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Annual Financial Report 2015

23 Sep 2015 07:00

RNS Number : 8840Z
BHP Billiton PLC
22 September 2015
 



Issued by:

BHP Billiton Plc

 

Date:

23 September 2015

 

To:

London Stock Exchange

JSE Limited

 

For Release:

Immediately

 

Contact:

Elizabeth Hobley +44 (0) 20 7802 4054

 

 

BHP Billiton Plc - Annual Financial Report 2015

 

 

UK Listing Authority Submissions

 

The following documents have today been submitted to the National Storage Mechanism and will shortly be available for inspection at: www.morningstar.co.uk/uk/NSM

 

· Annual Report 2015

http://www.bhpbilliton.com/~/media/bhp/documents/investors/annual-reports/2015/bhpbillitonannualreport2015.pdf 

 

· Sustainability Report 2015

http://www.bhpbilliton.com/~/media/bhp/documents/investors/annual-reports/2015/bhpbillitonsustainabilityreport2015.pdf 

 

· Form 20-F

http://www.bhpbilliton.com/~/media/bhp/documents/investors/annual-reports/2015/bhpbillitonform20f2015.pdf

 

· Notice of Annual General Meeting 2015 - BHP Billiton Plc

http://www.bhpbilliton.com/~/media/bhp/documents/investors/annual-reports/2015/bhpbillitonnoticeofmeetingplc2015.pdf 

 

· Proxy Form (UK Principal Register)

 

· Proxy Form (South Africa Branch Register)

 

The documents (with the exception of the Proxy Forms) may also be accessed via BHP Billiton's website - www.bhpbilliton.com - or using the web links above.

 

Additional Information

The following information is extracted from the Annual Report 2015 (page references are to pages in the Annual Report) and should be read in conjunction with BHP Billiton's Final Results announcement issued on 25 August 2015. Both documents can be found at www.bhpbilliton.com and together, constitute the material required by DTR 6.3.5 to be communicated to the media in unedited full text through a Regulatory Information Service. This material is not a substitute for reading the Annual Report 2015 in full.

1. Principal risks and uncertainties

1.1 Approach to risk management

We believe the identification and management of risk are central to achieving our corporate purpose of creating long-term shareholder value.

Risk has the potential to impact our health and safety, environment, community, reputation, regulatory, market and financial performance and thereby the achievement of our corporate purpose.

By understanding and managing risk, we provide greater certainty and confidence for our shareholders, employees, customers, suppliers, and for the communities in which we operate. Successful risk management can be a source of competitive advantage.

Our risks are viewed and managed on a Group-wide basis. The natural diversification in our portfolio of commodities, geographies, currencies, assets and liabilities is a key element in our risk management approach.

Risk management is embedded in our critical business activities, functions and processes. Materiality and our tolerance for risk are key considerations in our decision-making.

Risk issues are identified, analysed and assessed in a consistent manner. Performance requirements exist for the identification, assessment, control and monitoring of material risk issues that could threaten our corporate purpose and business plans.

These include that:

· The potential for impacts on the achievement of our corporate purpose and business plans is identified through risk assessments using approved materiality and tolerability criteria. The severity of any risk event is assessed according to a matrix that describes the degree of harm, injury or loss from the most severe impact associated with that risk event, assuming reasonable effectiveness of controls.

· A risk assessment (risk identification, risk analysis, including likelihood and impact assessment and risk evaluation) is conducted for material risk issues.

· Risk controls are designed, implemented, operated and assessed to produce a residual risk that is tolerable. Performance standards are established for critical controls over material risks with supporting verification processes.

We have established processes that apply when entering or commencing new activities in high-risk countries. Risk assessments and a supporting risk management plan are required to ensure that potential reputation, legal, business conduct and corruption related exposures are managed and legislative compliance is maintained, including relevant anti-corruption legislation and the application of any relevant sanctions or trade embargos.

Our risk management governance approach is described in sections 3.14.1 and 3.15 of the Group's Annual Report 2015.

1.2 Risk factors

We believe that because of the international scope of our operations and the industries in which we are engaged, there are numerous factors that may have an adverse effect on our results and operations. The following describes the material risks that could affect BHP Billiton.

