KT CORP | CIK:0000892450 |

Filed: 4/30/2018

Entity registrant name: KT CORP (CIK: 0000892450)

Generator: Donnelley Financial Solutions

SEC filing page: http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/892450/000119312518141554/0001193125-18-141554-index.htm

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35.	Financial Risk Management

(1) Financial Risk Factors

The Group’s activities expose it to a variety of financial risks: market risk (including currency risk, fair value interest rate risk, cash flow interest rate risk and price risk), credit risk and liquidity risk. The Group’s overall risk management program focuses on the unpredictability of financial markets and seeks to minimize potential adverse effects on the Group’s financial performance. The Group uses derivative financial instruments to hedge certain risk exposures.

The Group’s financial policy is set up in the long-term perspective and annually reported to the Board of Directors. The financial risk management is carried out by the Value Management Office, which identifies, evaluates and hedges financial risks. The treasury department in the Value Management Office considers various finance market conditions to estimate the effect from the market changes.

1) Market risk

The Group’s market risk management focuses on controlling the extent of exposure to the risk in order to minimize revenue volatility. Market risk is a risk that decreases value or profit of the Group’s portfolio due to changes in market interest rate, foreign exchange rate and other factors.

(i) Sensitivity analysis

Sensitivity analysis is performed for each type of market risk to which the Group is exposed. Reasonably possible changes in the relevant risk variable such as prevailing market interest rates, currency rates, equity prices or commodity prices are estimated and if the rate of change in the underlying risk variable is stable, the Group does not alter the chosen reasonably possible change in the risk variable. The reasonably possible change does not include remote or ‘worst case’ scenarios or ‘stress tests’.

(ii) Foreign exchange risk

The Group is exposed to foreign exchange risk arising from operating, investing and financing activities. Foreign exchange risk is managed within the range of the possible effect on the Group’s cash flows. Foreign exchange risk unaffecting the Group’s cash flows is not hedged but can be hedged at a particular situation.

As of December 31, 2015, 2016 and 2017, if the foreign exchange rate had strengthened/weakened by 10% with all other variables held constant, the effects on profit before income tax and shareholders’ equity would have been as follows:

 

The above analysis is a simple sensitivity analysis which assumes that all the variables other than foreign exchange rates are held constant. Therefore, the analysis does not reflect any correlation between foreign exchange rates and other variables, nor the management’s decision to decrease the risk.

 

Details of financial assets and liabilities in foreign currencies as of December 31, 2015, 2016 and 2017, are as follows:

 

 

1

Special Drawing Rights.

2

Algeria Dinar.

3

Uzbekistan Sum.

4

Rwanda Franc.

5

Indonesia Rupiah.

6

Myanmar Kyat.

7

Tanzanian Shilling.

8

Botswana Pula.

9

Bangladesh Taka.

10

Polish Zloty.

11

Vietnam Dong.

12

Confoederatio Helvetia Franc.

 

(iii) Price risk

As of December 31, 2015, 2016 and 2017, the Group is exposed to equity securities price risk because the securities held by the Group are traded in active markets. If the market prices had increased/decreased by 10% with all other variables held constant, the effects on profit before income tax and shareholders’ equity would have been as follows:

 

(In millions of Korean won)		Fluctuation of price		Income before tax				Equity
2015.12.31		10%		￦	—			￦	3,469
		-10%			—				(3,469	)
2016.12.31		10%		￦	—			￦	539
		-10%			—				(539	)
2017.12.31		10%		￦	—			￦	686
		-10%			—				(686	)

The above analysis is based on the assumption that the equity index had increased/decreased by 10% with all other variables held constant and all the Group’s marketable equity instruments had moved according to the historical correlation with the index.

(iv) Cash flow and fair value interest rate risk

The Group’s interest rate risk arises from liabilities in foreign currency such as foreign currency debentures. Debentures in foreign currency issued at variable rates expose the Group to cash flow interest rate risk which is partially offset by swap transactions. Debentures and borrowings issued at fixed rates expose the Group to fair value interest rate risk. The Group sets the policy and operates to minimize the uncertainty of the changes in interest rates and financial costs.

