XML 50 R21.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v3.25.1
Financial risk management
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2024
Notes and other explanatory information [abstract]  
Financial risk management

 

12Financial risk management

Accounting policies

The Company’s activities expose it to a variety of financial risks: a) market risk (including currency risk, interest rate risk and commodities risk); b) credit risk; and c) liquidity risk.

A significant portion of the products sold by the Company are commodities, with prices pegged to international indices and denominated in USD. Part of the production costs, however, are denominated in BRL and Peruvian Soles (“PEN”), and therefore, there is a mismatch of currencies between revenues and costs. Additionally, the Company has debts linked to different indices and currencies, which may impact its cash flows.

To mitigate the potential adverse effects of each financial risk factor, the Company follows a Financial Risk Management Policy that establishes governance and guidelines for the financial risk management process, as well as metrics for measurement and monitoring. This policy establishes guidelines and rules for: (i) Commodities Exposure Management, (ii) Foreign Exchange Exposure Management, (iii) Interest Rate Exposure Management, (iv) Issuers and Counterparties Risk Management, and (v) Liquidity and Financial Indebtedness Management. All strategies and proposals must comply with the Financial Risk Management Policy guidelines and rules, be presented to and discussed with the Finance Committee of the Board of Directors, and, when applicable, submitted for the approval of the Board of Directors, under the governance structure described in such Policy.

(a) Market risk

The purpose of the market risk management process and all related actions is intended to protect the Company’s cash flows against adverse events, such as changes in foreign exchange rates, interest rates and commodity prices, to maintain the ability to pay financial obligations, and to comply with liquidity and indebtedness levels defined by management.

(i) Sensitivity analysis

Presented below is a sensitivity analysis of the main risk factors that affect the pricing of the outstanding financial instruments related to cash and cash equivalents, financial investments, loans and financings, and other financial instruments. The main sensitivities are the exposure to changes in the USD exchange rate, the Interbank Deposit Certificate (“CDI”) interest rates, the National Broad Consumer Price Index (“IPCA”) and the commodity prices. The scenarios for these factors are prepared using market sources and other relevant sources, in compliance with the Company's policies. The scenarios on December 31, 2024, are described below:

·Scenario I: considers a change in the market forward yield curves and quotations as of December 31, 2024, according to the base scenario defined by the Company for March 31, 2025.
·Scenario II: considers a change of + or -25% in the market forward yield curves as of December 31, 2024.
·Scenario III considers a change of + or -50% in the market forward yield curves as of December 31, 2024.
                             
        Impacts on income statement   Impacts on statement of comprehensive income
        Scenarios II and III   Scenarios II and III
 Risk factor  Quotation at December 31, 2024  Amount    Changes from 2024  Scenario I  -25%  -50%  +25%  +50%   Scenario I  -25%  -50%  +25%  +50%
 Cash and cash equivalents and financial investments                          
 Foreign exchange rates                            
 BRL 6.1923 58,279   4.15% - - - - -   2,453 (14,773) (29,545) 14,773 29,545
 EUR 1.0394 3,126   1.98% 62 (781) (1,563) 781 1,563   - - - - -
 PEN 3.7611 34,444   (2.31%) (795) (8,611) (17,221) 8,611 17,221   - - - - -
 CAD 1.4390 694   1.70% - - - - -   12 (174) (347) 174 347
 NAD 18.8730 1,593   (7.93%) - - - - -   (126) (398) (797) 398 797
 Interest rates                              
 BRL - CDI - SELIC 12.15% 57,969   151 bps 872 (1,761) (3,552) 1,761 3,552   - - - - -
                               
 Loans and financings                            
 Foreign exchange rates                            
 BRL 6.1923 299,844   4.15% - - - - -   (12,449) 74,961 149,922 (74,961) (149,922)
 Interest rates                              
 BRL - CDI - SELIC 12.15% 121,318   151 bps (1,826) 3,685 7,370 (3,685) (7,370)   - - - - -
 USD - SOFR 4.30% 236,978   (13) bps 304 2,545 5,090 (2,545) (5,090)   - - - - -
 IPCA - TLP 4.83% 159,509   17 bps (271) 1,926 3,852 (1,926) (3,852)   - - - - -
 TJLP 7.97% 19,018   54 bps (103) 379 758 (379) (758)   - - - - -
        54 bps   (103)   379   758   (379)   (758)            
 Other financial instruments                            
 Foreign exchange rates                            
 BRL 6.1923 (168)   4.15% (7) 42 84 (42) (84)   - - - - -
 Interest rates                              
 BRL - CDI - SELIC 12.15% (168)   151 bps (194) 456 972 (405) (767)   - - - - -
 USD - SOFR 4.30% 1,651   (13) bps - 49 98 (49) (98)   (1) (81) (163) 81 162
 Commodities price                            
 Zinc 2,974 1,651   (4.17%) 10,942 13,037 26,074 (13,037) (26,074)   (8,013) (9,547) (19,094) 9,547 19,094

