The group is exposed to various financial risks due to the nature and diversity of its activities and the use of various financial instruments. These risks include:

• credit risk
• liquidity risk
• market risk

Details of the group’s exposure to each of the above risks and its objectives, policies and processes for measuring and managing these risks are included specifically in this note and more generally throughout the consolidated financial statements together with information regarding management of capital.

The boards of the individual companies in the group (boards) have overall responsibility for the establishment and oversight of the risk management framework. These boards have delegated these responsibilities to the group’s Executive Committee, which is responsible for the development and monitoring of risk management within the group. The risk management policies are established to identify and analyse the risks faced by the group, to set appropriate risk limits and controls, and to monitor risks and adherence to limits. Risk management policies and systems are reviewed regularly to reflect changes in market conditions and the activities of the group.

The roles and responsibilities of the committees include:

• approval of all counterparties;
• approval of new instruments;
• approval of the group’s foreign exchange transaction policy;
• approval of the investment policy;
• approval of treasury policy; and
• approval of long-term funding requirements.

The internal auditors undertake regular and ad hoc reviews of risk management, controls and procedures, the results of which are monitored by the Assore Audit and Risk Committee.

Credit risk arises from possible defaults on payments by customers or, where letters of credit have been issued, by bank counterparties. The group minimises credit risk by the careful evaluation of the ongoing creditworthiness of customers and bank counterparties before transactions are concluded. Certain customers which have a well-established credit history are allowed to transact on open account. The group maintains credit insurance on certain accounts in South Africa and all accounts established in the United States.

Overdue amounts are individually assessed and if it is evident that an amount will not be recovered, it is impaired and legal action is instituted to recover the amounts involved.

Credit exposure and concentrations of credit risk

The carrying value of the financial assets represents the maximum credit exposure at the reporting date and the following table indicates various concentrations of credit risk for all financial assets held and recognised in the statement of financial position.

The Executive Committee manages the liquidity structure of the group’s assets, liabilities and commitments so as to ensure that cash flows are sufficiently balanced within the group as a whole. Updated cash flow information and projections of future cash flows are received by the Executive Committee from the group companies on a regular basis depending on the type of funding required. Measures have been introduced to ensure that the cash flow information received is accurate and complete.

Surplus funds are deposited with large South African banks, either on call or on term deposits, taking into account the Executive Committee’s views on interest rates.

Undrawn credit facilities

In terms of the Memorandum of Incorporation (MoI) of the holding company, its borrowing powers are unlimited.

The holding company has facilities in place to issue letters of credit and bank guarantees where required and to ensure liquidity. Subsidiary company Minerais U.S. LLC has a banking facility in place, secured by a holding company guarantee, to finance its inventory and receivables, which bears interest at a rate linked to LIBOR. At year-end, the facility was US$97,5 million (2016: US$100 million), of which US$44 500 000 (2016: US$67 000 000) was utilised.

Exposure to liquidity risk

The following table indicates the anticipated timing of cash flows for the group’s financial assets and liabilities, including guarantees at year-end as determined by contractual maturity date, including interest receipts and payment

Market risk is defined as the risk that movements in market factors, in particular US dollar commodity prices and the US dollar/SA rand exchange rate, will affect the group’s revenue and operational costs as well as the value of its holdings of financial instruments. The objective of the group’s market risk management policy is to manage and control market risk exposures to minimise the impact of adverse market movements with respect to revenue protection and to optimise the funding of the business’s operations.

The group companies are responsible for the preparation and presentation of market risk information as it affects the relevant entity. Information is submitted to the Executive Committee where it is monitored and further analysed to be used in the decision-making process. The information submitted includes information on currency, interest rates and commodities and is used by the committee to determine the market risk strategy going forward. In addition, key market risk information is reported to members of the Executive Committee on a weekly basis, and forecasts against budget are prepared for the entire group on a monthly basis.

Interest rate risk arises due to adverse movements in domestic and foreign interest rates. The group is primarily exposed to downward interest rate movements on floating investments purchased and to upward movements on overdrafts and other banking facilities. There is no fair value interest rate risk, as there are no fixed rate financial instruments.

The board determines the interest rate risk strategy based on economic expectations and recommendations received from members of the Executive Committee and senior executives of its offshore interests. Interest rates are monitored on an ongoing basis and the policy is to maintain short-term cash surpluses adequate to meet the group’s ongoing cash flow requirements at floating rates of interest.

At the reporting date, the interest rate profile of the group’s interest-bearing financial instruments was as follows:

Cash flow sensitivity analysis for variable rate instruments

An increase of 50 basis points in interest rates applicable to variable rate instruments at the reporting date would have increased profit after taxation by R5 571 100 (2016: R7 881 000). This assumes that all other variables remain constant. There is no impact on the group’s equity. Net effect on profit or loss is equal but opposite for a 50 basis points decrease in interest rates on the variable instruments listed above.

Fair value sensitivity analysis for fixed rate instruments

The group does not account for any fixed rate financial assets and liabilities at fair value through profit and loss, therefore a change in interest rates at the reporting date would not affect profit or loss.