Note 2 - Critical estimates and assessment concerning the use of accounting principles
When it prepares the consolidated accounts the management team makes estimates, discretionary assessments and assumptions which influence the application of accounting principles. This accordingly affects recognised amounts for assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses. Last year’s annual accounts give a closer explanation of significant estimates and assumptions in Note 3 Critical estimates and assessments concerning the use of accounting principles.
Pensions
The Group has not obtained a new calculation of pensions as of 30 September since no factors have been identified that significantly alter the pension liability. For a further description of the various pension schemes, see note 25 in the 2014 annual report.
Takeover of shares of SpareBank 1 Markets
SpareBank 1 SMN integrated its markets business with SpareBank 1 Markets against settlement in shares on 1 April 2015. SpareBank 1 SMN accordingly owns 73.4 per cent (27.3 per cent) of the shares of SpareBank 1 Markets and the company is consolidated as from the second quarter of 2015. Other owners are SpareBank 1 Nord-Norge (10.0 per cent), Samarbeidende Sparebanker (10.0 per cent), Sparebanken Hedmark (6.1 per cent) and other owners (0.6 per cent). The owners wish to strengthen a fully-fledged range of products and services in their market segment and to achieve coordination gains.
An acquisition analysis has been prepared in accordance with IFRS 3 in which identifiable assets and liabilities are valued at their fair value on the acquisition date. The difference between the Group's acquisition cost and the book value of the net assets of SpareBank 1 Markets results in an income recognition of about NOK 20 million in the Group accounts for the second quarter. In addition a new cost price is established for a previous asset resulting in income recognition of about NOK 16 million in the Group accounts. In the parent bank's accounts, sale of the markets business entails recognition of NOK 183 million as income. In addition, the shareholding in SpareBank 1 SMN Markets is written down by NOK 28 million at the parent bank.
Stake in SpareBank 1 Finans Midt-Norge reduced
As of June 2015 the subsidiary SpareBank 1 Finans Midt-Norge acquired eight new SamSpar banks as partners and owners. Sparebank 1 Nordvest and Sparebank 1 Søre Sunnmøre were already on the owner side, so that Samarbeidende Sparebanker now has a stake of 27.9 per cent. SpareBank 1 SMN reduced its holding in the company from 90.1 per cent to 72.1 per cent. With Samarbeidende Sparebanker on the owner side, the company has a presence in ten different counties dispersed across Mid- and South Norway, Nord-trøndelag and Sør-trøndelag, Møre og Romsdal, Sogn og Fjordane, Oppland, Buskerud, Telemark, Akershus, Vestfold and Østfold.
