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Deutsche Boerse Group

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FY2019 Annual Report · Deutsche Boerse Group
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ANNUAL REPORT 2019

DEUTSCHE BÖRSE GROUP

Annual report 2019
Contents

2

Executive and  
Supervisory Board

150

Consolidated financial 
statements/notes

3 
5 
6 
8 

Letter from the CEO
The Executive Board
The Supervisory Board
Report of the Supervisory Board

17

Combined  
management report

18
28 
53
53
71
93
96
99

105
134 

Fundamental information about the Group
Report on economic position
Report on post-balance sheet date events 
Combined non-financial statement
Risk report
Report on opportunities
Report on expected developments  
Deutsche Börse AG
(disclosures based on the HGB)  
Remuneration report
Combined corporate governance statement 
and corporate governance report

151
152

153
155 
157 

159
169
185
230
260

261

Consolidated income statement 
Consolidated statement of comprehensive 
income
Consolidated balance sheet
Consolidated cash flow statement 
Consolidated statement of changes 
in equity
Basis of preparation
Consolidated income statement disclosures 
Consolidated balance sheet disclosures 
Other disclosures
Responsibility statement by the Executive 
Board
Independent Auditor’s Report

269
273

274
275

Glossary
Acknowledgements/contact/
registered trademarks
About this report
Financial calendar

Frankfurt/Main, 6 March 2020

Dear Shareholders, 
Ladies and Gentlemen,

In the past year, 2019, Deutsche Börse achieved its targets. During an eventful year, we continued 
following the direction of our “Roadmap 2020”. 

We achieved solid improvements in net revenue. Although Deutsche Börse was unable to completely 
detach itself from the tense market environment, we achieved our targets. Our cyclical net revenue – 
i.e. revenue linked to volatility and interest rates – declined. Nevertheless, we are very satisfied with
the year.

A close look at the figures shows Deutsche Börse increased its net revenue by six percent in 2019. 
This figure is made up of five percent secular growth and one percent consolidation effects. We have 
thus met our self-imposed target of five percent secular growth. And we have once again exceeded the 
previous year’s figure of EUR 1.0 billion in net profit by some EUR 100 million. Details can be found in 
the Financial Report. 

So we did not promise too much for last year. The “Roadmap 2020” has proven to be the right path 
for us. I would like to thank our employees around the world for this success. In 2019, they have al-
ways gone the extra mile and even braved adverse circumstances. I am thinking here, above all, of our 
colleagues in Hong Kong.

For me, a very important point is that we have recruited more than 1,100 new employees worldwide. 
But we are still looking for more colleagues. We are a growth company in this respect too. 

We are therefore well equipped for further secular growth. But we also want to grow through acquisi-
tions. Last year we succeeded in making strategically sensible purchases. 

With Axioma, we have acquired a leading provider in the analytics business. Axioma was founded 
in 1998 and, with more than 400 customers, is a global provider of software solutions in the areas 
of portfolio and risk management. We acquired the company together with another investor,  General 
Atlantic, and combined it with our index business (STOXX and DAX). As a result, we now hold  
78 percent of the entire company, which operates under the new name Qontigo. And we have been 
very pleased with this business ever since – because it is innovative, because it still offers great scope 
for new products and services, and because we can react quickly and specifically to the needs of 
the market. In addition, we recently announced the acquisition of UBS’s fund distribution business, 
Fondcenter AG. This will significantly expand the existing Clearstream Fund Desk (formerly Swisscanto 
Funds Centre) and we expect significant revenue synergies from cross-selling to existing Clearstream 
customers. 

3

Executive and Supervisory Boards | Letter from the CEOManagement report Financial statementsNotesFurther informationGruppe Deutsche Börse | Annual report 2019You can see that we have consistently worked according to our „Roadmap 2020“ and we are on the 
right track. Our path also includes our commitment to sustainability. The financial industry can – and 
must – become an “enabler”. Our industry has the opportunity to proactively support and drive forward 
the necessary transformation of economic value creation. Sustainability, and thus medium- to long-
term opportunity and risk management, must become a natural part of capital allocation. Deutsche 
Börse intends to live up to its role as an exemplar in this respect.

Sustainable investment is not yet taken for granted. In our role as a listed company, we are constantly 
working on expanding reporting on our own sustainability. We are therefore a member of the United 
Nations Global Compact and promote the implementation of its principles in the areas of human rights, 
labour, the environment and anti-corruption. We support the goal of a more sustainable and fairer 
global economy. And that is why we report on this transparently in this Annual Report.

Dear shareholders, I would like to express my sincere thanks for the trust you have placed in us over 
the past year. This has paid off for you: in the form of a 32 percent increase in our share price and a 
higher dividend this year. We are planning further growth in 2020 and believe we are well equipped to 
thrive in future markets and under the conditions of ongoing digitization. I look forward to pursuing this 
path together with you.

Yours sincerely,

Dr. Theodor Weimer
Chief Executive Officer

4

Executive and Supervisory Boards | Letter from the CEOManagement report Financial statementsNotesFurther informationGruppe Deutsche Börse | Annual report 2019Executive and Supervisory Boards | The Executive Board

Management report 

Financial statements

Notes

Further information

The Executive Board

Theodor Weimer, *1959
Dr. rer. pol.
Wiesbaden
Chief Executive Officer,  
Deutsche Börse AG 

Christoph Böhm, *1966
Dr.-Ing.
Hamburg
Member of the Executive Board 
and Chief Information Officer/Chief 
Operating Officer, Deutsche Börse 
AG

Thomas Book, *1971
Dr. rer. pol.
Kronberg im Taunus
Member of the Executive Board, 
Deutsche Börse AG,
responsible for Trading & Clearing

Stephan Leithner, *1966
Dr. oec. HSG
Bad Soden am Taunus
Member of the Executive Board, 
Deutsche Börse AG,
responsible for Post-Trading,  
Data & Index

Gregor Pottmeyer, *1962
Graduate degree in  
Business Administration
(Diplom-Kaufmann)
Bad Homburg v.d. Höhe
Member of the Executive Board 
and Chief Financial Officer,  
Deutsche Börse AG

Hauke Stars, *1967
Engineering degree in applied 
 computer science  
(Diplom-Ingenieurin Informatik), 
MSc by research in Engineering
Königstein im Taunus
Member of the Executive Board, 
Deutsche Börse AG,
responsible for Cash Market, 
 Pre-IPO & Growth Financing and 
Human Resources/Director of 
Labour Relations

As at 31 December 2019
(unless otherwise stated)

Detailed information about the members of the Executive Board and their appointments to super visory 
bodies of other companies or comparable control bodies, as well as their CVs can be found on the 
internet under:

 www.deutsche-boerse.com/execboard

5
5

Gruppe Deutsche Börse | Annual report 2019Executive and Supervisory Boards | The Supervisory Board

Management report 

Financial statements

Notes

Further information

The Supervisory Board

Joachim Faber, *1950
Chairman
Independent Management 
 Consultant, Grünwald
Nationality: German
Board member since 20 May 2009

Jutta Stuhlfauth,1) *1961
Deputy Chairwoman
Lawyer, M.B.A. (Wales)
Staff member in the Group 
 Organisational Services department
Deutsche Börse AG,  
Frankfurt/Main
Nationality: German
Board member since 16 May 2012

Nadine Absenger,1) *1975
Head of the legal department
Deutscher Gewerkschaftsbund, 
National Executive Board, Berlin
Nationality: German
Board member since 16 May 2018

Markus Beck,1) *1964
In-House Legal Counsel
Senior Expert, staff member  
in the Corporate & Regulatory 
Legal  section
Deutsche Börse AG,  
Frankfurt/Main
Nationality: German
Board member  
since 15 August 2018

Martin Jetter, *1959
Member of the Management Board
IBM Corporation, New York
Senior Vice President &  
Executive Officer
IBM Global Technology Services, 
New York
Nationality: German
Board member since 24 May 2018

Susann Just-Marx,1) *1988
Senior Sales Manager
European Energy Exchange AG, 
Leipzig 
Nationality: German
Board member  
since 15 August 2018

Achim Karle,1) *1973
Staff member in the Equity &  
Index Sales EMEA unit
Eurex Frankfurt AG, Frankfurt/Main
Nationality: German
Board member  
since 28 August 2018

Cornelis Kruijssen,1) *1963
Expert, staff member in  
the Service Desk unit
Deutsche Börse AG,  
Frankfurt/Main 
Nationality: Dutch
Board member  
since 15 August 2018

