Annual Report 2020

6 Currency Translation

Accounting Policies

Foreign currency transactions involving Group companies are converted into the functional currency, in accordance with the temporal method, at the exchange rate that applies on the day of the transaction. Monetary balance sheet items denominated in a foreign currency are converted at the exchange rate that applies on each reporting date. Any exchange differences are recognized affecting net income. Non-monetary items that are measured in terms of historical cost are recorded on the reporting date at the exchange rate on the date they were first recognized. Non-monetary items that are measured at fair value are translated on the reporting date using the exchange rate on the date the fair value was determined. Exchange differences relating to non-monetary items are recognized affecting net income insofar as a profit or loss on the corresponding line item is also recognized affecting net income. Otherwise, they are disclosed in other comprehensive income.

The main foreign subsidiaries included in the consolidated financial statements operate their business independently in line with functional theory. The annual financial statements of those subsidiaries whose functional currency is not the euro are converted into the reporting currency using the modified closing rate method. The functional currency of individual foreign units is always the respective local currency. Any resulting exchange differences are disclosed as a separate item in other comprehensive income. When a foreign subsidiary leaves the scope of consolidation, the cumulative exchange differences are reversed and recognized in profit or loss.

Vonovia applies the concept of functional currency translation in accordance with IAS 21 Effects of Changes in Foreign Exchange Rates to its consolidated financial statements. The functional currency of Vonovia SE and the reporting currency of the Vonovia Group is the euro.

The exchange rates of the currencies relevant to the Vonovia Group have developed as follows:

 

Closing rate

Average for period

Basis: € 1

Dec. 31, 2019

Dec. 31, 2020

2019

2020

 

 

 

 

 

HUF – Hungarian forint

324.34*

320.01*

SEK – Swedish krona

10.45

10.03

10.59

10.48

USD – US dollar

1.12

1.23

1.12

1.14

* The exchange rate and the average for the period for the Hungarian forint for 2019 has been fixed for May 31, 2019, as the companies ceased to be included in the scope of consolidation on May 31, 2019.

Fair Value
Fair value is particularly relevant with regard to valuation in accordance with IAS 40 in conjunction with IFRS 13. The fair value is the amount for which an asset could be exchanged between knowledgeable, willing parties in an arm’s length transaction.