3. Significant accounting judgments, estimates, and assumptions

The application of accounting and measurement methods in preparing the Consolidated Financial Statements requires management to make certain accounting judgments, estimates, and assumptions. These have an effect on the disclosed amounts of earnings, expenditure, assets and liabilities, as well as contingent liabilities, as of the reporting date. Actual amounts may differ from these estimates and assumptions, which may lead in future to significant adjustments to the carrying amounts of the assets and liabilities concerned.

Judgments, estimates, and assumptions

In the application of accounting and measurement methods, management made the following accounting judgments which significantly affect amounts in the Annual Financial Statements.

The most important forward-looking assumptions and other major sources of uncertainty as of the reporting date, which involve the risk of significant adjustments to the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities in the coming fiscal year, are explained below.

Revenue recognition

The standalone selling prices for hardware are determined on the basis of the adjusted market assessment approach, which requires an estimate of the relevant market prices for the respective hardware. Changes in these estimates may affect the allocation of the transaction price to the individual performance obligations and thus also affect the amount and timing of revenue recognition.

In addition, various other assumptions and estimates are made during application of the portfolio approach, which are based on past experience and available knowledge at the end of the reporting period. Changes in these assumptions and estimates in their entirety can also have a material effect on the amount and timing of revenue recognition.

Costs of contract fulfillment and contract initiation

The calculation of the estimated amortization periods for contract costs is based on past experience and subject to significant uncertainties, in particular with regard to unforeseen customer or technology developments. A change in the estimated amortization period affects the timing of the recognition. The carrying amount of capitalized contract initiation and contract fulfillment costs as of December 31, 2019 amounted to € 283,162k (prior year: € 290,956k).

Measurement of non-listed equity instruments

Measuring the fair value of a non-listed equity instrument not only takes into account past experience of the company in question but also expectations of its probable future development. These expectations are based on numerous assumptions and the measurement of fair value is therefore subject to significant uncertainties. The carrying amount of non-listed equity instruments as of December 31, 2019 amounted to € 44,622k (prior year: € 42,796k).

Impairment of non-financial assets

Goodwill and other intangible assets with indefinite useful lives, as well as non-usable assets with finite useful lives, are assessed at least once a year or on indication of impairment. Other non-financial assets are tested for impairment if there is any indication that the carrying value exceeds the recoverable amount. The recoverable value of the respective cash-generating unit to which the goodwill or intangible assets have been allocated is calculated either as “value-in-use” or fair value less cost of sell. As of December 31, 2019, the carrying amount of goodwill was € 3,616,515k (prior year: € 3,612,634k).

In order to estimate value-in-use or fair value less cost of sell, management must estimate expected future cash flows of the asset or cash-generating unit and select a suitable discount rate to assess the present value of these cash flows. Further details, including a sensitivity analysis of significant assumptions, are presented in the Note “Impairment of goodwill and intangible assets with indefinite useful lives”.

The most important management assumptions for the measurement of the recoverable value of cash-generating units include assumptions regarding the development of sales, margins, and the discount rate.

Carrying amounts and impairment test for investments in associated companies

As of the reporting date, the United Internet Group holds investments in various associated companies. If the consideration for the acquisition of the shares is made by contributing a subsidiary or other investment, the acquisition costs of the associated company are to be determined by means of a company valuation. This valuation is closely related to the assumptions and estimates made by management with respect to the future development of the respective company and the applicable discount rate.

In accordance with IAS 28.31, the Group examines on the reporting date whether the net investment of the United Internet Group in the respective associated company requires an additional impairment charge.

The carrying amount for shares in associated companies is measured on the basis of their prorated annual results. If the annual results for the fiscal year are not known, an estimate is made on the basis of the latest publicly available financial information of the respective associated company.

The recoverable amounts of listed associated companies is based on the respective share price. The recoverable amounts of non-listed companies consider both the available past experience for the respective company and expectations of its future development. As these expectations are based on numerous assumptions, the calculation of recoverable amounts depends on discretionary factors. As of December 31, 2019, the carrying value of investments in listed associated companies amounted to € 106,639k (prior year: € 105,502k). The carrying value of investments in non-listed associated companies as of December 31, 2019 amounted to € 89,397k (prior year: € 101,354k).

Share-based payments

The Group measures the cost of granting equity instruments to employees by using the fair value of these equity instruments at the moment they were granted. A suitable measurement model must be used to estimate fair value when granting equity instruments; this depends on the contractual terms. Suitable data must also be chosen for the valuation process, including the expected option term, volatility, exercise behavior, and dividend yield, as well as the corresponding assumptions.

