The Group has exposure to the following risks from its use of financial instruments: credit risk; liquidity risk; foreign currency risk; interest rate risk and market price risk.

This note presents information about the Group’s exposure to each of the aforementioned risks, the Group’s objectives, policies and processes for measuring and managing risk, and the Group’s management of capital. IFRS 7 requires certain disclosures by class of instrument which the Group has determined would be the segments as disclosed in the segmental report.

The Group’s major financial risks are mitigated in the way that it operates firstly through diversification of industry and secondly through decentralisation. Bidvest is an international group with operations in South Africa, United Kingdom, Namibia, and various other southern African countries. The Group also comprises a variety of businesses within the services, trading and distribution industries. As a result of this diversification in terms of industry, the Group is exposed to a range of financial risks, each managed in appropriate ways. However, the impact of any one particular financial risk within any of these industries is not considered to be material to the Group.

The Group’s philosophy has always been to empower management through a decentralised structure thereby making them responsible for the management and performance of their operations, including managing the financial risks of the operation. The operational management report to divisional management who in turn reports to the Group’s board of directors. The divisional management is also held responsible for managing financial risks of the operations within the divisions. Operational management’s remuneration is based on its operation’s performance and divisional management based on its division’s performance resulting in a decentralised and entrepreneurial environment.

Due to the diverse structure and decentralised management of the Group, the Group risk committee has implemented guidelines of acceptable practices and basic procedures to be followed by divisional and operational management. The information provided below for each financial risk has been collated for disclosure based on the manner in which the business is managed and what is believed to be useful information for shareholders.

The total process of risk management in the Bidvest Group, which includes the related system of control, is the responsibility of the board of directors. The Group risk committee has been constituted as a committee of the Group board of directors in the discharge of its duties and responsibilities in this regard. The Group risk committee has a charter and reports regularly to the board of directors on its activities.

The Group has operations trading in the banking, short-term insurance and life assurance industries (Financial Services segment). These operations are exposed to financial risks which are unique to these industries and differ significantly to the remainder of the Group’s operations operating within the services, trading and distribution sectors. While the financial risks to which these particular operations are exposed could have a significant effect on the individual operations, they would not have a significant impact on the Group. For this reason, the information provided below mainly provides qualitative and quantitative information regarding the management and exposure to financial risks to which the trading operations of the Group are exposed based on what is believed to be useful to shareholders. Bidvest Bank Limited is a public company for which financial statements are prepared including detailed disclosure in accordance with the requirements of IFRS 7.

The Bidvest Group has, due to the diversity of its operations in nature and geography, determined that it would be better to develop an in-house strategy, as opposed to adopting a recognised strategy and forcing its operations to adapt to the constraints of the strategy selected. The Group has determined that utilising a common framework for the identification of risk would assist the divisions to reduce the implementation time and cost and would give some assurance that all inherent risks have been considered. The Group’s 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 Group activities. The Group, through its training and management standards and procedures, aims to develop a disciplined and constructive control environment in which all employees understand their roles and responsibilities.

The role of the risk officer is to develop, communicate, coordinate and monitor the enterprise-wide risk management.

Through the divisional risk committees, each division has a forum for the discussion and identification of risks relevant to the particular division. Only risk matters that affect the Group as a whole are escalated to the Group risk committee. The minutes of the divisional risk committee meetings are submitted to the Group risk committee.

Each division has its own audit committee, which subscribes to the same philosophies and practices as the Group audit committee. The divisional audit committees report to both the divisional board and the Group audit committee. The Group audit committee reviews the divisional audit committee reports. The divisional audit committees oversee how divisional management monitors compliance with the Group’s policies and guidelines in respect of the financial reporting process, the system of internal control, the management of financial risks, the audit process (both internal and external) and code of business conduct. The divisional audit committees are assisted in their oversight role by the Group’s internal audit department. Divisional internal audit undertakes both regular and ad hoc reviews of financial and operational risk management controls and procedures, the results of which are reported to the relevant divisional audit committee.

