BP p.l.c. – Annual report – 31 December 2021
Industry: oil and gas
1. Significant accounting policies, judgements, estimates and assumptions (extract)
Impairment of property, plant and equipment, intangible assets, and goodwill
The group assesses assets or groups of assets, called cash-generating units (CGUs), for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset or CGU may not be recoverable; for example, changes in the group’s business plans, plans to dispose rather than retain assets, changes in the group’s assumptions about commodity prices, low plant utilization, evidence of physical damage or, for oil and gas assets, significant downward revisions of estimated reserves or increases in estimated future development expenditure or decommissioning costs. If any such indication of impairment exists, the group makes an estimate of the asset’s or CGU’s recoverable amount. Individual assets are grouped into CGUs for impairment assessment purposes at the lowest level at which there are identifiable cash flows that are largely independent of the cash flows of other groups of assets. A CGU’s recoverable amount is the higher of its fair value less costs of disposal and its value in use. If it is probable that the value of the CGU will be primarily recovered through a disposal transaction, the expected disposal proceeds are considered in determining the recoverable amount. Where the carrying amount of a CGU exceeds its recoverable amount, the CGU is considered impaired and is written down to its recoverable amount.
The business segment plans, which are approved on an annual basis by senior management, are the primary source of information for the determination of value in use. They contain forecasts for oil and natural gas production, refinery throughputs, sales volumes for various types of refined products (e.g. gasoline and lubricants), revenues, costs and capital expenditure. Carbon taxes and costs of emissions allowances are included in estimates of future cash flows, where applicable, based on the regulatory environment in each jurisdiction in which the group operates. As an initial step in the preparation of these plans, various assumptions regarding market conditions, such as oil prices, natural gas prices, refining margins, refined product margins and cost inflation rates are set by senior management. These assumptions take account of existing prices, global supply-demand equilibrium for oil and natural gas, other macroeconomic factors and historical trends and variability. In assessing value in use, the estimated future cash flows are adjusted for the risks specific to the asset group to the extent that they are not already reflected in the discount rate and are discounted to their present value typically using a pre-tax discount rate that reflects current market assessments of the time value of money.
Fair value less costs of disposal is the price that would be received to sell the asset in an orderly transaction between market participants and does not reflect the effects of factors that may be specific to the group and not applicable to entities in general. In limited circumstances where recent market transactions are not available for reference, discounted cash flow techniques are applied. Where discounted cash flow analyses are used to calculate fair value less costs of disposal, estimates are made about the assumptions market participants would use when pricing the asset, CGU or group of CGUs containing goodwill and the test is performed on a post-tax basis.
An assessment is made at each reporting date as to whether there is any indication that previously recognized impairment losses may no longer exist or may have decreased. If such an indication exists, the recoverable amount is estimated. A previously recognized impairment loss is reversed only if there has been a change in the estimates used to determine the asset’s recoverable amount since the last impairment loss was recognized. If that is the case, the carrying amount of the asset is increased to the lower of its recoverable amount and the carrying amount that would have been determined, net of depreciation, had no impairment loss been recognized for the asset in prior years. Impairment reversals are recognized in profit or loss. After a reversal, the depreciation charge is adjusted in future periods to allocate the asset’s revised carrying amount, less any residual value, on a systematic basis over its remaining useful life.
Goodwill is reviewed for impairment annually or more frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate the recoverable amount of the group of CGUs to which the goodwill relates should be assessed. In assessing whether goodwill has been impaired, the carrying amount of the group of CGUs to which goodwill has been allocated is compared with its recoverable amount. Where the recoverable amount of the group of CGUs is less than the carrying amount (including goodwill), an impairment loss is recognized. An impairment loss recognized for goodwill is not reversed in a subsequent period.
Significant judgements and estimates: recoverability of asset carrying values
Determination as to whether, and by how much, an asset, CGU, or group of CGUs containing goodwill is impaired involves management estimates on highly uncertain matters such as the effects of inflation and deflation on operating expenses, discount rates, capital expenditure, carbon pricing (where applicable), production profiles, reserves and resources, and future commodity prices, including the outlook for global or regional market supply-and-demand conditions for crude oil, natural gas and refined products. Judgement is required when determining the appropriate grouping of assets into a CGU or the appropriate grouping of CGUs for impairment testing purposes. For example, individual oil and gas properties may form separate CGUs whilst certain oil and gas properties with shared infrastructure may be grouped together to form a single CGU. Alternative groupings of assets or CGUs may result in a different outcome from impairment testing. See Note 13 for details on how these groupings have been determined in relation to the impairment testing of goodwill.