External risks

Fluctuations in commodity prices and impacts of ongoing global economic volatility may negatively affect our results, including cash flows and asset values

The prices we obtain for our oil, gas and minerals are determined by, or linked to, prices in world markets, which have historically been subject to substantial volatility. Our usual policy is to sell our products at the prevailing market prices. The diversity provided by our relatively broad portfolio of commodities does not fully insulate the effects of price changes. Fluctuations in commodity prices can occur due to price shifts reflecting underlying global economic and geopolitical factors, industry demand, increased supply due to the development of new productive resources, technological change, product substitution and national tariffs. We are particularly exposed to price movements in iron ore, coal, copper, and oil and gas. For example, a US$1 per tonne decline in the average iron ore price and US$1 per barrel decline in the average oil price would have an estimated impact on FY2015 profit after taxation of US$144 million and US$54 million, respectively. For further information relating to commodity price impacts, refer to section 1.15.1 of the Group's Annual Report 2015. Volatility in global economic growth, particularly in the developing economies, has the potential to adversely impact future demand and prices for commodities. The impact of potential long-term sustained price shifts and short-term price volatility, including the effects of unwinding the sustained monetary stimulus in the United States, creates the risk that our financial and operating results, including cash flows and asset values, will be materially and adversely affected by unforeseen declines in the prevailing prices of our products.

Our financial results may be negatively affected by currency exchange rate fluctuations

Our assets, earnings and cash flows are influenced by a wide variety of currencies due to the geographic diversity of the countries in which we operate. Fluctuations in the exchange rates of those currencies may have a significant impact on our financial results. The US dollar is the currency in which the majority of our sales are denominated and the currency in which we present our financial performance. Operating costs are influenced by the currencies of those countries where our mines and mine processing plants are located and also by those currencies in which the costs of imported equipment and services are determined. The Australian dollar, Chilean peso, and US dollar are some of the currencies influencing our operating costs. We do not generally believe that active currency hedging provides long-term benefits to our shareholders. From time to time, we consider currency protection measures appropriate in specific commercial circumstances, subject to strict limits established by our Board.

Reduction in Chinese demand may negatively impact our results

The Chinese market has been driving global materials demand and pricing over the past decade. Sales into China generated US$16.3 billion (FY2014: US$21.8 billion) or 36.6 per cent (FY2014: 38.5 per cent) of our revenue in FY2015. The FY2015 sales into China by Business included 66 per cent Iron Ore, 23 per cent Copper, nine per cent Coal, one per cent Nickel West (reported in Group and Unallocated) and one per cent Petroleum. A continued slowing in China's economic growth and demand could result in lower prices for our products and negatively impact our results, including cash flows.

Actions by governments or political events in the countries in which we operate could have a negative impact on our business

We have operations or interests (e.g. through our non-operated assets) in various countries around the globe, which have varying degrees of political, judicial and commercial stability. We operate or have interests in certain emerging markets, which may involve additional risks that could have an adverse impact on the profitability of an operation. These risks could include terrorism, civil unrest, judicial activism, regulatory investigation, nationalisation, protectionism, renegotiation or nullification of existing contracts, leases, permits or other agreements, imposts, controls or prohibitions on the production or use of certain products, restrictions on repatriation of earnings or capital and changes in laws and policy, as well as other unforeseeable risks. Risks relating to bribery and corruption, including possible delays or disruption resulting from a refusal to make so-called facilitation payments, may be prevalent in some of the countries in which we operate. If any of our major operations are affected by one or more of these risks, it could have a negative effect on our operations in those countries, as well as the Group's overall operating results and financial condition.

Our operations are based on material long-term investments that are dependent on long-term fiscal stability and could be adversely impacted by changes in fiscal legislation. The natural resources industry continues to be regarded as a source of tax revenue and can also be impacted by broader fiscal measures applying to businesses generally.

Our business could be adversely affected by new government regulations and international standards, such as controls on imports, exports, prices and greenhouse gas emissions. Increasing requirements relating to regulatory, environmental and social or community approvals can potentially result in significant delays in construction and may adversely affect the economics of new mining and oil and gas projects, the expansion of existing operations and results of our operations. Infrastructure, such as rail, ports, power and water, is critical to our business operations. We have operations or potential development projects in countries where government-provided infrastructure or regulatory regimes for access to infrastructure, including our own privately operated infrastructure, may be inadequate or uncertain or subject to legislative change. The impact of climate change may increase competition for, and the regulation of, limited resources, such as power and water. These factors may adversely impact the efficient operations and expansion of our business.

