Income statement (*)

Statement of comprehensive income

Statement of financial position (*)

Statement of changes in equity

Statement of cash flows

Notes to the financial statements

Note 1 - General information

Reply is specialized in the implementation of solutions based on new communication and digital media. Reply, consisting of a network of specialized companies, assists important European industries belonging to Telco & Media, Manufacturing & Retail, Bank & Insurances and Public Administration sectors, in defining and developing new business models utilizing Big Data, Cloud Computing, CRM, Mobile, Social Media and Internet of Things paradigms. Reply’s services include: consulting, system integration, application management and Business Process Outsourcing. (www.reply.com)

The company mainly carries out the operational coordination and technical management of the group and also the administration, financial assistance and some purchase and marketing activities. Reply also manages business relations for some of its main clients.

Note 2 - Accounting principles and basis of consolidation

Compliance with international accounting principles
The 2022 Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (”IFRS”) issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (”IASB”) and endorsed by the European Union, and with the provisions implementing Article 9 of Legislative Decree No. 38/2005. The designation ”IFRS” also includes all valid International Accounting Standards (”IAS”), as well as all interpretations of the International Financial Reporting Interpretations Committee (”IFRIC”), formerly the Standing Interpretations Committee (”SIC”).

In compliance with European Regulation No. 1606 of 19 July 2002, beginning in 2005, the Reply Group adopted the International Financial Reporting Standards (”IFRS”) for the preparation of its Consolidated Financial Statements. On the basis of national legislation implementing the aforementioned Regulation, those accounting standards were also used to prepare the separate Financial Statements of the Parent Company, Reply S.p.A., for the first time for the year ended 31 December 2006. It is hereby specified that the accounting standards applied conform to those adopted for the preparation of the initial Statement of Assets and Liabilities as at 1 January 2005 according to the IFRS, as well as for the 2005 Income Statement and the Statement of Assets and Liabilities as at 31 December 2005, as re-presented according to the IFRS and published in the special section of these Financial Statements.

General principles
The Financial Statements were prepared under the historical cost convention, modified as required for the measurement of certain financial instruments. The criterion of fair value was adopted as defined by IFRS 9. The Financial Statements have been prepared on the going concern assumption. In this respect, despite operating in a difficult economic and financial environment, the Company’s assessment is that no material uncertainties (as defined in paragraph 25 of IAS 1) exist relative to its ability to continue as a going concern. These Financial Statements are expressed in Euros and are compared to the Financial Statements of the previous year prepared in accordance with the same principles. These Financial Statements have been drawn up under the general principles of continuity, accrual based accounting, coherent presentation, relevancy and aggregation, prohibition of compensation and comparability of information. The fiscal year consists of a twelve (12) month period and closes on the 31 December each year.

Financial statements
The Financial Statements include statement of income, statement of comprehensive income, statement of financial position, statement of changes in shareholders’ equity, statement of cash flows and the explanatory notes. The income statement format adopted by the company classifies costs according to their nature, which is deemed to properly represent the company’s business. The Statement of financial position is prepared according to the distinction between current and non-current assets and liabilities. The statement of cash flows is presented using the indirect method. The most significant items are disclosed in a specific note in which details related to the composition and changes compared to the previous year are provided.

It is further noted that, to comply with the indications provided by Consob Resolution No. 15519 of 27 July 2006 ”Provisions as to the format of Financial Statements”, in addition to mandatory tables, specific supplementary Income Statement and Balance Sheet formats have been added that report significant amounts of positions or transactions with related parties indicated separately from their respective items of reference.

Tangible assets
Tangible fixed assets are stated at cost, net of accumulated depreciation and impairment losses. Goods made up of components, of significant value, that have different useful lives are considered separately when determining depreciation. In compliance with IAS 36 - Impairment of assets, the carrying value is immediately remeasured to the recoverable value, if lower. Depreciation is charged so as to write off the cost or valuation of assets, over their estimated useful lives, using the straight-line method, on the following bases:

Ordinary maintenance costs are fully expensed as incurred. Incremental maintenance costs are allocated to the asset to which they refer and depreciated over their residual useful lives. Improvement expenditures on rented property are allocated to the related assets and depreciated over the shorter between the duration of the rent contract or the residual useful lives of the relevant assets. The gain or loss arising on the disposal or retirement of an asset is determined as the difference between the sales proceeds and the carrying amount of the asset and is recognized in income.

Goodwill
Goodwill is an intangible asset with an indefinite life, deriving from business combinations recognized using the purchase method, and is recorded to reflect the positive difference between purchase cost and the Company’s interest at the time of acquisition of the fair value of the assets, liabilities and identifiable contingent liabilities attributable to the subsidiary. Goodwill is not amortized, but is tested for impairment annually or more frequently if specific events or changes in circumstances indicate that it might be impaired. After initial recognition, goodwill is measured at cost less any accumulated impairment losses. Impairment losses are recognized immediately as expenses that cannot be recovered in the future. Goodwill deriving from acquisitions made prior to the transition date to IFRS are maintained at amounts recognized under Italian GAAP at the time of application of such standards and are subject to impairment tests at such date.

Other intangible assets
Intangible fixed assets are those lacking an identifiable physical aspect, are controlled by the company and are capable of generating future economic benefits. Other purchased and internally-generated intangible assets are recognized as assets in accordance with IAS 38 - Intangible Assets, where it is probable that the use of the asset will generate future economic benefits and where the costs of the asset can be determined reliably. Such assets are measured at purchase or manufacturing cost and amortized on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives, if these assets have finite useful lives. Other intangible assets acquired as part of an acquisition of a business are capitalized separately from goodwill if their fair value can be measured reliably. In case of intangible fixed assets purchased for which availability for use and relevant payments are deferred beyond normal terms, the purchase value and the relevant liabilities are discounted by recording the implicit financial charges in their original price. Expenditure on research activities is recognized as an expense in the period in which it is incurred. Development costs can be capitalized on condition that they can be measured reliably and that evidence is provided that the asset will generate future economic benefits.
An internally-generated intangible asset arising from the company’s e-business development (such as informatics solutions) is recognized only if all of the following conditions are met:

• An asset is created that can be identified (such as software and new processes);

• It is probable that the asset created will generate future economic benefits;

• The development cost of the asset can be measured reliably.

These assets are amortized when launched or when available for use. Until then, and on condition that the above terms are respected, such assets are recognized as construction in progress. Amortization is determined on a straight line basis over the relevant useful lives, on the following basis:

When an internally-generated intangible asset cannot be recorded at balance sheet, development costs are recognized to the statement of income in the period in which they are incurred.

Right of use Assets
According to IFRS 16, the accounting representation of leases (which do not establish the provision of services) takes place through the inclusion in the financial position of a financial liability, represented by the present value of future rents, against the inclusion in the assets of the ‘right of use of the leased asset’. Leases that were previously accounted for under IAS 17 as financial leases, have not changed compared to the current accounting representation, in full continuity with the past.

Contracts that are within the scope of IFRS 16 relate mainly to long term car-rental.

With reference to the options and exemptions provided by IFRS 16, the Company has made the following choices:

• IFRS 16 is not generally applied to intangible assets, short-term contracts (i.e. less than 12 months) and low unit value;

• rights of use and financial liabilities relating to leasing contracts are classified under specific items in the financial position;

• any component relating to the services included in the leasing fees is generally excluded from IFRS 16.

Intangible assets with indefinite useful life
Intangible assets with indefinite useful lives consist principally of acquired trademarks which have no legal, contractual, competitive, economic, or other factors that limit their useful lives. Intangible assets with indefinite useful lives are not amortized, as provided by IAS 36, but are tested for impairment annually or more frequently whenever there is an indication that the asset may be impaired. Any impairment losses are not subject to subsequent reversals.

Impairment
At each balance sheet date, the Company reviews the carrying amounts of its tangible and intangible assets to determine whether there is any indication that those assets have suffered an impairment loss. If any such indication exists, the recoverable amount of the asset is estimated in order to determine the extent of the impairment loss (if any). Where it is not possible to estimate the recoverable amount of an individual asset, the Company estimates the recoverable amount of the cash-generating unit to which the asset belongs. An intangible asset with an indefinite useful life is tested for impairment annually or more frequently, whenever there is an indication that the asset may be impaired.

