4. Summary of significant accounting policies

Legal and tax structure for the financial statements

Vesteda Residential Fund FGR is a contractual investment Fund (beleggingsfonds), as defined in section 1:1 of the Dutch Financial Supervision Act (FSA). Vesteda Residential Fund is licensed by the AFM and pursuant to the conditions of this licence Vesteda Investment Management B.V. has appointed Intertrust Depositary Services B.V. to act as depositary for the Fund and has concluded a depositary services agreement with the depositary for the benefit of the Fund and the participants in accordance with article 4:37f of the FSA. The depositary is responsible for the supervision of certain aspects of the Fund’s business in accordance with applicable law and the depositary services agreement.

The Fund is an unlisted Fund for the joint account of the participants. As such, the economic title to the Fund assets is held by the participants pro rata to their participation rights. The purpose of the Fund is to make investments, and in particular (but not limited to) to invest capital, indirectly or directly, in property mainly designated for residential purposes and located in the Netherlands, for the account and at the risk of the participants. The strategy of the Fund is set out in more detail in the investment guidelines that form part of the Fund’s Terms and Conditions.

The Terms and Conditions of Vesteda Residential Fund FGR govern the Fund and they can only be amended by a resolution of the participants.

Participants’ rights and obligations in respect of the manager, Vesteda Project Development B.V. and Vesteda Finance B.V., are exercised through the trust office, Stichting Administratiekantoor Vesteda (StAK Vesteda). Participants are granted a power of attorney to attend and exercise voting rights in the general meeting of shareholders of these three companies by StAK Vesteda at their request.

Vesteda Investment Management B.V. (the manager)

The participants have entrusted the manager, Vesteda Investment Management B.V., with the management and operation of the Fund. The manager carries out its task in the sole interest of the participants and within the boundaries described in the Fund’s Terms and Conditions. The manager, in its capacity as manager and operator of the Fund, is subject to supervision of the Dutch Financial Markets Authority (AFM) and the Dutch Central Bank (DNB). The manager has obtained a license to act as a manager of an alternative investment Fund in accordance with article 2:67 of the FSA on 17 February 2014. The participation rights can only be acquired by professional investors, as defined in section 1:1 of the FSA.

Vesteda Investment Management B.V. owns 100% of the shares of Vesteda Services B.V. Vesteda Services' objective is to perform non-investment-related activities.

Vesteda Finance B.V. and Vesteda Project Development B.V.

Vesteda Finance B.V. will undertake Vesteda’s unsecured financing activities on behalf of the Fund. Vesteda Project Development B.V. holds the development projects in the pipeline.

Custodian Vesteda Fund I B.V.

At present, Vesteda has one custodian company. The custodian is the legal owner of the property of the Fund, while the Fund is the beneficial owner.

Vesteda Residential Fund FGR is a mutual Fund, which is not a legal entity under the laws of the Netherlands.

Stichting DRF I

Stichting DRF I (Foundation Dutch Residential Fund I) is the depositary receipt holder of the shares to Vesteda Investment Management B.V., Vesteda Project Development B.V. and Vesteda Finance B.V., issued by Stichting Administratiekantoor Vesteda. Stichting DRF I also holds all the shares in Custodian Vesteda Fund I B.V.

Accounting policies

Rental income

Rental income from operating leases is recognised when it becomes receivable. Incentives for tenants to enter into lease agreements are spread evenly over the lease term, even if the payments are not made on such a basis.

Service charges

Service charges comprise income from service charges, which are charged to tenants and service charges which are non-recoverable.

Service charges for which the Fund acts as a principal are presented in the statement of comprehensive income. Therefore, for those property investments for which the Fund is in full control of the service charges, the service charges invoiced to tenants and the corresponding expenses are shown separately on an accrual basis.

Service charges in respect of vacant property are expensed. These mainly relate to gas, water, electricity and cleaning.

