27 Depreciation, amortization and impairment losses

The following table provides a breakdown of depreciation, amortization and impairment losses:

millions of €

 

 

 

 

2019

2018

2017

a

The IFRS 16 “Leases” accounting standard has been applied since January 1, 2019. Prior-year comparatives were not adjusted. For further information, please refer to the section “Initial application of standards, interpretations, and amendments in the financial year.”

AMORTIZATION AND IMPAIRMENT OF INTANGIBLE ASSETS

4,806

5,021

6,193

Of which: goodwill impairment losses

0

639

2,071

Of which: amortization of mobile licenses

1,080

1,049

1,038

Of which: impairment losses on mobile licenses

0

19

4

DEPRECIATION AND IMPAIRMENT OF PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT

9,208

8,814

8,393

Of which: impairment losses recognized on property, plant and equipment

319

38

81

DEPRECIATION OF RIGHT-OF-USE ASSETSa

3,649

n.a.

n.a.

 

17,663

13,836

14,586

Impairment losses break down as follows:

millions of €

 

 

 

 

2019

2018

2017

INTANGIBLE ASSETS

74

685

2,077

Of which: goodwill from the year-end impairment test

0

639

829

Of which: goodwill in connection with ad hoc impairment testing in the cash-generating unit in the Systems Solutions operating segment

n.a.

n.a.

1,242

Of which: in connection with ad hoc impairment test in the Romania cash-generating unit

24

n.a.

n.a.

Of which: FCC licenses

0

0

4

PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT

319

38

81

Of which: in connection with ad hoc impairment testing for Romania in the Romania cash-generating unit

296

0

0

Of which: from the year-end impairment test

0

0

37

 

393

722

2,158

Depreciation, amortization and impairment losses on intangible assets, property, plant and equipment, and right-of-use assets increased by EUR 3.8 billion year-on-year to EUR 17.7 billion. Of this figure, EUR 3.6 billion was attributable to the depreciation charge on right-of-use assets required to be recognized for the first time in accordance with IFRS 16. In the prior-year period, expenses had been recognized in EBITDA in connection with operating leases. Depreciation of property, plant and equipment and amortization of intangible assets, which in the prior year had included depreciation and amortization on finance lease assets, were EUR 0.5 billion higher than in the prior year, mainly due to the consistently high investment volume in past years. Impairment losses decreased by EUR 0.3 billion compared with the prior year to EUR 0.4 billion in total. In 2019, these included impairment losses of EUR 0.3 billion in particular on property, plant and equipment in the Romania cash-generating unit in the Europe operating segment on account of the impairment test conducted at year-end. Impairment losses recognized in 2018 on goodwill in the Europe operating segment in the national companies in Poland and Romania amounted to EUR 0.6 billion in total. In addition, impairment losses amounting to EUR 35 million had been recognized on property, plant and equipment and intangible assets in 2018 in connection with the sale of the shares in Telekom Albania.

For further information, please refer to Note 6 “Intangible assets,” Note 7 “Property, plant and equipment,” and Note 8 “Right-of-use assets – lessee relationships.”