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Note 25 - Financial instruments

Financial instruments in the Consolidated Balance Sheet include investments in securities (see Note 14), cash and cash equivalents (see Note 17), finance debt (see Note 20) and derivative contracts.

Risks

In the normal course of business, financial instruments of various kinds are used for the purposes of managing exposure to interest rate, foreign exchange and commodity price movements.

Treasury standards are applicable to all subsidiaries and each subsidiary is required to adopt a treasury policy consistent with these standards. These policies cover: financing structure; interest rate and foreign exchange risk management; insurance; counterparty risk management; and use of derivative contracts. Wherever possible, treasury operations are carried out through specialist regional organisations without removing from each subsidiary the responsibility to formulate and implement appropriate treasury policies.

Apart from forward foreign exchange contracts to meet known commitments, the use of derivative contracts by most subsidiaries is not permitted by their treasury policy.

Other than in exceptional cases, the use of external derivative contracts is confined to specialist trading and central treasury organisations that have appropriate skills, experience, supervision, control and reporting systems.

Shell’s operations expose it to market, credit and liquidity risk, as described below.

Market risk

Market risk is the possibility that changes in interest rates, foreign exchange rates or the prices of crude oil, natural gas, LNG, refined products, chemical feedstocks, power and environmental certificates will adversely affect the value of assets, liabilities or expected future cash flows.

Interest rate risk

Most debt is raised from central borrowing programmes. Shell’s policy continues to be to have debt principally denominated in dollars and to maintain a largely floating interest rate exposure profile; however, Shell has issued a significant amount of fixed rate debt in recent years, taking advantage of historically low interest rates available in debt markets. As a result, the majority of the debt portfolio at December 31, 2022, is at fixed rates and this reduces Shell’s adverse exposure to rising floating dollar interest rates (see Note 2).

The financing of most subsidiaries is structured on a floating-rate basis, and any further interest rate risk management is only applied under exceptional circumstances.

On the basis of the floating-rate net cash position at December 31, 2022, (both issued and hedged), and assuming other factors (principally foreign exchange rates and commodity prices) remained constant and that no further interest rate management action was taken, an increase in interest rates of 1% would have increased 2022 income before taxation by $234 million (2021: $174 million increase).

The carrying amounts and maturities of debt and borrowing facilities are presented in Note 20. Interest expense is presented in Note 10.

Foreign exchange risk

Many of the markets in which Shell operates are priced, directly or indirectly, in dollars. As a result, the functional currency of most Integrated Gas and Upstream entities and those with significant cross-border business is the dollar. For Chemicals and Products entities, the functional currency is typically the local currency. Consequently, Shell is exposed to varying levels of foreign exchange risk when an entity enters into transactions that are not denominated in its functional currency, when foreign currency monetary assets and liabilities are translated at the balance sheet date and as a result of holding net investments in operations that are not dollar-functional. Each entity is required to adopt treasury policies that are designed to measure and manage its foreign exchange exposures by reference to its functional currency.

Foreign exchange gains and losses arise in the normal course of business from the recognition of receivables and payables and other monetary items in currencies other than an entity’s functional currency. Foreign exchange risk may also arise in connection with capital expenditure. For major projects, an assessment is made at the final investment decision stage of whether to hedge any resulting exposure.

Assuming other factors (principally interest rates and commodity prices) remained constant and that no further foreign exchange risk management action were taken, a 10% appreciation against the dollar at December 31 of the main currencies to which Shell is exposed would have the following effects:

 

 

 

 

$ million

 

Increase/(decrease)
in income before taxation

Increase in net assets

 

2022

2021

2022

2021

10% appreciation against the dollar of:

 

 

 

 

Sterling

(168)

(180)

894

738

Euro

124

(123)

1,486

601

Malaysian ringgit

65

119

313

399

Australian dollar

(65)

(3)

837

591

Canadian dollar

(44)

(44)

1,575

1,439

The above sensitivity information was calculated by reference to carrying amounts of assets and liabilities at December 31 only. The effect on income before taxation arises in connection with monetary balances denominated in currencies other than an entity’s functional currency; the effect on net assets arises principally from the translation of assets and liabilities of entities that are not dollar-functional.

Foreign exchange gains and losses included in income are presented in Note 9.

Commodity price risk

Certain subsidiaries have a mandate to trade crude oil, natural gas, LNG, refined products, chemical feedstocks, power and environmental certificates, and to use commodity derivative contracts (forwards, futures, swaps and options) as a means of managing price and timing risks arising from this trading activity. In effecting these transactions, the entities concerned operate within procedures and policies designed to ensure that risks, including those relating to the default of counterparties, are managed within authorised limits. A department that is independent from Shell’s traders monitors market risk exposures daily.

