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FINANCIAL REPORTING FACULTY

APPLYING IAS 36 IMPAIRMENT OF ASSETS

Published 10 December 2019

IFRS FACTSHEET Last updated 10 December 2019

Section 1
Applying IAS 36 Impairment of Assets Introduction 1
This factsheet is a summary of the basic principles of accounting for
Section 2
impairment under IAS 36, with some practical help that reflects on-going
Links to regulations 2
challenging economic circumstances.
Section 3
Key regulations for this factsheet
Overview 3
This factsheet includes links and references to key regulations. There’s a
Section 4
summary of the links, and guidance on how to use them, on page 2.
Scope 5

Section 5
Section 1 Cash-generating units 6

Introduction Section 6
The principle of IAS 36 Impairment of Assets is that assets should be carried at no When to perform an impairment test 8
more than their recoverable amount. Recoverable amount is the amount that an
Section 7
entity could recover through use or sale of an asset. If an asset’s recoverable amount
Performing an impairment test – assets
is less than its carrying value, then the asset is impaired and IAS 36 requires that an other than goodwill 11
impairment loss is recognised.
Section 8
IAS 36 details the procedures that an entity should follow to ensure this principle is
Recognising an impairment loss and
applied and is applicable for the majority of non-financial assets. The standard also subsequent accounting – assets other
specifies when an impairment loss should be reversed and prescribes disclosures than goodwill 16
related to impairment.
Section 9
Applying IAS 36 involves significant judgement and gives rise to a number of Additional requirements for goodwill 18
practical considerations. Economic and political uncertainty continues to affect
Section 10
businesses in a number of territories and industry sectors. Declines in growth
forecasts and the rapid pace of technological change are also likely to affect Reversing an impairment loss 23

assumptions behind asset valuations. This means impairment testing and the related Section 11
disclosures continue to be relevant and challenging topics for entities. Disclosure requirements 25

Contacts and further help 27

Section 2
Links to regulations

Using the links and margin notes in this document

The margin notes in this factsheet identify relevant sections of standards and other
regulations – these sections cannot be considered in isolation when applying them in
practice.
You might find it useful to download relevant section(s) of the standard(s) so that you can
refer to them when using this document.

Make sure that you use the right version of the regulations or standards
Standards and regulations are often updated and amended, and may have transitional
provisions. It is important to use the right version, and to make sure that it applies to the
relevant time period. The standards below are linked to the faculty’s standards tracker
which shows when standards were amended, and when amendments come into effect.
Links are then provided to the version of the standard relevant to specific time periods. To
use the links in the standards tracker it is strongly recommended that you are first logged
into the Financial Reporting Faculty, and also logged into eIFRS.

Regulations and guidance

IAS 10 Events after the Reporting Period

IAS 36 Impairment of Assets

IFRS 13 Fair Value Measurement

IFRIC 10 Interim Financial Reporting and Impairment

IAS 16 Property, Plant and Equipment

IAS 38 Intangible Assets

IAS 41 Agriculture

IFRS 3 Business Combinations

IFRS 5 Non-current Assets Held for Sale and Discontinued Operations

IFRS 8 Operating Segments

IFRS 9 Financial Instruments

IFRS 15 Revenue from Contracts with Customers

IFRS 16 Leases

IFRS 17 Insurance Contracts

FRC’s Annual Activity Reports of Corporate Reporting Reviews

FRC’s Thematic Review: Impairment of non-financial assets

ESMA’s report of Enforcement and Regulatory Activities of European Accounting Enforcers in 2018

IFRS Factsheet: Applying IAS 36 Impairment Published 10 December 2019, last updated 10 December 2019 2
Section 3
Overview
Underlying principle
The principle of IAS 36 is that assets should be carried in the balance sheet at no more IAS 36.1, 6

than their recoverable amount. Recoverable amount is the higher of the asset’s fair value
less costs of disposal and its value in use.

IAS 36 requires an assessment at each reporting date of whether there is any indication IAS 36.9-10

that an asset within its scope may be impaired. With the exception of goodwill and certain
intangible assets, it is only when there is such an indication that the entity is required to
estimate the asset’s recoverable amount. Goodwill, intangible assets with an indefinite
useful life and intangible assets which are not yet available for use must be tested annually
for impairment irrespective of whether there is any indication of impairment.

Impairment losses
When an asset’s carrying amount exceeds its recoverable amount, the asset is impaired IAS 36.59

and must be written down to its recoverable amount.

Asset or CGU impaired when:

Carrying amount exceeds Recoverable amount

Higher of:

Fair value less costs of disposal Value in use

Based on fair value as defined by Future estimated cash flows
IFRS 13 Fair Value Measurement discounted to present value

Impairment losses are recognised in profit or loss unless recognised in other IAS 36.60

comprehensive income against any revaluation surplus related to the asset.

Impairment losses, with the exception of those recognised in relation to goodwill, are IAS 36.110

generally capable of being reversed in subsequent accounting periods if indications arise

that suggest the impairment may have decreased or no longer exists.

Explanations of each stage of the impairment accounting process, including impairment

reversal and required disclosures, are set out in sections 4-11 below.

Cash-generating units
If it is not possible to estimate the recoverable amount of an individual asset, an entity IAS 36.66, 104

applies the requirements in respect of impairment at the level of the cash-generating unit
(CGU) to which the asset belongs.

There are particular considerations when applying the requirements of IAS 36 to CGUs,
which are covered in sections 5 and 8. Section 5 considers how to identify CGUs and

IFRS Factsheet: Applying IAS 36 Impairment Published 10 December 2019, last updated 10 December 2019 3
section 8 explains that any impairment loss must be allocated to the assets in the CGU in a
specific order:

i) first against any goodwill allocated to the CGU;

ii) then against the other assets of the CGU on a pro rata basis.

Allocate loss to assets of CGU:

Impairment loss reduces carrying 1. Against goodwill, then
amount to recoverable amount 2. Against other assets pro rata

Recognise loss:
1. Directly against any revaluation
surplus related to the asset, then
2. In profit or loss

Goodwill and corporate assets are examples of assets that cannot be tested for impairment
individually and must be assessed as part of a CGU, or group of CGUs. Section 9 outlines
additional requirements to consider when testing goodwill for impairment.

