Associate

Associate – IFRS 12 Definition: An entity, including an unincorporated entity such as a partnership, over which the investor has significant influence, and that is neither a controlled entity (i.e. a subsidiary) nor an interest in a joint venture.


Associates are all entities over which the group has significant influence but not control or joint control, generally accompanying a shareholding of between 20% and 50% of the voting rights.

Investments in associates are accounted for using the equity method of accounting, after initially being recognised at cost. The group’s investment in associates includes goodwill identified on acquisition.

The group’s share of its associates’ post-acquisition profits or losses is recognised in profit or loss, and its share of post-acquisition other comprehensive income is recognised in other comprehensive income. The cumulative post-acquisition movements are adjusted against the carrying amount of the investment. Dividends receivable from associates are recognised as a reduction in the carrying amount of the investment.

Where the group’s share of losses in an associate equals or exceeds its interest in the associate, including any other unsecured long-term receivables, the group does not recognise further losses, unless it has incurred obligations or made payments on behalf of the associate.

Unrealized gains on transactions between the group and its associates are eliminated to the extent of the group’s interest in the associates. Unrealized losses are also eliminated unless the transaction provides evidence of an impairment of the asset transferred.

Accounting policies of associates are adjusted, where necessary, to ensure consistency with the policies adopted by the group, similar to subsidiaries that are consolidated.


Example notes disclosure on Associates (Volkswagen Consolidated Financial Statements 2018)

Significant companies where Volkswagen AG is able, directly or indirectly, to significantly influence financial and operating policy decisions (associates), or that are directly or indirectly jointly Associatecontrolled (joint ventures), are accounted for using the equity method. Joint ventures also include companies in which the Volkswagen Group holds the majority of voting rights, but whose articles of association or partnership agreements stipulate that important decisions may only be resolved unanimously. Insignificant associates and joint ventures are carried at cost net of any impairment losses and reversals of impairment losses required to be recognized.

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INVESTMENTS IN ASSOCIATES

From a Group perspective, the associates Sinotruk (Hong Kong) Ltd., Hongkong, China (Sinotruk), Bertrandt AG, Ehningen (Bertrandt), There Holding B.V., Rijswijk, the Netherlands (There Holding), and Navistar International Corporation, Lisle, USA (Navistar), were material at the reporting date.

Sinotruk
Sinotruk is one of the largest truck manufacturers in the Chinese market. There is an agreement in place between Group companies and Sinotruk regarding a long-term strategic partnership, under which the Group participates in the local market. In addition to the partnership with Sinotruk in the volume segment, exports of MAN vehicles to China are also helping to expand access to the small, but fast-growing premium truck market. Sinotruk’s principal place of business is in Hongkong, China.

As of December 31, 2018, the quoted market price of the shares in Sinotruk amounted to €908 million (previous year: €648 million).

Bertrandt
Bertrandt is an engineering partner to companies in the automotive and aviation industry. Its portfolio of services ranges from developing individual components through complex modules to end-to-end solutions. Bertrandt’s principal place of business is in Ehningen. As of December 31, 2018, the quoted market price of the shares in Bertrandt amounted to €201 million (previous year: €299 million).

There Holding
The Audi Subgroup, the BMW Group and Daimler AG each held a 33.3 % interest in There Holding B.V., Rijswijk, the Netherlands, which was established in 2015. In December 2016, There Holding B.V. signed a contract with Intel Holdings B.V., Schiphol-Rijk, the Netherlands, for the sale of 15 % of the shares in HERE International B.V., Rijswijk, the Netherlands. The transaction with Intel Holdings B.V. was completed on January 31, 2017.

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This resulted in a loss of control within the meaning of IFRS 10 at the There Holding B.V. level. The deconsolidation gave rise to a proportionate effect for the Volkswagen Group of €183 million, which was shown in the share of profits or losses of equity-accounted investments in the previous year. Since a significant influence continues to exist, HERE International B.V. is included in the financial statement of There Holding B.V. as an associated company using the equity method.

There was no change in the Volkswagen Group’s participating interest in There Holding B.V. as a result of the sale. In December 2017, agreements for the sale of shares in There Holding B.V. were signed with Robert Bosch Investment Nederland B.V., Boxtel, the Netherlands and Continental Automotive Holding Netherlands B.V., Maastricht, the Netherlands. In this process, Robert Bosch Investment Nederland B.V. and Continental Automotive Holding Netherlands B.V. acquired an interest of 5.9 % each in There Holding B.V.

The transactions were completed on February 28, 2018. The Audi Subgroup, the BMW Group and Daimler AG sold the equivalent number of shares. As a result, the interest held by the Volkswagen Group declined to 29.4 % as of this date. There was no material effect on financial position or financial performance.

A capital reduction was carried out at There Holding B.V. in February 2018. The share attributable to the Volkswagen Group amounted to €96 million. In addition, in June 2018 and November 2018, There Holding B.V. implemented capital increases in which the Volkswagen Group participated.

As a result, the shares accounted for using the equity method increased by €62 million and the participating interest was 29.6 % as of December 31, 2018.

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Navistar
Within the framework of a capital increase, TRATON SE, a wholly owned subsidiary of Volkswagen AG, acquired 16.6 % of the shares in Navistar, paying USD 15.76 per share in 2017. The purchase price came to €0.3 billion. Due to Volkswagen’s representation on the Board of Directors of Navistar and the agreed cooperation, the investment in Navistar is reported as an equity-accounted investment in the consolidated financial statements. As of December 31, 2018, an interest of 16.8 % was held in Navistar, and the quoted market price of the shares in Navistar amounted to €377 million (previous year: €595 million).

The last part is from page 215, on which an extensive disclosure on the material associates follows.


Associate

Associate

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