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

Sparebank1 SMN Group has one pension arrangements; defined contribution plan. For a further description of the pension scheme, see note 24 in the 2018 annual report.

The group’s pension liabilities are accounted for under IAS 19R. Estimate variances are therefore directly reflected in equity capital and are presented under other comprehensive income. It was decided to terminate the defined benefit scheme at a board meeting on 21 October 2016. Employees on this scheme transferred to the defined contribution scheme from 1 January 2017, and received a paid-up policy showing rights accumulated under the defined benefit scheme. Paid-up policies are managed by the pension fund, which has been a paid-up pension fund as from 1 January 2017. A framework agreement has been established between SpareBank 1 SMN and the pension fund which covers funding, asset management etc. In view of the responsibility still held by SpareBank 1 SMN, future liabilities will need to be incorporated in the accounts. The board of the pension fund is required to be composed of representatives from the Group and participants in the pension schemes in accordance with the articles of association of the pension fund.

A new calculation of the Group’s pension liabilities has been carried out as per 31 December 2019:

Investment held for sale
SpareBank 1 SMN's strategy is that ownership due to defaulted exposures should at the outset be of brief duration, normally not longer than one year. Investments are recorded at fair value in the Parent Bank's accounts, and is classified as investment held for sale.

Acquisition of SpareBank 1 SMN Spire Finans (formerly DeBank)
At 5. February 2019 SpareBank 1 SMN acquired 100 per cent of the shares in SpareBank 1 SMN Spire Finans AS for MNOK 40. The acqusition led to a negative goodwill of MNOK 31 included as a gain in net return of financial investments. The reason for the gain from this transaction is that fair value of net assets is higher than the acqusition cost. The allocation of fair value is distributed as follows: