Property, plant and equipment — Property, plant and
equipment is valued at acquisition or manufacturing costs less
accumulated depreciation and impairment losses. Such costs
include the estimated cost of replacing, servicing and restoring
part of such property, plant and equipment. Items of property,
plant and equipment are generally depreciated on a straightline
basis. The costs of internally produced equipment and
facilities include direct material and labour costs and applicable
manufacturing overheads, including depreciation charges. The
following useful lives are assumed: buildings 10 to 50 years; site
improvements 6 to 30 years; technical equipment and machinery
3 to 20 years; and other equipment, factory and offi ce equipment
2 to 10 years. The useful lives, depreciation methods and residual
values applying to property, plant and equipment are reviewed at
least annually and in case they change signifi cantly, depreciation
charges for current and future periods are adjusted accordingly.
If the carrying amount of an asset exceeds its recoverable
amount an impairment loss is recognised immediately in profi t
or loss. At each end of the reporting period, it is assessed
whether there is any indication that an item of property, plant
and equipment may be impaired (see also below “Impairment
of non-fi nancial assets”).