Report of the statutory auditor to the General Meeting of Sonova Holding AG
Statutory auditorʼs report on the audit of the consolidated financial statements
Opinion
We have audited the consolidated financial statements of Sonova Holding AG and its subsidiaries (the Group), which comprise the consolidated balance sheet as at 31 March 2021 and the consolidated income statement, consolidated statement of comprehensive income, consolidated statement of changes in equity and consolidated statement of cash flows for the year then ended, and notes to the consolidated financial statements, including a summary of significant accounting policies.
In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements give a true and fair view of the consolidated financial position of the Group as at 31 March 2021, and its consolidated financial performance and its consolidated cash flows for the year then ended in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) and comply with Swiss law.
Basis for opinion
We conducted our audit in accordance with Swiss law, International Standards on Auditing (ISAs) and Swiss Auditing Standards. Our responsibilities under those provisions and standards are further described in the Auditorʼs Responsibilities for the Audit of the Consolidated Financial Statements section of our report.
We are independent of the Group in accordance with the provisions of Swiss law and the requirements of the Swiss audit profession, as well as the International Code of Ethics for Professional Accountants (including International Independence Standards) of the International Ethics Standards Board for Accountants (IESBA Code) and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements.
We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.
Key audit matters
Key audit matters are those matters that, in our professional judgment, were of most significance in our audit of the consolidated financial statements of the current period. These matters were addressed in the context of our audit of the consolidated financial statements as a whole, and in forming our opinion thereon, and we do not provide a separate opinion on these matters. For each matter below, our description of how our audit addressed the matter is provided in that context.
We have fulfilled the responsibilities described in the Auditorʼs responsibilities for the audit of the consolidated financial statements section of our report, including in relation to these matters. Accordingly, our audit included the performance of procedures designed to respond to our assessment of the risks of material misstatement of the consolidated financial statements. The results of our audit procedures, including the procedures performed to address the matters below, provide the basis for our audit opinion on the consolidated financial statements.
Goodwill
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Area of focus |
| Our audit response |
As of 31 March 2021, the Group has goodwill of CHF 1,998 million representing 34% of the Group’s total assets. Per note 3.5, goodwill is tested for impairment at least annually. In performing the impairment analysis management applies considerable judgment in respect of future market and economic conditions, such as economic growth, expected inflation rates, demographic developments, expected market share, revenue and margin development of the cash generating units (CGUs) to which goodwill has been allocated. Changes in these assumptions might lead to a change in the carrying value of goodwill. We focused on this area given the significant judgment applied in the assessment process. |
| We assessed and tested the assumptions, including weighted average cost of capital (WACC), methodologies and technical input parameters for the valuation model applied by the Group. We involved our internal valuation specialists to assist us with these audit procedures. In addition, we evaluated the cash flow projections for the CGUs by performing a retrospective assessment of the accuracy of management’s past projections and analyzing management’s business forecasts considering the current Covid-19 environment. In particular, we focused on the sensitivity in the available headroom of the CGUs and whether reasonably possible changes in assumptions could cause the carrying amount of the CGUs to exceed its recoverable amount. Our audit procedures did not lead to any reservations regarding the carrying value of goodwill. |
Provisions for product liabilities
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Area of focus |
| Our audit response |
As of 31 March 2021, the Group has provisions for product liabilities of CHF 111.9 million. Per note 3.7, provisions for product liabilities consider the expected cost for claims in relation to the voluntary recall of cochlear implant products of Advanced Bionics in 2006 and Advanced Bionics voluntary field corrective action regarding cochlear implant products in 2020. Cost include replacement products, medical expenses, compensation for actual damages as well as legal fees. We focused on this area given the uncertainty in the assumptions and estimates of the provision, as it largely depends on the outcome of administrative and legal proceedings. |
