THE COMMUNITY TRUST OF SOUTHLAND

NOTES TO & FORMING PART OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

For the Year Ended 31 March, 2011

a) Basis of Consolidation (cont)

Where necessary, adjustments are made to the financial statements of subsidiaries to bring their accounting policies into line with those used by other members of the Group.

All intra-group transactions, balances, income and expenses are eliminated in full on consolidation.

b) Business Combinations

Acquisitions of subsidiaries and businesses are accounted for using the purchase method. The cost of the business combination is measured as the aggregate of the fair values (at the date of exchange) of assets given, liabilities incurred or assumed, and equity instruments issued by the Group in exchange for control of the acquiree, plus any costs directly attributable to the business combination. The acquiree’s identifiable assets, liabilities and contingent liabilities that meet the conditions for recognition under NZ IFRS-3 Business Combinations are recognised at their fair values at the acquisition date, except for non-current assets (or disposal groups) that are classified as held for sale in accordance with NZ IFRS-5 Assets held for Sale and Discontinued Operations, which are recognised and measured at fair value less costs to sell.

Goodwill arising on acquisition is recognised as an asset and initially measured at cost, being the excess of the cost of the business combination over the Group’s interest in the net fair value of the identifiable assets, liabilities and contingent liabilities recognised. If, after reassessment, the Group’s interest in the net fair value of the acquiree’s identifiable assets, liabilities and contingent liabilities exceeds the cost of the business combination, the excess is recognised immediately in profit or loss.

The interest of minority shareholders in the acquiree is initially measured at the minority’s proportion of the net fair value of the assets, liabilities and contingent liabilities recognised.

c) Investments in Associates

An associate is an entity over which the Group has significant influence and that is neither a subsidiary nor an interest in a joint venture. Significant influence is the power to participate in the financial and operating policy decisions of the investee but where there is no control or joint control over those policies.

The results and assets and liabilities of associates are incorporated in these financial statements using the equity method of accounting, except when the investment is classified as held for sale, in which case it is accounted for in accordance with NZ IFRS-5 Non-current Assets Held for Sale and Discontinued Operations. Under the equity method, investments in associates are carried in the consolidated balance sheet at cost as adjusted for post-acquisition changes in the Group’s share of the net assets of the associate, less any impairment in the value of individual investments. Losses of an associate in excess of the Group’s interest in that associate (which includes any long-term interests that, in substance, form part of the Group’s net investment in the associate) are recognised only to the extent that the Group has incurred legal or constructive obligations or made payments on behalf of the associate.

Any excess of the cost of acquisition over the Group’s share of the net fair value of the identifiable assets, liabilities and contingent liabilities of the associate recognised at the date of acquisition is recognised as goodwill. The goodwill is included within the carrying amount of the investment and is assessed for impairment as part of that investment. Any excess of the Group’s share of the net fair value of the identifiable assets, liabilities and contingent liabilities over the cost of acquisition, after reassessment, is recognised immediately in profit or loss.

Where a group entity transacts with an associate of the Group, profits and losses are eliminated to the extent of the Group’s interest in the relevant associate.

d) Property, Plant & Equipment

Property, Plant and Equipment other than land and buildings is stated at cost, less accumulated depreciation, less accumulated impairment losses, less accumulated devaluations and plus accumulated revaluations.

Depreciation is charged so as to write off the cost or valuation of assets, other than freehold land, over their estimated useful lives, using the straight-line method. The estimated useful lives, residual values and depreciation methods are reviewed at each year end, with the effect of any changes in estimate accounted for on a prospective basis.