B. Critical Accounting Policies

Critical accounting policies involving a high degree of judgement or complexity, or areas where assumptions and estimates are material, are disclosed in the paragraphs below.

(a) Use of estimates and judgement

When preparing the financial statements, it is necessary for the Management of the Company to make estimates and certain assumptions that can influence the valuation of the assets and liabilities and the outcome of the income statement. The actual outcome may differ from these estimates and assumptions, due to changes in facts and circumstances. Estimates and judgements are continually evaluated and are based on historical experience and other factors, including expectations of future events that are believed to be reasonable.

Estimates:

Significant areas of estimation and uncertainty in applying accounting policies that have the most significant impact on amounts recognized in the financial statements are:

The measurement and recognition of revenues on construction contracts based on the input method:

Revenue of the Company is measured and recognized based on the input method (i.e. costs incurred). Costs and revenue at completion are reviewed periodically throughout the life of the contract. This requires a large number of estimates, especially of the total expected costs at completion, due to the complex nature of the Company’s construction contracts. Judgement is also required for the accounting of contract modifications and claims from clients where negotiations or discussions are at a sufficiently advanced stage. Costs and revenue (and the resulting gross margin) at completion reflect, at each reporting period, the Management’s current best estimate of the probable future benefits and obligations associated with the contract. The policy for measurement of transaction price including variable considerations (i.e. claims, performance-based incentives) is included below in the point (d) Revenue.

In case a contract meets the definition of an onerous contract as per IAS 37, provisions for anticipated losses are made in full in the period in which they become known.

Impairments:

Assumptions and estimates used in the discounted cash flow model and the adjusted net present value model to determine the value in use of assets or group of assets (e.g. discount rates, residual values and business plans) are subject to uncertainty. There is a possibility that changes in circumstances or in market conditions could impact the recoverable amount of the asset or group of assets.

The anticipated useful life of the leased facilities under an operating lease:

Management uses its experience to estimate the remaining useful life of an asset. The actual useful life of an asset may be impacted by an unexpected event that may result in an adjustment to the carrying amount of the asset.

Uncertain income tax treatment:

The Company is subject to income taxes in multiple jurisdictions. Significant judgement is required in determining the Company’s overall income tax liability. There are many transactions and calculations for which the ultimate tax determination is uncertain during the ordinary course of business. The Company takes into account the following considerations when determining the liabilities related to uncertain income tax treatment:

When necessary the Company engages with local tax advisers which provide advice on the expected view of tax authorities on the treatment of judgmental areas of income tax;
The Company considers any changes in tax legislation and knowledge built based on prior cases to make an estimate/judgement on whether or not to provide for any tax payable; and
The Company takes into account any dispute resolutions, case law and discussions between peer companies and the tax authorities on similar cases over an uncertain tax treatment.

The Company consistently monitors each issue around uncertain income tax treatments across the group in order to ensure that the Company applies sufficient judgement to the resolution of tax disputes that might arise from examination by relevant tax authorities of the Company’s tax position.

The Company recognizes liabilities for anticipated tax audit issues based on estimates of whether additional taxes will be due. The income tax liabilities include any penalties and interest that could be associated with a tax audit issue. Where the final tax outcome of these matters is different from the amounts that were initially recorded, such differences will influence the income tax and deferred tax provisions in the period in which such determination is made.

The Company’s exposure to litigation and non-compliance:

The Company identifies and provides analysis on a regular basis of current litigation and measures, when necessary, provisions based on its best estimate of the expenditure required to settle the obligations, taking into account information available and different possible outcomes at the reporting date.

The warranty provision:

A warranty provision is accrued during the construction phase of projects, based on historical warranty expenditure per product type. At the completion of a project, a warranty provision (depending on the nature of the project) is therefore provided for and reported as provision in the statement of financial position. Following the acceptance of a project the warranty provision is released over the warranty period. For some specific claims formally notified by the customer and which can be reliably estimated, an amount is provided in full and without discounting. An overall review of the warranty provision is performed by Management at each reporting date. Nevertheless, considering the specificity of each asset, actual warranty expenditures could vary significantly from one project to another and therefore differ materially from initial statistical warranty provision provided at the completion of a said project.

