Revenue recognition
Sales of seed potatoes and ware potatoes
Revenue from the sale of goods is measured at the fair value of the consideration received or receivable, net of returns and allowances, trade discounts and volume rebates. Revenues from the sale of potatoes are recorded in the profit and loss account when the significant risks and rewards of ownership have been transferred to the buyer, recovery of the payment due is probable, the associated costs and possible return of the potatoes can be estimated reliably, and there is no continuing involvement with the potatoes.
The transfer of risks and benefits varies according to the conditions of the relevant sales contract.
Rendering of services
Revenue from the rendering of services is recorded in the net turnover at the fair value of the consideration received or receivable following deduction of concessions and reductions. These revenues are recorded in the profit and loss account when the revenue amount can be determined in a reliable manner, collection of the related compensation to be received is probable, the extent to which the services have been performed on the balance sheet date can be determined reliably, and the costs already incurred and (possibly) yet to be incurred to complete the service can be determined reliably.
Licences
Licences are paid when third parties have exercised the right to use the company’s assets, such as varieties developed by the company. If the group acts on behalf of varieties developed by third parties, the net operating income is included after the deduction of the payments to these third parties as the Company does not bear the customer credit risk on these licences.
Turnover is recorded if the scope of the payment to be received can be reliably determined and the collection of it is probable.
Government grants
Government grants are initially recorded in the balance sheet as deferred income when there is reasonable assurance that they will be received and there will be full compliance with the conditions associated with them. Government grants that offset incurred costs are recorded as income in the profit and loss account on a systematic basis in the same period in which the costs are incurred. Government grants to offset the costs of an asset are deducted from the cost price of the asset and therefore systematically recorded in the profit and loss account for the period that the asset is in use.
Costs of outsourced work and other external costs
This concerns costs that are directly attributable to net turnover such as cost of trade goods, services, transport, loading and packaging. The costs for development and other costs for research are fully charged to the result in the period in which they are incurred.
Share in result of participating interests
The share in the result of participating interests consists of the share of the group in the results of these participating interests, determined on the basis of the accounting principles of the group. Gains or losses on transactions involving the transfer of assets and liabilities between the company and its non-consolidated participating interests or between non-consolidated participating interests themselves have not been recorded to the extent that they cannot be regarded as realised.
The results of participating interests acquired or sold during the financial year are recorded in the group result from the date of acquisition or until the date of sale respectively.
Personnel expenses
Personnel remuneration is recorded as an expense in the profit and loss account in the period in which the services are provided and, to the extent not already paid, recorded as a liability on the balance sheet. If the amounts already paid exceed the compensation payable, the excess is recorded as a current asset to the extent that there will be reimbursed by the staff or by set-off against future payments by the Company. An expected compensation due to profit sharing and bonus payments are recognized when the obligation to pay that fee has arisen can be made on or before the balance sheet date and a reliable estimate of the liabilities.
For rewards with building rights, profit sharing and bonuses of the projected costs are taken into account during the service. A liability is recorded on the balance sheet date.
The recognised obligation relates to the best estimate of the amounts required to settle the obligation at the balance sheet date. The best estimate is based on contractual agreements with employees (collective bargaining agreements and individual employment contracts). Additions to and releases of liabilities are charged or credited to the profit and loss account.
Dutch Pension plans
The pension commitments are placed with a pension fund. The scheme is financed under the Dutch pension system via contributions to an industry pension fund.
The pension obligations are valued according to the ‘obligation to the pension provider approach’. In this approach, the premium payable to the pension provider is accounted for as a liability in the profit and loss account. Based on the implementation agreement, it is assessed whether and, if so, what obligations exist in addition to the payment of the annual pension payable to the pension provider on the balance sheet date.
These additional obligations, including any obligations arising from the pension provider’s recovery plans, result in charges for the group and are recorded in the balance sheet in a provision. The recorded liability relates to the best estimate of the amounts required to settle it by the balance sheet date. If the effect of the time value of the money is material, the liability is valued at the present value. Discounting takes place on the basis of interest rates of high-quality corporate bonds. Additions to, and releases of, liabilities are charged or credited to the profit and loss account.
At the end of the financial year 2018/2019 there were no pension claims and no liabilities for the group in addition to the payment of the annual pension payable to the pension provider.