 

(ii) Foreign exchange risk

Foreign exchange risk is managed through the Company’s Financial Risk Management Policy, which states that the objectives of derivative transactions are to reduce cash flow volatility, hedge against foreign exchange exposure and minimize currency mismatches.

The Company’s Financial Risk Management Policy establishes guidelines and rules to manage the Foreign Exchange Risk, to consist in finance projects / companies in the same currency of its future cash flows (i.e. a project/company that will generate cash flows indexed to USD must be primarily financed with borrowings denominated in the same currency). This strategy aims to reduce the impact of currency fluctuations in the cash flow of the project/company, since revenues and expenses are denominated in the same currency. Presented below are the financial assets and liabilities in foreign currencies on December 31, 2024. These mainly result from NEXA BR’s operations, for which the functional currency is the BRL. Intercompany loans balances are fully eliminated in the consolidated financial statements. However, the related foreign exchange gain or loss is not, and is presented as foreign exchange effects.

   
USD amounts of foreign currency balances 2024 2023
 Assets    
 Cash, cash equivalents and financial investments                98,067              105,802
 Other Financial Instruments 70 29
 Trade accounts receivables                 19,553                 19,885
Total Assets       117,690       125,716
 Liabilities    
 Loans and financings              297,199              279,341
 Other Financial Instruments                      238                      479
 Trade payables              190,806             227,687
 Lease liabilities                42,357                52,896
 Use of public assets                 18,047                22,733
Total Liabilities      548,647       583,136
     
 Net exposure    (430,957)    (457,420)

 

(iii) Interest rate risk

The Company's interest rate risk primarily arises from its long-term loans. Variable-rate loans expose the Company to cash flow interest rate risk, as changes in market rates directly impact future interest payments. Conversely, fixed-rate instruments may expose the Company to fair value risk, as fluctuations in market interest rates affect the fair value of the hedged instruments. For further details on interest rates, refer to note 24.

The Company’s Financial Risk Management Policy establishes guidelines and rules to hedge against changes in interest rates that impact on the Company’s cash flow. Exposure to each interest rate is projected until the maturity of the assets and liabilities are exposed to this index. Occasionally the Company enters floating to fixed interest rate swaps to manage its cash flow interest rate risk. In the case of loans and financings contracted together with swaps, the Company accounts for them under the fair value option to eliminate the accounting mismatch that would arise if amortized cost were used. Occasionally the Company enters floating to fixed interest rate swaps to manage its cash flow interest rate risk.

In the case of loans and financing contracts along with swaps, the Company may account for them under the fair value option to eliminate the accounting mismatch that would arise if amortized costs were used.

(iv) Commodity price risk

The commodity price risk is related to the volatility in the prices of the Company's commodities. Prices fluctuate depending on demand, production capacity, inventory levels, commercial strategies adopted by large producers, and the availability of substitutes for these products in the global market.

The Company’s Financial Risk Management Policy establishes guidelines to mitigate the risk of fluctuations in commodity prices that could impact the Company's cash flows. The exposure to the price of each commodity considers the monthly production projections, inputs purchases, and the maturity flows of hedges associated with them.

Commodity prices hedge transactions are classified into the following hedging strategies:

Hedges for sales of zinc at a fixed price (Customer Hedge)

The objective is to convert fixed priced sales to floating prices, observed on the London Metal Exchange (LME). The purpose of the strategy is to maintain the revenues of a business unit linked to the LME prices. These transactions usually relate to purchases of zinc for future settlement on the over-the-counter market.

Hedges for mismatches of quotational periods (Hedge Book)

The objective is to hedge quotational periods mismatches arising between the purchases of metal concentrate or processed metal and the sale of the processed metal. These transactions usually relate to purchases and sales of zinc for future trading on the over-the-counter market.