The recoverable amount of an asset is the higher of fair value less disposal costs and its value in use. In assessing its value in use, the pre-tax estimated future cash flows are discounted to their present value using a pre-tax discount rate that reflects current market assessments of the time value of money and the risks specific to the asset. Its value in use is determined net of tax in that this method produces values largely equivalent to those obtained by discounting cash flows net of tax at a pre-tax discount rate derived, through an iteration, from the result of the post-tax assessment. The assessment is carried out for the individual asset or for the smallest identifiable group of cash generating assets deriving from ongoing use, (the so-called Cash generating unit). With reference to goodwill, Management assesses return on investment with reference to the smallest cash generating unit including goodwill.
If the recoverable amount of an asset (or cash-generating unit) is estimated to be less than its carrying amount, the carrying amount of the asset is reduced to its recoverable amount. Impairment losses are recognized as an expense immediately. When the recognition value of the Cash generating unit, inclusive of goodwill, is higher than the recoverable value, the difference is subject to impairment and attributable firstly to goodwill; any exceeding difference is attributed on a pro-quota basis to the assets of the Cash generating unit.

Where an impairment loss subsequently reverses, the carrying amount of the asset, (or cash-generating unit), with the exception of goodwill, is increased to the revised estimate of its recoverable amount, but so that the increased carrying amount that would have been determined had no impairment loss been recognized for the asset. A reversal of an impairment loss is recognized as income immediately, unless the relevant asset is carried at a revalued amount, in which case the reversal of the impairment loss is treated as a revaluation increase.

Equity investments
Investments in subsidiaries and associated companies are valued using the cost method. As implementation of such method, they are subject to an impairment test if there is any objective evidence that these investments have been impaired, due to one or more events that occurred after the initial measurement if such events have had an impact on future cash flows, thus inhibiting the distribution of dividends. Such evidence exists when the subsidiary’s and associate’s operating margins are repetitively and significantly negative. If such is the case, impairment is recognized as the difference between the carrying value and the recoverable value, normally determined on the basis of fair value less disposal costs, normally determined through the application of the market multiples to prospective EBIT or to the value in use.

At each reporting period, the Company assesses whether there is objective evidence that a write-down due to impairment of an equity investment recognized in previous periods may be reduced or derecognized. Such evidence exists when the subsidiary’s and associate’s operating margins are repetitively and significantly positive. In this case, the recoverable value is re-measured and eventually the investment is restated at initial cost.

Equity investments in other companies, comprising non current financial assets not held for trading, are measured at fair value, if it can be determined. Any subsequent gains and losses resulting from changes in fair value are recognized directly in Shareholders’ equity until the investment is sold or impaired; the total recognized in equity up to that date are recognized in the Income Statement for the period. Minor investments in other companies for which fair value is not available are measured at cost, and adjusted for any impairment losses.

Dividends are recognized as financial income from investments when the right to collect them is established, which generally coincides with the shareholders’ resolution. If such dividends arise from the distribution of reserves prior to the acquisition, these dividends reduce the initial acquisition cost.

Current and non-current financial assets
Financial assets are classified, on the basis of both contractual cash flow characteristics and the entity’s business model for managing them, in the following categories:
(i) financial assets measured at amortized cost;
(ii) financial assets measured at fair value through other comprehensive income (hereinafter also OCI);
(iii) financial assets measured at fair value through profit or loss.

At initial recognition, a financial asset is measured at its fair value; at initial recognition, trade receivables that do not have a significant financing component are measured at their transaction price. After initial recognition, financial assets whose contractual terms give rise to cash flows that are solely payments of principal and interest on the principal amount outstanding are measured at amortized cost if they are held within a business model whose objective is to hold financial assets in order to collect contractual cash flows (the so-called hold to collect business model). For financial assets measured at amortized cost, interest income determined using the effective interest rate, foreign exchange differences and any impairment losses (see the accounting policy for ”Impairment of financial assets”) are recognized in the profit and loss account.
Conversely, financial assets that are debt instruments are measured at fair value through OCI (hereinafter also FVTOCI) if they are held within a business model whose objective is achieved by both collecting contractual cash flows and selling financial assets (the so-called hold to collect and sell business model).
In these cases:
(i) interest income determined using the effective interest rate, foreign exchange differences and any impairment losses (see the accounting policy for ”Impairment of financial assets”) are recognized in the profit and loss account;
(ii) changes in fair value of the instruments are recognized in equity, within other comprehensive income.

The accumulated changes in fair value, recognized in the equity reserve related to other comprehensive income, is reclassified to the profit and loss account when the financial asset is derecognized. A financial asset represented by a debt instrument that is neither measured at amortized cost nor at FVTOCI, is measured at fair value through profit or loss (hereinafter FVTPL); financial assets held for trading fall into this category. Interest income on assets held for trading contributes to the fair value measurement of the instrument and is recognized in ”Finance income (expense)”, within ”Net finance income (expense) from financial assets held for trading”. When the purchase or sale of a financial asset is under a contract whose terms require delivery of the asset within the time frame established generally by regulation or convention in the marketplace concerned, the transaction is accounted for on the settlement date.

Transfer of financial assets
The Company derecognizes financial assets from its Financial Statements when, and only when, the contractual rights to the cash flows deriving from the assets expire or the Company transfers the financial asset. In the case of transfer of the financial asset:

• If the entity substantially transfers all of the risks and benefits of ownership associated with the financial asset, the Company derecognizes the financial asset from the Financial Statements and recognizes separately as assets or liabilities any rights or obligations originated or maintained through the transfer;

• If the Company maintains substantially all of the risks and benefits of ownership associated with the financial assets, it continues to recognize it;

• If the Company does not transfer or maintain substantially all of the risks and benefits of ownership associated with the financial asset, it determines whether or not it has maintained control of the financial asset. In this case:

• If the Company has not maintained control, it derecognizes the financial asset from its Financial Statements and recognizes separately as assets or liabilities any rights or obligations originated or maintained through the transfer;

• If the Company has maintained control, it continues to recognize the financial asset to the extent of its residual involvement with such financial asset.

At the time of removal of financial assets from the balance sheet, the difference between the carrying value of assets and the fees received or receivable for the transfer of the asset is recognized in the income statement.

Trade payables and receivables and other current assets and liabilities
Trade receivables are held within a business model whose objective is achieved by both collecting contractual cash flows and selling financial assets. At initial recognition they are measured at fair value adjusted for transaction costs and subsequently measured at amortized cost determined using the effective interest rate, to account for foreign exchange differences and any impairment losses. At each reporting date, all financial assets, with the exception of those measured at fair value through profit and loss, are analyzed for any impairment indicators. Under IFRS 9, an entity calculates the allowance for credit losses by considering on a discounted basis the cash shortfalls it would incur in various default scenarios for prescribed future periods and multiplying the shortfalls by the probability of each scenario occurring. The allowance is the sum of these probability weighted outcomes. Because every loan and receivable carries with it some risk of default, every such asset has an expected loss attached to it from the moment of its origination or acquisition.

Receivables and payables denominated in non EMU currencies are stated at the exchange rate at period end provided by the European Central Bank.

Cash and cash equivalents
The item cash and cash equivalents includes cash, banks and reimbursable deposits on demand and other short term financial investments readily convertible in cash and are not subject to significant risks in terms of change in value.

Treasury shares
Treasury shares are presented as a deduction from equity. All gains and losses from the sale of treasury shares are recorded in a special Shareholders’ equity reserve.

Financial liabilities and equity investments
Financial liabilities and equity instruments issued by the Company are presented according to their substance arising from their contractual obligations and in accordance with the definitions of financial liabilities and equity instruments. The latter are defined as those contractual obligations that give the right to benefit in the residual interests of the Company’s assets after having deducted its liabilities.
>The accounting standards adopted for specific financial liabilities or equity instruments are outlined below:

• Bank borrowings

Interest-bearing bank loans and overdrafts are recorded at the proceeds received, net of direct issue costs and subsequently stated at its amortized cost, using the prevailing market interest rate method.

• Equity instruments

Equity instruments issued by the Company are stated at the proceeds received, net of direct issuance costs.

• Non current financial liabilities
  

Liabilities are stated according to the amortization cost.

Derivative financial instruments and other hedging transactions
The Company’s activities are primarily subject to financial risks associated with fluctuations in interest rates. Such interest rate risks arise from bank borrowings; In order to hedge such risks the Company’s policy consists of converting fluctuating rate liabilities in constant rate liabilities and treating them as cash flow hedges. The use of such instruments is disciplined by written procedures in line with the Company risk strategies that do not contemplate derivative financial instruments for trading purposes.

