4.7 Risk management

Group risk management

Risk management at Group level is an integral part of business practice and supports the strategic decision-making process. The assessment of risk is derived from both “top-down” and “bottom-up” and covers corporate, all business segments, and all consolidated Group companies. This approach allows for the Group to examine all types of risk exposures caused by internal and external impacts and events, from financial, operational processes, customer and products, management and staff. The risk exposures are managed by specific risk mitigating initiatives, frequent re-evaluations, communication, risk consolidation and prioritization.

The responsibility for the process of risk assessment and monitoring is allocated to the corporate risk function. The Management Board, in addition to Group companies and functional managers, supports the annual risk assessment and is responsible for the management of the risk mitigating initiatives. The risk mitigation progress is reviewed by the Audit Committee on a quarterly basis. The Board of Directors discusses and analyzes the Groupʼs risks at least once a year in the context of a strategy meeting.

Risk of price changes of raw materials or components used for production is limited. A change in those prices would not result in financial effects being above the Groupʼs risk management tolerance level. Therefore, no sensitivity analysis has been conducted.

The Group aims to ensure cost effective sourcing, while at the same time managing the risk of supply shortages that could lead to a failure to deliver certain products at the quantities required. Wherever feasible, critical components are sourced from multiple suppliers in order to mitigate this risk.

The relationship with suppliers is governed by Sonovaʼs Group Supplier Principles (SGSP). We regularly audit and visit suppliers and inspect their management capabilities through employee interviews and on-site inspections. Suppliers have to follow all applicable laws and regulations, ensure a healthy and safe working environment and are prohibited from using child labor.

Through its multiple manufacturing sites around the globe, the Group maintains effective options to rebalance its production capacity between different facilities and to shift production where necessary to avoid delivery shortages and to adapt to potential changes of the operating or general environment.

The unpredictable nature of geopolitical events such as international conflicts, trade disputes, political instability, and regulatory changes can have implications for our business operations, supply chain, and market dynamics, potentially leading to increased volatility in business results.

Financial risk management

Due to Sonova Groupʼs worldwide activities, the Group is exposed to a variety of financial risks such as market risks, credit risks and liquidity risks. Financial risk management aims to limit these risks and seeks to minimize potential adverse effects on the Groupʼs financial performance. The Group uses selected financial instruments for this purpose. They are exclusively used as hedging instruments for cash in- and outflows and not for speculative positions. The Group does not apply hedge accounting.

The fundamentals of Sonova Groupʼs financial risk policy are periodically reviewed by the Audit Committee and carried out by the Group finance department. Group finance is responsible for implementing the policy and for ongoing financial risk management.

Market risk

Exchange rate risk

The Group operates globally and is exposed to foreign currency fluctuations, mainly with respect to the US dollar and the Euro. As the Group uses Swiss francs as presentation currency and holds investments in different functional currencies, net assets are exposed to foreign currency translation risk. Additionally, a foreign currency trans­action risk exists in relation to future commercial transactions, which are denominated in a currency other than the functional currency.

To minimize foreign currency exchange risks, forward currency contracts are entered into. The Group hedges its net foreign currency exposure based on future expected cash in- and outflows. The hedges have a duration of between 1 and 6 months.

Positive replacement values from forward contract hedges are recorded as financial assets at fair value through profit or loss whereas negative replacement values are recorded as financial liabilities at fair value through profit or loss.

As of March 31, 2025, the Group engaged in forward currency contracts amounting to CHF 391.3 million (previous year CHF 419.2 million). The open contracts on March 31, 2025 as well as on March 31, 2024 were all due within one year.

Interest rate risk

The Group has only limited exposure to interest rate changes. The most substantial interest exposure on assets relates to cash and cash equivalents with an average interest-bearing amount for the 2024/25 financial year of CHF 351.4 million (previous year CHF 285.6 million). If interest rates during the 2024/25 financial year had been 1% higher, the positive impact on income before taxes would have been CHF 2.1 million. If interest rates had been 1% lower, the income before taxes would have been negatively impacted by CHF 1.5 million. The Groupʼs long-term financial liabilities are at fixed rate and thus not subject to interest rate risk.

Credit risk

Financial assets, which could expose the Group to a potential concentration in credit risk, are principally cash and bank balances, receivables from customers and loans.

Core banking relations are maintained with at least “A-” rated (S & P) financial institutions. As of March 31, 2025 the largest balance with a single counterparty amounted to 19% (previous year 26%) of total cash and cash equivalents.

The Group performs frequent credit checks on its receivables. Due to customer diversity, there is no single credit limit for all customers, however, the Group assesses its customers based on their financial position, past experience, and other factors. Due to the fragmented customer base (no single customer balance is greater than 10% of total trade accounts receivable), the Group is not exposed to any significant concentration risk. The same applies to loans to third and related parties. As part of the normal process, management held the regular Expected Credit Loss (ECL) Committee meeting to review the expected credit loss rates on an annual basis in January 2025.

Impairment of financial assets

Impairment losses on financial assets are calculated based on the expected credit loss (ECL) model of IFRS 9. The Groupʼs loss allowances on financial assets other than trade receivables are not material.

Accounting policies

The Group applies the IFRS 9 simplified approach for measuring expected credit losses (ECLs) for trade receivables, which uses a lifetime expected loss allowance for trade receivables at each reporting date. To measure ECLs, trade receivables are grouped based on regions and the days past due. ECLs are calculated separately for state and non-state customers considering historical credit loss experience as well as forward-looking factors. Data sources in determining ECLs include actual historical losses, credit default swaps, country specific risk ratings, development of the customer structure and change in market performance and trends.

The following table provides information about the exposure to credit risk and ECLs for trade receivables:

The closing loss allowance for trade receivables as at March 31, 2024 reconciles to the closing loss allowance as at March 31, 2025 as follows:

Trade receivables are written off when there is no reasonable expectation of recovery. Impairment losses on trade receivables and subsequent recoveries are included in general and administration costs.

Liquidity risk

Group finance is responsible for centrally managing the net cash/debt position and to ensure that the Groupʼs obligations can be settled on time. The Group aims to grow further and wants to remain flexible in making time-sensitive investment decisions. This overall objective is included in the asset allocation strategy. A rolling forecast based on the expected cash flows is conducted and updated regularly to monitor and control liquidity.

Visibility over the majority of bank accounts is provided by central treasury organization. Cash pools are automated and daily SWIFT balance tracking is applied where feasible.

The following table summarizes the Groupʼs financial liabilities as of March 31, 2025 and 2024 based on contractual undiscounted payments. Bonds include the notional amount as well as interest payments.

Capital management

It is the Groupʼs policy to maintain a strong equity base and to secure a continuous “investment grade” rating. The Groupʼs strong balance sheet and earnings tracking provides for additional debt capacity.

The company aims to return excess cash to shareholders as far as not required for organic and acquisition related growth, and amortization of debt.