Telkom SA SOC Limited – Annual report – 31 March 2022
Industry: telkoms
2.4 Significant accounting judgements, estimates and assumptions (extract)
2.4.2 IFRS 16 (Leases)
2.4.2.1 Lease term
Renewal and termination options
In determining the lease term, all facts and circumstances are considered that create an economic incentive to exercise a renewal option, or not exercise a termination option. Renewal options and periods after termination options are only included in the lease term if the lease is reasonably certain to be extended or not terminated. The Group applies judgement in assessing whether it is reasonably certain that options will be exercised. Factors considered include the past history of renewing leases, the length of the non-cancellable period of the lease, the Group’s rolling budgeting forecast period of five years and the importance of the underlying asset to the Group’s operations. The Group applied the rolling budgeting forecast period on all its strategic month-to-month leases or strategic leases with indefinite lease periods.
The lease term will be reassessed at the occurrence of a significant event, which is either a change in the rolling forecast cycle or other major events not within the Group’s control.
Month-to-month leases
The Group has leases that continue contractually on a month-to-month basis for an indefinite period or continue automatically on a month-to-month basis after expiry. In these agreements, the Group can terminate the agreement and neither party would incur a contractual penalty payment on termination. However, in determining the lease term, the Group considered the broader economics of the contract including factors such as the strategic importance of the asset, whether alternative suitable locations are available, the budgeting forecast cycle, and that management is not reasonably certain of business decisions that it will take beyond this period. Based on the above, the lease term of all strategic month-to-month leases are aligned to the budgeting forecast cycle.
2.4.2.2 Lease discount rate
Except where a discount rate implicit in the lease has been stipulated in the lease agreement, the lease payments are discounted using the incremental borrowing rate. The calculation of an incremental borrowing rate requires significant judgement. The incremental borrowing rate is calculated as a function of base rate, plus credit spread, plus other adjustments. Other adjustments take into account the lease period, currency of the lease payments, lease duration and lease-specific adjustments such as asset class and country risk premiums.
Base rate is a risk-free rate based on the interest rate swap curve of the country of the lease payments currency and the base is matched to the lease period.
The credit spread for Telkom Company is based on Telkom’s bond yield spread over the equivalent risk-free rate. The credit spread for other Telkom Group entities (BCX, Gyro and Yellow Pages) is based on their credit spread relative to the Telkom Group.
2.4.2.3 Lease and non-lease components
In lease agreements, where the gross rental amount includes operational costs, the Group applies judgement in allocating the consideration in the contract to each lease and non-lease component based on their relative stand-alone selling prices. The stand-alone selling prices of each component are based on available market prices.
2.5 Summary of significant accounting policies (extract)
2.5.14 Leases
The Group’s leases include network equipment (mainly consisting of masts and towers), property and vehicles.
2.5.14.1 The Group as a lessee
For any new contracts entered into on or after 1 April 2019, the Group considers whether a contract is, or contains a lease. A lease is defined as a contract, or part of a contract, that conveys the right to use an asset (the underlying asset) for a period of time in exchange for consideration. To apply this definition, the Group assesses whether the contract meets three key conditions, which are whether:
- The contract contains an identified asset, which is either explicitly or implicitly identified in the contract;
- The Group has the right to obtain substantially all of the economic benefits from use of the identified asset throughout the period of use, considering its rights within the defined scope of the contract; and
- The Group has the right to direct the use of the identified asset throughout the period of use. The Group assesses whether it has the right to direct how and for what purpose the asset is used throughout the period of use.
Recognition of leases
At the commencement date of a lease, the Group shall recognise a right-of-use asset and lease liability for contracts that are, or contain, a lease, except in the case where recognition exemptions are elected.
The Group has elected to apply the following recognition exemptions:
Lease and non-lease components
A number of lease contracts include both lease and non-lease components. The Group allocates the consideration in the contract to each lease and non-lease component based on the amount as stipulated in the lease agreement as the rental for the asset is separate from the operational costs in the majority of the agreements. In lease agreements, where the gross rental amount includes operational costs, an estimate will be made to determine which portion of the gross rental relates to operational costs, which will inform the separation of the operational costs on these contracts. The Group has not elected the practical expedient to account for non-lease components as part of its lease liabilities and right-of-use assets. Therefore, non-lease components are accounted for as operating expenses and are recognised in profit or loss as they are incurred.
Right-of-use assets – initial and subsequent measurement
After the adoption date, the Group recognises right-of-use assets at the commencement date of the lease (i.e. the date the underlying asset is available for use). The right-of-use assets are measured at cost, which is made up of the initial measurement of the lease liabilities, any initial direct costs incurred by the Group, any lease payments made in advance of the lease commencement date, less any lease incentives received. Right-of-use assets are subsequently measured at cost, less any accumulated depreciation and impairment losses, and adjusted for any remeasurement of any lease liabilities. Unless the Group is reasonably certain to obtain ownership of the leased asset at the end of the lease term, the recognised right-of-use assets are depreciated on a straight-line basis over the shorter of the estimated useful life and the lease term. Right-of-use assets are subject to impairment in accordance with the principles of IAS 36 (Impairment of Assets).
The Group has elected not to recognise right-of-use assets and lease liabilities for some leases of low-value assets (e.g. office equipment) and for short-term leases, i.e. leases that, at commencement date, have lease terms of 12 months or less. The Group defines low-value leases as leases of assets for which the value of the underlying asset, when it is new, is R73 200 or less. The Group recognises the lease payments associated with these leases as an expense on a straight-line basis over the lease term.
Lease liabilities – initial and subsequent measurement
At the commencement date of the lease, the Group recognises lease liabilities measured at the present value of lease payments to be made over the lease term. The lease payments include fixed payments less any lease incentives receivable, variable lease payments that are based on an index or rate (measured using the index or rate at commencement date) and amounts expected to be paid under residual value guarantees. The lease payments also include the exercise price of a purchase option reasonably certain to be exercised by the Group and payments of penalties for terminating a lease, if the Group is reasonably certain to exercise the option to terminate. The variable lease payments, that do not depend on an index or a rate, are recognised as an expense in the period in which the event or condition, that triggers those payments, occurs.
Subsequent to initial measurement, the lease liability will be reduced for payments made and increased by the interest cost. Interest costs are included in finance charges in the statement of profit or loss and other comprehensive income over the lease period. Lease liabilities are remeasured when there is a change in future lease payments arising from a change in index or rate, a change in the estimate of the amount payable under a residual value guarantee or, as appropriate, changes in the assessment of whether a purchase or extension option is reasonably certain to be exercised or a termination option is reasonably certain not to be exercised. Furthermore, a revision to Telkom’s rolling budget/forecast is considered a significant event which would trigger a reassessment of the lease term. Any change to the lease term would result in a remeasurement of the associated lease liability.
2.5.14.2 The Group as a lessor
Where the Group is a lessor, it determines at inception whether the lease is a finance lease or an operating lease. A lease is classified as a finance lease if it transfers substantially all the risks and rewards incidental to ownership of the underlying asset, and classified as an operating lease if it does not. The land and building elements of a lease of land and buildings are considered separately for the purposes of lease classification unless it is impracticable to do so.
Finance lease receivables are subject to the derecognition requirements of IFRS 9 as stipulated by IFRS 16. Finance lease receivables transferred with recourse remain classified as finance lease receivables. This is due to the fact that the derecognition criteria will not be met as the Company would not have transferred all the risks and rewards. Finance lease receivables transferred without recourse are derecognised as all the risks and rewards have been transferred.
Accounts examples 