Credit risk is the risk of financial loss to the Group if a customer or counterparty to a financial instrument fails to meet its contractual obligations, and arises principally from the Group’s receivables from customers, banking advances, investments and guarantees.

The Group risk committee with the assistance of internal audit has implemented a “delegation of authority matrix” which provides guidelines by division, as to the level of authorisation required for various types of transactions.

Except as detailed below in respect of guarantees issued, the carrying amount of financial assets recorded in the financial statements, which is net of impairment losses, represents the Group’s maximum exposure to credit risk after taking into account the value of any collateral obtained. The carrying values, net of impairment allowances, amount to R7 918 million (2016: R7 277 million) for trade receivables (refer note 23), R1 891 million (2016: R1 698 million) for banking and other advances (refer note 20), and R2 843 million (2016: R2 870 million) for investments (refer note 19).

The impairment allowance account in respect of trade receivables and banking advances are used to record impairment losses unless the Group is satisfied that no recovery of the amount owing is possible; at that point, the amount which is considered irrecoverable is written off directly against the respective assets.

Impairments of investments classified as available-for-sale or held-for-trading are written off against the investment directly and an impairment allowance account is not utilised.

The Group has a general credit policy of only dealing with creditworthy counterparties and obtaining sufficient collateral, where appropriate, as a means of mitigating the risk of financial loss from defaults. In accordance with the decentralised structure, the operational management, under the guidance of the divisional management, are responsible for implementation of policies to meet the above objective. This includes credit policies under which new customers are analysed for creditworthiness before the operation’s standard payment and delivery terms and conditions are offered, determining whether collateral is required, and if so the type of collateral to be obtained, and setting of credit limits for individual customers based on their references and credit ratings. Certain operations in the Group have a policy of taking out credit insurance to cover a portion of their risk. Operational management is also held responsible for monitoring the operations’ credit exposure.

Refer note 23 for further disclosure.

Trade receivables consist of a large number of customers, spread across diverse industries and geographical areas. Ongoing credit evaluation is performed by operational management on the financial condition of the operation’s customers.

The Group does not have any significant credit risk exposure to any single counterparty or any group of counterparties having similar characteristics. It was noted that the Group’s largest exposure to a single customer group across multiple geographies is R218 million (2016: R165 million). Management, in the various geographies, has assessed the recoverability of these amounts due in its geographies, and believes that the amounts due and not impaired are recoverable in full.

The total number of debtors per reporting division was obtained and the average turnover per trade debtor was calculated for each reporting division. Based on the average turnover per trade debtor in comparison to the Group’s total turnover for the year, there was no significant concentration of credit risk to any single trade debtor. The concentration of credit risk is therefore limited due to the customer base being large and independent.

Each operation establishes an impairment allowance that represents its estimate of incurred losses in respect of trade and other receivables. The main components of this allowance are a specific loss component that relates to individually significant exposures, and a collective loss component established for groups of similar assets in respect of losses that have been incurred but not yet identified.

As a result of the decentralised structure, operational management has the responsibility of determining the impairment allowances in respect of trade receivables. This is done under the oversight of the divisional audit committees, and ultimately the Group audit committee. The operations’ average credit period depends on the type of industry in which they operate as well as the creditworthiness of their customers. The majority of the customers are given credit terms ranging from cash on delivery to 60 days from statement. The largest impairment raised for a specific trade receivable was obtained for each reporting operation and calculated as a percentage of the Group’s total impairment allowance. It was determined that such percentage did not exceed 11,2% (2016: 4,0%) of the total allowance raised at year-end.

Ageing of trade receivables at 30 June

In certain instances the Group’s operations reserve the right to collect inventory sold when the outstanding debt is not settled by the customer. Where it is the business of the operation to finance assets, the assets are held as collateral in respect of the outstanding debt. The collateral detailed above is in addition to these aforementioned measures taken to reduce credit risk in respect of trade receivables.

