4) Accounting and valuation principles

Tangible assets

Tangible assets are recognised at acquisition or production cost less accumulated depreciation and any impairment losses. The acquisition or production cost of tangible assets covers its purchase price and any costs directly attributable to bringing the asset to the location and condition necessary for it to be capable of operating in the manner intended by management, less government grants. The initial estimate of the costs of dismantling and removing the item and restoring the site on which it is located is also considered part of acquisition/production costs. Significant individual components are recorded and depreciated separately. Depreciation is calculated using the straight-line method based on the estimated technical and economic life of the asset or, at most, over the concession period in the case of energy generating facilities. The optional revaluation model is not applied.

Any residual values are taken into account when determining an asset's useful life. An asset's useful life and residual value are reviewed annually. If an asset is sold or for any other reason is no longer able to provide future economic benefits, it is derecognised from property, plant and equipment. The resulting gain or loss (difference between the net selling price and the net carrying amount of the derecognised asset) is recognised in profit or loss in the period in which the asset is derecognised.

Estimated useful lives are calculated in accordance with the recommendations of the Association of Swiss Electricity Companies and are within the following ranges for each category:

Category	Useful life
Power plants	20 – 80 years depending on the type of facility and concession period
Grids	15 – 40 years
Land	Indefinite; any impairments are recognised immediately
Buildings	30 – 60 years
Plant and business equipment	3 – 20 years
Assets under construction	Reclassification to the corresponding category when available for use; any impairments are recognised immediately

Investments in upgrades or improvements to plant and equipment are capitalised if they significantly extend the useful life, increase the original capacity or substantially enhance the quality of generation. Repairs, maintenance and regular servicing of buildings and operating installations are expensed as incurred. Costs for regular major overhauls are capitalised and depreciated.

Assets under construction cover property, generation assets and equipment not yet completed. Generally, during the construction phase these items are not depreciated unless impairment is recognised immediately. Borrowing costs related to construction are capitalised along with other acquisition and production costs. Depreciation of the asset commences only when the asset under construction is completed/ready for use and the borrowing costs are no longer capitalised.

Tangible assets are tested on each balance sheet date for indications of impairment. If indications of impairment are identified, the recoverable amount is measured and an impairment test is performed. If the recoverable amount (the higher of the value less costs to sell and value in use) is below the carrying amount, the asset's carrying amount is reduced to the recoverable amount. The value in use is calculated based on an underlying business plan which projects the terms and useful lives of individual projects and assets. These are discounted using an appropriate rate of interest before tax. If the reasons for a previously recognised impairment no longer exist, the impairment is reversed, at most, to what the carrying amount would have been had the impairment not been recognised.

Borrowing costs

Borrowing costs that are directly attributable to the acquisition, construction or production of a qualifying asset or funds that are part of a general pool are considered part of the acquisition/production costs of the asset and are capitalised. Other borrowing costs are recognised as an expense in accordance with IAS 23.8.

Finance leases

Leasing agreements are recognised if all the risks and rewards incident to ownership of the asset are substantially transferred to the company. A leased object and a corresponding liability are capitalised at the lower of the fair value or present value of the minimum leasing payments. They are amortised over the shorter of their estimated useful lives or the duration of the lease if there is uncertainty as to whether ownership of the leased object will be transferred to the Repower Group on expiry of the lease. Any impairment losses are recognised in profit or loss. If the reasons for a previously recognised impairment no longer exist, the impairment is reversed, at most, to what the carrying amount would have been had the impairment not been recognised. The lease payments are apportioned between the finance charge and the reduction of the outstanding liability. Interest and amortisation components are charged to profit or loss.

Operating leases

Income and expenses for operating leases are recognised in profit or loss on a straight-line basis over the lease term.

Intangible assets

Self-constructed assets are capitalised at production cost if they meet the criteria for recognition. If the criteria for capitalisation are not fulfilled, the costs are recognised as an expense in profit or loss in the year in which they were incurred. Self-constructed intangible assets in the Repower Group primarily consist of software, which are recognised under other intangible assets. Intangible assets acquired against payment are recognised at cost and have either a definite or an indefinite useful life.

