10 Intangible assets

(CHF 1,000)

 

Intangible asset from right of formal expropriation

 

Investments in airport operator projects

 

Other intangible assets

Cost

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance as at 1 January 2016

 

210,043

 

0

 

69,386

Additions

 

0

 

0

 

0

Disposals

 

–21,485

 

0

 

–916

Transfer

 

0

 

0

 

7,887

Balance as at 31 December 2016

 

188,558

 

0

 

76,357

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance as at 1 January 2017

 

188,558

 

0

 

76,357

Additions

 

0

 

51,294

 

434

Disposals

 

0

 

0

 

–425

Transfer

 

0

 

0

 

8,596

Changes in consolidation scope

 

0

 

25,800

 

0

Balance as at 31 December 2017

 

188,558

 

77,094

 

84,962

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Depreciation, amortisation

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance as at 1 January 2016

 

–48,687

 

0

 

–62,521

Additions

 

–4,248

 

0

 

–4,246

Disposals

 

0

 

0

 

816

Balance as at 31 December 2016

 

–52,935

 

0

 

–65,951

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance as at 1 January 2017

 

–52,935

 

0

 

–65,951

Additions

 

–3,941

 

–1,901

 

–4,390

Disposals

 

0

 

0

 

391

Balance as at 31 December 2017

 

–56,876

 

–1,901

 

–69,950

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net carrying amount as at 1 January 2016

 

161,356

 

0

 

6,865

Net carrying amount as at 31 December 2016

 

135,623

 

0

 

10,406

Net carrying amount as at 31 December 2017

 

131,682

 

75,193

 

15,012

Intangible asset from right of formal expropriation

With the award of the operating licence, Flughafen Zürich AG was also granted a right of formal expropriation in respect of property owners exposed to aircraft noise. This right of formal expropriation was granted on condition that the airport operator bears the costs associated with compensation payments and is recognised as an intangible asset at the date when the probable total cost can be estimated based on final-instance court rulings, so that the cost can be reliably estimated in accordance with IAS 38.21.

As a result of the Swiss Federal Supreme Court rulings in the first half of 2016 in test cases regarding claims for compensation due to eastern and southern approach routes, Flughafen Zürich AG was able, as at 30 June 2016, to undertake a reappraisal of the outstanding costs for formal expropriations. Based on the recalculation, the provision for formal expropriations was reduced by CHF 21.5 million (see note 19, Provision for formal expropriations plus sound insulation and resident protection). At the same time, the intangible asset from the right of formal expropriation was reduced by the same amount.

As at 31 December 2017, Flughafen Zürich AG has therefore recognised an intangible asset from the right of formal expropriation in the amount of CHF 131.7 million (2016: CHF 135.6 million). This is amortised using the straight-line method over the remaining term of the operating licence (i.e. until May 2051).

Investments in airport operator projects

The investments in airport operator projects in the amount of CHF 75.2 million (2016: CHF 0.0 million) include concession rights which, due to the application of IFRIC 12, comprise minimum concession payments recognised as assets and investments made. They relate to the upgrade and operation of the Chilean airports in Antofagasta and Iquique (CHF 24.4 million), in which Flughafen Zürich AG has held a controlling interest via its subsidiary A-port Chile S.A. since April 2017, as well as the upgrade and operation of the Brazilian airport in Florianópolis (CHF 50.8 million) through the subsidiary Concessionária do Aeroporto Internacional de Florianópolis S.A. The liabilities relating to the corresponding concessions amounting to CHF 11.7 million (2016: CHF 0.0) are recognised as non-current liabilities (see note 18, Financial liabilities).

Impairment

Flughafen Zürich AG voluntarily carries out a calculation at company level on a yearly basis to determine whether there is any indication that property, plant and equipment (see note 8, Property, plant and equipment) and intangible assets may be impaired. The calculation is based on expected future free cash flows of Flughafen Zürich AG and various assumptions regarding future trends (e.g. passenger and traffic volumes, investments, the hub status of Zurich Airport and the discount rate). The calculation as at 31 December 2017 did not identify any indications of impairment.