IFRS Factsheet: Applying IAS 36 Impairment Published 10 December 2019, last updated 10 December 2019 4
Section 4
Scope
The requirements of IAS 36 are applied in accounting for the impairment of all assets other IAS 36.2

than:
• inventories;
• contract assets and assets arising from costs to obtain or fulfil a contract that are
recognised in accordance with IFRS 15 Revenue from Contracts with Customers;
• deferred tax assets;
• assets arising from employee benefits;
• financial assets within the scope of IFRS 9 Financial Instruments;
• investment property measured at fair value;
• biological assets related to agricultural activity within the scope of IAS 41 Agriculture that
are measured at fair value less costs to sell;
• deferred acquisition costs, and intangible assets, arising from an insurer’s contractual
rights under insurance contracts within the scope of IFRS 4 Insurance Contracts; and
• non-current assets (or disposal groups) classified as held for sale in accordance with
IFRS 5 Non-current Assets Held for Sale and Discontinued Operations.
IAS 36 therefore applies to property, plant and equipment, right of use assets, intangible IAS 36.4

assets, goodwill, and investment property carried at cost. The standard also applies to
financial assets classified as subsidiaries, associates and joint ventures being accounted
for at cost or using the equity method.
Practical tip: interaction with IFRS 5
Non-current assets (or disposal groups) that are classified as held for sale in accordance with
IFRS 5 are outside the scope of IAS 36. However, IFRS 5 requires assets to be measured
immediately before their initial classification as held for sale ‘in accordance with applicable
IFRSs’.
A decision to sell an asset is an indicator of impairment (see section 6) and will trigger an
impairment review. This will result in IAS 36 being applied immediately before the asset is
classified as held for sale (assuming the relevant criteria are met) and treated in accordance
with IFRS 5.

IFRS Factsheet: Applying IAS 36 Impairment Published 10 December 2019, last updated 10 December 2019 5
Section 5
Cash-generating units
Relevance of cash-generating units
It may not always be possible to estimate the recoverable amount of an individual asset. IAS 36.66-67

While fair value less costs of disposal is generally determinable, measuring value in use
requires future cash flows to be forecast and individual assets do not always generate
cash inflows independently from other assets.
In such cases, value in use and therefore recoverable amount can only be determined for
the asset’s cash-generating unit (CGU).

Identifying CGUs
An asset’s CGU is the smallest identifiable group of assets that includes the asset and IAS 36.6

generates cash inflows that are largely independent of the cash inflows from other assets
or groups of assets.
An asset or group of assets must be identified as a cash-generating unit where an active IAS 36.70

market exists for the output produced by that asset or group of assets, even if some or all
of the output is used internally. This is because the asset or group of assets could
generate cash inflows that would be largely independent of the cash inflows from other
assets or group of assets.
CGUs must be identified consistently from one period to the next for the same asset or IAS 36.72

types of assets, unless a change is justified.

Practical tip: identification of CGUs
As noted above, identifying CGUs is dependent on establishing groups of assets that generate
independent cash inflows. Cash outflows are not relevant for the purposes of identifying CGUs.
Establishing CGUs will be a matter of fact and not necessarily consistent with the way
management monitors the business. For example, each branch of a retail chain will generally be
considered a separate CGU even if Head Office chooses to monitor performance on, say, a
regional basis. Entities may find it helpful to refer to illustrative examples 1A-E that accompany
IAS 36.

Practical tip: disposals

When an asset is to be disposed of, its cash inflows will be independent of the cash inflows of
other assets. Therefore, the asset should be assessed for impairment in its own right, rather
than as part of a CGU. In such circumstances an entity should also refer to IFRS 5.

Practical tip: difference between CGUs and operating segments

While CGUs are often a matter of fact, operating segments are more a matter of choice. In
some instances a single CGU may also be an operating segment. However, it is more likely that
an operating segment will comprise several CGUs.
IFRS 8 Operating Segments defines an operating segment as being a component of an entity:
• that engages in business activities from which it earns revenues and incurs expenses;
• whose operating results are reviewed regularly for the chief operating decision maker (CODM)
to make decisions about resource allocation and to assess performance; and
• for which discrete information is available.

IFRS Factsheet: Applying IAS 36 Impairment Published 10 December 2019, last updated 10 December 2019 6
Corporate assets
IAS 36 defines corporate assets as being assets, other than goodwill, that contribute to the IAS 36.6, 100

future cash flows of more than one CGU. Examples include assets such as a
headquarters building, electronic data processing (EDP) equipment or a research centre.
Allocating corporate assets to CGUs and performing related impairment tests is discussed
further in section 7.

Goodwill
IAS 36 requires goodwill acquired in a business combination to be tested for impairment IAS 36.10 (b)

annually. As goodwill does not generate cash flows independently, it must be tested at the
level of a CGU, or group of CGUs. Section 9 provides guidance on the particular
considerations relevant to testing goodwill for impairment.

IFRS Factsheet: Applying IAS 36 Impairment Published 10 December 2019, last updated 10 December 2019 7
Section 6
When to perform an impairment test
An impairment test is required for all assets within the scope of IAS 36 when there is an IAS 36.9-10

indication of impairment at the reporting date.

In addition IAS 36 requires certain assets to be tested for impairment annually, irrespective
of whether there is any indication of impairment.
These are:
• Goodwill acquired in a business combination;
• Intangible assets with an indefinite useful life; and
• Intangible assets which are not yet available for use.
Practical tip: testing goodwill for impairment
Goodwill is tested for impairment at the level of a CGU, or group of CGUs, as it does not
generate cash flows independently. The requirement to test goodwill annually for impairment
therefore means the CGU, or group of CGUs to which goodwill has been allocated, will need to
be tested annually. This is a wider requirement than might first appear to be the case. Further
discussion on testing goodwill for impairment is included in section 9.

Practical tip: timing of tests

Intangible assets requiring an annual impairment test may be tested at any time during the IAS 36.10(a), IAS 36.96
annual period1, providing that the test is performed at the same time each year. Different
intangible assets may be tested at different times, so the impairment testing workload can be
spread. However, if such an intangible is initially recognised during the current period, it must be
tested for impairment before the end of the current annual period. This is also the case for
goodwill and cash generating units (see section 9 below).

Indications of impairment
Indications of impairment may be internal or external. IAS 36 requires the indications IAS 36.12-14

below to be considered as a minimum. These lists are not exhaustive and if other
indications of impairment are identified, an impairment test should be performed.

External sources of information

• A significant decline in an asset’s value during the period.
• A significant adverse change in the technological, market, economic or legal
environment in which the entity operates or in the market to which an asset is dedicated.
• An increase in market interest rates in the period, leading to a material decline in the
asset’s recoverable amount.
• The carrying amount of the net assets of an entity exceeding its market capitalisation.
Practical tip: market capitalisation as an indicator of impairment
Market capitalisation being below the carrying amount of a group’s net assets is a trigger for an
impairment test. Although it is possible that the assets are not impaired, a significant difference
between these two measures is often a strong indicator that an impairment exists.
When considering a parent company’s investments in subsidiaries, if the carrying amount of the
parent’s net assets in its separate financial statements exceeds the group’s market
capitalisation, this is also an indicator of a potential impairment.

1
Annual period is referring to the period for which the entity is preparing financial statements in
accordance with IAS 1 Presentation of Financial Statements although in certain circumstances
this can be longer or shorter than one year. It is not referring to the period for which interim
financial statements may be prepared in accordance with IAS 34 Interim Financial Reporting.