We operate in countries where ownership of land is uncertain and where disputes may arise in relation to ownership. For example, in Australia, the Native Title Act 1993 provides for the establishment and recognition of native title under certain circumstances.

These regulations are complex, difficult to predict and outside our control and could negatively affect our Company, future results and our financial condition.

Business risks

Failure to discover or acquire new resources, maintain reserves or develop new operations could negatively affect our future results and financial condition

The demand for our products and production from our operations results in existing reserves being depleted over time. As our revenues and profits are derived from our oil and gas and minerals operations, our future results and financial condition are directly related to the success of our exploration and acquisition efforts, and our ability to generate reserves to meet our future production requirements at a competitive cost. Exploration activity occurs adjacent to established operations and in new regions, in developed and less-developed countries. These activities may increase land tenure, infrastructure and related political risks. A failure in our ability to discover or acquire new resources, maintain reserves or develop new operations in sufficient quantities to maintain or grow the current level of our reserves could negatively affect our results, financial condition and prospects.

Future deterioration in commodities pricing may make some existing reserves uneconomic. Our actual drilling activities and future drilling budget will depend on our mineral inventory size and quality, drilling results, commodity prices, drilling and production costs, availability of drilling services and equipment, lease expirations, transportation pipelines, railroads and other infrastructure constraints, regulatory approvals and other factors.

There are numerous uncertainties inherent in estimating mineral and oil and gas reserves. Geological assumptions about our mineralisation that are valid at the time of estimation may change significantly when new information becomes available. Estimates of reserves that will be recovered or the cost at which we anticipate such reserves will be recovered are based on uncertain assumptions. The uncertain global financial outlook may affect economic assumptions related to reserve recovery and may require reserve restatements. Reserve restatements could negatively affect our results and prospects.

Potential changes to our portfolio of assets through acquisitions and divestments may have a material adverse effect on our future results and financial condition

We regularly review the composition of our asset portfolio and from time to time may add assets to the portfolio or divest assets from the portfolio. There are a number of risks associated with such acquisitions or divestments. These include adverse market reaction to such changes or the timing or terms on which such changes are made, the imposition of adverse regulatory conditions and obligations, commercial objectives not being achieved as expected, unforeseen liabilities arising from such changes to the portfolio, sales revenues and operational performance not meeting our expectations, anticipated synergies or cost savings being delayed or not being achieved, inability to retain key staff and transaction-related costs being more than anticipated. These factors could negatively affect our reputation, future results and financial condition.

Increased costs and schedule delays may adversely affect our development projects

Although we devote significant time and resources to our project planning, approval and review process, many of our development projects are highly complex and rely on factors that are outside our control, which may cause us to underestimate the cost or time required to complete a project. For instance, incidents during development projects may cause setbacks or cost overruns, required licences, permits or authorisations to build a project may be unobtainable at anticipated costs, or may be obtained only after significant delay and market conditions may change, thereby making a project less profitable than initially projected.

In addition, we may fail to manage projects as effectively as we anticipate and unforeseen challenges may emerge.

Any of these may result in increased capital costs and schedule delays at our development projects and impact anticipated financial returns.

Financial risks

If our liquidity and cash flow deteriorate significantly it could adversely affect our ability to fund our major capital programs

We seek to maintain a solid 'A' credit rating as part of our strategy. However, fluctuations in commodity prices and the ongoing global economic volatility may adversely impact our future cash flows and ability to access capital from financial markets at acceptable pricing. If our key financial ratios and credit rating are not maintained, our liquidity and cash reserves, interest rate costs on borrowed debt, future access to financial capital markets and the ability to fund current and future major capital programs could be adversely affected.

We may not fully recover our investments in mining, oil and gas assets, which may require financial write-downs

One or more of our assets may be impacted by changed market or industry structures, commodity prices, technical operating difficulties, inability to recover our mineral, oil or gas reserves and increased operating cost levels. These may cause us to fail to recover all or a portion of our investment in mining and oil and gas assets and may require financial write-downs, including goodwill adversely impacting our financial results.

