2020 Universal registration document and annual financial report - BNP PARIBAS172

4 Consolidated finanCial statements for the year ended 31 deCemBer 2020

4

Notes to the financial statements

1.b CONSOLIDATION

1.b.1 Scope of consolidation

The consolidated financial statements of BNP Paribas include entities that are controlled by the Group, jointly controlled, and under significant influence, with the exception of those entities whose consolidation is regarded as immaterial to the Group. Companies that hold shares in consolidated companies are also consolidated.

Subsidiaries are consolidated from the date on which the Group obtains effective control. Entities under temporary control are included in the consolidated financial statements until the date of disposal.

1.b.2 Consolidation methods

Exclusive control Controlled enterprises are fully consolidated. The Group controls a subsidiary when it is exposed, or has rights, to variable returns from its involvement with the entity and has the ability to affect those returns through its power over the entity.

For entities governed by voting rights, the Group generally controls the entity if it holds, directly or indirectly, the majority of the voting rights (and if there are no contractual provisions that alter the power of these voting rights) or if the power to direct the relevant activities of the entity is conferred on it by contractual agreements.

Structured entities are entities established so that they are not governed by voting rights, for instance when those voting rights relate to administrative tasks only, whereas the relevant activities are directed by means of contractual arrangements. They often have the following features or attributes: restricted activities, a narrow and well-defined objective and insufficient equity to permit them to finance their activities without subordinated financial support.

For these entities, the analysis of control shall consider the purpose and design of the entity, the risks to which the entity is designed to be exposed and to what extent the Group absorbs the related variability. The assessment of control shall consider all facts and circumstances able to determine the Group s practical ability to make decisions that could significantly affect its returns, even if such decisions are contingent on uncertain future events or circumstances.

In assessing whether it has power, the Group considers only substantive rights which it holds or which are held by third parties. For a right to be substantive, the holder must have the practical ability to exercise that right when decisions about the relevant activities of the entity need to be made.

Control shall be reassessed if facts and circumstances indicate that there are changes to one or more of the elements of control.

Where the Group contractually holds the decision-making power, for instance where the Group acts as fund manager, it shall determine whether it is acting as agent or principal. Indeed, when associated with a certain level of exposure to the variability of returns, this decision- making power may indicate that the Group is acting on its own account and that it thus has control over those entities.

Minority interests are presented separately in the consolidated profit and loss account and balance sheet within consolidated equity. The calculation of minority interests takes into account the outstanding cumulative preferred shares classified as equity instruments issued by subsidiaries, when such shares are held outside the Group.

As regards fully consolidated funds, units held by third-party investors are recognised as debts at fair value through profit or loss, inasmuch as they are redeemable at fair value at the subscriber s initiative.

For transactions resulting in a loss of control, any equity interest retained by the Group is remeasured at its fair value through profit or loss.

Joint control Where the Group carries out an activity with one or more partners, sharing control by virtue of a contractual agreement which requires unanimous consent on relevant activities (those that significantly affect the entity s returns), the Group exercises joint control over the activity. Where the jointly controlled activity is structured through a separate vehicle in which the partners have rights to the net assets, this joint venture is accounted for using the equity method. Where the jointly controlled activity is not structured through a separate vehicle or where the partners have rights to the assets and obligations for the liabilities of the jointly controlled activity, the Group accounts for its share of the assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses in accordance with the applicable IFRSs.

Significant influence Companies over which the Group exercises significant influence or associates are accounted for by the equity method. Significant influence is the power to participate in the financial and operating policy decisions of a company without exercising control. Significant influence is presumed to exist when the Group holds, directly or indirectly, 20% or more of the voting rights of a company. Interests of less than 20% can be included in the consolidation scope if the Group effectively exercises significant influence. This is the case for example for entities developed in partnership with other associates, where the BNP Paribas Group participates in strategic decisions of the enterprise through representation on the Board of directors or equivalent governing body, or exercises influence over the enterprise s operational management by supplying management systems or senior managers, or provides technical assistance to support the enterprise s development.

Changes in the net assets of associates (companies accounted for under the equity method) are recognised on the assets side of the balance sheet under Investments in equity-method entities and in the relevant component of shareholders equity. Goodwill recorded on associates is also included under Equity-method investments .

Whenever there is an indication of impairment, the carrying amount of the investment consolidated under the equity method (including goodwill) is subjected to an impairment test, by comparing its recoverable value (the higher of value-in-use and market value less costs to sell) to its carrying amount. Where appropriate, impairment is recognised under Share of earnings of equity-method entities in the consolidated income statement and can be reversed at a later date.