Property operating expenses

Property operating expenses comprise costs directly attributable to a specific property. These costs are mainly maintenance costs, property tax and other levies, insurance premiums, management and letting fees and service costs not chargeable to tenants. These are expensed as incurred.

Other income

This is income attributable to the year that cannot be classified under any of the other categories.

Net rental income

Net rental income is the rental income plus other income less property operating expenses.

Result on projects in progress

Profit is recognised in proportion to the amount of the project that has been completed.

Result on property sales

A property (or property under construction) is regarded as sold when control of the property is transferred to the buyer, which is normally upon the unconditional exchange of contracts. For conditional exchanges, sales are recognised only when all the significant conditions have been fulfilled. The result on property sales is the proceeds from sales (less any facilitation costs), less the most recent carrying value of the properties sold, established each quarter.

Vesteda values its investment property per complex rather than per individual unit. As indicated in Note 15, potential proceeds from the sale of individual units are taken into account in the valuation.

In determining the book value of an individual unit, the last determined valuation by an external appraiser of the property as a whole is allocated to the number of units in the property. This allocation takes into account the size of the specific unit and specific characteristics of the unit, such as floor level, corner unit, garden, balcony, etc. This allocation does not take into account the sales proceeds from the sale of individual units (so called vacant values) in the discounted cash flow model of the external independent real estate valuation experts. The allocation criteria per property is set at the moment the first unit is sold.

Management expenses

Any expenses that cannot be allocated directly to the various properties are regarded as management expenses.

Financial results

Interest income and expenses are recognised as they accrue using the effective interest method. Financial results also includes amortisation of financing costs and the cost of the unwind transaction derivatives.

Realised result

The realised result is the sum of the net rental income and results from property sales and projects in progress, less management expenses and financial results.

Unrealised result

The unrealised result is made up of unrealised gains and losses directly related to property investments.

Corporate income tax

Entities within the Vesteda Companies that are subject to corporate income tax do not recognise any difference between accounting and taxable income. As such, taxation on income is calculated by applying the standard rate of tax to the taxable amount. If such a taxable amount is negative, Vesteda only recognises a benefit if there is a possibility to carry back the loss to years where taxes have been paid and if a refund is expected. The Vesteda Companies recognise deferred tax assets in relation to loss carry forwards to the extent that it is probable that taxable profits will be available. The Fund itself is exempt from corporate income taxes.

Intangible fixed assets

Intangible fixed assets are recognised at cost less straight-line depreciation and any impairment. Depreciation is based on the estimated useful contribution of the assets in question, which varies from three to seven years.

An intangible asset is derecognised on disposal, or when no future economic benefits are expected from use or disposal. Gains or losses arising from derecognition of an intangible asset, measured as the difference between the net disposal proceeds and the carrying amount of the asset, are recognised in profit or loss when the asset is derecognised.

Expenditure on research activities is recognised as an expense in the period in which it is incurred.

An internally‑generated intangible asset arising from development (or from the development phase of an internal project) is recognised if, and only if, all of the following conditions have been demonstrated:

• the technical feasibility of completing the intangible asset so that it will be available for use or sale;

• the intention to complete the intangible asset and use or sell it;

• the ability to use or sell the intangible asset;

• how the intangible asset will generate probable future economic benefits;

• the availability of adequate technical, financial and other resources to complete the development and to use or sell the intangible asset; and

• the ability to measure reliably the expenditure attributable to the intangible asset during its development.

The amount initially recognised for internally‑generated intangible assets is the sum of the expenditure incurred from the date when the intangible asset first meets the recognition criteria listed above. Where no internally‑generated intangible asset can be recognised, development expenditure is recognised in profit or loss in the period in which it is incurred.

Subsequent to initial recognition, internally‑generated intangible assets are reported at cost less accumulated amortisation and accumulated impairment losses, on the same basis as intangible assets that are acquired separately.