As described above, the recoverable amount of an asset is the higher of its value in use and its fair value less costs of disposal. Fair value less costs of disposal may be determined based on expected sales proceeds or similar recent market transaction data.
Details of impairment charges and reversals recognized in the income statement are provided in Note 4 and details on the carrying amounts of assets are shown in Note 11, Note 13 and Note 14.
The estimates for assumptions made in impairment tests in 2021 relating to discount rates and oil and gas properties are discussed below. Changes in the economic environment including as a result of the energy transition or other facts and circumstances may necessitate revisions to these assumptions and could result in a material change to the carrying values of the group’s assets within the next financial year.
Discount rates
For discounted cash flow calculations, future cash flows are adjusted for risks specific to the CGU. Value-in-use calculations are typically discounted using a pre-tax discount rate based upon the cost of funding the group derived from an established model, adjusted to a pre-tax basis and incorporating a market participant capital structure and country risk premiums. Fair value less costs of disposal discounted cash flow calculations use a post-tax discount rate.
The discount rates applied in impairment tests are reassessed each year and, in 2021, the post-tax discount rate was 6% (2020 6%) other than for low carbon energy assets where the risk profile of expected cash flows supported a lower rate of 4%. Where the CGU is located in a country that was judged to be higher risk an additional premium of 1% to 3% was reflected in the post-tax discount rate (2020 1% to 3%). The judgement of classifying a country as higher risk and the applicable premium takes into account various economic and geopolitical factors. The pre-tax discount rate typically ranged from 7% to 15% (2020 7% to 15%) depending on the risk premium and applicable tax rate in the geographic location of the CGU.
Oil and natural gas properties
For oil and natural gas properties in the oil production & operations and gas & low carbon energy segments, expected future cash flows are estimated using management’s best estimate of future oil and natural gas prices, and production and reserves and certain resources volumes. Forecast cash flows include the impact of all approved emission reduction projects. The estimated future level of production in all impairment tests is based on assumptions about future commodity prices, production and development costs, field decline rates, current fiscal regimes and other factors.
In 2021, the group identified oil and gas properties in these segments with carrying amounts totalling $26,341 million (2020 $45,027 million) where the headroom, based on the most recent impairment test performed in the year on those assets, was less than or equal to 20% of the carrying value. A change in the discount rate, reserves, resources or the oil and gas price assumptions in the next financial year may result in a recoverable amount of one or more of these assets above or below the current carrying amount and therefore there is a risk of impairment reversals or charges in that period. Management considers that reasonably possible changes in the discount rate or forecast revenue, arising from a change in oil and natural gas prices and/or production could result in a material change in their carrying amounts within the next financial year, see Sensitivity analyses, below.
The recoverability of intangible exploration and appraisal expenditure is covered under Oil and natural gas exploration, appraisal and development expenditure above.
Oil and natural gas prices
The price assumptions used for value-in-use impairment testing are based on those used for investment appraisal. bp’s carbon emissions cost assumptions and their interrelationship with oil and gas prices are described in ‘Judgements and estimates made in assessing the impact of climate change and the transition to a lower carbon economy’ on page 178. The investment appraisal price assumptions are recommended by the senior vice president economic & energy insights after considering a range of external price sets, and supply and demand profiles associated with various energy transition scenarios. They are reviewed and approved by management. As a result of the current uncertainty over the pace of transition to lower-carbon supply and demand and the social, political and environmental actions that will be taken to meet the goals of the Paris climate change agreement, the scenarios considered include those where those goals are met as well as those where they are not met.
During the year, bp’s price assumptions applied in value-in-use impairment testing for Brent oil up to 2030 were increased to reflect near-term supply constraints. bp’s management also expects an acceleration of the pace of transition to a lower carbon economy. As such, the long-term Brent oil assumptions were decreased during the year, reaching $55 per barrel by 2040 and $45 per barrel by 2050 (in 2020 real terms). The price assumptions applied in value-in-use impairment testing for Henry Hub gas were unchanged to those used in 2020 except that the assumption for 2022 was increased to reflect short term market conditions. These price assumptions are derived from the central case investment appraisal assumptions, adjusted where applicable to reflect short-term market conditions (see page 32). A summary of the group’s revised price assumptions for Brent oil and Henry Hub gas, applied in 2021 and 2020, in real 2020 terms, is provided below. The assumptions represent management’s best estimate of future prices at the balance sheet date, which sit within the range of external scenarios considered as appropriate for the purpose. They are considered by bp to be in line with a range of transition paths consistent with the temperature goal of the Paris climate change agreement, of holding the increase in the global average temperature to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels and pursuing efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. However, they do not correspond to any specific Paris-consistent scenario. An inflation rate of 2% (2020 2%) is applied to determine the price assumptions in nominal terms.
