ÖBB Annual Report 2023

316 88 Auditor’s Report* Report on the Consolidated Financial Statements Audit Opinion We have audited the consolidated financial statements of Österreichische Bundesbahnen-Holding Aktien- gesellschaft, Vienna and of its subsidiaries (the Group) comprising the consolidated statement of financial position as of December 31, 2023, the consolidated statement of profit or loss and other comprehensive income, the consolidated statement of changes in equity and the consolidated statement of cash flows for the fiscal year then ended and the notes to the consolidated financial statements. Based on our audit the accompanying consolidated financial statements were prepared in accordance with the legal regulations and present fairly, in all material respects, the assets and the financial position of the Group as of December 31, 2023 and cashflows and its financial performance for the year then ended in accordance with the International Financial Reportings Standards (IFRSs) as adopted by EU, and the additional requirements under Section 245a Austrian Company Code UGB. Basis for Opinion We conducted our audit in accordance with Austrian Standards on Auditing. Those standards require that we comply with International Standards on Auditing (ISA). Our responsibilities under those regulations and standards are further described in the “Auditor’s Responsibilities for the Audit of the Consolidated Financial Statements” section of our report. We are independent of the Group in accordance with the Austrian General Accepted Accounting Principles and profes- sional requirements and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained until the date of this auditor’s report is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion by this date. Other Information Management is responsible for the other information. The other information comprises the information included in the annual report but does not include the consolidated financial statements, the Group’s management report and the auditor’s report thereon. The annual report is estimated to be provided to us after the date of the auditor’s report. Our opinion on the consolidated financial statements does not cover the other information 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, as soon as it is available, and, in doing so, to consider whether – based on our knowledge obtained in the audit – the other information is materially inconsistent with the consolidated financial statements or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. Responsibilities of Management Audit Committee for the Consolidated Financial Statements Management is responsible for the preparation of the consolidated financial statements in accordance with IFRS as adopted by the EU, and the additional requirements under Section 245a Austrian Company Code UGB for them to present a true and fair view of the assets, the financial position and the financial performance of the Group and for such internal controls as management determines are necessary to enable the preparation of consolidated financial state- ments that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error. In preparing the consolidated financial statements, management is responsible for assessing the Group’s ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless management either intends to liquidate the Group or to cease operations, or has no realistic alternative but to do so. The Audit Committee is responsible for overseeing the Group’s financial reporting process.