IFRS 5 — Non-current Assets Held for Sale and Discontinued Operations

Summary of IFRS 5

Background

IFRS 5 achieves substantial convergence with the requirements of US SFAS 144 Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets with respect to the timing of the classification of operations as discontinued operations and the presentation of such operations. With respect to long-lived assets that are not being disposed of, the impairment recognition and measurement standards in SFAS 144 are significantly different from those in IAS 36 Impairment of Assets. However those differences were not addressed in the short-term IASB-FASB convergence project.

Key provisions of IFRS 5 relating to assets held for sale
Held-for-sale classification

In general, the following conditions must be met for an asset (or 'disposal group') to be classified as held for sale: [IFRS 5.6-8]

management is committed to a plan to sell
the asset is available for immediate sale
an active programme to locate a buyer is initiated
the sale is highly probable, within 12 months of classification as held for sale (subject to limited exceptions)
the asset is being actively marketed for sale at a sales price reasonable in relation to its fair value
actions required to complete the plan indicate that it is unlikely that plan will be significantly changed or withdrawn

The assets need to be disposed of through sale. Therefore, operations that are expected to be wound down or abandoned would not meet the definition (but may be classified as discontinued once abandoned). [IFRS 5.13]

An entity that is committed to a sale involving loss of control of a subsidiary that qualifies for held-for-sale classification under IFRS 5 classifies all of the assets and liabilities of that subsidiary as held for sale, even if the entity will retain a non-controlling interest in its former subsidiary after the sale. [IFRS 5.8A]

Held for distribution to owners classification

The classification, presentation and measurement requirements of IFRS 5 also apply to a non-current asset (or disposal group) that is classified as held for distribution to owners. [IFRS 5.5A and IFRIC 17] The entity must be committed to the distribution, the assets must be available for immediate distribution and the distribution must be highly probable. [IFRS 5.12A]

Disposal group concept

A 'disposal group' is a group of assets, possibly with some associated liabilities, which an entity intends to dispose of in a single transaction. The measurement basis required for non-current assets classified as held for sale is applied to the group as a whole, and any resulting impairment loss reduces the carrying amount of the non-current assets in the disposal group in the order of allocation required by IAS 36. [IFRS 5.4]

Measurement

The following principles apply:

At the time of classification as held for sale. Immediately before the initial classification of the asset as held for sale, the carrying amount of the asset will be measured in accordance with applicable IFRSs. Resulting adjustments are also recognised in accordance with applicable IFRSs. [IFRS 5.18]
After classification as held for sale. Non-current assets or disposal groups that are classified as held for sale are measured at the lower of carrying amount and fair value less costs to sell (fair value less costs to distribute in the case of assets classified as held for distribution to owners). [IFRS 5.15-15A]
Impairment.Impairment must be considered both at the time of classification as held for sale and subsequently:

At the time of classification as held for sale. Immediately prior to classifying an asset or disposal group as held for sale, impairment is measured and recognised in accordance with the applicable IFRSs (generally IAS 16 Property, Plant and Equipment, IAS 36 Impairment of Assets, IAS 38 Intangible Assets, and IAS 39 Financial Instruments: Recognition and Measurement/IFRS 9 Financial Instruments). Any impairment loss is recognised in profit or loss unless the asset had been measured at revalued amount under IAS 16 or IAS 38, in which case the impairment is treated as a revaluation decrease.
After classification as held for sale. Calculate any impairment loss based on the difference between the adjusted carrying amounts of the asset/disposal group and fair value less costs to sell. Any impairment loss that arises by using the measurement principles in IFRS 5 must be recognised in profit or loss [IFRS 5.20], even for assets previously carried at revalued amounts. This is supported by IFRS 5 BC.47 and BC.48, which indicate the inconsistency with IAS 36.

