The consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) as adopted by the European Union. The consolidated financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention, as modified by revaluation of available-for-sale financial assets and financial assets and liabilities (including derivative instruments) at fair value through profit or loss. Some additional information is disclosed based on the standard RFR 1 from the Swedish Financial Reporting Board and the Swedish Annual Accounts Act. As required by IAS 1, Electrolux companies apply uniform accounting rules, irrespective of national legislation, as defined in the Electrolux Accounting Manual, which is fully compliant with IFRS. The policies set out below have been consistently applied to all years presented with the exception for new accounting standards where the application follows the rules in each particular standard. For information on new standards, see the section on new or amended accounting standards below. For information on accounting for certain line items, see each note. For more extensive information on accounting principles, please contact Electrolux Investor Relations.
The Parent Company applies the same accounting principles as the Group, except in the cases specified below in the section entitled Parent Company accounting principles.
The financial statements were authorized for issue by the Board of Directors on January 27, 2015. The balance sheets and income statements are subject to approval by the Annual General Meeting of shareholders on March 26, 2015.
The acquisition method of accounting is used to account for the acquisition of subsidiaries by the Group, whereby the assets and liabilities and contingent liabilities assumed in a subsidiary on the date of acquisition are recognized and measured to determine the acquisition value to the Group.
The cost of an acquisition is measured as the fair value of the assets given, equity instruments issued and liabilities incurred or assumed at the date of exchange. The consideration transferred includes the fair value of any asset or liability resulting from a contingent consideration arrangement. Costs directly attributable to the acquisition effort are expensed as incurred. On an acquisition-by-acquisition basis, the Group recognizes any non-controlling interest in the acquiree either at fair value or at the non-controlling interest’s proportionate share of the acquiree’s net assets.
The excess of the consideration transferred, the amount of any non-controlling interest in the acquiree and the acquisition-date fair value of any previous equity interest in the acquiree over the fair value of the identifiable net assets acquired is recorded as goodwill. If the fair value of the acquired net assets exceeds the cost of the business combination, the acquirer must reassess the identification and measurement of the acquired assets. Any excess remaining after that reassessment must be recognized immediately in profit or loss.
The consolidated financial statements for the Group include the financial statements for the Parent Company and the direct and indirect-owned subsidiaries after:
The consolidated financial statements include AB Electrolux and all companies over which the Parent Company has control, i.e., the power to direct the activities; exposure to variable return and the ability to use its power. When the Group ceases to have control or significant influence, any retained interest in the entity is remeasured to its fair value, with the change in carrying amount recognized in profit or loss.
The following applies to acquisitions and divestments:
At year-end 2014, the Group comprised 212 (222) operating units, and 154 (156) companies.
Associates are all companies over which the Group has significant influence but not control, generally accompanying a shareholding of between 20 and 50% of the voting rights. Investments in associated companies have been reported according to the equity method.
Foreign currency transactions are translated into the functional currency using the exchange rates prevailing at the dates of the transactions.
Monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currency are valued at year-end exchange rates and the exchange-rate differences are included in income for the period, except when deferred in other comprehensive income for the effective part of qualifying net investment hedges.
The consolidated financial statements are presented in Swedish krona (SEK), which is the Parent Company’s functional and presentation currency.
The balance sheets of foreign subsidiaries have been translated into SEK at year-end rates. The income statements have been translated at the average rates for the year. Translation differences thus arising have been included in other comprehensive income.
IFRS 10 Consolidated Financial Statements, IFRS 11 Joint Arrangements and IFRS 12 Disclosure of Interests in Other Entities. IFRS 10 provides a single consolidation model that identifies control as the basis for consolidation in all types of entities.
IFRS 10 replaces IAS 27 Consolidated and Separate Financial Statements and SIC-12 Consolidation - Special Purpose Entities.
IFRS 11 Joint Arrangements establishes principles for the financial reporting by parties to joint arrangement. IFRS 11 supersedes IAS 31 Interests in Joint Ventures and SIC-13 Jointly Controlled Entities - Non-monetary Contributions by Venturers.
IFRS 12 combines, enhances and replaces the disclosure requirements for subsidiaries, joints arrangements, associates and unconsolidated structured entities. The new standards did not have any impact on Electrolux financial result or position. The standards were effective from January 1, 2014, in the European Union.
