J. D. Hunter & Co. Limited

The principal activity of the company continued to be that of retail sale of groceries. Financial instruments Treasury operations and Financial Instruments The company has in place a risk management programme that seeks to limit the adverse effects on the financial performance of the company by monitoring the levels of debt finance and related finance costs. Given the size of the wider group the directors monitor the financial risk management. The policies set by the directors are implemented by the group's finance department. The company's principal financial instruments include bank overdrafts and loans, the main purpose of which is to raise finance for the company's operations. In addition, the company has various other financial assets and liabilities such as trade debtors and trade creditors arising directly from its operations. Liquidity risk The company manages its cash and borrowing requirements in order to maximise interest income and minimise interest expense, whilst ensuring the company has sufficient liquid resources to meet the operating needs of the business. Interest rate risk The company is exposed to fair value interest rate risk on its fixed rate borrowings and cash flow interest rate risk on floating rate deposits, bank overdrafts and loans. The company uses a mix of fixed and variable rate debt so as to reduce its exposure to changes in interest rates. Credit risk All customers who wish to trade on credit terms are subject to credit verification procedures. Trade debtors are monitored on an ongoing basis and provision is made for doubtful debts where necessary. Price risk The company is exposed to commodity price risk as a result of its operations. However given the size of the company operations, the cost of managing exposure exceeds any potential benefits. The company has no exposure to equity security price risk as it holds no listed or other equity investments.