Impairment Test of Assets: Calculation of Impairment Loss

Corporate Accounting and Reporting
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Part A:
In order to present the assets in the true and fair view, the companies are required to
carry out the impairment test of the assets. In this test it is checked if the assets are
being carried at amounts which is not more than its recoverable amount. The
companies are required to check for impairment of goodwill and other intangible
assets on an annual basis (Alvarez, 2013). They are also required to check if
conditions for impairment of other assets exist. An asset is said to be impaired when
its recoverable amount falls below the carrying amount. In such cases the
companies are required to account for the impairment loss and record the assets in
the book at the revised values. When the asset is not individually capable of
generating cash flows, then impairment test for the cash generating unit should be
done (Australian Accounting Standards Board).
Calculation of impairment loss requires collection of some financial data. The
management needs to know the recoverable amount of the asset in order to
compare it with the carrying amount of the assets. Where there are assets which for
a part of cash generating unit, then the values for such cash generating units are to
be calculated (Elaine, 2015).
Recoverable amount refers to the amount that the company would receive if the
asset is sold in the market at the time of impairment test. Any selling expenses which
are to be incurred in connection with the sale of the asset are to be deducted from
the recoverable amount (Girard, 2014).
If the recoverable amount of an individual asset cannot be determined then the
recoverable amount of the whole cash generating unit should be calculated (Parrino,
2013).
Following should be taken into consideration in order to determine the recoverable
amount of the asset being tested for impairment:
- If carrying amount of the asset is less than the fair value net of disposal costs or
value in use, then calculating recoverable amount is unnecessary as the asset is
not impaired
- If the fair value net of disposal cost cannot be determined, then we use the value
in use as the recoverable amount
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- For the assets which are required to be sold, then for such assets recoverable
amount is fair value net of disposal costs.
In order to determine the fair value of the asset to check for its impairment, the
company is required to hire a certified valuer. Only such persons can determine the
fair value of an asset. The fair value is to be calculated taking into considerations the
guidelines laid down for fair value measurements of the assets. While considering
the fair value of the asset any costs which might be incurred at the disposal of the
asset should be subtracted in to determine the net fair value (Penman, 2012).
Value in use of the assets is one of the most complicated values which are required
to be calculated in order to account for impairment. The following should be included
while evaluating the value in use of the asset:
- The discounted values of the future cash flows that are expected to be generated
from the assets. While calculating these cash flows the factors which might affect
them should also be taken into consideration. The discount rate to be chosen for
discounting should be based on lot of research and facts (Taillard, 2013).
- The projections of the expected cash flows mentioned above should be based on
reasonable and suitable assumptions. The budgets and the forecasts of the most
recent years. The budgets should be considered for a period of five years only, in
order to account for the budgets beyond five years the company should follow
the past trends the budgets. They should also access the reasons for variations
between the budgeted and actual cash flows.
- The calculations of the cash flows should be based on the current condition of
the asset. Any future changes or restructuring which are being planned or might
be implemented should not be taken into consideration why evaluating the
current condition of the asset.
The discount rate that is to be chosen for discounting should be a pre tax rate that
reflects the time value of money. Such discounting rate should also include the risk
factors associated with the asset.
The risk factors included while calculating the cash flows should not be included in
the discount rate, or else these factors would be included twice in the calculations.
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