13 Contingent liabilities
A number of legal proceedings and claims against Flughafen Zürich AG in the context of its normal business activities are still pending. The company does not expect the amounts required to settle these lawsuits and claims to have a significantly negative impact on the financial statements and cash flow of Flughafen Zürich AG.
Depending on future and final-instance legal judgements, especially with respect to the southern approaches, in particular the new noise-related liabilities, but also the old ones, may in future be subject to substantial adjustments, which would also require adjustments to the noise-related costs recognised as assets and liabilities in the balance sheet. At the present time, it is not possible to reliably estimate the total costs to capitalise as an intangible asset from the right of formal expropriation, the resulting amortisation or the corresponding provision.
Flughafen Zürich AG and Swiss Life AG are jointly and severally liable in respect of third parties for the liabilities of the co-ownership structure THE CIRCLE and the ordinary partnership THE CIRCLE.