m) Intangible assets
Intangible assets are identifiable non-monetary assets (separable from other assets) without physical substance which arise as a result of a legal transaction or which are developed internally by the Bank. Only assets whose cost can be estimated reliably and from which the Bank considers it probable that future economic benefits will be generated are recognized.
Intangible assets are recognized initially at acquisition or development cost and are subsequently measured at cost less any accumulated amortization and any accumulated impairment losses.
i. Goodwill
Any excess of the cost of the investments in the Bank over the corresponding underlying carrying amounts acquired, adjusted at the acquisition date, is allocated as follows:
If it is attributable to specific and identifiable assets and liabilities of the companies acquired, by increasing the value of the assets (or reducing the value of the liabilities) whose fair values were higher (lower) than the carrying amounts at which they had been recognized in the acquired entities’ balance sheets.
If it is attributable to specific intangible assets, by recognizing such intangible assets in the consolidated balance sheet provided that the fair value of these assets within 12 months following the date of acquisition can be measured reliably.
The remaining amount is recognized as goodwill, which is allocated to one or more CGUs. A CGU is the smallest identifiable group of assets that, as a result of continuing operation, generates cash inflows that are largely independent of the cash inflows from other assets or groups of assets.
Goodwill is only recognized when it has been acquired for consideration and represents, therefore, a payment made by the acquirer in anticipation of future economic benefits from assets of the acquired entity that are not capable of being individually identified and separately recognized.
At the end of each reporting period, or whenever there is any indication of impairment, goodwill is reviewed for impairment (i.e., a reduction in its recoverable amount to below its carrying amount) and if there is any impairment, the goodwill is written down with a charge to Impairment losses on other assets (net) – Goodwill in the consolidated income statement.
For the purposes of the impairment analysis, goodwill is allocated to one or more CGUs expected to benefit from the synergies arising from business combinations. The CGUs represent the Bank’s smallest identifiable asset groups that generate cash flows for the Bank and that are largely independent of the flows generated from other assets or groups of assets. Each CGU or CGUs to which goodwill is allocated:
is the lowest level at which the entity manages goodwill internally; and
is not larger than an operating segment.
The CGUs to which goodwill has been allocated are tested for impairment by including the allocated goodwill in their carrying amount. This analysis is performed at least annually as of December 31 and more frequently in cases where indicators of impairment are noted by Management.
For the purpose of determining the impairment of a CGU to which a part of goodwill has been allocated, the carrying amount of that unit is compared with its recoverable amount.
The recoverable amount of a CGU is equal to the higher of the fair value less costs to sell and its value in use. Value in use is calculated as the discounted value of the cash flow projections that the Bank estimates and is based on the latest budgets approved for the next five years. The principal hypotheses are a sustainable growth rate to extrapolate the cash flows indefinitely, and the discount rate used to discount the cash flows is equal to the weighted cost of capital assigned to each CGU.
If the carrying amount of the CGU exceeds the related recoverable amount, the Bank recognizes an impairment loss; the resulting loss is apportioned by reducing, first, the carrying amount of the goodwill allocated to that CGU and, second, if there are still impairment losses remaining to be recognized, the carrying amount of the rest of the assets. This is done by allocating the remaining loss in proportion to the carrying amount of each of the assets in the unit. No impairment of goodwill attributable to the minority interests may be recognized.
Impairment losses on goodwill are recognized under Impairment losses on other assets (net) - Goodwill and other intangible assets in the consolidated income statement.
An impairment loss recognized for goodwill is not reversed in a subsequent period.
ii. Other intangible assets
Other intangible assets include the amount of identifiable intangible assets (such as computer software).
Other intangible assets can have an indefinite useful life - when, based on an analysis of all the relevant factors, it is concluded that there is no foreseeable limit to the period over which the asset is expected to generate net cash inflows for the Bank - or a finite useful life, in all other cases.
Intangible assets with indefinite useful lives acquired separately are not amortized and are carried at cost less accumulated impairment losses. At the end of each reporting period or whenever there is any indication of impairment, the Bank reviews the remaining useful lives of the assets in order to determine whether they continue to be indefinite and, if this is not the case, to take the appropriate steps.
Intangible assets with finite useful lives that are acquired separately are carried at cost less accumulated amortization and accumulated impairment losses. Amortization is recognized on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives. The estimated useful lives are reviewed at the end of each reporting period, with the effect of any changes in estimate being accounted for on a prospective basis. The intangible asset amortization charge is recognized under Depreciation and amortization in the consolidated income statement.
Intangible assets acquired in a business combination and recognized separately from goodwill are initially recognized at their fair value at the acquisition date (which is regarded as their cost). Subsequent to initial recognition, intangible assets acquired in a business combination are reported at cost less accumulated amortization and accumulated impairment losses, on the same basis as intangible assets that are acquired separately.
An intangible asset is derecognized on disposal, or when no future economic benefits are expected from use or disposal. Gains or losses arising from derecognition of an intangible asset, measured as the difference between the net disposal proceeds and the carrying amount of the asset, are recognized in the consolidated income statement when the asset is derecognized.
Impairment charges are included in Impairment losses on other assets (net) – Other intangible assets in the consolidated income statement. The criteria used to recognize the impairment losses on these assets and, where applicable, the reversal of impairment losses recognized in prior years, are similar to those used for tangible assets (see Note 2.k.).