Estimates and Assumptions Used in Preparing the Consolidated Financial Statements

The preparation of the consolidated financial statements in compliance with IFRS necessitates assumptions and estimates affecting the amounts and the reporting of the recognized assets and debts, income and expenses, and contingent liabilities and contingent assets. These assumptions and estimates comply with the conditions and appraisals prevailing on the reporting date. In this regard, they also impact the amount of income and expenses recognized for the fiscal years in question. The assumptions on which the estimates are based relate primarily to the uniform determination of useful lives throughout the Group, the ascertainment of fair values of financial instruments, the recognition and measurement of provisions, the realizability of future tax benefits, and the determination of discounted cash flows made in connection with impairment tests and purchase price allocations.

In individual cases, the actual values may differ from the assumptions and estimates that were made. Changes in value are recognized as soon as they become apparent and affect the net results for the period when the change occurred and, if applicable, in future reporting periods.

Intangible Assets and Property, Plant and Equipment / Investments in Associates Accounted for Using the Equity Method

The expected useful lives of intangible assets and of property, plant and equipment, together with their amortization /depreciation schedules, are based on past experience, plans and estimates. This includes estimates of the period and allocation of future cash inflows derived from the investments made, as well as future technical advancements and ongoing replacement and development cycles.

Impairment tests are performed for assets if specific indicators point to a possible impairment loss or reversal of an impairment loss. In the case of a possible impairment, an estimate must be made of the recoverable amount of the affected asset that corresponds to the higher of either the fair value less costs to sell or the value in use. When determining the recoverable amount in the course of the impairment test, it is necessary to make estimates based on share prices, on prices of comparable transactions, or on the net present value method, other valuation methods or combinations thereof. That, in turn, calls for estimates and assessments by management. To ascertain the value in use, the discounted future cash flows of the affected asset must be determined. The estimate of the discounted future cash flows contains significant assumptions such as, in particular, those regarding future selling prices and sales volumes, costs, and discount rates. Although WACKER assumes that the estimates of the relevant expected useful lives and of discounted future cash flows, as well as the assumptions regarding the general economic conditions and the development of the economic sectors, are reasonable, a change in the assumptions or circumstances might necessitate a change in the analysis. The trends in WACKER products’ sales prices and raw-material prices will have the most significant impact on future cash flows. This could result in significant deviations from the figures posted, which may lead to additional impairment losses or reversals of impairment losses.

Financial Instruments

Financial instruments are recognized at fair value, while other assets and liabilities are disclosed at fair value in the notes to the financial statements. Calculation of the fair value of financial instruments may require making estimates, which may be more or less extensive depending on the extent to which non-observable input parameters are taken into account. When calculating fair value, WACKER strives to include as many observable input parameters as possible and to keep the use of non-observable factors to a minimum. If the fair value cannot be calculated reliably, the carrying amount is taken as an approximate figure to determine it.

In accordance with IFRS 13, financial instruments that are measured or recognized at fair value in the consolidated financial statements must be measured and classified according to the fair value hierarchy. This hierarchy consists of three levels, to which the input parameters are assigned in accordance with the extent to which they are observable during the corresponding measurement process.

Impairments of Financial Assets

Impairments of financial assets are based on assumptions on credit-default risk and expected loss rates. When preparing these assumptions and selecting inputs to calculate impairment, WACKER exercises discretion based on past experience, current market conditions and forward-looking estimates as of the end of the reporting period. The most important assumptions and inputs are based on credit ratings and credit insurance, as well as on macroeconomic analyses, all of which provide the basis for classification in risk classes.

Provisions

Significant risks inherent in environmental protection provisions and in provisions for damages and onerous contracts include possible changes in future cost / benefit estimates, changes in the likelihood of their utilization, and enhanced statutory rules concerning the elimination and prevention of environmental damage. Changes in the discount rate also lead to adjustments when determining noncurrent provisions. The current environment of low interest rates leads to increases in the carrying amount of noncurrent provisions.

Pensions and similar obligations are accounted for in accordance with actuarial valuations, which are based on statistical and other factors in order to anticipate future events. The factors in question include the discount rate, expected salary and pension increases, the mortality rate and rate increases for preventive health care. If market and economic conditions change, these assumptions could vary considerably from actual developments, consequently leading to major changes in pension and similar obligations, as well as in associated future expenses. In particular, the current environment of low interest rates has an impact on the carrying amount of pension provisions.

The pension-obligation amount is determined by discounting the WACKER-specific, expected future cash flows. The discount rate is derived from the yield curve of high-grade, fixed-interest corporate bonds with maturities matching the pension obligations, as calculated at the reporting date. The bonds are all denominated in the same currency as their underlying pension obligations and have a rating of at least AA from one of the three major rating agencies. In Germany, the basis is a bond portfolio determined as of the closing date using Bloomberg and with a maturity that nearly matches the maturity of the pension obligation.

Tax provisions contain uncertain tax positions for cases where it might not be possible to realize amounts stated in tax returns. These are determined on the basis of past experience of external audits, with consideration given to the probability of occurrence (expected-value method).

Deferred Taxes

At the end of each reporting period, the Group assesses whether the probability of future tax benefits being realized is sufficient to recognize deferred tax assets. Among other things, this requires that management evaluate the tax benefits resulting from currently available tax strategies and future taxable income, and also to take additional positive and negative factors into account. In the case of companies that have reported tax losses in the past, deferred tax assets are capitalized only in exceptional cases where there are substantive indications that they can be realized.