The Company’s principal financial instruments comprise cash and cash equivalents, receivables, investments in debt instruments, quoted and unquoted equity securities, investments in mutual and hedge funds, and short-term and long- term bank loans. The Group’s other financial instruments include accounts payable and dividends payable and amounts due to affiliates, which arose directly from operations.

The Company’s investment objectives consist mainly of:
a) Maintaining a bond portfolio that earns adequate cash yields and,
b) Maintaining a stable equity portfolio that generates capital gains through a combination of long-term strategic investments and short-term to medium-term hold type investment.

The main risks arising from the use of these financial instruments are credit risk, liquidity risk, interest rate risk, foreign currency risk, and equity price risk. These risks are monitored by the Company’s Investment Committee (the Committee).

The Committee evaluates the performance of all investments and reviews fund allocation to determine the future strategy of the fund. The Committee is formed by the Company’s Chairman, Vice Chairman, Chief Finance Officer, and an independent consultant. These meetings occur at least every quarter.

The BOD reviews and approves the Company’s risk management policies. The Company’s policies for managing each of these risks are summarized below.

Credit risk
The Group is exposed to credit risk primarily because of its investing and operating activities. Credit risk losses may occur as a result of an individual, counterparty or issuer being unable to or unwilling to honor its contractual obligations. The Group is exposed to credit risk arising from the counterparties (i.e., foreign and local currency denominated debt instruments and receivables) to its financial assets. The Group does not have a counterparty that accounts for more than 10% of the consolidated revenue.

Credit risk management
In managing credit risk on these investments, capital preservation is paramount. The Group transacts only with recognized and creditworthy counterparties. Investments in bonds are invested in highly recommended, creditworthy debt instruments that provides satisfactory interest yield.

Credit quality per class of financial asset
For the Group’s financial assets, credit quality is monitored and managed using internal credit ratings. Internal risk ratings are derived in accordance with the Group’s rating policy.

The Group evaluates credit quality on the basis of the credit strength of the security and/or counterparty/issuer. High grade financial assets reflect the investment grade quality of the investments and/or counterparty; realizability is thus assured. Standard grade assets are considered moderately realizable.

Liquidity risk
Liquidity risk is defined as the risk that the Group may not be able to settle or meet its obligations as they fall due. Aside from yielding good returns, the Group ensures investments have ample liquidity to finance operations and capital requirements. Short-term bank loans are secured to fill in temporary mismatch of funds for new investments.

Where applicable, long-term debt or equity are used for financing when the business requirement calls for it to ensure adequate liquidity in the subsidiaries and affiliates’ operation.

The Group’s approach to managing liquidity risk is to ensure that it will always have sufficient liquidity to meet its liabilities when they are due. This is done by primarily investing in highly liquid investments.

The Group’s total financial liabilities due to be settled within one year include notes payable that management considers as working capital. Accounts payable and accrued expenses and dividends payable are expected to be settled using cash to be generated from operations and drawing from existing lines of credits or liquidity reserves.

Market risks
Market risk is defined as the risk that the fair value of future cash flows of a financial instrument will fluctuate because of changes in market prices. It is the risk coming from adverse movements in factors that affect the market value of financial instruments of the Group. The Group is exposed primarily to the financial risks of changes in interest rates, foreign currency risk and equity price risks.

Investments exposed to market risk are foreign and local currency denominated quoted debt instruments, foreign and local currency denominated equity instruments and mutual fund/hedge fund investments.

There has been no change to the Group’s manner in managing and measuring the risk.

a. Interest rate risks
Cash flow interest rate risk
Cash flow interest rate risk is the risk that the future cash flows of a financial instrument will fluctuate because of changes in market interest rates.

Fair value interest rate risk
Fair value interest rate risk is the risk that the fair value of a financial instrument will fluctuate due to changes in market interest rates. The Group accounts for its quoted debt instruments at fair value. Changes in benchmark interest rate will cause changes in the fair value of quoted debt instruments.

b.Equity price risk
Equity price risk is the risk that the fair values of equities decrease as a result of changes in the levels of the equity indices and the values of individual stocks. The equity price risk exposure arises from the Group’s investment in stocks listed in the PSE index (PSEi).

c.Price risk of mutual funds
The Group is exposed to the risk of changes in the fund’s net asset value (NAV) due to its market risk exposure.

d.Foreign exchange risks
Currency risk is the risk that the value of financial instruments will fluctuate due to changes in foreign exchange rate. The Group’s exposure arises primarily from investments in foreign currency denominated debt investments and equity securities.

The Company and a subsidiary’s foreign exchange risk arises primarily from investments in foreign currency denominated debt and equity securities. To minimize income volatility due to exchange rate movements, liquid investments are held in a basket of currencies, including Philippine peso and other major currencies such as U.S. dollar and Euro. This also enables the Company and a subsidiary to access investment opportunities in those currencies. The Company occasionally engages in foreign currency forward contracts as a defensive measure against foreign currency volatility.

On borrowings, it is the Company’s group-wide policy for its subsidiaries and associates where it has significant influence to minimize any foreign exchange risks. Thus, all borrowings whether short-term or long-term, in general, should be in Philippine peso. Any foreign currency borrowings may be engaged only if matched by the entities’ corresponding currency revenue flows or by a foreign currency asset. As such, PRI, SSRLI and CGI can borrow in U.S. dollar as their revenues are dollar-based. It is also the policy of the Group to minimize any foreign exchange exposure in its management of payables. Any substantial exposure is covered by foreign exchange contracts, if necessary.

Capital Management
Due to the diversity of the operations of each company in the Group, capital risk management processes in place are specific to each company. Below are the capital risk management policies of the Company and its more significant subsidiaries and associate:

The primary objective of the Company’s capital management is to ensure an adequate return to its shareholders and to maximize its value to its shareholders. In pursuance of this goal, the Company establishes an optimum risk return investment objectives through a sound diversified investment portfolio and in ensuring a fair credit rating, the Company establishes prudent financial policies through appropriate capitalization ratios in its investments and maintain reasonable liquidity.

The Company monitors capital on the basis of the carrying amount of equity as presented on the face of the balance sheet.