IFRS Factsheet: Applying IAS 36 Impairment Published 10 December 2019, last updated 10 December 2019 8
Internal sources of information
• Evidence of physical damage to or obsolescence of an asset.
• A significant adverse change in the extent or manner of use of an asset (eg, plans to
restructure or discontinue operations, dispose of an asset or reassess its useful life).
• Evidence that the economic performance of an asset (the related operating results and
cash flows) is or will be worse than expected.

Dividends
Dividends received from an investment in a subsidiary, joint venture or associate are an IAS 36.12(h)

indication of impairment when:

• evidence is available that the carrying amount of the investment in the separate financial
statements exceeds the carrying amounts of the investee’s net assets, including
associated goodwill, in the consolidated financial statements; or
• the dividend exceeds the total comprehensive income of the investee in the period in
which the dividend is declared.
Practical tip: relevance of indications of impairment
The above indications trigger an impairment review only when they are relevant to the
measurement of the particular assets. For example, changes in short-term interest rates might
not affect the recoverable amount of long-term assets.

Practical tip: impact of economic uncertainty

Indications of impairment could potentially arise from:
• increases in interest rates;
• changes in selling prices or costs arising from movements in exchange rates;
• continued political instability; or
• economic uncertainties related to the effects of the decision to exit the EU.

Practical tip: cohesiveness of annual report and accounts

Although financial statements are a historical document, reflecting circumstances that exist up
to and including the reporting date, the annual report is likely to contain more current information
in the ‘front-half’. The inclusion of references to circumstances such as challenging economic
conditions in narrative reports may raise expectations that impairment reviews have taken place
at the reporting date and that related disclosures will be found in the financial statements.
Entities must take care to consider the cohesiveness of the annual report and accounts as a
whole.

When an indication of impairment is identified, even when there is no resulting impairment IAS 36.17

loss, it may be appropriate to review the useful lives and residual values of the assets
affected, as these may have changed.

Events after the reporting period

When evidence relating to impairment arises after the end of the reporting period, but
before the financial statements are authorised for issue, it will be necessary to consider the
requirements of IAS 10 Events after the Reporting Period.

IAS 10 identifies events that provide evidence of conditions that existed at the end of the IAS 10.3

reporting period as adjusting events. Events that are indicative of conditions that arose
after the reporting period are identified as non-adjusting events.

The standard specifically identifies the receipt of information after the reporting period IAS 10.9

indicating that an asset was impaired at the end of the reporting period as being an
example of an adjusting event. Evidence regarding the measurement of recoverable
amount at the reporting date will also be an adjusting event. IAS 10 requires amounts
recognised in financial statements to be adjusted to reflect such adjusting events.

IFRS Factsheet: Applying IAS 36 Impairment Published 10 December 2019, last updated 10 December 2019 9
Indications of impairment arising after the reporting period that do not provide evidence of IAS 10.10, 21

conditions existing at the reporting date are non-adjusting events. Although an entity must
not adjust amounts recognised in its financial statements to reflect non-adjusting events,
additional disclosures are required where the non-adjusting event is material and non-
disclosure might be reasonably expected to influence users’ decisions. The entity must
disclose the nature of the event and an estimate of its financial effect, or a statement that
such an estimate cannot be made.

IFRS Factsheet: Applying IAS 36 Impairment Published 10 December 2019, last updated 10 December 2019 10
Section 7
Performing an impairment test – assets other than
goodwill
The basic principle
An impairment test involves comparing an asset’s carrying amount in the balance sheet IAS 36.8

with its recoverable amount.

In this section, references to ‘an asset’ should be read as references also to a CGU.

Recoverable amount
Recoverable amount is the higher of fair value less costs of disposal and value in use. IAS 36.18

When assessing recoverable amount, it is not always necessary to determine both fair IAS 36.19

value less costs of disposal and value in use. This is because if one of these amounts is
higher than the carrying amount in the balance sheet, then there is no impairment and
there is no need to estimate the other amount.
Practical tip: value in use is often higher than fair value less costs of disposal
For many assets used within a business the value in use is likely to be higher than the fair value
less costs of disposal. For example, the fair value less costs of disposal of a motor vehicle might
be lower than its carrying amount, but if it can be used profitably in the business over its useful
economic life then it is unlikely to be impaired.

Sometimes it will not be possible to measure fair value less costs of disposal, in which IAS 36.20

case IAS 36 permits the asset’s value in use to be used as its recoverable amount. This
might be because there is no basis for making a reliable estimate of the price at which an
orderly transaction to sell the asset would take place between market participants at the
measurement date under current market conditions.
When there is no reason to believe that value in use materially exceeds its fair value less IAS 36.21

costs of disposal, IAS 36 permits an entity to use fair value less costs of disposal as the
recoverable amount.

Recoverable amount of intangible assets with an indefinite useful life

Intangible assets with an indefinite useful life are required to be tested annually for
impairment irrespective of whether there is an indication that they may be impaired (see
section 6).
When certain criteria are met, IAS 36 permits the most recent calculation of the asset’s IAS 36.24

recoverable amount from a preceding period to be used in the current period.

The criteria that must be met are:
• when the intangible asset is being tested as part of a CGU, the assets and liabilities
making up that unit have not changed significantly since the recent calculation of
recoverable amount being used;
• the recent calculation exceeded the asset’s carrying amount by a substantial margin; and
• based on an analysis of events and circumstances since the calculation that is being
used, there is only a remote likelihood that the asset’s current recoverable amount would Further faculty factsheets
be less than its carrying amount. More information on IFRS 13 is
included in the faculty factsheet
Calculating fair value less costs of disposal IFRS 13 Fair Value Measurement.
IAS 36 replicates the definition of fair value from IFRS 13 Fair Value Measurement, being IAS 36.6

‘the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly
transaction between market participants at the measurement date’.
IAS 36 defines costs of disposal as incremental costs directly attributable to the disposal of IAS 36.6, 28-29

an asset, excluding finance costs and income tax expense. This would include legal costs,
stamp duty and other transaction taxes, costs of removing an asset and direct incremental

IFRS Factsheet: Applying IAS 36 Impairment Published 10 December 2019, last updated 10 December 2019 11
costs of bringing an asset into condition for its sale. Costs of disposal do not include
termination benefits or other costs associated with the reorganisation of a business.

Calculating value in use

IAS 36 defines value in use as being the present value of the future cash flows expected to IAS 36.6

be derived from an asset.

It is established by: IAS 36.31

• estimating future cash inflows and outflows from the use and ultimate disposal of the
asset; and
• applying an appropriate discount rate to those cash flows.