In accordance with IFRS 9, derivative financial instruments qualify for hedge accounting only when at the inception of the hedge there is formal designation and sufficient documentation that the hedge is highly effective and that its effectiveness can be reliably measured. The hedge must be highly effective throughout the different financial reporting periods for which it was designated.
All derivative financial instruments are measured in accordance with IFRS 9 at fair value. Changes in the fair value of derivative financial instruments that are designated and effective as hedges of future cash flows relating to Company commitments and forecasted transactions are recognized directly in Shareholder’s equity, while the ineffective portion is immediately recorded in the Income Statement. If the hedged company commitment or forecasted transaction results in the recognition of an asset or liability, then, at the time the asset or liability is recognized, associated gains or losses on the derivative that had previously been recognized in equity are included in the initial measurement of the asset or liability.

For hedges that do not result in the recognition of an asset or a liability, amounts deferred in equity are recognized in the income statement in the same period in which the hedge commitment or forecasted transaction affects net profit or loss, for example, when the future sale actually occurs. For effective hedging against a change in fair value, the hedged item is adjusted by the changes in fair value attributable to the risk hedged with a balancing entry in the Income Statement. Gains and losses arising from the measurement of the derivative are also recognized at the income statement. Changes in the fair value of derivative financial instruments that no longer qualify as hedge accounting are recognized in the Income Statement of the period in which they arise. .

Hedge accounting is discontinued when the hedging instrument expires or is sold, terminated, or exercised or no longer qualifies for hedge accounting. At that time, any cumulative gain or loss on the hedging instrument recognized in equity is retained in equity until the forecasted transaction is no longer expected to occur; the net cumulative gain or loss recognized in equity is transferred to the net profit or loss for the period. Embedded derivatives included in other financial instruments or in other contractual obligations are treated as separate derivatives, when their risks and characteristics are not closely related to those of the financial instrument that houses them and the latter are not measured at fair value with recognition of the relative gains and losses in the Income Statement.

Employee benefits
The scheme underlying the employee severance indemnity of the Italian Group companies (the TFR) was classified as a defined benefit plan up until 31 December 2006. The legislation regarding this scheme was amended by Law No. 296 of 27 December 2006 (the ”2007 Finance Law”) and subsequent decrees and regulations issued in the first part of 2007. In view of these changes, and with specific reference to those regarding companies with at least 50 employees, this scheme only continues to be classified as a defined benefit plan in the Financial Statements for those benefits accruing up to 31 December 2006 (and not yet settled by the balance sheet date), while after that date the scheme is classified as a defined contribution plan.
Employee termination indemnities (”TFR”) are classified as a ”post-employment benefit”, falling under the category of a ”defined benefit plan”; the amount already accrued must be projected in order to estimate the payable amount at the time of employee termination and subsequently be discounted through the ”projected unit credit method”, an actuarial method based on demographic and finance data that allows the reasonable estimate of the extent of benefits that each employee has matured in relation to the time worked. Through actuarial measurement, interest cost is recognized as financial gains or losses and represents the figurative expenditure that the Company would bear by securing a market loan for an amount corresponding to the Employee Termination Indemnities (”TFR”). Actuarial income and losses that reflect the effects resulting from changes in the actuarial assumptions used are directly recognized in Shareholders’ equity.

Share-based payment plans
The Company has applied the standard set out by IFRS 2 ”Share-based payment”. Share-based payments are measured at fair value at granting date. Such amount is recognized in the Income Statement, with a balancing entry in Shareholders’ equity, on a straight-line basis and over the (vesting period). The fair value of the option, measured at the granting date, is assessed through actuarial calculations, taking into account the terms and conditions of the options granted. The stock options resolved in the previous financial years have been exercised and therefore the Company does not have existing stock option plans.

Provisions and reserves for risks
Provisions for risks and liabilities are costs and liabilities having an established nature and the existence of which is certain or probable that at the reporting date the amount cannot be determined or the occurrence of which is uncertain. Such provisions are recognized when a commitment actually exists arising from past events of legal or contractual nature or arising from statements or company conduct that determine valid expectations from the persons involved (implicit obligations). Provisions are recognized when the Company has a present commitment arising from a past event and it is probable that it will be required to fulfil the commitment. Provisions are accrued at the best estimate of the expenditure required to settle the liability at the balance sheet date, and are discounted when the effect is significant.

Revenue recognition
Revenue from contracts with customers is recognized on the basis of the following five steps:

• identifying the contract with the customer;

• identifying the performance obligations, that are promises in a contract to transfer goods and/or services to a customer;

• determining the transaction price;

• allocating the transaction price to each performance obligation on the basis of the relative stand-alone selling prices of each good or service; and

• recognizing revenue when (or as) a performance obligation is satisfied, that is when a promised good or service is transferred to a customer.

A promised good or service is transferred when (or as) the customer obtains control of it. Control can be transferred over time or at a point in time. Revenue is measured at the fair value of the consideration to which the Company expects to be entitled in exchange for transferring promised goods and/or services to a customer, excluding amounts collected on behalf of third parties. Therefore, revenue is recognized when control over the goods or services is transferred to the customer either ”over time” or ”at a point in time”. Revenues from services include the activities the Company carries out directly with respect to some of its major clients in relation to their businesses. These activities are also carried out in exchange for services provided by other Group companies, and the costs for such services are recognized as Services and other costs.

Financial income and expenses
Financial income and expenses are recognized and measured in the income statement on an accrual basis.

Government grants
Government grants are recognized in the financial statements when there is reasonable assurance that the company concerned will comply with the conditions for receiving such grants and that the grants themselves will be received. Government grants are recognized as income over the periods necessary to match them with the related costs which they are intended to compensate.

Taxationbr />Income tax represents the sum of the tax currently payable and deferred tax. The tax currently payable is based on taxable profit for the year. Taxable profit defers from the profit as reported in the income statement because it excludes items of income or expense that are taxable or deductible in other years and it further excludes items that are never taxable or deductible.

Current income tax is entered for each individual company based on an estimate of taxable income in compliance with existing legislation and tax rates or as substantially approved at the period closing date in each country, considering applicable exemptions and tax credit.

Deferred tax is the tax expected to be payable or recoverable on differences between the carrying amount of assets and liabilities in the Financial Statements and the corresponding tax basis used in the computation of taxable profit, and is accounted for using the balance sheet liability method. Deferred tax liabilities are generally recognized for all taxable temporary differences and tax assets are recognized to the extent that it is probable that taxable profits will be available against which deductible temporary differences can be utilized. Such assets and liabilities are not recognized if the temporary difference arises from goodwill or from the initial recognition (other than in a business combination) of other assets and liabilities in a transaction that affects neither the tax profit nor the accounting profit.

Deferred tax liabilities are recognized for taxable temporary differences arising on investments in subsidiaries and associates and interests arising in joint ventures, except where the Company is able to control the reversal of the temporary difference and it is probable that the temporary difference will not reverse in the foreseeable future.

The carrying amount of deferred tax assets is reviewed at each balance sheet date and reduced to the extent that it is no longer probable that sufficient taxable profit will be available to allow all or part of the asset to be recovered.

Deferred tax is calculated at the tax rates that are expected to apply to the period when the liability is settled or the asset realized. Deferred tax is charged or credited in the income statement, except when it relates to items charged or credited directly to equity, in which case the deferred tax is also dealt with in equity.

Deferred tax assets and liabilities are offset when they relate to income taxes levied by the same taxation authority and the Company intends to settle its current tax assets and liabilities on a net basis.

In the event of changes to the accounting value of deferred tax assets and liabilities deriving from a change in the applicable tax rates and relevant legislation, the resulting deferred tax amount is entered in income statement, unless it refers to debited or credited amounts previously recognized to Shareholders’ equity.

Earnings per share
Basic earnings per share is calculated with reference to the profit for the period of the Company and the weighted average number of shares outstanding during the year. Treasury shares are excluded from this calculation. Diluted earnings per share is determined by adjusting the basic earnings per share to take account of the theoretical conversion of all potential shares, being all financial instruments that are potentially convertible into ordinary shares, with diluting effect.

