i) Non-derivative financial assets (including receivables)
A financial asset
not
classified as fair value through profit or loss is assessed at each reporting date to determine whether there is objective evidence that it is impaired. A non-derivative financial asset is impaired if objective evidence indicates that a loss event has occurred after the initial recognition of the asset, and that the loss event had a negative effect on the estimated future cash flows of that asset that can be estimated reliably. Objective evidence that financial assets are impaired can include default or delinquency by a debtor, restructuring of an amount due to the Group on terms that the Group would
not
consider otherwise, indications that a debtor or issuer will enter bankruptcy, the absence or disappearance of an active market for a bond or other security. The Group considers evidence of impairment for receivables at both the specific asset and collective level. All individually significant receivables are assessed for specific impairment. All individually significant receivables found
not
to be specifically impaired are then collectively assessed for any impairment that has been incurred but
not
yet identified. Receivables that are
not
individually significant are collectively assessed for impairment by grouping together receivables with similar risk characteristics. An impairment loss in respect of a non-derivative financial asset measured at amortised cost is calculated as the difference between its carrying amount and the present value of the estimated future cash flows discounted at the asset’s original effective interest rate. Losses are recognised in profit or loss and reflected in an allowance account against receivables. Interest on the impaired asset continues to be recognised through the unwinding of the discount. When a subsequent event causes the amount of impairment loss to decrease, the decrease in impairment loss is reversed through profit or loss.
The carrying amounts of the Group’s non-financial assets, other than inventories and deferred tax assets are reviewed at each reporting date to determine whether there is any indication of impairment. If any such indication exists, then the asset’s recoverable amount is estimated. The recoverable amount of an asset or cash-generating unit is the greater of its value in use and its fair value less costs of disposal. In assessing value in use, the estimated future cash flows are discounted to their present value using a pre-tax discount rate that reflects current market assessments of the time value of money and the risks specific to the asset. For the purpose of impairment testing, assets that cannot be tested individually are grouped together into the smallest group of assets that generates cash inflows from continuing use that are largely independent of the cash inflows of other assets or groups of assets (the “cash-generating unit” or “CGU”).
The Group’s corporate assets do
not
generate separate cash inflows. If there is an indication that a CGU to which a corporate asset is allocated
may
be impaired, then the recoverable amount is determined for the CGU to which the corporate asset belongs.
An impairment loss is recognised if the carrying amount of a CGU exceeds its estimated recoverable amount. Impairment losses recognised in respect of CGUs are allocated to reduce the carrying amount of assets in the unit (group of units) on a
pro rata
basis. Impairment losses recognised in prior periods are assessed at each reporting date for any indications that the loss has decreased or
no
longer exists. An impairment loss is reversed if there has been an indication of reversal and a change in the estimates used to determine the recoverable amount. An impairment loss is reversed only to the extent that the asset’s carrying amount does
not
exceed the carrying amount that would have been determined, net of depreciation or amortisation, if
no
impairment loss had been recognised.
iii) Impairment of exploration and evaluation (“E&E”) assets
The test for impairment of E&E assets
, included in Mineral properties
not
depreciated,
can combine several CGUs as long as the combination is
not
larger than a segment. The definition of a CGU does, however, change once development activities have begun. There are specific impairment triggers for E&E assets. Despite certain relief in respect of impairment triggers and the level of aggregation, the impairment standard is applied in measuring the impairment of E&E assets. Reversals of impairment losses are required in the event that the circumstances that resulted in impairment have changed.
E&E assets are only assessed for impairment when facts and circumstances suggest that the carrying amount of an E&E asset
may
exceed its recoverable amount. Indicators of impairment include the following:
· | | The entity's right to explore in the specific area has expired or will expire in the near future and is not expected to be renewed. |
· | | Substantive expenditure on further E&E activities in the specific area is neither budgeted nor planned. |
· | | The entity has not discovered commercially viable quantities of mineral resources as a result of E&E activities in the area to date and has decided to discontinue such activities in the specific area. |
· | | Even if development is likely to proceed, the entity has sufficient data indicating that the carrying amount of the asset is unlikely to be recovered in full from successful development or by sale. |