The exposure of the Group’s net indebtedness to interest rate fluctuations covers two types of risk: a risk of change in the net financial expenses on floating-rate financial assets and liabilities, and a risk of change in the value of financial assets invested at fixed rates. These risks are managed by monitoring the floating-rate portion of net indebtedness, defined by reference to the risk/return for net financial expenses, taking into consideration expected movements in interest rates.
Some of the debt is variabilised and the Group may use interest rate derivatives for hedging purposes. The distribution of exposure between fixed and floating rates is monitored.
The Group’s debt after hedging instruments at 31 December 2019 comprised 61.0% at fixed rates and 39.0% at floating rates.
A 1% uniform annual rise in interest rates would generate an approximate €263 million increase in financial expenses at 31 December 2019, based on gross floating-rate debt after hedging.
The average cost of Group debt (weighted interest rate on outstanding amounts) was 2.69% at the end of 2019.
The table below sets forth the structure of Group debt and the impact of a 1% variation in interest rates at 31 December 2019. The impact of the change in interest rates is stable in comparison to 2018.
| 31 December 2019 (in millions of euros) | Initial debt structure | Impact of hedging instruments | Debt structure after hedging | Impact on income of a 1% variation in interest rates |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fixed rate | Fixed rate Initial debt structure62,128 | Fixed rate Impact of hedging instruments(21,035) | Fixed rate Debt structure after hedging41,093 | Fixed rate Impact on income of a 1% variation in interest rates- |
| Floating rate | Floating rate Initial debt structure5,252 | Floating rate Impact of hedging instruments21,035 | Floating rate Debt structure after hedging26,287 | Floating rate Impact on income of a 1% variation in interest rates263 |
| TOTAL | TOTALInitial debt structure67,380 | TOTALImpact of hedging instruments- | TOTALDebt structure after hedging67,380 | TOTALImpact on income of a 1% variation in interest rates263 |
Concerning financial assets, the table below presents the interest rate risk on the floating-rate notes and short-term deposits held by EDF, and their sensitivity to interest rate risks (impact on net income).
| 31 December 2019 | Value | Impact on income of a 1% variation of interest rates | Value after a 1% variation in interest rates |
|---|---|---|---|
| FLOATING-RATE INSTRUMENTS | FLOATING-RATE INSTRUMENTSValue2,487 | FLOATING-RATE INSTRUMENTSImpact on income of a 1% variation of interest rates(25) | FLOATING-RATE INSTRUMENTSValue after a 1% variation in interest rates2,462 |
The Group’s interest rate risk notably relates to the value of the Group’s long-term nuclear obligations (see note 32 to the 2019 consolidated financial statements) and its pension and other specific employee benefit obligations (see note 34 to the 2019 consolidated financial statements), which are adjusted to present value using discount rates that depend on interest rates at various time horizons, and debt securities held in connection with the management of the dedicated assets set aside to cover these obligations (see section 5.1.6.1.6 “Management of financial risk on EDF’s dedicated asset portfolio”).
The equity risk is concentrated in the following areas:
Analysis of the equity risk is presented in section 5.1.6.1.6 “Management of financial risk on EDF SA’s dedicated asset portfolio”.
Assets covering EDF’s employee benefit liabilities are partly invested on the international and European equities markets. Market trends therefore affect the value of these assets, and a downturn in equity prices would lead to a rise in balance sheet provisions.
31.6% of the assets covering EDF’s employee benefit obligations were invested in equities at 31 December 2019, representing an amount of €4 billion of equities.
At 31 December 2019, the two pension funds sponsored by EDF Energy (EDF Energy Pension Scheme and EDF Energy Group Electricity Supply Pension Scheme) were invested to the extent of 14.3% in equities and 8.4% in equity funds, representing an amount of £237 million of equities.
At 31 December 2019, the British Energy pension funds were invested to the extent of 11.1% in equities and equity funds, representing an amount of £768 million of equities.
CENG is exposed to equity risks in the management of its funds established to cover nuclear decommissioning expenses.
As part of its long-term cash management policy, EDF has continued its strategy to reduce the portion of equity-correlated investments, resulting in a non-significant position well below €1 million at 31 December 2019.
Dedicated assets have been built up progressively by EDF since 1999 for secure financing of its long-term nuclear obligations. The Law of 28 June 2006 and its implementing regulations defined provisions not related to the operating cycle, which must therefore be covered by dedicated assets; they are listed in note 48 to the 2019 consolidated financial statements, “EDF’s dedicated assets”.
The dedicated asset portfolio is managed under the supervision of the Board of Directors and its advisory committees (Nuclear Commitments Monitoring Committee, Audit committee).
The Nuclear Commitments Monitoring Committee (CSEN) is a specialised Committee set up by EDF’s Board of Directors in 2007.
A Nuclear Commitments Financial Expertise Committee (CEFEN) exists to assist the Company and its governance bodies on questions of matching assets and liabilities and asset management. The members of this Committee are independent of EDF. They are selected for their skills and diversity of experience, particularly in the fields of asset/liability management, economic and financial research, and asset management.
The governance principles setting forth the structure of dedicated assets, and the relevant decision-making and control processes for their management, are validated by EDF’s Board of Directors. These principles also lay down rules for the asset portfolio’s structure, selection of financial managers, and the legal, accounting and tax structure of the funds.
