GAS 21 - Cash Flow Statements

• Adopted by the Accounting Standards Committee of Germany (ASCG) on 4 February 2014. Publication of the authoritative German version by the Federal Ministry of Justice under section 342(2) of the HGB on 8 April 2014.
• Revised paragraphs 9, 28, 39, 40, 46, 50, A2.1, A2.3, and tables 5, and 6 in Appendix 1, and new paragraphs 55a, A.2.4a,  and A3.4a, adopted by the Accounting Standards Committee of Germany (ASCG) on 21 April 2016. Publication of the authoritative German version by the Federal Ministry of Justice and Consumer Protection under section 342(2) of the HGB on 21 June 2016.
• Revised paragraph 5 adopted by the Accounting Standards Committee of Germany (ASCG) on 22 September 2017. Publication of the authoritative German version by the Federal Ministry of Justice and Consumer Protection under section 342(2) of the HGB on 4 December 2017. The authoritative German version of the Standard has not yet been published by the Federal Ministry of Justice under section 342(2) of the HGB.
• Revised paragraphs 8, 9, 15, 34, 43, 49, 54, A2.1, A2.4, A2.13, A2.15 A2.18 and A3.2, tables 5 and 6 in Appendix 1, tables 7 and 10 in Appendix 2, the heading and the introductory text in both Appendix 2 and Appendix 3, and the new paragraphs 33a, 41a, 41b, 41c, 45a, 45b, 45c, 49a, 49b and 55b adopted by the Accounting Standards Committee of Germany (ASCG) on 16 June 2023. Publication of the German Accounting Amendment Standard no. 13 with amendments to GAS 21 in the authoritative German version by the Federal Ministry of Justice under section 342(2) of the HGB on 27 July 2023.

This Standard sets out the principles to be followed by parent entities that are required by section 297(1) of the HGB to prepare cash flow statements as a component of their consolidated financial statements. Entities that are required to supplement their annual financial statements by a cash flow statement or that prepare a cash flow statement voluntarily are encouraged to do so in accordance with this Standard.

Cash flows are classified in the cash flow statement separately by operating, investing and financing activities. Classification is based in each instance on the economic activities of the entity. Cash flows are generally required to be reported gross, except when otherwise permitted or required by this Standard, for example when cash flows from operating activities are reported using the indirect method.

The starting point for the cash flow statement is cash funds at the beginning of the period. These consist solely of cash and cash equivalents. Cash equivalents are short-term, highly liquid investments held as a liquidity reserve that are readily convertible to cash and are subject to an insignificant risk of changes in value.

Cash flows from operating activities may be reported using either the direct or the indirect method. By contrast, cash flows from investing and financing activities are always reported using the direct method.

Cash flows from operating activities are derived from the entity’s revenue-generating activities to the extent that they are not attributable to cash flows from investing or financing activities. In addition, income taxes paid are generally attributed to operating activities and reported separately.

Cash flows from investing activities arise in connection with the use of the entity’s resources to generate long-term income, generally over a period of more than one year. Cash flows relating to the investment of cash funds for short-term cash management are also attributable to cash flows from investing activities, except where these are attributable to cash funds or are held for trading. In addition, cash flows relating to the acquisition and disposal of consolidated entities are classified as investing activities. Moreover, interest and dividends received are attributed to investing activities and reported separately.

Cash flows resulting from transactions with the shareholders of the parent entity and with minority shareholders of consolidated subsidiaries, as well as proceeds from and repayments of borrowings, are generally classified as cash flows from financing activities. In addition, interest and dividends paid are attributed to financing activities and reported separately.

The Standard contains minimum classification formats for reporting cash flows using the direct and indirect methods. These are presented in Appendix 1.

In addition, the Standard contains sector-specific requirements for the cash flow statements of credit institutions, financial services institutions, investment institutions, payment institutions and electronic money institutions (Appendix 2), and of insurance undertakings and pension funds (Appendix 3), which reflect the special requirements of those business models as regards cash flows and components of cash funds.