Significant accounting policies

Principles of valuation and determination of results

The annual accounts are prepared in accordance with the financial reporting requirements as included in Part 9 of Book 2 of the Dutch Civil Code with the allowed application of the accounting policies (EU-IFRS) as set forth in the consolidated annual accounts. The principles of valuation and determination of results stated in the consolidated balance sheet and profit and loss account are also applicable to the company balance sheet and profit and loss account. Investments in group companies are initially recognized at cost and subsequently accounted for by the equity method.

Intercompany accounts with subsidiaries consist of current accounts. These current accounts are freely disposal. Low credit risk exemption is applied due to limited credit risk and expected credit loss is not calculated. 

Reference to the consolidated annual accounts

As mentioned above, the accounting policies applied in the annual accounts correspond with the consolidated annual accounts. Furthermore, the consolidated annual accounts have a limited consolidation scope and accordingly the notes to the balance sheet and profit and loss account are almost similar in both the company annual accounts and the consolidated annual accounts. In these cases reference is made to the disclosure notes and information provided in the consolidated annual accounts. For the mandatory disclosure notes and those notes with larger discrepancies, the information is included in the notes to the company’s annual accounts.

Estimates and assumptions

In preparing the annual accounts, management is required to make estimates and assumptions that affect reported income, expenses, assets, liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. Use of available information and application of judgment are inherent in the formation of estimates. Although these estimates are based on management’s best knowledge of current events and actions, actual results could differ from such estimates and the differences may be material to the annual accounts. The most relevant estimates and assumptions relate to the determination of the fair value of financial instruments based on generally accepted modeled valuation techniques and the determination of the counterparty specific and group-specific value adjustments. Estimates and assumptions are also used for the pension liabilities, determination of tax and depreciation of PP&E assets and others.