The timing and estimated cost of demobilization:

The estimated future costs of demobilization are reviewed on a regular basis and adjusted when appropriate. Nevertheless, considering the long-term expiry date of the obligations, these costs are subject to uncertainty. Cost estimates can vary in response to many factors, including for example new demobilization techniques, the Company’s own experience on demobilization operations, future changes in laws and regulations, and timing of demobilization operation.

Estimates and assumptions made in determining these obligations, can therefore lead to significant adjustments to the future financial results. Nevertheless, the cost of demobilization obligations at the reporting date represent Management’s best estimate of the present value of the future costs required.

Significant estimates and judgements in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic:

During the 2020 financial year, the COVID-19 pandemic situation resulted in the Company reassessing significant estimates and judgments. The following key areas were identified as potentially affected by the COVID-19 pandemic:

Key assumptions used in the impairment test of assets or group of assets;
Expected credit losses; and
Additional costs in order to satisfy the performance obligations on some of the construction contracts mainly due to expected limited delay in the project delivery following lockdown periods, international travel restrictions and remote working

The impact of COVID-19 on the impairment of the tangible assets is disclosed in note 4.3.13 Property, Plant and Equipment. Regarding the Company’s considerations for estimation of expected credit losses, refer to note 4.3.8 Net Impairment Gains/(Losses) on Financial and Contract Assets. In relation to the impact of additional costs incurred due to COVID-19 when satisfying the Company’s performance obligations we refer to note 4.3.3 Revenue.

Judgements:

In addition to the above estimates, the Management exercises the following judgements:

Lease classification as Lessor:

When the Company enters into a new lease arrangement, the terms and conditions of the contract are analyzed in order to assess whether or not the Company retains the significant risks and rewards of ownership of the asset subject of the lease contract. To identify whether risks and rewards are retained, the Company systematically considers, among others, all the examples and indicators listed by IFRS 16.63 on a contract-by-contract basis. By performing such analysis, the Company makes significant judgement to determine whether the arrangement results in a finance lease or an operating lease. This judgement can have a significant effect on the amounts recognized in the consolidated financial statements and its recognition of profits in the future. The most important judgement areas assessed by the Company are (i) determination of the fair value, (ii) determination of the useful life of the asset and (iii) the probability of the client exercising the purchase or termination option (if relevant).

(b) Leases: accounting by lessor

A lease is an agreement whereby the lessor conveys to the lessee, in return for a payment, or series of payments, the right to use an asset for an agreed period of time.

Leases in which a significant portion of the risk and rewards of ownership are retained by the lessor are classified as operating leases. Under an operating lease, the asset is included in the statement of financial position as property, plant and equipment. Lease income is recognized over the term of the lease on a straight-line basis. This implies the recognition of deferred income when the contractual day rates are not constant during the initial term of the lease contract.

When assets are leased under a finance lease, the present value of the lease payments is recognized as a finance lease receivable. Under a finance lease, the difference between the gross receivable and the present value of the receivable is recognized as revenue during the lease phase. Lease income is, as of the commencement date of the lease contract, recognized over the term of the lease using the net investment method, which reflects a constant periodic rate of return. During the construction phase of the facility, the contract is accounted for as a construction contract.

(c) Impairment of non-financial assets

Under certain circumstances, impairment tests must be performed. Assets that are subject to amortization or depreciation are tested for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable.

The recoverable amount is the higher of an asset’s Cash Generating Unit’s (’CGU’) fair value less costs of disposal and its value-in-use. The recoverable amount is determined for an individual asset, unless the asset does not generate cash inflows that are largely independent of those from other assets or group of assets. An impairment loss is recognized for the amount by which the assets or CGU’s carrying amount exceeds its recoverable amount.