Value-at-risk (VAR) techniques based on variance/covariance or Monte Carlo simulation models are used to make a statistical assessment of the market risk arising from possible future changes in market values for commodity positions held by these subsidiaries over a 1-day holding period and within a 95% confidence level. The calculation of potential changes in fair value takes into account positions, the history of price movements and the correlation of these price movements. Models are regularly reviewed against actual fair value movements to ensure integrity is maintained. The VAR average and year-end positions in respect of commodities traded in active markets, which are presented in the table below, are calculated on a diversified basis in order to reflect the effect of offsetting risk within combined portfolios. 2022 was a year of high market volatility driving higher VAR than historic levels. As a result, Shell operated with enhanced risk management protocols.

Value-at-risk (pre-tax)

 

 

 

 

$ million

 

2022

2021

 

Average

Year-end

Average

Year-end

Global oil

72

56

26

30

North America gas and power

18

23

12

15

Europe gas and power

54

40

11

13

Australia gas and power

12

12

8

6

Environmental certificates

10

13

8

10

Furthermore, commodity derivative hedge contracts are used to partially mitigate price volatility on future LNG sales and purchases.

As contracts to buy and sell physical LNG are accounted for on an accrual basis (see Note 2) and commodity derivatives are accounted for on a fair-value basis, this creates an accounting mismatch over periods. The fair value accounting of commodity derivatives can result in gains or losses in the income statement, which for Adjusted Earnings are part of identified items.

These derivative contracts are based on a mix of European and North American gas price indices, global crude price indices and Asian LNG price indices. In 2022, Shell has seen high volatility in these markets and volumes of financial derivatives increased. On that basis, a sensitivity analysis has been performed for a 50% price increase or decrease of this basket of derivative contracts at year-end 2022, which would result in a gain or loss of $2.7 billion (pre-tax) in the income statement (2021: $0.3 billion).

Credit risk

Policies are in place to ensure that sales of products are made to customers with appropriate creditworthiness. These policies include credit analysis and monitoring of trading partners against counterparty credit limits. Credit information is regularly shared between business and finance functions, with dedicated teams in place to quickly identify and respond to cases of credit deterioration. Mitigation measures are defined and implemented for higher-risk business partners and customers, and include shortened payment terms, collateral or other security posting and vigorous collections. In addition, policies limit the amount of credit exposure to any individual financial institution. Elevated commodity prices, mainly in relation to strategic long-term deals in the gas portfolios resulted in a material concentration of credit risk representing around 25% of total Shell net credit exposure after offsetting for cash collateral and other instruments held.

Surplus cash is invested in a range of short-dated, secure and liquid instruments including short-term bank deposits, money market funds, reverse repos and similar instruments. The portfolio of these investments is diversified to avoid concentrating risk in any one instrument, country or counterparty. Management monitors the investments regularly and adjusts the investment portfolio in light of new market information where necessary to ensure credit risk is effectively diversified.

In commodity trading, counterparty credit risk is managed within a framework of credit limits with utilisation being regularly reviewed. Credit risk exposure is monitored and the acceptable level of credit exposure is determined by a credit committee. Credit checks are performed by a department independent of traders, and are undertaken before contractual commitment. Where appropriate, netting arrangements, credit insurance, prepayments and collateral are used to manage specific risks.

Shell routinely enters into offsetting, master netting and similar arrangements with trading and other counterparties to manage credit risk. Where there is a legally enforceable right of offset under such arrangements and Shell has the intention to settle on a net basis or realise the asset and settle the liability simultaneously, the net asset or liability is recognised in the Consolidated Balance Sheet, otherwise assets and liabilities are presented gross. These amounts, as presented net and gross within trade and other receivables, trade and other payables and derivative financial instruments in the Consolidated Balance Sheet at December 31, were as follows:

2022

 

 

 

 

 

 

$ million

 

Amounts offset

Amounts not offset

 

 

Gross amounts before offset

Amounts offset

Net amounts as presented

Cash collateral received/pledged

Other offsetting instruments

Net amounts

Assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Within trade receivables

28,259

17,200

11,059

292

495

10,272

Within derivative financial instruments

56,154

34,685

21,469

1,904

4,563

15,002

Liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Within trade payables

29,981

17,200

12,781

608

495

11,678

Within derivative financial instruments

58,991

34,710

24,281

4,788

3,364

16,129

2021

 

 

 

 

 

 

$ million

 

Amounts offset

Amounts not offset

 

 

Gross amounts before offset

Amounts
offset

Net amounts as presented

Cash collateral received/pledged

Other offsetting instruments

Net amounts

Assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Within trade receivables

20,561

11,937

8,624

164

283

8,177

Within derivative financial instruments

48,813

39,819

8,994

902

3,098

4,994

Liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Within trade payables

19,347

11,935

7,412

61

283

7,068

Within derivative financial instruments

54,534

40,350

14,184

697

3,109

10,378

Amounts not offset principally relate to contracts where the intention to settle on a net basis was not clearly established at December 31.

