Search this Act

Jump directly to a section by number or title.

Standard 3400

The Examination of Prospective Financial Information

1. The purpose of this Standard on Assurance Engagement (SAE) is to establish standards and provide guidance on engagements to examine and report on prospective financial information including examination procedures for best-estimate and hypothetical assumptions. This SAE does not apply to the examination of prospective financial information expressed in general or narrative terms, such as that found in management’s discussion and analysis in an entity’s annual report, though many of the procedures outlined herein may be suitable for such an examination1. Further, the principles laid down in the other Standards on Auditing, issued by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India, should be used by the auditor, to the extent practicable, in applying this SAE.

2. In an engagement to examine prospective financial information, the auditor2 should obtain sufficient appropriate evidence as to whether:

(a)
management’s best-estimate assumptions on which the prospective financial information is based are not unreasonable and, in the case of hypothetical assumptions, such assumptions are consistent with the purpose of the information;
(b)
the prospective financial information is properly prepared on the basis of the assumptions;
(c)
the prospective financial information is properly presented and all material assumptions are adequately disclosed, including a clear indication as to whether they are best-estimate assumptions or hypothetical assumptions; and 1 The guidance provided in this Standard is in line with the provisions of clause (3) of Part I of the Second Schedule to the Chartered Accountants Act, 1949 [as amended by the Chartered Accountants (Amendment) Act, 2006]. This clause provides that a chartered accountant in practice shall be deemed to be guilty of professional misconduct “if he permits his name or the name of his firm to be used in connection with an estimate of earnings contingent upon future transactions in a manner which may lead to the belief that he vouches for the accuracy of the forecast.” As per the opinion of the Council while finalising the Guidance Note on Accountant’s Report on Profit Forecasts and/or Financial Forecasts at its 100th meeting held on 22nd through 24th July 1982, a chartered accountant can participate in the preparation of profit or financial forecasts and can review them, provided he indicates clearly in his report the sources of information, the basis of forecasts and also the major assumptions made in arriving at the forecasts and so long as he does not vouch for the accuracy of the forecasts. The Council has further opined that the same opinion would also apply to projections made on the basis of hypothetical assumptions about future events and management actions which are not necessarily expected to take place so long as the auditor does not vouch for the accuracy of the projection. (emphasis added) 2 The term “auditor” is used throughout this SAE when describing services involving examination of prospective financial information. Such reference is not intended to imply that a member performing such services need necessarily be the statutory auditor of the entity’s financial statements.
(d)
the prospective financial information is prepared on a consistent basis with historical financial statements, using appropriate accounting principles.

3. “Prospective financial information” means financial information based on assumptions about events that may occur in the future and possible actions by an entity. It is highly subjective in nature and its preparation requires the exercise of considerable judgment. Prospective financial information can be in the form of a forecast, a projection, or a combination of both, for example, a one year forecast plus a five year projection.

4. A “forecast” means prospective financial information prepared on the basis of assumptions as to future events which management expects to take place and the actions management expects to take as of the date the information is prepared (best-estimate assumptions).

5. A “projection” means prospective financial information prepared on the basis of:

(a)
hypothetical assumptions about future events and management actions which are not necessarily expected to take place, such as when some entities are in a start-up phase or are considering a major change in the nature of operations; or
(b)
a mixture of best-estimate and hypothetical assumptions. Such information illustrates the possible consequences as of the date the information is prepared if the events and actions were to occur (a “what-if” scenario).

6. Prospective financial information can include financial statements or one or more elements of financial statements and may be prepared:

(a)
as an internal management tool, for example, to assist in evaluating a possible capital investment; or
(b)
for the distribution/submission to third parties in, for example:  a prospectus to provide potential investors with information about future expectations.  an annual report to provide information to shareholders, regulatory bodies and other interested parties.  a document, for example, cash flow forecasts, for the information of lenders.

7. Management is responsible for the preparation and presentation of the prospective financial information, including the identification and disclosure of the sources of information, the basis of forecasts and the underlying assumptions. The auditor may be asked to examine and report on the prospective financial information to enhance its credibility, whether it is intended for use by third parties or for internal purposes.

