December 2008 – Accounting Crash Course

Sample Disclosure – Auditors’ Report With Unqualified Opinion (29 December 2008)

Independent auditors’ report to the members of ABC Berhad (Incorporated in Malaysia)

Report on the financial statements

We have audited the financial statements of ABC Berhad, which comprise the balance sheet as at day/month/year of the Group and of the Company, and the income statement, statement of changes in equity and cash flow statement for the year then ended, and a summary of significant accounting policies and other explanatory notes, as set out on pages XX to XX.

Directors’ responsibility for the financial statements

The directors of the Company are responsible for the preparation and fair presentation of these financial statements in accordance with Financial Reporting Standards in Malaysia. This responsibility includes: designing, implementing and maintaining internal control relevant to the preparation and fair presentation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error; selecting and applying appropriate accounting policies; and making accounting estimates that are reasonable in the circumstances.

Auditors’ responsibility

Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audit. We conducted our audit in accordance with approved standards on auditing in Malaysia. Those standards require that we comply with ethical requirements and plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance whether the financial statements are free from material misstatement.

An audit involves performing procedures to obtain audit evidence about the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. The procedures selected depend on our judgement, including the assessment of risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to fraud or error. In making those risk assessments, we consider internal control relevant to the entity’s preparation and fair presentation of the financial statements in order to design audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the entity’s internal control. An audit also includes evaluating the appropriateness of the accounting policies used and the reasonableness of accounting estimates made by the directors, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements.

We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our audit opinion.

Opinion

In our opinion, the financial statements have been properly drawn up in accordance with Financial Reporting Standards in Malaysia so as to give a true and fair view of the financial position of the Group and of the Company as at day/month/year and of its financial performance and cash flows for the year then ended.

Report on other legal and regulatory requirements

In accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act, 1965 in Malaysia, we also report the following:

(a) In our opinion, the accounting and other records and the registers required by the Act to be kept by the Company and its subsidiaries of which we have acted as auditors have been properly kept in accordance with the provisions of the Act.

(b) We have considered the accounts and the auditors’ reports of all the subsidiaries of which we have not acted as auditors, which are indicated in Note XX to the financial statements.

(c) We are satisfied that the accounts of the subsidiaries that have been consolidated with the financial statements of the Company are in form and content appropriate and proper for the purposes of the preparation of the consolidated financial statements and we have received satisfactory information and explanations required by us for those purposes.

(d) The auditors’ reports on the accounts of the subsidiaries were not subject to any qualification material to the consolidated financial statements and did not include any comment required to be made under Section 174(3) of the Act.

Other matters

This report is made solely to the members of the Company, as a body, in accordance with Section 174 of the Companies Act, 1965 in Malaysia and for no other purpose. We do not assume responsibility to any other person for the content of this report.

Sample Disclosure – Auditors’ Report With Except For Qualified Opinion (10 December 2008)

Independent Auditors’ Report the members of

ABC Berhad (Incorporated in Malaysia)

Report on the Financial Statements

We have audited the financial statements of ABC Berhad, which comprise the balance sheets as at day/month/year of the Group and of the Company, and the income statements, statements of changes in equity and cash flow statements of the Group and of the Company for the year then ended, and a summary of significant accounting policies and other explanatory notes, as set out on pages xx to xx.

Directors’ Responsibility for the Financial Statements

The Directors of the Company are responsible for the preparation and fair presentation of these financial statements in accordance with Financial Reporting Standards and the Companies Act, 1965 in Malaysia. This responsibility includes: designing, implementing and maintaining internal control relevant to the preparation and fair presentation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error; selecting and applying appropriate accounting policies; and making accounting estimates that are reasonable in the circumstances.

Auditors’ Responsibility

An audit involves performing procedures to obtain audit evidence about the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. The procedures selected depend on our judgment, including the assessment of risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to fraud or error. In making those risk assessments, we consider internal control relevant to the Company’s preparation and fair presentation of the financial statements in order to design audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control. An audit also includes evaluating the appropriateness of accounting policies used and the reasonableness of accounting estimates made by the directors, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements.

We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our audit opinion.