| We assessed management’s process of the identification and evaluation of claims and analyzed the calculation models to determine the amount of the provisions for product liabilities. We tested the mathematical accuracy of the model, assessed key input factors such as number of devices in the market, failure rates, claim rates and costs per case. We enquired with the Group’s legal counsel about disputes in relation to product liabilities and analyzed responses from legal letters obtained from third party legal representatives. We also reviewed the Group’s disclosures made in the consolidated financial statements. Our audit procedures did not lead to any reservations regarding the provision for product liabilities. |
Capitalized development costs
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Area of focus |
| Our audit response |
As of March 31, 2021, the Group’s consolidated balance sheet includes capitalized development costs of CHF 125.9 million. As described in note 3.5 (Intangible assets), the Group capitalizes development costs when certain criteria, such as technical feasibility, are met, and it is probable that future economic benefits attributable to the developments will flow to the Group. The criteria for capitalization and impairment assessments are subject to judgment and estimates based on management’s assumptions, including consideration of anticipated technological developments within the hearing industry. We focused on this area given the judgment and complexity involved in the assessment process. |
| We analyzed management’s processes implemented for the initial capitalization of development costs, for the identification of projects that are potentially impaired and for the determination of estimates used for impairment testing of development assets. Our procedures in relation to the recognition and measurement of capitalized development costs included the assessment of the Group’s accounting policies for compliance with IFRS and on a sample basis testing available documentation whether the criteria for capitalization were met. We further reconciled, on a sample basis, the costs capitalized as of 31 March 2021 with the underlying supporting documentation. We reviewed for indications of impairment by assessing key assumptions applied by management by means of comparison with business plans, historic performance and management’s assumptions regarding strategy, product life cycle, anticipated technological developments, market expectations and discount rates for selected development projects. We further tested the arithmetical accuracy of management’s computations. Our audit procedures did not lead to any reservations regarding the capitalization of development costs. |
Other matter
The consolidated financial statements of Sonova Holding AG for the year ended 31 March 2020 were audited by another statutory auditor who expressed an unmodified opinion on those financial statements on 14 May 2020.
Other information in the annual report
The Board of Directors is responsible for the other information in the annual report. The other information comprises all information included in the annual report, but does not include the consolidated financial statements, the stand-alone financial statements and our auditorʼs reports thereon.
Our opinion on the consolidated financial statements does not cover the other information in the annual report and we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon.
In connection with our audit of the consolidated financial statements, our responsibility is to read the other information in the annual report and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the consolidated financial statements or our knowledge obtained in the audit, or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information, we are required to report that fact. We have nothing to report in this regard.
Responsibility of the Board of Directors for the consolidated financial statements
The Board of Directors is responsible for the preparation of the consolidated financial statements that give a true and fair view in accordance with IFRS and the provisions of Swiss law, and for such internal control as the Board of Directors determines is necessary to enable the preparation of consolidated financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.
In preparing the consolidated financial statements, the Board of Directors is responsible for assessing the Groupʼs ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless the Board of Directors either intends to liquidate the Group or to cease operations, or has no realistic alternative but to do so.
Auditorʼs responsibilities for the audit of the consolidated financial statements
Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an auditorʼs report that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance, but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with Swiss law, ISAs and Swiss Auditing Standards will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these consolidated financial statements.
A further description of our responsibilities for the audit of the consolidated financial statements is located at the website of EXPERTsuisse: http://www.expertsuisse.ch/en/audit-report-for-public-companies. This description forms part of our auditorʼs report.
Report on other legal and regulatory requirements
In accordance with article 728a para. 1 item 3 CO and the Swiss Auditing Standard 890, we confirm that an internal control system exists, which has been designed for the preparation of consolidated financial statements according to the instructions of the Board of Directors.
We recommend that the consolidated financial statements submitted to you be approved.
Zurich, 17 May 2021
Ernst & Young Ltd
Martin Mattes
Licensed audit expert
(Auditor in charge)
Pascal Solèr
Licensed audit expert