The majority of bp’s reserves and resources that support the carrying value of the group’s existing oil and gas properties are expected to be produced over the next 10 years.
The oil market continued its rebalancing process in 2021. Brent oil prices averaged $71/bbl in 2021. That is 70% higher than in 2020 and the second highest since 2015. Oil demand rebounded on the back of the economic recovery, supported by the increasing COVID-19 vaccination roll-out and gradual lifting of restrictions. On the supply side, continued active supply management by OPEC+ countries also helped accelerate the rebalancing process. bp’s long-term assumption for oil prices is lower than the 2021 price average, based on the judgement that, in the long term, oil demand is likely to fall so that the price levels needed to encourage sufficient investment to meet declining global oil demand is also lower.
US gas prices almost doubled in 2021 to $3.9/mmbtu from $2.0/mmbtu in 2020. The higher prices reflect a tighter demand/supply balance for 2021 when compared to 2020. Early in the year, colder weather increased demand and decreased supply resulting in a large draw on storage and therefore the need to replenish it over the summer. Strong global GDP recovery also saw a recovery in LNG exports from the US relative to the shut-ins in 2020. Further, higher coal prices also supported gas prices through competition in the power sector. The level of US gas prices in 2021 is above bp’s long term price assumption based on the judgement of the price level required to incentivize new production.
Oil and natural gas reserves
In addition to oil and natural gas prices, significant technical and commercial assessments are required to determine the group’s estimated oil and natural gas reserves. Reserves estimates are regularly reviewed and updated. Factors such as the availability of geological and engineering data, reservoir performance data, acquisition and divestment activity and drilling of new wells all impact on the determination of the group’s estimates of its oil and natural gas reserves. bp bases its reserves estimates on the requirement of reasonable certainty with rigorous technical and commercial assessments based on conventional industry practice and regulatory requirements.
Reserves assumptions for value-in-use tests reflect the reserves and resources that management currently intend to develop. The recoverable amount of oil and gas properties is determined using a combination of inputs including reserves, resources and production volumes. Risk factors may be applied to reserves and resources which do not meet the criteria to be treated as proved or probable.
Sensitivity analyses
Management considers discount rates, oil and natural gas prices and production to be the key sources of estimation uncertainty in determining the recoverable amount of upstream oil and gas assets. The sensitivity analyses below, in addition to covering the key sources of estimation uncertainty, also indicate how the energy transition, potential future carbon emissions costs for operational GHG emissions and/or reduced demand for oil and gas may further impact forecast revenue cash inflows to a greater extent than currently anticipated in the group’s value-in-use estimates for oil and gas CGUs, if carbon emissions costs were to be implemented as a deduction against revenue cash flows. The analyses therefore represent a net revenue sensitivity.
A change in net revenue from upstream oil and gas properties can arise either due to changes in oil and natural gas prices, carbon emissions costs/carbon prices, changes in oil and natural gas production, or a combination of these.
Management tested the impact of a change in net revenue cash flows in value-in-use impairment testing up to a combined effect on net revenue of 20% in all future years.
Net revenue reductions of this magnitude in isolation could indicatively lead to a reduction in the carrying amount of bp’s currently held upstream oil and gas properties in the range of $16-17 billion, which is approximately 14-15% of the net book value of property, plant and equipment as at 31 December 2021. If this net revenue reduction was solely due to reductions in oil prices in isolation, it reflects an indicative decrease in the carrying amount of using price assumptions for Brent oil broadly in the middle of the range of prices associated with a pre-publication version (see page 64) of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) ‘family’ of scenarios considered to be consistent with limiting global average temperature to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.
Net revenue increases of this magnitude in isolation could indicatively lead to an increase in the carrying amount of bp’s currently held upstream oil and gas properties in the range of $3-4 billion, which is approximately 3-4% of the net book value of property, plant and equipment as at 31 December 2021. This potential increase in the carrying amount would arise due to reversals of previously recognized impairments and represents approximately half of the total impairment reversal capacity available at 31 December 2021. If this net revenue increase was solely due to increases in oil prices in isolation, it reflects an indicative increase in the carrying amount of using price assumptions for Brent oil broadly at the top end of the range of prices associated with a pre-publication version of the WBCSD ‘family’ of scenarios considered to be consistent with limiting global average temperature to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.