Use of estimations
The preparation of the Financial Statements and relative notes under IFRS requires that management makes estimates and assumptions based also on subjective judgments, past experiences and assumptions considered reasonable and realistic in relation to the information at the time of estimation. These estimates shall affect items reported in the consolidated financial balance sheet and income statement and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. The results of the financial statements may differ, even significantly, from these estimates as a result of possible changes in the factors considered in the determination of these estimates. Estimates are periodically reviewed.
The estimates are mainly referred to:

Equity investments
At each balance sheet date, the company verifies whether there are indications that the investments may have suffered a reduction in value. For this purpose, both internal and external sources of information are considered. The identification of value reduction indicators, the estimation of future cash flows and the determination of the fair value of each investment requires Management to make significant estimates and assumptions about the determination of the discount rate to be applied, the useful life and the residual value of the assets. These estimates can have a significant impact on the value of assets and the amount of any write-downs.

Trade receivables and work in progress
The reduction in value of trade receivables is carried out through the simplified approach, which provides for the estimation of the expected loss over the entire life of the credit at the time of initial recognition and in subsequent evaluations. For each customer segment, the estimate is made mainly through the determination of the expected default, based on historical-statistical indicators, possibly adjusted using prospective elements. For some categories of loans characterized by specific risk elements, detailed assessments are carried out on the individual credit positions.

Leasing liabilities and right of use assets
The determination of the value of the lease liability and the corresponding right of use asset is carried out by calculating the present value of the lease payments, also considering the estimate on the reasonable certainty of the renewal of the lease contracts.

Provisions, contingent liabilities and employee provisions
The provisions related to litigation are the result of a complex estimation process that is also based on the probability of failure. The provisions related to personnel provisions, and in particular to the employee severance indemnity, are determined on the basis of actuarial assumptions; changes in these assumptions could have significant effects on those provisions.

Derivative instruments and equity instruments
The fair value of derivatives and equity instruments is determined through valuation models that also take into account subjective valuations such as, for example, cash flow estimates, expected price volatility, etc., and/or through market values or quotes provided by financial counterparties.

Pursuant to IAS 8 (Accounting Standards, changes in accounting estimates and errors) paragraph 10, in the absence of a principle or interpretation applicable specifically to a certain transaction, Management defines, through subjective assessments, the accounting methodologies to be adopted in order to provide a financial statements that faithfully represent the financial position, the economic result and the financial flows of the Company, reflects the economic substance of the operations, is neutral, drafted on a prudential basis and comprehensive in all relevant aspects.

Estimations changes and reclassifications
It should be noted that at the balance sheet date there are no significant estimates related to uncertain future events and other causes of uncertainty that may cause significant adjustments to the values of assets and liabilities within the following year.

New standards, interpretations and amendments adopted by the company from 1 January 2022

Accounting standards approved by the European Union but not yet mandatorily applicable

• With Regulation no. 2021/2036 issued by the European Commission on 19 November 2021, IFRS 17 ”Insurance contracts” published by the IASB on 18 May 2017 and subsequent amendments published on 25 June 2020 were approved. The standard provides a comprehensive approach to the accounting of insurance contracts and applies to issued insurance contracts, reinsurance contracts issued or held and investment contracts with discretionary participation characteristics issued. The provisions of IFRS 17 and its subsequent amendments are effective from financial years beginning on or after 1 January 2023.

• With Regulation no. 2022/357 issued by the European Commission on 2 March 2022, the document ”Amendments to IAS 8: Accounting standards, changes in accounting estimates and errors” was approved. The changes clarify how to distinguish changes in accounting policies from changes in accounting estimates. The distinction is relevant because changes in accounting estimates are applied prospectively to future transactions and other future events, while changes in accounting policies are generally applied retrospectively to past transactions and other past events. Amendments are effective from financial years starting on or after 1 January 2023. Early application is allowed.

• With Regulation no. 2022/357 issued by the European Commission on 2 March 2022, the document ”Amendments to IAS 1, Presentation of financial statements: disclosure on accounting standards. The aim of the amendments is to develop guidelines and examples to help entities apply a materiality judgment in accounting policy reporting. Amendments are effective from financial years starting on or after 1 January 2023. Early application is allowed.

• With Regulation no. 2022/1392 issued by the European Commission on 11 August 2022, the document ”Amendments to IAS 12 Income taxes: deferred taxes relating to assets and liabilities deriving from a single transaction” was approved. The document addresses uncertainty in practice regarding the application of the exemption under paragraphs 15 and 24 of IAS 12 to transactions that give rise to both an asset and a liability at the time of initial recognition and may result in temporary tax differences of the same amount. Under the proposed amendments, the exemption from initial recognition under IAS 12 would not apply to transactions which, at the time of execution, give rise to equal and countervailable amounts of taxable and deductible temporary differences. Amendments are effective from financial years starting on or after 1 January 2023. Early application is allowed.

• With Regulation no. 2022/1491 issued by the European Commission on 8 September 2022, the document ”Amendments to IFRS 17 Insurance contracts: initial application of IFRS 17 and IFRS 9 - Comparative information” was approved. The narrow-scope amendments address an important issue related to accounting mismatches between insurance contract liabilities and financial assets arising from comparative information submitted with the initial application of IFRS 17 and IFRS 9. Amendments are effective from financial years starting on or after 1 January 2023.

The Company has assessed that these changes will not have a significant impact on the financial statements.

Accounting standards not yet approved by the European Union

• On 23 January 2020, 15 July 2020 and 31 October 2022, the IASB issued respectively the documents ”Amendments to IAS 1 Presentation of Financial Statements: classification of liabilities as current or non-current”, the document ”Classification of Liabilities as Current or Non-current - Deferral of Effective Date” and the document ”Non-current Liabilities with Covenants” to clarify the requirements for classifying liabilities as current or non-current. More precisely:

• the amendments specify that the conditions existing at the end of the reporting period are those that must be used to determine whether there is a right to defer settlement of a liability;

• management’s expectations regarding events after the balance sheet date, for example in the event of a breach of a covenant or in the event of early settlement, are not material;

• The amendments clarify the situations that are considered liquidation of a liability. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the IASB has proposed to postpone the effective date of the document to 1 January 2024, to give companies more time to implement any classification changes resulting from the changes.

• On 22 September 222, the IASB issued the document ”Amendments to IFRS 16 Leases: Lease Liability in a Sale and Leaseback”. This amendment specifies the criteria that the lessee must use to measure the lease liability arising from a leaseback transaction, in order to avoid recognition of gains or losses on the right of use recognised in the balance sheet.

Amendments are effective from financial years starting on or after 1 January 2023. Ear

Note 3 - Risk management

Reply S.p.A. operates at a world-wide level and for this reason its activities are exposed to various types of financial risks: market risk (broken down in exchange risk, interest rate risk on financial flows and on ”fair value”, price risk), credit risk and liquidity risk. To minimize risks Reply utilizes derivative financial instruments. At a central level it manages the hedging of principle operations. Reply S.p.A. does not detain derivate financial instruments for negotiating purposes.

Credit risk
For business purposes, specific policies are adopted in order to guarantee that clients honor payments. With regards to financial counterparty risk, the company does not present significant risk in credit-worthiness or solvency. For newly acquired clients, the Company accurately verifies their capability in terms of facing financial commitments. Transactions of a financial nature are undersigned only with primary financial institutions.

Liquidity risk
The Company is exposed to funding risk if there is difficulty in obtaining finance for operations at any given point in time. The cash flows, funding requirements and liquidity of companies are monitored and managed on a centralized basis through the Group Treasury. The aim of this centralized system is to optimize the efficiency and effectiveness of the management of the Group’s current and future capital resources (maintaining an adequate level of cash and cash equivalents and the availability of reserves of liquidity that are readily convertible to cash and committed credit). The difficulties both in the markets and in the financial markets require special attention to the management of liquidity risk, and in that sense particular emphasis is being placed on measures taken to generate financial resources through operations and on maintaining an adequate level of available liquidity. The Company therefore plans to meet its requirements to settle financial liabilities as they fall due and to cover expected capital expenditures by using cash flows from operations and available liquidity, renewing or refinancing bank loans.