Refer note 20 for further disclosure.

The impairment allowance account comprises a specific and portfolio impairment allowance. Specific impairments are raised for doubtful advances, including amounts in respect of interest not being serviced and after taking security values into account, and are deducted from advances where the outstanding balance exceeds the value of the security held. A portfolio impairment allowance based on historic experience is raised to cover doubtful advances, which may not be specifically identified at the statement of financial position date. The specific and portfolio impairments made during the year are charged to the income statement.

Ageing of banking and other advances at 30 June

Collateral held on past due amounts

More detailed disclosure for banking and other advances can be found in the Bidvest Bank Limited financial statements published on the website, www.bidvestbank.co.za.

Refer note 19 for further disclosure.

The classes for investments are listed held-for-trading, unlisted held-for-trading, listed available-for-sale and unlisted available-for-sale, refer note 19 for the carrying amounts for each of these categories.

There were no impairment losses recognised in respect of investments (2016: Nil).

Over and above the guarantees issued to subsidiaries of the Group, the Group has provided guarantees for fixed amounts in respect of obligations of associates as disclosed in note 37.

The maximum exposure to credit risk in respect of guarantees at the reporting date was as follows:

Liquidity risk is the risk that the Group will not be able to meet its financial obligations as they fall due. The Group’s approach to managing liquidity is to ensure, as far as possible, that it will always have sufficient liquidity to meet its liabilities when due, under both normal and stressed conditions, without incurring unacceptable losses or risking damage to the Group’s reputation.

The Group manages its borrowings centrally for each of the following countries and regions: South Africa, United Kingdom and Namibia. The divisions within each region are therefore not responsible for the management of liquidity risk but rather senior management for each of these regions are responsible for implementing procedures to manage the regional liquidity risk.

More detailed disclosure for amounts owed to bank depositors can be found in the Bidvest Bank Limited financial statements published on the website, www.bidvestbank.co.za.

The expected maturity of financial liabilities is not expected to differ from the contractual maturities as disclosed above.

There were no defaults or breaches of any of the borrowing terms or conditions.

Refer note 34 for further disclosure.

Market risk is the risk that changes in market price, such as foreign exchange rates, interest rates and equity prices will affect the Group’s income or the value of its holdings of financial instruments. The objective of market risk management is to manage and control market risk exposures within acceptable parameters, while optimising the return on risk.

The Group’s financial instruments are not significantly exposed to currency risk for the reasons provided below. A sensitivity analysis has therefore not been performed.

Borrowings are matched to the same foreign currency as the division raising the loan thereby limiting the divisions’ exposure to changes in a foreign currency which differs to their functional currency. Interest on borrowings is denominated in currencies that match the cash flows generated by the underlying divisions of the Group thereby providing an economic hedge for each class of borrowing.

Banking advances (refer note 20), amounts owed to bank depositors (refer note 32) and investments, with the exception of the Group’s investment in the Indian-based Mumbai International Airport Private Limited (refer note 19), are all denominated in the same functional currency as the operation in which they are held, thus these financial instruments are not exposed to currency risk.

The Group incurs currency risk as a result of purchases and sales which are denominated in a currency other than the Group entities’ functional reporting currency. It is Group policy that Group entities hedge all trade receivables and trade payables denominated in a foreign currency which differs to its functional currency. At any point in time the entities also take out economic hedges over their estimated foreign currency exposure resulting from sales and purchases. The Group entities hedge their foreign currency risk exposure either by taking out forward exchange contracts or alternatively by purchasing in advance the foreign currency which will be required to settle the trade payables. Most of the forward exchange contracts have maturities of less than one year after the balance sheet date. Where necessary, the forward exchange contracts are rolled over at maturity. It is the Group’s policy not to trade in derivative financial instruments for speculative purposes with the exception of Bidvest Bank Limited whose business is to trade in derivatives.