Basis for Qualified Opinion

As at the end of the financial year, a sum of RMxxx,xxx,xxx was owed by a trade debtor. The amount owing was consequently repaid subsequent to the financial year end by way of assignment of debts to a director of the Company in which this director undertook to pay the full amount of this debt to the Company. The directors of the Company have given us a written assurance that the amount owing is recoverable and therefore no allowance for doubtful debt is required to be made in respect of this amount. However, the amount owing remained outstanding to date and we were unable to perform other audit procedures to satisfy ourselves on the ability of this director to repay the debt owing to the Company. Accordingly we are unable to satisfy ourselves as to the recoverability of this RMxxx,xxx,xxx due to the Company.

Qualified Opinion

In our opinion, except for the effects of such adjustments, if any, as might have been determined to be necessary had we been able to satisfy ourselves as to the recoverability of the RMxxx,xxx,xxx due to the Company, the financial statements have been properly drawn up in accordance with Financial Reporting Standards and the Companies Act, 1965 in Malaysia so as to give a true and fair view of the financial position of the Group and Company as at day/month/year and of their financial performance and cash flows for the year then ended.

Report on Other Legal and Regulatory Requirements

In accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act, 1965 in Malaysia, we also report the following:

a) In our opinion, the accounting and other records and the registers required by the Act to be kept by the Company and its subsidiaries of which we have acted as auditors have been properly kept in accordance with the provisions of the Act.

b) We have considered the financial statements and where audited, the auditors’ reports of all the subsidiaries of which we have not acted as auditors, which are indicated in Note X to the financial statements.

c) We are satisfied that the financial statements of the subsidiaries that have been consolidated with the Company’s financial statements are in form and content appropriate and proper for the purposes of the preparation of the financial statements of the Group and we have received satisfactory information and explanations required by us for those purposes.

d) The auditors’ reports on the financial statements of the subsidiaries did not contain any qualification or any adverse comment made under Section 174(3) of the Act.

Other Matters

Sample Disclosure – Significant Accounting Estimates and Judgements (10 December 2008)

Significant Accounting Estimates and Judgements

Critical Judgements Made in Applying Accounting Policies

The Company has developed certain criteria based on IFRS 140 in making judgements whether a property qualifies as an investment property. Investment property is a property held to earn rentals or for capital appreciation or both. Some properties comprise a portion that is held to earn rentals or for capital appreciation and another portion that is held for use in the production or supply foods or services or for administrative purposes. If these portions could be sold separately (or leased out separately under a finance lease), the Company would account for the portions separately. If the portions could not be sold separately, the property is an investment property only if an insignificant portion is held for use in the production or supply of goods or services or for administrative purposes. Judgement is made on an individual property basis to determine whether ancillary services are so significant that a property does not qualify as an investment property.

Key Sources of Estimation Uncertainty

The key assumption concerning the future and other key sources of estimation uncertainty at the balance sheet date, that have a significant risk of causing a material adjustment to the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities within the next financial year are as stated below:-

1. Impairment of goodwill

The Company determines whether goodwill is impaired at least on an annual basis. This requires an estimation of the value-in-use of the cash generating units (“CGU”) to which goodwill is allocated. Estimating a value-in-use amount requires management to make an estimation of the expected future cash flows from the CGU and also to choose a suitable discount rate in order to calculate the present value of those cash flows.

2. Impairment of investment in subsidiaries

The Company determines whether investments in subsidiaries are impaired at least on an annual basis. This requires an estimation of the value-in-use of the Cash Generating Units (“CGU”) to which investments in subsidiaries are allocated. Estimating a value-in-use amount requires management to make an estimation of the expected future cash flows from the CGU and also to choose a suitable discount rate in order to calculate the present value of those cash flows.

3. Property development

The Company recognises property development revenue and expenses in the income statement by using the stage of completion method. The stage of completion is determined by the proportion that property development costs incurred for work performed to date bear to the estimated total property development costs. Significant judgement is required in determining the stage of completion, the extent of the property development costs incurred, the estimated total property development revenue and costs, as well as the recoverability of the development projects. In making the judgement, the Company evaluates based on past experience and by relying on the work of specialists.