Risks associated with fluctuations in currency and interest rates
As the company operates mainly in a ”Euros area” the exposure to currency risks is limited. The exposure to interest rate risk arises from the need to fund operating activities and M&A investments, as well as the necessity to deploy available liquidity. Changes in market interest rates may have the effect of either increasing or decreasing the Company’s net profit/(loss), thereby indirectly affecting the costs and returns of financing and investing transactions. The interest rate risk to which the Company is exposed derives from bank loans; to mitigate such risks, Reply S.p.A., when useful, uses derivative financial instruments designated as ”cash flow hedges”. The use of such instruments is disciplined by written procedures in line with the Company’s risk management strategies that do not contemplate derivative financial instruments for trading purposes.

Note 4 - Other information

Exception allowed under paragraph 4 of article 2423 of the italian Civil Code
No exceptions allowed under Article 2423, paragraph 4, of the Italian Civil Code were used in drawing up the annexed Financial Statements.

Fiscal consolidation
The Company has decided to enter into the National Fiscal Consolidation pursuant to articles 117/129 of the TUIR. Reply S.p.A., Parent Company, acts as the consolidating company and determines just one taxable income for the Group companies that adhere to the Fiscal Consolidation, and will benefit from the possibility of compensating taxable income having fiscal losses in just one tax return. Each company adhering to the Fiscal Consolidation transfers to Reply S.p.A. its entire taxable income, recognizing a liability with respect to the Company corresponding to the payable IRES; The companies that transfer fiscal losses can register a receivable with Reply, corresponding to IRES on the part of the loss off-set at a Group level and remunerated according to the terms established in the consolidation agreement stipulated among the Group companies.

Note 5 - Revenue

Revenues amounted to 709,328,790 Euros and are detailed as follows:

Reply manages business relationships on behalf of some of its major clients. Such activities were recorded in the item Revenues from services to third parties which increased by 84,631,481 Euros.

Revenues from Royalties on the ”Reply” trademark refer to charges to subsidiaries, corresponding to 3% of the subsidiaries’ turnover with respect to third parties.

Revenues from Intercompany services and Other intercompany revenues refer to activities that Reply S.p.A. carries out for the subsidiaries, and more specifically:

• operational, co-ordination, technical and quality management;

• administration, personnel and marketing activities;

• strategic management services.

Note 6 - Other income

Other revenues that as at 31 December 2022 amounted to 25,668,033 Euros (15,938,379 Euros at 31 December 2021) mainly refer to expenses incurred by Reply S.p.A. and recharged to the Group companies and include expenses for social events, telephone and training courses.

Note 7 - Purchases

Detail is as follows:

The items software and hardware licenses for resale refer to the costs incurred for software licenses for resale to third parties carried out for the Group companies.

The item Other mainly includes the purchase of supplies, e-commerce material, stationary and printed materials (217,626 Euros) and fuel (302,627 Euros).

Note 8 - Personnel expenses/h3>

Personnel expenses amounted to 26,535,763 Euros, with an increase of 1,157,312 Euros and are detailed in the following table:

Detail of personnel by category is provided below:

The average number of employees in 2022 was 106 (in 2021 96).

Note 9 - Services and other costs

Services and other costs comprised the following:

Professional Services from Group companies, which increased during the year by 79,435,780 Euros, are mainly related to revenues from services to third parties. Reply S.p.A. carries out commercial fronting activities for some of its major clients, whereas delivery is carried out by the operational companies. Office expenses include services rendered by related parties in connection with service contracts for the use of premises, legal domicile and secretarial services, as well as utility costs.

Note 10 - Amortization, depreciation and write-downs/h3>

Depreciation of tangible assets was calculated on the basis of technical-economic rates determined in relation to the residual useful lives of the assets, and which amounted in 2022 to an overall cost of 230,614 Euros. Details of depreciation are provided at the notes to tangible assets.

Amortization of intangible assets amounted in 2022 to an overall cost of 3,066,697 Euros. Details of depreciation are provided at the notes to intangible assets.

Amortization related to right of use assets arising from the application of IFRS 16 amounted to 583,172 thousand Euros.

Note 11 - Other operating and non-recurring income/(expenses)/h3>

Other operating and non-recurring income, related to events and transactions that do not occur in the regular course of business, amounted to 2,855,100 and mainly refer to provisions for risks and reversal in relation to contractual, commercial and legal disputes.

Note 12 - Gain/(losses) on equity investments

Detail is as follows:

Dividends include proceeds received by Reply S.p.A. from subsidiary companies during the year.
Detail is as follows:

Net losses on equity investments refer to write-downs and the year-end losses of several subsidiary companies that were prudentially deemed as non-recoverable with respect to the value of the investment.
For further details, see Note 21 herein.

Note 13 - Financial income/(expenses)

Detail is as follows:

Interest income from subsidiaries refers to the interest yielding cash pooling accounts of the Group companies included in the centralized pooling system.

Financial income include interest in bank accounts amounting to 50,821 Euros and interest income on tax refunds amounting to 36,004 Euros.

Interest expenses refer to the interest expenses on the use of credit facilities with Intesa Sanpaolo and Unicredit.

The item Other mainly includes:

• positive 1,282,493 Euros related to the gain on exchange rate differences arising from the translation of balance sheet items not recorded in Euros (positive 15,547,257 Euros at 31 December 2021);

• positive 2,396,336 Euros related to the non-effective portion of the IRS (negative 1,148,201 Euros at 31 December 2021);

• the financial losses related to the fair value adjustments of the investments hold by Reply amounting to 3,910,940 Euros (351,430 Euros at 31 December 2021);

• 844,042 Euros related interests referred to financial investments (206,932 Euros at 31 December 2021).

Note 14 - Income taxes

The details are provided below:

IRES theoretical rate
The following table provides the reconciliation between the IRES theoretical rate and the fiscal theoretical rate:

Temporary differences, net refer to:

• deductible differences amounting to 108,926 thousand Euros arising mainly from the non-taxable share of the dividends received in the financial year (87,653 thousand Euros), earnings on valuation changes (8,546 thousand Euros), Directors’ fees to be paid (3,783 thousand Euros), the income from provision taxed in previous years (2,904 thousand Euros) and the deduction of the implicit goodwill of the investment in Xister (1,442 thousand Euros);

• non-deductible differences amounting to 30,098 thousand Euros owing mainly to write-down/losses of equity investments (19,452 thousand Euros), loss on loans valuation changes (6,088 thousand Euros) and Directors’ fees to be paid (3,200 thousand Euros).

Calculation of taxable IRAP/strong>

Temporary differences, net refer to:

• non-deductible differences amounting to 6,364 thousand Euros mainly due to emoluments to Directors (4,443 thousand Euros) and to bank fees (702 thousand Euros);

• deductible differences amounting to 4,672 thousand Euros mainly due to reversal of provisions (2,900 thousand Euros) and the implicit goodwill of the investment in Xister (1,442 thousand Euros).

Note 15 - Earnings per share

Basic earnings and diluted earnings per share as at 31 December 2022 is calculated with reference to the net profit which amounted to 94,141,693 Euros (111,243,694 Euros at 31 December 2021) divided by the weighted average number of shares outstanding as at 31 December 2022, net of treasury shares, which amounted to 37,252,650 (37,356,344 at 31 December 2021).

Reply does not have any financial instruments potentially convertible in shares (stock options) therefore the basic earnings per share corresponds to the diluted earnings per share.

Note 16 - Contributions

Disclosure on the transparency of public disbursements required by Article 1, paragraph 125 of Law 124/2017
Pursuant to Article 1, paragraph 125 of Law 124/2017, the Company in 2021 has received the following public contributions:

Note 17 - Tangible assets

Tangible assets as at 31 December 2022 amounted to 534,336 Euros are detailed as follows:

The item Other mainly includes mobile phones and furniture and fittings.

Change in Tangible assets during 2022 is summarized below:

During the year under review the Company made investments amounting to 454,142 Euros, which mainly refer to hardware, mobile phones and general devices.

Note 18 - Goodwill

Goodwill as at 31 December 2022 amounted to 86,765 Euros and refers to the value of business branches (consulting activities related to Information Technology and management support) acquired in July 2000.

Goodwill recognized is deemed adequately supported in terms of expected financial results and related cash flows.

Note 19 - Other intangible assets

Intangible assets as at 31 December 2022 amounted to 7,535,237 Euros (7,603,348 Euros at 31 December 2021) and are detailed as follows:

Change in intangible assets in 2022 is summarized in the table below:

The item Software and increase in software is related mainly to software licenses purchased and used internally by the company.

