Analyse de l'application de la norme IAS 38 pour une sélection d'entreprises et de secteurs affectés par la crise sanitaire.

Abstract

In the first quarter of 2020, the Covid-19 health crisis affected the whole world. A period of closure and restrictions impacted the business of companies in many sectors including hotels, entertainment, construction, and sport. This thesis analyses the impact of the crisis on the financial statements of ten listed companies in Europe. Specifically, we examine the application of IAS 36 and IAS 38 over the years 2018 to 2021 financial years. The study found that the health crisis has caused a deterioration in operating profit through reduced sales as well as the recognition of impairments. These impairments were mainly recorded after the emergence of impairment indicators related to the Covid-19 crisis. The findings show that the application of the standards is homogeneous regarding the accounting principles. But companies follow the principles set out by the IASB with varying degrees of rigour. Not all the entities disclose their financial information with as many details and precision as possible. The priorities of the ESMA for the 2020 and 2021 financial statements were followed by the preparers as regards to transparency of the impacts of Covid-19 and external indicators of impairment. The health crisis clearly impacted the application of the IAS 36 with it being an exceptional event. However, it did not impact IAS 38 because the standard consists of accounting principles already adopted by the companies and those are not supposed to change with the economic environment.