The Auditor’s Assurance Regarding Prospective Financial

Information

8. Prospective financial information relates to events and actions that have not yet occurred and might not occur. While evidence may be available to support the assumptions on which the prospective financial information is based, such evidence is itself generally future-oriented and, therefore, speculative in nature, as distinct from the evidence ordinarily available in the examination of historical financial information. The auditor is, therefore, not in a position to express an opinion as to whether the results shown in the prospective financial information will be achieved.

9. Further, given the types of evidence available in assessing the assumptions on which the prospective financial information is based, it may be difficult for the auditor to obtain a level of satisfaction sufficient to provide a positive expression of opinion that the assumptions are free of material misstatement. Consequently, in this SAE, when reporting on the reasonableness of management’s assumptions, the auditor provides only a moderate level of assurance.

Acceptance of Engagement

10. Before accepting an engagement to examine prospective financial information, the auditor would consider, amongst other things:  the intended use of the information;  whether the information will be for general or limited distribution;  the nature of the assumptions, that is, whether they are best-estimates or hypothetical assumptions;  the elements to be included in the information; and  the period covered by the information.

11. The auditor should not accept, or should withdraw from, an engagement when the assumptions are clearly unrealistic or when the auditor believes that the prospective financial information will be inappropriate for its intended use.

12. In accordance with SA 210, “Terms of Audit Engagement”, it is necessary that the auditor and the client should agree on the terms of the engagement. It is in the interest of both client and auditor that the auditor sends an engagement letter to help in avoiding misunderstandings regarding the engagement. An engagement letter would address the matters in paragraph 10 and set out the management’s responsibilities for the assumptions and for providing the auditor with all relevant information and source data used in developing the assumptions.

Knowledge of the Business

13. The auditor should obtain a sufficient level of knowledge of the business to be able to evaluate whether all significant assumptions required for the preparation of the prospective financial information have been identified. The auditor would also need to become familiar with the entity’s process for preparing prospective financial information, for example, by considering:

(a)
The internal controls over the system used to prepare prospective financial information and the expertise and experience of those persons preparing the prospective financial information.
(b)
The nature of the documentation prepared by the entity supporting management’s assumptions.
(c)
The extent to which statistical, mathematical and computer-assisted techniques are used.
(d)
The methods used to develop and apply assumptions.
(e)
The accuracy of prospective financial information prepared in prior periods, if any, and the reasons for any significant variances therein.

14. The auditor should consider the extent to which reliance on the entity’s historical financial information is justified. The auditor requires knowledge of the entity’s historical financial information to assess whether the prospective financial information has been prepared on a basis consistent with the historical financial information and to provide a historical yardstick for considering management’s assumptions. The auditor will need to establish, for example, whether relevant historical information was audited or reviewed and whether acceptable accounting principles were used in its preparation.

15. If the audit or review report on prior period historical financial information was other than a clean report3 or if the entity is in a start-up/expansion phase, the auditor would consider the relevant facts and the effect on the examination of the prospective financial information.

Period Covered

16. The auditor should consider the period of time covered by the prospective financial information. Since assumptions become more speculative as the length of the period covered increases, as that period 3 Alternatively known as the unmodified report in terms of the Standard on Auditing (SA) 700(Revised), “Forming an Opinion and Reporting on Financial Statements”. lengthens, the ability of management to make best-estimate assumptions decreases. The period would not extend beyond the time for which management has a reasonable basis for the assumptions. The following are some of the factors that are relevant to the auditor’s consideration of the period of time covered by the prospective financial information:

(a)
The operating cycle, for example, in the case of a major construction project undertaken by a construction company, the time required to complete the project may dictate the period covered.
(b)
The degree of reliability of assumptions, for example, if the entity is introducing a new product, the prospective period covered could be short and broken into small segments, such as weeks or months. Alternatively, if for example, the entity’s sole business is owning a property under long-term lease, a relatively long prospective period might be reasonable.
(c)
The needs of users, for example, prospective financial information may be prepared in connection with an application for a loan for the period of time required to generate sufficient funds for repayment. Alternatively, the information may be prepared for investors in connection with the issue of securities to illustrate the intended use of the proceeds in the subsequent period.