The item Trademark expresses the value of the ”Reply” trademark granted to the Parent Company Reply S,p,A, (before Reply Europe Sàrl) on 9 June, 2000, in connection to the Company’s share capital increase that was resolved and undersigned by the Parent Company Alister Holding SA, Such amount is not subject to systematic amortisation, and the expected future cash flows are deemed adequate.

Note 20 - Right of use assets

The application of the IFRS 16 accounting standard, in use since 1 January 2019, resulted in the accounting of the book value of the right-of-use asset (”RoU Asset”) that is equal to the book value of the liabilities for leasing on the date of first application, net of any accrued income/costs or deferred revenue/expenses related to the lease. The table below shows the RoU Assets for the vehicles category:

The net change mainly refers to the signing of new lease agreements.

Note 21 - Equity investments

The item Equity investments at 31 December 2022 amounted to 177,988,453 Euros, with an increase of 37,230,675 Euros compared to 31 December 2021.

Acquisitions and subscriptions

Bside S.r.l.
In the month of May 2022 100% of the share capital of Bside S.r.l. was acquired for an amount of 557,000 Euros.

Nexi Digital S.r.l.
In the month of January 2022 Nexi Digital S.r.l. was constituted, a company in which Reply S.p.A. holds 51% of the share capital.

Net Reply S.r.l.
In the month of March 2022 Net Reply S.r.l. was constituted, a company in which Reply S.p.A. holds 100% of the share capital.

Next Reply S.r.l.
In the month of March 2022 Next Reply S.r.l. was constituted, a company in which Reply S.p.A. holds 100% of the share capital.

Reply France Sas
It should be noted that in 2022 Reply S.p.A. acquired the investments in Reply France Sas from the subsidiary Reply Sarl for a total value of 2,010,000 Euros. Reply S.p.A. subsequently recapitalized the subsidiary for an amount of 33,000,000 Euros.

The other changes refer to the acquisition of additional shares in the share capital of investments already held in previous years.

Financial loan remission
The amounts are referred to the waiver of financial loan receivables from some subsidiaries in order to increase their equity position.

Write-downs
The amounts recorded reflect losses on some equity investments that are deemed not to be recoverable.

The list of equity investments in accordance with Consob communication no, 6064293 of 28 July 2006 is included in the attachments. The negative differences arising between the carrying value of the investments and the corresponding portion of their shareholders’ equity are not related to permanent impairment of value, as the carrying value is supported by positive economic and financial forecasts that guarantee the recoverable amount of the investment.

Note 22 - Non-current financial assets

Detail is as follows:

Financial receivables from subsidiaries are referred to loans, underwritten and granted to the following companies:

Note 23 - Deferred tax assets

This item amounted to 6,728,474 Euros at 31 December 2022 (6,169,056 Euros at 31 December 2021), and included the fiscal charge corresponding to the temporary differences on statutory income and taxable income related to deferred deductible items.

The decision to recognize deferred tax assets is taken by assessing critically whether the conditions exist for the future recoverability of such assets on the basis of expected future results. There are no deferred tax assets on losses carried forward.

Note 24 - Trade receivables

Trade receivables at 31 December 2022 amounted to 532,386,689 Euros and are all collectible within 12 months.

Detail is as follows:

Reply manages business relationships on behalf of some of its major clients. This activity is reflected in the item Third party trade receivables which increased by 54,516,304 Euros.

Receivables from subsidiaries are related to services that the Parent Company Reply S.p.A. carries out in favor of the subsidiary companies at normal market conditions.

Trade receivables are all due within 12 months and do not include significant overdue balances.

In 2022 the provision for doubtful accounts, following a specific risk analysis of all the trade receivables, was reversed by 202,975 Euros and calculated using the expected credit loss approach pursuant to IFRS 9; detail is as follows:

The carrying amount of trade receivables, that at initial recognition is equal to its fair value adjusted for attributable transaction costs, is subsequently valued at the amortised cost appropriately adjusted to take into account any write-downs.

Note 25 - Other receivables and current assets

Detail is as follows:

The item Tax receivables mainly includes IRES receivables and advances for withholding taxes suffered amounting to 1,438,599 (1,609,875 Euros at 31 December 2021) and VAT receivables net amounting to 8,948 Euros (8,903 Euros at 31 December 2021).

Other receivables from subsidiary companies mainly refer to IRES receivables which are calculated on taxable income, and transferred by the Italian subsidiaries under national fiscal consolidation.

Accrued income and prepaid expenses refer to prepaid expenses arising from the execution of services, lease contracts, insurance contracts and other utility expenses, which are accounted for on an accrual basis.

The carrying amount of Other receivables, that at initial recognition is equal to its fair value adjusted for attributable transaction costs, is subsequently valued at the amortised cost appropriately adjusted to take into account any write-downs.

Note 26 - Current financial assets

This item amounted to 93,913,784 Euros (82,659,515 Euros at 31 December 2021) and mainly referred to:

• the total of interest yielding cash pooling accounts of subsidiaries included in the centralized pooling system of the Parent Company Reply S.p.A. for 66,596,349 Euros (52,797,469 at 31 December 2021); the interest yield on these accounts is in line with current market conditions.

• the bonds held by Reply for 26,904,531 Euros. The valuation of short-term investments, based on market valuations at 31 December 2022, showed a negative difference of 3,910,940 Euros compared to the purchase cost of the same.

Note 27 - Cash and cash equivalents

This item amounted to 82,017,473 Euros, with a decrease of 100,528,281 Euros compared to 31 December 2021 and is referred to cash at banks and on hand at year-end.

Note 28 - Shareholders’ equity

Share capital
As at 31 December 2022 the fully subscribed paid-in share capital of Reply S.p.A., amounted to 4,863,486 Euros and is made up of no. 37,411,428 ordinary shares having a nominal value of euro 0.13 each.
The number of shares in circulation as at 31 December 2022 totaled 37,278,236 (37,340,600 as at 31 December 2021).

Treasury shares
The value of the Treasury shares, amounting to 17,122,489 Euros, refers to the shares of Reply S.p.A. that at 31 December 2022 were equal to no. 133,192 (70,828 as at 31 December 2021). During 2022 Reply S.p.A. acquired 140,800 treasury shares and sold 78,436 treasury shares. The change in treasury shares was entirely attributed to equity.

Capital reserves
At 31 December 2022 amounted to 305,880,909 Euros, and included the following:

• Treasury share reserve amounting to 17,122,489 Euros, relating to the shares of Reply S.p.A. which at 31 December 2022 were equal to no. 133,192.

• Reserve for the purchase of treasury shares amounting to 282,877,511 Euros, formed via initial withdrawal from the share premium reserve. By means of a resolution of the Shareholders’ Meeting of 22 April 2022 Reply S.p.A. re-authorized it, in accordance with and for the purposes of Article 2357 of the Italian Civil Code, the purchase of a maximum of 300 million Euros of ordinary shares, corresponding to 20% of the share capital, in a lump sum solution or in several solutions within 18 months of the resolution.

• Reserves arising from the merger operation of Reply Deutschland AG. in Reply S.p.A, and include:

• Share swap surplus reserve amounting to 3,445,485 Euros;

• Surplus annulment reserve amounting to 2,902,479 Euros.

Earnings Reserve
Earning reserves amounted to 312,074,355 Euros and were comprised as follows:

• The Legal reserve amounting to 972,697 Euros (972,697 Euros at 31 December 2021);

• Extraordinary reserve amounting to 214,137,264 Euros (133,583,157 Euros at 31 December 2021);

• Retained earnings amounting to 2,822,701 Euros (2,822,701 Euros at 31 December 2021);

• Net result totaling 94,141,693 Euros (111,243,694 Euros at 31 December 2021).

Other comprehensive income
Other comprehensive income can be analysed as follows:

Note 29 - Financial liabilities

Detail is as follows:

The future out payments of the financial liabilities are detailed as follows:

M&A loans refers to credit lines to be used for acquisition operations carried directly by Reply S.p.A. or via companies controlled directly or indirectly by the same.

Following and summarized by main features the ongoing contracts entered into for such a purpose:

• On 8 May 2020 Reply S.p.A. entered into a line of credit with Unicredit S.p.A. for a total amount of 50,000,000 Euros to be used by 27 May 2022. As at 31 December 2022 this line had been used for 41,667,000 Euros.

• On 8 November 2021 Reply S.p.A. entered into a line of credit with Intesa Sanpaolo S.p.A. for a total amount of 75,000,000 Euros to be used by 31 March 2023. The loan will be reimbursed on a half year basis deferred to commence on 29 September 2023 and will expire on 30 September 2026. As at 31 December 2022 this line had been used for 30,000,000 Euros.