Karl-Heinz Flöther, *1952
Independent Management 
 Consultant, Kronberg im Taunus
Nationality: German
Board member since 16 May 2012

Barbara Lambert, *1962
Independent Management 
 Consultant, La Rippe,  Switzerland 
Nationality: German, Swiss
Board member since 16 May 2018

Joachim Nagel, *1966
Member of the Executive Board 
KfW Group, Dreieich
Nationality: German
Board member since 24 May 2018

Carsten Schäfer,1) *1967
Expert, staff member in the 
Non-Financial Risk Germany  unit 
Deutsche Börse AG,  
Frankfurt/Main 
Nationality: German
Board member  
since 28 August 2018

Charles G.T. Stonehill, *1958
Green & Blue Advisors LLC, 
 Founding Partner, New York
Nationality: British, US-American
Board member since 8 May 2019

Clara-Christina Streit, *1968
Independent Management 
 Consultant, Bielefeld
Nationality: German, US-American
Board member since 8 May 2019

Gerd Tausendfreund,1) *1957
Trade union secretary in the 
 financial services department
ver.di national administration, 
Frankfurt/Main
Nationality: German
Board member since 16 May 2018

Amy Yip, *1951
Managing Partner 
RAYS Capital Partners Limited, 
Hong Kong
Nationality: Chinese (Hong Kong)
Board member since 13 May 2015

1) Employee representative

6
6

Gruppe Deutsche Börse | Annual report 2019Executive and Supervisory Boards | The Supervisory Board

Management report 

Financial statements

Notes

Further information

Former members of the 
 Supervisory Board 

Prof. Dr. Dr. Ann-Kristin  Achleitner, 
*1966
Scientific Co-Director 
Center for Entrepreneurial and 
Financial Studies (CEFS) 
at the Technische Universität 
 München (TUM), Munich
Nationality: German
Board member since 8 May 2019

Richard Berliand, *1962
Independent Management 
 Consultant, Lingfield, Surrey
Nationality: British
Board member until 8 May 2019

As at 31 December 2019
(unless otherwise stated)

Detailed information about the members of the Supervisory Board, their additional appointments to 
supervisory bodies of other companies or comparable control bodies, as well as their CVs can be found 
on the internet under

 www.deutsche-boerse.com/supervboard

7
7

Gruppe Deutsche Börse | Annual report 2019Deutsche Börse Group| Annual report 2019 

Executive and Supervisory Boards | Report of the Supervisory Board 
Management report  
Financial statements 
Note 
Further information 

Report of the Supervisory Board 

During the year under review, Deutsche Börse AG’s Supervisory Board discussed the company’s position 
and prospects in depth, performing the tasks assigned to it by law and the company’s Articles of 
Association and bylaws. We regularly advised the Executive Board on its management of the company, 
monitored its work and were involved in all fundamental decisions. 

In 2019, we prepared material personnel decisions to be made for the governing bodies. Martin Jetter 
was nominated for the position as future Chairman of the Supervisory Board. We initiated the long-term 
extension of Theodor Weimer’s term of office as Chairman of Deutsche Börse Group AG’s Executive 
Board. 

At our meetings, the Executive Board provided us with comprehensive and timely information in 
accordance with the legal requirements. The high frequency of plenary and committee meetings and 
workshops ensured an active exchange of information between the Supervisory Board and the Executive 
Board. In addition, the CEO kept the Chairman of the Supervisory Board continuously informed of 
current developments affecting the company’s business, significant transactions and upcoming 
decisions, as well as of the long-term outlook, and discussed these issues with him. 

We held a total of eight plenary meetings during 2019, including two extraordinary meetings. In 
addition, five workshops were held on the issues of technology (March and April); strategy (April); 
sustainable finance and sustainability (June); and legal and compliance (September).  

The average attendance rate for all Supervisory Board members at the plenary and committee meetings 
was 98 per cent during the year under review.  

8
14

Gruppe Deutsche Börse | Annual report 2019Deutsche Börse Group| Annual report 2019 

Executive and Supervisory Boards | Report of the Supervisory Board 
Management report  
Financial statements 
Note 
Further information 

The Supervisory Board members’ detailed attendance record is as follows: 

Attendance of Supervisory Board members at meetings in 2019 

Joachim Faber (Chairman) 

Jutta Stuhlfauth (Deputy Chairperson) 

Nadine Absenger  

Ann-Kristin Achleitner (until 8 May 2019) 

Markus Beck  

Richard Berliand (until 8 May 2019) 

Karl-Heinz Flöther 

Martin Jetter  

Susann Just-Marx  

Achim Karle  

Cornelis Kruijssen  

Barbara Lambert  

Joachim Nagel  

Carsten Schäfer  

Charles Stonehill (since 8 May 2019) 

Clara-Christina Streit (since 8 May 2019) 

Gerd Tausendfreund  

Amy Yip 

Average attendance rate 

Meetings 

(incl. committees)1)  Meeting attendance 

18 

22 

14 

6 

22 

7 

18 

17 

15 

14 

17 

22 

19 

14 

4 

4 

16 

19 

18 

21 

12 

6 

22 

7 

18 

17 

15 

14 

17 

22 

19 

14 

4 

3 

16 

19 

% 

100 

95 

86 

100 

100 

100 

100 

100 

100 

100 

100 

100 

100 

100 

100 

75 

100 

100 

98 

1)  Attending workshops is optional for Supervisory Board members. Hence, workshop attendance is not taken into account in the determination of the average 

attendance rate.  

Topics addressed during plenary meetings of the Supervisory Board 

During the reporting period, we discussed numerous initiatives for the implementation of our growth 
strategy “Roadmap 2020” in detail. These discussions focused partly on the expansion of our business 
via external acquisitions and partnerships, such as the acquisition of Axioma, Inc., a leading provider of 
portfolio and risk management solutions, or of UBS AG’s fund distribution platform, which was acquired 
to expand our Investment Funds Services. Further discussions were held concerning the orientation of 
our information technology (IT) toward the challenges of the future, and on the opportunities of 
exploiting new technologies for our business activities. We provided comprehensive support for the 
necessary realignment of business activities and the Group’s organisational structure. For details on the 
 “Deutsche Börse Group’s objectives and strategies” section in the 
growth strategy, please refer to the 
combined management report.  

During the year under review, the Supervisory Board members also focused extensively on preparing 
important personnel decisions in both the Supervisory Board and the Executive Board. 

The Supervisory Board declared itself in favour of an early extension of Theodor Weimer’s term of office 
as Chairman of Deutsche Börse AG’s Executive Board, until 31 December 2024. Resolutions on this 
matter were adopted at the beginning of 2020. Furthermore, we dealt with the succession of Hauke 
Stars, who will not be available for a third term of office as member of Deutsche Börse AG’s Executive 

9
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Gruppe Deutsche Börse | Annual report 2019 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Deutsche Börse Group| Annual report 2019 

Executive and Supervisory Boards | Report of the Supervisory Board 
Management report  
Financial statements 
Note 
Further information 

Board after her appointment ends in November 2020. Please refer to the 
for details. 

 “Personnel matters” section 

The Supervisory Board has nominated Martin Jetter as succession candidate for Supervisory Board 
chairmanship. The election for Mr Jetter to become Chairman of the Supervisory Board is scheduled to 
take place directly after Deutsche Börse AG’s Annual General Meeting on 19 May 2020, since at that 
point in time Joachim Faber will step down from the Supervisory Board, of which he has been a 
member since 2009 and Chairman since 2012. Charles Stonehill and Clara-Christina Streit had already 
been voted onto Deutsche Börse AG’s Supervisory Board by the Annual General Meeting on 08 May 
2019. Please refer to the 

 “Personnel matters” section for details.  

The Supervisory Board also concerned itself with the new personnel strategy for the upcoming years, 
developed by the Executive Board, and decided to adjust the Executive Board remuneration system – 
also in view of changing standards in the German Corporate Governance Code (the “Code”) and legal 
stipulations – and to submit it to the Annual General Meeting for approval in 2020. Please refer to the 

“Remuneration report” section for details. 

In the year under review, the Supervisory Board also had regular and intensive discussions concerning 
ongoing proceedings by the Public Prosecutor’s Office in Cologne regarding the conception and 
settlement of securities transactions of market participants over the dividend date (cum/ex transactions). 
In the opinion of the Public Prosecutor’s Office, said market participants used these transactions to make 
unjustified tax refund claims. These investigation proceedings also target current and former employees 
of Deutsche Börse Group companies. 