Future cash flows

Cash flow projections should: IAS 36.33

• be based on reasonable and supportable assumptions that represent management’s

best estimate of the range of economic conditions that will exist over the remaining life of
the asset, with greater weight being given to external evidence;
• be based on the most recent approved budgets/forecasts, which should cover a
maximum period of five years unless a longer period can be justified;
• exclude the effects of any future restructuring to which the entity is not yet committed IAS 36.44

and the effects of improving or enhancing the asset’s performance.

Cash flows beyond the period covered by the most recent budgets/forecasts should be
estimated by extrapolating the projections based on the budgets/forecasts using a steady
or declining growth rate for subsequent years, unless an increasing rate can be justified.
This growth rate should not exceed the long-term average growth rate for the products,
industries or country or countries in which the entity operates or for the market in which the
asset is used, unless a higher rate can be justified.
Estimates of future cash flows should not include income tax receipts or payments or cash IAS 36.50

flows from financing activities.

Appendix A to IAS 36 provides guidance on using present value techniques to measure
value in use.
Practical tip: cash flows relating to future restructurings and improvements
As noted above, cash inflows or outflows that are expected to arise from future restructurings or
from improving the asset’s performance may not be included when calculating value in use. The
same consideration does not apply when determining an asset’s fair value less costs of disposal
when the assumptions supporting the valuation should be similar to those a market participant
would make. For example, in determining fair value it might be reasonable to expect that a
hypothetical purchaser would implement appropriate restructuring or capital expenditure plans
and factor this into their offer price.

Practical tip: cash flow forecasts specifically for value in use calculation
It may be necessary to prepare adjusted cash flow forecasts specifically for the purposes of the
value in use calculation. For example, when planned enhancements to an asset have been
taken into consideration in determining recent budgets and forecasts, a separate cash flow
forecast may be required to exclude any income or costs arising from the planned
enhancement.

IFRS Factsheet: Applying IAS 36 Impairment Published 10 December 2019, last updated 10 December 2019 12
Practical tip: factoring in climate change to a value in use calculation
The physical effects of climate change, as well as its related effects on regulation, technological
developments and consumer preferences, could impact on business models across all
industries. These factors may result in changes to management’s estimates of the entity’s
projected cash flows or the level of risk associated with achieving those projections, and so
should form part of the entity’s value in use assessment. Particular aspects that might need
incorporating include:
• expected changes in consumer behaviour;
• expected government action; and/or
• modifying expected rates of growth when extrapolating cash flow projections beyond the
period covered by budgets/forecasts.

Foreign currency future cash flows

When calculating value in use, cash flows are to be estimated in the currency in which IAS 36.54

they will be generated and then discounted using a rate appropriate for that currency. The
present value is to be translated using the spot exchange rate at the date of the value in
use calculation. Future exchange rates should not be estimated when determining value in
use.

Discount rate
The discount rate should be a pre-tax rate reflecting current market assessments of the IAS 36.55

time value of money and risks specific to the asset for which the future cash flow estimates
have not been adjusted.
Such a rate might be estimated: IAS 36.56

• from the rate implicit in current market transactions for similar assets; or
• from the weighted average cost of capital of a listed entity that has a single asset (or a
portfolio of assets) similar in terms of service potential and risks to the asset under
review.
However, the discount rate(s) used to measure an asset’s value in use should not reflect
risks for which the future cash flow estimates have been adjusted. Otherwise, the effect of
some assumptions will be double counted.
When an asset-specific rate is not available, surrogates are used to estimate the discount IAS 36.57, Appendix A

rate. Paragraphs A15-A21 in Appendix A to IAS 36 provide further guidance on estimating

the discount rate in this situation.
Practical tip: determining the discount rate – avoiding double counting
Determining an appropriate asset-specific discount rate is generally not easy. As a starting point
an entity might use its incremental borrowing rate or weighted average cost of capital (WACC),
adjusted for tax and any atypical feature of the entity’s capital structure. Specialist advice may
well be required.

Practical tip: calculating pre-tax discount rate

The use of post-tax instead of pre-tax discount rates in value in use calculations is an area often
identified by accounting enforcers.
Although theoretically the use of post-tax discount rates and cash flows will provide the same
outcome as using pre-tax figures, the need to consider deferred tax makes this more
complicated to achieve in practice. If an impairment test using a post-tax value in use
calculation only narrowly indicates that there is no impairment, then fair value less costs of
disposal should be calculated as the next step.
Alternatively, a pre-tax discount rate may be arrived at by utilising a goal-seek function in
spreadsheet software. Firstly, post-tax cash flows would be discounted using a post-tax
discount rate. Then the goal-seek function can be used to ascertain what discount rate would
give rise to the same value in use based on pre-tax cash flows.

IFRS Factsheet: Applying IAS 36 Impairment Published 10 December 2019, last updated 10 December 2019 13
Specific considerations when performing an impairment test on a CGU
When performing an impairment test on a CGU, the carrying amount of the CGU must be IAS 36.75

determined on a consistent basis to the recoverable amount.

The carrying amount of the CGU includes the carrying amount of only those assets that
are either directly attributable to the CGU, or that are allocated on a reasonable and
consistent basis, and that will generate the future cash flows used in calculating the CGU’s
value in use.
The carrying amount of the CGU must not include the carrying amount of any recognised
liability, unless the CGU’s recoverable amount cannot be calculated without considering
this liability.
Practical tip: comparing like with like
For practical reasons, it may be difficult to calculate the recoverable amount of a CGU without
including assets or liabilities which are not part of the CGU (eg, receivables/payables). This
does not create a problem, provided the carrying amounts of these assets or liabilities are also
taken into account when calculating the CGU’s carrying amount to ensure an entity is
comparing like with like when performing an impairment test.

Corporate assets
As mentioned in section 5, corporate assets are assets that contribute to the future cash IAS 36.102

flows of more than one CGU. When testing a CGU for impairment, an entity must identify
all corporate assets that relate to the CGU under review.
When a portion of the carrying amount of a corporate asset can be allocated to the CGU IAS 36.102 (a)

on a reasonable and consistent basis, the carrying amount of the CGU including the
portion of the corporate asset’s carrying amount is compared to its recoverable amount.
Practical tip: allocating corporate assets
When practicable, it is often most appropriate to allocate shared assets by reference to
the extent to which the shared resources are used. This is illustrated in example 8 in
IAS 36.IE 69-75.
However, in practice, some entities allocate corporate assets based on the respective carrying
values of the net assets allocated directly to the individual CGUs, even though this may not
always be representative of the amount of central resources consumed by the individual CGUs.
Other common methods of allocating corporate assets include pro-rating based on relative
turnover, contribution or sales volumes. Another approach could be used if it appropriately
reflects the way in which the corporate asset contributes to the individual CGUs.

