The NHS LA recognise financial assets and liabilities on its Statement of Financial Position when, and only when, it becomes a party to the contractual provisions of the instrument. On initial recognition IAS 39 requires the NHS LA to recognise all financial assets and liabilities at fair value. The fair value of a financial asset on initial recognition is normally represented by the transaction price.
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The transaction price for financial assets other than those classified at fair value through profit and loss includes the transaction costs that are directly attributable to the acquisition or issue of the financial asset. Transaction costs incurred on the acquisition or issue of financial assets classified at fair value through profit are expensed immediately.
The NHS LA recognises financial assets using settlement date accounting. The settlement date is the date that an asset is delivered to or by an entity. Settlement date accounting refers to the recognition of an asset on the day it is received by the entity, and the derecognition of an asset and recognition of any gain or loss on disposal on the day that it is delivered by the entity.
ii) Subsequent Measurement
Subsequent measurement of financial assets depends on their classification on initial recognition under IAS 39. The categories relevant to the NHS LA are as follows:
Loans and Receivables: loans and receivables are non-derivative financial assets with fixed or determinable payments that are not quoted in an active market. Assets that the NHS LA intends to sell immediately or in the near term cannot be classified in this category. These assets are carried at amortised cost using the effective interest method minus any reduction for impairment or uncollectibility. Interest income is recognised by applying the effective interest rate method, except on short term receivables when the recognition of interest would be immaterial. Impairment charges are provided only when there is objective evidence that an impairment loss has been incurred. If that is the case, the carrying amount of the asset is reduced through use of an allowance account. The amount of the loss is recognised in the Statement of Comprehensive Net Expenditure.
Typically trade and other receivables are classified in this category.
iii) Fair value determination
Whenever available, the fair value of a financial instrument is derived from an active market. The appropriate quoted market price for an asset held or liability to be issued is usually the current bid price and, for an asset to be acquired or liability held, the asking price. If there is no market, or the markets available are not active, the NHS LA establishes fair value by using a valuation technique. Valuation techniques include using recent arm’s length market transactions between knowledgeable, willing parties, if available, reference to the current fair value of similar instruments and incorporates all factors that market participants would consider in setting a price and is consistent with accepted economic methodologies for pricing financial instruments. As far as unquoted equity instruments are concerned, in cases where it is not possible to reliably measure the fair value, such instruments are carried at cost.
iv) Derecognition of financial assets
Irrespective of the legal form of the transactions, financial assets are derecognised when they pass the “substance over form” based derecognition test prescribed. That test comprises two different types of evaluations which are applied strictly in sequence:
• Evaluation of the transfer of risks and rewards of ownership. • Evaluation of the transfer of control.
Whether the assets is recognised/derecognised in full or recognised to the extent of the NHS LA’s continuing involvement depends on accurate analysis which is performed on a specific transaction basis.
v) Cash and Cash Equivalents
Cash and Cash Equivalents comprise cash in hand, on demand deposits and other short term highly liquid investments that are readily convertible to a known amount of cash and are subject to insignificant risk of changes in value.
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vi) Financial liabilities
Financial liabilities are classified according to the substance of the contractual arrangements entered into. The Authority has the following class of financial liabilities:
Other financial liabilities: all liabilities, which have not been classified at fair value through profit or loss. These liabilities are carried at amortised cost using the effective interest method. Typically, trade and other payables and borrowings are classified in this category.
vii) Derecognition of financial liabilities
The NHS LA derecognises financial liabilities when, and only when, the NHS LA’s obligations are discharged, cancelled or they expire.
viii) Embedded derivatives
Derivatives embedded in other financial instruments or other host contracts are treated as separate derivatives when their risks and characteristics are not closely related to those of the host contracts and the host contract is not measured at fair value with changes in fair value recognised in profit or loss.