Nokia 2010 Annual Report Download - page 210

1. Accounting principles (Continued)
Allowances for doubtful accounts
The Group maintains allowances for doubtful accounts for estimated losses resulting from the
subsequent inability of customers to make required payments. If the financial conditions of customers
were to deteriorate, resulting in an impairment of their ability to make payments, additional
allowances may be required in future periods.
Inventoryrelated allowances
The Group periodically reviews inventory for excess amounts, obsolescence and declines in market
value below cost and records an allowance against the inventory balance for any such declines. These
reviews require management to estimate future demand for products. Possible changes in these
estimates could result in revisions to the valuation of inventory in future periods.
Warranty provisions
The Group provides for the estimated cost of product warranties at the time revenue is recognized.
The Group’s warranty provision is established based upon best estimates of the amounts necessary to
settle future and existing claims on products sold as of each balance sheet date. As new products
incorporating complex technologies are continuously introduced, and as local laws, regulations and
practices may change, changes in these estimates could result in additional allowances or changes to
recorded allowances being required in future periods.
Provision for intellectual property rights, or IPR, infringements
The Group provides for the estimated future settlements related to asserted and unasserted past
alleged IPR infringements based on the probable outcome of potential infringement. IPR infringement
claims can last for varying periods of time, resulting in irregular movements in the IPR infringement
provision. The ultimate outcome or actual cost of settling an individual infringement may materially
vary from estimates.
Legal contingencies
Legal proceedings covering a wide range of matters are pending or threatened in various jurisdictions
against the Group. Provisions are recorded for pending litigation when it is determined that an
unfavorable outcome is probable and the amount of loss can be reasonably estimated. Due to the
inherent uncertain nature of litigation, the ultimate outcome or actual cost of settlement may
materially vary from estimates.
Capitalized development costs
The Group capitalizes certain development costs when it is probable that a development project will
generate future economic benefits and certain criteria, including commercial and technological
feasibility, have been met. Should a product fail to substantiate its estimated feasibility or life cycle,
material development costs may be required to be writtenoff in future periods.
Business combinations
The Group applies the acquisition method of accounting to account for acquisitions of businesses. The
consideration transferred in a business combination is measured as the aggregate of the fair values of
the assets transferred, liabilities incurred towards the former owners of the acquired business and
equity instruments issued. Identifiable assets acquired, and liabilities assumed by the Group are
measured separately at their fair value as of the acquisition date The excess of the aggregate of the
consideration transferred and recognized noncontrolling interests in the acquired business over the
acquisition date fair values of the identifiable net assets acquired is recorded as goodwill.
F22
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)