Annual Report and Accounts 2006 - DCC plc

notes to the financial statements591. Summary of significant accounting policies - continuedAmendment to IAS 39 The Fair Value Option;Amendment to IAS 39 Transition and Initial Recognition of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities;Amendment to IAS 39 and IFRS 4 Financial Guarantee Contracts;IFRIC Interpretation 4 Determining whether an Arrangement contains a Lease; andIFRIC Interpretation 8 Scope of IFRS 2.Adoption of IFRSThe Group and Company are required to determine their IFRS accounting policies and apply them retrospectively toestablish their opening balance sheets under IFRS at the date of transition. The transitional impact of the recognition andmeasurement of IFRS as disclosed in the Restatement of Financial Information under IFRS was published by the Groupon 30 September 2005. IFRS 1 First-time Adoption of International Financial Reporting Standards allows a number ofexemptions on adoption of IFRS for the first time. The date of transition to IFRS for the Group and Company is 1 April 2004.Standards adopted during the financial yearThe Group has adopted the following standards during the financial year ended 31 March 2006 and comparative figureshave been amended as required: IAS 1 Presentation of Financial Statements; IAS 2 Inventories; IAS 8 Accounting Policies,Changes in Accounting Estimates and Errors; IAS 10 Events after the Balance Sheet Date; IAS 16 Property, Plant andEquipment; IAS 17 Leases; IAS 21 The Effects of Changes in Foreign Exchange Rates; IAS 24 Related Party Disclosures;IAS 27 Consolidated and Separate Financial Statements; IAS 28 Investments in Associates; IAS 31 Interests in JointVentures and IAS 33 Earnings per Share.As permitted under IFRS1, the Group applied hedge accounting in accordance with Irish GAAP for the year ended 31March 2005 and adopted IAS 32 Financial Instruments: Disclosure and Presentation and IAS 39 Financial Instruments:Recognition and Measurement from 1 April 2005.Early adoptionThe Group decided to avail of early application of the Amendment to IAS 19 Actuarial Gains and Losses, Group Plans andDisclosures, which enables the recognition of actuarial gains and losses through retained income. Accordingly, therevised disclosure requirements inherent in this Amendment have been reflected in the Group financial statements for theyear ended 31 March 2006.Basis of consolidationSubsidiariesThe results of subsidiary undertakings acquired or disposed of during the year are included in the consolidated IncomeStatement from the date of their acquisition or up to the date of their disposal.A subsidiary is one where the Group has the power, directly or indirectly, to govern the financial and operating policies ofthe entity, so as to obtain benefits from its activities. The existence and effect of potential voting rights that are currentlyexercisable or convertible are considered in assessing whether the Group controls the entity.Joint venturesIn accordance with IAS 31 Interests in Joint Ventures, the Group’s share of results and net assets of joint ventures, whichare entities in which the Group holds an interest on a long-term basis and which are jointly controlled by the Group and oneor more other ventures under a contractual arrangement, are accounted for on the basis of proportionate consolidationfrom the date on which the contractual agreements stipulating joint control are finalised and are derecognised when jointcontrol ceases. All of the Group’s joint ventures are jointly controlled entities within the meaning of IAS 31. The Groupcombines its share of the joint ventures’ individual income and expenses, assets and liabilities and cash flows on aline-by-line basis with similar items in the Group’s financial statements.AssociatesAssociates are companies other than subsidiaries in which the Group holds, on a long-term basis, a participating interestin the voting equity share capital and has a significant influence.Associates are included in the Company Balance Sheet at cost less provision for any impairment in value. Income fromassociates included in the Company Income Statement comprises dividends received and receivable.The appropriate share of results of associates is included in the Group Income Statement by way of the equity method ofaccounting. Associates are stated in the Group Balance Sheet at cost plus the attributable portion of their retainedreserves from the date of acquisition.Goodwill attributable to investments in associates is treated in accordance with the accounting policy for goodwill.