The commercial counterparties we transact with may not meet their obligations, which may negatively impact our results

We contract with a large number of commercial and financial counterparties, including end-customers, suppliers and financial institutions. Global economic volatility continues to strain global financial markets, with tighter liquidity in China and uncertain business conditions generally. We maintain a 'one book' approach with commercial counterparties to ensure all credit exposures are quantified. Our existing counterparty credit controls may not prevent a material loss due to credit exposure to a major customer segment or financial counterparty. In addition, customers, suppliers, contractors or joint venture partners may fail to perform against existing contracts and obligations. Non-supply of key inputs, such as tyres, mining and mobile equipment, diesel and other key consumables, may unfavourably impact costs and production at our operations. These factors could negatively affect our financial condition and results of operations.

Operational risks

Cost pressures and reduced productivity could negatively impact our operating margins and expansion plans

Cost pressures may continue to occur across the resources industry. As the prices for our products are determined by the global commodity markets in which we operate, we do not generally have the ability to offset these cost pressures through corresponding price increases, which can adversely affect our operating margins. Notwithstanding our efforts to reduce costs and a number of key cost inputs being commodity price-linked, the inability to reduce costs and a timing lag may adversely impact our operating margins for an extended period.

A number of our operations, such as copper, are energy or water intensive and, as a result, the Group's costs and earnings could be adversely affected by rising costs or by supply interruptions. These could include the unavailability of energy, fuel or water due to a variety of reasons, including fluctuations in climate, inadequate infrastructure capacity, interruptions in supply due to equipment failure or other causes and the inability to extend supply contracts on economic terms.

Many of our Australian employees have conditions of employment, including wages, governed by the operation of the Australian Fair Work Act 2009. Conditions of employment are often contained within collective agreements that are required to be renegotiated on expiry (typically every three to four years). In some instances, under the operation of the Fair Work Act it can be expected that unions will pursue increases to conditions of employment, including wages, and/or claims for greater union involvement in business decision-making.

In circumstances where a collective agreement is being renegotiated, industrial action is permitted under the Fair Work Act. Industrial action and any subsequent settlement to mitigate associated commercial damage can adversely affect productivity, customer perceptions as a reliable supplier and contribute to increases in costs.

The industrial relations environment in Chile remains challenging and it is possible that we will see further disruptions. Changes to labour legislation are being considered by the Chilean Congress, and if passed would result in the right to have a single negotiating body across different operations owned by a single company, which may also result in higher risk of operational stoppages.

These factors could lead to increased operating costs at existing operations and could negatively impact our operating margins and expansion plans.

Unexpected natural and operational catastrophes may adversely impact our operations

We operate extractive, processing and logistical operations in many geographic locations, both onshore and offshore. Our key port facilities are located at Coloso and Antofagasta in Chile, and Port Hedland and Hay Point in Australia. We have five underground mines, including three underground coal mines. Our operational processes may be subject to operational accidents, such as port and shipping incidents, underground mine and processing plant fire and explosion, open-cut pit wall failures, loss of power supply, railroad incidents, loss of well control, environmental pollution and mechanical critical equipment failures. Our operations may also be subject to unexpected natural catastrophes such as earthquakes, flood, hurricanes and tsunamis. Our northwest Western Australia iron ore, Queensland coal and Gulf of Mexico oil and gas operations are located in areas subject to cyclones or hurricanes. Our Chilean copper operations are located in a known earthquake and tsunami zone. Based on our risk management and concerns about the value of external insurance in the natural resource sector, our risk financing (insurance) approach is to minimise or not to purchase external insurance for certain risks, including property damage, business interruption, construction-related risk, marine cargo and primary liability risks. Existing business continuity plans may not provide protection for all of the costs that arise from such events. The impact of these events could lead to disruptions in production, increased costs and loss of facilities. Where external insurance is purchased, third party claims arising from these events may exceed the limit of liability of the insurance policies we have in place.

Our non-operated assets may not comply with our standards

Some of our assets are operated and managed by joint venture partners or by other companies. Management of our non-operated assets may not comply with our management and operating standards, controls and procedures, including our health, safety, environment and community (HSEC) standards. Failure to adopt equivalent standards, controls and procedures at these assets could lead to higher costs and reduced production and adversely impact our results and reputation.

