Notes to the consolidated financial statements
11. Goodwill
| £m | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cost at 1 April 2007 | 1,480 | ||||
| Exchange adjustments | 23 | ||||
| Acquisition of subsidiary undertakings (see note 28)* | 2,401 | ||||
| Cost at 31 March 2008* | 3,904 | ||||
| Exchange adjustments | 1,487 | ||||
| Cost at 31 March 2009 | 5,391 | ||||
| Net book value at 31 March 2009 | 5,391 | ||||
| Net book value at 31 March 2008* | 3,904 |
- *
- Comparatives have been restated for the finalisation of the fair value exercise on the acquisition of KeySpan Corporation (see note 28)
The amounts disclosed above as at 31 March 2009 include balances relating to our US gas operations of £3,251m (2008: £2,355m), our New England electricity distribution operations of £931m (2008: £674m), our operations run by our subsidiary Niagara Mohawk Power Corporation (NIMO) of £949m (2008: £687m) and our New England transmission operations of £260m (2008: £188m).
Goodwill is reviewed annually for impairment.
The recoverability of goodwill at 31 March 2009 has been assessed by comparing the carrying amount of our operations described above (our cash generating units) with the expected recoverable amount on a value-in-use basis. In each assessment the value-in-use has been calculated based on our five year plan projections that incorporate our best estimates of future cash flows, customer rates, costs, future prices and growth. Such projections reflect our current regulatory rate plans taking into account regulatory arrangements to allow for future rate plan filings and recovery of investment. For much of the five year plan period our regulatory rate plans have been agreed with regulators. Our five year plans have proved to be reliable guides in the past and the Directors believe the estimates are appropriate.
Projections for the next five years are extrapolated into the future by using a growth rate of 3%. The growth rate has been determined having regard to long-term historical data on growth in US real gross domestic product (GDP). Based on our business’s place in the underlying US economy, it is appropriate for the terminal growth rate to be based upon the overall growth in real GDP and, given the nature of our operations, to extend over a long period of time.
Cash flow projections have been discounted to reflect the time value of money, using an effective pre-tax discount rate of 10% (2008: 9%). The discount rate represents the estimated weighted average cost of capital of these operations.
While it is conceivable that a key assumption in the calculation could change, the Directors believe that no reasonably foreseeable changes to key assumptions would result in an impairment of goodwill, such is the margin by which the estimated fair value exceeds the carrying amount.