Singpaore listed entities: IFRS convergence - unremitted earnings

As you are aware, Singapore listed entities are required to prepare their financial statements in IFRS.
 
One difference between SFRS and IFRS relates to the accounting for deferred tax for unremitted earnings ( this unremitted earnings relates to all overseas income earned but not yet remitted to Singapore).
 
We will share with you one example below:
 
For instance, certain Singapore entities within the Group have recognized receivable from overseas entities for interest income from overseas entities not yet remitted to Singapore.
Under Recommended Accounting Practice (RAP) 8 issued by the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Singapore (ICPAS), no deferred tax is accounted for temporary difference arising from foreign income (excluding: distributable earning) not yet remitted to Singapore if:(a) the entity is able to control the timing of the reversal of the temporary difference; and (b) it is probable that the temporary difference will not reverse in the foreseeable future.
Under IFRS, the Group no longer has the option of applying RAP 8. Hence, the Singapore entities are required to provide deferred tax for these unremitted earnings.
 
Impact:
 
For entities who have recorded overseas interest income (but not yet remitted to Singapore) in the past - please check if deferred tax has been recorded. If not, full amount of deferred tax shall be recorded.
 
Please reach us at myauditing@gmail.com if you need more clarification. Thanks.

 

Accounting for acquisitions under common control

It is common for business to carry out restructuring activities and then spin off a certain sub-group within the main group for listing purpose / disposal purpose. I come to realize recently that there are two approaches available for accounting for acquisitions under common control:

a) Acquisitions method
b) Pooling of interest method

What's the definition of common control ? Generally, common control relates to two entities controlled by a shareholder / corporate entity, for which no consolidation has been prepared. However, due to certain development, e.g. IPO, the shareholder would like to package these two entities together as a listing vehicle on a stock exchange. The financial statements would then be prepared on a common control approach.

For this post, I would like to elaborate a choice available for the accountant.

Assuming entity A was directly owned by a shareholder, who also owns entity B directly. During the year, entity A acquired entity B. Generally, entity A would account for acquisition of entity B as a common control entity based on pooling of interest method. This means that the combined financial statements would be prepared by aggregating entity A + entity B balances. This is pooling of interest method.

However, another approach available is entity A can apply acquisition method to account for acquisition entity B, this approach is similar to the acquisition of a non-related entity/ external party. A purchase price allocation review is required.

This approach is allowed for common control entity if there's a business substance to account for such acquisition.

If you need more clarification , please contact myauditing@gmail.com

Audit observation - predicting inventory level precisely to avoid stock-holding costs

Excessive purchase of inventory have a number of consequences on the Company.


Working capital of the Company would be distorted. If a company holds a inventory that takes more than 6 months to sell, the company need to incur warehousing costs + interest costs if the inventory is purchased based on overdraft + opportunity costs ( i.e. the company would be able to use the same amount of money to purchase other inventories). Why not consider to house lower amount of inventory?


However, this is not easy due to a number of reasons:


- The supplier may requires minimum purchase of quantities. In this context, we suggest our audit client to speak to the suppliers.


- It is costly to predict the right level of inventory. To derive a sufficiently precise optimal inventory level is a scientific exercise - your inventory system should be able to support you on this. However, is it costly to develop and maintain such system?


- Purchasing department should work closely with warehousing department closely to determine the right amount of inventory.


In a distribution business - a good supply chain management will be able to give some company a good margin to continue the business in the competitive industry.

Audit - consideration of compliance with manpower rule in Singapore

Talent / labour crunch in Singapore is a common issue in Singapore. There are certain rules imposed by Ministry of Manpower in Singapore. There is a lot of discussion with regard to the manpower of Singapore - as there are certain comments commented that there are significant number of foreign workers, whilst on the other hand there are business owners commented that it's not easy to hire sufficient labour for production or construction work.


Ministry of Manpower imposed certain restriction on the number of foreign workers that can be hired by a Company i.e. the Company is allowed to hire certain number of foreign workers for each headcount of Singaporean.


As an auditor, we should understand what's the process implemented by management to ensure that this rule is being complied with. Somebody may ask why would auditor has to consider this?


The answer is if the regulation is not complied - there is risk that the company may receive penalty or fine or in the worst case scenario, the company's operating license may be in question. Hence, we should have a word with management on how does the company ensure that they have complied with the rules and regulations prevalent to the company.


In addition, if you have overseas operations, it is also critical to understand how has the overseas management manage the compliance with overseas rule. For instance, how does the manager in China ensure compliance with contribution of pension fund required by local law.