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Example: head office assets

An entity has three divisions (A, B and C), each of which has been identified as a CGU. The net
assets directly involved in each of the CGUs have carrying amounts of £300m, £450m and
£500m respectively. In addition there are head office assets with a carrying value of £250m. An
allocation of the head office assets to the CGUs is in this case based on the relative usage
proportions. The relative proportion of the head office resources used by the CGUs is 2:3:5:
A B C Total
£m £m £m £m
Net assets directly
attributable to the CGU 300 450 500 1,250

Allocation of head office 2 3 5 250

[ 10 ]
x 250 50 [
10 ]
x 250 75 [
10 ]
x 250 125

Total 350 525 625 1,5000

If there were an indication of impairment relating to A, the recoverable amount would be

compared to £350m rather than £300m. Similarly, the cash flows upon which the value in use of
A is based would include the relevant portion of any cash outflows arising from central
overheads.

When a portion of the corporate asset’s carrying amount cannot be allocated on a IAS 36.102 (b)

reasonable and consistent basis, the impairment test is carried out in two stages:
• firstly, the carrying amount of the CGU excluding the corporate asset is compared to its
recoverable amount. Any impairment loss is recognised in accordance with section 8
below.
• secondly, the smallest group of CGUs to which a portion of the carrying amount of the
corporate asset can be allocated on a reasonable and consistent basis is identified. The
carrying amount of that group of CGUs, including the portion of the carrying amount of
the corporate asset, is compared to the recoverable amount of the group of units. Any
further impairment loss is recognised in accordance with section 8.

IFRS Factsheet: Applying IAS 36 Impairment Published 10 December 2019, last updated 10 December 2019 15
Section 8
Recognising an impairment loss and subsequent
accounting – assets other than goodwill
Recognising an impairment loss for an individual asset other than goodwill
An impairment loss is recognised if, and only if, the recoverable amount of an asset is less IAS 36.59-61

than its carrying amount. The asset must be written down to its recoverable amount.
The appropriate recognition of the corresponding debit entry will depend on whether the
asset is carried at a revalued amount in accordance with another IFRS (eg, under the
revaluation model in IAS 16 Property, Plant and Equipment) or at historical cost.
• Impairment losses on non-revalued assets are recognised in profit or loss.
• Impairment losses on revalued assets are recognised:
- in other comprehensive income against any revaluation surplus to the extent that it
relates to the asset which is impaired, and then
- in profit or loss.
Example: recognising an impairment loss on non-revalued assets
A factory which is carried at depreciated historical cost has a carrying amount of £10m. It
becomes impaired due to an adverse change in the market for the goods that it produces. Its
recoverable amount is calculated to be £7m.
The factory would therefore be written down to £7m with the full impairment loss of £3m being
recognised in profit or loss.

Example: recognising an impairment loss on revalued assets

A factory which is subject to a policy of revaluation has a carrying amount of £10m. Its
depreciated historical cost is £8m. There is an amount of £2m accumulated in revaluation
surplus in respect of the factory. The factory becomes impaired due to an adverse change in the
market for goods that it produces. Its recoverable amount is calculated to be £7m.
The factory would therefore be written down to £7m. The first £2m of the impairment loss –
which reduces the amount accumulated in equity under the heading of revaluation surplus in
respect of the asset – is recognised in other comprehensive income. The remaining £1m
impairment loss is then recognised in profit or loss.

Subsequent measurement
After recognising an impairment loss, the revised carrying amount of the asset, less any IAS 36.63

residual value, should be depreciated over the asset’s remaining useful life, which may
need to be reassessed.

Allocating an impairment loss to the assets of a CGU

IAS 36.104
When the carrying amount of a CGU exceeds its recoverable amount, an impairment loss
must be recognised.
The credit entry is allocated to reduce the carrying amount of the assets of the CGU (or
group of CGUs) in the following order:
• firstly, goodwill allocated to the CGU (or group of CGUs); and
• then to the other assets of the CGU (or group of CGUs) on a pro rata basis, based on
the carrying amount of each asset, but subject to the restriction discussed below.
The debit entry of the impairment loss is recognised in the same way as impairment losses
on individual assets, dependent on whether the assets in the CGU have been revalued
upwards in the past.

IFRS Factsheet: Applying IAS 36 Impairment Published 10 December 2019, last updated 10 December 2019 16
Impairment losses allocated to assets in a CGU may not reduce the carrying amount of an IAS36.105

asset below the highest of:

• its fair value less costs of disposal;
• its value in use; and
• zero.
The amount of the impairment loss that would otherwise have been allocated to the asset
should be allocated pro rata to the other assets of the CGU (group of CGUs).
Example: allocating an impairment loss across a CGU

An entity carries out an impairment assessment for a CGU with a total carrying value of
£2,600,000 and estimates that its total recoverable amount is £1,350,000. The total impairment
loss is therefore £1,250,000.
Information on the individual assets in the CGU is as follows:
Carrying
amount pre- Fair value less
impairment costs to sell Value in use
£’000 £’000 £’000
Goodwill 800 - -
Other intangibles 300 100 Not known
Property 600 500 Not known
Plant and equipment 500 Not known Not known
Debtors, cash 400 400 400
Total 2,600

Allocation of £1,250,000 impairment:

i) first to goodwill: £800,000
ii) pro rata allocation of remaining impairment [£1,250,000 less £800,000 = £450,000] to other
assets (carrying value before impairment £1,800,000), restricted to ensure that assets are not
written down below the highest of fair value less costs to sell, value in use or nil:
Other Plant and
intangibles Property equipment Debtors, cash
£’000 £’000 £’000 £’000
Initial allocation 75 150 125 100
[450x300/1,800] [450x600/1,800] [450x500/1,800] [450x400/1,800]
Restricted to 200 100 500 nil
Excess impairment nil 50 nil 100
Reallocation of impairment 56 (50) 94 (100)

[150x300/800] [150x500/800]

Final impairment 131 100 219 -

The revised carrying values after impairment are therefore:

Carrying
Carrying amount
amount pre- post-
impairment Impairment impairment
£’000 £’000 £’000
Goodwill 800 800 0
Other intangibles 300 131 169
Property 600 100 500
Plant and equipment 500 219 281
Debtors, cash 400 0 400
Total 2,600 1,250 1,350

IFRS Factsheet: Applying IAS 36 Impairment Published 10 December 2019, last updated 10 December 2019 17
Section 9
Additional requirements for goodwill
As mentioned in section 5, goodwill must be tested for impairment by being allocated to a IAS 36.81

CGU, or group of CGUs. References in this section to a CGU to which goodwill is

allocated should be read as references also to a group of CGUs to which goodwill is
allocated.