Investment property

Investment property is measured initially at cost, including transaction costs and borrowing costs. Transaction costs include transfer taxes, professional fees for legal services and initial leasing commissions to render the property suitable for operational purposes. The carrying amount also includes the cost of replacing part of an existing investment property at the time that cost is incurred if the recognition criteria are met. Borrowing costs directly attributable to the construction of qualifying assets, which are assets that necessarily take a substantial period of time to get ready for their intended use or sale, are added to the cost of those assets, until such time as the assets are substantially ready for their intended use or sale.

Subsequent to initial recognition, investment property is stated at fair value. Fair value is the amount for which an asset could be exchanged between knowledgeable, willing parties in an arm's length transaction, where parties traded in an informed, diligent way and without compulsion.

Subsequent expenditure is capitalised to the asset’s carrying amount only when it is probable that future economic benefits associated with the expenditure will flow to the Fund and the cost of the item can be measured reliably. All other repairs and maintenance costs are expensed when incurred. When part of an investment property is replaced, the carrying amount of the replaced part is derecognised.

Gains or losses arising from changes in the fair values are included in the statement of comprehensive income in the year in which they arise.

A property interest that is held under an operating obligation is classified and accounted for as investment property, if said property interest would otherwise meet the definition of an investment property.

The determination of the fair value for investment property is based on the income approach in line with IFRS 13. Taking into account the limited public data available, the complexity of real estate asset valuations, as well as the fact that external independent real estate valuation experts use the rents and property operating expenses of Vesteda’s assets in their valuations, Vesteda believes it is appropriate to classify its investment property under Level 3. In addition, external independent real estate valuation experts use unobservable inputs, including their own assumptions on discount rates, dates, interest rates, inflation and exit yields, to determine the fair value of Vesteda’s investment property.

An investment property is derecognised upon disposal or when the investment property is permanently withdrawn from use and no future economic benefits are expected from the disposal. Any gain or loss arising on derecognition of the property (calculated as the difference between the net disposal proceeds and the carrying amount of the asset) is included in profit or loss in the period in which the property is derecognised.

Land leases

When Vesteda enters a land lease, at the inception of a contract, Vesteda assesses whether that contract is, or contains, a lease. A lease is a contract where the right to direct the use of an asset owned by another party and to obtain the economic benefits deriving from that asset are transferred to Vesteda. Where Vesteda is a lessee, Vesteda recognizes a right-of-use asset and a lease liability.

At initial recognition, the lease liability is measured at the present value of the lease payments in the lease, including any renewal options where it is reasonably certain Vesteda will exercise the option and the lease payments due after exercising the option are estimable. On the land lease term, Vesteda has taken into account a perpetual view.

These payments are discounted using the implicit rate in the lease or, where this rate is not determinable, at the interest rate implicit in the lease or Vesteda’s incremental borrowing rate for borrowings secured by a similar asset and for a similar term as the lease. Lease payments include fixed payments and variable payments that depend on an index or rate including any renewal options included in the determination of the term of the lease. Subsequently, the lease liability is measured at amortised cost using the effective interest rate method. The lease liability is remeasured when the lease agreement is modified or if there are changes to variable payments dependent on an index or rate.

At inception, the right-of-use asset comprises of the lease liability plus any direct costs of obtaining the lease less any incentives provided by the lessor. The right-of-use asset is presented under the investment property and valued at fair value.

Investment property under construction

Investment property under construction, subsequent to initial recognition, is also stated at fair value.

As is the case with investment property, the fair value determination, including any necessary estimates, is based on the valuation by independent real estate valuation experts using recognised valuation techniques.

For the method of determination of fair value, we refer you to the section investment property.

Development risks (such as construction and letting risks) are taken into consideration when determining the fair value of investment properties under construction.

Property, plant and equipment

The head office of Vesteda is reappraised on a quarterly basis by an external independent real estate valuation expert. Positive revaluations are not recognised directly into equity but in the OCI section of the statement of comprehensive income. If a negative revaluation occurs in excess of the positive revaluation reserve this excess shall be recognised in the profit or loss section of the statement of comprehensive income.

