BP (BP)

     At the inception of a hedge relationship the group formally designates and documents the hedge relationship for which the group wishes to claim hedge accounting, together with the risk management objective and strategy for undertaking the hedge. The documentation includes identification of the hedging instrument, the hedged item or transaction, the nature of the risk being hedged, and how the entity will assess the hedging instrument effectiveness in offsetting the exposure to changes in the hedged item’s fair value or cash flows attributable to the hedged item. Such hedges are expected at inception to be highly effective in achieving offsetting changes in fair value or cash flows.
     Hedges meeting the criteria for hedge accounting are accounted for as follows:

Fair value hedges
The change in fair value of a hedging derivative is recognized in profit or loss. The change in the fair value of the hedged item attributable to the risk being hedged is recorded as part of the carrying value of the hedged item and is also recognized in profit or loss.
     The group applies fair value hedge accounting for hedging fixed interest rate risk on borrowings. The gain or loss relating to the effective portion of the interest rate swap is recognized in the income statement within finance costs, offsetting the amortization of the interest on the underlying borrowings.
     If the criteria for hedge accounting are no longer met, or if the group revokes the designation, the adjustment to the carrying amount of a hedged item for which the effective interest rate method is used is amortized to profit or loss over the period to maturity.

Cash flow hedges
For cash flow hedges, the effective portion of the gain or loss on the hedging instrument is recognized directly in equity, while the ineffective portion is recognized in profit or loss. Amounts taken to equity are transferred to the income statement when the hedged transaction affects profit or loss. The gain or loss relating to the effective portion of interest rate swaps hedging variable rate borrowings is recognized in the income statement within finance costs.
     Where the hedged item is the cost of a non-financial asset or liability, such as a forecast transaction for the purchase of property, plant and equipment, the amounts taken to equity are transferred to the initial carrying amount of the non-financial asset or liability.
     If the hedging instrument expires or is sold, terminated or exercised without replacement or rollover, or if its designation as a hedge is revoked, amounts previously recognized in equity remain in equity until the forecast transaction occurs and are transferred to the income statement or to the initial carrying amount of a non-financial asset or liability as above. If a forecast transaction is no longer expected to occur, amounts previously recognized in equity are transferred to profit or loss.

Hedges of a net investment in a foreign operation
For hedges of a net investment in a foreign operation, the effective portion of the gain or loss on the hedging instrument is recognized directly in equity, while the ineffective portion is recognized in profit or loss. Amounts taken to equity are transferred to the income statement when the foreign operation is sold or partially disposed.

Embedded derivatives
Derivatives embedded in other financial instruments or other host contracts are treated as separate derivatives when their risks and characteristics are not closely related to those of the host contract. Contracts are assessed for embedded derivatives when the group becomes a party to them, including at the date of a business combination. Embedded derivatives are measured at fair value at each balance sheet date. Any gains or losses arising from changes in fair value are taken directly to profit or loss.

Provisions and contingencies
Provisions are recognized when the group has a present obligation (legal or constructive) as a result of a past event, it is probable that an outflow of resources embodying economic benefits will be required to settle the obligation and a reliable estimate can be made of the amount of the obligation. Where appropriate, the future cash flow estimates are adjusted to reflect risks specific to the liability. Where the group expects some or all of a provision to be reimbursed, for example, under an insurance contract, the reimbursement is recognized as a separate asset, but only when the reimbursement is virtually certain. The expense relating to any provision is presented in the income statement net of any reimbursement.
     If the effect of the time value of money is material, provisions are determined by discounting the expected future cash flows at a pre-tax rate that reflects current market assessments of the time value of money. Where discounting is used, the increase in the provision due to the passage of time is recognized as other finance expense.
     A contingent liability is disclosed where the existence of an obligation will only be confirmed by future events or where the amount of the obligation cannot be measured with reasonable reliability. Contingent assets are not recognized, but are disclosed where an inflow of economic benefits is probable.

Environmental expenditures and liabilities
Environmental expenditures that relate to current or future revenues are expensed or capitalized as appropriate. Expenditures that relate to an existing condition caused by past operations and do not contribute to current or future earnings are expensed.
     Liabilities for environmental costs are recognized when environmental assessments or clean-ups are probable and the associated costs can be reliably estimated. Generally, the timing of recognition of these provisions coincides with the commitment to a formal plan of action or, if earlier, on divestment or on closure of inactive sites.
     The amount recognized is the best estimate of the expenditure required. Where the liability will not be settled for a number of years, the amount recognized is the present value of the estimated future expenditure.