Allocating goodwill to CGUs

Goodwill acquired in a business combination is allocated to the acquirer’s CGUs – or IAS 36.80

groups of CGUs – that are expected to benefit from the synergies of the combination. This
allocation is made irrespective of whether other assets or liabilities of the acquiree are
assigned to those units or groups of units.
Each CGU or group of CGUs to which goodwill is so allocated must:
• represent the lowest level within the entity at which the goodwill is monitored for internal
management purposes; and
• not be larger than an operating segment as defined by IFRS 8 Operating Segments IFRS 8.5

before aggregation.
Practical tip: goodwill and pre-existing CGUs
IAS 36 requires goodwill to be allocated to the CGUs expected to benefit from the synergies of
the combination. These CGUs may be those of the acquired entity and/or pre-existing CGUs of
the acquiring entity.

Practical tip: goodwill is not always allocated to individual CGUs

Goodwill will often contribute to the cash inflows of several cash-generating units and cannot be
allocated to individual CGUs on a non-arbitrary basis. As a result, the lowest level within the
entity at which the goodwill is monitored for internal management purposes may comprise a
number of CGUs to which the goodwill relates.
Goodwill is therefore tested for impairment at a level that reflects the way an entity manages its
operations and with which the goodwill would naturally be associated. But it is important to keep
in mind that, although goodwill may be tested for impairment at a higher level than that of
individual CGUs, this does not alter the position for other assets. In particular, any impairment
testing of assets that have been allocated to an individual CGU will need to be carried out at the
level of that individual CGU and before the group of CGUs containing the goodwill (explained in
more detail below).

If it has not been possible to allocate goodwill to a CGU (or group of CGUs) before the end IAS 36.84

of the annual period in which the business combination takes place, the allocation must be
determined before the end of the annual period which begins after the acquisition date.
Illustration: timeline to allocate goodwill to CGUs and interaction with fair value
measurement period
Suppose an entity has a reporting date of 31 December and a business combination takes
effect on 1 April 20X8. Ideally, the initial allocation of goodwill recognised on the business
combination to a CGU, or group of CGUs, will be determined by the end of the annual reporting
period in which the combination takes place ie, by the reporting date of 31 December 20X8.
If this has not been possible, the allocation must be determined by the end of the first annual
period that begins after the acquisition date. The first annual period beginning after the
acquisition date is the year beginning 1 January 20X9. The entity has until 31 December 20X9
to finalise the allocation of goodwill to a CGU, or group of CGUs.
This provides a longer period to finalise the allocation of goodwill than IFRS 3 Business
Combinations gives to finalise the measurement of goodwill. IFRS 3 allows 12 months from the
date of acquisition for the fair value measurement of net assets acquired to be finalised ie, up to
31 March 20X9 in this illustration.
If the initial accounting for a business combination can only be determined on a provisional
basis at the reporting date of 31 December 20X8, the impairment test is similarly carried out on
a provisional basis. The carrying amounts of assets within the CGU, or group of CGUs, will

IFRS Factsheet: Applying IAS 36 Impairment Published 10 December 2019, last updated 10 December 2019 18
need to be recalculated when the measurement of goodwill is finalised and impairment tests
revisited as a result of any adjustments made.

Order of testing for impairment

Impairment testing an individual CGU to which goodwill is allocated

A CGU to which goodwill has been allocated is tested for impairment annually and IAS 36.90

whenever there is an indication that the CGU may be impaired. This is done by comparing
the carrying amount of the CGU, including the goodwill, with its recoverable amount. When
the carrying amount is greater than the recoverable amount, an impairment loss must be
recognised.
When an asset within the CGU is being tested for impairment at the same time, that asset IAS 36.97

is tested before testing the CGU including the goodwill.

Impairment testing a CGU within a group of CGUs to which goodwill is allocated

As explained above, goodwill cannot always be allocated to individual CGUs and must IAS 36.88, 97

therefore be allocated to a group of CGUs. In this case, an individual CGU in that group is
tested for impairment:

• when there is an indication that it may be impaired; and

• annually if that CGU contains an intangible asset with an indefinite useful life or which is
not yet available for use and that intangible can only be tested for impairment as part of
the CGU.
The recoverable amount of the CGU is then compared to its carrying amount, excluding
any goodwill. Any impairment loss is recognised in accordance with section 8. This must
be done before the group of CGUs including the goodwill is tested.

Timing of testing CGUs for impairment

A CGU to which goodwill has been allocated may be tested for impairment at any time IAS 36.96

during the annual period, providing that the test is performed at the same time each year.
Different CGUs may be tested at different times.
As for intangible assets with an indefinite life (see section 7), IAS 36 permits the most IAS 36.99

recent calculation of the recoverable amount of a CGU to which goodwill has been
allocated, made in a preceding period, to be used in the current period provided certain
criteria are met.
The criteria that must be met are:
• the assets and liabilities making up the CGU have not changed significantly since the
recent calculation of recoverable amount being used;
• the recent calculation exceeded the CGU’s carrying amount by a substantial margin; and
• based on an analysis of events and circumstances since the calculation that is being
used, there is only a remote likelihood that the CGU’s current recoverable amount would
be less than its carrying amount.

Impairment testing CGUs with goodwill and non-controlling interests

IFRS 3 requires goodwill arising on a business combination to be measured as the result IFRS 3.32

of adding the components listed below and deducting the acquisition date net assets
measured at fair value. The components to be added together are:
• fair value of the consideration;
• amount of the non-controlling interest; and
• fair value of any previously-held non-controlling stake in the acquiree.
IFRS 3 permits a choice of methods for measuring the amount of the non-controlling
interest – at the proportionate share of net assets recognised at the acquisition date or at
its acquisition date fair value. The latter ‘fair value’ method means that the non-controlling

IFRS Factsheet: Applying IAS 36 Impairment Published 10 December 2019, last updated 10 December 2019 19
interests’ share of goodwill is recognised in addition to the parent’s ownership interest. The
choice permitted in IFRS 3 is made on a transaction by transaction basis.
Appendix C of IAS 36 contains guidance on how to perform impairment tests on goodwill IAS 36 Appendix C

reflecting this choice, which is demonstrated by IAS 36’s illustrative examples 7A, 7B and
7C (IE62 to IE68) and the two examples below.

Non-controlling interests measured at proportionate share of net assets

When an entity measures non-controlling interests at the proportionate share of net IAS 36 Appendix C4

assets, goodwill attributable to non-controlling interests is not recognised in the parent’s

consolidated financial statements.
However, part of the recoverable amount of the CGU is attributable to the non-controlling
interest in goodwill. For example, the cash flows used in calculating value in use would
reflect the entire acquired business, even if in fact the CGU is not wholly-owned.
To ensure the comparison of recoverable amount with carrying amount is like-for-like, the
carrying amount of goodwill allocated to the CGU is grossed up to include notional
goodwill attributable to the non-controlling interest.
If an impairment loss arises, only the loss relating to the parent’s ownership interest is IAS 36 Appendix C8

recognised as a goodwill impairment loss. The impairment loss attributable to non-

controlling interests is not recognised as the related goodwill attributable to the non-
controlling interests is not recognised in the parent’s consolidated financial statements.

