Audit

Accounting practice

The principal sources of information for shareholders and third parties are in the company’s consolidated financial statements as well as, during the financial year, the quarterly and half-yearly reports. Contrary to the recommendations of the Code and due to the extensive consolidation work involved, the consolidated financial statements of Francotyp-Postalia Holding AG are drawn up within four months of the end of the financial year. Due to the large amount of consolidation work involved, the quarterly and half-yearly reports are also published, at the latest, within two months of the end of the reporting period, in compliance with the Stock Exchange Rules (Börsenordnung) and the Transparency Guidelines Implementation Act (Transparenzrichtlinien-Umsetzungsgesetz).

The consolidated financial statements and interim reports are drawn up in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). The individual financial statements required by law for tax and dividend payment purposes are drawn up in compliance with the German Commercial Code.

An internal control system and uniform accounting principles ensure that an appropriate reflection is given of the net assets, financial and earnings position and cash flows of all Group companies. The Management Board also ensures appropriate risk management and monitoring within the company. It reports to the Supervisory Board on all existing risks and their development regularly and in good time.

The Supervisory Board advises on risk management and is explicitly concerned with monitoring the effectiveness of the risk management system, the internal control and audit systems, the accounting process and the audit, in particular its independence, in view of Section 107 paragraph 3 AktG as amended by the German Accounting Law Modernisation Act (Bilanzrechtsmodernisierungsgesetz – BilMoG).

A list of relationships with shareholders qualifying as Related Parties, within the meaning of IAS 24, is published by the company in its consolidated financial statements.

Audit

In accordance with the 2017 Annual General Meeting resolution on the matter, the Supervisory Board has appointed KPMG AG Wirtschaftsprüfungsgesellschaft, Berlin, to conduct the audit of the 2017 annual financial statements and consolidated financial statements. In compliance with the recommendations of the Code, it was agreed with the auditor that he will inform the Chairman of the Supervisory Board immediately of any grounds for exclusion or bias which might arise during the audit, unless said grounds are eliminated without delay. The auditor is also required to immediately report any material findings or occurrences arising during the execution of the audit which may be relevant to the Supervisory Board’s performance of its duties. The auditor is further required either to notify the Supervisory Board or make a corresponding note in its audit report should it discover circumstances indicating inaccuracies in the Declaration of Compliance with the Code given by the Management Board and Supervisory Board, pursuant to Section 161 of the German Stock Corporation Act (Aktiengesetz - AktG).