Decommissioning
Liabilities for decommissioning costs are recognized when the group has an obligation to dismantle and remove a facility or an item of plant and to restore the site on which it is located, and when a reliable estimate of that liability can be made. Where an obligation exists for a new facility, such as oil and natural gas production or transportation facilities, this will be on construction or installation. An obligation for decommissioning may also crystallize during the period of operation of a facility through a change in legislation or through a decision to terminate operations. The amount recognized is the present value of the estimated future expenditure determined in accordance with local conditions and requirements.

1 Significant accounting policies continued

     A corresponding item of property, plant and equipment of an amount equivalent to the provision is also created. This is subsequently depreciated as part of the asset.
     Other than the unwinding discount on the provision, any change in the present value of the estimated expenditure is reflected as an adjustment to the provision and the corresponding item of property, plant and equipment.

Employee benefits
Wages, salaries, bonuses, social security contributions, paid annual leave and sick leave are accrued in the period in which the associated services are rendered by employees of the group. Deferred bonus arrangements that have a vesting date more than 12 months after the period end are valued on an actuarial basis using the projected unit credit method and amortized on a straight-line basis over the service period until the award vests. The accounting policy for pensions and other post-retirement benefits is described below.

Share-based payments
Equity-settled transactions
The cost of equity-settled transactions with employees is measured by reference to the fair value at the date at which equity instruments are granted and is recognized as an expense over the vesting period, which ends on the date on which the relevant employees become fully entitled to the award. Fair value is determined by using an appropriate valuation model. In valuing equity-settled transactions, no account is taken of any vesting conditions, other than conditions linked to the price of the shares of the company (market conditions).
     No expense is recognized for awards that do not ultimately vest, except for awards where vesting is conditional upon a market condition, which are treated as vesting irrespective of whether or not the market condition is satisfied, provided that all other performance conditions are satisfied.
     At each balance sheet date before vesting, the cumulative expense is calculated, representing the extent to which the vesting period has expired and management’s best estimate of the achievement or otherwise of non-market conditions and the number of equity instruments that will ultimately vest or, in the case of an instrument subject to a market condition, be treated as vesting as described above. The movement in cumulative expense since the previous balance sheet date is recognized in the income statement, with a corresponding entry in equity.
     Where the terms of an equity-settled award are modified or a new award is designated as replacing a cancelled or settled award, the cost based on the original award terms continues to be recognized over the original vesting period. In addition, an expense is recognized over the remainder of the new vesting period for the incremental fair value of any modification, based on the difference between the fair value of the original award and the fair value of the modified award, both as measured on the date of the modification. No reduction is recognized if this difference is negative.
     Where an equity-settled award is cancelled, it is treated as if it had vested on the date of cancellation and any cost not yet recognized in the income statement for the award is expensed immediately. Any compensation paid up to the fair value of the award at the cancellation or settlement date is deducted from equity, with any excess over fair value being treated as an expense in the income statement.

Cash-settled transactions
The cost of cash-settled transactions is measured at fair value using an appropriate option valuation model. Fair value is established initially at the grant date and at each balance sheet date thereafter until the awards are settled. During the vesting period, a liability is recognized representing the product of the fair value of the award and the portion of the vesting period expired as at the balance sheet date. From the end of the vesting period until settlement, the liability represents the full fair value of the award as at the balance sheet date. Changes in the carrying amount of the liability are recognized in profit or loss for the period.

Pensions and other post-retirement benefits
The cost of providing benefits under the defined benefit plans is determined separately for each plan using the projected unit credit method, which attributes entitlement to benefits to the current period (to determine current service cost) and to the current and prior periods (to determine the present value of defined benefit obligation). Past service costs are recognized immediately when the company becomes committed to a change in pension plan design. When a settlement (eliminating all obligations for benefits already accrued) or a curtailment (reducing future obligations as a result of a material reduction in the scheme membership or a reduction in future entitlement) occurs, the obligation and related plan assets are remeasured using current actuarial assumptions and the resultant gain or loss is recognized in the income statement during the period in which the settlement or curtailment occurs.
     The interest element of the defined benefit cost represents the change in present value of scheme obligations resulting from the passage of time, and is determined by applying the discount rate to the opening present value of the benefit obligation, taking into account material changes in the obligation during the year. The expected return on plan assets is based on an assessment made at the beginning of the year of long-term market returns on scheme assets, adjusted for the effect on the fair value of plan assets of contributions received and benefits paid during the year. The difference between the expected return on plan assets and the interest cost is recognized in the income statement as other finance income or expense.
     Actuarial gains and losses are recognized in full in the group statement of recognized income and expense in the period in which they occur.
     The defined benefit pension asset or liability in the balance sheet comprises the total for each plan of the present value of the defined benefit obligation (using a discount rate based on high quality corporate bonds), less the fair value of plan assets out of which the obligations are to be settled directly. Fair value is based on market price information and, in the case of quoted securities, is the published bid price.
     Contributions to defined contribution schemes are recognized in the income statement in the period in which they become payable.