Another core topic of our Supervisory Board work in 2019 was changing Deutsche Börse AG’s external 
auditors as of financial year 2021. We followed the selection process very closely throughout, and at the 
end of the year we selected – with the required care – the future external auditors to be proposed to the 
Annual General Meeting 2021 for election. We also discussed the appropriateness, effectiveness and 
efficiency of internal control systems as well as the handling of findings pertaining to internal control 
functions, external auditors and regulatory authorities. 

In autumn, the Chairman of the Supervisory Board also met institutional investors to discuss current 
governance issues regarding the Supervisory Board and Executive Board, particularly on the upcoming 
extension and succession decisions as well as on the scheduled adjustments of the Executive Board 
remuneration system. He provided a summary report of his dialogue with the investors in the plenary 
meeting held in December. 

Our plenary meetings and workshops during the reporting period focused particularly on the following 
issues: 

At our regular meeting on 08 February 2019, we addressed in detail the preliminary results for the 
2018 financial year and the dividend proposed by the Executive Board for that year. We also resolved 
the amount of the variable remuneration payable to the Executive Board for the 2018 financial year, 
following a detailed examination. Furthermore, we resolved the combined corporate governance 
statement and the corporate governance report 2018. The Executive Board also informed us about 
current M&A projects in detail. In addition, we discussed the personnel situation at Deutsche Börse 
Group from a strategic perspective and addressed the topic of succession planning at top management 
level. Finally, we revised and clarified the existing share ownership guidelines for the Executive Board 
members. 

10
16

Gruppe Deutsche Börse | Annual report 2019 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Deutsche Börse Group| Annual report 2019 

Executive and Supervisory Boards | Report of the Supervisory Board 
Management report  
Financial statements 
Note 
Further information 

Our technology workshop on 08 March 2019 focused on the comprehensive changes regarding our 
employees’ workplace (regarding software applications and equipment). This simplifies the implement-
tation of cloud technology and improves user-friendliness, data security, and operating stability. 

At the regular meeting on 08 March 2019, we discussed Deutsche Börse AG’s financial statements 
2018 as well as the consolidated financial statements for 2018 and the remuneration report, in the 
presence of the external auditors. We approved the 2018 financial statements and consolidated financial 
statements, having carried out our own detailed examination, in line with the recommendation of the 
Audit Committee. The Committee had previously examined the documents in depth, in preparation for 
our meeting. We also adopted the report of the Supervisory Board for 2018, the combined corporate 
governance statement and corporate governance report in an amended version, as well as the agenda for 
the 2018 Annual General Meeting. In addition, we adopted a resolution on which candidates were to be 
proposed to the Annual General Meeting for election to the Supervisory Board. We concerned ourselves 
with the programme on IT transformation in detail and discussed the staff report. 

At the extraordinary meeting on 05 April 2019 and after detailed consultation, we approved the 
scheduled acquisition of Axioma, Inc. and the merger with Deutsche Börse Group’s index businesses, to 
form a fully integrated information provider. 

At another extraordinary meeting on 29 April 2019, we addressed issues regarding Executive Board 
remuneration. 

At the Supervisory Board’s strategy workshop on 29 April 2019, we had intensive discussions 
concerning details for the index and data business strategy, and also addressed current M&A projects. 
Furthermore, the Executive Board informed us about the preparations for the investor day 2019. The 
results of the annual employee survey were presented to the Supervisory Board and discussed within the 
context of a new, multi-year personnel strategy to be elaborated by the Executive Board. Finally, we also 
dealt with our plan to establish a market infrastructure for digital assets based on distributed ledger 
technology (DLT). 

At another Supervisory Board technology workshop on 30 April 2019 we learned everything about 
state-of-the-art technology and future potential applications for quantum computing in the financial 
sector. 

At the regular meeting on 08 May 2019, we discussed the forthcoming Annual General Meeting with 
the Executive Board, which would be attended by Supervisory Board members Ann-Kristin Achleitner 
and Richard Berliand for the last time. Once again, we addressed issues regarding Executive Board 
remuneration. 

At our regular meeting on 18 June 2019, we addressed in detail the new, multi-year personnel strategy 
and succession planning for Deutsche Börse Group AG’s Executive Board. Furthermore, the Executive 
Board informed us about the preparations for the upcoming change of external auditors, to be resolved 
by the Annual General Meeting in 2021. We also concerned ourselves with the status quo of the 
investigation proceedings regarding securities transactions of market participants over the dividend date 
(cum/ex transactions) and gained an overview of the current status of Clearstream’s legal disputes in the 
US. The audit results concerning Clearstream’s and Eurex Clearing’s compliance with the Minimum 
Requirements for Risk Management (MaRisk) and other findings by the supervisory authorities were also 
discussed, and the measures taken addressed. We also adopted a resolution on amending the bylaws for 
the Executive Board – to lower the threshold at which a company acquisition requires approval by the 
Supervisory Board. 

11
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Gruppe Deutsche Börse | Annual report 2019 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Deutsche Börse Group| Annual report 2019 

Executive and Supervisory Boards | Report of the Supervisory Board 
Management report  
Financial statements 
Note 
Further information 

Sustainable finance and Deutsche Börse Group’s sustainability activities were a topic we discussed in 
detail at a Supervisory Board workshop on 18 June 2019, during which external experts also informed 
us about the EU Action Plan: Financing Sustainable Growth and about the relevance of ESG services 
rendered by companies – from the view of investors. 

At the regular meeting on 19 September 2019 we dealt in depth with the post-trading business 
strategy. Once again, we made extensive enquiries about the status quo of the investigation proceedings 
relating to cum/ex transactions at Deutsche Börse Group, discussing them with the Executive Board. We 
also convened the Chairman Selection Committee, a committee whose responsibility it was to propose a 
candidate for the succession as Chairperson of the Supervisory Board to the Supervisory Board as of the 
Annual General Meeting 2020. Barbara Lambert, Chairperson of the Audit Committee, took over the 
chair of this temporary committee. Once again, we addressed issues regarding the Executive Board 
remuneration system and a potential adjustment of basic Supervisory Board remuneration. Finally, we 
resolved an updated version of the Guideline on Reimbursability of Expenses and on Private Use of Work 
Equipment for Deutsche Börse AG’s Executive Board. 

At a Supervisory Board workshop on 18 September 2019 on legal and compliance topics we again 
dealt intensively with Clearstream’s legal disputes in the US. 

Based on our previous intensive discussions and a corresponding recommendation by the Audit 
Committee, on 07 November 2019 the Supervisory Board resolved to propose to the Annual General 
Meeting 2021 that PricewaterhouseCoopers GmbH Wirtschaftsprüfungsgesellschaft, with registered 
offices in Frankfurt am Main, take over the role as external auditors of the annual financial statements 
and the consolidated financial statements as of financial year 2021. 

At the regular meeting on 05 December 2019 we resolved the budget for 2020 and nominated Martin 
Jetter as candidate for the Supervisory Board chairmanship as of the Annual General Meeting 2020. We 
also attended to the planned acquisition of Fondcenter AG, a spin-off of UBS AG’s fund distribution 
business, and agreed to the transaction. We gained an overview of the development of recently acquired 
companies and of the equity investments within the company’s corporate venture activities. We also 
concerned ourselves once again with the status quo of the investigation proceedings regarding cum/ex 
transactions. The Executive Board also provided us with a status report on the processing of findings 
from the regulatory reviews. We discussed and adopted the results of our annual effectiveness review in 
accordance with section 5.6 of the German Corporate Governance Code, the annual suitability 
assessment of the Supervisory Board and the Executive Board, as well as the upcoming year’s training 
plan for the Supervisory Board. Furthermore, we adopted the declaration of compliance pursuant to 
section 161 of the Aktiengesetz (AktG, German Stock Corporation Act) for the 2019 financial year. The 
declaration of compliance is available at 
discussed the results of our examination of appropriateness of Executive Board remuneration. We 
adopted changes to the Executive Board remuneration system as of the beginning of 2020, deciding to 
propose an adjustment of basic Supervisory Board remuneration to the Annual General Meeting.  

 www.deutsche-boerse.com/declcompliance. We also 

The Supervisory Board’s meetings in the reporting year were held at the Group’s headquarters, as well 
as at our office in Luxembourg. 

After every meeting, we held open and effective exchanges within the Supervisory Board, without the 
presence of the Executive Board members. 

