RE: How is Bake doing?11 Oct 2025 17:34
If you never own something you don't have to account for it.
Sorry, I respectfully disagree.
Under IFRS 15, which governs revenue recognition for contracts like Semnet’s, the company must account for the $36M as revenue over the contract’s term, tied to performance obligations (e.g., delivering cybersecurity monitoring or SOAR services). This isn’t a free pass,Semnet likely incurs significant upfront costs (staffing, tech infrastructure, or third-party licenses) to fulfill the contract, hitting operating expenses and potentially squeezing margins early on. These costs are very much “accounted for” on the income statement, even without owning assets.
Revenue and costs from its $36M Ypsilon contract, even without owning assets. This impacts their P&L through revenue recognition and opex, plus potential balance sheet effects if commitments trigger SFRS(I) 16. Non-ownership doesn’t erase these obligations.
Your suggestion that “if you never own something, you don’t have to account for it” carries a faint echo of truth in an agency scenario, but it falters under the weight of Singapore’s accounting rigor. Even if Semnet Pte Ltd were merely brokering the $36 million one-off cybersecurity contract with Ypsilon Technology Pte Ltd as an agent.Under SFRS(I) 15—Singapore’s adoption of IFRS 15, mandatory since 2018—an agent facilitating a deal recognizes only their commission, not the full contract value. If Semnet were brokering, say, a SOAR platform deal for Ypsilon, they’d account for a fee, along with costs like staff or legal fees, which hit the income statement with unyielding precision. Deferred revenue or liabilities may arise if funds are held temporarily, and any leased assets for facilitation would trigger SFRS(I) 16’s right-of-use accounting .Far from escaping the books, even an agent’s role demands meticulous tracking. A $36 million deal, even brokered, is a material event for Semnet, drawing investor scrutiny to revenue quality and margins. In reality, Semnet likely delivers the services directly, amplifying the accounting impact. I’d be intrigued to hear your view, do you see them as agents here, or is there another angle?