14.

Impairment of assets

The carrying value of assets is reviewed at each balance sheet date to assess whether there is any indication of impairment. If any such indication exists, the recoverable amount of the asset is estimated. Where the carrying value exceeds the estimated recoverable amount, such assets are written down to their recoverable amount.

The recoverable amount of cash-generating units to which goodwill is allocated is estimated annually on March 31 each year. For assets that have an indefinite useful life and intangible assets that are not yet available for use, the recoverable amount is estimated at each balance sheet date.

Impairment losses are recognised whenever the carrying amount of the asset or a cash-generating unit exceeds its recoverable amount. Impairment losses are recognised in the income statement.

Impairment losses recognised in respect of cash-generating units are allocated first to reduce the carrying amount of any goodwill allocated to cash-generating units and then to reduce the carrying amount of the other assets in the unit on a pro rata basis.

A cash-generating unit is the smallest identifiable asset group that generates cash flows that largely are independent from other assets and groups.

Financial assets are impaired where there is objective evidence that, as a result of one or more events that occurred after the initial recognition of the financial asset, the estimated future cash flows of the investment have been impacted.

An impairment loss in respect of an available-for-sale financial asset is calculated by reference to its current fair value. For unlisted shares classified as available-for-sale, a significant or prolonged decline in the fair value of the security below its cost is considered to be objective evidence of impairment.

For all other financial assets, objective evidence of impairment could include:
– significant financial difficulty of the counterparty; or
– default in interest or principal payments; or
– it becoming probable that the counterparty will enter bankruptcy or financial re-organisation.

When a decline in the fair value of an available-for-sale financial asset has been recognised directly in equity and there is objective evidence that the asset is impaired, the cumulative loss that had been recognised directly in equity is recognised in the income statement even though the financial asset has not been derecognised. The amount of the cumulative loss that is recognised in the income statement is the difference between the acquisition cost and current fair value, less any impairment loss on that financial asset previously recognised in the income statement.

The recoverable amount of the Group’s investments in held-to-maturity is calculated as the present value of estimated future cash flows, discounted at the original effective interest rate (the effective interest rate is computed on initial recognition of these financial assets). Receivables with a short duration are not discounted. Individually significant financial assets are tested for impairment on an individual basis. The remaining financial assets are assessed collectively in groups that share similar credit risk characteristics.

In respect of trade receivables, receivables that are assessed not to be impaired individually are subsequently assessed for impairment on a collective basis. Objective evidence of impairment for a portfolio of receivables could include the Group’st experience of collecting payments, an increase in the number of delayed payments in the portfolio past the average credit period, as well as observable changes in national or local economic conditions that correlate with default on receivables.

The recoverable amount of other assets is the greater of their fair value less costs to sell and their value in use. In assessing their value in use, the estimated future cash flows are discounted to their present value using a pre-tax discount rate that reflects current market assessments of the time value of money and the risks specific to the asset.

An impairment loss in respect of a held-to-maturity security or receivable carried at amortised cost is reversed if the subsequent increase in recoverable amount can be related objectively to an event occurring after the impairment loss was recognised.

An impairment loss in respect of an investment in an equity instrument classified as available-for-sale is not reversed through the income statement. If the fair value of a debt instrument classified as available-for-sale increases and the increase can be objectively related to an event occurring after the impairment loss was recognised in the income statement, the impairment loss is reversed, with the amount of the reversal recognised in the income statement.

The carrying amount of the financial asset is reduced by the impairment loss directly for all financial assets with the exception of trade receivables and banking advances, where the carrying amount is reduced through the use of an impairment allowance account. When a trade receivable or banking advance is considered uncollectible, it is written off against the impairment allowance account. Subsequent recoveries of amounts previously written off are credited against the allowance account. Changes in the carrying amount of the impairment allowance account are recognised in the income statement.

Impairment losses in respect of goodwill are not reversed.

In respect of other assets, impairment losses recognised in prior periods are assessed at each reporting date for any indications that the loss has decreased or no longer exists. Impairment losses are reversed if there has been a change in the estimates used to determine the recoverable amount.

Impairment losses are reversed only to the extent that the asset’s would have been determined, net of depreciation or amortisation, if no impairment loss had been recognised.