Chapter 09
Chapter 09
Chapter 09
II.
There are several problems an analyst might encounter in analyzing foreign financial
statements, including:
finding and obtaining financial information about a foreign company,
understanding the language in which the financial statements are presented,
the currency used in presenting monetary amounts,
terminology differences that result in uncertainty as to the information provided,
differences in format that lead to confusion and missing information,
lack of adequate disclosures,
financial statements are not made available on a timely basis,
accounting differences that hinder cross-country comparisons, and
differences in business environments that might make ratio comparisons meaningless
even if accounting differences are eliminated.
III.
Some of the potential problems can be removed by companies through their preparation of
convenience translations in which language, currency, and perhaps even accounting
principles have been restated for the convenience of foreign readers.
IV.
V.
Analysts should exercise care in interpreting ratios calculated for foreign companies.
What is considered to be a good or bad value for a ratio in one country may not be in
another country.
A. Financial ratios can differ across countries as a result of differences in accounting
principles.
B. Financial ratios also can differ across countries as a result of differences in business
and economic environments. Optimally, an analyst will develop an understanding of
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the accounting and business environments of the countries whose companies they
wish to analyze.
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VI.
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Answers to Questions
1. Investors can diversify their risk by including shares of foreign companies in their investment
portfolio. Correlations in the returns (increases and decreases in stock prices) earned
across stock markets are relatively low. The high degree of independence across capital
markets affords investors diversification opportunities.
2. Ford might want to include the following companies in a benchmarking study:
U.S. General Motors
Japan Honda, Toyota, Subaru
Germany Daimler-Chrysler, BMW, Volkswagen, Audi
Korea Hyundai, Kia
France Renault
Note: Due to the consolidation in the automobile industry, several companies are now
divisions of other companies. For example, Ford owns Mazda (Japan), Volvo (Sweden),
and Jaguar (U.K.). BMW owns Land Rover (U.K.), and Renault owns Nissan (Japan). Of
course the largest consolidation occurred when Daimler-Benz (Germany) acquired Chrysler
(U.S.).
3. Commercial databases tend not to include notes to financial statements, which are an
important source of information about a company. They also tend to force different country
formats for financial statements into a common format and thereby run the risk of
misclassification and loss of information. Data entry errors are also a potential problem.
4. The first (easiest) place to look for the most recent annual report is on the companys
internet website. Several internet resources can help in locating a companys financial
statements including Hoovers, EDGAR, and CAROL.
5. Much financial statement analysis is conducted using ratios or percentage changes
(comparing one year with another). Ratios and percentages are not expressed in currency
amounts. In fact, in analyzing year-to-year percentage changes, analysts must be careful in
translating from a foreign currency to their own currency as changes in exchange rates can
distort underlying relationships.
6. If an analyst is unable to read a companys annual report, they will be less likely to feel that
they have sufficient information to make an informed investment decision. This would be
analogous to making an internet purchase of an electronic product manufactured by a
company with which you are unfamiliar and the only description of the product is in a
language you do not read.
7. Unless one is familiar with German accounting, it is possible only to make an educated
guess as to what the item revenue reserves represents. Because it is a positive amount
reported in stockholders equity, it is likely to be an appropriation of retained earnings.
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8. Disclosures in the notes to financial statements can provide additional detail related to
specific line items that allows the analyst to reformat the financial statements to a format
preferred by the analyst (e.g., that can be compared with other companies). Disclosures
related to items such as provisions can allow analysts to assess the impact that these have
on income.
9. The time lag between fiscal year end and when financial statements are made available to
the public can differ substantially across countries. This time lag is influenced by the stock
market regulator in many countries. For example, the SEC requires U.S. companies to file
financial statements within 90 days of the fiscal year end, whereas publicly traded British
companies are allowed six months to file their reports. Substantial differences in the
timeliness of earnings announcements also exist across countries.
Timeliness is also a function of how often companies must prepare financial statements.
Whereas the U.S., Canada, and the U.K. require publication of quarterly reports, the
European Union requires only semi-annual reporting, and annual reporting only is the norm
in many countries.
