Risk Management Structure
BOD
“The BOD is mainly responsible for the overall risk management approach and for the approval of risk strategies and principles of the Group. It has also the overall responsibility for the development of risk strategies, principles, frameworks, policies and limits. It establishes a forum of discussion of the Group’s approach to risk issues in order to make relevant decisions.
Financial Risk Management Objectives and Policies
The principal financial instruments of the Group consist of financial assets at FVPL, short-term investments, fixed income deposits and AFS financial assets. The main purpose of these financial instruments is to place excess cash in income-earning investments. The Group has various other financial instruments such as cash and cash equivalents, receivables, fixed income deposit, and receivables from related parties included under other noncurrent assets and accounts payable and accrued expenses which arise directly from its operations.
The main risks arising from the Group’s financial instruments are credit risk, liquidity risk and market risk (i.e., interest rate risk, foreign currency risk and equity price risk). The Group’s management reviews and approves policies for managing each of these risks and they are summarized below. The Group also monitors the market price risk arising from all financial instruments. The magnitudes of these risks that have arisen over the year are discussed below.
Credit Risk
Credit risk is the risk of loss that may arise on outstanding financial instruments should a counterparty default on its obligation.
The Group is exposed to credit risk primarily because of its investing and operating activities. The Group is exposed to credit risk arising from the counterparties (i.e., foreign currency – denominated debt instruments, short-term investments, fixed income deposits and receivables) to its financial assets.
Credit risk management
In managing credit risk on these investments, capital preservation is paramount. The Group trades only with recognized and creditworthy debt instruments that provides satisfactory interest yield and capital appreciation. Investments in equity securities represent investments in companies with good dividend track record, as well as capital appreciation. The investment portfolio mix between debt and equity is reviewed regularly by the Group’s President and Treasurer.
With respect to credit risk arising from the other financial assets of the Group, which comprise cash and cash equivalents, receivables from third parties and related parties, short-term investments and fixed income deposits, the Group’s President and Treasurer monitor these financial assets on an ongoing basis with the result that the Group’s exposure to impairment losses is not significant.” (2013 Audited Financial Report)