Goodwill is reported as an indefinite life intangible asset at cost less accumulated impairment losses.
Electrolux capitalizes expenses for certain own development of new products provided that the level of certainty of their future economic benefits and useful life is high. The intangible asset is only recognized if the product is sellable on existing markets and that resources exist to complete the development. Only expenditures which are directly attributable to the new product’s development are recognized. Capitalized development costs are amortized over their useful lives, between 3 and 5 years, using the straight-line method.
Acquired computer software licenses are capitalized on the basis of the costs incurred to acquire and bring to use the specific software. These costs are amortized over useful lives, between 3 and 5 years, using the straight-line method with the exception for the development costs of the Group’s common business system, which amortization is based on the usage and go-live dates of the entities and continues over useful life. The applied principle gives an amortization period of approximately 10 years for the system.
Trademarks are reported at historical cost less amortization and impairment. The Electrolux trademark in North America, acquired in 2000, is regarded as an indefinite life intangible asset and is not amortized. One of the Group’s key strategies is to develop Electrolux into the leading global brand within the Group’s product categories. This acquisition gave Electrolux the right to use the Electrolux brand worldwide, whereas it previously could be used only outside of North America. The total carrying amount for the Electrolux brand is SEK 410m, included in the item Other in the table below. All other trademarks are amortized over their useful lives, estimated to 5 to 10 years, using the straight-line method.
Client relationships are recognized at fair value in connection with acquisitions. The values of these relationships are amortized over the estimated useful lives, between 5 and 15 years, using the straight-line method.
Goodwill as at December 31, 2014, has a total carrying value of SEK 5,350m. The allocation, for impairment-testing purposes, on cash-generating units of the significant amounts is shown in the table below.
All intangible assets with indefinite useful lives are tested for impairment at least once every year. Single assets can be tested more often in case there are indications of impairment. The recoverable amounts of the cash-generating units have been determined based on value in use calculations. The cash-generating units equal the business areas.
Value in use is calculated using the discounted cash-flow model and based on a three-year forecast made by Group Management. The forecast is built up from the estimate of the units within each business area. The preparation of the forecast requires a number of key assumptions such as volume, price, product mix, which will create a basis for future growth and gross margin. These figures are set in relation to historic figures and external reports on market growth. The cash flow for the third year is used as the base for the fourth year and onwards in perpetuity. The discount rates used are, amongst other things, based on the individual countries’ inflation, interest rates and country risk. The pre-tax discount rates used in 2014 were for the main part within a range of 7.4 (8.3) to 16.2 (16.5) %. For the calculation of the in-perpetuity value, Gordon’s growth model is used. According to Gordon’s model, the terminal value of a growing cash flow is calculated as the starting cash flow divided by cost of capital less the growth rate. Cost of capital less growth has been assumed at 6% (6) for all markets. This corresponds to a weighted average cost of capital for the Group of 11% (11) less an average nominal growth rate of 5% (5). The cost of capital and growth rate are estimated to be higher than the average in emerging markets and lower in developed markets. However, the resulting difference is assumed to be equal in all markets over time. Management believes that any reasonably possible adverse change in the key assumptions would not reduce the recoverable amount below its carrying amount.
| 2013 | 2014 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Goodwill | Electrolux trademark | Discount rate, % |
Goodwill | Electrolux trademark | Discount rate, % |
|
| Major Appliances Europe, Middle East and Africa | 1,671 | — | 16.5 | 1,916 | — | 16.2 |
| Major Appliances North America | 356 | 410 | 8.3 | 428 | 410 | 7.4 |
| Major Appliances Latin America | 1,359 | — | 15.6 | 1,340 | — | 14.9 |
| Major Appliances Asia/Pacific | 1,220 | — | 8.7 | 1,385 | — | 8.1 |
| Other | 269 | — | 9.7-10.4 | 281 | — | 9.6-10.3 |
| Total | 4,875 | 410 | 5,350 | 410 | ||
| Group Other intangible assets |
Parent Company | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Goodwill | Product development |
Program software |
Other | Total other intangible assets |
Trademarks, program software, etc. |
|
| Acquisition costs | ||||||
| Opening balance, January 1, 2013 | 5,541 | 2,737 | 3,418 | 2,313 | 8,468 | 2,948 |
| Acquired during the year | — | — | 62 | 1 | 63 | — |
| Internally developed | — | 442 | 452 | 5 | 899 | 378 |
| Reclassification | — | 26 | –12 | –14 | — | — |
| Fully amortized | — | –121 | –1,010 | — | –1,131 | –991 |
| Write-off | — | –23 | — | — | –23 | — |
| Exchange-rate differences | –666 | –29 | 17 | –196 | –208 | — |
| Closing balance, December 31, 2013 | 4,875 | 3,032 | 2,927 | 2,109 | 8,068 | 2,335 |
| Acquired during the year | — | — | 238 | 22 | 260 | — |
| Acquisition of operations | 33 | — | — | 26 | 26 | — |
| Internally developed | — | 355 | 52 | — | 407 | 220 |
| Reclassification | — | –8 | 11 | –3 | — | — |
| Fully amortized | — | –469 | –11 | –136 | –616 | — |
| Write-off | — | –23 | –8 | — | –31 | — |
| Exchange-rate differences | 442 | 275 | 153 | 101 | 529 | — |
| Closing balance, December 31, 2014 | 5,350 | 3,162 | 3,362 | 2,119 | 8,643 | 2,555 |
| Accumulated amortization | ||||||
| Opening balance, January 1, 2013 | — | 1,679 | 1,051 | 659 | 3,389 | 1,016 |
| Amortization for the year | — | 406 | 370 | 155 | 931 | 200 |
| Fully amortized | — | –121 | –1,010 | — | –1,131 | –988 |
| Write-off | — | — | 906 | — | 906 | 893 |
| Exchange-rate differences | — | 7 | 9 | –54 | –38 | — |
| Closing balance, December 31, 2013 | — | 1,971 | 1,326 | 760 | 4,057 | 1,121 |
| Amortization for the year | — | 397 | 489 | 139 | 1,025 | 293 |
| Fully amortized | — | –469 | –11 | –136 | –616 | — |
| Write-off | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Exchange-rate differences | — | 166 | 86 | 47 | 299 | — |
| Closing balance, December 31, 2014 | — | 2,065 | 1,890 | 810 | 4,765 | 1,414 |
| Carrying amount, December 31, 2013 | 4,875 | 1,061 | 1,601 | 1,349 | 4,011 | 1,214 |
| Carrying amount, December 31, 2014 | 5,350 | 1,097 | 1,472 | 1,309 | 3,878 | 1,141 |
Included in the item Other are trademarks of SEK 644m (669) and customer relationships etc. amounting to SEK 665m (680). Amortization of intangible assets is included within Cost of goods sold with SEK 431m (438), Administrative expenses with SEK 435m (334) and Selling expenses with SEK 159m (159) in the income statement. Electrolux did not capitalize any borrowing costs during 2014.