Notes to the financial statements

A Accounting principles

A1 Basic information of the company

The Group’s parent company, Finnvera plc, provides financing for the business of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), for exports and internationalisation, and helps implement the government’s regional policy objectives. The Group also consists of venture capital investment companies Veraventure Ltd and Seed Fund Vera Ltd as well as Finnish Export Credit Ltd.

The Group’s parent company is a Finnish limited liability company established in accordance with Finnish law and domiciled in Kuopio. Its registered address is P.O. Box 1127, Kallanranta 11, 70111 Kuopio, Finland. The Board of Directors approved the financial statements on 26 February 2015.

Copies of the consolidated financial statements are available online at www.finnvera.fi, or in the Group’s head offices at Kallanranta 11, 70110 Kuopio, Finland and Eteläesplanadi 8, 00100 Helsinki, Finland.

A2 Accounting principles for the financial statements

The financial statements include both the consolidated and the parent company’s financial statements. Financial statements are prepared in accordance with the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), complying with IFRSs effective on 31 December 2013 that refer to the standards and their interpretations adopted in accordance with the procedures laid down in IAS Regulation (EC) No 1606/2002 of the European Parliament and of the Council. The notes to the financial statements also comply with the requirements of the Finnish Accounting and Limited Liability Companies Acts.

The consolidated financial statements have been prepared on the basis of historical costs, except for financial assets available for sale and financial assets and liabilities carried at fair value through profit or loss.

The financial statements are presented in thousands of euros.

New and revised IFRSs and interpretations applied

In 2014, Finnvera adopted the following new or revised IFRSs and interpretations:

• IFRS 10 Consolidated Financial Statements (applied in the EU to financial periods starting on 1 January 2014 or thereafter). The standard establishes principles for the presentation and preparation of consolidated financial statements when an entity controls one or more other entities. The Standard also outlines the specification of control in situations involving interpretation. The new Standard is not expected to have a major impact on the consolidated financial statements.
• IFRS 12 Disclosure of Interests in Other Entities (applied to financial periods starting on 1 January 2014 or thereafter). The standard contains requirements for disclosures about an entity’s interests in other entities, including subsidiaries, joint arrangements, associates and other unconsolidated structured entities. The new standard will expand the disclosures presented by a Group of its holdings in other entities.
• IAS 28 Investments in Associates and Joint Ventures (applied to financial periods starting on 1 January 2014 or thereafter). Following the publication of IFRS 11, the revised standard outlines how to apply the equity method to associates. The new Standard is not expected to have an impact on the consolidated financial statements.
• Amendment to IAS 32 Financial Instruments: Presentation (applied to financial periods starting on 1 January 2014 or thereafter). The amendment specifies the rules for presenting the net value of financial assets and liabilities and provides more guidance on the related application. The new standard expanded the notes presented by the Group concerning financial instruments.

New and revised standards and interpretations applied later

The IASB has issued the following new or revised standards and interpretations. The Group applies them as of the effective date of each standard and interpretation. If the effective date is not the first day of a financial period, they are applied as of the beginning of the next financial period following the effective date.

The financial period 2015

• Annual Improvements to IFRSs 2010–2012 and 2011–2013 (applied mainly to financial periods starting on 1 July 2014 or thereafter). The impacts of the amendments vary depending on the standard, but they are not significant.

The financial period 2015 or later

• IFRS 9 Financial Instruments and its amendments (applied to financial periods starting on 1 January 2018 or thereafter). The new standard replaces the current IAS 39 Financial Instruments: Recognition and Measurement. IFRS 9 changes the classification and measurement of financial assets and includes a new expected loss impairment model for assessing the impairment of financial assets. The classification and measurement of financial liabilities are largely the same as in the current IAS 39 requirements. From Finnvera’s perspective, the standard is pivotal. Finnvera has started to analyse the impact of the standard.
• IFRS 15 Revenue from Contracts with Customers (applied to financial periods starting on 1 January 2017 or thereafter). The new standard includes a five-step model for the recognition of revenue gained on the basis of contracts with customers. It replaces the current standards IAS 18 and IAS 11 and the associated interpretations. Revenue is recognised either over time or at a point in time, the central criterion being when control is passed. The standard affects the recognition of fee and commission income and increases the number of notes presented. Finnvera will assess the impact of the standard later.
• Amendment to IAS 1 Presentation of Financial Statements (applied to financial periods starting on 1 January 2016 or thereafter). The amendment has no essential impact on the consolidated financial statements.
• Annual Improvements to IFRSs 2012–2014 (applied to financial periods starting on 1 January 2016 or thereafter). The impacts of the amendments vary depending on the standard, but they are not significant.

