28 » Financial Instruments

Due to the short-term maturities of cash and cash equivalents, short-term financial assets, and accounts receivable and payable, as well as other current financial receivables and payables, their respective fair values equal their carrying amount.

The fair values of non-current financial assets and liabilities are estimated by discounting expected future cash flows using current interest rates for debt of similar terms and remaining maturities and adjusted by a company-specific credit risk premium or measured at market prices.

Fair values of long-term financial assets are based on quoted market prices in an active market or are calculated as present values of expected future cash flows.

adidas designated certain investments as equity securities at fair value through other comprehensive income (equity), because the company intends to hold those investments for the long term in order to gain insights into innovative production technologies and trends. The designation of certain equity instruments at fair value through other comprehensive income (equity) is based on a strategic Management decision.

In accordance with IFRS 13, the following tables show the valuation methods used in measuring Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3 fair values, as well as the significant unobservable inputs used. No reclassifications between hierarchy levels were made in 2024. A review of the hierarchy levels is carried out regularly by adidas.

Net gains or losses on financial assets measured at amortized cost comprise mainly impairment losses and reversals.

Net gains or losses on financial assets or financial liabilities classified as fair value through profit or loss include the effects from fair value measurements of the derivatives that are not part of a hedging relationship, and changes in the fair value of other financial instruments as well as interest expenses.

Net gains or losses on equity instruments at fair value through profit or loss mainly include fair value adjustments based on the respective valuation method. SEE TABLE ‘FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS LEVEL 3 MEASURED AT FAIR VALUE’

During 2024, no dividends regarding equity instruments at fair value through other comprehensive income were recognized.

Net gains or losses on financial liabilities measured at amortized cost include effects from early settlement and reversals of accrued liabilities and refund liabilities.

Financial risks

Currency risks

Currency risks, to which adidas is particularly exposed, are a direct result of multi-currency cash flows within the company. The vast majority of the transactional risk arises from product sourcing in US dollars, while sales are typically denominated in the functional currency of the respective companies. The currencies in which these transactions are mainly denominated are the US dollar, British pound, Japanese yen, and Korean won.

As governed by the company’s Treasury Policy, adidas has established a hedging system on a rolling basis up to 24 months in advance, under which the vast majority of the anticipated seasonal hedging volume is secured approximately six months prior to the start of a season. In rare instances, hedges are contracted beyond the 24-month horizon.

adidas uses a combination of different hedging instruments, such as forward exchange contracts, currency options, and currency swaps or combinations of different instruments, to protect itself against unfavorable currency movements. These contracts are generally designated as cash flow hedges.

Furthermore, translation impacts from the conversion of non-euro-denominated results into the company’s functional currency, the euro, might lead to a material negative impact on the company’s financial performance.

Further information about the accounting and hedge accounting treatment is included in these Notes.  SEE NOTE 02

Exposures are presented in the following table:

The exposure from firm commitments and forecast transactions was calculated on a one-year basis.

In line with IFRS 7 requirements, the company has calculated the impact on net income and shareholders’ equity based on changes in the most important currency exchange rates. The calculated impacts mainly result from changes in the fair value of the hedging instruments. The analysis does not include effects that arise from the translation of the company’s foreign entities’ financial statements into the company’s reporting currency, the euro. The sensitivity analysis is based on the net balance sheet exposure, including intercompany balances from monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies. Moreover, all outstanding currency derivatives were re-evaluated using hypothetical foreign exchange rates to determine the effects on net income and equity.

Based on this analysis, a 10% increase in the euro versus the US dollar at December 31, 2024, would have led to a € 8 million decrease in net income.

The more negative market values of the US dollar hedges would have decreased shareholders’ equity by € 280 million. A 10% weaker euro at December 31, 2024, would have led to a € 10 million increase in net income. Shareholders’ equity would have increased by € 355 million. The impacts of fluctuations of the euro against the British pound, the Japanese yen, and the Korean won on net income and shareholders’ equity are also included in accordance with IFRS requirements.