The following new standards and amendments to standards have been issued. No significant impact on the financial result or position is expected upon their eventual application.
IFRS 15 Revenue from Contracts with Customers1). This standard establishes a new framework for determining when and how much revenue to recognize. The standard introduces a five-step model to be applied to all contracts with customers in order to establish the revenue recognition. The new standard is not expected to have any material impact on the revenue recognition for Electrolux type of business, i.e., mainly sales of products. Revenue will in practice be recognized at the same moment in time as with current rules, however, based on a new principal model. Changes in the timing of revenue recognition may occur for a limited number of service contracts like extended warranty and licensing brand names under some circumstances. The impact from this, if any, is not expected to be material. The Group is yet to assess IFRS 15’s full impact. The mandatory effective date is January 1, 2017, with early application allowed.
IFRS 9 Financial Instruments1). This standard addresses the classification, measurement, recognition, impairment and derecognition of financial instruments. It also addresses general hedge accounting. The Group is yet to assess IFRS 9’s full impact. The mandatory effective date is January 1, 2018, with early application allowed.
1) This standard has not ben adopted by the EU at the writing date.
The International Financial Reporting Interpretation Committee (IFRIC) has not issued any new interpretations that are applicable to Electrolux.
Management of the Group has made a number of estimates and assumptions relating to the reporting of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities to prepare these financial statements in conformity with IFRS. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions. Below, Electrolux has summarized the accounting policies that require more subjective judgment of the management in making assumptions or estimates regarding the effects of matters that are inherently uncertain.
Non-current assets, including goodwill, are evaluated for impairment yearly or whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. An impaired asset is written down to its recoverable amount based on the best information available. Different methods have been used for this evaluation, depending on the availability of information. When available, market value has been used and impairment charges have been recorded when this information indicated that the carrying amount of an asset was not recoverable. In the majority of cases, however, market value has not been available, and the fair value has been estimated by using the discounted cash-flow method based on expected future results. Differences in the estimation of expected future results and the discount rates used could have resulted in different asset valuations.
Property, plant and equipment are depreciated on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives. Useful lives for property, plant and equipment are estimated between 10 and 40 years for buildings and land improvements and between 3 and 15 years for machinery, technical installations and other equipment. The carrying amount for property, plant and equipment at year-end 2014 amounted to SEK 18,934m. The carrying amount for goodwill at year-end 2014 amounted to SEK 5,350m. Management regularly reassesses the useful life of all significant assets. Management believes that any reasonably possible change in the key assumptions on which the asset’s recoverable amounts are based would not cause their carrying amounts to exceed their recoverable amounts.
In the preparation of the financial statements, Electrolux estimates the income taxes in each of the taxing jurisdictions in which the Group operates as well as any deferred taxes based on temporary differences. Deferred tax assets relating mainly to tax loss carry-forwards, energy -tax credits and temporary differences are recognized in those cases when future taxable income is expected to permit the recovery of those tax assets. Changes in assumptions in the projection of future taxable income as well as changes in tax rates could result in significant differences in the valuation of deferred taxes. As of December 31, 2014, Electrolux had a net amount of SEK 4,664m recognized as deferred tax assets in excess of deferred tax liabilities. As of December 31, 2014, the Group had tax loss carry-forwards and other deductible temporary differences of SEK 10,260m, which have not been included in computation of deferred tax assets.
Electrolux provisions for uncertain outcome of tax audits and tax litigations are based on management’s best estimates and recorded in the balance sheet. These estimates might differ from the actual outcome and the timing of the potential effect on Electrolux cash flow is normally not possible to predict.
In recent years, tax authorities have been focusing on transfer pricing. Transfer-pricing matters are normally very complex, include high amounts and it might take several years to reach a conclusion.
Receivables are reported net of allowances for doubtful receivables. The net value reflects the amounts that are expected to be collected, based on circumstances known at the balance-sheet date. Changes in circumstances such as higher than expected defaults or changes in the financial situation of a significant customer could lead to significantly different valuations. At year-end 2014, trade receivables, net of provisions for doubtful accounts, amounted to SEK 20,663m. The total provision for doubtful accounts at year-end 2014 was SEK 619m.
