44. Notes to the segment report

The segment report is presented as an annex to the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

The Group’s segment report is prepared in accordance with the provisions of 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 (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 independently organised and managed 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 ). HHLA operates three container 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 at points in time. It also generates 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 segment provides a comprehensive seaport- 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 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 () 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 .

Reconciliation of the segment EBIT with consolidated earnings before taxes (EBT)

in € thousand

 

2020

 

2019

Total segment earnings (EBIT)

 

121,991

 

219,628

Elimination of business relations between segments and subgroups

 

1,574

 

1,609

Group earnings (EBIT)

 

123,565

 

221,237

Earnings from associates accounted for using the equity method

 

3,601

 

4,458

Net interest

 

- 28,060

 

- 39,573

Earnings before tax (EBT)

 

99,105

 

186,122

Segment assets

The reconciliation of segment assets to Group assets incorporates not only items and financial 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.

Reconciliation of the segment assets with Group assets

in € thousand

 

31.12.2020

 

31.12.2019

Segment assets

 

2,372,707

 

2,382,354

Elimination of business relations between segments and subgroups

 

- 734,184

 

- 745,757

Current assets before consolidation

 

665,383

 

671,553

Financial assets

 

17,570

 

17,556

Deferred tax assets

 

141,420

 

124,071

Tax receivables

 

1,369

 

2,201

Cash, cash equivalents and short-term deposits

 

126,858

 

158,041

Group assets

 

2,591,123

 

2,610,019

Other segment information

The reconciliation to Group investments totalling € - 2,126 thousand (previous year: € - 609 thousand) eliminates the internal invoices for services to generate intangible assets between segments.

In relation to the reconciliation of depreciation and amortisation amounting to € - 2,160 thousand (previous year: € - 2,217 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 € 66 thousand (previous year: € - 18 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 geographical regions

 

 

Germany

 

EU

 

Outside EU

 

Total

 

Reconciliation with Group assets

 

Group

in € thousand

 

2020

 

2019

 

2020

 

2019

 

2020

 

2019

 

2020

 

2019

 

2020

 

2019

 

2020

 

2019

Segment income

 

800,118

 

866,962

 

462,077

 

471,074

 

37,636

 

44,589

 

1,299,831

 

1,382,625

 

0

 

0

 

1,299,831

 

1,382,625

Non-current segment assets

 

1,243,894

 

1,252,953

 

699,163

 

670,883

 

48,832

 

59,740

 

1,991,889

 

1,983,576

 

599,234

 

626,443

 

2,591,123

 

2,610,019

Investments in non-current segment assets

 

106,798

 

81,182

 

82,371

 

130,545

 

7,179

 

14,040

 

196,348

 

225,767

 

0

 

851

 

196,348

 

224,916

The reconciliation of long-term segment assets to Group assets includes, in addition to consolidation items between the segments, in particular current assets, financial assets as well as current and deferred income taxes.

Information about key clients

Revenue of € 216,888 thousand (previous year: € 245,320 thousand) from a single client exceeds 10 % of Group revenue and relates to the Container and Intermodal segments.

IFRS

International financial reporting standards.

EBIT

Earnings before interest and taxes.

Feeder/Feeder ship

Vessels which carry smaller numbers of containers to ports. From Hamburg, feeders are primarily used to transport boxes to the Baltic region.

Terminal

In maritime logistics, a terminal is a facility where freight transported by various modes of transport is handled.

Revenue

Revenue from sales or lettings and from services rendered, less sales deductions and VAT.

Intermodal/Intermodal systems

Transportation via several modes of transport (water, rail, road) combining the specific advantages of the respective carriers.

Hinterland

A port’s catchment area.

Revenue

Revenue from sales or lettings and from services rendered, less sales deductions and VAT.

EBT

Earnings before tax.

Financial result

Interest income – interest expenses +/– earnings from companies accounted for using the equity method +/– other financial result.

Investments

Payments for investments in property, plant and equipment, investment property and intangible assets.