Strategy Delivery & Risks

Market Risk

Adverse financial impacts include:

• earnings volatility
• cost volatility including fuel prices, interest rates and other operating expenses
• exchange rate volatility in the currencies we use

Earnings volatility is partially managed by securing contracts of affreightment of one year or longer. We remain focused on the Handy segments of the dry bulk sector which is where we have a strong competitive edge.

Volatile fuel costs for our long-term cargo contracts are passed through to our customers through bunker price adjustment clauses or hedged with either bunker swap contracts or forward price agreements.

Volatile and sharply reducing fuel prices mean we need to constantly reassess our optimal vessel operating speeds to maximise each voyage’s contribution.

Vessel Investment, Deployment and Operational Risk

Inappropriate vessel investment timing, deployment and operations may lead to an uncompetitive cost structure and reduced margins.

Vessel values vary significantly through shipping cycles, and we need competitively priced, highquality vessels to provide our services to customers.

We evaluate potential vessel investments and divestments based on relevant market information, estimated future earnings and residual values. We adopt a flexible ownership/leasing strategy that is aligned with shipping cycles, and we maintain an active fleet renewal programme by:

• securing newbuilding contracts with leading, reputable and financially viable shipbuilders;
• transacting secondhand deals with creditworthy counterparties; and
• securing long-term inward charters of modern vessels.

Our technical team and crews operate and maintain our ships under our International Safety Management (ISM) Code-compliant “Pacific Basin Management System” to assure safety and service reliability.

Credit and Counterparty Risk

Default or failure of counterparties to honour their contractual obligations may cause financial losses. Counterparties include:

• our cargo customers
• ship builders, sellers and buyers
• derivatives counterparties
• banks and financial institutions

Our global office network enables us to better know our counterparties. We take measures to limit our credit exposure by:

• transacting with a diverse range of counterparties with successful track records and sound credit ratings;
• actively assessing the creditworthiness of counterparties; and
• obtaining refund guarantees from newbuilding shipyards.

Customer Satisfaction and Reputation Risk

Poor service can lead to loss of customers. Impaired brand value and reputation as a trusted counterparty could restrict our access to customers, cargoes, high-quality vessels, funding and talent.

Our global office network positions us close to our customers enabling frequent customer engagement, a clear understanding of their needs and localised customer service.

A large, modern, uniform fleet and comprehensive in-house technical operations enhance our ability to deliver a high-quality and reliable service.

Customer engagement includes regular customer surveys to see how we can further improve customer satisfaction.

Banking Relationships Risk

Poor relationships with banks may limit our funding sources.

We have a dedicated treasury function that develops and maintains our relationships with a diverse group of reputable banks worldwide. These relationships are enhanced through regular senior management contact and consistent compliance with our loan obligations.

Succession Risk

Inadequate succession planning could lead to prolonged executive searches, disruption to our strategic momentum and the business, and undermine stakeholder confidence in the Group.

Our Group has a dedicated HR department which oversees organisational design, talent management, hiring and remuneration. Succession plans for senior management are regularly reviewed.

The Nomination Committee closely monitors the Board succession planning process to ensure Board continuity and diversity. We have a clear vision, mission and business principles with which to equip any potential successors to lead the business forward.

Employee Engagement Risk

We are only as good as our people and so our ability to achieve our vision depends on the effectiveness of our staff both ashore and at sea. Loss of key staff or an inability to attract, train or retain staff could affect our ability to grow our business and achieve our long-term goals.

Our Group HR and crewing departments are tasked with recruiting, developing and maximising engagement of staff ashore and at sea by:

• maintaining regular contact with talent representing a wide cross-section of the shipping industry, and we use diversified manning sources for seafarers;
• regularly reviewing our salary structure to ensure that it remains adequate to attract and retain the best talent;
• offering regular training for staff ashore and at sea; and
• implementing annual staff performance appraisals, incentives and other initiatives to encourage, retain and otherwise engage staff.

Safety Risk

Inadequate safety and operational standards, piracy and other causes of accidents may lead to loss of life, severe damage to property and our vessels, and impact the Group’s reputation among seafarers, customers and other stakeholders.

Our commitment to the safe operation of our ships is manifested through a proactive system ashore and at sea – the Pacific Basin Management System – enhanced by well-conceived training and maintenance programmes and innovative initiatives to ensure our vessels are in good condition and in all respects safe to trade.

