v3.22.4
Derivative financial instruments
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2022
Derivative financial instruments [Abstract]  
Derivative financial instruments
Note 9.- Derivative financial instruments

The breakdowns of the fair value amount of the derivative financial instruments as of December 31, 2022 and 2021 are as follows:

   
Balance as of December 31, 2022
   
Balance as of December 31, 2021
 
   
Assets
   
Liabilities
   
Assets
   
Liabilities
 
Interest rate cash flow hedge
   
94,192
     
12,159
     
9,550
     
206,763
 
Foreign exchange derivatives instruments
   
3,189
     
-
     
3,410
     
-
 
Notes conversion option (Note 14)
   
-
     
4,688
     
-
     
16,690
 
Total
   
97,381
     
16,847
     
12,960
     
223,453
 

The derivatives are primarily interest rate cash-flow hedges. All are classified as non-current assets or non-current liabilities, as they hedge long-term financing agreements.

As stated in Note 3 to these Consolidated Financial Statements, the general policy is to hedge variable interest rates of financing agreements using two types of hedging derivatives:

-
Interest rate swaps under which the Company receives the floating leg and pays the fixed leg; and
-
Purchased call options (cap), in exchange of a premium to fix the maximum interest rate cost.

The notional amounts hedged, strikes contracted and maturities, depending on the characteristics of the debt on which the interest rate risk is being hedged, can be diverse. As of December 31, 2022, approximately 92% of the Project debt and 96% of the Corporate debt of the Company either has fixed interest rates or has been hedged with swaps or caps (92% and 99%, respectively, as of December 31, 2021).

The table below shows a breakdown of the maturities of notional amounts of interest rate cash flow hedge derivatives as of December 31, 2022 and 2021.

Notionals
 
Balance as of December 31, 2022
   
Balance as of December 31, 2021
 
   
Assets
   
Liabilities
   
Assets
   
Liabilities
 
Up to 1 year
   
245,147
     
47,029
     
71,386
     
106,191
 
Between 1 and 2 years
   
310,393
     
102,476
     
304,930
     
240,197
 
Between 2 and 3 years
   
217,498
     
112,855
     
262,973
     
271,350
 
Subsequent years
   
659,186
     
280,016
     
217,989
     
860,777
 
Total
 
 
1,432,224
   
 
542,376
   
 
857,278
     
1,478,515
 

The table below shows a breakdown of the maturity of the fair values of interest rate cash flow hedge derivatives as of December 31, 2022 and 2021:

Fair value
 
Balance as of December 31, 2022
   
Balance as of December 31, 2021
 
   
Assets
   
Liabilities
   
Assets
   
Liabilities
 
Up to 1 year
   
10,868
     
(991
)
   
678
     
(15,039
)
Between 1 and 2 years
   
17,860
     
(2,189
)
   
1,810
     
(33,670
)
Between 2 and 3 years
   
12,257
     
(2,851
)
   
2,268
     
(39,834
)
Subsequent years
   
53,208
     
(6,128
)
   
4,794
     
(118,220
)
Total
 
 
94,192
   
(12,159
)
   
9,550
   
 
(206,763
)

The net amount of the fair value of interest rate derivatives designated as cash flow hedges transferred to the consolidated income statement in 2022 is a loss of $38,187 thousand (loss of $58,292 thousand in 2021 and a loss of $58,381 thousand in 2020).

The after-tax result accumulated in equity in connection with derivatives designated as cash flow hedges at the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, amount to a $345,567 thousand gain and a $171,272 thousand gain, respectively.

Additionally, the Company has currency options with leading international financial institutions, which guarantee minimum Euro-U.S. dollar exchange rates. The strategy of the Company is to hedge the exchange rate for the net distributions from its European assets after deducting euro-denominated interest payments and euro-denominated general and administrative expenses. Through currency options, the strategy of the Company is to hedge 100% of its euro-denominated net exposure for the next 12 months and 75% of its euro denominated net exposure for the following 12 months, on a rolling basis. Change in fair value of these foreign exchange derivatives instruments are directly recorded in the consolidated income statement.

Finally, the conversion option of the Green Exchangeable Notes issued in July 2020 (Note 14) is recorded as a derivative with a fair value (liability) of $5 million as of December 31, 2022 ($17 million as of December 31, 2021).