(b) Credit risk

Trade receivables, derivative financial instruments, term deposits, bank deposit certificates ("CDBs") and government securities create exposure to credit risk with respect to the counterparties and issuers. The Company has a policy of making deposits in financial institutions that have, at least, a rating from two of the following international rating agencies: Fitch, Moody’s or Standard & Poor’s. The minimum rating required for counterparties is determined as follows:

- Onshore operations: rating "A", or equivalent, on a local scale by two rating agencies. In the case of foreign financial institutions that have a local rating by only one rating agency, it should be at least "AA-", and/or its headquarters shall have a rating "A" minimum on a global scale.

 

- Offshore operations: rating "BBB-", or equivalent, on a global scale by two rating agencies.

In the specific case of financial institutions in Peru or in Luxembourg, local ratings from local agency associated to the rating agencies approved in the Company’s policy are accepted. In case that only a global rating assessment are available, it will be eligible provided it has a rating "BBB-" at least by one rating agency.

In the case of financial institutions that do not have a rating available for a specific country, it will be eligible provided its headquarters follow the minimum ratings specified above.

The pre-settlement risk methodology is used to assess counterparty risks in derivative transactions.

This methodology consists of determining the risk associated with the likelihood (via Monte Carlo simulations) of a counterparty defaulting on the financial commitments defined by contract.

The global ratings were obtained from the rating agencies Fitch, Moody’s or Standard & Poor’s ratings and are related to commitments in foreign or local currency, and, in both cases, they assess the capacity to honor these commitments, using a scale applicable on a global basis. Therefore, both ratings in foreign currency and in local currency are internationally comparable ratings.

The ratings used by the Company are always the most conservative ratings of the referred agencies.

In the case of credit risk arising from customer credit exposure, the Company assesses the credit quality of the customer, considering mainly the history of the relationship and financial indicators defining individual credit limits, which are continuously monitored.

The Company performs initial analyses of customer credit and, when deemed necessary, guarantees or letters of credit are obtained to mitigate the credit risk. Additionally, most sales to the United States of America, Europe and Asia are collateralized by letters of credit and credit insurance.

The carrying amount of the Company’s financial instruments best represents the maximum exposure to their credit risk.

The following table reflects the credit quality of issuers and counterparties for transactions involving cash and cash equivalents, financial investments and derivative financial instruments. The variations presented are mainly related to the Company's transactions in the year and not to changes in the counterparties’ ratings.

                       
            2024           2023
     Local rating    Global rating    Total    Local rating    Global rating    Total
 Cash and cash equivalents                    
 AAA     251,962     -     251,962     189,582     -     189,582
 AA+     1     -     1     -     -     -
 AA     -     95,461     95,461     1     -     1
 AA-     -     18,714     18,714     -     46,317     46,317
 A+     -     127,151     127,151     -     72,315     72,315
 A     8,265     24,749     33,014     -     66,342     66,342
 A-     -     61,935     61,935     -     70,155     70,155
 BB+     -     -     -     -     1     1
 No rating (i)     11,899     20,400     32,299     76     12,470     12,546
      272,127   348,410     620,537     189,659     267,600     457,259
 Financial investments                    
 AAA     19,638     -     19,638     10,994     -     10,994
 No rating (i)     55     -     55     64     -     64
      19,693     -     19,693     11,058     -     11,058
 Derivative financial instruments                    
 AAA     71     -     71     29     -     29
 A+     -     450     450     -     978     978
 A     -     842     842     -     53     53
 A-     -     3,919     3,919     -     6,667     6,667
 BBB+     -     -     -     -     166     166
      71     5,211     5,282     29     7,864     7,893
 Other assets                        
 AAA     883     -     883     -     -     -
      883     -     883     -     -     -

(i) Refers to subsidiaries of international financial institutions that do not have a global rating available in the international rating agencies. According to the Company's policy, for these financial institutions, the rating of the financial institution controlling entities is assumed, which must be at least BBB-.

 

(c) Liquidity risk

Liquidity risk is managed through the Company's Financial Risk Management Policy, which aims to ensure the availability of funds to meet the Company’s financial obligations. The main liquidity measurement and monitoring instrument is the cash flow projection, using a minimum projection period of 12 months from the benchmark date. Financial institutions that provide the Company with financial services are within Nexa’s rating policies and in the same level of the ones provided for the Company’s credit risk.