Breaches in our information technology security processes may adversely impact our business activities

We maintain information technology (IT) systems, consisting of infrastructure, business applications and communications networks to support our business activities. These systems may be subject to security breaches (e.g. cyber-crime) that can result in misappropriation of funds, increased health and safety risks to staff, disruption to our operations, environmental damage, poor product quality, loss of intellectual property, disclosure of commercially sensitive information and reputational damage.

Sustainability risks

Safety, health, environmental and community impacts, incidents or accidents and related regulations may adversely affect our people, operations and reputation or licence to operateSafety

Potential safety events that may have a material adverse impact on our operations include fire, explosion or rock fall incidents in underground mining operations, personnel conveyance equipment failures in underground operations, aircraft incidents, incidents involving light vehicles and mining mobile equipment, ground control failures, well blowouts, explosions or gas leaks, and accidents involving inadequate isolation and working from heights or lifting operations.

Health

Health risks faced include fatigue, musculoskeletal illnesses and occupational exposure to noise, silica, diesel exhaust particulate, nickel and sulphuric acid mist. Longer-term health impacts may arise due to unanticipated workplace exposures or historical exposures of our workforce to hazardous substances. These effects may create future financial compensation obligations.

Given we operate globally, we may be affected by potential pandemic influenza outbreaks, such as A(H1N1) and avian flu, in any of the regions in which we operate.

Environment

Environmental incidents have the potential to lead to material adverse impacts on our operations. These include uncontrolled tailings containment breaches, subsidence from mining activities, escape of polluting substances and uncontrolled releases of hydrocarbons.

Our operations by their nature have the potential to adversely impact biodiversity, water resources and related ecosystem services. Changes in scientific understanding of these impacts, regulatory requirements or stakeholder expectations may prevent or delay project approvals and result in increased costs for mitigation, offsets or compensatory actions.

We provide for operational closure and site rehabilitation. Our operating and closed facilities are required to have closure plans. Changes in regulatory or community expectations may result in the relevant plans not being adequate. This may increase financial provisioning and costs at the affected operations.

Community

Local communities may become dissatisfied with the impact of our operations or oppose our new development projects, including through litigation, potentially affecting costs and production, and in extreme cases viability. Community related risks may include community protests or civil unrest, and may cause delays to proposed developments. Our operations or activities also risk inadvertent breaches of human rights or other international laws or conventions.

HSE legislation

The nature of the industries in which we operate means many of our activities are highly regulated by health, safety and environmental (HSE) laws. As regulatory standards and expectations are constantly developing, we may be exposed to increased litigation, compliance costs and unforeseen environmental rehabilitation expenses.

Legislation requiring manufacturers, importers and downstream users of chemical substances, including metals and minerals, to establish that the substances can be used without negatively affecting health or the environment may impact our operations and markets. Potential compliance costs, litigation expenses, regulatory delays, rehabilitation expenses and operational costs arising from such legislation could negatively affect our financial results.

Hydraulic fracturing

Our Onshore US operations involve hydraulic fracturing, an essential and common practice in the oil and gas industry to stimulate production of natural gas and oil from dense subsurface rock formations. Hydraulic fracturing involves using water, sand and a small amount of chemicals to fracture the hydrocarbon-bearing rock formation, to allow flow of hydrocarbons into the wellbore. We routinely apply hydraulic fracturing techniques in our drilling and completion programs.

Attention given to the hydraulic fracturing process could lead to greater opposition to oil and gas production activities using hydraulic fracturing techniques. Increased regulation could impose more stringent permitting, public disclosure and well construction requirements on hydraulic fracturing operations. In the United States, the hydraulic fracturing process is typically regulated by relevant US state regulatory bodies. Some states are considering changes to regulations in relation to permitting, public disclosure, and/or well construction requirements on hydraulic fracturing and related operations, including the possibility of outright bans on the process. Arkansas, Louisiana and Texas (the states in which we currently operate) have adopted various laws and regulations, or issued regulatory guidance, concerning hydraulic fracturing. 

