Key Audit Matter

As per December 31, 2019, revenue from customer contracts amounts to CHF 3,728.5 million, contract assets amount to CHF 355.2 million, contract liabilities to CHF 344.8 million, the balance of work in progress (WIP) amounts to CHF 252.0 million and trade accounts receivable amount to CHF 645.9 million.

Under IFRS 15 revenue is recognised when a performance obligation is satisfied by transferring control over a promised good or service.

Revenue and related costs from long-term customer orders (construction and service contracts) are recognized over time (OT), provided they fulfill the criteria of International Financial Reporting Standards, specifically having the right to payment in case of termination for convenience. The OT method allows recognizing revenues by reference to the stage of completion of the contract. The application of the OT method is complex and requires judgments by management when estimating the stage of completion, total project costs and the costs to complete the work. Incorrect assumptions and estimates can lead to revenue being recognized in the wrong reporting period or in amounts inadequate to the actual stage of completion, and therefore to an incorrect result for the period.

During order fulfillment, contractual obligations may need to be reassessed. In addition, change orders or cancelations have to be considered. As a result, total estimated project costs may exceed total contract revenues and therefore require write-offs of contract assets, receivables and the immediate recognition of the expected loss as a provision.

Regarding the projects recognized at a point in time (PIT), the risks include inappropriate revenue recognition from revenue being recorded in the wrong accounting period or at amounts not justified as well as overstated WIP that requires impairment adjustments.

Our response

Our procedures included, among others, obtaining an understanding of the project execution processes and relevant controls relating to the accounting for customer contracts.

For the revenue recognized throughout the year, we tested selected key controls, including results reviews by management, for their operating effectiveness and performed procedures to gain sufficient audit evidence on the accuracy of the accounting for customer contracts and related financial statement captions.

These procedures included reading significant new contracts to understand the terms and conditions and their impact on revenue recognition. We performed enquiries with management to understand their project risk assessments and inspected meeting minutes from project reviews performed by management to identify relevant changes in their assessments and estimates. We challenged these estimates including comparing estimated project financials between reporting periods and assessed the historical accuracy of these estimates.

On a sample basis, we reconciled revenue to the supporting documentation, validated estimates of costs to complete, tested the mathematical accuracy of calculations and the adequacy of project accounting. We also examined costs included within contract assets on a sample basis by verifying the amounts back to source documentation and tested their recoverability through comparing the net realizable values as per the agreements with estimated cost to complete.

We further performed testing for PIT projects on a sample basis to confirm the appropriate application of revenue recognition policies and to verify valuation of WIP balances. This included reconciling accounting entries to supporting documentation. When doing this, we specifically put emphasis on those transactions occurring close before or after the balance sheet date to obtain sufficient evidence over the accuracy of cut-off.

Key Audit Matter

As per December 31, 2019, provisions in the amount of CHF 67.6 million are held on the balance sheet to cover expected costs arising from product warranties. Additional expected costs to fulfil contract obligations and for onerous contracts are recorded as other provisions.

Sulzer is exposed to claims from customers for not meeting contractual obligations. Remedying measures, addressing technical shortcomings or settlement negotiations with clients may take several months and cause additional costs. The assessment of these costs to satisfy order related obligations contains management assumptions with a higher risk of material misjudgment.

Our response

Based on our knowledge gained through contract and project reviews, we assessed the need for and the accuracy of provisions and deductions in revenue for variable consideration for expected liquidated damages.

We further challenged management’s contract risk assessments by enquiries, inspection of meeting minutes and review of correspondence with customers where available.

Where milestones or contract specifications were not met, we challenged the recognition and appropriateness of variable consideration and provisions by recalculating the amounts, obtaining written management statements and evidence from supporting documents such as correspondence with clients or legal assessments of external counsels where available.

We also took into account the historical accuracy of estimates made by management through retrospective reviews. In order to gain a complete and clear understanding of legal matters we further performed enquiry procedures with the office of Sulzer’s General Counsel and reviewed relevant documents.

Key Audit Matter

As at December 31, 2019, Sulzer’s balance sheet included goodwill amounting to CHF 920.8 million.

Goodwill has to be assessed for impairment on a yearly basis by management using a discounted cash flow model to individually determine the value in use of goodwill balances. This requires the use of a number of key assumptions and judgments, including the estimated future cash flows, long-term growth rates, profitability levels and discount rates applied as well as the determination of the cash generating units (CGUs) for the goodwill impairment testing.

The goodwill balance is significant compared to total assets and there are a number of judgments involved in performing the impairment test. Furthermore, the economic conditions continue to be challenging in some of Sulzer’s key markets, specifically the oil and gas sector. With half of its business within this market segment, Sulzer’s financial performance is significantly affected by the low oil prices and the resulting subdued demand and price pressure from its oil and gas customers.

Our response

As a first step, we assessed the appropriateness of the CGUs identified. Our audit procedures then included, amongst others, evaluating the methodical and mathematical accuracy of the model used for the impairment testing, the appropriateness of the assumptions, and the methodology used by management to prepare its cash flow forecasts. We involved our own valuation specialists to support our procedures.

We thereby focused on those CGUs with the most significant goodwill balances or where reasonably possible changes of key assumptions would lead to an impairment and performed the following procedures amongst others:

We also considered the appropriateness of disclosures in the consolidated financial statements.