The high quality of our attention to safety is evidenced by an excellent safety record and our several safety-related awards in recent years.

Environment Risk

Non-compliance with emissions and other environmental legislation and standards may result in financial loss and significant damage to our brand and the longterm sustainability of our business.

We are at the forefront of efforts in our sector to mitigate emissions through initiatives to improve engine performance and hull and propulsion hydrodynamics, and to adopt fuel-efficient operational measures such as our home-grown Right Speed Programme. We use types of fuel that comply with the relevant regulations set out by the International Maritime Organization (IMO).

We have a plan in place to install treatment units on our vessels to comply with new Ballast Water Treatment regulations that take effect in late 2017.

We promote a proactive safety culture across our fleet involving safety risk assessments to mitigate risk in critical tasks on board. Through our safety training, we seek to eradicate the risk of accidents that lead to pollution and related penalties, costs and adverse publicity. We cover our risk of liability for pollution through reputable Protection & Indemnity (P&I) clubs.

Insurance Risk

Any vessel incident could endanger our crew, adversely affect the strength of our brand and reputation and result in service disruption and significant costs.

Despite best efforts to ensure safe operations, incidents do happen. We place insurance cover at competitive rates through marine insurance products, including hull and machinery, war risk, protection and indemnity, freight demurrage and defense cover. Sufficiency of insurance cover is regularly evaluated and adjusted in line with prevailing asset values and in compliance with loan covenants and internal policies.

Liquidity Risk

Insufficient financial resources (such as bank borrowing facilities) may negatively impact the Group’s ability to meet its payment obligations as they fall due.

Our Group’s Treasury function actively manages the cash and borrowings of the Group to ensure:

• sufficient funds are available to meet our existing and future commitments;
• an appropriate level of liquidity is maintained during different stages of the shipping cycle;
• compliance with covenants relating to our borrowings and convertible bonds; and
• regular and transparent dialogues with our relationship banks are maintained.

Capital Management Risk

Weakness in our financial management capability and insufficient capital could impact (i) our ability to operate as a going concern, (ii) our ability to provide adequate returns to shareholders, and (iii) other stakeholders’ ability and willingness to support the Group.

We conduct regular reviews to ensure an optimal capital structure taking into account:

• future capital requirements and capital efficiency;
• prevailing and projected profitability;
• projected operating cash flows; and
• projected capital expenditure and expectations for strategic investment opportunities.

Our dividend policy is to distribute regular dividends to shareholders and to pay out a minimum of 50% of eligible profits for the year, with the remainder of the profits retained as capital for future use.

Our Board of Directors monitors closely the ratio of net borrowings to net book value of property, plant and equipment, and the ratio of net borrowings to shareholders’ equity.

Cyber Security Risk

Our business processes rely on IT Systems particularly for daily communications ashore and at sea. Failure of a key IT systems, targeted attacks on our system, or a breach of security could result in communications breakdown and business disruption.

Our IT Steering Committee chaired by our CEO oversees the Group’s IT policies and procedures and ensures the Group’s IT strategies meet our business needs.

Our IT team works closely with the business departments to tailor effective IT systems, support, and preventive and contingency measures. We have implemented business continuity arrangements for critical IT systems and activities.

Vessel hardware and systems are reviewed periodically to maximise system efficiency and security.

Corporate Governance Risk

Inadequate corporate governance measures may adversely impact the diligence, integrity and transparency of our risk assessment, decisionmaking and reporting processes and undermine stakeholder confidence.

Our Group is committed to good corporate governance to meet the requirements of our business and stakeholders. The Audit Committee and Risk Management Committee proactively ensure the overall corporate governance and risk management framework for the Group.

Internal procedures are in place to ensure compliance with all local and international laws and regulations in the places we trade, including the comprehensive regulations enacted by the International Maritime Organization (and enforced by its member countries) and UN, US and EU sanctions legislation.

The Board and relevant employees receive regular governance training to ensure a high standard of corporate governance.

Investor Relations Risk

An ineffective investor relations function or inadequate transparency in our external communications could undermine stakeholder confidence in our Group.

We have a dedicated investor relations function as well as policies and guidelines on information disclosure and communication with the public.

We report half-yearly with quarterly trading updates, we keep the public informed of material developments guided by Corporate Governance Code best practices, and our website is updated regularly with company news and financial information.