Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

For the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013

  1. Cameco Corporation
  2. Significant accounting policies
  3. Accounting standards
  4. Determination of fair values
  5. Use of estimates and judgments
  6. Discontinued operation
  7. Acquisitions
  8. Accounts receivable
  9. Inventories
  10. Property, plant and equipment
  11. Goodwill and intangible assets
  12. Long-term receivables, investments and other
  13. Equity-accounted investees
  14. Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
  15. Short-term debt
  16. Long-term debt
  17. Other liabilities
  1. Provisions
  2. Share capital
  3. Employee benefit expense
  4. Finance costs
  5. Other income (expense)
  6. Income taxes
  7. Per share amounts
  8. Statements of cash flows
  9. Share-based compensation plans
  10. Pension and other post-retirement benefits
  11. Financial instruments and related risk management
  12. Capital management
  13. Segmented information
  14. Group entities
  15. Joint operations
  16. Related parties
  17. Subsequent event

3. Accounting standards

  • A. Changes in accounting policy

    On January 1, 2014, Cameco adopted the following new standards and amendments to existing standards as issued by the IASB: IAS 32, Financial Instruments: Presentation (IAS 32), International Financial Reporting Interpretations Committee 21, Levies (IFRIC 21) and IAS 36, Impairment of Assets (IAS 36).

    • i. Financial assets and financial liabilities

      Amendments to IAS 32 clarify matters regarding offsetting financial assets and financial liabilities as well as related disclosure requirements. As Cameco does not have a practice of offsetting its financial instruments, the adoption of IAS 32 has had no effect on the financial reporting of Cameco.

    • ii. Levies

      IFRIC 21 provides guidance on accounting for levies in accordance with IAS 37, Provisions, Contingent Liabilities and Contingent Assets. The interpretation defines a levy as an outflow from an entity imposed by a government in accordance with legislation and confirms that an entity recognizes a liability for a levy only when the triggering event specified in the legislation occurs. Cameco’s current accounting treatment for levies is consistent with the requirements of IFRIC 21, such that the adoption of IFRIC 21 has had no material impact on the financial reporting of Cameco.

    • iii. Disclosure of recoverable amounts

      The amendments in IAS 36 reverse the unintended requirement in IFRS 13 to disclose the recoverable amount of every cash generating unit to which significant goodwill or indefinite-lived intangible assets have been allocated. Under these amendments, the recoverable amount is required to be disclosed only when an impairment loss has been recognized or reversed. As a result, the adoption of IAS 36 has had no effect on the financial reporting of Cameco.

  • B. New standards and interpretations not yet adopted

    A number of new standards and amendments to existing standards are not yet effective for the year ended December 31, 2014, and have not been applied in preparing these consolidated financial statements. The following standards and amendments to existing standards have been published and are mandatory for Cameco’s accounting periods beginning on or after January 1, 2016, unless otherwise noted. Cameco does not intend to early adopt any of the following amendments to existing standards and does not expect the amendments to have a material impact on the financial statements, unless otherwise noted.

    • i. Property, plant and equipment and intangible assets

      In May 2014, the IASB issued amendments to IAS 16, Property, Plant and Equipment and IAS 38, Intangible Assets. The amendments are to be applied prospectively. The amendments clarify the factors to be considered in assessing the technical or commercial obsolescence and the resulting depreciation period of an asset and state that a depreciation method based on revenue is not appropriate.

    • ii. Joint arrangements

      In May 2014, the IASB issued amendments to IFRS 11, Joint Arrangements (IFRS 11). The amendments in IFRS 11 are to be applied prospectively. The amendments clarify the accounting for the acquisition of interests in joint operations and require the acquirer to apply the principles of business combinations accounting in IFRS 3, Business Combinations.

    • iii. Sale or contribution of assets

      In September 2014, the IASB issued amendments to IFRS 10, Consolidated Financial Statements and IAS 28, Investments in Associates and Joint Ventures. The amendments provide clarification on the recognition of gains or losses upon the sale or contribution of assets between an investor and its associate or joint venture.

    • iv. Noncurrent assets held for sale and discontinued operations

      In September 2014, the IASB issued amendments to IFRS 5, Non-Current Assets Held for Sale and Discontinued Operations (IFRS 5). The amendments are to be applied prospectively, with earlier application permitted. Assets are generally disposed of either through sale or through distribution to owners. The amendments to IFRS 5 clarify the application of IFRS 5 when changing from one of these disposal methods to the other.

    • v. Financial instruments disclosures

      In September 2014, the IASB issued amendments to IFRS 7, Financial Instruments: Disclosures (IFRS 7). The amendments in IFRS 7 are to be applied retrospectively, with earlier application permitted. The amendments to IFRS 7 clarify the disclosure required for any continuing involvement in a transferred asset that has been derecognized. The amendments also provide guidance on disclosures regarding the offsetting of financial assets and financial liabilities in interim financial reports.

    • vi. Interim financial reporting

      In September 2014, the IASB issued amendments to IAS 34, Interim Financial Reporting (IAS 34). The amendments to IAS 34 are to be applied retrospectively, with earlier application permitted. The amendments provide additional guidance on interim disclosures and whether they are provided in the interim financial statements or incorporated by cross-reference between the interim financial statements and other financial disclosures.

    • vii. Revenue

      In May 2014, the IASB issued IFRS 15, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (IFRS 15). IFRS 15 is effective for periods beginning on or after January 1, 2017 and is to be applied retrospectively. IFRS 15 clarifies the principles for recognizing revenue from contracts with customers. The extent of the impact of adoption of IFRS 15 has not yet been determined.

    • viii. Financial instruments

      In July 2014, the IASB issued IFRS 9, Financial Instruments (IFRS 9). IFRS 9 replaces the current multiple classification and measurement models for financial assets and liabilities with a single model that has only two classification categories: amortized cost and fair value. The basis of classification depends on the entity’s business model and the contractual cash flow characteristics of the financial asset or liability. It also introduces additional changes relating to financial liabilities and aligns hedge accounting more closely with risk management.

      IFRS 9 is effective for annual periods beginning on or after January 1, 2018, with early adoption of the new standard permitted. Cameco does not intend to early adopt IFRS 9. The extent of the impact of adoption of IFRS 9 has not yet been determined.