4.2.3 Contingency events & Business continuity disruption

3.3.10. Equity

Share capital – transaction costs

Transaction costs in respect of the issuing of capital are deducted from the capital received.

Dividends

Dividends are recognised as a liability in the period in which they are declared. 3.3.11. Financial liabilities

Financial liabilities consist of interest-bearing loans and borrowings in the Group. They are initially recognised at fair value, less related transaction costs. Subsequent to initial recognition, interest-bearing loans and borrowings are stated at amortised cost price with any difference between amount at initial recognition and redemption value being recognised in profit or loss over the period of the loans on an effective interest basis.

3.3.12. Employee benefits

Defined-contribution plans

In Belgium, contribution-based promises, called defined-contribution pension plans under Belgian pension legislation, are classified as defined-benefit plans for accounting purposes due to the legal minimum return to be guaranteed by the employer. Before 01/01/2016, the legal minimum return was 3.75% on the employee contributions, 3.25% on the employer contributions and 0% for the deferreds.

As from 01/01/2016, the legal minimum return is a variable rate between 1.75% and 3.75%. The interest rate is automatically adapted on January 1st of each year based on the average return OLO 10 years over 24 months, with 1.75% as a minimum. As from 01/01/2016, the legal minimum return is 1.75% on employee and employer contributions and 0% for the deferreds.

As the plans are funded via a pension fund, the vertical approach is applied, meaning that 1.75% is applied on all the reserves (even before 2016).

The employer needs to finance the deficits related to the LSP (“Law on Supplementary Pensions) guarantee at any time for the employee contract and at the moment the vested reserves are transferred in case of departure, retirement or liquidation of the pension for the employer contract.

For each plan, the fair value of assets equals the sum of the accrued individual reserves (if any) and the value of the collective fund(s) (if any).

The Defined-Benefit Obligation (DBO) was determined following the Projected Unit credit (PUC) method. Depending on the plan formula (if the plan is backloaded or not), the premiums are projected or not.

The calculation is performed by an accredited actuary.

Defined-benefit plans

For defined-benefit plans, the pension expenses for each plan are assessed separately on an annual basis by accredited actuaries using the projected unit credit method. The estimated future benefit that employees have earned in return for their service in the current and previous periods is discounted to determine its present value, and the fair value of any plan assets is deducted. The discount rate is the interest rate, at the end of the reporting period on high-quality bonds that have maturity dates approximately equivalent to the terms of the Group's obligations and that are denominated in the currency in which the benefits are expected to be paid.

When the benefits of a plan are improved, the portion of the increased benefit relating to past service by employees is recognised as an expense in profit or loss at the earlier of the following dates: • when the plan amendment or curtailment occurs; or • when the entity recognises related restructuring costs under IAS 37 or termination benefits.

Where the calculation results in a benefit to the Group, the recognised asset is limited to the present value of any future refunds from the plan or reductions in future contributions to the plan.

Remeasurements – comprising actuarial gains and losses, the effect of the asset ceiling (excluding amounts included in net interest on the net defined benefit liability) and the return on plan assets (excluding amounts included in net interest on the net defined benefit liability) – are recognised immediately in the statement of financial position with a corresponding debit or credit to retained earnings through OCI in the period in which they occur. Remeasurements are not reclassified to profit or loss in subsequent periods.

Reimbursement rights

Reimbursement rights are recognised as a separate asset when, and only when, it is virtually certain that another party will reimburse some or all of the expenditure required to settle the corresponding benefit obligation. Reimbursement rights are presented as noncurrent assets under other financial assets and are measured at fair value. These rights are handled the same as the corresponding defined-benefit obligation. When the changes in the period result from changes in financial assumptions or from experience adjustments or changes in demographic assumptions, then the asset is adjusted through OCI. The components of the defined-benefit cost are recognised net of amounts relating to changes in the carrying amount of the rights to reimbursement.

Other long-term employee benefits

The Group's net obligation in respect of long-term service benefits other than pension plans is assessed on an annual basis by accredited actuaries. The net obligation is calculated using the projected unit credit method and is the amount of future benefit that employees have earned in return for their service in the current and previous periods. The obligation is discounted to its present value, and the fair value of any related assets is deducted. The discount rate is the yield, at the end of the reporting period, on high-quality