Intangible assets with a limited useful life are amortised using the straight-line method over their useful lives. Anticipated residual values are included when determining the amortisation. They are tested for indications of impairment on each balance sheet date. If indications of impairment are identified, the recoverable amount of the intangible assets is determined in the same way as for property, plant and equipment, and an impairment test is performed. The estimated useful lives for the individual categories are within the following ranges:

Customer relations 13 – 15 years

Brands 15 years

Other intangible assets 3 – 5 years

Intangible assets with an indefinite useful life are not amortised but tested annually for indications of impairment. The recoverable amount is determined in the same way as for property, plant and equipment. Any impairment losses are recognised in profit or loss. The assumption of an indefinite useful life is also reviewed annually. If events or circumstances indicate that a definite or indefinite useful life needs to be revised, this revised estimate is carried out in the current period.

Goodwill from business combinations

Business combinations are included in the Group financial statements using the purchase method. Goodwill corresponds to the difference between the acquisition costs and the fair value of the acquired company's identifiable assets, liabilities and contingent liabilities on the date of acquisition. The acquisition costs cover all consideration transferred to acquire the company, including any deferred and contingent purchase prices measured at fair value. If the acquisition costs are lower than the fair value, goodwill is negative and is recognised in profit or loss at the time of acquisition.

Goodwill is allocated to a cash-generating unit from the date of acquisition for the purpose of impairment testing. A cash-generating unit corresponds to the smallest identifiable group of assets that generates cash inflows within a company whose goodwill is monitored by internal management for impairment purposes. Goodwill is tested for impairment at least once a year. If the carrying amount of the unit is higher than the recoverable amount in accordance with IAS 36, an impairment loss is recognised in profit or loss in the reporting period in question.

For investments acquired in associates, the difference between the acquisition cost of the investment and its share of the fair value of the identifiable net assets is determined. The difference is disclosed together with the investments under investments in associates.

Investments in associates

Associates are entities over which Repower can exercise significant influence but not control, and which do not constitute joint arrangements. They are accounted for using the equity method. Investments measured using the equity method are accounted for at the company's proportionate share in equity plus any goodwill.

The inclusion of significant associates requires the annual financial statements to be drawn up in accordance with IFRS. Where such financial statements are not available, transitional statements are drawn up. The closing date for partner plants is usually 30 September and may therefore differ from the closing date for the Repower Group. Important events occurring between the closing date for these partner plants and the closing date for the Repower Group are taken into account in the consolidated financial statements.

Financial assets

All financial assets are recognised initially at fair value. Purchases are recorded on the settlement date. For financial assets or financial liabilities that are not measured at fair value through profit or loss, transaction costs must also be factored in if they are directly attributable to the acquisition of the asset or financial liability. Transaction costs for assets and liabilities measured at fair value through profit or loss are therefore immediately recognised in profit or loss.

In the event of a premium or discount for assets and liabilities not measured at fair value through profit or loss, the financial asset or liability is measured at its present value and accumulates interest or is discounted in the income statement over its term by applying the effective interest method. The result is recognised in profit or loss in the period in which it was incurred.

Options (conditional forward transactions) are recognised at cost in the amount of the option premium. Other derivatives (unconditional forward transactions) have acquisition costs that are equal to zero and are not recognised on initial measurement.

Different methods are used to measure the various categories of financial assets. Loans and receivables are measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method. If financial assets are classified as short term, the present value is not discounted. The carrying amount is assumed to be the fair value less any necessary impairment losses. For financial assets measured at fair value through profit or loss, the gain or loss that results from a change in the fair value and is not part of a hedge is recognised in profit or loss. A profit or loss that results from a change in the fair value of financial assets classified as “available for sale” that are not part of a hedge is recognised in other income until the asset is derecognised. Profits or losses entered before the asset is derecognised are reclassified in the income statement on disposal of the asset (recycling). Any impairments are recognised in profit or loss. For equity instruments which are neither listed nor permit a reliable estimate to be made of their fair value, the fair value corresponds to the acquisition value less impairments.

The Notes to the consolidated financial statements provide information on the measurement category applied.