Vesteda applies straight-line depreciation, based on an estimated useful life, over the depreciable amount, this being the carrying amount less residual value.

Other property, plant and equipment are recognised at cost, less straight-line depreciation and any impairment.

Depreciation is based on the estimated useful life of the assets concerned, which is between three and ten years. The estimated useful lives, residual values and depreciation method are reviewed at the end of each reporting period, with the effect of any changes in estimate accounted for on a prospective basis.

An asset is derecognised upon disposal or when no future economic benefits are expected from its use or disposal.

The right-of-use asset value of car lease contracts and office rental contracts is initially measured at cost and subsequently measured at cost (subject to certain exceptions), less accumulated depreciation and impairment losses. The right of use is adjusted for any remeasurement of the lease liability, when applicable.

Any gain or loss arising upon the derecognition of an asset is included in the statement of comprehensive income.

Financial instruments

Financial assets and financial liabilities are recognised in the Fund's statement of financial position when the Fund becomes a party to the contractual provisions of the instrument.

Financial assets and financial liabilities are initially measured at fair value, except for trade receivables that do not have a significant financing component which are measured at transaction price. Transaction costs that are directly attributable to the acquisition or issue of financial assets and financial liabilities (other than financial assets and financial liabilities at fair value through profit or loss) are added to or deducted from the fair value of the financial assets or financial liabilities, as appropriate, on initial recognition. Transaction costs directly attributable to the acquisition of financial assets or financial liabilities at fair value through profit or loss are recognised immediately in profit or loss.

Financial assets

Financial assets are classified at initial recognition, and subsequently measured at amortised cost, fair value through other comprehensive income, or fair value through profit or loss. The classification of financial assets at initial recognition depends on the financial asset’s contractual cash flow characteristics and the Fund’s business model for managing them.

The Fund determines the classification of its financial assets at initial recognition. At initial recognition, financial assets are measured at fair value, plus, in the case of investments not at fair value through profit or loss, directly attributable transaction costs. With the exception of trade receivables that do not contain a significant financing component, the Fund initially measures a financial asset at its fair value plus, in the case of a financial asset not at fair value through profit or loss, transaction costs. As the Fund’s rent and other trade receivables do not contain a significant financing component, they are measured at the transaction price determined under IFRS 15.

Financial assets are derecognised only when the contractual rights to the cash flows from the financial asset expire or the Fund transfers substantially all risks and rewards of ownership.

Financial assets are recognised in the statement of financial position as trade and other receivables. Receivables are recognised at amortised cost, which is generally in line with face value, less a provision for doubtful debts.

The Fund recognises an allowance for expected credit losses (ECLs) for all debt instrument except those held at fair value through profit or loss. ECLs are based on the difference between the contractual cash flows due in accordance with the contract and all the cash flows that the Fund expects to receive, discounted at an approximation of the original effective interest rate. The expected cash flows will include cash flows from the sale of collateral held or other credit enhancements that are integral to the contractual terms.

For rent and other trade receivables and contract assets, the Fund applies a simplified approach in calculating ECLs. Therefore, the Fund does not track changes in credit risk, but instead recognises a loss allowance based on lifetime ECLs at each reporting date (i.e., a loss allowance for credit losses expected over the remaining life of the exposure, irrespective of the timing of the default). The Fund has established a provision matrix that is based on its historical credit loss experience, adjusted for forward-looking factors specific to the debtors and the economic environment. Impaired debts are derecognised when they are assessed as uncollectible.

In determining the expected credit losses the Fund takes into account any recent payment behaviours and future
expectations of likely default events (i.e. not making payment on the due date) based on individual customer credit
ratings, actual or expected insolvency filings or company voluntary arrangements. These assessments are made on a customer by customer basis. 

If in a subsequent period the amount of the impairment loss decreases and the decrease can be related objectively to an event occurring after the impairment was recognised, the previously recognised impairment loss is reversed, to the extent that the carrying value of the asset does not exceed its amortised cost at the reversal date. Any subsequent reversal of an impairment loss is recognised in the statement of comprehensive income.