Allocation of impairment loss for subsidiary with non-controlling interest

When a subsidiary or part of a subsidiary is itself a CGU, an impairment loss is allocated IAS 36 Appendix C6

between the parent and the non-controlling interest on the same basis as profit or loss is
allocated. This is despite goodwill not necessarily being attributable on the same basis
when non-controlling interests are measured at fair value at acquisition.

IFRS Factsheet: Applying IAS 36 Impairment Published 10 December 2019, last updated 10 December 2019 20
Example: non-controlling interest measured at the proportionate share of net assets
P acquired 75% of S on 1 June 20X2 for £1,450,000. The net assets of S at this date were
£1 million. The goodwill arising on acquisition (measuring non-controlling interest at its
proportionate share of net assets) was therefore:
£ Comment
Consideration 1,450,000
Non-controlling interest 250,000 25% x £1million
Net assets of S (1,000,000)
Goodwill 700,000

P has identified S to be a CGU.

The business combination will benefit S and other CGUs.
For impairment testing purposes, £540,000 of the goodwill is allocated to S and £160,000 is
allocated to other CGUs.
On 31 December 20X2, the recoverable amount of S was assessed to be £1,850,000. The
carrying amount of the net assets of S, excluding goodwill, was £1,250,000. The aggregate
carrying value including goodwill was therefore £1,950,000 (£1,250,000+£700,000) so it
might appear that the CGU was not impaired. However, before being compared to the CGU’s
recoverable amount, the carrying amount of the CGU must be adjusted to include not only the
amount of recognised goodwill allocated to S (£540,000) but also notional unrecognised
goodwill attributable to the non-controlling interest.

Identifiable
Goodwill Net Assets Total
£ £ £
Carrying value 540,000 1, 250,000 1,790,000
Notional unrecognised goodwill relating to 180,000 – 180,000
the non-controlling interest
(25/75 x540,000)
720,000 1,250,000 1,970,000
Recoverable amount (1,850,000)
Impairment loss 120,000

The impairment loss is allocated to the assets of the CGU by firstly reducing goodwill. As S
is itself a CGU, the goodwill impairment loss is allocated between the controlling and non-
controlling interest on the same basis as that on which profit or loss is allocated.
Unrecognised Recognised Total
Goodwill Goodwill Net Assets Recognised
£ £ £ £
Notional value / carrying 180,000 540,000 1,250,000 1,790,000
amount
Impairment (30,000) (90,000) - (90,000)
150,000 450,000 1,250,000 £1,700,000

£30,000 (25% x £120,000) of impairment loss is allocated to notional goodwill and thus is not
recognised in the financial statements. The remaining £90,000 is recognised in profit or loss.

IFRS Factsheet: Applying IAS 36 Impairment Published 10 December 2019, last updated 10 December 2019 21
Example: non-controlling interest measured at fair value
P acquired 75% of S on 1 June 20X2 for £1,450,000. The net assets of S at this date were
£1 million. P elects to measure the non-controlling interest at its fair value of £350,000.
The goodwill arising on acquisition was therefore:
£ Comment
Consideration 1,450,000
Non-controlling interest 350,000 Fair value
Net assets of S (1,000,000)
Goodwill £800,000

P has identified S to be a CGU.

The business combination will benefit S and other CGUs.
For impairment testing purposes, £640,000 of the goodwill is allocated to S and £160,000
is allocated to other CGUs.
On 31 December 20X2, the recoverable amount of S was assessed to be £1,850,000.
The carrying amount of the net assets of S, excluding goodwill, was £1,250,000.

Identifiable
Goodwill Net Assets Total
£ £ £
Carrying value 640,000 1,250,000 1,890,000
Recoverable amount (1,850,000)
Impairment loss £40,000

All of the impairment loss is allocated to goodwill with 25% (ie, £10,000) being allocated to the
non-controlling interest. The total impairment loss of £40,000 is recognised in profit or loss.
Note that the amount of impairment allocated to the non-controlling interest is determined on
the same basis as the allocation of profit or loss (in this case, 25% to the non-controlling
interests). This is required even though the proportion of goodwill originally recognised in
respect of non-controlling interests was not 25% of the total. (Goodwill attributable to the non-
controlling interest was £100,000, being £350,000 – (25% x £1 million), which represents
12.5% of the total goodwill recognised).

IFRS Factsheet: Applying IAS 36 Impairment Published 10 December 2019, last updated 10 December 2019 22
Section 10
Reversing an impairment loss
General principles
Impairment losses on individual assets and CGUs are generally capable of being IAS 36.110-111

reversed.
An impairment loss recognised for goodwill, however, cannot be reversed. IAS 36.124

At the end of each reporting period, an entity must assess whether an indication exists that
impairment losses recognised in prior periods may have decreased or no longer exist. If
such an indication exists, the recoverable amount of the asset or CGU is assessed and
compared to the carrying amount.
Indications that an impairment loss may have reversed mirror those indications that an
impairment loss has occurred (see section 6).
Practical tip: indications of impairment losses reversing
Indications that previously recognised impairment losses may have decreased or no longer exist
could potentially include:
• decreases in interest rates;
• changes in selling prices or costs arising from movements in exchange rates; and
• improvements in economic outlook.

Reversing an impairment loss for an individual asset

The impairment loss can be reversed to the extent that the increased carrying amount of IAS 36.117

an individual asset does not exceed the amount at which the asset would have been
carried (net of amortisation or depreciation) had there been no initial impairment.

Reversing an impairment loss for a CGU

The reversal is allocated pro rata to the assets of the CGU, except for goodwill. IAS36.122

In the case of an asset within a CGU, the increased carrying amount cannot exceed the IAS36.123

lower of:
• its recoverable amount; and
• the amount at which the asset would have been carried (net of amortisation or
depreciation) had there been no initial impairment.

Recognising a reversal
A reversal of an impairment of a non-revalued asset is recognised in profit or loss. IAS36.119-120

A reversal of an impairment of a revalued asset is recognised in other comprehensive

income and increases the revaluation surplus for that asset. However, to the extent that an
impairment loss on the same revalued asset was previously recognised in profit or loss, a
reversal of that impairment loss is also recognised in profit or loss.
Example: reversing an impairment loss
A CGU that comprises goodwill of £40m and other identifiable assets of £100m becomes
impaired because the product that it makes is overtaken by a technologically more advanced
model made by a competitor. The recoverable amount of the CGU falls to £65m, resulting in an
impairment loss of £75m (the excess of carrying value of £40m+£100m=£140m above the
recoverable amount of £65m). Under IAS 36, the impairment loss is allocated first to goodwill
(reduced by £40m, to nil) and then to the CGU’s other identifiable assets on a pro rata basis
(reduced by £75-£40=£35m, to £65m).
After three years the competitor’s product is found to generate harmful side effects, resulting in
demand returning for the entity’s product. The recoverable amount of the CGU rises to £90m. At
this time the other identifiable assets’ carrying value is £50m, and it would have been £80m had
the original impairment not occurred (ie, after taking account of subsequent depreciation or
amortisation).