Assets carried at fair value prior to initial classification. For such assets, the requirement to deduct costs to sell from fair value may result in an immediate charge to profit or loss.
Subsequent increases in fair value. A gain for any subsequent increase in fair value less costs to sell of an asset can be recognised in the profit or loss to the extent that it is not in excess of the cumulative impairment loss that has been recognised in accordance with IFRS 5 or previously in accordance with IAS 36. [IFRS 5.21-22]
No depreciation. Non-current assets or disposal groups that are classified as held for sale are not depreciated. [IFRS 5.25]

The measurement provisions of IFRS 5 do not apply to deferred tax assets, assets arising from employee benefits, financial assets within the scope of IFRS 9 Financial Instruments, non-current assets measured at fair value in accordance with IAS 41 Agriculture, and contractual rights under insurance contracts. [IFRS 5.5]

Presentation

Assets classified as held for sale, and the assets and liabilities included within a disposal group classified as held for sale, must be presented separately on the face of the statement of financial position. [IFRS 5.38]

Disclosures

IFRS 5 requires the following disclosures about assets (or disposal groups) that are held for sale: [IFRS 5.41]

description of the non-current asset or disposal group
description of facts and circumstances of the sale (disposal) and the expected timing
impairment losses and reversals, if any, and where in the statement of comprehensive income they are recognised
if applicable, the reportable segment in which the non-current asset (or disposal group) is presented in accordance with IFRS 8 Operating Segments

Disclosures in other IFRSs do not apply to assets held for sale (or discontinued operations, discussed below) unless those other IFRSs require specific disclosures in respect of such assets, or in respect of certain measurement disclosures where assets and liabilities are outside the scope of the measurement requirements of IFRS 5. [IFRS 5.5B]

Key provisions of IFRS 5 relating to discontinued operations
Classification as discontinuing

A discontinued operation is a component of an entity that either has been disposed of or is classified as held for sale, and: [IFRS 5.32]

represents either a separate major line of business or a geographical area of operations
is part of a single co-ordinated plan to dispose of a separate major line of business or geographical area of operations, or
is a subsidiary acquired exclusively with a view to resale and the disposal involves loss of control.

IFRS 5 prohibits the retroactive classification as a discontinued operation, when the discontinued criteria are met after the end of the reporting period. [IFRS 5.12]

Disclosure in the statement of comprehensive income

The sum of the post-tax profit or loss of the discontinued operation and the post-tax gain or loss recognised on the measurement to fair value less cost to sell or fair value adjustments on the disposal of the assets (or disposal group) is presented as a single amount on the face of the statement of comprehensive income. If the entity presents profit or loss in a separate statement, a section identified as relating to discontinued operations is presented in that separate statement. [IFRS 5.33-33A].

Detailed disclosure of revenue, expenses, pre-tax profit or loss and related income taxes is required either in the notes or in the statement of comprehensive income in a section distinct from continuing operations. [IFRS 5.33] Such detailed disclosures must cover both the current and all prior periods presented in the financial statements. [IFRS 5.34]

Cash flow information

The net cash flows attributable to the operating, investing, and financing activities of a discontinued operation is separately presented on the face of the cash flow statement or disclosed in the notes. [IFRS 5.33]

Disclosures

The following additional disclosures are required:

adjustments made in the current period to amounts disclosed as a discontinued operation in prior periods must be separately disclosed [IFRS 5.35]
if an entity ceases to classify a component as held for sale, the results of that component previously presented in discontinued operations must be reclassified and included in income from continuing operations for all periods presented [IFRS 5.36]

Examples

Example 1

The Portugal group of companies has a financial year-end of 30 June 20X4. The financial statements were authorized three months later. The group is disposing of many of its subsidiaries, each of which is a separate major line of business or geographical area.

A subsidiary, England, was sold on 1 January 20X4.
On 1 January 20X4, an announcement was made that there were advanced negotiations to sell subsidiary Switzerland and that, subject to regulatory approval, this was expected to be completed by 31 October 20X4.
The board has also decided to sell a subsidiary called France. Agents have been appointed to find a suitable buyer but none have yet emerged. The agent’s advice is that potential buyers are deterred by the expected price that Portugal hopes to achieve.
On 10 July 20X4, an announcement was made that another subsidiary, Croatia, was for sale. It was sold on 10 September 20X4.

Required:

Explain whether each of these subsidiaries meets the definition of a ‘discontinued operation’ as defined by IFRS 5.

Solution

England has been sold during the year. It is a discontinued operation per IFRS 5.

Switzerland is a discontinued operation per IFRS 5. There is clear intention to sell, and the sale is highly probable within 12 months. France is not a discontinued operation per IFRS 5.

It does not seem that France is being offered for sale at a reasonable price in relation to its current fair value. The sale does not seem to be highly probable within 12

months. Croatia is not a discontinued operation per IFRS 5. The conditions for

classification, as held for sale, were not met until after the year end.

Reference:

1. iasplus

2. aglobalwall