Blind Freddy – Common errors in presentation of financial statements – Part 2

AASB 101 Presentation of Financial Statements is the standard which sets out key principles around presentation of the four primary financial statements, and is intended to assist users of financial statements in understanding the performance of that entity.

Any ‘Blind Freddy’ error in applying AASB 101 is by its nature likely to cause a user to either be misled, or to be provided with insufficient information to make economic decisions, particularly in respect of investing in that entity. Although AASB 101 does not contain any direct guidance on measurement of accounting transactions, many of the potential Blind Freddy errors can lead to users being misled. This in turn results in preparers and auditors opening themselves up to significant criticism and potential litigation.

AASB 101 is also the standard that led to Justice Middleton coining the phrase ‘Blind Freddy’ in the Centro case, where even Blind Freddy should have realised that the clear requirement in AASB 101 in respect of classification debt as a current liability had not been followed.

In our April Accounting News article on this topic, we discussed Blind Freddy errors relating to the following aspects of AASB 101:

1. The need to include four primary statements in a financial report
2. The layout of those primary reports
3. The need to include notes to support those primary statements
4. The need to include comparatives
5. The need to have the third balance sheet when there is retrospective restatement
6. Key guidance as to going concern
7. Key guidance on disclosing estimates and judgements
8. Requirement to refer to the accounting framework
9. Requirement to provide additional disclosures where specific disclosure requirements in accounting standards are insufficient
10. Offsetting

This month we highlight common errors made when classifying assets and liabilities as current or non-current, and next month we will conclude our AASB 101 Blind Freddy series with a discussion on financial statement disclosures.

Blind Freddy error 1 – Incorrectly classifying assets as ‘current assets’ when not held for the purpose of trading

In order to present a more favourable financial position to users of financial statements, including to meet bank covenants and other key performance indicators, many entities may be motivated to attempt to include as many assets as possible within current assets when they are NOT primarily held for the purpose of trading.

This common Blind Freddy error involves entities incorrectly classifying assets such as investments in shares as current assets when they are not held for trading.

Blind Freddy error 2 - Presenting an asset as current when the entity does NOT intend to sell or consume it within the next 12 months

Again, this Blind Freddy error may include wrongly classifying investments in shares as current assets where it is not intended to sell these items in the next 12 months.

It may also apply to the presentation of inventory, receivables and work-in-progress (being capitalised time costs for professional services firms) where realisation is not likely to occur in the next 12 months.

A further example would be receivables with extended credit terms, including retention amounts invoiced on construction contracts.

Similar misclassification may also occur in respect of prepayments, deposits, rental bonds etc. where these will not be released in the next 12 months.

Blind Freddy error 3 – Presenting restricted ‘cash’ as a current asset

In a number of cases, an entity may be required to place cash on deposit to secure borrowings or some sort of guarantee. If this cash is not accessible for 12 months, it cannot be shown as a current asset.

The presentation of an asset as a current asset when it is non-current can lead to a material misstatement in the financial statements. These Blind Freddy errors are likely to result in users arriving at the wrong conclusion about the entity’s liquidity position and risks associated with the entity becoming insolvent, or having to secure expensive finance, raise dilutive share capital, or to dispose of assets at a discount.

AASB 101 is the standard that sets out very clear rules in respect of which assets are classified as current. If these rules are broken it is likely ‘Blind Freddy’ accusations will follow – particularly if the entity does subsequently have liquidity issues.

Blind Freddy error 4 - Presenting current liabilities as non-current

Back where it all began!

As demonstrated in the Cento Case and Justice Middleton coining the phrase ‘Blind Freddy’, failure to comply with AASB 101’s clear rules about which liabilities are current can lead to material misstatements.

Blind Freddy error 5 – Classification of liabilities where the original loan was for a period greater than 12 months but the loan is now repayable within 12 months

A common area when classifying liabilities occurs where the original loan was for a term greater than 12 months but with the passage of time, the loan is now due for repayment within 12 months. At the outset these loans would be correctly classified as non-current, but preparers often forget to reclassify these as current liabilities when settlement is due within 12 months.

Blind Freddy error 6 – Classification of liabilities as non-current when agreement to approve refinancing is only agreed after the reporting date

The decision as to whether a loan is current or non-current is made at the reporting date (end of the reporting period). This means that loans cannot be classified as non-current at reporting date when they are due to be settled within 12 months from reporting date.

The fact that subsequent to the reporting date there is agreement with a financier to refinance the loan, does not impact the classification of the loan at the end of the reporting period.

Blind Freddy error 7 - Presenting a loan as non-current where loan covenants are in breach at reporting date

An entity must present a liability as current if, at the reporting date, it does not have an unconditional right to defer repayment for 12 months. This AASB 101 requirement is particularly relevant where an entity, at the reporting date, has breached a borrowing covenant, allowing the lender to demand repayment.

The liability is current even if the lender has subsequent to the reporting date, agreed to waive the breach.