The board of directors has considered the Group’s critical accounting policies, key sources of uncertainty and areas where critical accounting judgements were required in applying the Group’s accounting policies.

Critical accounting policies

The Group audit committee is satisfied that the critical accounting policies are appropriate to the Group.

Property, plant and equipment, and rental fleet

The residual values of these assets are reviewed annually after considering future market conditions, the remaining life of the asset and projected disposal values. The estimation of the useful lives is based on historic performance as well as expectation about future use and, therefore, requires a degree of judgement to be applied. The depreciation rates represent management’s current best estimate of the useful lives of the assets. Certain properties are accounted for as own-use assets and are thus held at cost less depreciation. Market indicators reflect that these properties could realise more than their carrying values if disposed of.

Goodwill and indefinite life intangible assets

The Group has assessed the carrying value of goodwill and indefinite life intangible assets to determine whether any of the amounts have been impaired. The carrying values were assessed using a combination of discounted cash flow and price earnings methods and the actual results and forecasts for future years.

Deferred taxation

Deferred taxation assets are recognised to the extent it is probable that the taxable income will be available against which they can be utilised. Future taxable profits are estimated based on business plans which include estimates and assumptions regarding economic growth, interest, inflation and taxation rates and competitive forces.

Associates

In determining whether a substantial holding in an entity should be treated as an associate or subsidiary, management reviews the size of its holding, the voting rights it holds, the spread of shareholders and whether it has any arrangement to act in concert with any other investors.

Following on from the Group’s recent offer to minorities and additional acquisition of shares in Adcock Ingram Limited (Adcock), management has reassessed its treatment of the Group’s investment in Adcock as an associate. Detailed consideration was given to the shareholder profile of Adcock, the Group’s representation on the Adcock board and the fact that the Group has no binding agreement to act in concert with any other shareholder to assume management control of Adcock. Management concluded that the Group’s current treatment of Adcock as an associate is appropriate.

Investments

The Group reflects its held-for-trade and available-for-sale investments at fair value. The directors’ value of unlisted investments was determined using a combination of discounted cash flow, net asset value and price earnings methods. Certain investments are of a long-term nature and uncertainty surrounds their valuation, which may result in a significant change in value over time.

Inventories

Impairment allowances are raised against inventory when it is considered that the amount realisable from such inventory’s sale is considered to be less than its carrying amount. The impairment allowances are made with reference to an inventory age analysis.

Trade receivables and banking advances

Management identifies possible impairment of trade receivables and banking advance on an ongoing basis. An impairment allowance in respect of doubtful debts is raised against the receivable when their collectability is considered to be doubtful. Management believe that the impairment adjustment is conservative and there are no significant receivables that are doubtful and have not been impaired or provided for. In determining whether a particular receivable could be doubtful, the age, customer’s current financial status and disputes with the customer are taken into consideration.

Provisions

Refer note 34 for further disclosure.

Post-retirement obligations

The Group provides retirement benefits for its permanent employees through pension funds with defined benefit and defined contribution categories. Actuarial valuations are based on assumptions which include the discount rate, inflation rate, salary increase rate, expected return on plan assets and the pension increase allowance rate.

Puttable non-controlling interest liabilities

The Group has entered into put arrangements where non-controlling interests are entitled to sell certain of their holdings in subsidiaries to the Group at future contracted dates. The puttable non-controlling interest liability is calculated as the present value of the expected redemption value, discounted from the expected redemption date to the reporting date. There are two main assumptions used in the calculation of the liability: the expected redemption value at the expected redemption date; and the discount rate used to discount the expected redemption value to the reporting date.

The discount rate is derived from an applicable government bond yield curve, in the country in which the subsidiary operates, and is applied over the number of years between the reporting date and the redemption date, plus an appropriate credit spread.