In assessing value in use, the estimated future cash flows are discounted to their present value using a pre-tax discount rate that reflects current market assessments of the time value of money and risks specific to the asset. The Company bases its future cash flows on detailed budgets and forecasts.

Non-financial assets, other than goodwill, that have been impaired are reviewed for possible reversal of the impairment at each statement of financial position date.

(d) Revenue

The Company provides design, supply, installation, operation, life extension and demobilization of Floating Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessels. The vessels are either owned and operated by SBM Offshore and leased to its clients (Lease and Operate arrangements) or supplied on a Turnkey sale basis (construction contracts). Even in the latter case, the vessels can be operated by the Company, under a separate operating and maintenance agreement, after transfer to the clients.

Other products of the Company include: semi-submersibles, Tension Leg Platforms (’TLP’), Liquefied Natural Gas FPSOs, Turret Mooring Systems (’TMS’), LNG Regasification to Power vessels, Floating Offshore Wind (’FOW’), brownfield and offshore (off)loading terminals. These products are mostly delivered as construction, lease or service type agreements.

Some contracts include multiple deliverables (such as Front-End Engineering Design (’FEED’), engineering, construction, procurement, installation, maintenance, operating services, demobilization). The Company assesses the level of integration between different deliverables and ability of the deliverable to be performed by another party. Based on this assessment the Company concludes whether the multiple deliverables are one, or separate, performance obligation(s).

The Company determines the transaction price for its performance obligations based on contractually agreed prices. The Company has various arrangements with its customers in terms of pricing, but in principle i) the construction contracts have agreed fixed pricing terms, including fixed lump sums and reimbursable type of contracts, ii) the majority of the Company’s lease arrangements have fixed lease rates and iii) the operating and service type of contracts can be based on fixed lump sums or reimbursable type of contracts. The Lease and Operate contracts generally include a variable component for which the treatment is described below under ’Lease and Operate contracts’. In rare cases when the transaction prices are not directly observable from the contract, they are estimated based on expected cost plus margin (e.g. based on an operating service component in a lease arrangement).

The Company assesses for each performance obligation whether the revenue should be recognized over time or at a point in time, this is explained more in detail under the below sections ’Construction contracts’ and ’Lease and Operate contracts’.

The Company can agree on various payment arrangements which generally reflect the progress of delivered performance obligations. However, if the Company‘s delivered performance obligation exceeds instalments invoiced to the client, a ‘Construction work-in-progress‘ (contract asset) is recognized (see note 4.3.20 Construction Work-In-Progress). If the instalments invoiced to the client exceed the work performed, a contract liability is recognized (see note 4.3.27 Trade and Other Payables).

Revenue policies related to specific arrangements with customers are described below.

Construction contracts:

The Company under its construction contracts usually provides Engineering, Procurement, Construction and Installation (’EPCI’) of vessels. The Company assesses the contracts on an individual basis as per the policy described above. Based on the analysis performed for existing contracts:

The construction contracts generally include one performance obligation due to significant integration of the activities involved; and
Revenue is recognized over time as the Company has an enforceable right to payment for performance completed to date and the assets created have no direct alternative use.

Based on these requirements, the Company concludes that, in principle, construction contracts meet the criteria of revenue to be recognized over time. Revenue is recognized at each period based upon the advancement of the work, using the input method. The input method is based on the ratio of costs incurred to date to total estimated costs. Up to the moment that the Company can reasonably measure the outcome of the performance obligation, revenue is recognized to the extent of cost incurred.

Complex projects that present a high-risk profile due to technical novelty, complexity or pricing arrangements agreed with the client are subject to independent project reviews at advanced degrees of completion in engineering. An independent project review is an internal but independent review of the status of a project based upon an assessment of a range of project management and company factors. Until this point, and when other significant uncertainties related to the cost at completion are mitigated, revenue is recognized to the extent of cost incurred.