10. The advantage of using a measure such as EBITDA to compare profitability of companies
across countries is that differences in accounting for interest (I), taxes (T), depreciation (D),
and amortization (A) across countries do not affect the profitability measure. The
disadvantage is that these expenses might be important in evaluating profitability and in
determining the value of the firm.
11. The different features that might be translated in a convenience translation are:
Language,
Currency, and
GAAP.
The most common type of convenience translation is a language translation only. Exhibits
9-3 through 9-7 are examples of this type of convenience translation.
12. Analysts should be careful in comparing ratios across companies in different countries
because of differences in business environments that might affect those ratios. For
example, in countries in which accounting income is the basis for taxation, it is logical that
companies will attempt to report as little accounting income as possible. It might be
misleading to therefore assume that these companies are not as profitable as companies in
countries in which accounting income is not used for tax purposes.
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13. Conservatism implies overstating expenses and liabilities, and understating revenues and
assets. Overstating expenses and/or understating revenues results in an understatement
of net income and retained earnings.
Profit margin -- If net income is understated because of an overstatement of expenses (or
understatement of revenues), profit margins (net income/sales) will be smaller
(understated).
Debt to equity ratio -- Overstatement of liabilities and understatement of retained earnings
results in an inflated debt-to-equity ratio (total liabilities/total stockholders equity).
Return on equity -- The impact of conservatism on return on equity (net income/average
stockholders equity) is not as clearcut because both the numerator and denominator in the
ratio are understated.
Assume income would be 100 and beginning stockholders equity 1,000 absent any
overstatement of expenses (base case). If expenses are overstated 10 each year, income
is understated by 10 each year and the extent to which retained earnings are understated
increases by 10 each year. As the table below illustrates, return on equity will be smaller
each year as a result of the understated net income.
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Net Income
_
Average Total Equity
Base case:
Beginning equity
Annual income
No dividends
Ending equity
Net Income
Average Total Equity
Year 1
Year 5
Year 10
Year 20
Year 40
1,000
100
1,400
100
1,900
100
2,900
100
4,900
100
1,100
1,500
2,000
3,000
5,000
100
1,050
100
1,450
100
1,950
100
2,950
100
4,950
9.52%
6.90%
5.13%
3.39%
2.02%
Year 5
Year 10
Year 20
Year 40
Beginning equity
Annual income
No dividends
Ending equity
1,000
90
1,360
90
1,810
90
2,710
90
4,510
90
1,090
1,450
1,900
2,800
4,600
Net Income
Average Total Equity
90
1,045
90
1,405
90
1,855
90
2,755
90
4,555
8.61%
6.41%
4.85%
3.27%
1.98%
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14. Companies with predominantly debt financing (rather than equity financing) will have a
larger amount of liabilities (and a smaller amount of stockholders equity), and a larger
amount of interest expense and therefore smaller income. Profit margins (net income/sales)
will be smaller, and debt-to-equity ratios (total liabilities/total stockholders equity) will be
larger. Debt financing will reduce both the numerator and the denominator in the calculation
of return on equity. The net effect on return on equity (net income/average stockholders
equity) depends upon the relation between before tax return on assets and the interest rate
on borrowing. As the table below demonstrates, if the before tax return on assets is greater
than the interest rate on debt, return on equity increases; if the before tax return on assets is
less than the interest rate on debt, return on equity decreases. Note: Before tax return on
assets is 20% (400/2,000).
Effect of Debt on Return on Equity:
No debt
Debt 10%
Debt 20%
Debt 25%
Assets
2,000
2,000
2,000
2,000
Liabilities
Stock equity
0
2,000
1,000
1,000
1,000
1,000
1,000
1,000
2,000
2,000
2,000
2,000
EBIT
Interest
400
0
400
100 10%
400
200 20%
400
250 25%
EBT
Tax
400
140
300
105
200
70
150
53
260
195
130
98
Net income
Avg Stock Eq
260
2,130
195
1,098
130
1,065
98
1,049
ROE
12.2%
17.8%
12.2%
9.3%
Net income
35%
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15. Three types of differences that might require adjustments to transform U.K. financial
statements to a U.S. format are:
Terminology differences, e.g., stocks are inventories;
Presentation differences, e.g., discontinued operations are reported in a separate
column in the income statement; and
Definition/classification differences, e.g., cash at bank is defined differently from cash
and cash equivalents.