Financial liabilities

The Fund’s financial liabilities comprise trade and other payables and loans. All financial liabilities are recognised initially at fair value and net of directly attributable transaction costs. The Fund determines the classification of its financial liabilities at initial recognition.

A financial liability is derecognised when the obligation under the liability is discharged or cancelled or expired.

Financial liabilities included in trade and other payables are initially recognised at fair value and subsequently at amortised cost. The fair value of a non-interest bearing liability is its discounted repayment amount. If the due date of the liability is less than one year, discounting is omitted.

Loans are initially recognised at fair value. After initial recognition, loans are subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method. Interest expense is attributed to the period to which it relates and recognised through the statement of comprehensive income. Financing costs are recognised at cost less straight-line amortisation. Amortisation is parallel to the maturity of the inherent loans.

Receivables

Receivables are recognised at amortised cost, which is generally in line with face value, less a provision for doubtful debts.

Cash and cash equivalents

Cash is cash on hand and at bank. Cash is recognised at face value.

Share-based payment transactions of Vesteda

Cash‑settled share‑based payments to employees and others providing similar services are measured at the fair value of the equity instruments at the grant date. The fair value excludes the effect of non‑market‑based vesting conditions. Details regarding the determination of the fair value of cash‑settled share‑based transactions are set out in Note 29.

The fair value determined at the grant date of the cash‑settled share‑based payments is expensed on a straight‑line basis over the vesting period, based on Vesteda’s estimate of the number of equity instruments that will eventually vest. At each reporting date, Vesteda revises its estimate of the number of equity instruments expected to vest as a result of the effect of non‑market‑based vesting conditions. The impact of the revision of the original estimates, if any, is recognised in profit or loss such that the cumulative expense reflects the revised estimate, with a corresponding adjustment to reserves.

For cash‑settled share‑based payments, a liability is recognised for the goods or services acquired, measured initially at the fair value of the liability. At each reporting date until the liability is settled, and at the date of settlement, the fair value of the liability is remeasured, with any changes in fair value recognised in profit or loss for the year.

Lease liability

The lease liability is initially measured at the present value of the lease payments that are not paid at that date. Subsequently, the lease liability is adjusted for interest and lease payments, as well as the impact of lease modifications or other modifications.

Derivatives

The Vesteda Companies can use derivatives such as interest rate swaps to hedge changes in interest rates. The derivatives are used to hedge the risk of uncertain future cash flows. As per end December 2023 Vesteda had no derivative financial instruments outstanding.

Provisions

Provisions are recognised if Vesteda has an obligation from a past event and it is probable that the obligation will have to be settled and a reliable estimate can be made of the amount of the obligation. The amount of a provision is set using the best estimate of the amount that will be required to settle the obligations and losses at the reporting date.

Onerous contracts

Present obligations arising under onerous contracts are recognised and measured as provisions. An onerous contract is considered to exist where the Group has a contract under which the unavoidable costs of meeting the obligations under the contract exceed the economic benefits expected to be received under it.

Pensions

Vesteda has arranged its pension obligations by joining Dutch pension Fund ABP. The ABP pension plan is a multi-employer plan, in which actuarial and investment risks are almost entirely for the account of employees. Employers who join this plan have no obligation to contribute additional premium in the event of a deficit. Vesteda’s obligations are limited to the contribution of the premium set by the pension Fund. The Managing Board of ABP determines this premium annually on the basis of its own data files and with reference to the parameters and requirements specified by the supervising authority of ABP (the Dutch Central Bank DNB).

The premium obligation arises from being a participant in the pension plan in the current year and does not originate from having joined the pension plan in previous years. From a reporting point of view, the ABP pension plan qualifies as a defined contribution (DC) plan. Consequently the premium is recognised as an expense for the year, and no further explanation is required.

Current liabilities

Trade payables and other current liabilities are recognised at amortised cost, which is generally in line with face value.