Due to the nature of the services performed, variation orders and claims are commonly billed to clients in the normal course of business. The variation orders and claims are modifications of contracts that are usually not distinct and are therefore normally considered as part of the existing performance obligation. When the contract modification (including claims) is initially approved by oral agreement or implied by customary business practice, the Company recognizes revenue only to the extent of contract costs incurred. Once contract modifications and claims are approved, the revenue is no longer capped at the level of costs and is recognized based on the input method.

Generally, the payments related to the construction contracts (under EPCI arrangements) are corresponding to the work completed to date, therefore the Company does not adjust any of the transaction prices for the time value of money. However the time value of money is assessed on a contract by contract basis and in case the period between the transfer of the promised goods or services to the customer and payment by the customer exceeds one year, the financing component is separated from other performance obligations.

Furthermore, finance lease arrangements under which the Company delivers a unit to a client are treated as direct sales (see also point (b) above), therefore revenue is recognized over time during the construction period as the lower of (i) the present value of the purchase option, or (ii) the present value of the lease payments accruing to the lessor, discounted using a market rate of interest. In order to determine the revenue to be recognized based on this policy, the Company determines discounting using a market rate of interest that takes into account among others: time value of money, financing structure and risk profile of a client and project.

Lease and Operate contracts:

The Company provides to its customers possibilities to lease the units under charter contracts. The charter contracts are multi-year contracts and some of them contain options to extend the term of the lease or terminate the lease earlier. Some of the contracts also contain purchase options that are exercisable throughout the lease term.

Charter rates

Charter rates received on long-term operating lease contracts are reported on a straight-line basis over the period of the contract once the facility has been brought into service. The difference between straight-line revenue and the contractual day-rates, which may not be constant throughout the charter, is accounted for as deferred income.

Revenue from finance lease contracts is, as of the commencement date of the lease contract, recognized over the term of the lease using the amortized cost method, which reflects a constant periodic rate of return.

Operating fees

Operating fees are received by the Company for facilitating receipt, processing and storage of petroleum services on board of the facilities which occur continuously through the term of the contract. As such, they are a series of services that are substantially the same and that have the same pattern of transfer to the customer. Revenue is recognized over time based on input methods by reference to the stage of completion of the service rendered either on a straight-line basis for lump sum contracts or in line with cost incurred on reimbursable contracts.

Bonuses/penalties

On some contracts the Company is entitled to receive bonuses (incentives) and incurs penalties depending on the level of interruption of production or processing of oil. Bonuses are recognized as revenue once it is highly probable that no significant reversal of revenue recognized will occur, which is generally the case only once the performance bonus is earned. Penalties are recognized as a deduction of revenue when they become probable. For estimation of bonuses and penalties the Company applies the ‘most likely’ method, where the Company assesses which single amount is the most likely in a range of possible outcomes.

Contract costs

The incremental costs of obtaining a contract with a customer (for example sales commissions) are recognized as an asset. The Company uses a practical expedient that permits to expense the costs to obtain a contract as incurred when the expected amortization period is one year or less. Costs of obtaining a contract that are not incremental are expensed as incurred unless those costs are explicitly chargeable to the customer. Bid, proposal, and selling and marketing costs, as well as legal costs incurred in connection with the pursuit of the contract, are not incremental, as the Company would have incurred those costs even if it did not obtain the contract.

If the costs incurred in fulfilling a contract with a customer are not within the scope of another IFRS standard (e.g. IAS 2 Inventories, IAS 16 Property, Plant and Equipment or IAS 38 Intangible Assets), the Company recognizes an asset for the costs incurred to fulfill a contract only if those costs meet all of the following criteria:

The costs relate directly to a contract or to an anticipated contract that the Company can specifically identify (for example, costs relating to services to be provided under renewal of an existing contract or costs of designing an asset to be transferred under a specific contract that has not yet been approved);
The costs generate or enhance resources of the entity that will be used in satisfying (or in continuing to satisfy) performance obligations in the future; and
The costs are expected to be recovered.

