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Non-GAAP Financial Measures: Composition and Adjustments

Companion Policy to NI 52-112 Non-GAAP and Other Financial Measures Disclosure
Proximity, composition and usefulness
Re ss. 6(1)(e)(ii)(A), 8(c)(iii)(A), 10(1)(b)(ii)(A), 11(b)

Explain the composition

The composition explanation should include a clear description of how the specified financial measure is calculated. For example, we would expect an issuer to describe the type of adjustments made, such as those for “non-cash” items or the basis being used to determine the type of adjustments.

In most instances, this requirement would not be satisfied just by listing all adjustments made in calculating the measure.

It is important to consider whether any new adjustment made in the calculation of a specified financial measure might constitute a change in composition or whether the adjustment is consistent with the stated usefulness of the measure.

Companion Policy to NI 52-112 Non-GAAP and Other Financial Measures Disclosure
Reconciliation
Re ss. 6(1)(e)(ii)(C), 6(2)

Reconciliation of a non-GAAP financial measure

Clause 6(1)(e)(ii)(C) of the Instrument requires a quantitative reconciliation between the non-GAAP financial measure and the most directly comparable financial measure presented in the primary financial statements. For the purpose of clause 6(1)(e)(ii)(C), a quantitative reconciliation of the non-GAAP financial measure is required to be the “permitted format” outlined in subsection 6(2) of the Instrument. An issuer may satisfy this requirement by providing a reconciliation in a clearly understandable way, such as a table. For purposes of presenting the reconciliation, an issuer may begin with the non-GAAP financial measure or the most directly comparable financial measure presented in the primary financial statements, provided the reconciliation is presented in an understandable and consistent manner.

Most Directly Comparable Financial Measure

The Instrument does not define the “most directly comparable financial measure” and therefore the issuer needs to apply judgment in determining the most directly comparable financial measure. In applying judgment, it is important for an issuer to consider the context of how the non-GAAP financial measure is used. For example, when the non-GAAP financial measure is discussed primarily as a performance measure used in determining cash generated by the issuer, or the issuer’s distribution-paying capacity, its most directly comparable financial measure will be from the statement of cash flows. In practice, earnings-based measures and cash flow-based measures are used to disclose operational performance. If it is not clear from the way the non-GAAP financial measure is used what the most directly comparable financial measure is, consideration can be given to the nature, number and materiality of the reconciling items.

Reconciling Items

The reconciliation must be quantitative, separately itemizing and explaining each significant reconciling item.

Source of Reconciling Items

When a reconciling item is taken directly from the entity’s financial statements, it should be named such that an investor is able to identify the item in those financial statements, and no further explanation of that reconciling item is required.

When a reconciling item is not extracted directly from the entity’s financial statements, but is, for example, a component of a line item in the entity’s primary financial statements or originates from outside the primary financial statements, disclosure must be provided to satisfy clause 6(1)(e)(ii)(C) and subsection 6(2) of the Instrument. Such disclosure should identify the source of the reconciling item (e.g., the financial statement line item, the financial statement note, or the externally sourced document), if not obvious, and should explain how the amount is calculated, including a discussion of any significant judgments or estimates management has made in developing the reconciling items used in the reconciliation.

Entity-Specific Inputs

Reconciling items should be calculated using entity-specific inputs. An entity may make adjustments that are accepted within an industry; however, the quantum of these adjustments should be calculated using entity-specific information. For example, an entity may make an adjustment for operating capital expenditures, which is a standard adjustment in certain industries, but the amount of the adjustment should be calculated based on the entity’s operating capital expenditures, and not by using only an ‘industry average’ amount as the sole factor. However, adjustments should be supportable and consistent with the usefulness explanation provided to address clause 6(1)(e)(ii)(B) of the Instrument.

Level of Detail

The level of detail expected in the reconciliation depends on the nature and complexity of the reconciling items. The adjustments made from the most directly comparable financial measure should be consistent with the explanation required by clause 6(1)(e)(ii)(B) of the Instrument regarding why the information is useful to investors and if applicable, how it is used by management. Explanations should be more detailed than merely stating what the reconciling item represents and should also cover the circumstances that give rise to the particular adjustment if it is not obvious.

An “other” or “adjusting items” category to describe numerous insignificant reconciling items should not be used without further explanation as to the nature of items that comprise the category.

