SK TELECOM CO., LTD. and its Subsidiaries
Notes to the Interim Consolidated Financial Statements
September 30, 2022 and 2021 (Unaudited)
30. |
Financial Risk Management, Continued |
|
(1) |
Financial risk management, Continued |
|
1) |
Market risk, (Continued) |
The interest rate risk of the Group arises from borrowings, debentures and long-term payables other. Since the Groups
interest-bearing assets are mostly fixed interest-bearing assets, the Groups revenue and operating cash flows from the interest-bearing assets are not influenced by the changes in market interest rates.
The Group performs various analysis to reduce interest rate risk and to optimize its financing. To minimize risks arising from changes in
interest rates, the Group takes various measures such as refinancing, renewal, alternative financing and hedging.
As of September 30,
2023, floating-rate borrowings and debentures amount to W43,125 million and W403,440 million, respectively, and the Group has entered into interest rate swaps to hedge interest rate risk related to the
floating-rate borrowings amounting to W3,125 million and debentures. Therefore, profit before income taxes for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2023 would not have been affected by the changes in interest rates of
floating-rate debentures.
If the interest rate increases (decreases) 1%p with all other variables held constant, profit before income
taxes for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2023 would change by W300 million in relation to the floating-rate borrowings which have not entered into interest rate swaps.
As of September 30, 2023, the floating-rate long-term payables other are W1,289,416 million. If the interest
rate increases (decreases) 1%p with all other variables held constant, profit before income taxes for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2023, would change by W9,671 million in relation to the floating-rate
long-term payables other that are exposed to interest rate risk.
Interest rate benchmark reform and associated risks
A fundamental reform of major interest rate benchmarks is being undertaken globally, including the replacement of some interbank
offered rates (IBOR) with alternative nearly risk-free rates (referred to as IBOR reform). The calculation of USD LIBOR which was previously used as the interest rate benchmark was suspended as of June 30, 2023. The
alternative interest rate benchmark of USD LIBOR is the Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR).
For financial instruments
related to the suspended LIBOR calculation, the Group included fallback clauses or replaced LIBOR with alternative interest rates before the calculation is suspended. Meanwhile, in case of Korean CD rate, Korea Overnight Financing Repo Rate
(KOFR) was selected as alternative interest rate benchmark, and Korea Securities Depository has begun disclosing the rate since November 26, 2021. KOFR is calculated using the overnight RP rate with government bonds and monetary
stabilization bonds as collateral. However, unlike LIBOR, calculation of CD rate will not be suspended, thereby making it unclear when and how the transition to KOFR will take place.
Non-derivative financial liabilities
The Parent Companys non-derivative financial liabilities subject to interest rate benchmark
reform as of December 31, 2022 were floating-rate bonds indexed to USD LIBOR. As explained above, the Group completed discussion with the counterparty about including the fallback clauses as of September 30, 2023.
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