44. Notes to the segment report

The Group’s segment report is prepared in accordance with the provisions of IFRS 8 and requires reporting on the basis of the internal reports to the Executive Board for the purpose of controlling commercial activities. The segment performance indicator used is the internationally customary key figure EBIT (earnings before interest and taxes), which serves to measure the success in each segment and therefore aids internal control.

The accounting and valuation principles applied for internal reporting comply with the principles applied by the Group described in Note 6 “Accounting and valuation principles”.

In line with the Group’s reporting structure for management purposes and in accordance with the definition in IFRS 8, the following four independent segments were identified:

Container

The Container segment pools the Group’s container handling operations. The Group’s services in this segment consist primarily of handling container ships and transferring containers to other carriers (e.g. rail, truck or feeder ship). HHLA operates three container terminals in Hamburg (Altenwerder, Burchardkai and Tollerort) and further container terminals in Odessa, Ukraine, and Tallinn, Estonia. The portfolio is rounded off by supplementary container services, such as maintenance and repairs provided by its subsidiary HCCR.

The Container segment mainly generates handling revenue at points in time. It also generates storage fee and rental income over time. Furthermore, individual HHLA customers have contractual rebate entitlements arising from income generated at points in time.

Intermodal

As a core element of HHLA’s business model, which is vertically integrated along the transportation chain, the Intermodal segment provides a comprehensive seaport-hinterland rail and truck network. The rail company METRANS and the trucking firm CTD complete HHLA’s range of services in this field.

As transport income, the revenue of this segment is classed as income generated at points in time. There are also rebate obligations in respect of individual customers.

Logistics

The Logistics segment encompasses specialist handling services, digital business activities and consulting. Its service portfolio comprises stand-alone logistics services and entire process chains for the international procurement and distribution of merchandise. The segment also provides consulting and management services for clients in the international port and transport sectors. Additive manufacturing and airborne logistics services round off the portfolio.

The revenue generated from special handling services is classed as revenue generated at points in time. This segment also generates income over time, chiefly from consultancy and letting services. Immaterial rebate obligations apply in respect of individual customers.

Real estate

This segment is equivalent to the Real Estate subgroup. Its business activities encompass services such as the development, letting and management of properties. These include real estate in the Speicherstadt historical warehouse district and on the northern banks of the river Elbe (fish market area). Furthermore, industrial logistics properties and land in and around the Port of Hamburg are managed by the Holding/Other division.

The revenue from this segment is rental income generated over time.

The Holding/Other division used for segment reporting does not represent an independent business segment as defined by IFRS 8. However, it has been allocated to the segments within the Port Logistics subgroup in order to provide a complete and clear picture.

Due to the structure of the Group, it is necessary to issue a large number of invoices for inter-segmental services. These predominantly relate to the use of real estate, IT services, administrative services, workshop services and staff provided by the holding company. As a rule, services are valued at cost price. Transfer prices may not exceed the market price of the service in question. If the company providing the service predominantly sells the relevant service on the market outside the Group, it may charge the market price, even if the cost price is lower.

The details of the reconciliation of the segment variables with the corresponding Group variables are as follows:

Earnings

The reconciliation of the segment variable EBIT to consolidated earnings before taxes (EBT) incorporates transactions between the segments and the subgroups for which consolidation is mandatory, along with the proportion of companies accounted for using the equity method, net interest income and the other financial result.

Segment assets

The reconciliation of segment assets to Group assets incorporates not only items and financial investments for which consolidation is mandatory, but also claims arising from current and deferred income taxes and financial funds which are not to be assigned to segment assets.

Other segment information

The reconciliation to Group investments totalling € - 609 thousand (previous year: € - 309 thousand) eliminates the internal invoices for services to generate intangible assets between segments.

In relation to the reconciliation of depreciation and amortisation amounting to € - 2,217 thousand (previous year: € - 2,149 thousand), the entire amount is attributable to the elimination of inter-company profits between the segments and the subgroups.

The reconciliation of non-cash items amounts to € - 18 thousand (previous year: € 44 thousand).

Information about geographical regions

For information by region, the segment revenue and disclosures on non-current segment assets are broken down in accordance with the affiliates’ respective locations.

Information about key clients

Revenue of € 245,320 thousand (previous year: € 205,756 thousand) from a single client exceeds 10 % of Group revenue and relates to the Container and Intermodal segments.