Gross Basis

Issuers should consider significant reconciling items on a gross basis. For example, an issuer is expected to separately itemize positive and negative adjustments unless netting is permitted under the financial reporting framework used in the preparation of the financial statements.

Tax

Reconciling items are commonly presented on a pre-tax basis to ensure that investors understand the gross amount of each reconciling item. If an issuer chooses to present reconciling items on a post-tax basis then the tax effect for each reconciling item should also be disclosed.

Comparatives

For comparative non-GAAP financial measures disclosed for a previous period under paragraph 6(1)(f) of the Instrument, a reconciliation to the corresponding most directly comparable financial measure is required for that previous period.

Presentation in the Form of a Primary Financial Statement

An issuer may present adjusted financial information outside the entity’s financial statements using a format that is similar to one or more of the primary financial statements, but that is not in accordance with the financial reporting framework used to prepare the entity’s financial statements. In this case, the adjusted financial information would contain non-GAAP financial measures. Specifically, this would arise if an issuer presents such financial measures in a form that is similar to the following financial statements:

  • A statement of financial position;
  • A statement of profit or loss and other comprehensive income;
  • A statement of changes in equity; or
  • A statement of cash flows.

Presentation of this information as a single column that excludes the most directly comparable financial measures in a separate column would not satisfy clause 6(1)(e)(ii)(C) and subsection 6(2) of the Instrument. However, this information may be presented in the form of a reconciliation of the non-GAAP financial measure to the most directly comparable financial measure if such presentation shows in separate columns each of the most directly comparable financial measures, the reconciling items, and the non-GAAP financial measures. An example of the separate column approach may be used when issuers with joint ventures present a full set of non-GAAP financial statements in the form of a columnar reconciliation that shows the issuer’s statement of income as presented in the primary financial statements, an additional column with amounts related to equity accounted investees for each financial statement line item, and then a total column for each financial statement line item, which would be appropriately labelled as non-GAAP financial measures for each financial statement line item. This effectively creates the presentation of a full set of non-GAAP financial statements.

When the adjusted presentation is used as a basis for the qualitative discussions and analysis of an entity’s financial performance, financial position or cash flows with greater prominence than financial measures presented in the primary financial statements, this would not be considered to be in compliance with the prominence requirement in paragraph 6(1)(d) of the Instrument.

Companion Policy to NI 52-112 Non-GAAP and Other Financial Measures Disclosure
Proximity, composition and usefulness
Re ss. 6(1)(e)(ii)(B), 8(c)(iii)(B), 10(1)(b)(ii)(B)

Usefulness of a specified financial measure

The Instrument does not define the term “useful”. The term “useful” is intended to reflect how management believes that presentation of the non-GAAP financial measure provides incremental information to investors regarding the issuer’s financial position, financial performance or cash flows. The term “useful” should be considered in the context of what a person making an investment decision would consider useful.

A statement made to satisfy the requirement of clauses 6(1)(e)(ii)(B), 8(c)(iii)(B) and 10(1)(b)(ii)(B) of the Instrument should

Issuers should avoid making inappropriate or potentially misleading statements about the usefulness of a measure. The Instrument does not explicitly prohibit certain adjustments. However, if adjustments are not consistent with the usefulness explanation provided to address clauses 6(1)(e)(ii)(B), 8(c)(iii)(B) and 10(1)(b)(ii)(B) of the Instrument, this may result in a specified financial measure that is inappropriate or misleading.

A specified financial measure may be misleading if it

  • Includes positive components of the most directly comparable financial measure but omits negative components (e.g., presenting a specified financial measure that excludes unrealized losses on financial instruments but includes unrealized gains); or
  • Excludes from an operating performance measure those operating expenses necessary to operate an issuer’s business.
Companion Policy to NI 52-112 Non-GAAP and Other Financial Measures Disclosure
Total segments measures
Re s. 9

Disclosure of total of segments measures

An entity’s financial reporting framework used in the preparation of the financial statements may permit disclosure of a broad range of segment measures, but may not necessarily specify how such financial measures should be calculated or require that these financial measures comply with the recognition and measurement requirements of the financial reporting framework used to prepare the financial statements of the entity.

