Capitalized software include in-house applications as well as commercial packages; they are measured either at their acquisition cost (if purchased externally) or at their production cost (if developed internally). They are amortized over their useful life:
Property, plant and equipment
Items of property, plant and equipment are measured at acquisition cost minus accumulated depreciation and impairment loss. When appropriate, the total cost of an asset is broken down into its various components that have distinct useful lives. Each
component is then recognized separately and depreciated over a distinct term. Items of property, plant and equipment are depreciated on a straight-line basis over each asset’s estimated useful life. The useful life of property, plant and equipment
is generally assumed to be as follows (straight-line method):
Lease contracts
Leases are recognized on the balance sheet at the outset of the lease at the present value of future payments. These leases are recognized under “Lease liabilities” on the liabilities side, offset by “Rights-of-use under leases” on the assets side.
They are amortized over the term of the lease, which is typically the fixed period of the lease unless there is a stated intention to renew or terminate. In the income statement, depreciation and amortization expenses are recognized in the operating margin and interest expenses under net financial income (expenses). The tax effect of this restatement for consolidation purposes is accounted for through the recognition of deferred tax assets or liabilities.
The discount rates applied to determine the lease liability are based on the Group’s incremental borrowing rate plus a spread to take into account the specific economic environment of each country. These discount rates are determined having regard to the terms of the leases. Leases of low-value assets or short-term leases are immediately expensed in profit or loss.
Other financial assets
All investments are initially recognized at fair value, which corresponds either to the price paid or the value of assets given in payment, plus any transaction costs. After the initial recognition, investments are assessed at fair value as of the
reporting date. Gains and losses on investments held for trading are recognized in income. Profits and losses on other financial assets are accounted for optionally for securities representing equity instruments, either in profit and loss or in other
comprehensive income or equity.
Other long-term investments held for maturity and whose sole contractual cash flow characteristics are the payment of the principal and interest, such as bonds, are then assessed at amortized cost using the effective interest rate method. For investments recognized at amortized cost, gains and losses are recognized in the income statement if they are sold or impaired, as well as through the process of amortization. For investments that are actively traded on organized financial markets, fair value is determined by reference to the published market price at the reporting date. For investments that are not listed on an active market, fair value is determined with reference to the current market price of another substantially similar instrument, or calculated based on the cash flows that are expected from the investment.
Loans and receivables due from associates and non-consolidated companies
This includes financial receivables from associates or unconsolidated companies held by the Group. Impairment is recognized whenever there is a risk of non-payment as a result of the financial position of the entity in question.
Inventories and work-in-progress
This line item mainly includes work-in-progress for the advertising business when we act as “Agent”. This involves creative and production technical work (graphics, TV, radio, publishing, etc.) that can be directly passed on to the client but has not yet been invoiced. They are recognized on the basis of costs incurred and a provision is recorded when their net realizable amount is lower than cost.
Non-billable work or costs incurred relating to new client development activities are not recognized as assets, except for tendering expenses which may be re-invoiced to the client under the terms of the contract. In order to assess the net realizable amount, inventory and work-in-progress are reviewed on a case-by-case basis and written down, if appropriate, on the basis of criteria such as the existence of commercial disputes with the client. It also includes, to a lesser extent, media inventories bought on own-account and not resold at the end of the reporting period.