Several US federal agencies are also reviewing or advancing regulatory proposals concerning hydraulic fracturing and related operations. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) commenced a study of the potential impacts of hydraulic fracturing activities on drinking water resources. The agency issued a non-determinative Progress Report in December 2012 and is expected to issue a final draft assessment report for peer review and comment in CY2015. As part of the studies' efforts, the EPA released a preliminary analysis on 30 March 2015. The EPA is expected to issue a final report for peer review in CY2016. The EPA's Office of Inspector General continues to research the EPA's and states' ability to manage potential threats to water resources from hydraulic fracturing, with a possible longer-term study to follow. The US Bureau of Land Management (BLM) issued a final rule on 20 March 2015 that would impose new requirements on hydraulic fracturing operations conducted on federal lands, including the disclosure of chemicals used, wellbore integrity, water use and disposal of flow back water. The BLM regulation took effect on 24 June 2015. Activity at the federal level, including the ongoing EPA study, BLM rules and other analysis by federal and state agencies to assess the impacts of hydraulic fracturing, could spur additional legislative or regulatory actions.

While we have not experienced a material delay or substantially higher operating costs in our Onshore US operations as a result of current regulatory requirements, we cannot predict whether additional federal, state or local laws or regulations will be enacted and what such actions would require or prohibit. Additional legislation or regulation could subject our operations to delays and increased costs, or prohibit certain activities, which could adversely affect the financial performance of our Onshore US operations.

Due to the nature of our operations, HSEC incidents or accidents and related regulations may adversely affect our reputation or licence to operate.

Climate change may impact the value of our Company, and our operations and markets

The physical impacts of climate change and various regulations that seek to address climate change may negatively affect our operations, productivity and the markets in which we sell our products. Fossil fuel-related emissions are a significant source of greenhouse gases contributing to climate change. We produce fossil fuels such as coal, oil and gas for sale to customers, and we use fossil fuels in our mining and processing operations either directly or through the purchase of fossil fuel-based electricity.

A number of national governments have already introduced, or are contemplating the introduction of, regulatory responses to greenhouse gas emissions from the combustion of fossil fuels to address the impacts of climate change. This includes countries where we have operations such as Australia, the United States and Chile, as well as customer markets such as China, India and Europe. In addition, the international community aims to complete a new global climate agreement at the 21st Conference of the Parties (COP21) in Paris in December 2015. The absence of regulatory certainty, global policy inconsistencies and the challenges presented by managing our portfolio across a variety of regulatory frameworks has the potential to adversely impact our operations and supply chain. From a medium to long-term perspective, we are likely to see some adverse changes in the cost position of our greenhouse gas-intensive assets and energy-intensive assets as a result of regulatory impacts in the countries where we operate. These proposed regulatory mechanisms may impact our operations directly or indirectly through our suppliers and customers. Assessments of the potential impact of future climate change regulation are uncertain given the wide scope of potential regulatory change in the many countries in which we operate. For example, the Australian Government repealed a carbon tax in 2014 and carbon pricing is being discussed as part of a broader tax reform package in Chile.

There is a potential gap between the current valuation of fossil fuel reserves on the balance sheets of companies and in global equities markets and the reduced value that could result if a significant proportion of reserves were rendered incapable of extraction in an economically viable fashion due to technology, regulatory or market responses to climate change. In such a scenario, stranded reserve assets held on our balance sheet may need to be impaired or written off and our inability to make productive use of such assets may also negatively impact our financial condition and results.

The growth of alternative energy supply options, such as renewables and nuclear, could also present a change to the energy mix that may impact on fossil fuel markets.

The physical effects of climate change on our operations may include changes in rainfall patterns, water shortages, rising sea levels, increased storm intensities and higher temperatures. These effects may adversely impact the financial performance of our operations.

A breach of our governance processes may lead to regulatory penalties and loss of reputation

We operate in a global environment that encompasses multiple jurisdictions and complex regulatory frameworks. Our governance and compliance processes, which include the review of internal controls over financial reporting and specific internal controls in relation to trade and financial sanctions, and offers of things of value to government officials and representatives of state-owned enterprises, may not prevent future potential breaches of law, accounting or governance practice. Our Code of Business Conduct, together with our mandatory policies, such as the anti-corruption, trade and financial sanctions and competition policies, may not prevent instances of fraudulent behaviour and dishonesty nor guarantee compliance with legal or regulatory requirements. This may lead to regulatory fines, disgorgement of profits, litigation, loss of operating licences and/or reputational damage.

1.3 Approach to risk management

The scope of our operations and the number of industries in which we operate and engage mean that a range of factors may impact our results. Material risks that could negatively affect our results and performance are described in section 1.7.2 of the Group's Annual Report 2015. Our approach to managing these risks is outlined below.