Examination Procedures

17. When determining the nature, timing and extent of examination procedures, the auditor should consider matters such as:

(a)
the knowledge obtained during any previous engagements;
(b)
management’s competence regarding the preparation of prospective financial information;
(c)
the likelihood of material misstatement;
(d)
the extent to which the prospective financial information is affected by the management’s judgment;
(e)
the sources of information considered by the management for the purpose, their adequacy, reliability of the underlying data, including data derived from third parties, such as industry statistics, to support the assumptions;
(f)
the stability of entity’s business; and
(g)
the engagement team’s experience with the business and the industry in which the entity operates and with reporting on prospective financial information.

18. The auditor would assess the source and reliability of the evidence supporting management’s best-estimate assumptions. Sufficient appropriate evidence supporting such assumptions would be obtained from internal and external sources including consideration of the assumptions in the light of historical information and an evaluation of whether they are based on plans that are within the entity’s capacity. Examples of external sources are government publications, industry publications, economic forecast, existing or proposed legislation, and reports of changing technology. Examples of internal sources are budgets, the economic substance and viability of the entity and/or transaction or project of the entity, reputation of management responsible for assumptions underlying the prospective financial information, wage agreements, patents, royalty agreements and records, sales backlog records, debt agreements, and actions of the board of directors involving entity plans, etc.

19. The auditor would consider whether, when hypothetical assumptions are used, all significant implications of such assumptions have been taken into consideration. For example, if sales are assumed to grow beyond the entity’s current plant capacity, the prospective financial information will need to include the necessary investment in the additional plant capacity or the costs of alternative means of meeting the anticipated sales, such as subcontracting production.

20. The auditor would need to be satisfied that the hypothetical assumptions are consistent with the purpose of the prospective financial information and that there is no reason to believe they are clearly unrealistic.

21. The auditor will need to be satisfied that the prospective financial information is properly prepared from management’s assumptions by, for example, making checks such as recomputation and reviewing internal consistency, that is, the actions management intends to take are compatible with each other and there are no inconsistencies in the determination of the amounts that are based on common variables such as interest rates.

22. The auditor would focus on the extent to which those areas that are particularly sensitive to variation will have a material effect on the results shown in the prospective financial information. This will influence the extent to which the auditor will seek appropriate evidence. It will also influence the auditor’s evaluation of the appropriateness and adequacy of disclosure.

23. When engaged to examine one or more elements of prospective financial information, such as an individual financial statement, it is important that the auditor considers the interrelationship of other components in the financial statements.

24. When any elapsed portion of the current period is included in the prospective financial information, the auditor would consider the extent to which procedures need to be applied to the historical information. Procedures will vary depending on the circumstances, for example, how much of the prospective period has elapsed.

25. The auditor should obtain written representations from management regarding the intended use of the prospective financial information, the completeness of significant management assumptions and management’s acceptance of its responsibility for the prospective financial information. The management is also responsible for identification and disclosure of uncontrollable factors, outstanding litigations, commitments, or any other material factors that are likely to affect the prospective financial information.

Presentation and Disclosure

26. When assessing the presentation and disclosure of the prospective financial information and the underlying assumptions, in addition to the specific requirements of any relevant statutes, regulations as well as the relevant professional pronouncements, the auditor will need to consider whether:

(a)
the presentation of prospective financial information is informative and not misleading;
(b)
the accounting policies are clearly disclosed in the notes to the prospective financial information;
(c)
the assumptions are adequately disclosed in the notes to the prospective financial information. It needs to be clear whether assumptions represent management’s best-estimates or are hypothetical and, when assumptions are made in areas that are material and are subject to a high degree of uncertainty, this uncertainty and the resulting sensitivity of results needs to be adequately disclosed;
(d)
the date as of which the prospective financial information was prepared is disclosed. Management needs to confirm that the assumptions are appropriate as of this date, even though the underlying information may have been accumulated over a period of time;
(e)
the basis of establishing points in a range is clearly indicated and the range is not selected in a biased or misleading manner when results shown in the prospective financial information are expressed in terms of a range; and
(f)
there is any change in the accounting policy of the entity from that disclosed in the most recent historical financial statements and whether reason for the change and the effect of such change on the prospective financial information has been adequately disclosed.

