8.9 Currency translation

Items in the annual financial statements of Group subsidiaries were measured in the currencies corresponding to the economic environment in which each subsidiary primarily operates. These currencies are referred to as functional currencies. The euro is the reporting currency in which the consolidated financial statement is prepared.

Transactions in foreign currencies reported in Group companies’ individual financial statements are converted into the reporting currency at the transaction rate. In accordance with IAS 21 the recognition of exchange differences on translation is guided by the nature of the underlying balance sheet item.

Exchange differences from the translation of monetary assets and liabilities are recognised directly in the statement of income.

Currency translation differences from the translation of non-monetary assets measured at fair value via the statement of income are recognised with the latter as profit or loss from fair value measurement changes.

Exchange differences from non-monetary items – such as equity securities – classified as available for sale are initially recognised outside income in a separate item of shareholders’ equity and only booked to income when such non-monetary items are settled.

The individual companies’ statements of income prepared in the national currencies are converted into euro at the average rates of exchange and transferred to the consolidated financial statement. The conversion of foreign currency items in the balance sheets of the individual companies and the transfer of these items to the consolidated financial statement are effected at the mean rates of exchange on the balance sheet date. In accordance with IAS 21 “The Effects of Changes in Foreign Exchanges Rates” differences from the currency translation of financial statements of foreign Group companies must be recognised in the consolidated financial statement as a separate item in shareholders’ equity. Currency translation differences resulting from long-term loans or lendings without specified maturity between Group companies are similarly recognised outside the statement of income in a separate item of shareholders’ equity.