12
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Gruppe Deutsche Börse | Annual report 2019 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Deutsche Börse Group| Annual report 2019 

Executive and Supervisory Boards | Report of the Supervisory Board 
Management report  
Financial statements 
Note 
Further information 

Committee work 

During the year under review, the Supervisory Board had seven committees at its disposal; and, for a 
limited time only, another committee in the form of the Chairman Selection Committee. The committees 
are primarily responsible for preparing the decisions to be taken by, and topics to be discussed in, the 
plenary meetings. Additionally, the Supervisory Board delegated individual decision-making powers to 
the committees, to the extent that this is legally permissible. The individual committee chairs report in 
detail to the plenary meetings on the work performed by their committees. The Chairman of the 
Supervisory Board chairs the Nomination Committee, the Strategy Committee, the Chairman’s 
Committee and the Mediation Committee. The latter two were newly created with the expansion of the 
Supervisory Board and the introduction of equal representation in 2018. Details on the members and 
duties of the Supervisory Board committees in 2019 can be found in the 
governance statement and corporate governance report” section of the combined management report. 
The committees focused on the following key issues: 

 “Combined corporate 

Audit Committee (six meetings during the reporting period) 
  Financial issues, especially capital management and tax items 
  Accounting: examination, in the presence of the external auditors, of the annual financial statements of 
Deutsche Börse AG and of the consolidated financial statements, of the combined management report 
and the audit report, as well as of the half-yearly financial report and the quarterly statements 

  External auditors: obtaining the statement of independence from the external auditors and monitoring 
the external auditors’ independence; issuing the engagement letter to the external auditors; preparing 
the Supervisory Board’s proposal to the Annual General Meeting concerning the election of the external 
auditors; agreeing the external auditors’ fee; defining the focal areas of the audit; discussing non-audit 
services rendered by the external auditors and the assignment of the external auditors to conduct an 
audit of the combined non-financial statement 

  Preparations for the change of external auditors as of financial year 2021 
  Internal control systems: discussion of questions relating to risk management, compliance and capital 

market compliance, the internal control and audit system; discussion of the methods and systems used 
and their efficiency, adequacy and effectiveness  

  Deutsche Börse AG’s dividend and the Group’s budget  
  Discussion and formal adoption of the Audit Committee’s tasks for the coming year 
  Preparation of the Supervisory Board’s resolution on the corporate governance and remuneration 
reports as well as on the corporate governance statement in accordance with section 289f of the 
Handelsgesetzbuch (HGB, German Commercial Code) and the declaration of compliance in accordance 
with section 161 of the AktG 

  Measures to close internal and external audit findings 
  Management of outsourcings and control frameworks for intellectual property 
  Management of regulatory changes 
  Investigation proceedings relating to cum/ex transactions 

Nomination Committee (five meetings during the reporting period) 
  Executive Board remuneration: discussion of the extent to which the members of the Executive Board 

had achieved their targets; determination of the variable remuneration for Executive Board members for 
2018; preliminary discussion of the extent to which individual members of the Executive Board have 
achieved their targets for 2019; adoption of the individual targets for the members of the Executive 
Board for 2020; discussion of the remuneration report and the share ownership guidelines 

  Personnel matters: discussion of succession planning for the Executive Board and management level; 

search for (and preliminary selection of) candidates to succeed Hauke Stars; preparation of a 
recommendation to the plenary meeting concerning the re-appointment of Theodor Weimer 

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Gruppe Deutsche Börse | Annual report 2019 
 
 
 
  
Deutsche Börse Group| Annual report 2019 

Executive and Supervisory Boards | Report of the Supervisory Board 
Management report  
Financial statements 
Note 
Further information 

  Review and preparation of a recommendation to the plenary meeting to adjust the Executive Board

remuneration system and Executive Board service contracts; review of the appropriateness of Executive
Board remuneration, and of members’ pensionable income

  Review of Supervisory Board remuneration and elaboration of a recommendation on adjusting

Supervisory Board remuneration to the plenary meeting

  Preparations for the election of the shareholder representatives to the Supervisory Board by the

ordinary Annual General Meeting 2019

  Dealing with the suitability assessment, effectiveness review and training schedule

Risk Committee (five meetings during the reporting period, including one joint meeting with  
the Technology Committee) 
  Discussion about the quarterly compliance and risk management reports
  Ongoing enhancements to Group-wide compliance and risk management and the harmonisation

of internal control systems

  Deutsche Börse Group’s risk strategy and risk culture
  Operational risk, information security and business continuity management
  Management of product risks
  Risk management in the Eurex subgroup
  Impact of potential Brexit scenarios
  Sustainability activities of Deutsche Börse Group
  Implemenation of new regulatory requirements
  Integration within the scope of company acquisitions
  Know-your-customer processes at the Clearstream and Eurex subgroups

Strategy Committee (two meetings during the reporting period) 
  Consultation on the scheduled acquisition of Axioma, Inc. and the merger with Deutsche Börse Group’s

index businesses to form a fully integrated information provider

  Consultation on further M&A opportunities
  Consultation on the planned acquisition of Fondcenter AG, a spin-off of UBS AG’s fund distribution

business

  Process to develop the growth strategy “Roadmap 2020”

Technology Committee (four meetings during the reporting period, including one joint meeting  
with the Risk Committee) 
  Refinement of Deutsche Börse Group’s IT strategy
  Conception and implementation of a holistic technology transformation
  Cloud computing, migration strategies, and relevant security standards
  Dealing with automation and DLT/blockchain technologies and their possible methods of

implementation

  Development of an information security compliance programme; introduction of the COBIT model and

installation of an IT audit management function to ensure regulatory compliance

  Information security, IT risk management and cyber resilience

Chairman Selection Committee (three meetings during the reporting period) 
  Preparations for the new election of the Supervisory Board Chair after the Annual General Meeting

2020

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Gruppe Deutsche Börse | Annual report 2019Deutsche Börse Group| Annual report 2019 

Executive and Supervisory Boards | Report of the Supervisory Board 
Management report  
Financial statements 
Note 
Further information 

Chairman’s Committee (no meeting during the reporting period) 
The Chairman’s Committee convenes on the initiative of the Chairman of the Supervisory Board; it deals 
with time-sensitive affairs and prepares the corresponding Supervisory Board plenary meetings. There 
was no need for the Chairman’s Committee to hold a meeting during the year under review. 

Mediation Committee (no meetings during the reporting period) 
The Mediation Committee is set up by law. Pursuant to section 31(3) of the MitbestG, it submits 
proposals to the Supervisory Board for the appointment or dismissal of Executive Board members when 
a two-thirds majority has not been reached. The Mediation Committee only convenes as required. There 
was no need for the Mediation Committee to hold a meeting during the year under review. 

Audit of the annual and consolidated financial statements 

KPMG AG Wirtschaftsprüfungsgesellschaft, domiciled in Berlin, (KPMG) audited the annual financial 
statements of Deutsche Börse AG, the consolidated financial statements and the combined management 
report, including the combined non-financial statement for the financial year ended 31 December 2019, 
together with the accounting system, and issued an unqualified audit opinion. The condensed financial 
statements and interim management report contained in the half-yearly financial report for the first six 
months of 2019 were reviewed by KPMG. The documents relating to the financial statements and the 
reports by KPMG were submitted to us for inspection and examination in good time. The lead auditors, 
Klaus-Ulrich Pfeiffer and Sven-Olaf Leitz, attended the relevant meetings of the Audit Committee and the 
plenary meeting of the Supervisory Board convened to approve the financial statements. The auditors 
reported on the key results of the audit; in particular, they focused on the net assets, financial position 
and results of operations of the company and Group, and were available to provide supplementary 
information. The auditors also reported that no significant weaknesses in the control and risk 
management systems had been found, in particular with respect to the financial reporting process. The 
audit of compliance with all relevant statutory provisions and regulatory requirements did not give rise to 
any objections. KPMG provided information on other services that it had rendered in addition to its audit 
services. There were no grounds for suspecting that the auditors’ independence might be impaired. 

The Audit Committee discussed the financial statement documents and the reports by KPMG in detail 
with the auditors and examined them carefully itself. It is satisfied that the reports meet the statutory 
requirements under sections 317 and 321 of the HGB in particular. The committee reported to the 
Supervisory Board on its examination and recommended that it approve the annual financial statements 
and consolidated financial statements. 

