4. Risk Management

Due to its global activity, the Lindt & Sprüngli Group is exposed to a number of strategic, operational and financial risks. Within the scope of the annual risk management process, the individual risk positions are classified into these three categories, where they are assessed, limited and assigned to a responsible.

In view of the existing and inevitable strategic and operating risks of the core business, Management’s objective is to minimize the impact of the financial risks on the operating profit and net income for the reporting period.

The Lindt & Sprüngli Group is exposed to financial risks. The financial instruments used to hedge against these risks are divided, in accordance with IFRS 7, into the following categories: market risks (commodities, exchange rates, interest rates), credit risks and liquidity risks. Group Treasury is responsible for the coordination of risk management and works closely with the operational Lindt & Sprüngli Group companies. The decentralized Lindt & Sprüngli Group structure gives strong autonomy to the individual operational Lindt & Sprüngli Group companies, particularly with regards to the management of exchange rate and commodity risks. The risk policies issued by the Audit Committee serve as guidelines for the entire risk management.

Centralized systems and processes, specifically for the ongoing recognition and consolidation of the group wide foreign exchange and commodity positions, as well as regular internal reporting, ensure that the risk positions are consolidated and managed in a timely manner. The Lindt & Sprüngli Group only engages in derivative financial instruments in order to hedge against market risks.

Market risks

Commodity price risks

The products of Lindt & Sprüngli Group are manufactured with raw materials (commodities) that are subject to strong price fluctuations due to climate dependent supply, seasonal demand, and market speculation. In order to mitigate the price and quality risks of the expected future net demand, the manufacturing companies of the Lindt & Sprüngli Group companies enter into contracts with suppliers for the future physical delivery of the raw materials. Commodity futures are also used, but only processed centrally by Group Treasury. The commodity futures for cocoa beans of a required quality are always traded for physical-delivery agreements. The number of outstanding commodity futures is dependent on the expected production volumes and price development and may therefore vary significantly throughout the year. The changes in commodity prices include the fair value of the futures since entering into the agreement and are recognized in accordance with IFRS 9.

Exchange rate risks

The reporting of the Lindt & Sprüngli Group is in Swiss francs, though is exposed to fluctuations in foreign exchange rates, primarily with respect to the Euro, the various Dollar currencies, and the Pound Sterling. Foreign exchange rate risk is not originating from sales, since the operational Group companies invoice predominantly in their local functional currencies. On the other hand, the Lindt & Sprüngli Group is exposed to exchange rate risk on trade payables for goods and services that arise from the trade within the Lindt & Sprüngli Group and with outside partners. These transactions are hedged using forward currency contracts. The operational Lindt & Sprüngli Group companies transact all currency instruments with Group Treasury, which hedges these positions by means of financial instruments with credit-worthy financial institutions (short-term rating A1/P1).

Since the operational Lindt & Sprüngli Group companies execute the majority of their transactions in their own functional currencies and any remaining non-functional currency based transactions are hedged with currency forward contracts, the exchange rate risk at balance sheet date is not material. The changes in exchange rates include the fair value of the currency forward contracts since entering into the contract and are recognized in accordance with IFRS 9.

Interest rate risks

Group Treasury monitors and minimizes interest rate risks from a mismatch of quality, maturity period, and currency of the financial position on a continuous basis. Group Treasury may use derivative financial instruments in order to manage the interest rate risk of balance sheet assets and liabilities as well as future cash flows. As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, there were no such transactions.

As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, the position financial assets is made up of two approximately equal parts of interest-bearing and non interest-bearing financial assets. Interest-bearing financial assets predominantly include cash and cash equivalents in Swiss francs.

Credit risks

Credit risks occur when a counterparty, such as a financial institute, a supplier or a client is unable to fulfil their contractual duties. Financial credit risks are mitigated by investing (liquid funds and/or derivative financial instruments) with various lending institutions holding a short-term A1/P1-rating only. The maximum default risk of balance sheet assets is limited to the carrying values of those assets as reflected in the balance sheet and the notes to the financial statements (including derivative financial instruments). The operational companies of the Lindt & Sprüngli Group have implemented processes for defining credit limits for clients and suppliers and monitor adherence to these processes on an ongoing basis. Due to the geographical spread of sales and the large number of clients, the Lindt & Sprüngli Group’s concentration of risk is limited.

Liquidity risks

Liquidity risks exist when the Lindt & Sprüngli Group or a subsidiary does not settle or meet its financial obligations (e. g., untimely repayment of financial debt, payment of interest). The Lindt & Sprüngli Group’s liquidity is ensured by means of regular group wide monitoring and planning of liquidity as well as an investment policy coordinated on a timely basis by Group Treasury. The net financial position is monitored on a company-by-company basis by Group Treasury. As of December 31, 2023, the net financial position amounted to CHF –943.3 million (CHF –571.3 million in prior year).

To finance potential liquidity needs, corresponding credit lines with financial institutes were available.

The following tables show the contractually fixed payments as of December 31, 2023, and December 31, 2022:

Changes in bonds are disclosed within note 18.