Financial instruments

The group’s objective in using financial instruments is to reduce the uncertainty over future cash flows arising principally as a result of commodity price, currency and interest rate fluctuations. The use of derivatives for the hedging of firm commitments against commodity price, foreign currency and interest rate exposures is permitted in accordance with group policies, which have been approved by the board of directors. Where significant finance is taken out, this is approved at the respective board meetings.

The foreign exchange contracts outstanding at year end are marked-to-market at closing spot rate.

The group finances its operations through a combination of retained surpluses, bank borrowings and long-term loans.

The group borrows short-term funds with fixed or floating rates of interest through a subsidiary company, Tiger Consumer Brands Limited.

The main risks arising from the group’s financial instruments are, in order of priority, procurement risk, foreign currency risk, interest rate risk, liquidity risk and credit risk as detailed below.

Procurement risk (commodity price risk)

Commodity price risk arises from the group being subject to raw material price fluctuations caused by supply conditions, weather, economic conditions and other factors. The strategic raw materials acquired by the group include wheat, maize, rice, oats and sorghum.

The group uses commodity futures and options contracts or other derivative instruments to reduce the volatility of commodity input prices of strategic raw materials. These derivative contracts are only taken out to match an underlying physical requirement for the raw material. The group does not write naked derivative contracts.

The group has developed a comprehensive risk management process to facilitate, control and to monitor these risks. The procurement of raw materials takes place in terms of specific mandates given by the board of directors. Position statements are prepared on a monthly basis and these are monitored by management and assessed against these mandates.

The board has approved and monitors this risk management process, inclusive of documented treasury policies, counterparty limits, controlling and reporting structures.

At year end the exposure to derivative contracts relating to strategic raw materials are as follows:

Commodity price sensitivity analysis

The following table details the group’s sensitivity to a 10% increase and decrease in the price of wheat, rice, maize and sorghum, excluding the impact of cash flow hedges. A +10% increase would result in an outflow whereas a –10% decrease would result in an inflow.

Commodity price sensitivity is not applicable to the company.

Foreign currency risk

The group enters into various types of foreign exchange contracts as part of the management of its foreign exchange exposures arising from its current and anticipated business activities.

As the group operates in various countries and undertakes transactions denominated in foreign currencies, exposures to foreign currency fluctuations arise. Exchange rate exposures on transactions are managed within approved policy parameters utilising forward exchange contracts or other derivative financial instruments in conjunction with external consultants who provide financial services to group companies as well as contributing to the management of the financial risks relating to the group’s operations.

The group does not hold foreign exchange contracts in respect of foreign borrowings, as its intention is to repay these from its foreign income stream or subsequent divestment of its interest in the operation. Foreign exchange differences relating to investments, net of their related borrowings, are reported as translation differences in the group’s net other comprehensive income until the disposal of the net investment, at which time exchange differences are recycled through profit or loss.

Forward exchange contracts are mainly entered into to cover net import exposures, after setting off anticipated export proceeds on an individual currency basis. The fair value is determined using the applicable foreign exchange spot rates at 30 September 2017.

The exposure and concentration of foreign currency risk is included in the table below.

The following spot rates were used to translate financial instruments denominated in foreign currency:

Forward exchange contracts outstanding at the reporting date all fall due within 12 months. A summary of forward exchange contract positions bought to settle group foreign liabilities and sold to settle group foreign assets is shown below.

Cash flow hedges

At 30 September 2017, the group had foreign exchange contracts outstanding designated as hedges of future purchases from suppliers outside South Africa for which the group has firm commitments or highly likely forecast transactions.

A summary of these contracts are:

The terms of the forward exchange contracts have been negotiated to match the terms of the commitments. The cash flow hedge of expected future purchases was assessed to be effective and an unrealised profit of R25,0 million (2016: profit of R13,6 million) relating to the hedging instrument is included in other comprehensive income.

Timing of cash outflows/(inflows) relating to foreign currency is as follows:

These are expected to affect the income statement in the following year.

During the year R12,1 million (2016: R30,1 million) was released from other comprehensive income and included in the carrying amount of the non-financial asset or liability (highly probable forecast transactions).

There are no forecast transactions for which hedge accounting was previously used but is no longer expected to occur.

Ineffective hedges to the value of R2,6 million (2016: R12,4 million) have been recognised in profit or loss.

Foreign currency sensitivity

The following table details the group’s and company’s sensitivity to a 10% weakening/strengthening in the ZAR against the respective foreign currencies.

The sensitivity analysis includes only material outstanding foreign currency denominated monetary items as detailed in the table previously and adjusts their translation at the reporting date for a 10% change in foreign currency rates. A positive number indicates an increase in profit or loss and other comprehensive income where the ZAR weakens against the relevant currency.