 

Principal risk area

Risk management approach

External risks

Risks arise from falls in commodity prices and demand in major markets (such as China or Europe) or changes in currency exchange rates and actions by governments and political events that impact long-term fiscal stability.

The diversification of our portfolio of commodities, geographies and currencies is a key strategy for reducing the effects of volatility. Section 1.15.1 of the Group's Annual Report 2015 describes external factors and trends affecting our results and note 23 'Financial risk management' to the Financial Statements in the Group's Annual Report 2015 outlines the Group's financial risk management strategy, including market, commodity, and currency risk. The Financial Risk Management Committee oversees these risks as described in sections 3.15 and 3.16 of the Group's Annual Report 2015. We also engage with governments and other key stakeholders to ensure the potential adverse impacts of proposed fiscal, tax, resource investment, infrastructure access and regulatory changes are understood and where possible mitigated.

 

 

 

Business risks

Risks include the inherent uncertainty of identifying and proving reserves, adding and divesting assets and managing our capital development projects.

Our Geoscience Technology and Engineering function provides governance and technical leadership for Mineral Resource development and Ore Reserves reporting as described in section 2.3.2 of the Group's Annual Report 2015. Our governance over reporting of Petroleum reserves is described in section 2.3.1of the Group's Annual Report 2015.

We have established investment approval processes that apply to all major capital projects and asset divestment and acquisitions. The Investment Committee oversees these as described in sections 3.15 and 3.16 of the Group's Annual Report 2015. Our Project Management function additionally seeks to ensure that projects are safe, predictable and competitive, and it has established a continuous improvement practice.

Financial risks

Continued volatility in global financial markets may adversely impact future cash flows, our ability to adequately access and source capital from financial markets and our credit rating. Volatility may impact planned expenditures, as well as the ability to recover investments in mining and oil and gas projects. In addition, the commercial counterparties (customers, suppliers and financial institutions) we transact with may, due to adverse market conditions, fail to meet their contractual obligations.

 

We seek to maintain a solid 'A' credit rating, supported by our portfolio risk management strategy. As part of this strategy, the diversification of our portfolio reduces overall cash flow volatility. Commodity prices and currency exchange rates are not hedged, and wherever possible we take the prevailing market price. We use Cash Flow at Risk analysis to monitor volatilities and key financial ratios. Credit limits and review processes are required to be established for all customers and financial counterparties. The Financial Risk Management Committee oversees these as described in sections 3.15 and 3.16 of the Group's Annual Report 2015. Note 23 'Financial risk management' to the Financial Statements in the Group's Annual Report 2015 outlines our financial risk management strategy.

 

 

Operational risks

Operating cost pressures and reduced productivity could negatively impact operating margins and expansion plans. Non-operated assets may not comply with our standards. Unexpected natural and operational catastrophes may adversely impact our operations. Breaches in IT security processes may adversely impact the conduct of our business activities.

 

 

We seek to ensure that adequate operating margins are maintained through our strategy to own and operate large, long-life, low-cost and expandable upstream assets.

The Group's concentrated effort to reduce operating costs and drive productivity improvements has realised tangible results, with a reduction in controllable costs.

The capability to sustain productivity improvements is being further enhanced through continued refinements to our Operating Model. The Operating Model is designed to deliver a simple and scalable organisation, providing a competitive advantage through defining work, organisation and performance measurements. Defined global business processes, including 1SAP, provide a standardised way of working across the organisation. Common processes generate useful data and improve operating discipline. Global sourcing arrangements have been established to ensure continuity of supply and competitive costs for key supply inputs. We seek to influence the application of our standards to non-operated assets.

Through the application of our risk management processes, we identify catastrophic operational risks and implement the critical controls and performance requirements to maintain control effectiveness. Business continuity plans are required to be established to mitigate consequences. Consistent with our portfolio risk management approach, we continue to be largely self-insured for losses arising from property damage, business interruption and construction.

From an industrial relations perspective, detailed planning is undertaken to support the renegotiation of employment agreements and is supported by training and access to expertise in negotiation and agreement making.

IT security controls to protect IT infrastructure, business applications and communication networks and respond to security incidents are in place and subject to regular monitoring and assessment. To maintain adequate levels of protection, we also continue to monitor the development of threats in the external environment and assess potential responses to those threats.

