Revenue Recognition Accounting Policy
Under the condition that persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists revenue is recognized to the extent that it is probable that the economic benefits will flow to Siemens and the revenue can be reliably measured, regardless of when the payment is being made. In cases where the inflow of economic benefits is not probable due to customer related credit risks the revenue recognized is subject to the amount of payments irrevocably received. Revenue is measured at the fair value of the consideration received or receivable net of discounts and rebates and excluding taxes or duty. Siemens assesses its revenue arrangements against specific criteria in order to determine if it is acting as principal or agent. The following specific recognition criteria must also be met before revenue is recognized:
Sale of goods
Revenue from the sale of goods is recognized when the significant risks and rewards of ownership of the goods have passed to the buyer, usually on delivery of the goods.
Sales from construction contracts
A construction contract is a contract specifically negotiated for the construction of an asset or a combination of assets that are closely interrelated or interdependent in terms of their design, technology and function or their ultimate purpose or use. When the outcome of a construction contract can be estimated reliably, revenues from construction-type projects are generally recognized under the percentage-of-completion method, based on the percentage of costs to date compared to the total estimated contract costs, contractual milestones or performance. An expected loss on the construction contract is recognized as an expense immediately. When the outcome of a construction contract cannot be estimated reliably (1) revenue is recognized only to the extent contract costs incurred are probable of being recoverable, and (2) contract costs are recognized as an expense in the period in which they are incurred.
When a contract covers a number of assets, the construction of each asset is treated as a separate construction contract when (1) separate proposals have been submitted for each asset, (2) each asset has been subject to separate negotiation and the contractor and the customer have been able to accept or reject that part of the contract relating to each asset, and (3) the costs and revenues of each asset can be identified. A group of contracts, whether with a single customer or with several customers are treated as a single construction contract when (1) the group of contracts is negotiated as a single package, (2) the contracts are so closely interrelated that they are, in effect, part of a single project with an overall profit margin, and (3) the contracts are performed concurrently or in a continuous sequence.
During project execution variation orders by the customer for a change in the scope of the work to be performed under the contract may be received leading to an increase or a decrease in contract revenue. Examples of such variations are changes in the specifications or design of the asset and changes in the duration of the contract.
Rendering of services
Revenues from service transactions are recognized as services are performed. For long-term service contracts, revenues are recognized on a straight-line basis over the term of the contract or, if the performance pattern is other than straight-line, as the services are provided, i.e. generally under the percentage-of-completion method.
Sales from multiple element arrangements
Sales of goods and services as well as software arrangements sometimes involve the provision of multiple elements. In these cases, Siemens determines whether the contract or arrangement contains more than one unit of accounting. An arrangement is separated if (1) the delivered element(s) has (have) value to the customer on a stand-alone basis, (2) there is reliable evidence of the fair value of the undelivered element(s) and (3), if the arrangement includes a general right of return relative to the delivered element(s), delivery or performance of the undelivered element(s) is (are) considered probable and substantially in the control of Siemens. If all three criteria are fulfilled, the appropriate revenue recognition convention is then applied to each separate unit of accounting. Generally, the total arrangement consideration is allocated to the separate units of accounting based on their relative fair values. The hierarchy of fair value evidence is as follows: (a) sales prices for the component when it is regularly sold on a stand-alone basis, (b) third-party prices for similar components or, under certain circumstances, (c) cost plus an adequate business-specific profit margin related to the relevant element. By this means, reliable fair values are generally available. However, there might be cases when fair value evidence according to (a) and (b) is not available and the application of the cost plus-method (c) does not create reasonable results because the costs incurred are not an appropriate base for the determination of the fair value of an element. In such cases the residual method is used, if fair value evidence is available for the undelivered but not for one or more of the delivered elements, i.e. the amount allocated to the delivered elements equals the total arrangement consideration less the aggregate fair value of the undelivered elements. If the three separation criteria (1) to (3) are not met, revenue is deferred until such criteria are met or until the period in which the last undelivered element is delivered. The amount allocable to the delivered elements is limited to the amount that is not contingent upon delivery of additional elements or meeting other specified performance obligations.
Interest income
Interests are recognized using the effective interest method.
Royalties
Royalties are recognized on an accrual basis in accordance with the substance of the relevant agreement.
Income from lease arrangements
Operating lease income for equipment rentals is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term. An arrangement that is not in the legal form of a lease is accounted for as a lease if it is dependent on the use of a specific asset or assets and the arrangement conveys a right to use the asset. Receivables from finance leases, in which Siemens as lessor transfers substantially all the risks and rewards incidental to ownership to the customer are recognized at an amount equal to the net investment in the lease. Finance income is subsequently recognized based on a pattern reflecting a constant periodic rate of return on the net investment using the effective interest method. A selling profit component on manufacturing leases is recognized based on the policies for outright sales. Profit from sale and leaseback transactions is recognized immediately if significant risks and rewards of ownership have passed to the buyer, the leaseback results in an operating lease and the transaction is established at fair value.
Dividends
Dividends are recognized when the right to receive payment is established.
Source: Siemens AG, Annual Report
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