Risk management is an essential part of Metsä Group's standard business planning and leadership. Risk management belongs to daily decision-making, operations follow-up and internal control, and it promotes and ensures that the objectives set by the company are met.
Linking business management efficiently with risk management is based on the operational principles confirmed by Metsäliitto Cooperative's Board of Directors; the aim of the principles is to maintain risk management as a process that is well defined, understandable and sufficiently practical. Risks and their development are reported on a regular basis to the Board’s Audit Committee. Centralised risk management also takes care of the coordination and competitive bidding of Metsä Group's insurance coverage
The most crucial objective of risk management is to identify and evaluate those risks, threats and opportunities which may have an impact on the implementation of the strategy and on how short-term and long-term objectives are met. A separate risk review is also included in the most significant investment proposals.
The business areas regularly evaluate and monitor the risk environment and related changes as part of their annual and strategic planning. The risks identified and their means of control are reported to the company’s management, Audit Committee and the Board at least twice a year. Business risks also involve opportunities, and they can be utilised within the boundaries of the agreed risk limits. Conscious risk-taking decisions must always be based on, among other things, an adequate evaluation of the risk-bearing capacity and the profit/loss potential.
Risk management responsibilities
Risk management responsibilities in Metsä Group are divided as follows:
- The Board is responsible for Metsä Group's risk management and confirms the company’s risk management policy.
- The Audit Committee evaluates the adequacy of Metsä Group's risk management and the essential risk areas and provides the Board with related proposals.
- The President and CEO and the Executive Management Team are responsible for the specification and adoption of the risk management principles. They are also responsible for ensuring that risks are taken into account in the company’s planning processes and that risk reporting is adequate and appropriate.
- The Group's Risk Management Director is in charge of the development and coordination of the risk management process, performance of risk assessment and the essential insurance decisions.
- Business areas and support functions identify and evaluate the essential risks related to their own areas of responsibility in their planning processes, prepare for them, take necessary preventive action and report on the risks as agreed.
Risk management process
The purpose of risk management is to:
- promote and ensure the achievement of the goals set for business operations
- ensure the safe and uninterrupted continuity of business operations in all circumstances, and
- optimise Metsä Group's overall risk exposure.
Metsä Group's essential risk management elements include implementing a comprehensive corporate risk management process that supports the entire business, protecting property and ensuring business continuity, corporate security and its continuous development, as well as crisis management and continuity and recovery plans. According to the risk management policy and principles, adequate risk management forms a necessary part of the preliminary review and implementation stages of projects which are financially or otherwise significant.
The tasks of risk management are to:
- ensure that all identified risks with an impact on personnel, customers, products, property, information assets, corporate image, corporate responsibility and operational capacity are controlled according to applicable laws and on the basis of best information and financial aspects
- ensure that Metsä Group's objectives are met
- fulfil the expectations of stakeholders
- protect property and ensure disruption-free business continuity
- optimise the profit/loss possibility ratio, and
- ensure the management of Metsä Group's overall risk exposure and minimise the overall risks.
The most significant risks and uncertainties that Metsä Group is aware of are described in the Board's annual report.