Our own examination – during a plenary meeting – of the 2019 annual financial statements, 
consolidated financial statements and the combined management report, including the non-financial 
statement, did not lead to any objections and we concurred with the results of the audit performed by 
the auditors. We approved the annual financial statements prepared by the Executive Board and the 
consolidated financial statements at our meeting on 06 March 2020, in line with the Audit Committee’s 
recommendation. As a result, the annual financial statements of Deutsche Börse AG have been adopted. 
The Audit Committee discussed the Executive Board’s proposal for the appropriation of the unappro-
priated surplus (Bilanzgewinn) in detail with the Executive Board, focusing on the company’s liquidity 
and financial planning, and taking shareholders’ interests into account. Following this discussion and its 
own examination, the Audit Committee concurred with the Executive Board’s proposal for the 
appropriation of the unappropriated surplus. After examining this ourselves, the plenary meeting of the 
Supervisory Board also approved the Executive Board’s proposal.  

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Gruppe Deutsche Börse | Annual report 2019 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Deutsche Börse Group| Annual report 2019 

Executive and Supervisory Boards | Report of the Supervisory Board 
Management report  
Financial statements 
Note 
Further information 

Personnel matters 

The following personnel changes were made to the Supervisory Board during the reporting period: 

The Supervisory Board shall consist of sixteen members. Two out of eight members, Charles Stonehill 
and Clara-Christina Streit, were newly elected to the Supervisory Board from the ranks of the shareholder 
representatives. Ann-Kristin Achleitner and Richard Berliand resigned from the Supervisory Board at the 
Annual General Meeting. While Richard Berliand retired at the day of the Annual General Meeting, Ann-
Kristin Achleitner’s mandate ended after termination of the Annual General Meeting. 

We would like to sincerely thank Ann-Kristin Achleitner and Richard Berliand for their enriching and 
constructive cooperation on the Supervisory Board of Deutsche Börse AG. 

Charles Stonehill and Clara-Christina Streit were comprehensively supported when taking up office. 

No personnel changes were made with regard to the Executive Board in 2019. 

However, during the year we declared ourselves in favour of the long-term extension of Theodor 
Weimer’s term of office as Chairman of Deutsche Börse AG’s Executive Board until 31 December 2024. 
The Supervisory Board will adopt a resolution on this at the beginning of 2020. Theodor Weimer will 
reach the age of 65 in 2024. The main reason for prolonging his term of office is his comprehensive 
expertise in the financial sector, the professional and personal qualifications he has proven to possess 
since the beginning of his term of office in 2018, and the special role of the Chairman of the Executive 
Board. Therefore, we decided against a contract extension of only one year according to the flexible age 
limit for members of the Executive Board resolved by the Supervisory Board. 

Furthermore, Hauke Stars informed us in the year under review that she would not be available for a 
third term of office as member of Deutsche Börse AG’s Executive Board after her appointment ends in 
November 2020. We have already begun the search for an appropriate successor for Hauke Stars in the 
year under review. 

Management of individual conflicts of interest 

No conflicts of interest arose with regard to individual Supervisory Board members during the reporting 
period.  

The Supervisory Board would like to thank the Executive Board and all employees for their strong 
commitment and excellent achievements in 2019. 

Frankfurt am Main, 06 March 2020 
for the Supervisory Board 

Joachim Faber 
Chairman of the Supervisory Board 

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22

Gruppe Deutsche Börse | Annual report 2019 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Combined  
management report

18

Fundamental information about the Group

28

Report on economic position

53 

Report on post-balance sheet date events 

53

Combined non-financial statement

71

Risk report

93

Report on opportunities

96

Report on expected developments  

99

Deutsche Börse AG

(disclosures based on the HGB)  

105

Remuneration report

134

Combined corporate governance statement and 

corporate governance report

 
Deutsche Börse Group | Annual report 2019 

Executive and Supervisory Boards 
Management report | Fundamental information about the Group 
Financial statements 
Notes 
Further information 

Combined management report 

This combined management report covers both Deutsche Börse Group and Deutsche Börse AG and 
includes the combined non-financial statements according to the CSR Directive. It follows the require-
ments of the Handelsgesetzbuch (HGB, German Commercial Code) and the Deutscher Rechnungs-
legungs Standard Nr. 20 (DRS 20, German Accounting Standard No. 20).  

Fundamental information about the Group

Overview of Deutsche Börse Group 

Business operations and Group structure 
Deutsche Börse AG, which is headquartered in Frankfurt/Main, Germany, is the parent company of 
Deutsche Börse Group. As at 31 December 2019, Deutsche Börse Group employed a total of 
6,775 staff (31 December 2018: 5,640), having 105 nationalities at 41 locations in 27 countries 
around the globe. As one of the largest providers of market infrastructure worldwide, the Group offers a 
broad product and service range to its clients. These cover the entire financial market transaction 
process chain: from the provision of market information, indices and analytical solutions (pre-trading), 
the trading and clearing services on which these are based, and the settlement of transactions right 
through to the custody of securities and funds, as well as services for liquidity and collateral 
management (post-trading), related services for trading and clearing as well as settlement of orders right 
through to custody of securities and funds, as well as services for liquidity and collateral management 
(post-trading). The Group also develops and operates the IT systems that support all of these processes. 

Deutsche Börse AG markets the price and reference data of the systems and platforms of Deutsche 
Börse Group as well as any other trading-relevant information. In addition, it develops and markets 
indices and analytics solutions via its subsidiary Qontigo GmbH. Furthermore, Deutsche Börse AG 
operates the Eurex Exchange futures and options market via Eurex Frankfurt AG. Commodities spot and 
derivatives markets are operated by the Group' s direct subsidiary European Energy Exchange AG (EEX). 
Via its subsidiary 360 Treasury Systems AG (360T), Deutsche Börse AG offers a platform for foreign 
exchange trading. The Group also operates the cash market at Frankfurter Wertpapierbörse (Frankfurt 
Stock Exchange – FWB®), with its fully electronic trading venue Xetra®, as well as offering trading in 
structured products (certificates and warrants) in Germany via the Börse Frankfurt Zertifikate AG 
exchange. The Group also offers clearing services for the cash and derivatives markets (Eurex 
Clearing AG). All post-trading services that Deutsche Börse Group provides for securities are handled by 
Clearstream Holding AG and its subsidiaries (Clearstream Holding group). These include transaction 
settlement, the administration and custody of securities, as well as services for investment funds and 
global securities financing. Deutsche Börse AG and Clearstream Services S.A. develop and operate 
Deutsche Börse Group’s technological infrastructure. 

Deutsche Börse Group's full group of consolidated entities is set out in 
financial statements. 

 note 34 to the consolidated 

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Gruppe Deutsche Börse | Annual report 2019 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Deutsche Börse Group | Annual report 2019 

Executive and Supervisory Boards 
Management report | Fundamental information about the Group 
Financial statements 
Notes 
Further information 

Reporting segments 
Deutsche Börse Group's business is divided into nine segments: Eurex (financial derivatives), EEX 
(commodities), 360T (foreign exchange), Xetra (securities trading), Clearstream (post-trading), IFS 
(investment fund services), GSF (collateral management), Qontigo (index and analytics business) and 
Data (data business). 

This structure serves as a basis for the Group’s internal management and financial reporting (see the 
following table entitled “Deutsche Börse Group’s reporting segments” for details).  

Deutsche Börse Group’s reporting segments 
Reporting segment 

Business areas 

Eurex (financial derivatives) 

EEX (commodities) 

360T (foreign exchange) 

Xetra (securities trading) 

 Electronic trading of derivatives (Eurex Exchange)  
 Eurex Repo® OTC trading platform 
 C7® electronic clearing architecture 
 Central counterparty for on- and off-exchange derivatives and repo transactions 

 Electronic trading of electricity and gas products as well as emission rights (EEX group)  
 Central counterparty for traded cash market and derivative products 

 Electronic trading of foreign exchange (360T®)  
 Central counterparty for OTC and exchange-traded derivatives 

 Cash market with the trading venues Xetra®, Börse Frankfurt and Tradegate 
 Central counterparty for equities and bonds 
 Listing 

Clearstream (post-trading) 

 Custody and settlement of securities 

IFS (Investment Fund Services) 

 Investment fund services (order routing, settlement and custody) 

GSF (collateral management) 

 Services for global securities finance and collateral management as well as collateralised money 

Qontigo (index and analytics 
business) 

Data (data business) 

market transactions, repo and securities lending transactions 

 Development and marketing of indices (STOXX® and DAX®) 
 Innovative portfolio management and risk analysis software 

 Marketing of licences for trading and market signals 
 Technology and reporting solutions for external clients 
 Link-up of trading participants 

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Gruppe Deutsche Börse | Annual report 2019 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
Deutsche Börse Group | Annual report 2019 

Executive and Supervisory Boards 
Management report | Fundamental information about the Group 
Financial statements 
Notes 
Further information 

Management 
The governing bodies of Deutsche Börse AG, which is a German stock corporation, are the Annual 
General Meeting, the Supervisory Board and the Executive Board, each of which has its own areas of 
responsibility. 