A3 Consolidation principles for the financial statements

Subsidiaries

Subsidiaries are entities controlled by the Group. Control exists when the Group, by being party to a corporation, is exposed to its variable income or is entitled to its variable income and can influence it by using its power over the corporation. The consolidated financial statements include the subsidiaries in which the parent company holds more than 50 per cent of the votes, or in which the company otherwise has control.

In the parent company’s financial statements, holdings in subsidiaries have been entered at acquisition cost. The value of the subsidiaries’ shares is tested when the books are closed and, whenever necessary, an impairment loss is recognised.

The consolidated financial statements include the financial statements of the parent company and its subsidiaries.

The Group’s mutual share ownership has been eliminated by the acquisition cost method. When subsidiaries are acquired, they are consolidated from the date of acquisition up to the date when the control ceases.

In accordance with the exemption granted under IFRS 1, the acquisition costs arising from business combinations prior to the IFRS transition date 1 January 2006 have been treated according to the Finnish accounting practice. The Group has not made company acquisitions after the date of transition.

Associates

Associated companies are entities in which the Group has significant influence but not control over the financial and operational policies of the entity. Significant influence exists when the Group has 20 to 50 per cent of the voting shares of the entity. Associated companies are consolidated using the equity method of accounting.

Equity investments made by Finnvera through its subsidiaries are treated in the alternative manner allowed by IAS 28 Investments in Associates at fair value, as investments recognised through profit or loss. Changes in fair value are recognised in the income statement, under the item Gains/losses from items carried at fair value.

Elimination of intra-group items in the consolidated financial statements

Intra-group transactions, internal receivables and liabilities, unrealised profits on internal transactions, and intra-group profit distributions are eliminated in the consolidation.

Non-controlling interest

Non-controlling interest in the equity and in the profit for the period is reported as a separate item in the income statement and in the balance sheet.

A4 Transactions denominated in foreign currencies

The consolidated financial statements are presented in euros, which is the currency that all Group companies use in their operations and presentations.

Transactions denominated in foreign currencies are recognised using the exchange rates prevailing on the dates of the transactions, and assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are converted using the exchange rates on the balance sheet date. Foreign exchange gains and losses arising on conversion are recognised under the income statement item Gains and losses from financial instruments carried at fair value through profit or loss.

A5 Principles for recognising income and expenses

Net interest income

Interest income and interest expenses are recognised in the income statement over the maturity of the contract using the effective interest rate method. All fees received and paid, interest points that are an integral part of the effective interest rate of the contract, as well as transaction costs and any other premiums or discounts are taken into consideration in calculating the effective interest. Interest subsidies received from the State are recognised correspondingly over the maturity of the contract using the effective interest rate method.

The interest on interest rate swaps made for hedging receivables is treated as an adjustment item for interest income, while the interest on interest rate swaps made for hedging liabilities is treated as an adjustment item for interest expenses.

Fees and commission income and expenses, net

Guarantee fees are recognised in the income statement over the maturity of the contract. Other fee and commission income and expenses are normally recognised when the service is rendered.

Gains/losses from financial instruments carried at fair value

Gains and losses (both realised and unrealised) from derivatives, liabilities measured at fair value and venture capital investments as well as exchange rate differences are presented under the income statement item Gains and losses from financial instruments carried at fair value through profit or loss.

Net income from investments

Gains and losses from shares, participations and debt securities classified as available for sale, impairments of these items as well as income and expenses arising from investment properties are presented under the item Net income from investments.

The item Net income from investments also presents the net income from associates and the dividends received. Dividends are recognised as income in the period in which the right to receive dividends is established.

