38. Qualitative and quantitative information of financial risks

The Group is exposed to the following financial risks connected with its operations:

These risks could significantly affect the Group’s financial position, results of operations and cash flows, and for this reason the Group identifies and monitors these risks, in order to detect potential negative effects in advance and take the necessary action to mitigate them, primarily through its operating and financing activities and if required, through the use of derivative financial instruments.

The following section provides qualitative and quantitative disclosures on the effect that these risks may have upon the Group. The quantitative data reported in the following section does not have any predictive value.

Financial market risks

Due to the nature of the Group’s business, the Group is exposed to a variety of market risks, including foreign currency exchange rate risk, interest rate risk and commodity risk.

The Group’s exposure to foreign currency exchange rate risk arises from our global footprint (both in terms of productions and commercialization), as in some cases we sell our products in the currencies of the destination markets, which may differ from the currency of the countries in which the Group operates.

The Group’s exposure to interest rate risk arises from the need to fund certain activities and the possibility to deploy surplus funds. Changes in market interest rates may have the effect of either increasing or decreasing the Group’s net profit/ (loss), thereby indirectly affecting the costs and returns of financing and investing transactions.

These risks could significantly affect the Group’s financial position, results of operations and cash flows, and for this reason they are identified and monitored, in order to detect potential negative effects in advance and take the necessary actions to mitigate them.

The Group has in place various risk management policies, which primarily relate to foreign exchange, interest rate, commodity price and liquidity risks.

In particular, to manage foreign exchange rate risk, the Group has adopted a hedging policy, approved by the Board of Directors of Stevanato Group S.p.A.. Hedging activities are mainly executed at central level, based on the information provided by the reporting system and utilizing instruments and policies conforming to IFRS. Hedging is undertaken to ensure protection in case an entity has transactions in currencies other than the one in which it primarily does business, taking account also of budgeted future revenue/ costs. Despite hedging operations, sudden movements in exchange rates or erroneous estimates may result in a negative impact, although limited, on Group results.

Information on foreign currency exchange rate risk

The Group is exposed to risk resulting from fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates, which can affect its earnings and equity. In particular:

The Group monitors its main exposures with regard to translation exchange risk, whereby fluctuations in the exchange rates of a number of currencies against the consolidation currency may impact the consolidated financial statement values, although there was no specific hedging in this respect at the reporting date.

Exchange differences arising on the settlement of monetary items are recognized in the consolidated income statement within the net financial income/ (expense) line item.

The impact of foreign currency exchange rate differences recorded within financial income/ (expense) for the year ended December 31, 2023, except for those arising on financial instruments measured at fair value, amounted to a net loss of EUR 9,921 thousand (EUR 859 thousand net gain in 2022).

There have been no substantial changes in 2023 in the nature or structure of exposure to foreign currency exchange rate risk or in the Group’s hedging policies.

The Group actively hedges against economic-transactional risk; more specifically, forward and swap contracts, plain vanilla and collar options are used to manage the exposures. Such instruments are only partially designated as cash flow hedges and contracts are entered for a period consistent with the underlying transactions, generally from three to twelve months.

The following table presents an analysis of sensitivity to a change in exchange rates for the currencies the Group is majorly exposed to. Such analysis does not consider the impact of forward currency contracts or collar options. With all other variables held constant, the Group’s marginality is affected as follows:

Information on interest rate risk

This risk stems from variable rate loans, for which sudden or significant interest rate fluctuations may have a negative impact on economic results. The monitoring of this risk is carried out at corporate level and utilizing similar structures as those employed for the management of currency risks. The Group has hedges in place against interest rate risk, covering EUR 151.9 million out of a total of EUR 242.3 million variable rate loans.

The Group’s most significant floating rate financial assets at December 31, 2023 are cash and cash equivalents.

Liquidity risk

Liquidity risk arises if the Group is unable to obtain the funds needed to carry out its operations under economic conditions. The main determinant of the Group’s liquidity position is the cash generated by or used in operating and investing activities.

From an operating point of view, the Group manages liquidity risk by monitoring cash flows and keeping an adequate level of funds at its disposal. The main funding operations and investments in cash and marketable securities of the Group are centrally managed or supervised by the treasury department with the aim of ensuring effective and efficient management of the Group’s liquidity. The Group undertakes medium/long term loans to fund medium/long term operations. The Group undertakes a series of activities centrally supervised with the purpose of optimizing the management of funds and reducing liquidity risk, such as:

Intercompany financing is conducted at arm’s length terms and normally involves the holding company. These measures currently sufficiently guarantee, at normal conditions and in the absence of extraordinary events, the degree of flexibility required by movements of working capital, investing activities and cash flows in general.

The Group believes that its total available liquidity (defined as cash and cash equivalents plus undrawn committed credit lines), and the potential access to additional capital through the equity markets or through additional loan or debt agreements, will enable us to satisfy the requirements of our investing activities and working capital needs, fulfill its obligations to repay its debt and ensure an appropriate level of operating and strategic flexibility for at least the next 12 months. However, there can be no assurance that the Group will be able to obtain additional capital, or at acceptable costs.

Credit risk

Credit risk is the risk of economic loss arising from the failure to collect a receivable. Credit risk encompasses the direct risk of default and the risk of a deterioration of the creditworthiness of the counterparty. The maximum credit risk to which the Group is theoretically exposed is represented by the carrying amounts of the financial assets stated in the consolidated statement of financial position sheet.

Where customers fail to meet payment deadlines, the Group’s financial position may deteriorate. In addition, socio-political events (or country risks) and the general economic performance of individual countries or geographical regions may assume significance also in relation to this aspect. The trade receivable risk is however mitigated by consolidated commercial relations with high-standing pharmaceutical and biologics companies and Group guidelines created for the selection and evaluation of the client portfolio, which may require, where possible and appropriate, further guarantees from customers.

Trade receivables at December 31, 2023, amounting overall to EUR 308,425 thousand (EUR 218,695 thousand in 2022), include receivables not overdue of EUR 246,911 thousand and overdue receivables of EUR 61,514 thousand, of which EUR 44,753 thousand within 90 days, EUR 7,856 thousand between 90 and 180 days, EUR 6,281 thousand between 181 and 365 days and EUR 2,624 thousand beyond 365 days. As of December 31, 2023 the Group has accrued an allowance for doubtful accounts amounting to EUR 6,656 thousand (EUR 5,961 thousand in 2022).

Commodity risk

With regard to commodity risk, the Group entered into floating market-price contracts for certain utilities. The Group consumes large amounts of natural gas and electricity for its operating activities. The increased volatility in natural gas and electricity prices over the past 12 months has led to the decision to enter into commodity swap contracts.

These contracts, which commenced in February 2023, are expected to reduce the volatility attributable to price fluctuations of natural gas and electricity. Hedging the price volatility of forecasted natural gas and electricity consumption

is in accordance with the risk management strategy outlined by the Board of Directors. Hedging contracts are referred to the same index to which the supplying contract is based (i.e. PSV Baseload and PUN Baseload).