When disclosed outside the financial statements, the disclosures made under section 9 of the Instrument should allow a reader to understand how these total of segments measures are calculated and how they relate to measures presented in the entity’s primary financial statements.

An example of a total of segments measure is when an issuer discloses adjusted EBITDA for each of its reportable segments in the notes to the financial statements: segment A, segment B, and segment C. The issuer then sums the adjusted EBITDA for each segment and discloses total “entity-adjusted EBITDA”. “Entity-adjusted EBITDA” is a total of segments measure and is not presented in the primary financial statements. When this financial measure is disclosed in a document other than the financial statements, the issuer must comply with section 9 of the Instrument. For clarity, the individual segment adjusted EBITDA measure for segment A, for instance, would not be captured as a total of segments measure and would not be subject to section 9 of the Instrument.

If an issuer discloses a financial measure of a reportable segment and such financial measure is not presented or disclosed in the financial statements to which the financial measure relates, the issuer should consider whether this financial measure meets the definition of a non-GAAP financial measure.

A total of segments measure does not include a component of a financial statement line item for which the component has been calculated in accordance with the accounting policies used to prepare the line item presented in the financial statements (see Component Information in section 1 of the Policy).

An SEC issuer may characterize a total of segments measure as a non-GAAP financial measure in compliance with SEC rules on non-GAAP financial measures and in doing so, the issuer would be complying with the requirements in section 9 of the Instrument in respect of this measure.

Companion Policy to NI 52-112 Non-GAAP and Other Financial Measures Disclosure
Capital management measures
Re s. 10

Disclosure of capital management measures

Disclosure of information that enables an individual to evaluate an entity’s objectives, policies and processes for managing capital may be required by the financial reporting framework used in the preparation of the financial statements; for example, requirements in IFRS under IAS 1 Presentation of Financial Statements.

How an entity manages its capital is entity-specific and the financial reporting framework used to prepare the financial statements might not prescribe a specific calculation. The accompanying disclosure required by section 10 of the Instrument allows a reader to understand how an entity calculates these capital management measures and how they relate to measures presented in the entity’s primary financial statements when these measures are disclosed in documents other than the financial statements.

A capital management measure does not include a component of a financial statement line item for which the component has been calculated in accordance with the accounting policies used to prepare the line item presented in the financial statements (see Component Information in section 1 of the Policy). An example of a capital management measure may include annualized adjusted EBITDA.

If the capital management measure was calculated using one or more non-GAAP financial measures, under subparagraph 10(1)(b)(i) of the Instrument the issuer must disclose each non-GAAP financial measure and comply with section 6 of the Instrument, in respect of each non-GAAP financial measure used in the calculation of the capital management measure.

Clause 10(1)(b)(ii)(A) of the Instrument requires a clear explanation of the composition, for any capital management measure that is disclosed in the form of a ratio, fraction, percentage or similar representation.

The level of detail expected in the reconciliation required under clause 10(1)(b)(ii)(C) is a matter of judgment and depends on the nature and complexity of the reconciling items required to provide the necessary context.

Companion Policy to NI 52-112 Non-GAAP and Other Financial Measures Disclosure
Definitions
Re s. 1

Definition of a non-GAAP financial measure

Common terms used to identify non-GAAP financial measures include “adjusted earnings”, “adjusted EBITDA”, “free cash flow”, “pro forma earnings”, “cash earnings”, “distributable cash”, “adjusted funds from operations”, “earnings before non-recurring items” and measures presented on a constant-currency basis. Many of these terms lack standard meanings. Issuers across a spectrum of industries, and within the same industry, may use the same term to refer to different compositions.

The following are examples of measures that are not captured by the definition:

  • Amounts that do not depict historical or future “financial performance”, “financial position” or “cash flow”, which relate to elements of the primary financial statements as defined in the Instrument, such as share price, market capitalization, or credit rating;
  • Financial information that does not have the effect of providing a financial measure that is different from a financial measure presented in the primary financial statements, such as the addition or subtraction of an identical line item, or a subtotal or total originating from multiple periods of primary financial statements. For example, rolling 12-month results or fourth quarter revenue calculated by subtracting year-to-date third quarter revenue from the annual revenue presented in primary financial statements; or
  • A financial measure which does not exclude an amount that is included in, or include an amount that is excluded from, the composition of the most directly comparable financial measure presented in the primary financial statements of the entity. For example, assets under management representing the total market value of invested assets managed by the issuer which are beneficially owned by clients and not reported in the primary financial statements of the issuer.