Documentation

27. The auditor should document matters, which are important in providing evidence to support his report on examination of prospective financial information, and evidence that such examination was carried out in accordance with this SAE. The working papers will include the sources of information, basis of forecasts and the assumptions made in arriving the forecasts, hypothetical assumptions, evidence supporting the assumptions, management representations regarding the intended use and distribution of the information, completeness of material assumptions, management’s acceptance of its responsibility for the information, audit plan, the nature, timing and extent of examination procedures performed, and, in case the auditor expresses a modified opinion or withdraws from the engagement, the reasons forming the basis of such decision.

Report

on

Examination

of

Prospective

Financial

Information

28. The report by an auditor on an examination of prospective financial information should contain the following:

(a)
Title;
(b)
Addressee;
(c)
Identification of the prospective financial information;
(d)
Reference to the Standards on Auditing applicable to the examination of prospective financial information;
(e)
Statement that management is responsible for the prospective financial information including the underlying assumptions;
(f)

When applicable, a reference to the purpose and/or restricted distribution of the prospective financial information;

(g)
Statement that the examination procedures included examination, on a test basis, of evidence supporting the assumptions, amounts and other disclosures in the forecast or projection;
(h)
Statement of negative assurance as to whether the assumptions provide a reasonable basis for the prospective financial information;
(i)

Opinion as to whether the prospective financial information is properly prepared on the basis of the assumptions and is presented in accordance with the relevant financial reporting framework;

(j)

Appropriate caveats concerning the achievability of the results indicated by the prospective financial information;

(k)
Date of report (which should be the date procedures have been completed);
(l)

Place of signature; and

(m)
Signature.

29. Such a report would:  State whether, based on the examination of the evidence supporting the assumptions, anything has come to the auditor’s attention, which causes the auditor to believe that the assumptions do not provide a reasonable basis for the prospective financial information.  Express an opinion as to whether the prospective financial information is properly prepared on the basis of the assumptions and is presented in accordance with the relevant financial reporting framework.  State that:  Actual results are likely to be different from the prospective financial information since anticipated events frequently do not occur as expected and the variation could be material. Likewise, when the prospective financial information is expressed as a range, it would be stated that there can be no assurance that actual results will fall within the range; and  In the case of a projection, the prospective financial information has been prepared for (intended use), using a set of assumptions that include hypothetical assumptions about future events and management’s actions that are not necessarily expected to occur.

Consequently, readers are cautioned that the prospective financial information should not be used for purposes other than the abovementioned intended use.

30. The following is an example of an extract from an unmodified report on a projection:

We have examined the projection of _____________ (project)__________

(name of the entity) for the period from _______ to ______ as given in4 ____ to the Prospective Financial Information from page __to ___in accordance with Standard on Assurance Engagement 3400, “The Examination of Prospective Financial Information”, issued by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India. The preparation and presentation of the projection including the underlying assumptions, set out in note ____ to ______ to the prospective financial information, is the responsibility of the Management and has been approved by the Board of Directors5 of the company. Our responsibility is to examine the evidence supporting the assumptions (excluding the hypothetical assumption) and other information in the prospective financial information. Our responsibility does not include verification of the accuracy of the projections. Therefore, we do not vouch for the accuracy of the same. 4 Provide suitable identification, such as by reference to page numbers or by identifying the individual schedule. 5 Other corresponding approving authority in the case of entities other than companies. This projection has been prepared for (describe purpose). As the entity is in a start-up phase the projection has been prepared using a set of assumptions that include hypothetical assumptions about future events and management’s actions that are not necessarily expected to occur.

Consequently, readers are cautioned that this projection may not be appropriate for purposes other than that described above.

