Note 15: Financial risk management

for the six months ended 30 September 2014

Exposure to continuously changing market conditions has made management of financial risk critical for the Group. Treasury policies, risk limits and control procedures are continuously monitored by the Board of Directors through its Audit Committee.

The condensed consolidated interim financial statements do not include all financial risk management information and disclosures required in the annual financial statements, and should be read in conjunction with the Group’s annual financial statements as at 31 March 2014.

15.1 Liquidity risk

Liquidity risk is the risk that the Group will not be able to meet its financial obligations as they fall due. The Group is exposed to liquidity risk as a result of uncertain cash flows as well as capital commitments of the Group.

Liquidity risk is managed by the Group’s Treasury team in accordance with policies and guidelines formulated by the Group’s executive committee. In terms of its borrowing requirements the Group ensures that sufficient facilities exist to meet its immediate obligations.

Compared to the 2014 financial year end, there was no material change in the contractual undiscounted cash out flows for financial liabilities.

15.2 Fair value of financial instruments

The carrying amount of financial instruments approximate fair value, with the exception of interest-bearing debt (at amortised cost) which has a fair value of R5 476 million (30 September 2013: R5 148 million, 31 March 2014: R4 752 million) and a carrying amount of R5 010 million (30 September 2013: R4 334 million, 31 March 2014: R4 096 million) (refer to note 16).

Type of financial instrument
Fair value at 30 September 2014
Valuation technique
Significant inputs
Receivables, bank balances, repurchase agreements, and other liquid funds, payables and accruals, credit facilities utilised and shareholders for dividends R7 722 million Undiscounted future estimated cash flows due to short-term maturities of these instruments Probability of default
Derivatives R59 million Discounted cash flows Yield curves, market interest rate and market foreign currency rate
Borrowings R5 476 million Discounted cash flows Market interest rate and market foreign currency rate

The estimated net fair values as at the reporting date, have been determined using available market information and appropriate valuation methodologies as outlined below. This value is not necessarily indicative of the amounts that the Group could realise in the normal course of business.

Derivatives are recognised at fair value. The fair values of derivatives are determined using quoted prices or, where such prices are not available, a discounted cash flow analysis is used. These amounts reflect the approximate values of the net derivative position at the reporting date. The fair values of listed investments are based on quoted market prices.

The fair values of the borrowings disclosed above are based on quoted prices or, where such prices are not available, the expected future payments discounted at market interest rates. As a result they differ from carrying values.

The fair value of receivables, bank balances, repurchase agreements and other liquid funds, payables and accruals, approximate their carrying amount due to the short-term maturities of these instruments.

15.3 Fair value hierarchy

The table below analyses financial instruments carried at fair value, by valuation method.

The different levels have been defined as follows:

  1. Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (level 1).
  2. Inputs other than quoted prices, that are observable for the asset or liability (level 2).
  3. Inputs for the asset or liability that are not based on observable market data (level 3).

The following tables presents the fair value of the Group's assets and liabilities:

 
 
Six months ended
September 2014
Six months ended
September 2013
Year ended
March 2014
 
Hierarchy levels
Rm
Rm
Rm
Assets measured at fair value        
Investment in Cell Captive Preference        
Shares Level 1 2 887 2 607 2 755
Forward exchange contracts Level 2 77 112 139
Firm commitments Level 2 1 - 4
Cross currency swaps Level 2 112 121 118
Liabilities measured at fair value        
Interest rate swaps Level 2 (1) (5) -
Firm commitments Level 2 (122) - (37)
Forward exchange contracts Level 2 (8) (23) (61)
Liabilities measured at amortised cost        
Interest-bearing debt consisting of:   5 476 (5 148) (4 752)
Quoted debt securities Level 1 3 307 (3 752) (3 445)
Unquoted debt securities Level 2 2 169 (1 396) (1 307)

The fair value of the financial assets and financial liabilities are sensitive to exchange rates and interest rates movements as well as volatile markets. The Rand depreciated against major currencies during the period resulting in unrealised fair value gains.