• On 19 May 2022 Reply S.p.A. entered into a line of credit with Unicredit S.p.A. for a total amount of 50,000,000 Euros to be used by 29 May 2024. As at 31 December 2022 this line had been used for 500,000 Euros.

Interest rates are also applied according to certain predetermined ratios (Covenants) of economic and financial nature calculated on the consolidated financial statements as at 31 December of each year and/or the consolidated interim report.

As contractually defined, such ratios are as follows:

• Net financial indebtedness/Equity

• Net financial indebtedness/EBITDA

At the balance sheet date, Reply fulfilled the Covenants under the various contracts.
It should also be noted that on 24 May 2018 Reply S.p.A. undersigned with Unicredit S.p.A. a mortgage loan secured by guarantee for the purchase and renovation of the property De Sonnaz for a total amount of 40,000,000 Euros. On November 15, 2021, an amendment was signed with the same institution, agreeing to extend the period of use from 36 to 66 months, without prejudice to the maximum total duration of 156 months (13 years). The mortgage is disbursed in relation to the progress of the work. Such credit line was used for 19,200,000 Euros at 31 December 2022.

The item IFRS 16 financial liabilities is related to the financial lease liabilities at 31 December 2022 related to the adoption of IFRS 16 starting from 1st January 2019.

The item Derivative financial instruments refers to several loans established with Unicredit S.p.A. to hedge changes in floating interest rates on loans and/or mortgages; the total underlying notional amounts to 75,666,667 Euros. The effective component of the instrument is stated in the Statement of changes in net equity whereas the ineffective portion of the Derivative instrument is recorded at the income statement. The carrying amount of Financial liabilities is deemed to be in line with its fair value.

The carrying amount of the Financial Liabilities estimates the value determined through the application of the amortised cost method.

Net financial indebtedness
The net financial indebtedness reported below was prepared according to CONSOB communication no. DEM / 6064293 of July 28, 2006, updated with the provisions of ESMA guideline 32-382-1138 of March 4, 2021 as implemented by the CONSOB warning no. 5/21 of 29 April 2021:

Net financial debt includes IFRS 16 financial liabilities amounting to 974,221 thousand Euros, of which 432,456 thousand Euros were non-current and 514,765 were current.
Pursuant to the aforementioned recommendations long term financial assets are not included in the net financial position.

For further details with regards to the above table see Notes 26 and 27 as well as Note 29.

Change in Financial liabilities during 2022 is summarized below:

Note 30 - Employee benefits

The Employee severance indemnity represents the obligation to employees under Italian law (amended by Law no. 296/06) accrued by employees up to 31 December 2006 which will be paid when the employee leaves the company. In certain circumstances, a portion of the accrued liability may be given to an employee during his working life as an advance. This is an unfunded defined benefit plan, under which the benefits are almost fully accrued, with the sole exception of future revaluations. The procedure for the determination of the Company’s obligation with respect to employees was carried out by an independent actuary according to the following stages:

• Projection of the Employee severance indemnity already accrued at the assessment date and of the portions that will be accrued until when the work relationship is terminated or when the accrued amounts are partially paid as an advance on the Employee severance indemnities;

• Discounting, at the valuation date, of the expected cash flows that the company will pay in the future to its own employees;

• Re-proportioning of the discounted performances based on the seniority accrued at the valuation date with respect to the expected seniority at the time the company must fulfil its obligations.

Reassessment of Employee severance indemnities in accordance with IAS 19 was carried out ”ad personam” and on the existing employees, that is analytical calculations were made on each employee in force in the company at the assessment date without considering future work force.

The actuarial valuation model is based on the so called technical bases which represent the demographic, economic and financial assumptions underlying the parameters included in the calculation.
The assumptions adopted can be summarized as follows:

In accordance with IAS 19, Employment severance indemnities at 31 December 2022 is summarized in the table below:

Note 31 - Deferred tax liabilities

Deferred tax liabilities at 31 December 2022 amounted to 6,012,577 Euros and were referred mainly to the fiscal effects arising from temporary differences between the statutory income and taxable income.

Note 32 - Trade payables

Trade payables at 31 December 2022 amounted to 443,813,330 Euros with an increase of 85,315,622 Euros.
Detail is as follows:

Due to suppliers mainly refers to services from domestic suppliers.

Due to subsidiaries recorded a change of 51,659,788 Euros, and refers to professional services in connection to third party agreements with Reply S.p.A.. Reply S.p.A. carries out commercial fronting activities for some of its major clients, whereas delivery is carried out by the operational companies.

Advance payments from customers include amounts invoiced to customers for contracts subcontracted to subsidiary companies, which at the balance sheet date were not yet completed. Trade payables are initially recognised at fair value, adjusted for any transaction costs directly attributable to and are subsequently valued at amortised cost. The amortised cost of current trade payables corresponds to the nominal value.

Note 33 - Other current liabilities

Detail is as follows:

Due to tax authorities mainly refers to payables due for withholding tax on employees and free lancers’ compensation.
Due to social security authorities is related to both Company and employees contribution payables. Employee accruals mainly include payables to employees for remunerations due but not yet paid at year-end.
Due to subsidiary companies represents the liability on tax losses recorded by subsidiaries under national tax consolidation for 2022 and for the tax credits that subsidiaries transferred to Reply S.p.A. as part of the tax consolidation.
Miscellaneous payables mainly refer to remuneration and bonus of directors recognized as participation in the profits of the company.
Accrued expenses and deferred income are mainly related to advance invoicing in relation to fronting activities carried out for subsidiaries.
Other current payables and liabilities are initially recognised at fair value, adjusted for any transaction costs directly attributable to and are subsequently valued at amortised cost. The amortised cost of these liabilities corresponds to the nominal value.

Note 34 - Provisions

The item Provisions amounting to 10,058,180 Euros is summarized as follows:

The item Provision for risks reflects the best estimate of contingent liabilities deriving from ongoing legal litigations; at 31 December 2022 an accrual of 44,900 Euros and a reversal of 2,900,000 Euros was made.

The item Provision for losses on equity investments has been reversed for 880,000 Euros; moreover an accrual of 9,225,000 Euros was posted.

Note 35 - Transactions with related parties

With reference to CONSOB communications no. DAC/RM 97001574 of 20 February 1997 and no. DAC/RM 98015375 of 27 February 1998 concerning relations with related parties, the economic and financial effects on Reply S.p.A.’s year ended 2022 Financial Statements related to such transactions are summarised below.
Transactions carried out by Reply S.p.A. with related parties are considered ordinary business and are carried out at normal market conditions.
Financial and business transactions among the Parent Company Reply S.p.A. and its subsidiaries and associate companies are carried out at normal market conditions.

Reply S.p.A. main economic and financial transactions

With reference to the Cash flows statement, the above mentioned transactions impact the change in working capital by 28 thousand Euros.

In accordance with Consob Resolution no. 15519 of 27 July 2006 and Consob communication no. DEM/6064293 of 28 July 2006, in the annexed tables herein, the Statement of income and the Statement of financial position reporting transactions with related parties separately, together with the percentage incidence with respect to each account caption has been provided.

Pursuant to art. 150, paragraph 1 of the Italian Legislative Decree n. 58 of 24 February 1998, no transactions have been carried out by the members of the Board of Directors that might be in potential conflict of interests with the Company.

Nota 36 - Additional disclosure to financial instruments and risk management policies

Types of financial risks and corresponding hedging activities
Reply S.p.A. has determined the guide lines in managing financial risks. In order to maximize costs and the resources Reply S.p.A. has centralized all of the groups risk management. Reply S.p.A. has the task of gathering all information concerning possible risk situations and define the corresponding hedge. As described in the section ”Risk management”, Reply S.p.A. constantly monitors the financial risks to which it is exposed, in order to detect those risks in advance and take the necessary action to mitigate them. The following section provides qualitative and quantitative disclosures on the effect that these risks may have upon the company. The quantitative data reported in the following do not have any value of a prospective nature, in particular the sensitivity analysis on market risks, is unable to reflect the complexity of the market and its related reaction which may result from every change which may occur.