Government grants

Finnvera receives interest and commission subsidies from the State as well as compensation for credit and guarantee losses that have arisen from credits and guarantees that Finnvera has granted on certain regional policy grounds agreed with the State. Credit and guarantee loss compensation is paid for credits and guarantees that have been granted without securing collateral.

Interest and commission subsidies are recognised over the maturity of the contract using the effective interest rate method, and compensation received for credit losses is recognised when the contractual right to receive such compensation is established.

During the financial period, Finnvera received a grant of EUR 5 million from the State to be used as capital for the subsidiary Seed Fund Vera Ltd.

A6 Intangible assets and property, plant and equipment

Intangible assets

Intangible assets include the development costs of IT applications and software, if their cost can be measured reliably and it is probable that the Group will gain economic benefit from the assets.

Intangible assets are carried at historical cost less accumulated amortisations and impairment losses, and they are amortised over their estimated useful life, which is five years.

Property, plant and equipment

Property, plant and equipment comprise property, machinery and equipment in the company’s own use. Properties in which a significant part of the floor area is used by Finnvera or its subsidiaries are classified as property in own use.

Property, plant and equipment are carried at historical cost less accumulated depreciation and impairment losses. Property, plant and equipment are depreciated over their estimated useful lives as follows:

Property:
30–40 years

Machinery and equipment:
5–7 years

Impairment of intangible assets and property, plant and equipment

On every balance sheet date, the carrying amounts of intangible assets and property, plant and equipment are reviewed to determine whether there are indications of impairment. If such indications exist, the asset’s recoverable amount is estimated. An impairment loss is entered into the income statement when the carrying amount of an asset exceeds its recoverable amount.

A7 Costs of post-employment benefits

Group Pension plans are classified as either defined benefit plans or defined contribution plans. Under a defined contribution plan, the Group pays fixed contributions to a pension insurance company and has no legal or constructive obligation to pay further contributions. Obligations resulting from a defined contribution plan are expensed in the period to which they relate. The cost of providing defined benefit plans is charged to the income statement over the working lives of the employees participating in the plan on the basis of actuarial calculations. The net liability of defined benefit plans is entered on the balance sheet.

Expenses based on work performed during the term and the net liability interest of defined benefit plans are entered on the income statement and presented under expenses incurred by employment benefits. Items resulting from revaluation the net liability of defined benefit plans (e.g. actuarial gains and losses as well as earnings from plan assets) are recognised in other comprehensive income for the financial period during which they are incurred.

A8 Income taxes

Income taxes in the statement of comprehensive income consist of income taxes and deferred taxes for the current and previous financial periods. Taxes are recognised in the income statement with the exception of any deferred tax for items charged or credited directly to equity. In that case, the tax is also charged or credited directly to equity.

Deferred taxes are calculated using the differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the amounts used for taxation purposes. Deferred taxes are calculated using a corporation tax rate of 20.0 per cent.

An amendment to the Income Tax Act passed by Parliament entered into force through a Government Decree issued on 20 December 2007. The amendment made Finnvera plc exempt from income taxation as of 1 January 2007. The subsidiaries of Finnvera plc have no corresponding exemption.

A9 Financial assets and liabilities

Classification

Financial assets are classified as financial assets at fair value through profit or loss, loans and other receivables as well as available-for-sale financial assets. Financial liabilities are classified as financial liabilities at fair value through profit or loss and other financial liabilities.

Financial assets and liabilities recognised at fair value through profit or loss

Balance sheet items recognised at fair value through profit or loss comprise derivatives held for trading and financial liabilities designated at fair value through profit or loss. Finnvera has no financial assets or liabilities held for trading.

Financial items recognised at fair value through profit or loss comprise derivatives and those liabilities designated at fair value through profit or loss for which the interest rate risk or the currency risk has been hedged using these derivatives. Finnvera applies the fair value option in accordance with IAS 39 Financial Instruments: Recognition and Measurement to the above mentioned items. Fair value changes in assets recognized at fair value through profit or loss are recognised in the income statement under the item Gains and losses from financial instruments carried at fair value through profit or loss.