Changes in the fair value of forward exchange contracts that economically hedge monetary assets and liabilities in foreign currencies (in relation to the operations’ functional currency) and for which no hedge accounting is applied are recognised in the income statement. Both the changes in fair value of the forward exchange contracts and the foreign exchange gains and losses relating to the monetary items are recognised in operating profit (refer note 2).

The periods in which the cash flows associated with the forward exchange contracts are expected to occur are detailed below under the heading “Settlement”. The periods in which the cash flows are expected to impact the income statement are believed to be in the same time frame as when the actual cash flows occur.

The total value of trade receivables and trade payables whose payment terms are fixed in a foreign currency other than its operational currency are R356 million (2016: R477 million) and R824 million (2016: R914 million), respectively.

The Group is exposed to interest rate risk as it borrows funds at both fixed and floating interest rates. This risk is managed by maintaining an appropriate mix between fixed and floating borrowings and by the use of interest rate swap contracts. The Group’s investments in listed bonds, accounted for as available-for-sale and held-for-trading financial assets and banking advances and liabilities are exposed to a risk of change in fair value due to movements in interest rates. Investments in equity securities accounted for as held for trading financial assets and trade receivables and payables are not exposed to interest rate risk.

At the reporting date the interest rate profile of the Group’s interest-bearing financial instruments was:

The Group’s exposure to interest rates on financial assets and liabilities are detailed in the various notes within the financial statements.

The variable rates are influenced by movements in the prime borrowing rates.

Sensitivity analysis

The effect of a change in interest rate on the fair value of the listed bonds accounted for as held-for-trading and available-for-sale is not believed to have a significant effect on the Group’s profit for the year and equity.

It is estimated that a 0,5% (2016: 0,5%) increase in interest rates would decrease profit after tax by R24 million (2016: R22 million). This sensitivity analysis has been prepared using the average borrowings for the financial year as the actual borrowings at 30 June are not representative of the borrowings during the year. This analysis assumes that all other variables, in particular foreign currency rates, remain constant. The analyses are performed on the same basis as 2016. A decrease in interest rates would have an equal and opposite effect on profit after taxation.

Interest rate swap contracts

The Group has entered into interest rate swap contract, in order to fix the interest rates on variable rate corporate bonds and loans as summarised below.

Bonds – The variable three-month JIBAR interest rate plus a spread specific to each bond has been fixed using fixed for floating interest rate swaps at rates set out below. The swap contracts match the duration and expiry dates of the bonds. The difference between the fixed and floating interest rates are settled on a quarterly basis simultaneously with the payment of interest to bondholders. The interest rate swap contracts have enabled the Group to mitigate the risk of fluctuating interest rates on the fair value of the bonds issued. The interest rate swaps have been designated as hedging instruments and accounted for as a cash flow hedge. The fair value of the bond linked interest rate swaps at the reporting date is determined by discounting the future cash flows using the interest rate curves at the reporting date and the credit risk inherent in the contract, resulting in a fair value asset of R9 million (2016: R35 million).

Equity price risk arises from investments classified as held-for-trading and available-for-sale (refer note 19). Available-for-sale financial assets include a listed bond held by the Group’s wholly owned subsidiary, Bidvest Bank Limited. Held-for-trading investments comprise a listed share portfolio whose performance is monitored closely by senior management and the Group actively trades in these shares. The Group’s subsidiaries, Bidvest Insurance Limited and Bidvest Life Limited, hold investment portfolios with a fair value of R539 million (2016: R496 million) and R473 million (2016: R93 million), respectively, for the purpose of being utilised to cover liabilities arising from insurance contracts. These portfolios comprise domestic and international equity investments and money market funds. Unlisted investments comprise unlisted shares and loans which are classified as held-for-trading and available-for-sale, and are valued at fair value using a price earnings model.