However, many other financial and operational variables that could potentially reduce the effect of currency fluctuations are excluded from the analysis. For instance:

• Interest rates, commodity prices, and all other exchange rates are assumed constant.
• Exchange rates are assumed at a year-end value instead of the more relevant sales-weighted average figure, which the company utilizes internally to better reflect both the seasonality of its business and intra-year currency fluctuations.
• The underlying forecast cash flow exposure (which the hedge instrument mainly relates to) is not required to be revalued in this analysis.
• Operational aspects, such as potential discounts for key accounts, which have high transparency regarding the impacts of currency on our sourcing activities (due to their own private label sourcing efforts), are also excluded from this analysis.
• The credit risk is not considered as part of this analysis.

The company also largely hedges balance sheet risks. Due to its strong global position, adidas is able to partly minimize the currency risk by utilizing natural hedges. The company’s gross US dollar cash flow exposure calculated for 2024 was around € 5.0 billion at year-end 2024, which was hedged using forward exchange contracts, currency options, currency swaps, or combinations of different instruments.

Credit risks

A credit risk arises if a customer or other counterparty to a financial instrument fails to meet its contractual obligations. adidas is exposed to credit risks from its operating activities and from certain financing activities. Credit risks arise principally from accounts receivable and, to a lesser extent, from other third-party contractual financial obligations such as other financial assets, short-term bank deposits, and derivative financial instruments. Without taking into account any collateral or other credit enhancements, the carrying amount of financial assets and accounts receivable represents the maximum exposure to credit risk.

At the end of 2024, there was no relevant concentration of credit risk by type of customer or geography. The company’s credit risk exposure is mainly influenced by individual customer characteristics. Under the company’s credit policy, new customers are analyzed for creditworthiness before standard payment and delivery terms and conditions are offered. Tolerance limits for accounts receivable are also established for each customer. Both creditworthiness and accounts receivable limits are monitored on an ongoing basis. Customers that fail to meet the company’s minimum creditworthiness are, in general, allowed to purchase products only on a prepayment basis.

Other activities to mitigate credit risks include retention of title clauses as well as, on a selective basis, credit insurance, the sale of accounts receivable without recourse, and bank guarantees. Further quantitative information on the extent to which credit enhancements mitigate the credit risk of accounts receivable is included in these Notes. SEE NOTE 05

At the end of 2024, no customer accounted for more than 10% of accounts receivable.

The Treasury department arranges currency, commodity, interest rate, and equity hedges, and invests cash with major banks of a high credit standing throughout the world. adidas subsidiaries are authorized to work with banks rated BBB+ or higher. Only in exceptional cases are subsidiaries authorized to work with banks rated lower than BBB+. To limit risk in these cases, restrictions are clearly stipulated, such as maximum cash deposit levels. In addition, the credit default swap premiums of the company’s partner banks are monitored on a monthly basis. In the event that the defined threshold is exceeded, credit balances are shifted to banks compliant with the limit.

adidas furthermore believes that the risk concentration is limited due to the broad distribution of the investment business of the company with a high number of globally operating banks. At December 31, 2024, no bank accounted for more than 10% of the investments of adidas. Including subsidiaries’ short-term deposits in local banks, the average concentration was 1%. This leads to a maximum exposure of € 120 million in the event of default of any single bank. The investment exposure was further diversified by investing into AAA-rated money market funds.

In addition, in 2024, adidas held derivatives of foreign exchange with a positive fair market value in the amount of € 252 million. The maximum exposure to any single bank resulting from these assets amounted to € 57 million and the average concentration was 9%.

In accordance with IFRS 7, the following table includes further information about set-off possibilities of financial assets and liabilities. The majority of agreements between financial institutions and adidas include a mutual right to set off. However, these agreements do not meet the criteria for offsetting in the statement of financial position, because the right to set off is enforceable only in the event of counterparty defaults. Below table shows the financial instruments which qualify for set-off in the statement of financial position as well as the gross amounts of recognized financial assets and liabilities as they do not meet the criteria for offsetting in the financial statement even there is a mutual right to set off between the counterparties in place.

The carrying amounts of recognized financial instruments, which are subject to the agreements mentioned here, are also presented in the following table:

Interest rate risks

Changes in global market interest rates affect future interest payments for variable-interest liabilities. As adidas does not have material variable-interest liabilities, even a significant increase in interest rates should have only slight adverse effects on the company’s profitability, liquidity, and financial position.