These sensitivity analyses do not, however, represent management’s best estimate of any impairment charges or reversals that might be recognized as they do not fully incorporate consequential changes that may arise, such as changes in costs and business plans and phasing of development. For example, costs across the industry are more likely to decrease as oil and natural gas prices fall. The analyses also assume the impact of increases in carbon price on operational GHG emissions are fully absorbed as a decrease in net revenue (and vice versa) rather than reflecting how carbon prices or other carbon emissions costs may ultimately be incorporated by the market. The above sensitivity analyses therefore do not reflect a linear relationship between net revenue and value that can be extrapolated. The interdependency of these inputs and factors plus the diverse characteristics of our upstream oil and gas properties limits the practicability of estimating the probability or extent to which the overall recoverable amount is impacted by changes to the price assumptions or production volumes.
Management also tested the impact of a one percentage point change in the discount rate used for value-in-use impairment testing of upstream oil and gas properties. This level of change reflects past experience of a reasonable change in rate that could arise within the next financial year. If the discount rate was one percentage point higher across all tests performed, the net impairment reversal recognized in 2021 would have been approximately $1.3 billion lower. If the discount rate was one percentage point lower, the net impairment reversal recognized would have been approximately $0.6 billion higher.
Goodwill
Irrespective of whether there is any indication of impairment, bp is required to test annually for impairment of goodwill acquired in business combinations. The group carries goodwill of approximately $12.4 billion on its balance sheet (2020 $12.5 billion), principally relating to the Atlantic Richfield, Burmah Castrol, Devon Energy and Reliance transactions. Of this, $7.6 billion relates to goodwill in the oil production & operations and gas & low carbon energy segments, for which oil and gas price and production assumptions are key sources of estimation uncertainty. Sensitivities and additional information relating to impairment testing of goodwill in these segments are provided in Note 13.
3. Disposals and impairment (extract 1)
The following amounts were recognized in the income statement in respect of disposals and impairments.
3. Disposals and impairment (extract 2)
Impairments
Impairment losses and impairment reversals in each segment are described below. For information on significant estimates and judgements made in relation to impairments see Impairment of property, plant and equipment, intangibles and goodwill within Note 1. See also Note 11, and Note 14 for further information on impairments by asset category.
gas & low carbon energy
The 2021 impairment loss of $834 million primarily relates to losses incurred in respect of development assets in the Tortue CGU in Mauritania & Senegal ($819 million) and principally arose as a result of increased forecast future expenditure. The 2021 impairment reversal of $2,338 million primarily relates to reversals in respect of producing assets in the KGD6 CGU in India ($1,229 million) and the Trinidad CGU ($600 million) and principally arose as a result of changes to the group’s oil and gas price assumptions and re-assessment of reserves.The recoverable amount of these CGUs on which significant impairment charges or reversals were recognized, based on their value in use, is $7,365 million. The recoverable amount of all CGUs for which impairment charges or reversals were recognized in 2021 in total, based on their value in use, is $17,330 million.
The 2020 impairment loss of $6,214 million primarily relates to losses incurred in respect of producing and development assets in Trinidad ($2,416 million), Mauritania and Senegal ($1,909 million) and India ($1,313 million). Impairment losses were primarily driven by a reduction in bp’s future oil and gas price assumptions and, to a lesser extent, certain technical reserves revisions. The recoverable amount of the impaired CGUs in total was $13,563 million.
The 2019 impairment losses of $387 million related to a number of different assets, with the most significant charges arising in Egypt and Trinidad.
oil production & operations
Impairment losses and reversals in all years relate primarily to producing and midstream assets.
The 2021 impairment loss of $1,617 million principally relates to anticipated portfolio changes ($1,109 million). The 2021 impairment reversals of $2,479 million principally arose as a result of changes to the group’s oil and gas price assumptions and re-assessment of reserves. They include amounts in BPX Energy ($1,356 million) and the North Sea ($950 million). The principal CGU on which a significant impairment reversal was recognized was $982 million for Hawkville in BPX Energy. The recoverable amount of these CGUs on which significant impairment charges or reversals were recognized, based on their value in use, is $6,760 million. The recoverable amount of all CGUs for which impairment charges or reversals were recognized in 2021, based on their value in use, is $16,586 million.