4. Deferred tax assets

Deferred tax assets are recognised for all unabsorbed tax losses and unutilised capital allowances to the extent that it is probable that taxable profit will be available against which the losses and capital allowances can be utilised. Significant judgement is required to determine the amount of deferred tax assets that can be recognised, based upon the likely timing and level of future taxable profits together with future tax planning strategies.

5. Useful lives of property, plant an equipment

The Company estimates the useful lives of property, plant and equipment based on the period over which the assets are expected to be available for use. The estimated useful lives of property, plant and equipment are reviewed periodically and are updated if expectations differ from previous estimates due to physical wear and tear, technical or commercial obsolescence and legal or other limits on the use of the relevant assets. In addition, the estimation of the useful lives of property, plant and equipment are based on internal technical evaluation and experience with similar assets. It is possible, however, that future results of operations could be materially affected by changes in the estimates brought about by changes in factors mentioned above. The amounts and timing of recorded expenses for any period would be affected by changes in these factors and circumstances. A reduction in the estimated useful lives of the property, plant and equipment would increase the recorded expenses and decrease the non-current assets.

6. Construction contracts

The Company recognises contract revenue and expenses in the income statement by using the stage of completion method. The stage of completion is determined by the proportion that contract costs incurred for work performed to date bear to the estimated total contract costs. Significant judgement is required in determining the stage of completion, the extent of the contract costs incurred, the estimated total contract revenue and costs, as well as the recoverability of the contracts. In making the judgement, the Company evaluates based on past experience and by relying on the work of specialists.

7. Allowance for doubtful debts

The Company makes allowance for doubtful debts based on an assessment of the recoverability of receivables. Allowances are applied to receivables where events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amounts may not be recoverable. Management specifically analysed historical bad debts, customer concentrations, customer creditworthiness, current economic trends and changes in customer payment terms when making a judgement to evaluate the adequacy of the allowance of doubtful debts of receivables. Where the expectation is different from the original estimate, such difference will impact the carrying value of receivables.

8. Allowance for inventories written down

Reviews are made periodically by management on damaged, obsolete and slowmoving inventories. These reviews require judgement and estimates. Possible changes in these estimates could result in revisions to the valuation of inventories.

Sample Disclosure – Employee Benefits (7 December 2008)

Employee benefits

i) Short term benefits

Wages, salaries, bonuses and social security contributions are recognised as an expense in the year in which the associated services are rendered by employees. Short term accumulating compensated absences such as paid annual leave are recognised when services are rendered by employees that increase their entitlement to future compensated absence. Short term non-accumulating compensated absences such as sick leave are recognised when the absences occur.

ii) Post-employment benefits

The Group contributes to the Employees Provident Fund, the national defined contribution plan. Such contributions are charged to the income statements in the period to which they relate. Once the contributions have been paid, the Group has no further payment obligations.

iii) Share-based compensation

The Company’s Employees’ Share Option Scheme (“ESOS”), and equity-settled, share-based compensation plan, allows the Group’s employees to acquire ordinary shares of the Company. The total fair value of share options granted to employees is recognised as an expense in the income statement with a corresponding increase in the share option reserve within equity over the vesting period and taking into account the probability that the options will vest. The fair value of share options is measured at grant date, taking into account, if any, the market vesting conditions upon which the options were granted but excluding the impact of any non-market vesting conditions. Non-market vesting conditions are included in assumptions about the number of options that are expected to become exercisable on vesting date.

At each balance sheet date, the Group revises its estimates of the number of options that are expected to become exercisable on vesting date. It recognises the impact of the revision of original estimates, if any, in the income statement, and a corresponding adjustment to equity over the remaining vesting period. The equity amount is recognised in the share option reserve until the option is exercised, upon which it will be transferred to share premium, or until the option expires, upon which it will be transferred directly to retained profit. Under the transitional provisions of FRS 2, this FRS will apply to share options which were granted after day/month/year and had not yet vested on day/month/year. The adoption of this FRS has not resulted in any financial impact to the Group as there were no new shares options issued after day/month/year which remain unvested on day/month/year. The proceeds received net of any directly attributable transaction costs are credited to equitywhen the options are exercised.

iv) Termination benefits

Termination benefits are payable when employment is terminated before the normal retirement date, or whenever an employee accepts voluntary redundancy in exchange for these benefits. The Group recognises termination benefits when it is demonstrably committed to either: terminating the employment of current employees according to a detailed formal plan without possibility of withdrawal; or providing termination benefits as a result of an offer made to encourage voluntary redundancy. Benefits falling due more than 12 months after balance sheet date are discounted to present value.

