6.1 General accounting policies
Due to the necessary rounding, it is possible that subtotals or totals do not match the individual amounts.
Basis of consolidation
The consolidated financial statements of the Alpiq Group comprise the consolidated financial statements of Alpiq Holding Ltd. and its subsidiaries prepared by using consistent accounting policies. All intragroup balances, transactions, income and expenses are eliminated in full.
Subsidiaries are companies that are controlled by Alpiq Holding Ltd., either directly or indirectly. Such companies are consolidated at the date control is obtained. Companies are deconsolidated or recognised under “Investments in partner power plants and other associates” or under “Other non-current assets” when control over the company is lost.
Investments in partner power plants and other associates in which the Alpiq Group has significant influence are included in the consolidated financial statements by applying the equity method. The Alpiq Group’s interest in the assets, liabilities, income and expenses of such companies is disclosed in note 4.3.
All other investments are recognised at fair value and included in non-current assets as “Other non-current assets”.
Foreign currency translation
The consolidated financial statements are presented in Swiss francs (CHF), which is both the functional currency of Alpiq Holding Ltd. and its reporting currency. The functional currency of each company in the Group is determined by the economic environment in which it operates. Transactions in foreign currencies are recorded in the group company’s functional currency at the exchange rate prevailing on the transaction date. Monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are translated into the functional currency at the closing exchange rate on the reporting date. The resultant currency translation differences are recognised in the income statement.
Receivables and loans due from foreign operations for which settlement is neither planned nor likely to occur in the foreseeable future are, in substance, part of the company’s net investment in that foreign operation. The resulting translation differences are recognised separately in other comprehensive income as part of the foreign currency translation differences and reclassified from equity to the income statement on disposal of the net investment in the foreign operation.
The assets and liabilities of subsidiaries are translated into Swiss francs at the closing exchange rate at the reporting date. Income statement items are translated at the average exchange rate for the reporting period. Currency translation differences are recognised as a separate item in other comprehensive income. On disposal of a subsidiary or loss of control and on disposal of an associate or partner power plant or the loss of significant influence, the cumulative currency translation differences relating to that subsidiary are recognised in the income statement as part of the gain or loss on sale in the period in which the subsidiary is disposed of, or control ceases.
The following exchange rates were used for currency translation:
Unit |
Closing rate at 31 Dec 2020 |
Closing rate at 31 Dec 2019 |
Average rate for 2020 |
Average rate for 2019 |
1 EUR |
1.080 |
1.085 |
1.070 |
1.113 |
1 GBP |
1.202 |
1.276 |
1.204 |
1.269 |
1 USD |
0.880 |
0.966 |
0.939 |
0.994 |
100 CZK |
4.116 |
4.272 |
4.049 |
4.335 |
100 HUF |
0.297 |
0.328 |
0.305 |
0.342 |
100 NOK |
10.317 |
11.004 |
9.999 |
11.302 |
100 PLN |
23.690 |
25.498 |
24.103 |
25.893 |
100 RON |
22.188 |
22.693 |
22.124 |
23.447 |