New Rule May Result In Lumpy Property Earnings

Source : The Business Times, 13 Sept 2007

Proposed change requires developers to book revenue only on completion.

A new accounting interpretation standard being proposed will require property developers to recognise revenue from their projects only on completion and not in phases.

Developers are said to be resisting the proposed change in accounting standard which, they say, will result in greater fluctuations in earnings reported by listed property companies.

The new standard is put forward by the Council on Corporate Disclosure and Governance (CCDG) which adopted it from the UK-based International Accounting Standards Board. The CCDG sets accounting standards in Singapore.

The Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Singapore vice-president Ernest Kan said: ‘This will cause earnings of property companies to be more erratic.’

‘Currently, if I started an 18-month project in January, and I complete two-thirds of the project this year, the 2007 financial statement looks nice because I can recognise two-thirds of the revenue and profit.

‘But under the new standard, there will be nothing to show for it in the 2007 financial statements, but next year when the project is completed there will be a sudden surge of revenue and profit which is recognised.’

The proposed change aims to standardise accounting practices among real estate developers for sales of units such as apartments before construction is complete.

The Real Estate Developers’ Association of Singapore said yesterday that it has given feedback to the CCDG on behalf of developers but declined further comments.

Hiap Hoe executive director Cindy Lim said: ‘Financial accounting should reflect the business and economic value generated by companies.’

‘If we were to recognise revenue only upon the completion of a property, it would not be a fair reflection of a company’s performance. Commercially speaking, revenue would have already been generated once the property is sold - even if it is only half completed.’

And the chief financial officer of a listed property developer said: ‘Most developers would prefer the status quo because we don’t want gyrations in earnings.

‘Besides, home buyers here make progressive payments based on completion, and risks are passed on to them accordingly, so developers should be allowed to recognise revenue.’

Dr Kan said the change could be implemented as soon as the financial year beginning on or after Jan 1 next year.

The CCDG has gathered feedback on the proposed change and will pass it on to the IASB, which is inviting comments until Oct 5.

‘It will be interesting to see if Singapore will adopt this. It generally wants to adopt international standards, and has only resisted doing so in very unique circumstances,’ Dr Kan said.