The carrying amount of financial assets pledged as collateral for liabilities or contingent liabilities at December 31, 2022, presented within trade and other receivables, was $11,133 million (2021: $6,968 million). The carrying amount of collateral held at December 31, 2022, presented within trade and other payables, was $1,648 million (2021: $1,909 million). Collateral mainly relates to initial margins held with commodity exchanges and over-the-counter counterparty variation margins. Some derivative contracts are fully cash collateralised, thereby eliminating both counterparty risk and the Group’s own non-performance risk.

Liquidity risk

Liquidity risk is the risk that suitable sources of funding for Shell’s business activities may not be available. Management believes that it has access to sufficient debt funding sources (capital markets) and to undrawn committed borrowing facilities to meet foreseeable requirements. Information about borrowing facilities is presented in Note 20.

Interbank Offered Rate (IBOR) reform

USD London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) is the most significant IBOR for Shell. USD LIBOR will cease to be representative after June 30, 2023. Significant IBOR exposures, disaggregated by tenure at December 31, 2022, are as follows:

 

 

 

$ million

 

December 31, 2022

 

Non-derivative financial assets – carrying value

Non-derivative financial liabilities – carrying value

Derivatives – Nominal amount

USD LIBOR (1 month)

34

 

 

USD LIBOR (3 months)

1,898

1,176

4,754

USD LIBOR (6 months)

238

 

 

Cross-currency interest rate swaps:

 

 

 

EUR Fixed to USD LIBOR (3 months)

 

 

8,311

GBP Fixed to USD LIBOR (3 months)

 

 

1,078

CHF Fixed to USD LIBOR (3 months)

 

 

1,359

MYR LIBOR (3 months) to USD LIBOR (3 months)

 

 

360

Total

2,170

1,176

15,862

Shell has established a Group-wide IBOR Transition Project, with oversight from the Group Treasurer. The project spans all business lines and has cross-functional senior governance which includes Legal, IT and Finance, including treasury, tax and accounting experts. Shell put in place detailed plans, processes and procedures to support the transition of the affected portfolio including making changes to systems, processes and risk management, as well as related tax and accounting implications. Shell is confident that it has the operational capability to process the transitions to risk-free rates for those interest rate benchmarks such as USD LIBOR that will cease to be representative after June 30, 2023.

Derivative contracts and hedges

Derivative contracts are used principally as hedging instruments, however, because hedge accounting is not always applied, movements in the carrying amounts of derivative contracts that are recognised in income are not always matched in the same period by the recognition of the income effects of the related hedged items.

Carrying amounts, maturities and hedges

The carrying amounts of derivative contracts at December 31, designated and not designated as hedging instruments for hedge accounting purposes, were as follows:

2022

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$ million

 

Assets

Liabilities

 

 

Designated

Not designated

Total

Designated

Not designated

Total

Net

Interest rate swaps

1

1

169

169

(168)

Forward foreign exchange contracts

907

907

996

996

(89)

Currency swaps and options

31

24

55

2,925

5

2,930

(2,875)

Commodity derivatives

23,676

23,676

22,858

22,858

818

Other contracts

380

380

389

389

(9)

Total

31

24,988

25,019

3,094

24,248

27,342

(2,323)

2021

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$ million

 

Assets

Liabilities

 

 

Designated

Not designated

Total

Designated

Not designated

Total

Net

Interest rate swaps

237

237

24

14

38

199

Forward foreign exchange contracts

456

456

280

280

176

Currency swaps and options

277

22

299

860

33

893

(594)

Commodity derivatives

12

10,979

10,991

15,732

15,732

(4,741)

Other contracts

201

201

255

255

(54)

Total

526

11,658

12,184

884

16,314

17,198

(5,014)

As part of Shell’s normal business, commodity derivative hedge contracts are entered into for mitigation of future purchases, sales and inventory. Net gains before tax on derivative contracts, excluding those accounted for as hedges, were $1,331 million in 2022 (2021: $8,377 million losses; 2020: $3,295 million gains).

Certain contracts, mainly to hedge price risk relating to forecast commodity transactions, were designated in cash flow hedging relationships and are presented after the offset of related margin balances with exchanges. Contracts to hedge foreign exchange risks were also designated in cash flow hedging relationships and the net carrying amount of these contracts at December 31, 2022, was a liability of $828 million (2021: $173 million liability). See Note 28 for the accumulated balance recognised within other comprehensive income.

Certain interest rate and currency swaps were designated in fair value hedges, principally in respect of debt for which the net carrying amount of the related derivative contracts, net of accrued interest, at December 31, 2022, was a liability of $2,191 million (2021: $250 million liability).