IFRS Factsheet: Applying IAS 36 Impairment Published 10 December 2019, last updated 10 December 2019 23
The impairment of the goodwill cannot be reversed. However, part of the impairment of the
other identifiable assets can be reversed. Their carrying amount would be increased by £30m to
£80m ie, the lower of their recoverable amount of £90m and the amount at which they would
have been carried had the impairment not originally been incurred, £80m.

Subsequent measurement following an impairment reversal

The carrying amount after reversal of the impairment, less any residual value, should be IAS 36.121

depreciated over the asset’s remaining useful life.

IFRIC 10 Interim Financial Reporting and Impairment

IFRIC 10 Interim Financial Reporting and Impairment addresses the issue of whether IFRIC 10.7-8

impairment losses recognised on goodwill in an interim period can be reversed if a smaller

loss, or no loss, would have been recognised if the impairment assessment had only been
made at the end of a subsequent reporting period. IFRIC 10 clarifies that impairment
losses on goodwill recognised in previous interim periods cannot be reversed.

IFRS Factsheet: Applying IAS 36 Impairment Published 10 December 2019, last updated 10 December 2019 24
Section 11
Disclosure requirements
Disclosures required for an impairment or impairment reversal in the period
The main disclosure requirements are as follows:
• Amounts of impairments or reversals of impairments recognised in profit or loss for the
period and the line items in which they are included.
• Amounts of impairments or reversals of impairments recognised in other comprehensive IAS 36.126-132
income during the period.
• The events and circumstances leading to the impairment or reversal.
• A description of the nature of the asset or CGU.
• Any changes in the aggregation of assets into CGUs for which an impairment or reversal
has been recognised.
• The recoverable amount and whether it is value in use or fair value less costs of
disposal.
• If the recoverable amount is fair value less costs of disposal, the level of IFRS 13’s fair
value hierarchy within which the fair value measurement of the asset or CGU is
categorised together with additional detailed disclosures if it is within level 2 or level 3 of
that hierarchy.
• The discount rate used when the recoverable amount is calculated using present value
techniques.
• If any portion of goodwill acquired in a business combination during the period has not IAS 36.133

been allocated to a CGU at the end of the reporting period, the amount of unallocated
goodwill should be disclosed along with the reasons why it remains unallocated.
Further disclosure in relation to segments is required when IFRS 8 is relevant.

Additional disclosures required when a CGU includes goodwill or intangible assets

with indefinite useful lives
The additional disclosures include: IAS 36.134-135

• A description of key assumptions on which management has based recoverable amount

(be it value in use or fair value less costs of disposal).
• A description of management’s approach to determining the value assigned to each key
assumption.
• When value in use is recoverable amount:
- The period over which cash flows are projected.
- The growth rate used to extrapolate cash flow projections.
- The discount rate applied to cash flow projections.
• When fair value less costs of disposal is recoverable amount:
- The level of IFRS 13’s fair value hierarchy within which the fair value measurement is
categorised.
- If there has been a change in valuation techniques, the nature of the change and the
reasons for making it.
- If fair value less costs of disposal is measured using discounted cash flow projections,
the period over which cash flows are projected, the growth rate used to extrapolate
cash flow projections and the discount rate applied to cash flow projections.

IFRS Factsheet: Applying IAS 36 Impairment Published 10 December 2019, last updated 10 December 2019 25
• If a reasonably possible change in a key assumption would cause a CGU’s carrying
amount to exceed its recoverable amount:
- The amount by which recoverable amount exceeds carrying amount.
- The value assigned to the key assumption.
- The amount by which the value assigned to the key assumption must change in order
for the CGU’s recoverable amount to be equal to its carrying amount.
• Aggregate amounts of goodwill and intangible assets with indefinite useful lives when
they are allocated across multiple CGUs such that allocated amounts are not significant.
Practical tip: comparison with IAS 1 disclosure requirement
IAS 1 para 125 requires an entity to disclose information about sources of estimation uncertainty
that have a significant risk of resulting in a material adjustment to the carrying amounts of
assets (and liabilities) within the next financial year. An entity may disclose the sensitivity of
carrying amounts to the assumptions and estimates underlying their calculation.
There are a number of differences between the IAS 1 requirements and the requirements of
IAS 36 paras 134-135 regarding changes in a key assumption (see above):
• IAS 36’s requirements apply to a single change in a key assumption, whereas IAS1’s
requirements apply to multiple assumptions;
• IAS 36’s requirements are applicable to a CGU with goodwill or an intangible asset with an
indefinite useful life, whereas IAS 1 applies to any asset;
• IAS 36’s requirement has no timeframe attached, whereas IAS 1’s requirement specifies a
material adjustment within the next financial year;
• IAS 36 specifically requires disclosure of the amount by which the value must change for the
CGU’s recoverable amount to equal its carrying amount, whereas IAS 1 suggests disclosing a
range of reasonably possible outcomes within the next financial year.

Practical tip: disclosure of climate as a key assumption

As discussed in section 7, consideration of climate-related factors may be a necessary part of a
value in use calculation. When the recoverable amount of a CGU containing goodwill (or an
intangible asset with an indefinite useful life) is based on value in use and climate-related
factors have been a significant factor in that calculation, the key assumptions applied should be
disclosed together with a description of management’s approach to determining the value(s)
assigned to each key assumption. This disclosure is the same as for any other long-term risks
that have been a significant factor in the value in use calculation.

Practical tip: a robust and transparent process

Regulators continue to emphasise that the impairment review process should be robust and
transparent and they look to the disclosures made about the review process to gauge whether
or not this is the case. The FRC’s Thematic Review: Impairment of non-financial assets
(October 2019) noted companies still give disclosures that are more generic than specific in
nature, with narrative information about the way in which key assumptions are identified and
quantified tending to be vague. Generic and inappropriately aggregated information hinders the
ability of investors and lenders to understand the factors relevant to the impairment review
process and hinders the evaluation of management’s estimates.
Some companies do not explain adequately why assumptions have changed significantly from
the previous year. Also, entities are required to make sensitivity disclosures when a reasonably
possible change in a key assumption would result in an impairment. In such circumstances it
may be helpful to disclose when the combined impact of varying individual assumptions might
result in an impairment. If disclosing additional information that might be helpful to users, it
should not displace the required disclosures.
The European Securities and Markets Authority’s (ESMA) report of Enforcement and Regulatory
Activities of European Accounting Enforcers in 2018 may also be of interest. Impairment of non-
financial assets continued to be an area where most infringements were identified by European
enforcers.

IFRS Factsheet: Applying IAS 36 Impairment Published 10 December 2019, last updated 10 December 2019 26
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