year had been 100 basis points higher (lower) in each case than the yield curve, the financial result would have been €10 million (previous year: €5 million) higher (lower). This would have had no impact on accumulated other comprehensive income within equity.

Default risk

The Beiersdorf Group is exposed to default risk within the Scope of its financing activities and in its operations. The maximum default risk can be seen from the carrying amount of each financial asset recognized in the balance sheet. The total carrying amount of the financial assets was €6,829 million as of December 31, 2023 (previous year: €6,724 million).

The simplified process is used for determining impairments on trade receivables under IFRS 9. In this approach, expected credit losses over the entire lifetime of the financial instruments are determined. Expected losses are estimated based on analyses of historical defaults and the age structure of the receivables as well as current economic developments and an assessment of the credit quality of individual customers.

Given that historical and expected default rates are low, the impairments did not have a material impact on assets or equity. We counter the risk of bad debts through detailed monitoring of our customer relationships, active receivables management, and the selective use of trade credit insurance.

Potential default risks relating to the investment of the Group’s liquid funds are limited by only making investments with counterparties deemed reliable. Counterparty risk is monitored on the basis of ratings and the counterparties’ liable capital, as well as continuously updated risk indicators. These parameters are used to determine maximum amounts for investments with partner banks and securities issuers (counterparty limits), which are compared regularly with the investments actually made throughout the Group. We have invested the majority of our liquidity in low-risk investments (such as government and corporate bonds).

Impairments based on expected credit losses over the next 12 months are recognized on securities measured at amortized cost or at fair value through other comprehensive income. The estimate is based on ratings and continuously updated risk indicators. Current CDS spreads and the issuers’ bond spreads are also used in the calculation.

Financial assets such as cash and cash equivalents include bank balances and very short-term liquid investments. These belong to the “at amortized cost” category. Given the very short terms (e.g., due on demand) and the creditworthiness of our contractual partners, no impairment was identified based on expected credit losses.

Liquidity risk

Liquidity risk is the risk that an entity will encounter difficulties in meeting the obligations associated with its financial liabilities. As a result of the large amount of cash and cash equivalents as well as securities held as of the balance sheet date, the Beiersdorf Group is not currently exposed to any liquidity risk. Additionally, in order to ensure the liquidity and financial flexibility of the Beiersdorf Group at all times, liquidity reserves are maintained in the form of credit lines.