Component Information

When an issuer presents a financial statement line item in a more granular way outside the financial statements, otherwise known as a disaggregation, that number is a component of a line item that has been calculated in accordance with the accounting policies used to prepare the line item presented in the financial statements. Such a financial measure would not be a non-GAAP financial measure because it is not a financial measure which excludes an amount that is included in, or includes an amount that is excluded from, the composition of the most directly comparable financial measure presented in the primary financial statements of the entity. However, even though such a measure would not be a non-GAAP financial measure, it may still meet the definition of a supplementary financial measure.

For example, an issuer may disclose sales per square foot on a periodic basis to depict its financial performance. When the sales figure, included in sales per square foot, is extracted directly from the primary financial statements or is a component of such line item (when the component is calculated in accordance with the issuer’s accounting policies used to prepare the line item presented in the financial statements), the “sales per square foot” measure would not meet the definition of a non-GAAP ratio but would meet the definition of a supplementary financial measure. However, if the sales figure is not calculated in accordance with the issuer’s accounting policies, the “sales per square foot” measure in this example would meet the definition of a non-GAAP ratio.

Combinations of Line Items

A financial measure calculated by combining financial information that originates from different line items from the primary financial statements would meet the definition of a non-GAAP financial measure if the measure depicts financial performance, financial position or cash flow, unless that resulting measure is separately disclosed in the notes to the financial statements.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures that are Forward-looking Information

Forward-looking information for which there is an equivalent historical financial measure disclosed in the financial statements does not meet the definition of a non-GAAP financial measure. Therefore, section 7 of the Instrument does not apply to measures such as future capital management measures and future total of segments measures.

In addition, if, for example, revenue is disclosed on a forward-looking basis using the accounting policies applied by the issuer in its latest set of financial statements (i.e., revenue as presented in the primary financial statements adjusted only for assumptions about future economic conditions and courses of action), this forward-looking revenue is not a non-GAAP financial measure. Conversely, if an issuer discloses EBITDA on a forward-looking basis and does not disclose this financial measure in the financial statements, this forward-looking EBITDA does meet the definition of a non-GAAP financial measure that is forward-looking information.

Issuers are reminded that forward-looking information is subject to the disclosure requirements in Parts 4A and 4B and section 5.8 of National Instrument 51-102 Continuous Disclosure Obligations (“NI 51-102”).

Non-Financial Information

For clarity, the definition of a non-GAAP financial measure does not include non-financial information such as the following:

  • Number of units;
  • Number of subscribers;
  • Volumetric information;
  • Number of employees or workforce by type of contract or geographical location;
  • Environmental measures such as greenhouse gas emissions;
  • Information on major shareholdings;
  • Acquisition or disposal of the issuer’s own shares; and
  • Total number of voting rights.

The above list is not exhaustive.

We remind issuers that while non-financial information is not subject to the requirements of the Instrument, non-financial information is subject to various disclosure requirements under applicable securities legislation, including the requirement not to disclose misleading information.

Companion Policy to NI 52-112 Non-GAAP and Other Financial Measures Disclosure
Definitions
Re s. 1

Definition of a supplementary financial measure

Component Information

An issuer that operates in the retail industry may disclose financial results for “same-store sales” each reporting period. When same-store sales, a component of overall sales, is calculated in accordance with the accounting policies used to prepare the sales line item presented in the primary financial statements, it would not meet the definition of a non-GAAP financial measure. However, since in this example “same-store sales” is used by the issuer to depict financial performance by reporting sales performance from period to period, it would meet the definition of a supplementary financial measure.

Conversely, when the measure is not calculated in accordance with the issuer’s accounting policies, such measure would meet the definition of a non-GAAP financial measure. For example, if the sales figure in “same-store sales” is sales presented on a constant-dollar basis, this constant-dollar sales figure meets the definition of a non-GAAP financial measure since it excludes amounts (i.e., the effect of foreign exchange differences) that are included in the most directly comparable financial measure presented in the primary financial statements (i.e., sales). As a result, the “constant dollar same-store sales” measure in this example would meet the definition of a non-GAAP financial measure or the “constant dollar same-store sales per square foot” measure would meet the definition of a non-GAAP ratio.

