Annual Report 2025 – ÖBB-Infrastruktur AG

ÖBB-Infrastruktur Aktiengesellschaft Consolidated Management Report | Consolidated Financial Statements 181 effects in conjunction with a Pillar II top-up tax or a qualified domestic minimum top-up tax (national supplementary tax). Application of a top-up tax for the ÖBB-Infrastruktur Group is not applicable because ÖBB-Infrastruktur AG does not qualify as an ultimate parent entity within the meaning of the regulation. Rather, the top-up tax applies at the level of ÖBB-HoldingAG. At the local level, there could be cases of application for Group companies of ÖBB-Infrastruktur AG due to possible national top-up taxes. The ÖBB Group is continuously reviewing the effects of the legislation on the Pillar II rules on the future profitability of the Group. The analysis did not result in any amounts of minimum tax (top-up tax) payable on the profits of subsidiaries domiciled in countries where the statutory tax rate is below the minimum tax rate of 15%. The exemption clause set out in IAS 12, according to which no deferred taxes are recognised that arise from the introduction of global minimum taxation, is applied. Use of estimates and judgements In the process of preparing the consolidated financial statements, the Management Board must make estimates and assumptions that may influence the amount of the reported assets and liabilities, the stated contingent liabilities on the balance-sheet date and the expenses and income during the reporting period. The actual values may differ from these estimates. All estimates and judgements are regularly updated and are based on historical experience and other factors, including expectations of future events that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. In applying the accounting policies of the ÖBB Group, the Board of Management makes judgements and estimates, for example, in applying hedge accounting, in assessing the transfer of relevant risks in leasing transactions, in assessing the extent to which renewal or termination options are exercised as lessee in assessing the term of leases, estimating additional cost requirements from construction projects and in recognising and accounting for federal grants pursuant to Sections 41 f Federal Railways Act. In addition, the Management Board has made important forward-looking assumptions as of the reporting date and identified significant sources of estimation uncertainty as of the reporting date that entail a risk of significant changes to the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities in the next financial year: a. Employee benefit plans Obligations for severance payments and anniversary bonuses are measured by applying parameters such as the expected discount rate, long-term rate of compensation increases, and staff turnover. If the development of the relevant parameters differs significantly from the expectations, this can have a decisive effect on the provisions and, as a result, on the net personnel expenses for severance payments and anniversary bonuses of the ÖBB-Infrastruktur Group. In both financial years, the discount percentage, salary increases and fluctuations were adjusted to the new circumstances for long-term personnel provisions (severance payments and anniversaries). The effect of possible changes in parameters is stated in Note 26.1. b. Estimated useful lives of property, plant and equipment and intangible assets The useful lives are determined based on the company's circumstances, assuming normal maintenance. Actual use may differ from these estimates. A sensitivity analysis showed that a change in the useful life (remaining useful life) of +/- 1 year would increase depreciation by approximately EUR 145.6 million (previous year: approximately EUR 141.4 million) or decrease it by approximately EUR 103.8 million (previous year: approximately EUR 102.0 million). The appropriateness of the useful lives is reviewed annually or as circumstances require. As a matter of principle, the defined useful lives apply unchanged for 2025. In the 2025 financial year, the useful life of platforms was extended from 20 to 30 years. This has decreased the annual depreciation by approximately EUR 15.9 million. This was a change of estimation that was applied prospectively. c. Provisions Provisions are measured at the best estimate of the expenditure required to settle the obligation at the reporting date or to transfer the obligation to a third party at the reporting date. The track access and service charges levied by ÖBB-Infrastruktur AG are subject to (ex post) scrutiny by the Rail Control Commission (SCK). In the context of regulatory proceedings initiated either ex officio or on the basis of a complaint lodged by a railway infrastructure capacity applicant, the Rail Control Commission (SCK) reviews as to whether these charges comply with the provisions of Part 6 (“Regulation of the Rail Transport Market”) of the Austrian Railway Act (Eisenbahngesetz) and with directly applicable European Union legislation governing the regulation of the rail transport market. In the event of a deviation from these provisions, the fees may be adjusted by way of a formal decision, which may result in a refund of fees (an additional claim for fees is also conceivable, but legally contentious).