16. Interest can be either capitalized as part of the cost of a depreciable asset or expensed
immediately. Adjustments to capitalize interest that was previously expensed must be made
to:
Increase depreciable assets;
Reduce interest expense; and
Increase beginning retained earnings for the reversal of interest expense that was
improperly recognized in previous years.
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Formula
CA/CL
a.1.
U.S. GAAP
3,989
3,989
4,386
Total asset turnover
Sales/TA
Debt/equity ratio
TL/TSE
Profit margin
NI/Sales
NI/TSE
Op Inc/Sales
Operating profit as % of
Op Inc/TSE
12,692
3,557
1.232
332
0.021
9,095
0.717
-28.83%
2.554
-95.69%
0.735
-40.34%
(44)
-0.005 -122.80%
(44)
1.295
3,557
-0.012 -100.95%
241
0.045
406
149
3.32%
244
406
9,095
59.295
193
149
0.940
9,086
193
9,095
Return on equity
1.007
409
332
4,245
b.
% Diff
9,095
8,835
149
EBIT/Int Exp
0.909
9,095
9,033
a.2.
U.K. GAAP
9,095
0.027
-40.64%
0.068
-97.51%
241
2.725
3,557
c. The profitability ratios, especially those that use Net Income and/or Total Stockholders
Equity, are most affected by differences in the two sets of accounting principles. There also
is a larger difference in the Debt-to-Equity Ratio because of the large difference in
Stockholders Equity under the two sets of accounting principles. The only ratio for which
there is an insignificant difference is the current ratio.
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PRC
Profit, 2003
Accounting Rules
IFRSs
U.S. GAAP
19,011
21,593
25,577
162,946
167,899
158,216
151,717
163,823
150,167
157,332
165,861
154,192
12.08%
13.02%
16.59%
IFRSs PRC
PRC
U.S. PRC
PRC
U.S. IFRSs
IFRSs
+8.9%
+37.3%
+27.4%
b. % difference in RONA
c. There is no correct answer to this question. Students might mention that IFRSs and
U.S. GAAP are designed specifically to provide information useful to investors. They
might also point out, however, that IFRSs and U.S. GAAP provide significantly different
measures of RONA in 2003. Interestingly, IFRSs result in a measure of RONA in 2003
that is not significantly different from RONA determined under PRC rules. These
relationships may or may not be generalizable to other years.
3. SAB Miller PLC
SAB Miller Terminology
Share capital
Share premium
Merger relief reserve*
Revaluation and other reserves
Profit and loss reserve
Shareholders funds
Equity minority interests
Capital employed
U.S. Terminology
Common stock
Paid in capital in excess of par value
No apparent equivalent in U.S.*
No equivalent in U.S.
Retained earnings
Stockholders equity
Minority interest
Stockholders equity plus minority interest
4. Babcock International
a.
Babcock International
Group Balance Sheet
as at 31 March 2004
Assets
Cash
Receivables
Inventories
Total current assets
Fixed assets (P, P & E)
Goodwill
Deferred development costs
Investments in joint ventures
Other investments
Long-term receivables
Total assets
m
17.5
75.2
29.7
122.4
12.2
81.5
0.7
0.6
4.1
64.0
285.5
134.7
16.0
4.7
29.0
Total liabilities
184.4
Common stock
Paid in capital in excess of par value
Reserves
Retained earnings
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity
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90.1
38.6
30.6
(58.2)
101.1
285.5
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b. The revaluation of fixed assets causes noncurrent assets (and therefore total assets)
and owners equity to be larger and income to be smaller under IFRSs than under U.S.
GAAP.