The accrual of pension entitlements is always financed by means of (as a minimum) cost-cutting premium payments in the relevant calendar year. The pension scheme is a middleman scheme for both active and inactive participants (deferred pensioners and pensioners) – conditional supplement. The supplement depends on the investment return.
The annual accrual of pension entitlements amounts to 1.875% of the pensionable salary based on the gross salary minus a franchise (EUR 13,785). The pensionable salary is maximised (at EUR 55,927). The annual premium payable to the employer amounts to 100% of the pensionable salary. The amount of the premium is determined annually by the board of the branch pension fund on the basis of coverage and expected returns. As of 30 June 2019, the coverage rate of the industry-funded pension fund concerned will be 93.8% according to the fund’s statement. Based on the implementing regulation, the group has no obligation to meet additional contributions other than by higher future premiums in case of a shortfall in the fund.
Foreign pension plans
Pension plans that are comparable in design and functioning to the Dutch pension system, having a strict segregation of the responsibilities of the parties involved and risk sharing between the said parties (company, fund and members), are recorded and measured in accordance with Dutch pension plans (see previous section).
For foreign pension plans that are not comparable in structure and function to the Dutch pension system, a best estimate is made of the commitment as of the balance sheet date. This commitment should then be stated on the basis of an actuarial valuation principle generally accepted in the Netherlands.
Leasing
The Company may enter into financial and operating leases. A lease contract where the risks and rewards associated with ownership of the leased property are transferred substantially or wholly to the lessee, is referred to as a financial lease.
All other lease contracts are classified as operational leases.
In classifying leases, the economic reality of the transaction is decisive rather than its legal form. If the Company acts as lessee in an operating lease, then the leased property is not capitalised. Lease payments regarding operating leases are charged to the profit and loss account on a linear basis over the lease period. The Company has only operational lease agreements.
Interest income and charges
Interest income is recorded in the profit and loss account on an accrual basis, using the effective interest rate method. Interest charges and similar charges are recorded in the period to which they refer.
Corporate income tax
Corporate income tax comprises the current and deferred corporate income tax payable and deductible for the reporting period. Corporate income tax is recognised in the profit and loss account except to the extent that it relates to items recognised directly to equity, in which case it is recognised in equity, or to business combinations.
Current tax comprises the expected tax payable or recoverable on the taxable profit or loss for the financial year, calculated using tax rates enacted or substantively enacted at the reporting date, and any adjustments to tax payable in respect of previous years.
If the carrying amount of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes differ from their values for tax purposes (tax base), this results in temporary differences.
For taxable temporary differences, a provision for deferred tax liabilities is recognised.
For deductible temporary differences, available tax losses and unused tax credits, a deferred tax asset is recognised, but only to the extent that it is probable that future taxable profits will be available for set-off or compensation. Deferred tax assets are reviewed at each reporting date and reduced to the extent that it is no longer probable that the related tax benefit will be realised.
For taxable temporary differences related to group companies, foreign branches, associates and interests in joint ventures, a deferred tax liability is recognised, unless the Company is able to control the timing of the reversal of the temporary difference and it is probable that the temporary difference will not reverse in the foreseeable future.
For deductible temporary differences regarding group companies, foreign branches, associates and interests in joint ventures, a deferred tax asset is only recognised in so far as it is probable that the temporary difference will reverse in the foreseeable future and that taxable profit will be available to offset the temporary difference can be utilised.
The measurement of deferred tax liabilities and deferred tax assets is based on the tax consequences following from the manner in which the Company expects, at the balance sheet date, to realise or settle its assets, provisions, debts and accrued liabilities. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured at nominal value.
Cash flow statement
The cash flow statement is prepared using the indirect method. Cash flows in foreign currency are translated into euros using the weighted average exchange rates at the dates of the transactions.
Related parties
Transactions with related parties will be explained if these are not entered into under normal market conditions. The nature and scope of the transaction and other information will be provided for these transactions in order to provide further insights.
Subsequent events
Events that provide further information on the actual situation at the balance sheet date and that appear before the financial statements are being prepared, are recognised in the financial statements.
Events that provide no information on the actual situation at the balance sheet date are not recognised in the financial statements. When those events are relevant for the economic decisions of users of the financial statements, the nature and the estimated financial effects of the events are disclosed in the financial statements.