The 2020 impairment loss of $6,723 million primarily relates to losses incurred in respect of producing and development assets in the UK North Sea ($2,796 million), the US ($2,744 million), and Canada ($865 million). Impairment losses were primarily driven by a reduction in bp’s future oil and gas price assumptions and, to a lesser extent, certain technical reserves revisions.
The 2019 impairment losses of $6,365 million related to various assets, with the most significant charges arising in the US. Impairment losses arose primarily as a result of the decision to dispose of certain assets, including $4,703 million in relation to completed and expected disposals in BPX Energy and $1,264 million relating to the expected disposal of our Alaskan business; of these amounts $355 million primarily relates to impairment of associated goodwill.
customers & products
2021 impairment losses of $962 million principally relates to anticipated portfolio changes in the products business ($595 million).
Impairment losses totalling $840 million and $65 million were recognized in 2020 and 2019 respectively. The amount for 2020 principally relates to portfolio changes in the fuels business, including the conversion of Kwinana refinery to an import terminal. None of the impairment charges were individually material.
Other businesses and corporate
Impairment losses totalling $63 million, $12 million, and $30 million were recognized in 2021, 2020 and 2019 respectively.
13. Goodwill and impairment review of goodwill
Information for 2019 and 2020 has been restated to reflect the changes in reportable segments. For more information see Note 1 Significant accounting policies, judgements, estimates and assumptions – Change in segmentation.
Goodwill acquired through business combinations has been allocated to groups of cash-generating units (CGUs) that are expected to benefit from the synergies of the acquisition. For oil production & operations goodwill is allocated to CGUs in aggregate at the segment level, for gas & low carbon energy goodwill is allocated to the hydrocarbon CGUs within the segment. For customers and products, goodwill has been allocated to Castrol, US Fuels, European Fuels and Other.
For information on significant estimates and judgements made in relation to impairments see Impairment of property, plant and equipment, intangible assets and goodwill in Note 1.
gas & low carbon energy and oil production & operations
As a result of the change in bp’s reporting segments on 1 January 2021, a review of the level at which goodwill is allocated and monitored for impairment testing purposes was required. Oil and gas properties CGUs were allocated to the new segments based on whether they predominantly produce oil or gas. No individual CGUs were split between the new segments and the existing CGUs remained unchanged. Legacy upstream goodwill was allocated to the two groups of CGUs allocated to the new segments based on the relative aggregate recoverable value of each group. An impairment test was performed on the goodwill balances allocated to the oil production & operations and the gas & low carbon energy segments at 1 January 2021 after the change in segments; no impairment of either goodwill balance was identified as a result thereof.
The table above shows the carrying amount of goodwill for the segments at the period end and the excess of the recoverable amount, based on a pre-tax value-in-use calculation, over the carrying amount (headroom) at the date of the most recent test. For oil production & operations the increase in headroom relates to movements due to the passage of time.
No impairment of the goodwill balances in either gas & low carbon energy or oil production & operations was recognized during 2021 (2020 $nil million).
The value in use for relevant CGUs in both gas & low carbon energy and oil production & operations is based on the cash flows expected to be generated by the projected production profiles up to the expected dates of cessation of production of each field, based on appropriately risked estimates of reserves and resources. Midstream and supply and trading activities and equity-accounted entities are generally not included in the impairment reviews of goodwill, as they do not represent part of the grouping of CGUs to which the goodwill balances relate and which are used to monitor the goodwill balances for internal management purposes. Where such activities form part of wider CGUs to which goodwill relates they are reflected in the test. As the production profile and related cash flows can be estimated from bp’s past experience, management believes that the cash flows generated over the estimated life of field is the appropriate basis upon which to assess goodwill and individual assets for impairment in both gas & low carbon energy and oil & production operations. The estimated date of cessation of production depends on the interaction of a number of variables, such as the recoverable quantities of hydrocarbons, the production profile of the hydrocarbons, the cost of the development of the infrastructure necessary to recover the hydrocarbons, production costs, the contractual duration of the production concession and the selling price of the hydrocarbons produced. As each field has specific reservoir characteristics and economic circumstances, the cash flows of each field are computed using appropriate individual economic models and key assumptions agreed by bp management.
Estimated production volumes and cash flows up to the date of cessation of production on a field-by-field basis, including operating and capital expenditure, are derived from the business segment plans. The production profiles used are consistent with the reserve and resource volumes approved as part of bp’s centrally controlled process for the estimation of proved and probable reserves and total resources.
