Normal purchases and sales of financial assets are recognized on the trade date — the date on which the Company commits to purchase or sell the asset. Investments are initially recognized at fair value plus transaction costs for all financial assets not carried at fair value through profit or loss. Financial assets carried at fair value through profit or loss, if any, are initially recognized at fair value, and transaction costs are expensed in the income statement.
Financial assets are derecognized when the rights to receive cash flow from the investments have expired or the Company has transferred substantially all of the risks and rewards of ownership. Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss are subsequently carried at fair value. Loans and receivables are carried at amortized cost using the effective interest rate method.
Gains or losses arising from changes in the fair value of the financial assets held for trading are presented in the income statement under “Net financial results” in the year in which they arise.
The fair values of quoted investments are based on current market prices. If the market for a financial asset is not active, the Company establishes the fair value using valuation techniques. These include the use of recent arm’s length transactions, reference to other instruments that are substantially the same, discounted cash flow analysis, and option pricing models making maximum use of market inputs and relying as little as possible on entity-specific inputs.
The Company and its subsidiaries classify their financial assets under the following categories: at fair value through profit or loss (held for trading), held to maturity and loans and receivables. The classification depends on the purpose for which the financial assets were acquired. Management determines the classification of its financial assets upon initial recognition.
(i)Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss
Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss are financial assets held for trading. A financial asset is classified in this category if it was acquired principally for the purpose of selling in the short term. The changes are recognized in the income statement for the year within “Net financial results”. All financial assets in this category are classified as current assets.
Derivatives are also categorized as held for trading, unless they are designated as hedges.
(ii)Held to maturity
Investments in non-derivative marketable securities made by the Company with the ability and intention of being held to maturity, are classified as held to maturity investments and recorded at amortized cost. The Company assesses, at the balance sheet date, whether there is objective evidence that a financial asset or group of financial assets is impaired. If such evidence exists, a provision for the impairment of the asset is recorded.
(iii)Loans and receivables
Loans and receivables are non-derivative financial assets with fixed or determinable payments that are not quoted in an active market. They are included in current assets, except for those with maturities greater than 12 months after the end of the reporting period, which are classified as non-current assets. The Company’s loans and receivables are mainly comprised of “cash and cash equivalents” and “trade accounts receivable”.