Consolidation principles

The annual financial statements of the companies included in the consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with IFRS, as adopted by the EU, using consistent accounting policies.

The end of the reporting period for the consolidated financial statements is the end of the reporting period of the parent company.

Intercompany revenues, income and expenses, and all receivables and liabilities between companies included in the consolidated financial statements are eliminated on consolidation.

Subsidiaries are entities controlled by the Group. The Group controls an entity if the Group is exposed to or has rights to variable returns from its investment in the entity and if the Group has the ability to influence those returns through its control over the entity. The financial statements of subsidiaries in included in the consolidated financial statements as at the date control begins and until the time the Group no longer controls the entity.

Acquired subsidiaries are accounted for using the acquisition method. The acquisition cost is equal to the fair value of the assets given, the equity instruments issued and the liabilities incurred or assumed on the date of the transaction. The costs associated with the acquisition are recognised as an expense. When consolidated for the first time, the identifiable assets, liabilities and contingent liabilities acquired in a business combination are measured at their acquisition-date fair values, regardless of the size of the minority interest.

Any excess of the acquisition cost over the share of equity acquired at fair value is recognised as goodwill. If the acquisition costs are lower than the fair value of the net assets of the subsidiary acquired, the measurement of net assets is reviewed and the difference is recognised directly in the consolidated statement of comprehensive income.

The Group’s interests in investments accounted for using the equity method relate to shareholdings in associates.

Associates are entities over which the Group has a significant influence but does not control or jointly manage the entities’ financial and operating policies.