Annual report 202 5 Norwegian Property ASA
Corporate governance 94
10 Risk management and
internal control
Risk areas and internal control environment
Through its business activities, Norwegian Property
manages considerable financial assets which are
exposed to substantial risk factors, such as the
money market and the letting market . Risk
associated with development projects is considered
to be low, as there are no large ongoing construction
works. A risk uncovered in the DMA process was the
potential increased costs if the energy labelling
requirements and laws become stricter. The group’s
management model is based on an appropriate
delegation of profit responsibility, clearly defined
operating parameters and effective internal control.
The overall goals have been established , and the
group’s strategy is updated in annual board
meetings . Based on the strategy, values base and
ethical guidelines, the board has established general
instructions which specify the authorisations for
delegating responsibility to the defined roles in the
organisation. Furthermore, policies have been
established for control and risk management in the
m ost important risk areas, such as operations,
project development, finance and sustainability.
Operational risk, which is related to the award of
contracts and renegotiation of leases, is followed up
on in accordance with the established guidelines
and authorisations. Operational risk related to
property management is handled through routines
for da y-to-day operation, compliance, HSE work,
energy efficiency and other climate -related actions.
Financial risk is managed in accordance with the
group’s financial policy. Handling of sustainability
risk is also described in the Sustainability report.
The board is responsible for seeing to it that the
business, financial reporting and asset management
are subject to reassuring controls. Based on the
overall policies, governing processes and routines
have been established for day -to-day management.
Steer ing documents, such as ethical guidelines are
updated by the board on an annual basis. A
subsequent annual review on the Web ensures that
the content of the steering documents is made
known to all employees. These documents also
contain whistle -blower rout ines to ensure that the
board is informed of any breaches of the guidelines
or any illegal action.
In connection with its annual review of the group’s
strategy, the board reviews the most important risk
areas faced by Norwegian Property and the internal
controls established to deal with and minimise
these. The board is also briefed on developments in
the risks facing the group on a continuous basis
through the operating reports.
Reporting
The administration prepares quarterly reports which
are reviewed by the audit committee ahead of
consideration by the board. . These reports are
based on management reviews of the various parts
of the business, and they contain an update of the
status for setting targets, important operational
conditions, financial conditions and a description of
the status in risk areas.
Financial conditions are followed up on through
periodic accounting reports and regular updates of
annual budgets and forecasts. Reporting also
includes non -financial key figures related to the
various business areas. In addition, risk
management includes the preparation of longer -
term projections of financial trends, where
assumptions are made about profits, cash flow and
balance sheet development. These simulations
provide management and the board with a basis for
monitoring the expected trends in the cen tral key
figures.
The group is managed on the basis of financial
targets which are related to aspects such as return
on equity. Special profitability calculations are made
when acquiring investment properties and when
launching development projects, based on
established rou tines and required returns.
A special review of the quarterly valuations of
investment properties is conducted by
management, and meetings are held with the
independent appraiser responsible for the valuations
where particular attention is paid to market views
and risk conditions. Se parate accounting
documentation is prepared for significant
accounting items and transactions which are not of a
routine character. External valuations of financial
interest -rate derivatives by the banks are quality -
assured through the preparation of month ly internal