The Annual General Meeting rules on the appropriation of the unappropriated surplus, appoints the 
shareholder representatives on the Supervisory Board and approves the actions of the Executive Board 
and the Supervisory Board. In addition, it rules on corporate actions and other matters governed by the 
Aktiengesetz (AktG, German Stock Corporation Act). 

The Supervisory Board appoints, supervises and advises the members of the Management Board, and is 
directly involved in decisions of fundamental importance to the Group. Additionally, it approves the 
consolidated financial statements prepared by the Executive Board. Members of the Supervisory Board 
are appointed for a period of three years, although the Annual General Meeting may determine a shorter 
term of office when electing members. As Deutsche Börse AG has more than 2,000 employees in 
Germany, members of the Supervisory Board must be appointed in accordance with the provisions of the 
Mitbestimmungsgesetz (German Co-Determination Act). Deutsche Börse's Supervisory Board comprises 
eight shareholder representatives and eight employee representatives in order to meet the growing 
demands placed upon Supervisory Board members in connection with the Company's growth and that of 
the Group as a whole, particularly with regard to the diversity and internationalisation of Supervisory 
Board work. Further details can be viewed in the 
 "Combined declaration on corporate management 
and corporate governance report" section. 

The Executive Board manages the company at its own responsibility; the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) 
coordinates the activities of the Executive Board members. In the 2019 financial year, the Executive 
Board of Deutsche Börse AG comprised six members. The remuneration system and the remuneration 
paid to individual members of the Executive Board of Deutsche Börse AG is explained in more detail in 

 the remuneration report. 

Organisational structure
The responsibilities of the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) include the Group's strategy, M&A activities, 
communications, legal affairs as well as regulatory matters, and Group Audit. The duties of the Chief 
Financial Officer (CFO) comprise, among other things, financial reporting and controlling, risk 
management, compliance and investor relations. The Trading & Clearing division bundles derivatives 
trading and the clearing houses of Deutsche Börse Group. The electronic foreign exchange trading 
platform 360T®, as well as EEX Group, also belong to this division. The Post-Trading, Data & Index 
division includes Clearstream’s settlement and custody business, the reporting segments IFS (Investment 
Fund Services), and GSF (Collateral Management), as well as the data, index and analytics businesses. 
Deutsche Börse Group’s cash market businesses – comprising the trading venues Xetra, Frankfurt Stock 
Exchange, and the certificates and warrants business – are assigned to the Cash Market, Pre-IPO & 
Growth Financing division. The division is also responsible for building up a pre-IPO market, establishing 
tools for growth financing. Human Resources completes this area of responsibility. The Chief Information 
Officer/Chief Operating Officer (CIO/COO) division combines Deutsche Börse Group's IT activities and 
market operations. Technological transformation and digitalisation are the key areas of focus for this 
division.  

3
20

Gruppe Deutsche Börse | Annual report 2019 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Deutsche Börse Group | Annual report 2019 

Executive and Supervisory Boards 
Management report | Fundamental information about the Group 
Financial statements 
Notes 
Further information 

Objectives and strategies  

Deutsche Börse Group’s objectives and strategies  
Deutsche Börse Group is one of the largest market infrastructure providers worldwide. The Group’s 
business model contributes the capital markets’ stability, efficiency and integrity. This benefits issuers in 
the form of low costs of raising capital and investors in the form of high liquidity and low transaction 
costs. At the same time, Deutsche Börse stands for transparent, secure capital markets in which 
organised trading is based on free price formation. 

Deutsche Börse Group's business model is geared towards a diversified product and service offer that 
covers the entire value chain of financial market transactions. The Group’s diversified business model is 
based on the following key elements: 

  Integrating different financial market services such as trading, clearing, settlement, securities custody, 

liquidity and collateral management, as well as index, analytics and market data services 

  Providing these services for various asset classes such as equities, bonds, funds, commodities, foreign 

exchange, interest rates, and derivatives products based on these underlyings 

  Developing and operating proprietary electronic systems for all processes along the value creation 

chain 

  Organising an impartial marketplace to ensure orderly, supervised trading with fair price formation, 

plus providing risk management services  

In order to maintain and expand its leading position among exchange organisations, Deutsche Börse 
Group is pursuing the “Roadmap 2020” growth strategy. To achieve this strategic objective, Deutsche 
Börse is focusing on generating structural, organic growth, while at the same time accelerating non-
organic growth through acquisitions in five defined business areas. The third pillar of the strategy is to 
strengthen and further expand its position in the IT area. 

As part of an ongoing process, the Group is reviewing its organic growth initiatives, focusing in particular 
on expansion into markets and asset classes characterised by structural growth, while attaching great 
importance to ensuring that the initiatives launched are implemented in a consistent, successful manner. 
Please refer to the report on opportunities for the key initiatives and growth drivers. Moreover, the 
remuneration system for the Executive Board and executive staff has created a number of incentives for 
growth in the individual business divisions. Please refer to the 
description of all targets. As far as external growth opportunities are concerned, the focus is on 
strengthening existing high-growth areas, and on exploring new asset classes and services. 

 remuneration report for a detailed 

Deutsche Börse has a scalable business model, which permits higher business volumes to be achieved 
at relatively low additional cost. This means that, with a strong business performance and organic or 
external growth, revenue growth will exceed cost increases. To reinforce the scalability of its business 
model, the Group has introduced clear targets for net revenue and profit growth. Based on its current 
business portfolio, the Group anticipates structurally driven net revenue growth of at least 5 per cent a 
year between 2017 and 2020. With regard to net income for the period attributable to Deutsche Börse 
AG shareholders, the Group is targeting an average annual growth rate of 10 to 15 per cent over the 
same period. So far, during the course of implementing this growth strategy, the Group has managed to 
achieve or even exceed these targets. 

4
21

Gruppe Deutsche Börse | Annual report 2019 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Deutsche Börse Group | Annual report 2019 

Executive and Supervisory Boards 
Management report | Fundamental information about the Group 
Financial statements 
Notes 
Further information 

Among the factors that have a significant impact on Deutsche Börse Group's organic growth are: 

  Regulatory requirements affecting all market participants: if regulatory initiatives (such as EMIR, MiFIR 

and CRR/CRD) strengthen the role of exchanges, this will also benefit Deutsche Börse Group. 

  Structural changes in the financial markets: e.g. trading activity increases if investment funds make 

greater use of derivatives to implement their trading strategies.  

  Innovative strength: If Deutsche Börse Group succeeds in continuously introducing new products and 

services for which there is market demand, the Group will be in a position to further expand its 
business.  

  The cyclical nature of financial markets: For example, increased stock market volatility typically leads to 
higher levels of trading in the cash and derivatives markets, and rising interest rates tend to drive up 
net interest income and trading volumes in interest rate derivatives. 

Deutsche Börse Group is committed to maintaining transparent, reliable and liquid financial markets, 
although it cannot control the volume drivers for these markets, i.e. cyclical factors. The Group can 
influence the other factors either wholly or partially; for instance, it can lobby for a favourable legal 
framework for the financial markets, or it can develop products and services that support clients’ 
business. This also enables it to reduce dependence on those factors beyond its control. 

Management approach for a Group-wide commitment to sustainability  
One of Deutsche Börse Group's objectives and strategies is to take a holistic approach to corporate 
responsibility. Its management approach is therefore guided by three action-led principles that aim to 
sustainably strengthen and preserve the value that Deutsche Börse Group adds to the economy and 
society: 

  Building trust. Deutsche Börse Group aims to organise the capital markets in a way that ensures their 
integrity, transparency and security. The availability of high-quality information is a key aspect in this 
process and something that the Group is working on constantly to enhance. In this context, providing 
sustainability information is as significant as engaging in a constructive dialogue on the future viability 
of the international capital markets with our customers but also with the general public. 

  Leading by example. As a listed service provider, Deutsche Börse Group aims to ensure that its own 
corporate activities are conducted responsibly and with a view to the future. In addition, the Group 
pursues a sustainable human resources policy and is committed to the environment and hence to 
conserving resources. It enhances its commitment to sustainability and related reporting on an ongoing 
basis in order to establish itself as a long-term role model on the market.  

