Classification
Financial instruments are classified and accounted for, according to the substance of the contractual arrangement, as either financial assets, financial liabilities or equity instruments. An equity instrument is any contract that evidences a residual interest in the assets of the company after deducting all of its liabilities.
Financial assets are classified as financial assets at fair value through profit or loss, loans and debtors, held-to-maturity investments, available-for-sale financial assets, or as derivatives designated as hedging instruments in an effective hedge, as appropriate. The company determines the classification of its financial assets at initial recognition.
Financial liabilities are classified as financial liabilities at fair value through profit and loss, loans and borrowings, trade and other creditors, or as derivatives designated as hedging instruments in an effective hedge, as appropriate. The company determines the classification of its financial liabilities at initial recognition.
Recognition and measurement
All financial instruments are recognised initially at fair value plus transaction costs. Thereafter financial instruments are stated at amortised cost using the effective interest rate method (less impairment where appropriate) unless the effect of discounting would be immaterial in which case they are stated at cost (less impairment where appropriate). The exception to this are those financial instruments where it is a requirement to continue recording them at fair value through profit and loss.
Impairment
Financial assets are assessed for indicators of impairment at the end of each reporting period. Financial assets are considered to be impaired when there is objective evidence that, as a result of one or more events that occurred after the initial recognition of the financial asset, the estimated future cash flows of the investment have been affected.