Financial assets not recognised at market values are tested for impairment on each balance sheet date. If there is objective evidence that an impairment loss has occurred, such as insolvency, payment default or other significant financial difficulties on the part of the issuer or debtor, an impairment calculation is performed. For interest-bearing assets carried at amortised cost, the impairment is measured as the difference between the carrying amount and the lower present value of estimated future cash inflows, discounted at the asset's original effective interest rate.

Trade accounts receivable from customers who are also suppliers and trade accounts payable to suppliers who are also customers are offset respectively against trade accounts payable or trade accounts receivable if the contract terms provide for this, the intention to offset exists and is legally permitted (netting).

Financial assets are no longer recognised if the rights, obligations, opportunities and risks associated with their ownership have largely been transferred.

Held-for-trading positions / Replacement values

Contracts in the form of forward transactions (forwards and futures) conducted with the intention of achieving a trading profit or margin (held for trading) are treated as derivative financial instruments in accordance with IAS 39 and recognised as held-for-trading positions. On the balance sheet date, all open derivative financial instruments from energy trading transactions are measured at fair value through profit or loss, and the positive and negative replacement values are recognised under assets and liabilities. The open contracts are measured on the basis of market data from electricity exchanges (e.g. EEX Leipzig). For contracts for which no liquid market exists, measurement is based on a valuation model.

Current transactions are offset at positive and negative replacement value if the respective contract terms provide for this and the intention to offset exists and is legally permitted. Realised and unrealised income from held-for-trading positions is recognised net as “profit from held-for-trading positions”.

To reduce currency risks, forward exchange transactions are conducted in euros. Interest rate swaps can also be employed to reduce the interest rate risk of variable loans. If these types of financial instruments exist at the end of the year, they are measured at fair value through profit or loss. For accounting purposes, these and similar financial transactions are treated as derivative financial instruments in accordance with IAS 39, and if the values are positive they are reported as replacement values under “securities and other financial instruments” and “other financial assets”. If the values are negative, they are reported under “current financial liabilities” and “non-current financial liabilities”.

Hedge accounting

The Repower Group uses interest rate derivatives. Interest rate swaps have been concluded to hedge the company's interest rate risk exposure relating to the variable-rate loan in respect of the construction of the gas-fired combined-cycle power plant in Teverola in order to safeguard against unforeseeable fluctuations in cash flows over the term of the loan. The effective portion of the gain or loss from the cash flow hedge is recognised directly in other income under “fair value adjustments of financial instruments”, while the ineffective portion is recognised immediately in profit or loss. The amounts recognised in other income are reclassified in the income statement in the period in which the hedge transaction was concluded.

Inventories

Inventories comprise materials used for operating purposes (e.g. operating materials, replacement parts and consumables) as well as CO2 or electricity quality certificates (origin, generation type). As long as these assets are not held for trading purposes, they are measured at the lower of acquisition/production cost and net realisable value. Acquisition/production costs are measured using the weighted average cost method. The net realisable value corresponds to the estimated selling price less the estimated costs necessary to make the sale. Inventories for trading purposes are measured at fair value less costs to sell.

Assets and liabilities held for sale

Assets or groups of assets as well as directly attributable liabilities (disposal groups) are classified as held for sale if the benefit embodied in the residual carrying amount is not to be realised through their continued use but primarily from their sale. The prerequisite is that the value of the asset can be sold directly and the sale is sufficiently probable. Non-current assets (or disposal groups) are recognised at the lower of the carrying amount and the fair value less costs to sell. The value of assets and liabilities held for sale is reported separately under “current assets” and “current liabilities” as “assets held for sale” and “liabilities held for sale”.

A discontinued operation is a part of the company that was sold or held for sale and represents a separate major business line or geographic branch of business. The results of discontinued operations are shown separately from the ongoing business activities (continued operations).

Treasury shares

Treasury shares and participation certificates are deducted from equity. Under IFRS, no gain or loss is recognised in profit or loss on the purchase, sale, issue or cancellation of an entity's own equity instruments.

Provisions

Provisions are recognised for obligations (legal or constructive) resulting from a past event when it is probable that an outflow of resources will be required to settle the obligation, and where a reliable estimate can be made of the amount of the obligation. If some or all of the expenditure required to settle a provision is expected to be reimbursed by another party (e.g. due to an insurance policy), the reimbursement is recognised separately when it is virtually certain that the reimbursement will be received. If the interest effect is a significant influencing factor, estimated future cash flows are discounted to determine the provision amount.

