The Group is involved in defined contribution and defined benefit retirement plans. For defined benefit plans, obligations are measured using the actuarial projected unit credit method based on assumptions such as the discount rate, future increases in wages and salaries, employee turnover, mortality rates and the rate of increase of health expenses. Those obligations may change if assumptions change, most of which are updated annually. Details of the assumptions used and how they are determined are given in Note K.29, “Provisions for employee benefits”. The Group considers that the actuarial assumptions used are appropriate and justified in the current conditions.
The Group recognises a share-based payment expense relating to performance share plans and Group savings plans offered to employees or some of its employees. This expense is measured on the basis of actuarial calculations using estimated behavioural assumptions based on observation of past behaviour.
The main actuarial assumptions (volatility, return on shares, etc.) adopted by the Group are described for each plan in Note K.30, “Share-based payments”.
The Group takes climate risks into consideration, based on its best knowledge, as part of its accounts closing assumptions and reflects their potential impact in the financial statements. The process used is described in Note A.3, “Specific arrangements”.
Looking ahead to 2030, the Group has adopted an environmental strategy aiming to:
The main risks identified relate to physical risks, including floods and typhoons, and transition risks such as market uncertainties relating to possible carbon taxes on fossil fuels and the consequences of the EU Taxonomy for sectors excluded from it (see the section of the Report of the Board of Directors regarding the mapping of the Group’s major environmental risks).
Physical risks are usually covered by property/casualty insurance policies or taken into account in estimates of margins on completion.
In general, when a loss occurs, the negative impact (the part of the risk that is not covered) is taken into account in margins on completion for construction contracts, or recognised in expenses for the period in question.
Certain physical risks may also result in opportunities or an increase in business levels, since some subsidiaries specialise in site clean-up work and/or repairs to damaged infrastructure following major climate-related events such as hurricanes, storms and floods.
The main transition risks relating to developments in the markets in which VINCI operates have also been reviewed to the best of the Group’s knowledge. The Group’s ability to respond to these changes with sufficient speed could determine its success in winning new contracts.
For example, the transition to new building materials such as low-carbon concrete would not lead to major additional expense, to the extent that the construction company could pass it on to the project owner in its invoices.
Certain expected market developments, such as the faster pace of energy retrofits of existing buildings and the growth of low-carbon forms of transport are also opportunities for the Group. These are presented in the report of the Board of Directors in the section relating to market opportunities stemming from the environmental transition.
VINCI’s acquisitions process includes a review of environmental risks, which is presented to the Risk Committee when it meets to consider acquisition opportunities.
In its accounts closing process, the Group also now identifies the main climate risks in order to assess their potential impact on its financial statements. Specific information requests and areas for attention were included in the accounts closing instructions and disseminated to all Group subsidiaries, relating in particular to:
