Company: BCDRF
Filing Date: 2025-02-28
Form Type: 20-F
Source: 0000891478-25-000054
Chunk: 600

Company: Banco Santander, S.A.
Filing Date: 2025-02-28
Form: 20-F
Chunk 600
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 annual reporting period or whenever there is any indication of impairment. Potential impairment is identified by management by comparing the value in use of a CGU to its carrying value. Value in use is estimated by management using discounted cash flow projections. Management’s cash flow projections for the CGU include assumptions relating to earnings projections, discount rates determined as the cost of capital taking into account the risk-free rate of return plus a risk premium and constant growth rates used in order to extrapolate earnings in perpetuity.

The principal considerations for our determination that performing procedures relating to the goodwill impairment assessment of the aforementioned CGU is a critical audit matter are (i) the significant judgment by management when developing the value in use of the CGU; (ii) a high degree of auditor judgment, subjectivity, and effort in performing procedures and evaluating management’s significant assumptions related to earnings projections, discount rates and constant growth rates; and (iii) the audit effort involved the use of professionals with specialized skill and knowledge.

Addressing the matter involved performing procedures and evaluating audit evidence in connection with forming our overall opinion on the consolidated financial statements. These

procedures included testing the effectiveness of controls relating to management’s goodwill impairment assessment, including controls over the valuation of the aforementioned CGU. These procedures also included, among others, (i) testing management’s process for developing the value in use estimate; (ii) evaluating the appropriateness of the discounted cash flow model; (iii) evaluating the reasonableness of the earnings projections, the discount rate and the constant growth rates assumptions used by management; and (iv) testing the mathematical accuracy of the discounted cash flow projections. Evaluating the reasonableness of management’s key assumptions involved (i) performing a retrospective comparison of forecasted earnings to actual past performance and previous forecasts; and (ii) evaluating the consistency of the discount rate and constant growth rate with external market and industry data. Professionals with specialized skill and knowledge were used to assist in the evaluation of the appropriateness of management’s discounted cash flow model and reasonableness of the earnings projections, discount rate and constant growth rates assumptions.

#### Litigation provisions and contingencies
As described in Notes 2 and 25 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company’s consolidated litigation provisions and contingencies balance as of December 31, 2024 were EUR 4,464 million. The Company records provisions for tax and legal proceedings in which management assesses the chances of loss to be probable. Management determines the amounts to be provided for as the best estimate of the expenditure required