Operating Assets, Liabilities, and Contingent Liabilities

Accounting and measurement policies

Recognition and initial measurement of purchased intangible assets

In in-licensing, the portion of the consideration paid by the Group to acquire intellectual property is recognized as an intangible asset. If research and development services to be performed by the seller are also agreed in conjunction with the transaction, the related share of consideration is separated and recognized in research and development expenses in line with the service performance.

Contingent consideration linked to milestone payments in connection with the purchase of intangible assets arising outside a business combination is recognized as an intangible asset and as a financial liability once the milestone is reached.

Intangible assets acquired in business combinations are recognized at fair value on the acquisition date.

Recognition and initial measurement of internally generated intangible assets

Owing to the high level of uncertainty until pharmaceutical products are approved, the criteria for the capitalization of development costs in accordance with IAS 38 are not met in the Healthcare business sector for the development of drug candidates. Costs incurred after regulatory approval are insignificant and are therefore not recognized as intangible assets. In the Life Science and Electronics business sectors, development expenses are capitalized as soon as all the recognition criteria are met and can be verified accordingly. This also includes expenses that were required for REACH registration. Furthermore, development expenses for internal software projects and the enhancement of purchased ERP programs are capitalized providing that the relevant criteria have been fulfilled.

Subsequent measurement

Subsequent measurement is at amortized cost.

Purchased and internally generated intangible assets with finite useful lives are amortized using the straight-line method over their useful lives. The useful lives of customer relationships, brand names and trademarks as well as marketing authorizations, acquired patents, licenses and similar rights, and software are usually between three and 24 years. In determining these useful lives, the Group considers factors including the typical product life cycles for each asset and publicly available information about the estimated useful lives of similar assets.

An impairment test is performed if there are indications of impairment. These are determined once a year and on an ad hoc basis with the involvement of the responsible departments, and taking external and internal information sources into consideration. The Group examines the existence of indications of impairment using various factors, particularly deviations from sales and earnings forecasts and the analysis of changes in medium-term planning. In the event of impairment, an impairment loss is recognized under other operating expenses. Impairment losses are reversed up to amortized cost and reported in other operating income if the original reasons for impairment no longer apply.

Intangible assets with indefinite useful lives and purchased as well as internally generated intangible assets not yet available for use are not amortized, but rather tested for impairment when a triggering event arises or at least once a year.