Venture capital investments made by the Group are classified as financial assets at fair value through profit or loss upon initial recognition. Investments are carried at fair value and the change in fair value is recognised in the income statement, under the item Gains/losses from items carried at fair value (for determination of the fair value of venture capital investments, see A12 Accounting principles requiring the management’s judgment ).

Loans and other receivables

Contracts with fixed or determinable payments that are not quoted in an active market are classified as loans and other receivables. Upon initial recognition loans and other receivables are measured at fair value plus any directly attributable costs. Subsequently these items are measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method.

Available-for-sale financial assets

Non-derivative financial assets that are designated as available for sale or that do not belong to any other category of financial assets are classified as available-for-sale financial assets.

In Finnvera, debt securities as well as shares and holdings other than those held for venture capital investments are classified as available-for-sale financial assets. Upon initial recognition, these assets are measured at fair value plus any transaction costs directly attributable to the acquisition. Subsequently, available-for-sale financial assets are measured at fair value and the change in fair value is recognised in other components of comprehensive income and in equity in the fair value reserve.

If the value of an asset classified as available for sale has declined markedly or for an extended period, the accumulated loss recognised in equity is entered in the income statement. The criteria are as follows: the company has been declared bankrupt or insolvent or has entered into a restructuring agreement, or has sought protection against its creditors, or extensive restructuring having an effect on the creditors is in progress.

Other financial liabilities

Other financial liabilities comprise other liabilities to credit institutions and customers, as well as debt securities in issue, that are not designated as financial liabilities at fair value through profit or loss.

State subsidies and grants received for the purpose of acquisition of subsidiaries are also classified as other financial liabilities because of the repayment obligation relating to these assets in certain situations.

Financial liabilities are recorded in the balance sheet at the amount of the consideration received, adjusted for any transaction costs incurred, and are measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method.

Finnvera treats the zero-interest subordinated loans granted to the Group by the State as loans granted by the owner. They are recognised at nominal value due to their special nature and the related special clauses.

Determination of fair value

The fair value of financial instruments is determined based on the following principles:

Level 1: The fair value of quoted shares, fund investments and other financial instruments is determined on the basis of published price quotations on an active market.

Level 2: If a published price quotation on an active market does not exist for a financial instrument in its entirety, but an active market exists for its components, fair value is determined on the basis of relevant market prices for the components. The valuation techniques used may vary by financial instrument.

Level 3: If the market is not active or the security is unlisted, fair value is determined by using generally accepted valuation techniques. If reliable determination of fair value is not possible, the financial instrument is measured at cost less any impairment losses.

The notes on Group financial assets and liabilities describe in greater detail the principles for determining fair value by financial instrument, the valuation techniques used in various situations, and the classification of the fair value of financial instruments according to whether they were obtained by public listing (Level 1), using valuation techniques that use verifiable data (Level 2), or using valuation techniques based on unverifiable data (Level 3).

Recognition and derecognition of financial assets and liabilities

Loans and other receivables are recognised on the balance sheet when a customer takes out a loan; available-for-sale financial assets and derivatives are entered using trade date accounting, and financial liabilities recognised at fair value through profit or loss are entered when the consideration is received.

Financial assets are derecognised from the balance sheet when the contractual right to the asset expires or when a significant share of the risks and income are transferred to another party. Financial liabilities are derecognised when the related obligations are fulfilled.

Impairment losses on financial assets

An impairment loss is recorded on loans and other receivables when there is objective evidence of impairment as a result of one or more loss events and this has an impact on future cash flows to be received from the receivables.

Objective evidence of a customer’s capability to fulfil obligations is based on the risk classification of customers, past experience and estimates made by the management about the effect of delayed payments on the accruing of receivables.

Impairment is assessed individually and collectively. Receivables where the customer’s total risk exposure is significant are assessed individually. For the purposes of assessing receivables collectively, the receivables are divided into subgroups that are similar in terms of credit risk.

An impairment loss is recognised if the present value of the future cash flows discounted at the receivable’s original effective interest rate is lower than the carrying amount of the receivable. The amount recovered at the realisation of the collateral, as well as the credit loss compensation received from the State, are taken into account in the assessment.