An asset recognized for contract costs is amortized on a systematic basis that is consistent with the transfer to the customer of the goods or services to which the asset relates.

(e) Operating segment information

As per IFRS 8, an operating segment is a component of an entity that engages in business activities from which it may earn revenues and incur expenses, whose segmental operating results are regularly reviewed by the entity’s chief operating decision maker, and for which distinct financial information is available.

The Management Board, as chief operating decision maker, monitors the operating results of its operating segments separately for the purpose of making decisions about resource allocation and performance assessment. Segment performance is evaluated based on revenue, gross margin, EBIT and EBITDA, and prepared in accordance with Directional reporting. The Company has two reportable segments:

The Lease and Operate segment includes all earned day-rates on operating lease and operate contracts.
The Turnkey segment includes revenues from Turnkey supply contracts and after-sales services, which consist mainly of large production systems, large mooring systems, deep water export systems, fluid transfer systems, tanker loading and discharge terminals, design services and supply of special components and proprietary designs and equipment.

No operating segments have been aggregated to form the above reportable operating segments.

The Company’s corporate overhead functions do not constitute an operating segment as defined by IFRS 8 ’Operating segments’ and are reported under the ’Other’ section in note 4.3.2 Operating Segments and Directional Reporting.

Operating segment information is prepared and evaluated based on Directional reporting for which the main principles are explained in note 4.3.2 Operating Segments and Directional Reporting.

(f) Construction work-in-progress

Construction work-in-progress represents the Company‘s contract assets as defined in IFRS 15. Construction work-in-progress is the Company‘s right to consideration in exchange for goods and services that the Company has transferred to the customer. The Company‘s construction work-in-progress is measured as revenue recognizable to date, less invoiced instalments. The Company recognizes any losses from onerous contracts under provisions in line with IAS 37. Further, the impairment of construction work-in-progress is measured, presented and disclosed on the same basis as financial assets that are within the scope of IFRS 9. The Company applies the simplified approach in measuring expected credit losses for construction work-in-progress. In case of construction work-in-progress balances relating to the finance lease contracts, the Company applies the low credit risk simplification of IFRS 9 for the computation of the expected credit loss. The simplification is applied as the credit risk profile of these balances has been assessed as low.

Where instalments received from the customers exceed the value of the performance obligation delivered to the customer, the excess is included in ‘Trade and other payables’ as ‘Contract liability‘.

(g) Demobilization obligations

The demobilization obligations of the Company are either stated in the lease contract or derived from the international conventions and the specific legislation applied in the countries where the Company operates assets. Demobilization costs will be incurred by the Company at the end of the operating life of the Company’s facilities.

For operating leases, the net present value of the future obligations is included in property, plant and equipment with a corresponding amount included in the provision for demobilization. As the remaining duration of each lease reduces, and the discounting effect on the provision unwinds, accrued interest is recognized as part of financial expenses and added to the provision. The subsequent updates of the measurement of the demobilization costs are recognized both impacting the provision and the asset.

In some cases, when the contract includes a demobilization bareboat fee that the Company invoices to the client during the demobilization phase, a receivable is recognized at the beginning of the lease phase for the discounted value of the fee. These receivables are subject to expected credit loss impairment which are analyzed together with the finance lease receivable using the same methodology.

For finance leases, demobilization obligations are analyzed as a component of the sale recognized under IFRS 15. It is determined whether the demobilization obligation should be defined as a separate performance obligation. In that case, because the demobilization operation is performed at a later stage, the related revenue is deferred until the demobilization operations occur. Subsequent updates of the measurement of the demobilization costs are recognized immediately through deferred revenue, for the present value of the change.

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