Ratio (under IFRSs instead of U.S. GAAP)
Current ratio (CA/CL) /
Total asset turnover (sales/average TA) /
Profit margin (NI/sales) /
Return on assets (NI/average TA) /
Return on equity (NI/average SE) /
Debt to equity ratio (TL/TSE) /
Under IFRSs
No effect
Smaller
Smaller
Smaller
Smaller
Smaller
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8. Wienerberger AG
a. Current ratio Wienerberger does not classify liabilities as current/noncurrent on the
balance sheet, so the current ratio cannot be calculated directly from the balance sheet.
Debt-to-equity ratio Including minority interest in equity, the ratio is:
Total Liabilities
1,565,532 = 1.59
Total Equity
983,006
(Students should recognize that provisions are accrued liabilities)
b.
Wienerberger AG
Balance Sheet (reclassified)
December 31, 2003
000
ASSETS
Current assets
801,666
Long-term receivables
105,330
Fixed and financial assets
1,601,870
Deferred tax assets
39,672
Total assets
2,548,538
116,165
498,704
614,869
Non-current provisions
Non-current liabilities
Total non-current liabilities
Minority interest
Equity
Total equity and liabilities
190,851
759,812
950,663
26,326
956,680
2,548,538
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9. Gamma Holding NV
a. Because the change in finished products (FP) and work in progress (WIP) is subtracted
in calculating total operating income, the balance in FP and WIP inventory must have
decreased during the year. This can be demonstrated by considering the following
example of the calculation of cost of goods sold.
Beginning inventory
Plus: purchases
Goods available for sale
Less: ending inventory
Equals: cost of goods sold
3,000
5,000
8,000
2,000
6,000
Cost of goods sold (6,000) is equal to the cost of purchases (5,000) plus the decrease in
inventory (1,000).
In Gamma Holdings income statement, the amount spent on purchases is reflected in
the line items cost of raw materials and consumables, personnel costs, and so on.
The change in FP and WIP is also subtracted to accurately reflect the cost of the goods
sold for the year.
b. To calculate cost of goods sold for the year, an analyst would need to know the amount
of each operating expense related to manufacturing activities. For example, the amount
of depreciation of tangible fixed assets related to factory assets would be needed.
c.
Operating expenses
Raw materials and consumables
Contracted work and other external costs
Personnel costs
Amortisation of intangible fixed assets
Depreciation of tangible fixed assets
Other operating costs
Total
324,276
55,531
290,006
1,367
38,885
122,492
Total
Change in FP and WIP
Estimated cost of goods sold
832,557
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90%
100%
50%
80%
75%
10%
Manufacturing
291,848
55,531
145,003
1,094
29,164
12,249
534,889
997
535,886
903,865
(535,886)
367,979
40.7%
10. Neopost SA
a.
d.
2004
83.5
19.8%
2003
69.7
82.9%
2002
38.1
49.4
(19.6)
0.30
(13.7)
69.0
41.3
0.30
28.9
27.7
69.8
- 29.2%
98.6
+ 158.8 %
38.1
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e. An analyst would like to know whether the decrease in provisions results (a) from
incurring the cost that had been accrued as a liability or (b) from reversing the accrued
liability because subsequently it is determined to have been overstated. To the extent
that income is recognized as a result of reversing previously recognized provisions, the
quality of income is questionable. In the case of Neopost, an analyst would be most
interested in the provisions for purchase accounting and for other risks because of
the large changes in these amounts from 2002 to 2004. For example, an analyst would
want to know whether the other risks provided for in 2003 resulted in actual losses in
2004, or whether the company determined in 2004 that the provision for other risks was
overstated.
11. Companhia Vale do Rio Doce
a. The external parties who might be most interested in CVRDs Statement of Value Added
(SVA) are those to whom the value added is distributed (Employees, Government,
Creditors, Stockholders, Minority shareholders) and the public at large.
