Note 5- Financial risk management
The Group has exposure to the following risks from its use of financial instruments:
- Credit risk
- Liquidity risk
- Market risk
This note presents information about the Group's exposure to each of the above risks, the Group's objectives, policies and processes for measuring and managing risk, and the Group's management of capital. Further quantitative disclosures are included throughout these consolidated financial statements.
Risk management framework
The Board of Directors has overall responsibility for the establishment and oversight of the Group's risk management framework.
The Group's risk management policies are established to identify and analyze 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 Group's activities.
The Group Audit Committee oversees how management monitors compliance with the Group's risk management policies and procedures, and reviews the adequacy of the risk management framework in relation to the risks faced by the Group. The Audit Committee is assisted in its oversight role by Internal Audit.
The exchange rates were very volatile in 2009 but with a generally positive trend due to developments in the global markets as well as Turkish politics. The improved perception of global risk helped emerging market currencies appreciate in the second half of 2009. TL appreciated against US D by 0.4% and depreciated against EUR by 0.9%, HRV depreciated against US D by 3.7% and BYR depreciated against US D by 30.1% as at 31 December 2009 when compared to the exchange rates as at 31 December 2008. As at 31 December 2010, TL depreciated against US D by 2.7% and appreciated against EUR by 5.1%, HRV appreciated against US D by 0.3% and BYR depreciated against US D by 4.8% when compared to the exchange rates as at 31 December 2009. Please refer to Note 29 for additional information on the Group's exposure to this turmoil.
Credit risk
Credit risk is the risk of a 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 and investment securities.
Management has a credit policy in place and the exposure to credit risk is monitored on an ongoing basis. The Group may require collateral in respect of financial assets. Also, the Group may demand letters of guarantee from third parties related to certain projects or contracts. The Group may also demand certain pledges from counterparties if necessary in return for the credit support it gives related to certain financings. In monitoring customer credit risk, customers are grouped according to whether they are an individual or legal entity, aging profile, maturity and existence of previous financial difficulties. Trade receivables and accrued service income are mainly related to the Group's subscribers. The Group's exposure to credit risk on trade receivables is influenced mainly by the individual payment characteristics of postpaid subscribers. The Group establishes an allowance for impairment that represents its estimate of incurred losses in respect of trade receivables.
Investments are preferred to be in liquid securities and mostly with counterparties that have a credit rating equal or better than the Group. Some of the collection banks have credit ratings that are lower than the Group's, or they may not be rated at all, however, policies are in place to review the paid-in capital and rating of counterparties periodically to ensure credit worthiness.
Transactions involving derivatives are with counterparties with whom the Group has signed agreements and which have sound credit ratings. At the reporting date, there were no significant concentrations of credit risk. The maximum exposure to credit risk is represented by the carrying amount of each financial asset in the statement of financial position.
The Group establishes an allowance for doubtful receivables that represents its estimate of incurred losses in respect of trade and other receivables. This allowance includes the specific loss component that relates to individual subscribers exposures, and adjusted for a general provision which is determined based on the age of the balances and historical collection trends.
The Group's policy is to provide financial guarantees only to wholly-owned subsidiaries. At 31 December 2010, $1,324,604 guarantees were outstanding (31 December 2009: $1,102,672).
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's approach to manage
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. Typically, the Group ensures that it
has sufficient cash and cash equivalents to meet expected operational expenses, including financial obligations.
Market risk
Market risk is the risk that changes in market prices, 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 buys and sells derivatives in order to manage market risks. All such transactions are carried at within the guidelines set by the Group treasury management.
Currency risk
The Group is exposed to currency risk on certain revenues such as roaming revenues, purchases and certain operating costs such as roaming
expenses and network related costs and resulting receivables and payables, borrowings, deferred payments related to the acquisition of Belarusian
Telecom and financial liability in relation to put option for the acquisition of non-controlling shares of Belarusian Telecom that are
denominated in a currency other than the respective functional currencies of Group entities, primarily TL for operations conducted in Turkey.
The currencies in which these transactions are primarily denominated are EUR, US D and SEK.
Derivative financial instruments such as forward contracts and options are used to hedge exposure to fluctuations in foreign exchange rates. The Group uses forward exchange contracts to hedge its currency risk.
The Group's investments in its equity accounted investee Fintur and its subsidiaries in Ukraine, Republic of Belarus, Azerbaijan and Germany are not hedged with respect to the currency risk arising from the net assets as those net investments are considered to be long-term in nature.
Interest rate risk
The Group's exposure to interest rate risk is related to its financial assets and liabilities. The Group's financial liabilities mostly consist of floating
interest rate borrowings. The use of financial derivatives is governed by the Group's policies approved by the Board of Directors, which
provide written principles on the use of financial derivatives consistent with the Group's risk management strategy. In this respect, the Group
has not entered into any type of derivative instrument in order to hedge interest rate risk as at 31 December 2010.
