Financial Accounting Report: Telstra Corporation Analysis

This report analyzes Telstra Corporation's 2018 annual report, addressing specific accounting aspects. It begins by calculating the percentage of total assets comprised of intangible assets, which was found to be 21.41% of total assets, with key components including goodwill, licenses, software assets, and other intangible assets. The report then details the impairment losses recognized during the year, totaling $568 million, allocated across various asset categories like goodwill, software assets, and tangible assets such as buildings and communication assets. These losses were recognized because the carrying value of assets exceeded their recoverable amounts, reflecting the dynamic nature of the industry and the judgments involved in assessing future cash flows. Finally, the report notes that Telstra did not revalue any tangible or intangible assets during the year ended June 30, 2018.

Running head: COMPANY ACCOUNTING
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Table of Contents
Answer (a)..................................................................................................................................2
Answer (b)..................................................................................................................................2
Answer (c)..................................................................................................................................4
Reference....................................................................................................................................5

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Answer (a)
Intangible asset is the asset that does not have any physical substance. Examples for
intangible assets are patent, goodwill, copyrights, intellectual property and software. An
intangible asset may be segregated into the one that has definite life value and the one that
gas indefinite life value. For instance, brand value is considered to have indefinite life value
as it remains with the entity for its lifetime. On the contrary, legal agreement on patent can be
considered as the intangible asset with definite life value as legal agreement on patent is
made for definite time periods say 10 years or 20 years (Crema & Nosella, 2014).
Total assets of Telstra group for the year ended 30th June 2018 amounted to $ 42,870
million, out of which intangible assets accounted for $ 9180 million.
Amount in million
Total asset $ 42,870.00
Intangible assets $ 9,180.00
% of intangible asset 21.41%
Hence, 21.41% of total assets are made up of intangible assets. Intangible assets of the
company include goodwill, licences, software assets, deferred expenditure and other
intangible assets (Telstra.com.au, 2019).
Answer (b)
During the year, Telstra group charged $ 568 million as impairment losses in its
financial statement. Impairment losses provided for the following accounts –
 Intangible assets –
 Goodwill - $ 261 million
 Software assets - $ 31 million

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 Other intangible assets - $ 5 million
 Tangible assets –
 Buildings - $ 4 million
 Communication assets – $ 9 million
 Other plant, equipment and motor vehicle - $ 7 million
 Trade and other receivables - $ 219 million (Telstra.com.au, 2019).
Impairment loss is charged when the carrying value of the above mentioned assets
exceeded their recoverable amount. All the non-current tangible assets are reviewed for the
purpose of impairment if any event or any change in the circumstances signals that carrying
amount of the assets may not be recoverable. Recoverable value of the asses is the higher
among its value in use and the fair value after deducting the disposal costs thereon
(Aasb.gov.au, 2019). Further, as the goodwill and other intangible assets with the indefinite
useful life are not subject to the amortisation they are assessed for the purpose of impairment
at least once in a year or whenever any indication arises for impairment. The impairment loss
amount is reported under reporting period of income statement when carrying amount of the
assets exceeds its recoverable value (Telstra.com.au, 2019).
Considering the dynamic nature of industry under which Telstra Group operates its
business, risk is there that material impairment to the goodwill and other intangible and
tangible assets may take place. While determining whether there is an indication of
impairment associated with cash generating unit or other assets, it involves significant
judgement regarding future plans and cash flows for these CGUs and assets (Linnenluecke et
al., 2015). The entity evaluates the impairment computation of the assets including testing of
recoverable amount for each of the CGU where indication is there for impairment or
significant account balances are there for goodwill or for intangible assets with indefinite life.
Further, for computing impairment loss the group assessed reasonableness of cash flows

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projections approved by the board and used the same for impairment as well as for measuring
reliability of forecasting for historical cash flows (Bond, Govendir & Wells, 2016).
Answer (c)
For the year ended 30th June 2018, Telstra group did not re-valued any of its tangible
as well as intangible assets (Telstra.com.au, 2019).

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Reference
Aasb.gov.au. (2019). Retrieved 4 May 2019, from
https://www.aasb.gov.au/admin/file/content102/c3/AASB136_07-
04_ERDRjun10_07-09.pdf
Bond, D., Govendir, B., & Wells, P. (2016). An evaluation of asset impairments by
Australian firms and whether they were impacted by AASB 136. Accounting &
Finance, 56(1), 259-288.
Crema, M., & Nosella, A. (2014). Intangible assets management and evaluation: Evidence
from SMEs. Engineering Management Journal, 26(1), 8-20.
Linnenluecke, M. K., Birt, J., Lyon, J., & Sidhu, B. K. (2015). Planetary boundaries:
implications for asset impairment. Accounting & Finance, 55(4), 911-929.
Telstra.com.au. (2019). Retrieved 4 May 2019, from
https://www.telstra.com.au/content/dam/tcom/about-us/investors/pdf%20F/2018-
Annual-Report.pdf