5 Critical accounting estimates and judgments

In preparing these consolidated financial statements in accordance with IFRS Accounting Standards, management has made estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of income, expenses, assets, liabilities and contingent liabilities. All estimates and assessments are continually reviewed and are based on historical experience and other factors, including expectations regarding future events that appear reasonable under the given circumstances. The group makes estimates and assumptions that relate to the future. By their nature, these estimates will only rarely correspond to actual subsequent events. The estimates and assumptions that carry a significant risk, in the form of a substantial adjustment to the present values of assets and liabilities within the next financial year, are set out below.

Employee benefit plans

The present value of the pension obligation and the plan assets depends on a number of factors that are determined on an actuarial basis using a number of assumptions. Assumptions used in determining the defined benefit assets/obligations include the discount rate, future salary and pension increases, and mortality rates. The assumptions are reviewed and reassessed at the end of each year. Further details are provided in note 8 and note 31.

Income taxes

The group is obliged to pay income taxes in numerous jurisdictions. Assumptions are required in order to determine income tax provisions. There are transactions and calculations for which the ultimate tax determination is uncertain during the ordinary course of business. The group recognizes liabilities for anticipated tax audit issues based on estimates of whether additional taxes will be due. Where the final tax outcome of these matters is different from the amounts that were initially recorded, such differences will impact the income tax and deferred tax provisions in the period in which such determination is made. Management believes that the estimates are reasonable and that the recognized liabilities for income tax-related uncertainties are adequate. Further details are disclosed in note 11.

Goodwill and other intangible assets

The group carries out an annual impairment test on goodwill in the first quarter of the year (after the budget and the three-year strategic plan have been approved), or when indications of a potential impairment exist. The recoverable amount from cash-generating units is measured on the basis of value-in-use calculations with the terminal growth rate, the discount rate and the projected cash flows as the main variables. Information about assumptions and estimation uncertainties that have significant risk of resulting in a material adjustment are disclosed in note 12. The accounting policies are disclosed in note 31.

Lease assets and lease liabilities

The group has applied judgment to determine the lease term for lease contracts that include renewal and termination options. The assessment of whether the group is reasonably certain to exercise such options impacts the lease term, which significantly affects the amount of lease liabilities and lease assets recognized. This assessment depends on economic incentives, such as removal and relocation costs. Further details are disclosed in note 14 and note 31.

Revenue

At contract inception, the group assesses the goods or services promised in a contract with a customer and identifies each promise to transfer to the customer as a performance obligation. The group considers the terms of the contract and all other relevant facts, including the economic substance of the transaction. Judgment is needed to determine whether there is a single performance obligation or multiple, separate performance obligations.

If the consideration promised in a contract includes a variable amount (e.g., early payment discounts, volume discounts), the group estimates the amount of consideration to which the group will be entitled in exchange for transferring the promised goods or services to a customer. The amount of the variable consideration is estimated by using either of the following methods, depending on which method the group expects to better predict the amount of consideration to which it will be entitled: the expected value or the most likely amount. The method selected is applied consistently throughout the contract and to similar types of contracts when estimating the effect of uncertainty on the amount of variable consideration to which the group is entitled. Depending on the outcome of the respective transactions, actual payments may differ from these estimates.

To allocate the transaction price to each performance obligation on a relative stand-alone selling price basis, the group determines the stand-alone selling price at contract inception of the distinct good or service underlying each performance obligation in the contract and allocates the transaction price in proportion to those stand-alone selling prices. If the stand-alone selling price is not directly observable, then the group estimates the amount with the expected cost plus margin method. Further details are disclosed in note 31.

Provisions

Provisions are made, among other reasons, for warranties, disputes, litigation and restructuring. A provision is recognized in the balance sheet when the group has a legal or constructive obligation as a result of a past event, and it is probable that an outflow of economic benefits will be required to settle the obligation. The nature of these costs is such that judgment has to be applied to estimate the timing and amount of cash outflows. Depending on the outcome of the respective transactions, actual payments may differ from these estimates. Further details are disclosed in note 24 and note 31.

Indemnification assets

Indemnification assets are recognized for potential cash outflows covered by indemnity clauses in business combinations. An indemnification asset is recognized at the same time when the indemnified item is recognized and measured on the same basis as the indemnified item, subject to the need for a valuation allowance for uncollectible amounts. The nature of these assets is such that judgment has to be applied to estimate the timing and amount of cash inflows. Depending on the outcome of the respective transactions, actual payments may differ from these estimates. Further details about the recognized indemnification asset are disclosed in note 4.