Electrolux sponsors defined benefit pension plans for some of its employees in certain countries. The pension calculations are based on actuarial assumptions about, e.g., mortality rates, future salary and pension increases. The calculation of the pension obligation also depends on the discount rate. Changes in assumptions affect directly the defined benefit obligation, service cost, interest income and expense. The discount rate used to estimate liabilities at the end of 2013 and the calculation of expenses during 2014 was 3.87% in average. Sensitivities for the main assumptions are presented in Note 22 on page 117.
Restructuring charges include required write-downs of assets and other non-cash items, as well as estimated costs for personnel reductions and other direct costs related to the termination of the activity. The charges are calculated based on detailed plans for activities that are expected to improve the Group’s cost structure and productivity. In general, the outcome of similar historical events in previous plans are used as a guideline to minimize these uncertainties. The total provision for restructuring at year-end 2014 was SEK 2,848m.
As is customary in the industry in which Electrolux operates, many of the products sold are covered by an original warranty, which is included in the price and which extends for a predetermined period of time. Provisions for this original warranty are estimated based on historical data regarding service rates, cost of repairs, etc. Additional provisions are created to cover goodwill warranty and extended warranty. While changes in these assumptions would result in different valuations, such changes are unlikely to have a material impact on the Group’s results or financial situation. As of December 31, 2014, Electrolux had a provision for warranty commitments amounting to SEK 1,601m. Revenues from extended warranty are recognized on a linear basis over the contract period unless there is evidence that some other method better represents the stage of completion.
Electrolux is involved in disputes in the ordinary course of business. The disputes concern, among other things, product liability, alleged defects in delivery of goods and services, patent rights and other rights and other issues on rights and obligations in connection with Electrolux operations. Such disputes may prove costly and time consuming and may disrupt normal operations. In addition, the outcome of complicated disputes is difficult to foresee. It cannot be ruled out that a disadvantageous outcome of a dispute may prove to have a material adverse effect on the Group’s earnings and financial position.
The Parent Company has prepared its Annual Report in compliance with Swedish Annual Accounts Act (1995:1554) and recommendation RFR 2, Accounting for Legal Entities of the Swedish Financial Reporting Board. RFR 2 prescribes that the Parent Company in the Annual Report of a legal entity shall apply all International Financial Reporting Standards and interpretations approved by the EU as far as this is possible within the framework of the Annual Accounts Act, and taking into account the connection between reporting and taxation. The recommendation states which exceptions from IFRS and additions shall be made. The Parent Company applies IAS 39 Financial Instruments.
Holdings in subsidiaries are recognized in the Parent Company financial statements according to the cost method of accounting. The value of subsidiaries are tested for impairment when there is an indication of a decline in the value.
Dividends from subsidiaries are recognized in the income statement after decision by the annual general meeting in respective subsidiary. Anticipated dividends from subsidiaries are recognized in cases where the Parent Company has exclusive rights to decide on the size of the dividend and the Parent Company has made a decision on the size of the dividend before the Parent Company has published its financial reports.
The Parent Company’s financial statements recognize untaxed reserves including deferred tax. The consolidated financial statements, however, reclassify untaxed reserves to deferred tax liability and equity. Tax on group contribution is reported in the income statement.
Group contributions provided or received by the Parent Company are recognized as appropriations in the income statement. Shareholder contributions provided by the Parent Company are recognized in shares and participations and as such they are subject to impairment tests as indicated above.
The Parent Company reports pensions in the financial statements in accordance with the recommendation FAR RedR 4, Accounting for Pension Liability and Pension Cost, from the Swedish Institute of Authorized Public Accountants. According to RFR 2, IAS 19 shall be adopted regarding supplementary disclosures when applicable.
The Parent Company amortizes trademarks in accordance with RFR 2. The Electrolux trademark in North America is amortized over 40 years using the straight-line method. All other trademarks are amortized over their useful lives, estimated to 10 years, using the straight-line method.
The central development costs of the Group’s common business system are recorded in the Parent Company. The amortization is based on the usage and go-live dates of the entities and continues over the system’s useful life, estimated to 5 years per unit using the straight-line method. The applied principle gives an estimated amortization period of 10 years for the system.
The Parent Company reports additional fiscal depreciation, required by Swedish tax law, as appropriations in the income statement. In the balance sheet, these are included in untaxed reserves.
The Parent Company presents the income and balance sheet statements in compliance with the Swedish Annual Accounts Act (1995:1554) and recommendation RFR 2.