 

Sustainability risks

HSEC incidents or accidents may adversely affect our people or neighbouring communities, operations and reputation or licence to operate. The potential physical impacts and related responses to climate change may impact the value of our Company, and operations and markets. Given we operate in a challenging global environment straddling multiple jurisdictions, a breach of our governance processes may lead to regulatory penalties and loss of reputation.

 

Our approach to sustainability risks is reflected in Our Charter and described in section 1.14 of the Group's Annual Report 2015, including a Company-level safety intervention that was initiated in FY2015. A comprehensive set of Group Level Documents (GLDs) set out Group-wide HSEC-related performance requirements designed to ensure effective management control of these risks.

Our approach to corporate planning, investment decision-making and portfolio management provides a focus on the identification, assessment and management of climate change risks. We have been applying an internal price on carbon in our investment decisions for more than a decade. Through a comprehensive and strategic approach to corporate planning, we work with a broad range of scenarios to assess our portfolio, including consideration of a broad range of potential policy responses to and impacts from climate change. Our models suggest that BHP Billiton's portfolio diversification results in the resilience of our overall asset valuation through all these scenarios.

Our approach to engagement with community stakeholders is outlined in our Community GLD. Businesses are also required to undertake social impact opportunity assessments to identify, mitigate or manage key potential social and human rights risks.

As with our other risks, for climate change risk our Risk Management GLD provides the framework for risk management. Internal audits are conducted to test compliance with GLD requirements and action plans are developed to address any gaps. Key findings are reported to senior management and reports are considered by relevant Board committees.

Our Code of Business Conduct sets out requirements related to working with integrity, including dealings with government officials and third parties. Processes and controls are in place for the internal control over financial reporting, including under Sarbanes-Oxley. We have established anti-corruption and antitrust related performance requirements, which are overseen by the Legal and Compliance function as described in section 3.17 of the Group's Annual Report 2015. Additionally, the Disclosure Committee oversees our compliance with securities dealing obligations and continuous and periodic disclosure obligations as described in sections 3.15 and 3.18 of the Group's Annual Report 2015.

 

 

2. Related party transactions

There have been no related party transactions that have taken place during the year ended 30 June 2015 that have materially affected the financial position or the performance of the BHP Billiton Group during that period. Details of the related party transactions that have taken place during the year ended 30 June 2015 are set out in notes 24 'Key management personnel' and 33 'Related party transactions' to the Financial Statements on pages 243 and 261 of the Group's Annual Report 2015.

 

3. Directors' Responsibility Statement

The following statement which was prepared for the purposes of the Group's Annual Report 2015 is repeated here for the purposes of complying with DTR 6.3.5. It relates to and is extracted from the Group's Annual Report 2015 and is not connected to the extracted and summarised information presented in this announcement.

"In accordance with a resolution of the Directors of the BHP Billiton Group, the Directors declare that:

(a) in the Directors' opinion and to the best of their knowledge the financial statements and notes, set out in sections 7.1 and 7.2 of the Group's Annual Report 2015, are in accordance with the UK Companies Act 2006 and the Australian Corporations Act 2001, including:

(i) Complying with the applicable Accounting Standards; and

(ii) Giving a true and fair view of the assets, liabilities, financial position and profit or loss of each of BHP Billiton Limited, BHP Billiton Plc, the BHP Billiton Group and the undertakings included in the consolidation taken as a whole as at 30 June 2015 and of their performance for the year ended 30 June 2015;

(b) the financial report also complies with International Financial Reporting Standards, as disclosed in note 41 'Basis of preparation and measurement' of the Group's Annual Report 2015;

(c) to the best of the Directors' knowledge, the management report (comprising the Strategic Report and Directors' Report) includes a fair review of the development and performance of the business and the financial position of the BHP Billiton Group and the undertakings included in the consolidation taken as a whole, together with a description of the principal risks and uncertainties that the Group faces.

Signed in accordance with a resolution of the Board of Directors on 10 September 2015, Jac Nasser AO, Chairman and Andrew Mackenzie, Chief Executive Officer."

 

 

 

BHP Billiton Plc Registration number 3196209

Registered in England and Wales

Registered Office: Neathouse Place London SW1V 1LH United Kingdom

A member of the BHP Billiton Group which is headquartered in Australia

 

This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
 
END
 
 
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