We have carried out our examination of the prospective financial information on a test basis. Based on our examination of the evidence supporting the assumptions, nothing has come to our attention which causes us to believe that these assumptions do not provide a reasonable basis for the projection, assuming that ________________ (state or refer to the hypothetical assumptions). Further, in our opinion the projection is properly prepared on the basis of the assumptions as set out in Note _____ to the Prospective Financial Information and on a consistent basis in accordance with the historical financial statements, using appropriate accounting principles. Even if the events anticipated under the hypothetical assumptions described above occur, actual results are still likely to be different from the projection since other anticipated events frequently do not occur as expected and the variation may be material. A complete illustrative format of an unmodified report on a projection is given in Appendix 1.

31. The following is an example of an extract from an unmodified report on a forecast:

We have examined the forecast of ____________________ (project) of the

______________________ (name of the entity) for the period from ___________ to ___________ in accordance with the Standard on

Assurance Engagements (SAE) 3400, “The Examination of Prospective

Financial Information”, issued by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of

India. The preparation and presentation of the forecast including the underlying assumptions, set out in Note _____ to the Prospective Financial Information is the responsibility of the management and has been approved by the Board of Directors of the Company. The sources of information are set out in Annexure ______ to the prospective financial information. Our responsibility is to examine the evidence supporting the forecast. Our responsibility does not include verification of the accuracy of the forecasts. Therefore, we do not vouch for the accuracy of the same.

Based on our examination of the evidence supporting the assumptions, nothing has come to our attention which causes us to believe that these assumptions do not provide a reasonable basis for the forecast. Further, in our opinion the forecast is properly prepared on the basis of the assumptions as set out in Note ____ and on consistent basis with historical financial statements, using appropriate accounting principles. Actual results are likely to be different from the forecast since anticipated events frequently do not occur as expected and the variation may be material. A complete illustrative format of an unmodified report on a forecast is given in Appendix 2.

32. When the auditor believes that the presentation and disclosure of the prospective financial information is not adequate, the auditor should express a qualified or adverse opinion in the report on the prospective financial information, or withdraw from the engagement as appropriate. An example would be where financial information fails to disclose adequately the consequences of any assumptions, which are highly sensitive.

33. When the auditor believes that one or more significant assumptions do not provide a reasonable basis for the prospective financial information prepared on the basis of best-estimate assumptions or that one or more significant assumptions do not provide a reasonable basis for the prospective financial information given the hypothetical assumptions, the auditor should either express an adverse opinion setting out the reasons in the report on the prospective financial information, or withdraw from the engagement.

34. When the examination is affected by conditions that preclude application of one or more procedures considered necessary in the circumstances, the auditor should either withdraw from the engagement or disclaim the opinion and describe the scope limitation in the report on the prospective financial information.

Effective Date

35. This SAE is effective in relation to reports on projections/forecasts, issued on or after April 1, 2007. However, earlier application of the Standard is encouraged.

Compatibility with International Standard on Assurance

Engagement (ISAE) 3400

Except for the matters noted below, the basic principles and essential procedures of this SAE and International Standard on Assurance Engagement

(ISAE)
3400 “The Examination of Prospective Financial Information”, are consistent in all material respects:
(a)
SAE precludes the auditor from expressing positive assurance regarding the assumptions as it may tantamount to vouching for the accuracy of the forecast/projection/hypothetical assumptions. Whereas, the ISAE 3400 permits the auditor to express positive assurance when in his judgment an appropriate level of satisfaction has been obtained.
(b)
The sub points in paragraph 17 (corresponding to paragraph 17 of the ISAE 3400) have been rearranged. Sub point (e) has been elucidated for the sake of better understanding of the readers. The sub points (f) and (g) have been added in the SAE as additional factors to be considered by the auditor.
(c)
In paragraph 20 of the SAE, the phrase “although evidence supporting hypothetical assumptions need not be obtained” has been deleted since it is felt that such a phrase is inconsistent with the necessity for the auditor to obtain evidence to support his conclusions.
(d)
In paragraph 26 (corresponding to paragraph 26 of the ISAE 3400), the term “professional standards” has been changed to “professional pronouncements” since pronouncements would include standards as well as other relevant documents, such as Guidance Notes, announcement(s), issued by the ICAI.
(e)
In line with requirement of SA 700(Revised), “Forming an Opinion and Reporting on Financial Statements” this SAE requires the auditor to include a scope section in the examination report to explain the nature and extent of the auditor’s work. ISAE 3400 does not contain an equivalent requirement.
(f)
SAE specifically provides for the documentation required to be done by the auditor in regard to any engagement of examination of prospective financial information. However, ISAE 3400 does not contain such explicit provision.

