The company has elected to apply Sections 11 and 12 of FRS 102 in respect of financial instruments.
Financial assets and financial liabilities are recognised when the company becomes party to the
contractual provisions of the instrument.
Financial liabilities and equity instruments are classified according to the substance of the contractual
arrangements entered into. An equity instrument is any contract that evidences a residual interest in
the assets of the company after deducting all of its liabilities.
The company’s policies for its major classes of financial assets and financial liabilities are set out
below.
Financial assets
Basic financial assets, including other debtors and cash and bank balances, are initially recognised at
transaction price, unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction, where the transaction
is measured at the present value of the future receipts discounted at a market rate of interest for a
similar debt instrument. Financing transactions are those in which payment is deferred beyond
normal business terms or is financed at a rate of interest that is not a market rate.
Such assets are subsequently carried at amortised cost using the effective interest method, less any
impairment.
Financial liabilities
Basic financial liabilities, including trade and other creditors, are initially recognised at transaction
price, unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction, where the debt instrument is
measured at the present value of the future payments discounted at a market rate of interest for a
similar debt instrument. Financing transactions are those in which payment is deferred beyond
normal business terms or is financed at a rate of interest that is not a market rate.
Debt instruments are subsequently carried at amortised cost, using the effective interest rate method.
Impairment of financial assets
Financial assets measured at cost and amortised cost are assessed at the end of each reporting
period for objective evidence of impairment. If objective evidence of impairment is found, an
impairment loss is recognised in the profit and loss account.
For financial assets measured at cost less impairment, the impairment loss is measured as the
difference between the asset's carrying amount and the best estimate of the amount the company
would receive for the asset if it were to be sold at the reporting date.
For financial assets measured at amortised cost, the impairment loss is measured as the difference
between the asset's carrying amount and the present value of estimated cash flows discounted at the
asset's original effective interest rate. If the financial asset has a variable interest rate, the discount
rate for measuring any impairment loss is the current effective interest rate determined under the
contract.
If there is a decrease in the impairment loss arising from an event occurring after the impairment was
recognised, the impairment is reversed. The reversal is such that the current carrying amount does
not exceed what the carrying amount would have been had the impairment not previously been
recognised. The impairment reversal is recognised in profit or loss.