In 2022, €3 billion (2021: €3 billion) of debt instruments were designated as hedges of net investments in foreign operations, relating to the foreign exchange risk arising between certain intermediate holding companies and their subsidiaries. See Note 28 for the accumulated balance recognised within other comprehensive income.

In the course of trading operations, certain contracts are entered into for delivery of commodities that are accounted for as derivatives. The resulting price exposures are managed by entering into related derivative contracts. These contracts are managed on a fair value basis and the maximum exposure to liquidity risk is the undiscounted fair value of derivative liabilities.

For a minority of commodity derivatives contracts, carrying amounts cannot be derived from quoted market prices or other observable inputs, in which case fair value is estimated using valuation techniques such as Black-Scholes, option spread models and extrapolation using quoted spreads with assumptions developed internally based on observable market activity.

Other contracts include certain contracts that are held to sell or purchase commodities and others containing embedded derivatives, which are required to be recognised at fair value because of pricing or delivery conditions, even though they were entered into to meet operational requirements. These contracts are expected to mature in 2023-2025, with certain contracts having early termination rights (for either party). Valuations are derived from other observable inputs.

The contractual maturities of derivative liabilities at December 31 compare with their carrying amounts in the Consolidated Balance Sheet as follows:

2022

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$ million

 

Contractual maturities

Difference from carrying amount [A]

Carrying amount

 

Less than
1 year

Between
1 and 2 years

Between
2 and 3 years

Between
3 and 4 years

Between
4 and 5 years

5 years and later

Total

Interest rate swaps

120

50

2

1

1

1

175

(6)

169

Forward foreign exchange contracts

629

294

18

(1)

(2)

(3)

935

61

996

Currency swaps and options

582

554

750

588

507

1,353

4,334

(1,404)

2,930

Commodity derivatives

17,273

3,678

1,203

515

270

793

23,732

(874)

22,858

Other contracts

212

148

22

1

1

384

5

389

Total

18,816

4,724

1,995

1,104

777

2,144

29,560

(2,218)

27,342

[A]

Mainly related to the effect of discounting.

2021

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$ million

 

Contractual maturities

Difference from carrying amount [A]

Carrying amount

 

Less than
1 year

Between
1 and 2 years

Between
2 and 3 years

Between
3 and 4 years

Between
4 and 5 years

5 years and later

Total

Interest rate swaps

13

13

5

4

3

4

42

(4)

38

Forward foreign exchange contracts

170

40

114

324

(44)

280

Currency swaps and options

321

150

159

287

356

808

2,081

(1,188)

893

Commodity derivatives

12,614

1,401

783

274

158

531

15,761

(29)

15,732

Other contracts

222

34

256

(1)

255

Total

13,340

1,638

1,061

565

517

1,343

18,464

(1,266)

17,198

[A]

Mainly related to the effect of discounting.

Fair value measurements

The net carrying amounts of derivative contracts held at December 31, categorised according to the predominant source and nature of inputs used in determining the fair value of each contract, were as follows:

2022

 

 

 

 

$ million

 

Prices in active markets for identical assets/liabilities

Other
observable inputs

Unobservable inputs

Total

Interest rate swaps

(168)

(168)

Forward foreign exchange contracts

(89)

(89)

Currency swaps and options

(2,875)

(2,875)

Commodity derivatives

68

(1,161)

1,911

818

Other contracts

(7)

(2)

(9)

Total

68

(4,300)

1,909

(2,323)

2021

 

 

 

 

$ million

 

Prices in active markets for identical assets/liabilities

Other
observable inputs

Unobservable inputs

Total

Interest rate swaps

199

199

Forward foreign exchange contracts

176

176

Currency swaps and options

(594)

(594)

Commodity derivatives

41

(5,171)

389

(4,741)

Other contracts

6

(60)

(54)

Total

47

(5,450)

389

(5,014)

Net carrying amounts of derivative contracts measured using predominantly unobservable inputs

 

 

$ million

 

2022

2021

At January 1

389

1,077

Net gains/(losses) recognised in revenue

1,190

(569)

Purchases

886

440

Sales

(623)

(442)

Settlements

46

(32)

Recategorisations (net)

17

(87)

Currency translation differences

4

2

At December 31

1,909

389

Included in net gains/(losses) recognised in revenue in 2022 were unrealised net gains totalling $449 million relating to assets and liabilities held at December 31, 2022 (2021: $175 million losses).

Unrecognised day one gains or losses

Certain long-term commodity contracts extend to periods where observable pricing data are limited and their value may include estimates. Where this is more than an insignificant part of the overall contract valuation, any gains or losses will be deferred. Valuation techniques are further described in Note 2. The unrecognised gains on these derivative contracts at December 31, 2022, were as follows:

 

 

$ million

 

2022

2021

At January 1

1,024

968

Movements

596

56

At December 31

1,620

1,024

LNG
liquefied natural gas
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