In the reporting period, expenses for share-based remuneration (stock appreciation rights and employee stock ownership plan) amounted to € 8,510k (prior year: € 7,182k).

Taxes

Uncertainties exist with respect to the interpretation of complex tax regulations and the amount and timing of future taxable income. Given the complexity of existing contractual agreements, differences arising between the actual results and the assumptions made, or future changes to such assumptions, could necessitate future adjustments to tax income and expense already recorded. The Group establishes provisions, based on reasonable estimates, for possible consequences of audits by the tax authorities of the respective counties in which it operates.

The amount of such provisions is based on various factors, such as experience of previous tax audits and differing interpretations of tax regulations by the taxable entity and the responsible tax authority. Such differences of interpretation may arise on a wide variety of issues depending on the conditions prevailing in the respective Group company's domicile. The carrying value of income tax liabilities as of December 31, 2019 amounted to € 91,680k (prior year: € 187,938k) and, as in the previous year, mainly related to current taxes of the fiscal year.

Deferred tax assets are recognized for unused tax losses to the extent that it is probable that taxable profit will be available against which the losses can be utilized. Significant management judgement is required to determine the amount of deferred tax assets that can be recognized, based upon the likely timing and the level of future taxable profits, together with future tax planning strategies.

Trade accounts receivable and contract assets

Trade accounts receivable and contract assets are carried in the balance sheet less impairment charges made. Allowances for doubtful claims are made on the basis of expected credit losses by means of regular reviews as well as valuations conducted as part of credit monitoring. Assumptions concerning the payment behavior and creditworthiness of customers are subject to significant uncertainties. The carrying value of trade accounts receivable as of December 31, 2019 amounted to € 403,701k (prior year: € 409,656k). The carrying value of contract assets as of December 31, 2019 amounted to € 682,079k (prior year: € 595,784k).

Inventories

Inventories are valued at the lower of cost and net realizable value. Net realizable value comprises the estimated sales proceeds less the necessary expected costs up to the time of sale. Measurement is also based in part on writedowns for inventories. The size of such writedowns represents a best-possible estimation of net realizable value and is thus subject to uncertainties. The carrying amounts of

inventories as of the reporting date amounted to € 79,268k (prior year: € 89,617k). Please refer to Note 21 for further information.

Property, plant, and equipment, and intangible assets

Property, plant, and equipment, and intangible assets are valued at cost on initial recognition. After initial recognition, property, plant, and equipment, and intangible assets with limited useful lives are depreciated over their expected economic useful lives using the straight-line method. Expected useful lives are based on historical experience and thus subject to significant uncertainties, especially with regard to unforeseen technological developments. The carrying value of tangible and intangible assets amounted to € 2,936,069k as of December 31, 2019 (prior year without right-of-use assets: € 1,865,882k). This amount includes spectrum licenses of € 1,070,187k (prior year: € 0k)

Right-of-use assets and lease liabilities

For the duration of the lease, a right-of-use asset in the amount of the present value of the future lease payments plus initial direct costs, advance payments, and restoration costs, and less incentive payments received is capitalized and amortized over the term of the lease. At the same time, a lease liability is recognized in the amount of the future lease payments less the interest portion. In order to determine the term of leases, estimates regarding future utilization are required, particularly in the case of agreements with extension and termination options. The incremental borrowing rate is used to measure right-of-use assets and lease liabilities. The incremental borrowing rate is determined on the basis of reference interest rates for a period of up to 17 years from risk-free interest rates with appropriate maturities, plus credit risk premiums.

Accounting for business combinations

Business combinations are accounted for using the purchase method. Goodwill arising from a business combination is initially measured at cost, being the excess of the acquisition cost of the operation over the fair value of the identifiable assets, liabilities, and contingent liabilities acquired. Costs accrued in the course of the business combination are recognized under other operating expense.

However, assumptions made to determine the respective fair value of the acquired assets and liabilities as of the date of acquisition are subject to significant uncertainties. For the identification of intangible assets, depending on the type of intangible asset and complexity of determining its fair value, the Company either uses independent appraisals of external assessors or fair value is determined internally using a suitable assessment technique for the respective intangible asset, generally based on a forecast of total expected future cash flow generation. These valuations are closely related to assumptions and estimates which management has made about the future development of the respective assets and the applicable discounted interest rate.

Provisions

Provisions are formed if the Group has a legal or actual obligation resulting from a past event which will probably give rise to the outflow of resources with an economic benefit to fulfill the obligation, provided that the level of the obligation can be reliably estimated. Such estimates are subject to significant uncertainties. The carrying value of provisions as of December 31, 2019 amounted to € 86,022k (prior year: € 124,440k).