Marks and Spencer 2011 Annual Report Download - page 82

Marks and Spencer Group plc Annual report and financial statements 2011
80
Notes to the financial statements continued
1 Accounting policies continued
Deferred tax liabilities are generally recognised for all taxable
temporary differences. Deferred tax liabilities are recognised
for taxable temporary differences arising on investments in
subsidiaries, associates and joint ventures, except where the
reversal of the temporary difference can be controlled by the
Group and it is probable that the difference will not reverse in
the foreseeable future.
Deferred tax assets are recognised to the extent it is probable
that taxable profits will be available against which the deductible
temporary differences can be utilised. The carrying amount of
deferred tax assets is reviewed at the end of each reporting
period and reduced to the extent that it is no longer probable that
sufficient taxable profits will be available to allow all or part of the
asset to be recovered.
Deferred tax liabilities are not recognised on temporary
differences that arise from goodwill which is not deductible for tax
purposes. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are not recognised in
respect of temporary differences that arise on initial recognition of
assets and liabilities acquired other than in a business
combination.
Financial instruments
Financial assets and liabilities are recognised in the Group’s
statement of financial position when the Group becomes a party
to the contractual provisions of the instrument.
A. Trade receivables Trade receivables are recorded initially at fair
value and subsequently measured at amortised cost. Generally,
this results in their recognition at nominal value less any allowance
for any doubtful debts.
B. Investments and other financial assets Investments and other
financial assets are classified as either ‘available-for-sale’ or ‘fair
value through profit or loss’. They are initially measured at fair
value, including transaction costs, with the exception of ‘fair value
through profit or loss’. Financial assets held at fair value through
profit loss are initially recognised at fair value and transaction
costs are expensed.
Where securities are designated as ‘fair value through profit or
loss’, gains and losses arising from changes in fair value are
included in net profit or loss for the period. For ‘available-for-sale’
investments, gains or losses arising from changes in fair value are
recognised directly in comprehensive income, until the security is
disposed of or is determined to be impaired, at which time the
cumulative gain or loss previously recognised in comprehensive
income is included in the net profit or loss for the period. Equity
investments that do not have a quoted market price in an active
market and whose fair value cannot be reliably measured by other
means are held at cost.
C. Classification of financial liabilities and equity Financial liabilities
and equity instruments are classified according to the substance
of the contractual arrangements entered into. An equity
instrument is any contract that evidences a residual interest
in the assets of the Group after deducting all of its liabilities.
D. Bank borrowings Interest-bearing bank loans and overdrafts
are initially recorded at fair value, which equals the proceeds
received, net of direct issue costs. Finance charges, including
premiums payable on settlement or redemption and direct issue
costs, are accounted for on an effective interest rate method and
are added to the carrying amount of the instrument to the extent
that they are not settled in the period in which they arise.
E. Loan notes Long-term loans are initially measured at fair value
and are subsequently held at amortised cost unless the loan is
hedged by a derivative financial instrument in which case hedge
accounting treatment will apply.
F. Trade payables Trade payables are recorded initially at
fair value and subsequently measured at amortised cost.
Generally this results in their recognition at their nominal value.
G. Equity instruments Equity instruments issued by the
Company are recorded at the consideration received, net of
direct issue costs.
Derivative financial instruments and hedging activities
The Group primarily uses interest rate swaps and forward foreign
currency contracts to manage its exposures to fluctuating interest
and foreign exchange rates. These instruments are initially
recognised at fair value on the trade date and are subsequently
remeasured at their fair value at the balance sheet date.
The method of recognising the resulting gain or loss is dependent
on whether the derivative is designated as a hedging instrument
and the nature of the item being hedged.
The Group designates certain hedging derivatives as either:
–a hedge of a highly probable forecast transaction or change
in the cash flows of a recognised asset or liability (a cash
flow hedge);
–a hedge of the exposure to change in the fair value of a
recognised asset or liability (a fair value hedge); or
–a hedge of the exposure on the translation of net investments in
foreign entities (a net investment hedge).
Underlying the definition of fair value is the presumption that the
Group is a going concern without any intention of materially
curtailing the scale of its operations.
For those of the Group’s derivative instruments stated at fair
value, the fair value will be determined by the Group applying
discounted cash flow analysis using quoted market rates as an
input into the valuation model.
In determining the fair value of a derivative, the appropriate
quoted market price for an asset held is the bid price, and for a
liability issued is the offer price.
At inception of a hedging relationship, the hedging instrument and
the hedged item are documented and prospective effectiveness
testing is performed. During the life of the hedging relationship,
effectiveness testing is continued to ensure the instrument
remains an effective hedge of the transaction.
In order to qualify for hedge accounting, the following conditions
must be met:
–formal designation and documentation at inception of the
hedging relationship, detailing the risk management objective
and strategy for undertaking the hedge;
–the hedge is expected to be highly effective in achieving
offsetting changes in fair value or cash flows attributable to the
hedged risk;
–for a cash flow hedge, a forecast transaction that is the subject
of the hedge must be highly probable;
–the effectiveness of the hedge can be reliably measured; and
–the hedge is assessed on an ongoing basis and determined
actually to have been highly effective throughout its life.
or