Provisions are reviewed periodically and revised in line with current developments. Pre-tax interest rates are used as discount rates that reflect current market assessments of the interest effect and the risks specific to the liability.

Financial liabilities

Financial liabilities are subdivided into financial liabilities held for trading and other financial liabilities. Financial liabilities held for trading are the opposite of financial assets. They consist of financial obligations which are entered into with the intention of repaying them or profiting from them in the short time. This category also includes financial derivatives not included under hedge accounting which are currently accorded a negative market value. They are initially and subsequently measured at market value. Transaction costs are recognised directly as an expense. Other financial liabilities include all debts not measured at fair value through profit or loss. The debts are initially recognised at fair value on the date of acquisition and measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method. The Notes to the financial statements provide information on the measurement categories applied.

Pension funds

On the balance sheet date, employees of the Repower Group in Switzerland were members of the pension funds PKE Pensionskasse Energie Genossenschaft and the PKE Vorsorgestiftung Energie. These are legally independent pension funds operating as defined benefit and defined contribution plans, respectively, in accordance with the Federal Law on Occupational Pensions for Old Age, Survivors and Disability (BVG).

The costs and obligations of the Group arising from defined benefit pension plans are calculated using the projected unit credit method. In line with actuarial calculations performed on the balance sheet date, the total cost of a pension plan is based on the years of service rendered by the respective employees and their projected salaries until retirement, and is charged annually to the income statement. Pension fund obligations are measured according to the present value of estimated future pension benefits based on the yields on corporate bonds with an AA rating or higher and similar residual terms to maturity. The interest rate used to calculate the expected return on plan assets must correspond to the discount rate for pension obligations. At Repower, the net interest rate components calculated in this way are allocated to the financial result. The difference versus the effective return on plan assets, as well as the actuarial gains and losses from adjustments to actuarial parameters (e.g. discount rate, retirement age, life expectancy, changes in salaries and returns), is recognised in other income under equity in the period in which it is incurred. Past service cost is accounted for under pension costs (personnel expenses).Employees in foreign Group companies are insured under state pension plans which are independent of the Group. With the exception of the above pension plans, there are no significant long-term employee benefits provided by the Group.

Income taxes

Income taxes comprise current and deferred income taxes. Current income taxes are calculated based on the current tax rates on the earnings of the individual Group companies reported in the consolidated income statement.

Deferred taxes are recognised in the consolidated financial statements based on the measurement of differences between the taxable value of the assets and liabilities and their carrying amounts. Deferred income taxes are calculated under IFRS using the balance sheet liability method based on temporary differences, i.e. differences between the taxable value of an asset or liability and its carrying amount in the balance sheet. The taxable value of an asset or liability is the value of this asset or liability for tax purposes.

Deferred tax assets related to loss carryforwards are recognised only to the extent that it is probable that temporary differences or taxable profit will be available against which the tax loss carryforward can be netted.

Revenue

Revenue covers sales and services to third parties after deducting price discounts and value added tax. Revenue is recognised in the income statement when delivery or service fulfilment has been performed.

Energy transactions conducted for the purpose of managing the Group's own energy-generating plants, as well as energy procurement contracts for the physical delivery of energy to customers, are treated as “own use” transactions in accordance with IAS 39 and settled gross under “revenue from energy sales” and “energy procurement”. Energy transactions conducted with the intention of achieving a trading margin are treated as held-for-trading transactions in accordance with IAS 39 and recognised net under “profit from held-for-trading positions”.

On the balance sheet date, all open derivative financial instruments from energy trading transactions are measured at fair value and the positive and negative replacement values are recognised under assets and liabilities. Realised and unrealised income from these transactions is disclosed net as “net result from held-for-trading positions” under “net sales”.

Contingent liabilities

Liabilities arising from a past event for which the probability of an outflow of funds is considered possible but not probable, or for which the obligation cannot be reliably estimated, are not recognised in the balance sheet but disclosed in the Notes to the consolidated financial statements.

Share-based payments

No employee share participation programmes or other forms of share-based payments exist.