56.1.3. Credit risk related to cash and cash equivalents and derivatives

The Group manages its cash credit risk by diversifying the banks where surplus cash can be deposited while reducing the cost of holding cash in accounts. These banks receive investment rating. The share of the three banks where the Group holds its largest cash balances was 79% as at 31 December 2022.

The entities with which the Company enters into derivative transactions to hedge the risks associated with changes in interest rates and exchange rates operate in the financial sector. These banks receive investment rating. The Company diversifies banks with whom derivative transactions are concluded.

Derivatives, which basis are non-financial assets, included in IFRS 9 Financial Instruments, involve futures (exchange market) and forward transactions (OTC). Exchange markets apply appropriate mechanisms to protect, in the form of initial and variation margin deposits. Under variation margin deposits, the Company provides and receives cash arising from changes in the measurement of the underlying instruments on an ongoing basis, which means that as at the end of the reporting period, credit risk does not occur in relation to futures transactions.

In the case of OTC instruments there is a credit risk related to the possibility of insolvency of the other party to the agreement. Therefore, commercial transactions of significant value are preceded by the assessment of the credit standing counterparty, including the economic and financial analysis of the entity. On the basis of the assessment, the counterparty is granted a credit limit, which is a limit of the maximum credit exposure. Execution of trade transactions resulting in an increase in credit exposure above the allocated exposure limit generally requires the establishment of collateral in accordance with the Credit Risk Management Policy in the TAURON Group.