  Increasing public awareness. The Group is part of civil society and as such has a responsibility towards 

it. It is committed to fulfilling this role both in Germany and in its international locations. It 
systematically bases its actions on local requirements and, as a good corporate citizen, takes part in 
long-term cooperative initiatives aimed at strengthening structures in the non-profit sector. 

In 2016, Deutsche Börse established a Group Sustainability Board to continuously develop the Group-
wide sustainability strategy along the entire value chain and advise the Executive Board on sustainability 
issues. The Board convenes twice a year and in 2019 its members comprised twelve representatives of 
the Executive Board divisions, plus the Head of Group Sustainability and one Executive Board member.  

5
22

Gruppe Deutsche Börse | Annual report 2019 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Deutsche Börse Group | Annual report 2019 

Executive and Supervisory Boards 
Management report | Fundamental information about the Group 
Financial statements 
Notes 
Further information 

Internal management 

Management systems 
Deutsche Börse Group’s internal management system is generally based on key performance indicators 
taken from the consolidated income statement (net revenue; operating costs excluding depreciation, 
amortisation and impairment losses; EBITDA; Group’s net profit for the period attributable to Deutsche 
Börse AG shareholders), as well as on various parameters derived from the consolidated statement of 
financial position and the consolidated statement of cash flows (cash flows from operating activities, 
liquidity, equity less intangible assets). In addition, the system includes key performance indicators 
derived from the adjusted income statement and balance sheet (net debt/EBITDA ratio and return on 
shareholders' equity). Details on the components of the income statement are shown in the table            

 "Consolidated income statement". 

The most significant performance indicators to manage the Group’s results of operations include the 
secular net revenue growth and the adjusted net profit for the period attributable to Deutsche Börse AG 
shareholders. The performance indicators derived from the statement of financial position and the 
statement of cash flows include cash flows from operating activities and equity less intangible assets. In 
addition, Deutsche Börse Group’s target is to primarily meet its operating liquidity requirements from 
internal financing with a view towards maintaining sufficient liquidity in order to be able to meet all of 
the Group's payment obligations when due. There is no set target for the Group’s management KPI of 
equity less intangible assets; rather, the objective is to maintain a positive figure. 

At Group level, a net debt/EBITDA ratio not exceeding 1.75 and free funds from operations (FFO) relative 
to net debt greater than or equal to 50 per cent is also targeted in order to achieve the "minimum 
financial risk profile" consistent with the current AA rating in accordance with S&P Global Ratings 
methodology. In addition, an interest coverage ratio of at least 14 is targeted for Deutsche Börse Group 
using this methodology. 

Group projects are prioritised and steered using strategic and financial criteria, taking project-specific 
risks into account. The main criterion used to assess the strategic attractiveness of projects is their 
(expected) contribution to the strategic objectives for Deutsche Börse Group and its business areas. The 
main financial criteria are key performance indicators such as net present value (NPV), the payback  
period and the return after tax, which are calculated on the basis of the project or business plans, which 
are calculated on the basis of the project or business plans. Risks are monitored at all levels of project 
work, i.e. both when prioritising and steering projects and during ongoing project management. 

Details concerning the non-financial performance indicators used by Deutsche Börse Group are outlined 
in the 

 "Combined non-financial statement" section.  

Internal control system as part of the financial reporting process 
Deutsche Börse has established a Group-wide internal control system (ICS). The ICS comprises rules to 
manage the company’s activities as well as guidelines defining how compliance with these rules is 
monitored. The principles of the Group-wide ICS are also applied in partially decentralized units of 
Deutsche Börse Group. Monitoring tasks are implemented through process-integrated measures (such as 
organisational safeguards and controls) as well as through process-independent measures. All business 
divisions are responsible for ensuring that Group-wide ICS requirements are met in their respective areas 
of responsibility. 

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23

Gruppe Deutsche Börse | Annual report 2019 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Deutsche Börse Group | Annual report 2019 

Executive and Supervisory Boards 
Management report | Fundamental information about the Group 
Financial statements 
Notes 
Further information 

The purpose of the accounting-related ICS is to ensure orderly accounting practices. The central 
Financial Accounting and Controlling (FA&C) division, together with decentralised units acting on the 
requirements set out by FA&C, are responsible for preparing the accounts at Deutsche Börse AG and its 
consolidated subsidiaries. Group Tax is responsible for determining tax items for accounting purposes. 
The relevant department heads are responsible for the related processes, including effective security and 
control measures. The aim is to ensure that risks relating to the accounting process are identified early 
on, so that remedial action can be taken in good time.  

In order to assure uniform and consistent accounting, FA&C provides regularly updated accounting 
manuals and guidelines and work instructions for the material accounting processes –  as part of the 
preparation of the annual and consolidated financial statements of Deutsche Börse AG. All employees in 
the FA&C area, as well as in decentral units, have access to these documents and the accounting and 
account assignment guidelines, allowing them to see for themselves the scope of managerial discretion 
and accounting options Deutsche Börse Group exercises. 

Moreover, Deutsche Börse Group continuously monitors and analyses changes in the accounting 
environment and adjusts its processes in line with them. This applies in particular to national and 
international accounting standards. 

Another key component of the ICS is the principle of segregation of duties: tasks and authorities are 
clearly assigned and separated from each other in organisational terms. Incompatible tasks – such as 
modifying master data on the one hand and issuing payment instructions on the other – are strictly 
segregated at a functional level. An independent control unit grants individual employees access rights to 
the accounting system and continuously monitors these permissions using a so-called incompatibility 
matrix. Transactions are initially recorded in the general ledger or the appropriate sub ledgers on the 
basis of the chart of accounts and the account allocation guidelines. 

Major Deutsche Börse Group subsidiaries maintain and consolidate their general ledgers in the same 
system. Accounting data from other companies is uploaded for inclusion in the consolidated 
financial statements. Liabilities, expenses and income for individual transactions are recorded in 
separate accounts under the name of the counterparty concerned. Any consolidation differences are 
reviewed centrally and sent to the accounting departments of the companies concerned for clarification. 

The processes, systems and controls described above aim to provide reasonable assurance that the 
accounting system complies with the applicable principles and laws. In addition, Compliance and 
Internal Audit act as a further line of defence, performing risk-based, process-independent controls on 
whether the ICS is appropriate and effective. The Executive Board and the Audit Committee established 
by the Supervisory Board receive regular reports on the effectiveness of the ICS with respect to the 
financial reporting process. 

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24

Gruppe Deutsche Börse | Annual report 2019 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Deutsche Börse Group | Annual report 2019 

Executive and Supervisory Boards 
Management report | Fundamental information about the Group 
Financial statements 
Notes 
Further information 

Takeover-related disclosures 

Disclosures in accordance with sections 289a (1) and 315a (1) of the German Commercial Code 
(HGB)and explanatory notes 
In accordance with sections 289a (1) and 315a (1) of the German Commercial Code (HGB, Handels-
gesetzbuch), in conjunction with section 83 (1) sentence 2 of the Introductory Act to the German 
Commercial Code (EGHGB, Einführungsgesetz zum Handelsgesetzbuch), Deutsche Börse AG hereby 
makes the following disclosures as at 31 December 2019: 

The share capital of Deutsche Börse AG amounted to €190.0 million on the above-mentioned reporting 
date and was composed of 190 million no-par value registered shares. There are no other classes of 
shares besides these ordinary shares. 

The share capital has been contingently increased by up to €17.8 million by issuing up to 17.8 million 
no-par value registered shares (contingent capital 2019). The contingent capital increase will only be 
implemented to the extent that holders of convertible bonds or of warrants attaching to bonds with 
warrants issued by the Company or by a Group company in the period until 7 May 2024 on the basis of 
the authorisation granted to the Executive Board by resolution of the Annual General Meeting of 8 May 
2019 on Item 8 (b) of the agenda exercise their conversion or option rights, that they meet their 
conversion or option obligations, or that shares are tendered, and no other means are used to settle such 
rights or obligations. More details can be found in Article 4 (7) of the Articles of Association of Deutsche 
Börse AG. 

The Executive Board is only aware of those restrictions on voting rights that arise from the Aktiengesetz 
(AktG, German Stock Corporation Act). Therefore, those shares affected by section 136 of the AktG are 
excluded from voting rights. Furthermore, shares held by Deutsche Börse AG as treasury shares are 
exempted from the exercise of any rights according to section 71b of the AktG.  

