9. Goodwill

The following table shows a reconciliation of the carrying amounts of goodwill for the periods presented in the consolidated financial statements as of March 31, 2011:

With regard to the value in use, goodwill is reviewed for impairment applying the discounted cash flow method. The calculation is performed on the basis of cash flows before tax of a medium-term business plan as of the beginning of March. This medium-term business plan is based on historical data as well as on assumptions regarding the expected future market performance. The Group’s planning assumptions are extended to include sectoral planning assumptions. Intra-group evaluations are complemented by external market studies. Cash flows are discounted using a pre-tax discount rate (WACC) of 8.4% (2009/10: 8.2%).

Since April 1, 2010, the cash-generating units Precision Strip and Welding Consumables have been managed and reported within the Profilform Division and the Railway Systems Division (previously Special Steel Division). In the course of this restructuring process, Buderus Edelstahl Band GmbH was reclassified from the cash-generating unit Precision Strip to the cash-generating unit High Performance Metals and was then merged with another entity. Allocation of goodwill of the cash-generating unit Precision Strip was based on the values at the time of reorganization.

Both internal and external market forecasts for the sales of flat steel products in Europe were used for the three-year medium-term business plan of the Steel Division. The figures allocated to the most significant assumptions in the plan generally correspond to external sources of information. Cash flows of the last plan year are the basis of the terminal value’s determination. The terminal value is calculated with a growth rate of 1%.

The impairment tests for the Special Steel Division¹ are performed on the basis of a detailed three-year planning period. The actual degree of utilization has been adapted to the market expectations in the plan years. In the Special Steel Division, the growth rate in terminal value amounts to 1%, which is lower than the rate of inflation.

The three-year medium-term business plan for the significant cash-generating units in the Railway Systems Division was based on external market forecasts for the sales of switches and rails. On the procurement side, global market forecasts were used for assumptions concerning the use of raw materials. The income level of the third plan year was used to determine the terminal value. Growth rates were not used.

In the Profilform Division, the planning assumptions on the sales side are based on market assessments for the most significant customer industries and industry segments and take specific market studies (e.g., the Global Truck Report) into consideration. Forecasts of international research institutes were used as a basis for the trend of pre-materials prices. The third plan year is the basis for the determination of the terminal value. Growth rates were not used.

In the Automotive Division, the determination of the degree of utilization was based on automotive production forecasts. External forecasts were revised downward as a result of internal estimates. Impairment tests in the Automotive Division are based on a detailed three-year planning period. The terminal value is calculated with a growth rate of 1%.

The calculation showed that no impairment of goodwill was necessary for the business year 2010/11. A sensitivity analysis showed that with an increase of the discount rate (8.4%) by 10%, the carrying amounts are still covered and there is no need to recognize an impairment loss.

The following cash-generating units contain intangible assets with indefinite useful lives:

Intangible assets with indefinite useful lives are solely trademark rights. The period, during which these trademark rights are expected to generate cash flows is not subject to a foreseeable limit. Therefore, trademark rights do not depreciate and are not amortized.