Sample Disclosure – Significant Accounting Estimates and Judgements (7 December 2008)

SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES AND JUDGEMENTS

a) Critical judgements made in applying accounting policies

The following is the judgements made by management in the process of applying the Group’s accounting policies that have most significant effect on the amounts recognised in the financial statements:

As disclosed in note xx, a subsidiary company has entered into Settlement Agreement with a trade debtor to acquire two parcels of vacant land as full settlement of the outstanding amount of RMx,xxx,xxx as at the end of the financial year.

As at the date of this report, the transaction has not been completed. In light of the transaction not been completed, the directors are required to consider whether allowance for doubtful debts are required to be made on the outstanding balance.

No allowances for doubtful debts have been made for these balances as the directors are of the view that the transaction will be completed and any outstanding amount will be able to collect from the suppliers concerned.

b) Key sources of estimation uncertainty

The key assumptions concerning the future and other key sources of estimation uncertainty at the balance sheet date, that have a significant risk of causing a material adjustment to the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities within the next financial year are discussed below:

(i) Depreciation of property, plant and equipment

The estimates of the residual values, useful lives and related depreciation charges for its property, plant and equipment are based on commercial and production factors which could change significantly as a result of technical innovations and competitors’ actions in response to the market conditions.

The Group and the Company anticipate that the residual values of its property, plant and equipment to be insignificant. As a result, residual values are not being taken into consideration for the computation of depreciable amount.

The depreciation charge will increase when useful lives are less than previously estimated.

(ii) Income taxes

There are certain transactions and computations for which the ultimate tax determination is uncertain during the ordinary course of business. The Group and the Company recognise tax liabilities based on estimates of whether additional taxes will be due. Where the final outcome of these matters is different from the amounts that were initially recognised, such difference will impact the income tax and deferred tax provisions in the period in which such determination is made.

(iii) Allowance for doubtful debts

The collectibility of receivables is assessed on an on going basis. An allowance for doubtful debts is made for any account considered to be doubtful of collection.

The carrying amount of the Group’s receivables as at the end of the financial year was RMxx,xxx,xxx (2007 – RMxx,xxx,xxx).

Allowance for doubtful debts is made based on a review of all outstanding accounts as at the balance sheet date. A considerable amount of judgement and estimate is required in assessing the ultimate realisation of these receivables, including the creditworthiness, the past collection history of each customer and subsequent collection up to date of report. If the financial conditions of customers of the Group were to deteriorate, resulting in an impairment of their ability to make payments, additional allowances may be required.

(iv) Inventories obsolescence and inventories write down

Inventories are stated at the lower of cost and net realisable value. The Group estimates the net realisable value of inventories based on an assessment of committed sales prices.

Inventories are reviewed on a regular basis and the Group will make allowance for excess or obsolete inventories and write down to net realizable value based primarily on historical trends and management estimates of expected and future product demand and related pricing.

The carrying amount of the Group’s inventories as at the end of the financial year was RMxx,xxx,xxx (2007 – RMxx,xxx,xxx).

Demand levels, exchange rates, technological advances and pricing competition could change from time to time. If such factors result in an adverse effect on the Group’s products, the Group may be required to reduce the value of its inventories and additional allowance for slow moving inventories may be required

	2008		2007
	Number of shares	Nominal value RM	Number of shares	Nominal value RM

Authorised:
Ordinary shares of RM1 each	x,xxx,xxx	x,xxx,xxx	x,xxx,xxx	x,xxx,xxx

Issued and fully paid:
Ordinary shares of RM1 each	x,xxx,xxx	x,xxx,xxx	x,xxx,xxx	x,xxx,xxx