If an issuer discloses a financial measure that is a component of a financial statement line item to explain how the financial statement line item changed from period to period (in dollars or as a percentage, for instance), such a measure would not meet the definition of a supplementary financial measure if the measure is not intended to be disclosed on a periodic basis. For example, if an issuer experienced an unexpected increase in administrative expenses, it may analyze the reasons for changes in administrative expenses by, among other things, disclosing information about its insurance expense, a component of overall administrative expenses. In this example, insurance expense would not meet the definition of a supplementary financial measure because, among other things, the insurance expense was calculated in accordance with the accounting policies used to prepare the administrative expenses line item presented in the primary financial statements.

Periodic Basis

An element of the definition of a supplementary financial measure is that it is disclosed or is intended to be disclosed on a periodic basis. A measure will not be precluded from being considered a supplementary financial measure the first time it is disclosed if the measure is intended to be disclosed on an ongoing basis (e.g., in future quarterly and/or annual disclosures).

Financial Ratios

A financial ratio that is not a non-GAAP ratio would typically meet the definition of supplementary financial measure because such ratio is often disclosed on a periodic basis to depict historical or future financial performance, financial position or cash flow.

Financial ratios contain at least one financial component (either the numerator or the denominator).

Examples include, but are not limited to the following ratios:

  • Liquidity ratios such as the current ratio;
  • Solvency ratios such as the debt-to-equity ratio;
  • Profitability ratios such as the return on equity ratio or revenue per user; and
  • Activity ratios such as the inventory turnover ratio.
National Instrument 52-112 Non-GAAP and Other Financial Measures Disclosure
Part 3 Specified Financial Measure Disclosure
Section 6

Non-GAAP financial measures that are historical information

(1) An issuer must not disclose a non-GAAP financial measure that is historical information in a document unless all of the following apply:

(a) the non-GAAP financial measure is labelled using a term that,

(i) given the measure’s composition, describes the measure, and

(ii) distinguishes the measure from totals, subtotals and line items disclosed in the primary financial statements of the entity to which the measure relates;

(b) the non-GAAP financial measure is identified as a non-GAAP financial measure;

(c) the document discloses the most directly comparable financial measure that is disclosed in the primary financial statements of the entity to which the measure relates;

(d) the non-GAAP financial measure is presented with no more prominence in the document than that of the most directly comparable financial measure referred to in paragraph (c);

(e) in proximity to the first instance of the non-GAAP financial measure in the document, the document

(i) explains that the non-GAAP financial measure is not a standardized financial measure under the financial reporting framework used to prepare the financial statements of the entity to which the measure relates and might not be comparable to similar financial measures disclosed by other issuers,

(ii) discloses, directly or by incorporating it by reference as permitted under section 5,

(A) an explanation of the composition of the non-GAAP financial measure,

(B) an explanation of how the non-GAAP financial measure provides useful information to an investor and explains the additional purposes, if any, for which management uses the non-GAAP financial measure,

(C) a quantitative reconciliation of the non-GAAP financial measure for its current and comparative period, if disclosed under paragraph (f), to the most directly comparable financial measure referred to in paragraph (c), and that reconciliation is disclosed in the permitted format, and

(D) if the label or composition of the non-GAAP financial measure has changed from what was previously disclosed, an explanation of the reason for the change;

(f) if the non-GAAP financial measure is disclosed in MD&A or in an earnings release of the issuer, the non-GAAP financial measure for a comparative period, determined using the same composition, is disclosed in the document, unless it is impracticable to do so.

(2) For the purpose of clause (1)(e)(ii)(C), a quantitative reconciliation of the non-GAAP financial measure is in the “permitted format” if it

(a) is disaggregated quantitatively in a way that would enable a reasonable personapplying a reasonable effort to understand the reconciling items,

(b) explains each reconciling item, and

(c) does not describe a reconciling item as “non-recurring”, “infrequent”, “unusual”, or using a similar term, if a loss or gain of a similar nature is reasonably likely to occur within the entity’s 2 financial years that immediately follow the disclosure, or has occurred during the entity’s 2 financial years that immediately precede the disclosure.