As of December 31, 2015, 2016 and 2017, if the market interest rate had increased/decreased by 100bp with other variables held constant, the effects on profit before income tax and shareholders’ equity would be as follows:

 

(In millions of Korean won)		Fluctuation of interest rate		Income before tax				Shareholders’ equity
2015.12.31		+ 100 bp		￦	(3,601	)		￦	(245	)
		- 100 bp			3,615				(5,764	)
2016.12.31		+ 100 bp		￦	(3,456	)		￦	(1,673	)
		- 100 bp			3,445				(5,025	)
2017.12.31		+ 100 bp		￦	1,942			￦	4,868
		- 100 bp			(1,954	)			(5,198	)

The above analysis is a simple sensitivity analysis which assumes that all the variables other than market interest rates are held constant. Therefore, the analysis does not reflect any correlation between market interest rates and other variables, nor the management’s decision to decrease the risk.

2) Credit risk

Credit risk is managed on the Group basis with the purpose of minimizing financial loss. Credit risk arises from the normal transactions and investing activities, where clients or other party fails to discharge an obligation on contract conditions. To manage credit risk, the Group considers the counterparty’s credit based on the counterparty’s financial conditions, default history and other important factors.

 

Credit risk arises from cash and cash equivalents, derivative financial instruments and deposits with banks and financial institutions, as well as outstanding receivables. To minimize such risk, only the financial institutions with strong credit ratings are accepted.

As of December 31, 2016 and 2017, maximum exposure to credit risk is as follows.

 

 

1

Total amounts guaranteed by the Group according to the guarantee contracts.

3) Liquidity risk

The Group manages its liquidity risk by liquidity strategy and plans. The Group considers the maturity of financial assets and financial liabilities and the estimated cash flows from operations.

The table below analyzes the Group’s liabilities (including interest expenses) into relevant maturity groups based on the remaining period at the date of the end of each reporting period to the contractual maturity date. These amounts are contractual undiscounted cash flows.

 

 

 

1

Total amount guaranteed by the Group according to guarantee contracts. Cash flow from financial guarantee contracts is classified as the maturity group in the earliest period when the financial guarantee contracts can be executed.

Cash outflow and inflow of derivatives settled gross or net are undiscounted contractual cash flow and can differ from the amount in the financial statements.

 

 

 

(2) Management of Capital Management

The Group’s objectives when managing capital are to safeguard the Group’s ability to continue as a going concern in order to provide returns for shareholders and benefits for other shareholders and to maintain an optimal capital structure to reduce the cost of capital.

The Group’s capital structure consists of liabilities including borrowings, cash and cash equivalents, and shareholders’ equity. The treasury department monitors the Group’s capital structure and considers cost of capital and risks related each capital component.

The debt-to-equity ratios as of December 31, 2016 and 2017, are as follows:

 

The Group manages capital on the basis of the gearing ratio. This ratio is calculated as net debt divided by total capital. Net debt is calculated as total borrowings less cash and cash equivalents. Total capital is calculated as ‘equity’ in the statement of financial position plus net debt.

 

The gearing ratios as of December 31, 2016 and 2017, are as follows:

 

(3) Offsetting Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities

Details of the Group’s recognized financial assets subject to enforceable master netting arrangements or similar agreements are as follows:

 

 

 

1

The amount applied with master netting arrangements under the standard contract of International Swap and Derivatives Association (ISDA).

2

The amount applied with netting arrangements under the reference offer of the telecommunication facility interconnection and sharing data among telecommunications companies.

 

The Group’s recognized financial liabilities subject to enforceable master netting arrangements or similar agreements are as follows:

 

 

 

1

The amount applied with master netting arrangements under the standard contract of International Swap and Derivatives Association (ISDA).

2

The amount applied with netting arrangements under the reference offer of the telecommunication facility interconnection and sharing data among telecommunications companies.