Appendix 1

Illustrative Format of an Unmodified Report on a Projection

Report on Examination of Prospective Financial Information

To the …(addressee)………….

We have examined the projection of _____________ (project)__________

(name of the entity) for the period from _______ to ______ as given in6 ____ to the Prospective Financial Information from page __to ___in accordance with

Standard on Assurance Engagement 3400, “The Examination of Prospective

Financial Information”, issued by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India. The preparation and presentation of the projection including the underlying assumptions, set out in note ____ to ______ to the prospective financial information, is the responsibility of the Management and has been approved by the Board of Directors7 of the company. Our responsibility is to examine the evidence supporting the assumptions (excluding the hypothetical assumption) and other information in the prospective financial information. Our responsibility does not include verification of projections. Therefore, we do not vouch for the accuracy of the same. This projection has been prepared for _________________ (intended use). The projection has been prepared using a set of assumptions that include hypothetical assumptions about future events and management’s actions that are not necessarily expected to occur. Consequently, users are cautioned that this projection may not be appropriate for purposes other than that described above. We have carried out our examination of the prospective financial information on a test basis. Based on our examination of the evidence supporting the assumptions, nothing has come to our attention which causes us to believe that these assumptions do not provide a reasonable basis for the projection, assuming that ________________ (state or refer to the hypothetical assumptions). Further, in our opinion the projection is properly prepared on the basis of the assumptions as set out in Note _____ to the Prospective Financial Information and on a consistent basis with the historical financial statements, using appropriate accounting principles. Even if the events anticipated under the hypothetical assumptions described above occur, actual results are still likely to 6 Provide suitable identification, such as by reference to page numbers or by identifying the individual schedule. 7 Other corresponding approving authority in the case of entities other than companies. be different from the projection since other anticipated events frequently do not occur as expected and the variation may be material. For ABC & Co.,

Chartered Accountants

Signature

(Name of the member signing the report) (Designation)8

Membership Number

Date

Place of Signature

Appendix 2

Illustrative Format of an Unmodified Report on a Forecast

Report on Examination of Prospective Financial Information

To the ……(addressee)……….

We have examined the forecast of _________(project)___________of the

__________ (name of the entity) for the period from ___ to ___ as given9 in ____ to ____ of the prospective financial information in accordance with Standard on

Assurance Engagement __, The Examination of Prospective Financial

Information, issued by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India. The preparation and presentation of the forecast including the underlying assumptions, set out in Note _____ to the Prospective Financial Information, is the responsibility of the management and has been approved by the Board of Directors of the company10. The sources of information are set out in Annexure ____ to the prospective financial information. Our responsibility is to examine the evidence supporting the forecast. Our responsibility does not include verification of the forecasts. Therefore, we do not vouch for the accuracy of the same. This forecast has been prepared for _________________ (intended use). The forecast has been prepared using a set of assumptions as set out in Note ____ to the prospective financial information. We have carried out our examination of the prospective financial information on a test basis. Based on our examination of the evidence supporting the assumptions, nothing has come to our attention, which causes us to believe that assumptions do not provide a reasonable basis for the forecast. Further, in our opinion the forecast, read with the notes thereon, is properly prepared on the basis of the assumptions as set out in Note ______ and on a consistent basis with the historical financial statements, using appropriate accounting principles. Actual results are likely to be different from the forecast since anticipated events might not occur as expected and the variation might be material. For ABC & Co.,

Chartered Accountants

9 Provide suitable identification, such as by reference to page numbers or by identifying the individual schedule. 10 Other corresponding approving authority in the case of entities other than companies.

Signature

(Name of the member signing the report) (Designation)11

Membership Number

Place of Signature: Date:

Notes, amendments & references (2)

8 Partner or proprietor, as the case may be.

11 Partner or proprietor, as the case may be.