3. Critical accounting judgements and key sources of estimation uncertainty
In the application of the Group’s and Company’s accounting policies, the Directors are required to make judgements, estimates and assumptions about the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities. The estimates and associated assumptions are based on historical experience and other factors that are considered to be relevant. Actual results may differ from these amounts. The estimates and underlying assumptions are reviewed on an on-going basis.
Key sources of estimation uncertainty and critical accounting judgements are as follows:
Estimates
Post-employment benefits
The Group’s and Company’s total obligation in respect of defined benefit obligations is calculated by independent, qualified actuaries, updated at least annually. The size of the obligation is sensitive to actuarial assumptions. These include demographic assumptions covering mortality and longevity, and economic assumptions covering price inflation, benefit and salary increases together with the discount rate used. The size of the scheme assets is also sensitive to asset return levels and the level of contributions from the Group and Company. Further details are set out in note 33.
The Group and Company is a participating employer in the Merchant Navy Officer Pension Fund (MNOPF), a multi-employer defined benefit pension scheme. The MNOPF is in deficit. Under the rules of the fund all employers are jointly and severally liable for the deficit. The deficit included in the Financial Statements for the Group and Company represents an apportionment of the overall scheme deficit based on notification received from the trustees which is currently 1.53% for the Group and 0.51% for the Company, less any deficit payments made. Should other participating employers’ default on their obligations, the Group and Company will be required to absorb a larger share of the scheme deficit calculated in the same manner as the current apportionment.
Useful lives for property, plant and equipment
Long-lived assets comprising primarily of property, plant and equipment represent a significant portion of total assets. The annual depreciation and amortisation charge depends primarily on the estimated lives of each type of asset and, in certain circumstances, estimates of residual values. Management regularly reviews these lives and change them if necessary to reflect current conditions. In determining these useful lives management considers technological change, patterns of consumption, physical condition and expected economic utilisation of the asset. Changes in the useful lives or residual values may have a significant impact on the annual depreciation and amortisation charge. Details of the useful lives are included in the accounting policy headed property, plant and equipment. Further details are set out in note 13.
Critical accounting judgements
Impairment
The Group assessed its property, plant and equipment and intangible assets to determine if there were any indications of impairment. Factors considered in identifying whether there were any indications of impairment included the economic performance of assets, technological developments, new rules and regulations, shipbuilding costs and carrying value versus market capitalisation of the Group. No internal or external indications of impairment were identified for any material asset and consequently no impairment review was performed.
Leases – non-cancellable lease term and incremental borrowing rate
The Group has applied judgement in determining the non-cancellable term of the lease, together with any periods covered by an option to extend the lease if it is reasonably certain to be exercised, or any periods covered by an option to terminate the lease, if it is reasonably certain not to be exercised. 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 right of use assets recognised. The Group also applies judgement in estimating the incremental borrowing rate applicable to a lease.
Leases – incremental borrowing rate
The Group has applied judgement in estimating the incremental borrowing rate applicable to long-term land leases with terms ranging from 77 to 103 years, periods significantly beyond normal borrowing periods available to the Group and in the market generally. In these circumstances the incremental borrowing rate was estimated through a combination of consideration of longer-term property yields and extrapolation of corporate bond yields for an equivalent duration of the underlying lease.
Going Concern
The Directors have satisfied themselves that the Group and Company are going concerns having adequate financial resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. In forming their view the Directors have taken into consideration the future financial requirements of the Group and Company and available financial resources comprising cash and available undrawn loan facilities.