Boskalis_Annual_Report_2016

REPORT OF THE BOARD OF MANAGEMENT ANNUAL REPORT 2016 – BOSKALIS 52 maintaining a solid financial position. Solid balance sheet ratios and the use of diversified sources of funding provide for ample capacity to absorb liquidity risks and the constant creation of adequate borrowing capacity and guarantee facilities. The company has ample credit and bank guarantee facilities at its disposal and operates well within the agreed covenants under its financing agreements. CURRENCY RISKS The functional currency of Boskalis is the euro. A number of business units, especially in Heavy Marine Transport, as well as several substantial strategic joint ventures (Smit Lamnalco, Keppel Smit Towage, Asian Lift, Saam Smit Towage) use other functional currencies. The most important of these is the US dollar, followed by the Singapore dollar. Most of the revenues and expenses of these entities are largely or entirely based on these non-euro currencies. The holdings in these entities are viewed from a long-term perspective. Exchange rate risks related to these entities are not hedged as it is assumed that currency fluctuations and developments in interest rates and inflation will offset each other in the long term. A large proportion of the activities of the group companies that have the euro as their functional currency are not contracted in euros. This particularly applies to the group companies that are involved in dredging and related projects. The costs of these entities, however, are largely based on the euro. Generally, the net cash flows in non-euro currencies within these entities are fully hedged upfront, usually by means of forward exchange contracts. The US dollar exchange rate in relation to the euro is particularly relevant in this context. A large proportion of the projects are contracted in US dollars or in currencies that are to a greater or lesser extent linked to the US dollar. Road construction work in the Netherlands.

Most of our major international competitors in the dredging industry also have cost structures largely based on the euro. This implies that exchange rate fluctuations have no major impact on our relative competitive position. In several market segments, particularly in Offshore Energy, there is competition from parties whose cost structures are not based on the euro, meaning that the competitive impact of currency fluctuations in these market segments is greater. On balance, exchange rate fluctuations only have a limited impact on the company’s competitive position in these activities. TAX RISKS Because of the (constantly changing) mix of project and operational results in a large number of countries and entities, various kinds of taxes, such as income tax, wage tax, VAT and import duties, are assessed and then paid in various countries. Profits are attributed to countries where value is created in accordance with national and international rules and standards, which can be extremely complex. Knowledge in this area along with related compliance and application are embedded in procedures within the Fiscal Affairs function. In cases where insufficient knowledge is available in-house, external advisors are used. INTEREST RATE RISKS Our long-term financial liabilities are predominantly based on fixed long-term interest rates, meaning that our exposure to interest rate fluctuations on these is limited.

FUEL PRICE RISKS In a substantial part of its activities, Boskalis is exposed to risks arising from changes in fuel prices. Fuel costs are hedged in a