Investment Accounting Policy
Cash Equivalents
Repurchase agreements collateralized by government bonds, corporate bonds, and agency bonds acquired with maturities of less than three months from the date of purchase are classified as cash equivalents. The carrying amount approximates fair value due to their short term nature.
Financial Assets/Liabilities at Fair Value Through Profit or Loss
Derivatives that do not meet the criteria for hedge accounting are initially recognized at fair value, with transaction costs expensed as incurred. The derivatives are remeasured at fair value subsequently with changes in fair value recognized in earnings. A regular way purchase or sale of financial assets is accounted for using settlement date accounting.
Fair value is estimated using valuation techniques incorporating estimates and assumptions that are consistent with prevailing market conditions. When the fair value is positive, the derivative is recognized as a financial asset; when the fair value is negative, the derivative is recognized as a financial liability.
Available-for-sale Financial Assets
Investments designated as available-for-sale financial assets include debt securities and equity securities. Available-for-sale financial assets are initially recognized at fair value plus transaction costs that are directly attributable to the acquisition. Changes in fair value from subsequent remeasurement are reported as a separate component of shareholders' equity. The corresponding accumulated gains or losses are recognized in earnings when the financial asset is derecognized from the balance sheet. A regular way purchase or sale of financial assets is accounted for using settlement date accounting.
Fair value is determined as follows: Money market funds - net asset values at the end of the year; publicly traded stocks - closing prices at the end of the year; and other debt securities - average of bid and asked prices at the end of the year.
Cash dividends are recognized as investment income upon resolution of shareholders of an investee but are accounted for as a reduction to the original cost of investment if such dividends are declared on the earnings of the investee attributable to the period prior to the purchase of the investment. Stock dividends are recorded as an increase in the number of shares held and do not affect investment income. The cost per share is recalculated based on the new total number of shares.
Any difference between the initial carrying amount of a debt security and the amount due at maturity is amortized using the effective interest method, with the amortization recognized in earnings.
If there is objective evidence which indicates that a financial asset is impaired, a loss is recognized. If, in a subsequent period, the amount of the impairment loss decreases, for equity securities, the previously recognized impairment loss is reversed to the extent of the decrease and recorded as an adjustment to shareholders' equity; for debt securities, the amount of the decrease is recognized in earnings, provided that the decrease is clearly attributable to an event which occurred after the impairment loss was recognized.
Held-to-maturity Financial Assets
Debt securities for which TSMC has a positive intention and ability to hold to maturity are categorized as held-to-maturity financial assets and are carried at amortized cost. Those financial assets are initially recognized at fair value plus transaction costs that are directly attributable to the acquisition. Gains or losses are recognized at the time of derecognition, impairment or amortization. A regular way purchase or sale of financial assets is accounted for using settlement date accounting.
If there is objective evidence which indicates that a financial asset is impaired, a loss is recognized. If, in a subsequent period, the amount of the impairment loss decreases and the decrease is clearly attributable to an event which occurred after the impairment loss was recognized, the previously recognized impairment loss is reversed to the extent of the decrease. The reversal may not result in a carrying amount that exceeds the amortized cost that would have been determined as if no impairment loss had been recognized.
Financial Assets Carried at Cost
Investments for which TSMC does not exercise significant influence and that do not have a quoted market price in an active market and whose fair value cannot be reliably measured, such as non-publicly traded stocks and mutual funds, are carried at their original cost. The costs of non-publicly traded stocks and mutual funds are determined using the weighted-average method. If there is objective evidence which indicates that a financial asset is impaired, a loss is recognized. A subsequent reversal of such impairment loss is not allowed.
The accounting treatment for cash dividends and stock dividends arising from financial assets carried at cost is the same as that for cash and stock dividends arising from available-for-sale financial assets.
Source: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Annual Report
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