Valuation of goodwill, intangible assets with indefinite useful live, property, plants and equipments, and investments in associates and joint ventures
Notes 1.3.2.4, 1.3.14, 14 and 26 to the consolidated financial statements
As at December 31, 2019, the goodwill, intangible assets with indefinite useful live, tangible assets and investments in associates and joint ventures represent significant amounts of the Group’s equity. They are mainly related to non-regulated activities in which the EDF Group operates.
Notes 1.3.2.4, 1.3.14 and 14 describe the methodologies adopted and applied to determine if indicators exist showing that an asset may be subject to an impairment loss. These notes also describe the methods for performing impairment tests. The tests and the determination of recoverable amounts are carried out annually at the cash-generating unit (CGU) level for those holding intangible assets with indefinite lives or goodwill. The recoverable amount corresponds, for the majority of these CGU, to the value in use determined based on the discounted value of future cash flows.
We considered the valuation of non-regulated assets in France, the United Kingdom and in Italy, and associates in the United States, to be a key audit matter, due to the sensitivity of valuations to macro-economic, industry and financial assumptions to determine recoverable amounts and the estimates and judgments that they require from management.
In particular, an unfavorable and volatile market with low electricity market prices and persistent electricity generation over-capacity, added to a stagnation of the demand for energy in the main markets where EDF operates, significantly decreases the recoverable amount of certain goodwill, intangible assets, property, plant and equipment or investments in associates and joint ventures allocated to non-regulated activities and may lead to significant impairment losses.
As part of our work, we analysed the existence of indicators of impairment losses at the CGU level. We have also gained an understanding of the process for formulating estimates and assumptions made by management as part of impairment testing and we have also assessed the appropriateness of the valuation model.
We have verified, for the CGU tested, that the discounted future cash flow projections correspond to those generated by the assets included in these CGU and that they were consistent with (i) the budget data, medium-term plans (MTP) and, beyond, with the Group’s long-term assumptions, (ii) past performances, (iii), market outlook and (iv) the expected operating life of the assets.
We have assessed, by conducting interviews with management, the different underlying assumptions (economic growth, price of raw material and CO2, electricity demands, production capacities and interconnections and changes in energetic mix) on which the medium and long-term price assumptions are based, by substantiating them with external studies carried out by international organisms or experts in energy.
We have verified the determination methods and the consistency of the discount rate assumptions, based on the weighted average cost of capital (WACC) by geographic area and by activity and, in particular, analysed, with the assistance of our internal experts, the consistency of risk-free rates and the risk premiums adopted by management with the underlying market assumptions.
We have assessed the highly probable aspect of the disposals decided by the Group and the items considered to evaluate the realizable value as describe in Notes 2.3, 3.2.2 and 46 on the assets and liabilities held for sale.
Finally, we have assessed if Notes 1.3.14, 14 and 26 of the consolidated financial statements provide appropriate disclosure in particular in terms of assumptions adopted to perform impairment tests and sensitivity analyses.
