38. Financial instruments
Financial risk management objectives and policies
The main risks arising from the Group’s financial instruments are interest rate risk, liquidity risk, credit risk
and foreign currency risk. The Board reviews and agrees policies for managing each of these risks and they are
summarised below.
Interest rate risk
The Group obtains additional financing through bank borrowings and issue of shares. Surplus funds are
placed with reputable banks. The Group’s policy is to obtain the most favourable interest rates available without
increasing its foreign currency exposure.
Information relating to the Group’s interest rate exposure is also disclosed in the notes on the Group’s
borrowings.
Liquidity risk
In the management of liquidity risk, the Group monitors and maintains a level of cash and bank balance
deemed sufficient to finance the Group’s operations and mitigate the effects of fluctuations in cash flows.
Credit risk
Credit risk is monitored through the careful selection of customers and the application of monitoring
procedures.
The carrying amount of cash and cash equivalents, trade and other receivables and quoted investments
represent the Group’s maximum exposure to credit risk in relation to financial assets. No other financial assets
carry a significant exposure to credit risk.
Foreign currency risk
The Group operates in various countries and, as a result, is exposed to foreign exchange risks arising from
various currency exposures. The Group uses foreign currency denominated assets as a natural hedge against its
foreign currency denominated liabilities. In addition to transactional exposures, the Group is also exposed to
foreign exchange movements on its net investment in the foreign subsidiaries and joint venture company. It is not
the Group’s policy to enter into derivative forward foreign exchange contracts for hedging or speculative
purposes.
Fair values
Fair value is defined as the amount at which the financial instrument could be exchanged in a current
transaction between knowledgeable willing parties in an arm’s length transaction, other than in a forced or
liquidation sale. Fair values are obtained from quoted market prices, discounted cash flow models and option
pricing models as appropriate.
The following methods and assumptions are used to estimate the fair value of each class of financial
instrument.
Cash and cash equivalents and short term receivables
The carrying amount approximates fair value due to the relatively short term maturity of these instruments.
Quoted investments
Quoted investments are stated at their market prices which approximate fair values.