Page 309 - TSMC 2019 Annual Report

Foreign currency risk
The majority of the Company’s revenue is denominated in U.S. dollar and over one-half of its capital expenditures are denominated in currencies other than NT dollar, primarily in U.S. dollar, Japanese yen and Euro. As a result, any significant fluctuations to its disadvantage in exchanges rate of NT dollar against such currencies, in particular a weakening of U.S. dollar against NT dollar, would have an adverse impact on the revenue and operating profit as expressed in NT dollar. The Company uses foreign currency derivative contracts, such as currency forwards or currency swaps, to protect against currency exchange rate risks associated with non-NT dollar-denominated assets and liabilities and certain forecasted transactions. The Company utilizes U.S. dollar denominated debt to partially offset currency risk arising from U.S. dollar denominated receivables for balance sheet hedges. These hedges reduce, but do not entirely eliminate, the financial impact on the Company caused by the effect of foreign currency exchange rate movements on the assets and liabilities.
Based on a sensitivity analysis performed on the Company’s total monetary assets and liabilities for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, a hypothetical adverse foreign currency exchange rate change of 10% would have decreased its net income by NT$2,112,450 thousand and NT$489,326 thousand, respectively, and decreased its other comprehensive income by NT$107,690 thousand and NT$315,571 thousand, respectively, after taking into account hedges and offsetting positions.
Interest rate risk
The Company is exposed to interest rate risks primarily related to its bank deposits and bank loans. Changes in interest rates affect the interest earned on the Company’s bank deposits, as well as the interest paid on its bank loans. Because all of the Company’s bonds issued are fixed-rate and measured at amortized cost, changes in interest rates would not affect the cash flows and the fair value.
Other price risk
The Company is exposed to equity price risk arising from financial assets at FVTOCI.
Assuming a hypothetical decrease of 10% in prices of the equity investments at the end of the reporting period for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, the other comprehensive income would have decreased by NT$77,156 thousand and NT$130,193 thousand, respectively.
d. Credit risk management
Credit risk refers to the risk that a counterparty will default on its contractual obligations resulting in financial losses to the Company. The Company is exposed to credit risks from operating activities, primarily trade receivables, and from investing activities, primarily deposits, fixed-income investments and other financial instruments with banks. Credit risk is managed separately for business related and financial related exposures. As of the end of the reporting period, the Company’s maximum credit risk exposure is equal to the carrying amount of financial assets.
Business related credit risk
The Company’s trade receivables are from its customers worldwide. The majority of the Company’s outstanding trade receivables are not covered by collaterals or guarantees. While the Company has procedures to monitor and manage credit risk exposure on trade receivables, there is no assurance such procedures will effectively eliminate losses resulting from its credit risk. This risk is heightened during periods when economic conditions worsen.
As of December 31, 2019 and 2018, the Company’s ten largest customers accounted for 83% and 76% of accounts receivable, respectively. The Company considers the concentration of credit risk for the remaining accounts receivable not material.
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