To reduce interest rate risks and maintain financial flexibility, a core tenet of the company’s financial strategy is to continue to use surplus cash flow from operations to reduce short-term gross borrowings. Beyond that, adidas may consider adequate hedging strategies through interest rate derivatives in order to mitigate interest rate risks.

Share price risks

Share price risks arise due to the Long-Term Incentive Plan (LTIP), which is a share-based remuneration scheme with cash settlement. In order to mitigate share price risks, it is company strategy to hedge against share price fluctuations. Swaps are used to hedge the Long-Term Incentive Plan and are classified as cash flow hedges.

In line with IFRS 7 requirements, adidas has calculated the impact on net income based on changes in the company’s share price. A 10% increase in the adidas AG share price versus the closing share price at December 31, 2024, would have led to a € 12 million increase in net income and a € 6 million increase in shareholders’ equity, whereas a 10% decrease in the adidas AG share price versus closing share price at December 31, 2024, would have led to a € 12 million decrease in net income and would have decreased shareholders’ equity by € 6 million.

Financing and liquidity risks

Liquidity risks arise from not having the necessary resources available to meet maturing liabilities with regard to timing, volume, and currency structure. In addition, the company faces the risk of having to accept unfavorable financing terms due to liquidity restraints. The Treasury department uses an efficient cash management system in order to make best use of the operating cash flow. A twelve-month rolling cash flow forecast on a monthly basis is established to manage liquidity risk. In line with the Financial Policy, adidas aims to maintain a target leverage ratio and a target twelve months liquidity coverage. Committed and uncommitted credit lines ensure further financial flexibility. Overall, adidas’ investment grade credit ratings ensure an efficient access to capital markets.

At December 31, 2024, cash and cash equivalents together with marketable securities amounted to € 2.455 billion (2023: € 1.465 billion). Moreover, the company maintains € 3.656 billion (2023:€ 3.648 billion) in bilateral credit lines, which are designed to ensure sufficient liquidity at all times. Thereof, € 1.864 billion has been firmly committed since December 2023 as part of a syndicated credit facility with our core banks.

Future cash outflows arising from financial liabilities that are recognized in the consolidated statement of financial position are presented in the table.

This includes payments to settle obligations from borrowings as well as cash outflows from cash-settled derivatives with negative market values. Financial liabilities that may be settled in advance without penalty are included on the basis of the earliest date of potential repayment. Cash flows for variable-interest liabilities are determined with reference to the conditions at the balance sheet date.

adidas ended the year 2024 with an adjusted net borrowings of € 3.622 billion (2023: € 4.518 billion). Further information in the methodology for calculating adjusted net borrowings is provided in these Notes.  SEE NOTE 25

Financial instruments for the hedging of foreign exchange and share price risk

As at December 31, 2024, adidas held the following instruments to hedge exposure to changes in foreign currency and share price:

The amounts at the reporting date relating to items designated as hedged items were as follows:

The majority of the hedging reserves of € 265 million for net foreign investment risk contains hedges of € 181 million related to the Chinese renminbi and € 76 million to the Russian ruble for which by the end of 2024 no outstanding hedging instruments were in place anymore.

The amounts relating to items designated as hedging instruments and hedged ineffectiveness were as follows:

Some of the initial planned exposure for purchases and sales in foreign currencies ceased to exist, which led to certain overhedge positions. In accordance with IFRS 9, hedge accounting was immediately discontinued for hedging instruments that were no longer covered by a purchase or sales transaction, and, at the time the over-hedged status was determined, the fair value was transferred from the hedging reserve to the income statement. In 2024, a loss of € 1 million was reclassified into the cost of sales.

In addition, hedging instruments not designated as hedge accounting in accordance with IFRS 9 were canceled to minimize the economic risk.

The following table provides a reconciliation by risk category of components of equity and analysis of OCI items, net of tax, resulting from cash flow hedge accounting:

In order to determine the fair values of derivatives that are not publicly traded, adidas uses generally accepted quantitative financial models based on market conditions prevailing at the balance sheet date.