The average production for the purposes of goodwill impairment testing in the gas & low carbon energy segment over the next 15 years is 261 mmboe per year (2020 275 mmboe per year) and in the oil production and operations segment is 604 mmboe per year (2020 602 mmboe per year).
Production assumptions used for the goodwill impairment tests in both gas & low carbon energy and oil production & operations reflect management’s best estimate of future production of the existing portfolio at the time of the calculation. The group’s expectation to reduce upstream hydrocarbon production by around 40% by 2030 from its 2019 baseline is expected to be achieved through future active management and high-grading of the portfolio. Changes in upstream production since 2019 will be included in the best estimates however as the specific future changes to the portfolio are not yet known, these best estimates do not include the full extent of the expected upstream production reductions.
The weighted average pre-tax discount rate used in the review for both segments is 11% (2020 11% for both segments).
The most recent reviews for impairment for the oil production & operations and gas & low carbon energy segments were carried out in the fourth quarter. As permitted by IAS 36, the detailed calculations for recoverable amounts performed in 2020 were used as a basis for the 2021 impairment tests. The recoverable amounts, key assumptions and sensitivity calculations for 2021 are prepared using the remaining future cash flows from the 2020 detailed calculations. The headrooms for 2021 do not represent the headrooms that would result if a test was run in either segment based on discounted future cash flows estimated using 2021 data and assumptions.
The key assumptions used in the value-in-use calculations are oil and natural gas prices, production volumes and the discount rate. The value-in-use calculations have been prepared solely for the purposes of determining whether the goodwill balance were impaired. Estimated future cash flows were prepared on the basis of certain assumptions prevailing at the time of the tests. The actual outcomes may differ from the assumptions made. For example, reserves and resources estimates and production forecasts are subject to revision as further technical information becomes available and economic conditions change. Due to economic developments, regulatory change and emissions reduction activity arising from climate concern and other factors, future commodity prices and other assumptions may differ from the forecasts used in the calculations.
Sensitivities to different variables have been estimated using certain simplifying assumptions. For example, lower oil and gas price or production sensitivities do not fully reflect the specific impacts for each contractual arrangement and will not capture all favourable impacts that may arise from cost deflation or savings. A detailed calculation in either segment at any given price or production profile may, therefore, produce a different result.
Adverse changes in input assumptions applied in respect to assets carried at or close to their value in use, primarily being those assets previously impaired, would have a limited effect on goodwill headrooms, instead resulting in a direct impairment of the particular CGU’s net book value.
Conversely, a reduction in the value in use of those assets carried at a value below their respective values in use would result in an adverse impact on the relevant goodwill headroom. It is estimated that a 33% (2020 28%) reduction in revenue throughout each year of the remaining life of those assets, either as a result of adverse price or production conditions or a combination of each, would cause the recoverable amount to be equal to the carrying amount of goodwill and related net non-current assets of the oil production and operations segment. For gas & low carbon energy a 20% (2020 20%) reduction would have the same result.
It is estimated that no reasonably possible change in the discount rate would cause the recoverable amount to be equal to the carrying amount of goodwill and related net non-current assets of either segment.
customers & products
Cash flows for each CGU are derived from the business segment plans, which cover a period of up to five years. To determine the value in use for each of the cash-generating units, cash flows for a period of 10 years are discounted and aggregated with a terminal value. It is estimated that no reasonably possible change in the key assumptions used in the US Fuels and European Fuels goodwill impairment assessments would cause the recoverable amount to be equal to the carrying amount of goodwill and related net non-current assets.
Castrol
As permitted by IAS 36, the detailed calculations of Castrol’s recoverable amount performed in the most recent detailed calculation in 2018 was used as the basis for the tests in 2021 as the criteria of IAS 36 were considered satisfied: the headroom was substantial in 2018; there have been no significant changes in the assets and liabilities; and the likelihood that the recoverable amount would be less than the carrying amount is remote.
The key assumptions to which the calculation of value in use for the Castrol unit is most sensitive are operating unit margins, sales volumes, and discount rate. Operating margin and sales volumes assumptions used in the detailed impairment review of goodwill calculation are consistent with the assumptions used in the Castrol unit’s business plan and values assigned to these key assumptions reflect past experience. A pre-tax discount rate of 9% is applied in the test. No reasonably possible change in any of these key assumptions would cause the unit’s recoverable amount to be equal to the carrying amount of goodwill and related net non-current assets. Cash flows beyond the plan period are extrapolated using a nominal 2.8% growth rate.
Accounts examples 