A substantial part of the confirming payables arrangement is with one financial institution. However, there are other financial institutions that the Company has relations with that could be considered for future supplier financing transactions. If this service is not available, the entity may be required to increase its debt levels which may negatively impact its leverage ratios.

The table below shows the Company's financial obligations to be settled by the Company based on their maturity (the remaining period from the balance sheet up to the contractual maturity date). The amounts below represent the estimated undiscounted future cash flows, which include interests to be incurred and, accordingly, do not reconcile directly with the amounts presented in the consolidated balance sheet.

 

           
2024   Less than 1 year Between 1 and 3 years Between 3 and 5 years Over 5 years Total
 Loans and financings   148,077 150,023 1,175,144 1,028,440 2,501,684
 Lease liabilities   29,882 37,755 6,121 12,299 86,057
 Derivative financial instruments  3,600 181 17 - 3,798
 Trade payables   443,288 - - - 443,288
 Confirming payables   268,175 - - - 268,175
 Salaries and payroll charges   70,235 - - - 70,235
 Dividends payable   3,707 - - - 3,707
 Related parties   1,125 3,079 - - 4,204

Asset retirement and environmental obligations

  47,937 76,583 60,598 364,036 549,154
 Use of public assets     1,457 3,180 3,585 28,226 36,448
    1,017,482 270,801 1,245,465 1,433,001 3,966,749

 

2023    Less than 1 year  Between 1 and 3 years  Between 3 and 5 years

Over 5 years

 Total
 Loans and financings     232,941   181,147   1,591,705   173,436   2,179,229
 Lease liabilities     29,227   49,480   16,845   14,306   109,858
 Derivative financial instruments     10,343   108   42  -   10,493
 Trade payables     451,603   -   -   -   451,603
 Confirming payables     234,385   -   -   -   234,385
 Salaries and payroll charges     68,165   -   -   -   68,165
 Dividends payable     2,830   -   -   -   2,830
 Related parties     1,062   2,873   -   -   3,935

Asset retirement and environmental obligations

    33,591   85,675   95,302   358,333   572,901
 Use of public assets       1,902   3,240   3,921   17,570   26,633
      1,066,049   322,523   1,707,815   563,645   3,660,032

 

(d) Capital management

The Company’s objectives when managing capital are to safeguard its ability to continue as a going concern, so it can continue to provide returns for shareholders and benefits for other stakeholders, and to maintain an optimal capital structure to reduce the cost of capital.

 

To maintain or adjust the capital structure, the Company may adjust the dividends level paid to shareholders, return capital to shareholders, issue new shares or sell assets to reduce debt. The Company monitors capital mainly using the leverage ratio, calculated as net debt to Adjusted EBITDA.

 

Net debt and Adjusted EBITDA measures should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for net income or operating income, as indicators of operating performance, or as alternatives to cash flow as measures of liquidity. Additionally, management’s calculation of Adjusted EBITDA may be different from the calculation used by other companies, including competitors in the mining and smelting industry, so these measures may not be comparable to those of other companies.

           
  Note 2024   2023   2022
 Loans and financings 24 (a) 1,762,633   1,725,566   1,669,259
 Derivative financial instruments 16 (a) (1,484)   2,600   2,575
 Lease liabilities 23 (b) 95,899   77,405   27,205
 Cash and cash equivalents 15 (620,537)   (457,259)   (497,826)
 Financial investments   (19,693)   (11,058)   (18,062)
 Net debt (i)   1,216,818   1,337,254   1,183,151
             
 Net (loss) income for the year   (187,407)   (291,810)   76,988
 Plus (less):            
     Depreciation and amortization 7 330,198   310,475   292,140
     Share in the results of associates   (21,223)   (23,536)   (1,885)
     Net financial results 10 369,460   167,058   134,811
     Income tax expense (benefit)   11 (a) 115,556   (4,274)   150,983
     Miscellaneous adjustments 2 107,496   248,128   110,168
 Adjusted EBITDA (ii)   714,080   406,041   763,205
             
 Leverage ratio (Net debt/Adjusted EBITDA)   1.70   3.29   1.55

(i) Net debt is defined as (a) loans and financings, plus lease liabilities, plus or minus (b) the fair value of derivative financial instruments, less (c) cash and cash equivalents, less (d) financial investments.

(ii) Adjusted EBITDA for capital management calculation uses the same assumptions described in note 2 for Adjusted EBITDA by segment.