b. The expenses represented by the distributions of value added (Wages, Taxes, and
Interest) have not been subtracted in calculating Total Value Added. Total Value Added
(consolidated) in 2003 can be reconciled to Net income as follows:
Total Value Added to be Distributed
8,610
Less: Wage and salary expense (Employees)
(1,213)
Tax expense (Government)
(2,185)
Interest expense (Creditors)
(351)
Net income
4,861
c. Perhaps the most important story being told is in the manner in which value added (VA)
is being distributed and how this has changed from 2002 to 2003. Referring to the
consolidated amounts, the employees share of VA is small in comparison with
government and stockholders and their share of VA decreased slightly from 2002 (16%)
to 2003 (15%). However, even though the employees percentage share has declined,
the absolute amount paid to them increased (from 1,153 to 1,213). The governments
share (taxes) and the stockholders share (dividends) of VA have both increased
substantially from 2002 to 2003. Perhaps the most surprising aspect of the distribution
of VA is the large decrease in the amount paid to creditors (from 51% of VA in 2002 to
only 4% in 2003). This should be good news to stockholders and management. The
distribution of VA also tells the story that of every real generated in VA in 2003, 74% was
distributed outside the company (only 26% was reinvested).
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CASE Swisscom AG
Reconciling Adjustments
Debit
54
5
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Credit
13
46
107
98
205
5
5
475
188
370
293
50
50
982
982
Worksheet for Restating Swisscoms Financial Statements from IFRSs to U.S. GAAP
(1)
IFRSs
Consolidated Statement of
Operations
Net revenues
Capitalized cost and changes in
inventories
Total
Goods and services purchased
Personnel expenses
Other operating expenses
Depreciation and amortization
Restructuring charges
Total operating expenses
Operating income
Interest expense
Financial income
Income (loss) before income taxes
and equity in net loss of affiliated
companies
Income tax expense
(2)
(3)
Reconciling
Adjustments
Debit
Credit
(4)
Note
U.S.
GAAP
9,842
9,842
277
10,119
1,666
2,584
2,090
1,739
277
10,119
1,296
2,584
2,090
1,937
1,726
9,805
314
(428)
25
370
205
a
c
d
b
13
5
5
188
1,521
9,428
691
(415)
25
(89)
1
301
1
(90)
(325)
(415)
300
(275)
25
(151)
Net loss
Profit distribution declared
Conversion of loan payable to equity
Retained earnings, 12/31/97
(415)
(1,282)
3,200
1,352
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50
46
293
a
d
188
25
(1,282)
3,200
2,131
(1)
IFRSs
Consolidated Balance Sheet
Assets
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents
Securities available for sale
Trade accounts receivable
Inventories
Other current assets
Total current assets
Non-current assets
Property, plant and equipment
(2)
(3)
Reconciling
Adjustments
Debit
Credit
Shareholders' equity
Retained earnings
Note
256
51
2,052
169
34
2,562
U.S.
GAAP
256
51
2,052
169
34
2,562
11,453
54
107
1,238
220
12,911
15,473
50
475
5
Investments
Other non-current assets
Total non-current assets
Total assets
Liabilities and shareholders' equity
Current liabilities
Short-term debt
Trade accounts payable
Accrued pension cost
Other current liabilities
Total current liabilities
Long-term liabilities
Long-term debt
Finance lease obligation
Accrued pension cost
Accrued liabilities
Other long-term liabilities
Total long-term liabilities
Total liabilities
(4)
a
b
c
e
d
11,609
1,288
695
13,592
16,154
1,178
889
789
2,213
5,069
1,178
889
789
2,213
5,069
6,200
439
1,488
709
338
9,174
14,243
6,200
439
1,488
709
240
9,076
14,145
1,352
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98
R/E
2,131
39
(161)
1,230
15,473
39
(161)
2,009
794
794
16,154
Ratios
IFRSs U.S. GAAP Difference*
1. Net income/Net revenues
-4.22%
0.25%
-106.02%
3.19%
7.02%
120.06%
2.03%
4.28%
110.79%
-33.74%
1.24%
-103.69%
25.53%
34.40%
34.73%
0.51
0.51
0.00%
11.58
7.04
-39.20%
It is difficult to interpret the size of the difference in ratios involving Net income, because net
income is negative under IFRSs but positive under U.S. GAAP.
Operating income/Net revenues is the ratio most affected by the accounting standards used,
followed by Operating income/Total assets. This is attributable to the fact that Operating income
is more than twice as large under U.S. GAAP as under IFRSs.
The current ratio is unaffected by the accounting standards used.
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