Credit risk
The maximum credit risk to which the company is theoretically exposed at 31 December 2022 is represented by the carrying amounts stated for financial assets in the balance sheet. Balances which are objectively uncollectible either in part or for the whole amount are written down on a specific basis if they are individually significant. The amount of the write-down takes into account an estimate of the recoverable cash flows and the date of receipt, the costs of recovery and the fair value of any guarantees received. General provisions are made for receivables which are not written down on a specific basis, determined on the basis of historical experience.
Refer to the note on trade receivables for a quantitate analysis

Liquidity risk
Reply S.p.A. is exposed to funding risk if there is difficulty in obtaining finance for operations at any given point in time. The two main factors that determine the company’s liquidity situation are on one side the funds generated by or used in operating and investing activities and on the other the debt lending period and its renewal features or the liquidity of the funds employed and market terms and conditions.

As described in the Risk management section, Reply S.p.A has adopted a series of policies and procedures whose purpose is to optimize the management of funds and to reduce the liquidity risk, as follows:

• Centralizing the management of receipts and payments, where it may be economical in the context of the local civil, currency and fiscal regulations of the countries in which the company is present;

• Maintaining an adequate level of available liquidity;

• Monitoring future liquidity on the basis of business planning.

Management believes that the funds and credit lines currently available, in addition to those funds that will be generated from operating and funding activities, will enable the Group to satisfy its requirements resulting from its investing activities and its working capital needs and to fulfil its obligations to repay its debts at their natural due date.

Currency risk
Reply S.p.A. has a limited exposure to exchange rate risk; therefore the company does not deem necessary hedging exchange rates.

Interest rate risk
Reply S.p.A. makes use of external funds obtained in the form of financing and invest in monetary and financial market instruments. Changes in market interest rates can affect the cost of the various forms of financing, including the sale of receivables, or the return on investments, and the employment of funds, causing an impact on the level of net financial expenses incurred by the company.
In order to manage these risks, the Reply S.p.A uses interest rate derivative financial instruments, mainly interest rate swaps, with the object of mitigating, under economically acceptable conditions, the potential variability of interest rates on the net result.

Sensitivity Analysis
In assessing the potential impact of changes in interest rates, the company separates fixed rate financial instruments (for which the impact is assessed in terms of fair value) from floating rate financial instruments (for which the impact is assessed in terms of cash flows). Floating rate financial instruments include principally cash and cash equivalents and part of debt.

A hypothetical, unfavourable and instantaneous change of 100 basis points in short-term interest rates at 31 December 2022 applied to floating rate financial assets and liabilities, operations for the sale of receivables and derivatives financial instruments, would have caused increased net expenses before taxes, on an annual basis, of approximately 726 thousand Euros.

This analysis is based on the assumption that there is a general and instantaneous change of 100 basis points in interest rates across homogeneous categories. A homogeneous category is defined on the basis of the currency in which the financial assets and liabilities are denominated.

Fair value hierarchy levels
Evaluation techniques on three levels adopted for the measurement of fair value. Fair value hierarchy attributes maximum priority to prices quoted (not rectified) in active markets for identical assets and liabilities (Level 1 data) and the non-observable minimum input priority (Level 3 data). In some cases, the data used to assess the fair value of assets or liabilities could be classified on three different levels of the fair value hierarchy. In such cases, the evaluation of fair value is wholly classified on the same level of the hierarchy in which input on the lowest level is classified, taking account its importance for the assessment.

The levels used in the hierarchy are:

• Level 1 inputs are prices quoted (not rectified) in markets active for identical assets and liabilities which the entity can access on the date of assessment;

• Level 2 inputs are variable and different from the prices quoted included in Level 1 observable directly or indirectly for assets or liabilities;

• Level 3 inputs are variable and not observable for assets or liabilities.

The following table presents the assets and liabilities which were assessed at fair value on 31 December 2022, according to the fair value hierarchical assessment level.

 

The item Financial securities is related to securities listed on the active stock market and therefore falls under the fair value hierarchical level 1.

To determine the effect of interest rate derivate financial instruments Reply refers to evaluation deriving from third parties (banks and financial institutes). The latter, in the calculation of their estimates made use of data observed on the market directly (interest rates) or indirectly (interest rate interpolation curves observed directly): consequently, for the purposes of IFRS7 the fair value used by Reply for the exploitation of hedging derivatives contracts in existence as at 31 December 2022 enters under the hierarchy profile in level 2.

As at 31 December 2022, there have not been any transfers within the hierarchy levels.

Note 37 - Significant non-recurring transactions

Pursuant to Consob communication no. 6064293 of 28 July 2006, there were no significant non-recurring transaction during 2022.

Note 38 - Transactions resulting from unusual and/or abnormal operations

Pursuant to Consob communication no. 6064293 of 28 July 2006, in 2019 Reply S.p.A. has not taken part in any unusual and/or abnormal operations as defined in that Communication, under which unusual and abnormal transactions are those which because of their significance or importance, the nature of the parties involved, the object of the transaction, the means of determining the transfer price or of the timing of the event (close of the year end) may give rise to doubts regarding the accuracy/completeness of the information in the Financial Statements, conflicts of interest, the safeguarding of the entity’s assets or the protection of minority interests.

Note 39 - Guarantees, commitments and contingent liabilities

Guarantees
Guarantees and commitments where existing, have been disclosed at the item to which they refer.

Commitments
Note that:

• the Domination Agreement contract undersigned in 2010 between Reply Deutschland SE, dominated company, and Reply S.p.A, dominating company, ceased to exist from the date of legal efficacy of the merger for incorporation of Reply Deutschland AG in Reply S.p.A and with this, the obligations taken on by Reply. It is reported that the judgment of the qualified German Court is still pending for deciding on the suitability of the strike value of the acquisition option of shares on request of the minority shareholders of Reply Deutschland AG at a pre-determined price (8.19 euros). On June 2018, the German court took note of the agreement reached between the parties also affected by the agreement related to the merger of the following point. With regard to shareholders who did not join the settlement agreement, in February 2019, the German Court issued a judgment that provides for an increase of 1.81 euros in the price paid per share and an increase of 0.07 euros gross of the dividends paid in 2010-2013. The financial effects on the Group are covered by specific provisions.

• with regards the merger operation for the incorporation of Reply Deutschland SE in Reply S.p.A. the assessment procedures foreseen in the measures of Article 122j of Umwandlungsgesetz find application - German law on extraordinary operations - with reference to the exchange ratio and the corresponding amount in cash. Within three months from the registration of the merger in the Turin Companies Register, each minority shareholder was able to present a petition for the purpose of commencing, in compliance with German law, before a Judge qualified in Germany - who shall have exclusive jurisdiction - the assessment inherent in the Share Swap ratio and the corresponding amount in cash. Some minority shareholders have commenced the aforementioned procedures and, following exchanges with the minority shareholders and their appointed representative, the Company has reached a settlement agreement where the payment of an additional amount. The expenses arising from this agreement amounting to approximately 5 million Euros is covered by specific provisions (please see Note 33). In relation to the above accruals, as a result of the utilizations, the provision for risks has a residual amount of 87 thousand Euros at 31 December 2022.

Contingent liabilities
As an international company, Reply is exposed to numerous legal risks, particularly in the area of product liability, environmental risks and tax matters. The outcome of any current or future proceedings cannot be predicted with certainty. It is therefore possible that legal judgments could give rise to expenses that are not covered, or not fully covered, by insurers’ compensation payments and could affect the Company financial position and results. Instead, when it is probable that an overflow of resources embodying economic benefits will be required to settle obligations and this amount can be reliably estimated, the Company recognises specific provision for this purpose.

Note 40 - Emoluments to directors, statutory auditors and key management

TThe fees of the Directors and Statutory Auditors of Reply S.p.A. for carrying out their respective functions, including those in other consolidated companies, are fully explained in the Annual Report on Remuneration in the dedicated table.

Note 41 - Events subsequent to 31 December 2022

The future still remains, in part, conditioned by the evolution of the Russian-Ukrainian war that increases tension on the main markets. In any case, the transformation process towards the new digital economy, which began in 2020, is now unstoppable and opens up opportunities for growth and development for companies like ours. In particular, we expect an increasingly pervasive diffusion of artificial intelligence on board products, processes and services and it is here that we intend to position ourselves as niche players, with very high technological content.

Note 42 - Approval of the financial statements and authorization to publish

The financial statements for the year-ended 31 December 2022 were approved by the Board of Directors on March 14, 2023 which approved their publication.