By Lee Kin Wai, Published The Straits Times, 18 Feb 2015
RELATED party transactions (RPT) feature prominently in many corporate scandals around the world.
For example, the top management team of Enron used special purpose entities to manipulate profit. Cable TV company Adelphia Communications Corp guaranteed related party debts and provided extensive loans to its top executives.
RPT recently made headlines in Singapore, following an Auditor-General's Office audit of Aljunied-Hougang-Punggol East Town Council (AHPETC).
There are plenty of empirical studies that show the value-destroying impact of RPT. This explains why corporate governance laws insist on regulating them tightly.
There are plenty of empirical studies that show the value-destroying impact of RPT. This explains why corporate governance laws insist on regulating them tightly.
But first, some definitions
A RELATED party transaction is a transfer of resources, services or obligations between a reporting entity and a related party.
Existing financial reporting standards (such as FRS 24) recognise that RPT is a normal feature of commerce and business. Many entities conduct their business activities through subsidiaries, joint ventures and associates, for sound business reasons. A subsidiary that sells goods to its parent at cost might not sell on those terms to another customer.
In a listed firm, the key concern in RPT is that the transactions may not be conducted in an arm's-length manner, resulting in substantial wealth loss to the shareholders.
In a listed firm, the key concern in RPT is that the transactions may not be conducted in an arm's-length manner, resulting in substantial wealth loss to the shareholders.
Under FRS 24, a person is considered related to a reporting entity if he or she has control (typically for voting rights above 50 per cent) or significant influence (typically for voting rights between 20 and 50 per cent); or is a member of the key management personnel. A close family member of such a person is also considered a related party.
An entity is considered related to a reporting entity if both are in a parent company-subsidiary relationship; if it is an associate or joint venture; or if it provides key management personnel services to the reporting entity or to the parent of the reporting entity.
An entity is considered related to a reporting entity if both are in a parent company-subsidiary relationship; if it is an associate or joint venture; or if it provides key management personnel services to the reporting entity or to the parent of the reporting entity.
FRS 24 requires an entity to disclose the nature of the related party relationship, and to give information on the amount of the related party transaction, the amount of outstanding balances and commitments, and terms and conditions of the transactions. It also has to disclose bad debts, and details of guarantees given or received from related parties.
Empirical evidence on RPT
Empirical evidence on RPT
THERE is considerable evidence that RPT can be value-destroying if they are used for earnings manipulation and expropriation of wealth from shareholders.
In a study published in 2009 in the Journal of Banking and Finance, the authors (Yan-Leung Cheung , Yuehua Qi, P. Raghavendra Rau, Aris Stouraitis) found that Hong Kong firms enter deals with related parties at unfavourable prices compared to similar arm's-length deals. They pay higher prices for assets from related parties compared to similar arm's-length deals. When they sell assets to related parties, they receive a lower price.
Using a sample of listed firms in the United States, M. Ryngaert and S. Thomas (2012) find that RPT is associated with lower operating profitability, significant share price declines when RPT is first disclosed, and higher likelihood that a firm will enter into financial distress or securities deregistration.
Another study in 2002 by Kee-Hong Bae, Jun-Koo Kang and Jin-Mo Kim found that the stock price of Korean firms affiliated to industrial groups (chaebols) decreased when they bailed out other under-performing firms in the group through rescue merger.
Issues in the AHPETC case
THE Auditor-General's report dated Feb 6, 2015 highlighted several lapses in the governance of RPT in AHPETC.
The report stated that: "AHPETC did not disclose fully the RPT in its financial statements. Furthermore, it did not adequately manage the conflict of interests of related parties arising from ownership of its key officers. The related parties were two companies engaged by AHPETC to carry out managing agent services and essential maintenance and lift rescue services. They were FM Solutions and Integrated Services (FMSI) and FM Solutions and Services Pte Ltd (FMSS). The Secretary of AHPETC was the owner of FMSI. The Secretary, General Manager and Deputy General Manager of AHPETC were directors and shareholders of FMSS."
From a corporate governance perspective, one would expect that firms disclose their procedures for review, approval and ratification of RPT.
