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17. Trade and other receivables

(in millions of euros)

31 December 2020

31 December 2019

Receivables from clients from work in progress

-

-

Trade receivables

379

445

Unbilled revenue

117

305

Other taxes and social security charges

181

86

Other receivables

498

308

Total

1,175

1,144

Trade and other receivables includes an amount of €210 million (2019: €3 million) relating to ProRail and the Dutch central government. Of this amount, €202 million relates to the availability payment for public transport receivable in the Netherlands and €6 million relates to the NOW receivable (see note 1).

The ageing of receivables as at the reporting date was as follows.

(in millions of euros)

 

31 December 2020

 

31 December 2019

 

Gross

Provided for

Gross

Provided for

Not past due

144

21

374

-

Past due 0-30 days

98

18

46

-

Past due 31-120 days

162

14

19

1

Past due 121-180 days

6

2

3

1

Past due 181-360 days

23

2

3

1

Past due more than one year

5

2

4

1

Total

438

59

449

4

Included under a number of age categories are receivables from franchising authorities in Germany and the United Kingdom on which no provisions have been made.

Impairment losses

Movements in the provision for impairments of trade receivables during the year were as follows:

(in millions of euros)

2020

2019

Balance as at 1 January

4

3

Additions

56

5

Use

-1

-3

Release

-

-1

Balance as at 31 December

59

4

The increase in the provision for receivables is mainly caused by a provision made in connection with a claim against a supplier.

Accounting policy

Trade and other receivables are stated at fair value plus any directly attributable transaction costs upon initial recognition. After initial recognition, they are recognised at amortised cost using the effective interest method.

The Group has formed a provision for impairment equal to the size of the estimated credit losses from trade and other receivables. The most important elements of this provision are a specific loss provision for significant individual positions and a group loss provision for groups of comparable assets concerning losses that are expected but have not yet been identified. The group loss provision is determined on the basis of historic payment data for comparable financial assets.

Provisions for trade receivables are made in the case of an impairment, unless the Group is certain that it will not be possible to recover the amount owed. In that case, the amount is considered irrecoverable and is written off directly against the financial asset concerned.

Construction contracts are stated at cost plus profit taken as at the balance sheet date, less a provision for anticipated losses and less progress billings. The cost encompasses all expenditure relating directly to specific projects and an attributable portion of the fixed and variable indirect costs incurred in connection with the contract activities, based on normal production capacity.

A receivable is created if the sum of the costs incurred (including the recognised profit or loss) exceeds the sum of the progress billings. If the sum of the costs incurred (including the recognised profit or loss) is less than the sum of the progress billings, the item is classified as a liability.

Contractual revenue and expenses arising from construction contracts are accounted for in the income statement in proportion to the stage of completion of the contract. The stage of completion is determined by ascertaining the costs of the work performed in relation to the total expected cost. As soon as the profit/loss can be reliably estimated, a proportionate part of the profit is credited to the income statement. Expected losses on contracts are recognised immediately and in full in the income statement.

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