An impairment loss is recognised as a realised loss when the customer has been found insolvent in liquidation proceedings, has ceased operations, or the receivables have been written off in either a voluntary or statutory loan arrangement.

A10 Provisions

Provisions for export credit guarantee losses

A provision is recognised on outstanding export credit guarantees and special guarantees when there is objective evidence that the obligation to pay an indemnity is likely to arise and it is estimated that the present value of the cash flows arising from the indemnity and discounted at the effective interest rate exceeds the correspondingly discounted cash flow from the recovery receivables arisen on the basis of the indemnity paid.

Objective evidence of a customer’s capability to fulfil obligations is based on the risk classification of customers, past experience and estimates made by management about the customer’s ability to repay the credit covered by the guarantee.

The need for provisions is assessed individually and collectively. Individual assessment is applied to commitments where the amount of commitments is substantial, i.e. the total commitment as per the guarantee cover is at least EUR 500,000. For smaller commitments, the need for provisions is assessed collectively.

Provisions for domestic guarantee losses

Provisions for domestic guarantee losses are recognised according to the same principles as the impairment losses recognised on loans and other receivables individually or collectively.

A11 Leases

Leases are classified as finance leases and operating leases. The classification is based on whether the substantial risks and rewards incidental to ownership are transferred to the lessee. Finnvera does not have leases classified as finance leases.

Finnvera enters into operating leases both as a lessee and as a lessor. Lease payments payable and receivable under operating leases are recognised as income or expense on a straight-line basis over the lease term. Operating leases are mostly contracts relating to premises.

A12 Accounting principles requiring the management’s judgment and the key sources of estimation uncertainty

To a certain extent, the preparation of financial statements requires the making of judgments. In Finnvera, the essential judgments concern the assessment of impairment losses on loans and other receivables, the provisions to be made for domestic guarantee and export credit guarantee commitments, and the determination of the fair value of financial instruments and investments made by the associated companies.

Impairment losses on loans and other receivables

For large sums, the impairment testing of receivables included in SME financing is done individually, and for other sums, collectively. The impairment testing is based on estimates of future cash flows to be received. The value of the receivables has impaired if the estimated value of the cash flow discounted on the balance sheet date, including collateral, is less than the book value of the receivables.

The principles for recognising impairment losses are described in more detail under the section Impairment losses on financial assets. During the financial year, impairment losses were only recorded on the balance sheet item Loans and receivables from customers. Note E2 to the balance sheet shows the amount of impairment losses.

Provisions

A provision is recognised on outstanding domestic guarantees and export credit guarantees in SME financing and export financing when there is objective evidence that the obligation to pay an indemnity is likely to arise and it is estimated that the value of the cash flows arising from the indemnity and discounted on the balance sheet date exceeds the correspondingly discounted cash flow from the recovery receivables arisen on the basis of the indemnity paid.

The principles for recognising provisions are described in more detail under section A10 of the accounting principles. The provisions have been made on the commitments presented in the note Contingencies.

Determination of the fair value of venture capital investments

The fair value of venture capital investments made by subsidiaries engaged in venture capital investment is determined using a valuation method approved by the Board of Directors and which complies with the International Private Equity and Venture Capital (IPEV) Valuation Guidelines for early-stage ventures. In this method, the determination of fair value is based on the valuation and investments made by outside investors as well as on the portfolio company valuation approved by the fund’s board of directors. The basis of the valuation is the value to be determined based on the previous round of investments. If necessary, this value can be adjusted in accordance with change factors in the portfolio company, its performance and its operating environment. If a fund’s early-stage venture capital investment portfolio is extensive (approx. 140 investments), a 10 per cent change in the value of a single, average investment will affect the portfolio by a 0.07 percentage point.

Determination of the fair value of liabilities and derivatives

The fair value of SME financing and export credits recognised at fair value through statements of income and derivatives is determined using a method based on the current value of cash flow, in which market interest rates and other accounting information on the end date of the financial period are used as the accounting principles. The fair value of derivatives are equivalent to the average market price in situations, in which the Group would transfer or sell derivatives in normal business operations under the market conditions on the end date of the financial period. The credit risk related to derivatives is mitigated by means.