The European regulator, ESMA1, has issued a statement (PDF 483 KB) highlighting the common areas that European national securities regulators will be focusing on when reviewing listed companies’ 2019 annual reports. The aim is to promote the consistent application of IFRS Standards and other EU-specific reporting requirements.
Transparent, entity-specific disclosures continue to be the theme for 2019 financial statements as well as the application of the new standards. Companies need to step up their efforts to improve the quality of financial information to meet users’ needs.
Although the topics included in the statement are those deemed to be most relevant at a European level, regulatory bodies outside Europe are also likely to pay particular attention to many of the same priorities. The list is not exhaustive, however, and national regulators may have additional areas of focus.
Areas of focus for financial statements under IFRS Standards
Specific issues on applying the new standards
ESMA is calling for improvements in how the new standards – IFRS 9 Financial Instruments and IFRS 15 Revenue from Contracts with Customers – are being applied and continues to stress the need for transparent and relevant disclosures that enhance the users’ understanding of the preparer’s financial performance, financial position and cash flows. ESMA expects to see:
- entity-specific accounting policies;
- significant judgements and estimates disclosures; and
- granular and disaggregated information.
In this first year of applying the new leases standard, IFRS 16, ESMA highlights key areas that require judgement and significant assumptions, and expects quality disclosures. Preparers are also expected to provide information on the transition method adopted, including any practical expedient(s) applied.
ESMA also strongly recommends that preparers of financial statements consider tentative and final decisions made by the IFRS Interpretations Committee on implementation and application issues related to the new standards.
Topics | Specific issues preparers need to consider |
Applying IFRS 9 – Credit institutions |
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Applying IFRS 15 – Corporates |
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Applying IFRS 16 – Lessees |
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For information and resources on the new standards, visit our revenue, financial instruments and leases topic pages.
Specific issues related to the application of IAS 12 Income Taxes
Income taxes feature regularly on ESMA’s agenda. In July 2019, ESMA issued a public statement on recognition of deferred tax assets arising from unused tax losses. This matter and the application of newly effective requirements will draw specific attention from regulators when they review 2019 financial statements.
Topics | Specific issues preparers need to consider |
Deferred tax assets related to unused tax losses |
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Tax consequences of dividends |
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Uncertain tax treatments |
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IBOR reform and its impact
ESMA draws attention to the recent amendments to IFRS 9 relating to reform of interbank offered rates (IBOR), and encourages preparers to get ready to implement these once they are endorsed. It also highlights potentially significant implications of transition to alternative nearly risk-free rates.
See our web article for more information on IBOR reform.
Other key areas of focus on information presented outside financial statements
Non-financial information
ESMA reminds preparers about the EU requirements and guidance on reporting non-financial information, which may be included either in the management report or in the separate non-financial statement. It reiterates some general principles to promote improvements in the quality of reporting of non-financial information with the aim of providing a comprehensive, fair and balanced understanding of the preparer’s development, performance and position and the impact of its activity on non-financial matters.
ESMA also recommends that preparers consider entity-specific and relevant key performance indicators (KPIs), environmental and climate change-related matters and its supply chains when preparing their non-financial information.
Alternative performance measures (APMs)
The statement includes a reminder of the requirements in ESMA’s Guidelines on Alternative Performance Measures, which are aimed at promoting the usefulness and transparency of APMs. These provide a particular focus on the explanation of relevance/reliability of APMs presented and the principle of consistency. Preparers need to explain any changes in APMs and restate any comparatives, including changes that relate to the implementation of IFRS 16. For more information, see our article Communicating effectively through non-GAAP information.
Other relevant issues
ESMA also highlights the following areas:
- Brexit – companies are expected to monitor Brexit negotiations and disclose the company’s exposure to Brexit risk and its impact. Visit KPMG’s Brexit homepage to find out more about the impacts on your business; and
- European single electronic format – listed companies need to prepare for timely compliance with the new requirements, which are effective from 1 January 2020.
Further information
In addition to the guidance referred to above, also available are the 2019 editions of our guides to annual financial statements, which include Illustrative disclosures and a companion Disclosure checklist. With Insights into IFRS and our web tool on newly effective standards, these form part of your reporting toolkit for the year end.
1 European Securities and Markets Authority.