Interest rate risk management

Interest rate risk results from the cash flow and financial performance uncertainty arising from interest rate fluctuations.

Financial assets and liabilities affected by interest rate fluctuations include bank and cash deposits as well as bank borrowings. At the reporting date, the group cash deposits were accessible immediately or had maturity dates up to six months. The interest rates earned on these deposits closely approximate the market rates prevailing.

Interest rate sensitivity

The sensitivity analysis addresses only the floating interest rate exposure emanating from the net cash position. The interest rate exposure has been calculated with the stipulated change taking place at the beginning of the financial year and held constant throughout the reporting period.

If interest rates had increased/(decreased) by 1% and all other variables were held constant, the profit for the year ended would increase/(decrease) as detailed in the table below due to the use of the variable interest rates applicable to the long-term borrowings and short-term borrowings. The fixed interest rate on the borrowings would not affect the financial performance. Any gain or loss would be unrealised and consequently the notional impact is not presented.

Liquidity risk management

Liquidity risk arises from the seasonal fluctuations in short-term borrowing positions. A material and sustained shortfall in cash flows could undermine investor confidence and restrict the group’s ability to raise funds.

The group manages its liquidity risk by monitoring weekly cash flows and ensuring that adequate cash is available or borrowing facilities maintained. In terms of the memorandum of incorporation, the group’s borrowing powers are unlimited. Other than the major loans disclosed in note 26 to these annual financial statements which are contracted with various financial institutions, the group has no significant concentration of liquidity risk with any other single counterparty.

The group’s liquidity exposure is represented by the aggregate balance of financial liabilities as indicated in the categorisation table in note 32.7.

Contractual maturity for non-derivative financial liabilities

The following tables detail the group’s and company’s remaining contractual maturity for non-derivative financial liabilities.

The tables have been drawn up based on the undiscounted cash flows of financial liabilities based on the earliest date on which the group and company will be required to pay. The table includes both interest and principal cash flows. The “finance charge” column represents the possible future cash flows attributable to the instrument included in the maturity analysis, which are not included in the carrying amount of the financial liability.

Refer to notes 27.3 and 27.4 for disclosure relating to operating and finance lease commitments.

Credit risk management

Group

Credit risk arises from the risk that a counterparty may default or not meet its obligations timeously. The group limits its counterparty exposure arising from financial instruments by only dealing with well-established institutions of high credit standing. The group does not expect any counterparties to fail to meet their obligations given their high credit ratings.

Credit risk in respect of the group’s customer base is controlled by the application of credit limits and credit monitoring procedures. Certain significant receivables are monitored on a daily basis. Where appropriate, credit guarantee insurance is obtained.

The group’s credit exposure, in respect of its customer base, is represented by the net aggregate balance of amounts receivable. Concentrations of credit risk are disclosed in note 20.4.

Credit risk exposure at 30 September 2017 in respect of guarantees are disclosed in note 31.

Capital management

The primary objective of the company and group’s capital management is to ensure that it maintains a strong credit rating and healthy capital ratios in order to support its business and maximise shareholder value.

The company and group manages its capital structure, calculated as equity plus net debt, and makes adjustments to it, in light of changes in economic conditions. To maintain or adjust the capital structure, the company and group may adjust the dividend payment to shareholders, return capital to shareholders, issue new shares or increase or decrease levels of debt. No changes were made in the objectives, policies or processes during the years ended 30 September 2017 and 30 September 2016.

The company and group monitor capital using a gearing ratio, which is net debt divided by total equity. The company and group targets a long-term gearing ratio of 30% to 40%, except when major investments are made where this target may be exceeded.

Categorisation of financial assets and liabilities

Refer to the accounting policies for further details on the above classifications.

Fair value hierarchy

Financial instruments are normally held by the group until they close out in the normal course of business. The fair values of the group’s financial instruments, which principally comprise put, call and futures positions with SAFEX, forward exchange contracts and JSE listed investments, approximate their carrying values. The maturity profile of these financial instruments fall due within 12 months. The maturity profile of the group’s long-term liabilities is disclosed in note 26.1 of these annual financial statements.

There are no significant differences between carrying values and fair values of financial assets and liabilities, except for intercompany loans at a company level, which are eliminated on consolidation.

Trade and other receivables, investments and loans and trade and other payables carried on the statement of financial position approximate the fair values thereof except for, at a company level, amounts owed by subsidiaries where the fair value is R2,2 billion (2016: R2,0 billion) calculated using the effective interest rate method linked to market-related interest rates of 5,50% (2016: 5,75%) and is disclosed as level 2.

Long-term and short-term borrowings are measured at amortised cost using the effective interest rate method and the carrying amounts approximate their fair value.

The group used the following hierarchy for determining and disclosing the fair value of financial instruments by valuation technique:

As at 30 September, the group held the following financial instruments measured at fair value: