1 Significant accounting policies

1. Reporting entity

These financial statements are prepared for Barclays PLC and its subsidiaries (the Barclays PLC Group or the Group) under Section 399 of the Companies Act 2006. The Group is a major global financial services provider engaged in retail banking, credit cards, wholesale banking, investment banking, wealth management and investment management services. In addition, individual financial statements have been presented for the holding company, Barclays PLC (the Company). Barclays PLC is a public limited company, incorporated and domiciled in England and Wales having a registered office in England and is the holding company of the Group.

2. Compliance with International Financial Reporting Standards

The consolidated financial statements of the Group, and the individual financial statements of Barclays PLC, have been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) and interpretations (IFRICs) issued by the Interpretations Committee, as published by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB). They are also in accordance with IFRS and IFRIC interpretations endorsed by the European Union. The principal accounting policies applied in the preparation of the consolidated and individual financial statements are set out below, and in the relevant notes to the financial statements. These policies have been consistently applied. There were no changes in accounting policy in the year.

3. Basis of preparation

The consolidated and individual financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention modified to include the fair valuation of investment property and particular financial instruments to the extent required or permitted under IFRS as set out in the relevant accounting policies. They are stated in millions of pounds Sterling (£m), the functional currency of Barclays PLC.

4. Accounting policies

Barclays prepares financial statements in accordance with IFRS. The Group’s significant accounting policies relating to specific financial statement items, together with a description of the accounting estimates and judgements that were critical to preparing them, are set out under the relevant notes. Accounting policies that affect the financial statements as a whole are set out below.

(i) Consolidation

Barclays applies IAS 27 Consolidated and Separate Financial Statements and SIC 12 Consolidation – Special Purpose Entities (SPEs).

The consolidated financial statements combine the financial statements of Barclays PLC and all its subsidiaries. Subsidiaries are entities over which it has control of the financial and operating policies through its holdings of voting shares and SPEs, which are consolidated when the substance of the relationship between the Group and the entity indicates control. The control assessment for special purpose entities includes an assessment of the Group’s exposure to the risks and benefits of the entity. The consolidation of SPEs is considered at inception, based on the arrangements in place and the assessed risk exposures at that time. The initial consolidation analysis is revisited at a later date if:

• the Group acquires additional interests in the entity;
• the contractual arrangements of the entity are amended such that the relative exposures to risks and rewards change; and
• the Group acquires control over the main operating and financial decisions of the entity.

Intra-group transactions and balances are eliminated on consolidation and consistent accounting policies are used throughout the Group for the purposes of the consolidation.

Changes in ownership interests in subsidiaries are accounted for as equity transactions if they occur after control has already been obtained and they do not result in loss of control.

Details of the principal subsidiaries are given in Note 40.

(ii) Foreign currency translation

The Group applies IAS 21 The Effects of Changes in Foreign Exchange Rates. Transactions in foreign currencies are translated into Sterling or the relevant functional currency of foreign operations at the rate ruling on the date of the transaction. Foreign currency balances are translated at the period end exchange rates. Exchange gains and losses on such balances are taken to the income statement.

The Group’s foreign operations (including subsidiaries, joint ventures, associates and branches) based mainly outside the UK may have other functional currencies than Sterling. The functional currency of an operation is the currency of the main economy to which it is exposed.

Prior to consolidation (or equity accounting) the assets and liabilities of non-Sterling operations are translated at the closing rate and items of income, expense and other comprehensive income are translated into Sterling at the rate on the date of the transactions. Exchange differences arising on the translation of foreign operations are included in currency translation reserves within equity. These are transferred to the income statement when the Group loses control, joint control or significant influence over the foreign operation or on partial disposal of the operation.

(iii) Financial assets and liabilities

The Group applies IAS 39 Financial Instruments: Recognition and Measurement (IAS 39) for the recognition, classification and measurement and derecognition of financial assets and financial liabilities, for the impairment of financial assets, and for hedge accounting.

Recognition

The Group recognises financial assets and liabilities when it becomes a party to the terms of the contract, which is the trade date or the settlement date.

Classification and measurement

Financial assets and liabilities are initially recognised at fair value and may be held at fair value or amortised cost depending on the Group’s intention toward the assets and the nature of the assets and liabilities, mainly determined by their contractual terms.

The accounting policy for each type of financial asset or liability is included within the relevant note for the item. The Group’s policies for determining the fair values of the assets and liabilities are set out in Note 20.

Derecognition

The Group derecognises a financial asset, or a portion of a financial asset, from its balance sheet where the contractual rights to cash flows from the asset have expired, or have been transferred, usually by sale, and with them either substantially all the risks and rewards of the asset or significant risks and rewards, along with the unconditional ability to sell or pledge the asset.

Financial liabilities are de-recognised when the liability has been settled, has expired or has been extinguished. An exchange of an existing financial liability for a new liability with the same lender on substantially different terms – generally a difference of 10% in the present value of the cash flows – is accounted for as an extinguishment of the original financial liability and the recognition of a new financial liability.

Transactions in which the Group transfers assets and liabilities, portions of them, or financial risks associated with them can be complex and it may not be obvious whether substantially all of the risks and rewards have been transferred. It is often necessary to perform a quantitative analysis. Such an analysis compares the Group’s exposure to variability in asset cash flows before the transfer with its retained exposure after the transfer.

A cash flow analysis of this nature may require judgement. In particular, it is necessary to estimate the asset’s expected future cash flows as well as potential variability around this expectation. The method of estimating expected future cash flows depends on the nature of the asset, with market and market-implied data used to the greatest extent possible. The potential variability around this expectation is typically determined by stressing underlying parameters to create reasonable alternative upside and downside scenarios. Probabilities are then assigned to each scenario. Stressed parameters may include default rates, loss severity or prepayment rates.

(iv) Issued debt and equity instruments

The Group applies IAS 32, Financial Instruments: Presentation, to determine whether funding is either a financial liability (debt) or equity.

Issued financial instruments or their components are classified as liabilities if the contractual arrangement results in the Group having a present obligation to either deliver cash or another financial asset, or a variable number of equity shares, to the holder of the instrument, if this is not the case, the instrument is generally an equity instrument and the proceeds included in equity, net of transaction costs. Dividends and other returns to equity holders are recognised when paid or declared by the members at the annual general meeting and treated as a deduction from equity.

Where issued financial instruments contain both liability and equity components, these are accounted for separately. The fair value of the debt is estimated first and the balance of the proceeds is included within equity.

5. Future accounting developments

As at 31 December 2011 the IASB had issued the following accounting standards. These are effective on 1 January 2013, subject to EU endorsement, unless otherwise indicated:

• IFRS 10 Consolidated Financial Statements which replaces requirements in IAS 27 Consolidated and Separate Financial Statements and SIC 12 C onsolidation – Special Purpose Entities. This introduces new criteria to determine whether entities in which the Group has interests should be consolidated. The Group is considering the impact of the new standard and is currently unable to provide an estimate of the financial effects of its adoption;
• IFRS 11 Joint Arrangements, which replaces IAS 31 Interests in Joint Ventures. This specifies the accounting for joint arrangements whether these are joint operations or joint ventures. It is not expected to have a material impact on the Group;
• IFRS 12 Disclosures of Interests in Other Entities This specifies the required disclosures in respect of interests in, and risks arising, from subsidiaries, joint ventures, associates and structured entities whether consolidated or not. As a disclosure only standard it will have no financial impact;
• IFRS 13 Fair Value Measurement. This provides comprehensive guidance on how to calculate the fair value of financial and non-financial assets and liabilities. It is not expected to have a material impact on the Group financial statements;
• IAS 19 Employee Benefits (Revised 2011). This requires that actuarial gains and losses arising from defined benefit pension schemes are recognised in full. Previously the Group deferred these over the remaining average service lives of the employees (the ‘corridor’ approach). See Note 39 for more information and an estimate of the financial effects of adoption; and
• IAS 32 and IFRS 7 Amendments Offsetting Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities. The circumstances in which netting is permitted have been clarified and disclosures on offsetting have been considerably expanded. The amendments on offsetting are effective from 1 January 2014 and those on disclosures from 1 January 2013.

In 2009 and 2010, the IASB issued IFRS 9 Financial Instruments which contains new requirements for accounting for financial assets and liabilities, and will contain new requirements for impairment and hedge accounting, replacing the corresponding requirements in IAS 39. It will lead to significant changes in the way that the Group accounts for financial instruments. The key changes issued and proposed relate to:

• Financial assets. Financial assets will bet held at either fair value or amortised cost, except for equity investments not held for trading, which may be held at fair value through other comprehensive income;
• Financial liabilities. Gains and losses on fair value changes in own credit arising on non-derivative financial liabilities designated at fair value through profit or loss will be excluded from the Income Statement and instead taken to other comprehensive income;
• Impairment. Expected losses (rather than only incurred losses) will be reflected in impairment allowances for financial assets that are not classified as fair value through profit or loss; and
• Hedge accounting. Hedge accounting will be more closely aligned with financial risk management.

Adoption is not mandatory until periods beginning on or after 1 January 2015, subject to EU endorsement. Earlier adoption is possible, subject to endorsement and finalisation of the standard. At this stage, it is not possible to fully determine the potential financial impacts of adoption of IFRS 9 on the Group.

In addition, the IASB has indicated that it will issue a new standard on accounting for leases. Under the proposals, lessees would be required to recognise assets and liabilities arising from both operating and finance leases on the balance sheet. The IASB also plans to issue new standards on insurance contracts and revenue recognition. The Group will consider the financial impacts of these new standards as they are finalised.

Critical accounting estimates and judgements

The preparation of financial statements in accordance with IFRS requires the use of estimates. It also requires management to exercise judgement in applying the accounting policies. The key areas involving a higher degree of judgement or complexity, or areas where assumptions are significant to the consolidated and individual financial statements are highlighted under the relevant note. Critical accounting estimates and judgements are disclosed in:

• Credit in charges and impairment on available for sale assets
• Tax
• Available for sale assets
• Fair value of financial instruments
• Goodwill and intangible assets
• Provisions
• Retirement benefit obligations

6. Other disclosures

To improve transparency and ease of reference, by concentrating related information in one place, and to reduce duplication, certain disclosures required under IFRS have been included within the Risk management and Financial review sections as follows:

• segmental reporting in the Analysis of results by business and in Note 2 Segmental reporting;
• credit risk management including exposures to selected countries;
• market risk;
• funding risk – capital; and
• funding risk – liquidity.

These are covered by the Audit opinion included in the section Independent Auditors’ report.