Good governance practices typically require a firm's audit committee or a group of independent directors to review and approve RPT. For example, the minutes of the meeting where the RPT was approved (and noting the views of the company's independent directors) should be properly documented. Furthermore, any related person interested in the transaction should abstain from voting.
The governance practice of some listed firms may provide a useful benchmark. In some countries, listed firms must send a circular to shareholders providing details of the transaction, including the opinion by an independent financial expert.
The Auditor-General's report also noted instances where "the Secretary and General Manager issued payment claims as owner of FMSI and director of FMSS respectively, and subsequently the same General Manager certified these payment claims and approved the payment vouchers in her capacity as an officer of AHPETC".
There were clear conflicts of interest and AHPETC has to put in place adequate mitigating controls to manage the conflicts, the report noted.
What are some possible mitigating controls? This can be independent checking and validation of work done against the invoices by non-related officers prior to payment approval, requiring non- related parties from the top management team to approve the payment, and explicitly prohibiting related parties from approving the payments. Waiver of these requirements should be on an exception basis and the reasons should be clearly documented.
Auditing related party transactions is challenging.
It may be difficult for auditors to identify all related parties and transactions warranting examination. Auditors must rely on management to provide detailed information on related parties and RPT. Thus, RPT should be assessed in the context of the company's overall governance structure, taking into account the importance of management's assertions about the existence and nature of these transactions.
The writer is an associate professor of accounting at the Nanyang Business School, Nanyang Technological University.
Related party transactions: MND replies
WE REFER to the commentary by Associate Professor Lee Kin Wai ("The problem with related party transactions"; Feb 18).
WE REFER to the commentary by Associate Professor Lee Kin Wai ("The problem with related party transactions"; Feb 18).
All town councils (TCs) are to prepare their financial statements in accordance with the Singapore Financial Reporting Standards (FRS). Under FRS 24, a TC is required to disclose related party transactions in the financial statements, in particular, the nature of the relationship and the amount of transactions.
Prof Lee referred to the revised FRS standards, which are applicable to financial statements for periods beginning on or after July 1 last year.
Under the revised standards, transactions between a TC and its managing agent (MA) will also be considered related party transactions, if the MA provides key management personnel services to the TC.
When this comes into effect, all TCs, except Bishan-Toa Payoh TC, which employs its own staff, will have to make related party transactions disclosure in their financial statements.
When this comes into effect, all TCs, except Bishan-Toa Payoh TC, which employs its own staff, will have to make related party transactions disclosure in their financial statements.
This new requirement will apply to the TCs' financial year (FY) 2015/2016 (April this year to March next year) and subsequent accounts.
It did not apply to their FY 2012/2013 accounts, which was the period of the Auditor-General's Office (AGO) audit of Aljunied-Hougang- Punggol East Town Council (AHPETC).
It will also not apply to the TCs' FY 2014/2015 accounts (April last year to next month) to be tabled in Parliament in October, since the accounts began before July 1 last year.
The AGO audit highlighted that AHPETC and its MA, FM Solutions and Services (FMSS), are considered related parties under the prevailing FRS 24.
The AGO audit highlighted that AHPETC and its MA, FM Solutions and Services (FMSS), are considered related parties under the prevailing FRS 24.
This is because the key management personnel of AHPETC - its secretary Danny Loh, its general manager How Weng Fan and its deputy general manager Yeo Soon Fei - are also owners of FMSS providing paid services to AHPETC; they control FMSS and have a clear personal financial interest in transactions between FMSS and the TC.
FM Solutions and Integrated Services (FMSI) and AHPETC are also considered related parties because FMSI is a sole proprietorship owned by Mr Loh.
In no other TCs are their key management personnel also owners of their MA. They are either direct employees of the TCs, like in Bishan-Toa Payoh TC and the former Hougang TC, or employees of the MA, not owners.
With the exception of AHPETC, all other TCs' auditors did not raise any observation on related party transactions in their auditors' reports.
Christine Yap (Ms)
Director
Corporate Communications
Ministry of National Development
ST Forum, 26 Feb 2015
Christine Yap (Ms)
Director
Corporate Communications
Ministry of National Development
ST Forum, 26 Feb 2015
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