6.5. Provisions
Provisions for lease losses:
The Company reviews its lease receivables on a half yearly basis to assess whether specific provisions for losses should be recorded in the statement of income. In particular, considerable judgment by management is required in the estimation of the amount and timing of future cash flows when determining the level of provisions required. Such estimates are necessarily based on assumptions about several factors involving varying degrees of judgment and uncertainty, and actual results may differ resulting in future changes to such provisions.
In addition to specific provisions against individually significant lease receivables, the Company also makes a collective provision for losses against lease receivables which although not specifically identified as requiring a specific provision have a greater risk of default than when originally granted. This collective provision is based on any deterioration in the internal grade of the exposure since it was granted. The amount of the provision is based on the historical loss pattern for lease receivables within each grade and is adjusted to reflect current economic changes. Lease receivables are charged off, when in the opinion of management, the likelihood of any future collection is believed to be minimal.