Under the Wertpapierhandelsgesetz (WpHG, German Securities Trading Act), any investor whose 
shareholding reaches, exceeds or falls below specified voting right thresholds as a result of purchase, 
sale or any other transaction is required to notify the company and the Bundesanstalt für Finanz-
dienstleistungsaufsicht (BaFin, German Federal Financial Supervisory Authority). The lowest threshold 
for this disclosure requirement is 3 per cent. Deutsche Börse AG is not aware of any direct or indirect 
equity interests in its capital exceeding 10 per cent of the voting rights. 

There are no shares with special rights granting the holder supervisory powers. 

Employees holding shares in Deutsche Börse AG exercise their rights in the same way as other 
shareholders in accordance with the statutory provisions and the Articles of Association.  

Members of the Executive Board are appointed and dismissed in accordance with sections 84 and 85 of 
the AktG and with Article 6 of the Articles of Association of Deutsche Börse AG. Amendments to the 
Articles of Association of Deutsche Börse AG are adopted by resolution of the Annual General Meeting in 
accordance with section 119 (1) No. 6 of the AktG (amended). Under Article 12 (4) of the Articles of 
Association of Deutsche Börse AG, the Supervisory Board has the power to make changes to the Articles 
of Association that relate to the wording only. In accordance with Article 18 (1) of the Articles of 
Association of Deutsche Börse AG, resolutions of the Annual General Meeting are passed by a simple 
majority of the votes cast, unless otherwise mandated by the AktG. Insofar as the AktG additionally 
prescribes a majority of the share capital represented at the time of a resolution, a simple majority of the 
share capital represented is sufficient where this is legally permissible. 

8
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Gruppe Deutsche Börse | Annual report 2019 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Deutsche Börse Group | Annual report 2019 

Executive and Supervisory Boards 
Management report | Fundamental information about the Group 
Financial statements 
Notes 
Further information 

Subject to the approval of the Supervisory Board, the Executive Board is authorised to increase the share 
capital by up to a total of €13.3 million on one or more occasions in the period up to 10 May 2021 by 
issuing new no-par value registered shares in exchange for cash and/or non-cash contributions 
(authorised capital I). Shareholders must be granted pre-emptive rights. However, subject to approval by 
the Supervisory Board, the Executive Board may exclude shareholders’ pre-emptive rights with respect to 
fractional amounts. According to the authorisation, however, the Executive Board may only exclude 
shareholders' pre-emptive rights if the total number of shares issued during the term of authorisation and 
that exclude shareholders' pre-emptive rights does not exceed 20 per cent of the share capital. Full 
authorisation, and particularly the conditions under which shareholders’ pre-emptive rights can be 
excluded, is derived from Article 4 (3) of the Articles of Association of Deutsche Börse AG. 

The Executive Board is also authorised to increase the share capital by up to a total of €19.3 million on 
one or more occasions in the period up to 12 May 2020, subject to the approval of the Supervisory 
Board, by issuing new no-par value registered shares against cash and/or non-cash contributions 
(authorised capital II). Shareholders must be granted pre-emptive rights, which the Executive Board can 
disapply in certain cases, subject to the approval of the Supervisory Board in each case. The Executive 
Board is authorised to exclude shareholders’ pre-emptive rights: (1) in the case of cash capital increases, 
provided that the issue price of the new shares is not significantly lower than the prevailing exchange 
price, and the total number of shares issued under exclusion of shareholders’ pre-emptive rights does not 
exceed 10 per cent of the share capital; (2) in the case of physical capital increases in exchange for 
non-cash contributions for the purpose of acquiring companies, parts of companies, interests in 
companies, or other assets; or (3) with respect to fractional amounts. However, according to the 
authorisation, the Executive Board may only exclude shareholders’ pre-emptive rights if the total number 
of shares that are issued during the term of authorisation and that exclude shareholders’ pre-emptive 
rights does not exceed 20 per cent of the share capital. Full authorisation, and particularly the conditions 
under which shareholders’ pre-emptive rights can be excluded, is derived from Article 4 (4) of the 
Articles of Association of Deutsche Börse AG. 

In addition, the Executive Board is authorised to increase the share capital by up to a total of €38.6 million 
on one or more occasions in the period up to 12 May 2020, subject to the approval of the Supervisory 
Board, by issuing new no-par value registered shares in exchange for cash contributions (authorised 
capital III). Shareholders must be granted pre-emptive rights, which the Executive Board can exclude, 
subject to the approval of the Supervisory Board, only for fractional amounts. However, according to the 
authorisation, the Executive Board may only exclude shareholders’ pre-emptive rights if the total number 
of shares that are issued during the term of authorisation and that exclude shareholders’ pre-emptive 
rights does not exceed 20 per cent of the share capital. The exact content of this authorisation is derived 
from Article 4 (5) of the Articles of Association of Deutsche Börse AG. 

Furthermore, the Executive Board is authorised to increase the share capital by up to a total of 
€6.0 million on one or more occasions in the period up to 16 May 2022, subject to the approval  
of the Supervisory Board, by issuing new no-par value registered shares against cash and/or non-cash 
contributions (authorised capital IV). Shareholders must be granted pre-emptive rights unless  
the Executive Board makes use of the authorisation granted to it to disapply such rights, subject to the 
approval of the Supervisory Board. The Executive Board is authorised to disapply shareholders’ pre-
emptive rights for fractional amounts with the approval of the Supervisory Board. However, according to 
the authorisation, the Executive Board may only exclude shareholders' pre-emptive rights if the total 
number of shares issued during the term of the authorisation, excluding pre-emptive rights, does not 
exceed 20 per cent of the share capital. Full authorisation is derived from Article 4 (6) of the Articles of 
Association of Deutsche Börse AG. 

9
26

Gruppe Deutsche Börse | Annual report 2019 
 
 
 
 
 
Deutsche Börse Group | Annual report 2019 

Executive and Supervisory Boards 
Management report | Fundamental information about the Group 
Financial statements 
Notes 
Further information 

The Executive Board is authorised to acquire treasury shares up to 10 per cent of the share capital. 
However, the acquired shares, together with any treasury shares acquired for other reasons that are held 
by the Company or attributed to it in accordance with sections 71a et seq. of the AktG, may at no time 
exceed 10 per cent of the Company’s share capital. The authorisation to acquire treasury shares is valid 
until 7 May 2024 and may be exercised by the company in full or in part on one or more occasions. 
However, it may also be exercised by dependent companies, by companies in which Deutsche Börse AG 
holds a majority interest or by third parties on its or their behalf. The Executive Board may elect to 
acquire the shares (1) on the stock exchange, (2) via a public tender offer addressed to all shareholders 
or via a public request for offers of sale addressed to the company’s shareholders, (3) by issuing tender 
rights to shareholders or (4) using derivatives (put options, call options, forward purchases or a 
combination of put options, call options and forward purchases). The full and exact wording of the 
authorisation to acquire treasury shares, and particularly the permissible uses to which the shares may 
be put, can be found in items 6 and 7 of the agenda for the Annual General Meeting held on 8 May 
2019. 

The following material agreements of the Company are subject to a change of control following a 
takeover bid: 

  On 28 March 2017, Deutsche Börse AG and its subsidiary Clearstream Banking S.A. entered into a 

multicurrency revolving facility agreement with a banking syndicate for a working capital credit totalling 
up to €750.0 million. If there is a change of control, the credit relationship between Deutsche 
Börse AG and the lenders can be reviewed in negotiations within a period of no more than 60 days. In 
this process, each lender has the right, at its own discretion, to terminate its credit commitment and 
demand partial or full repayment of the amounts owing to it. A change of control occurs if Deutsche 
Börse AG no longer directly or indirectly holds the majority of Clearstream Banking S.A. or if a 
person or a group of persons acting in concert acquires more than 50 per cent of the voting shares of 
Deutsche Börse AG. 

  Under the terms of Deutsche Börse AG’s €600.0 million fixed-rate bond issue 2015/2041 (hybrid 

bond), Deutsche Börse AG has a termination right in the event of a change of control which, if 
exercised, entitles Deutsche Börse AG to redeem the bonds at par, plus accrued interest. If Deutsche 
Börse AG does not exercise this termination right, the affected bonds’ coupon will increase by 
5 percentage points. A change of control occurs if a person or a group of persons acting in concert, or 
third parties acting on their behalf, has or have acquired more than 50 per cent of the shares of 
Deutsche Börse AG or the number of Deutsche Börse AG shares required to exercise more than 50 per 
cent of the voting rights at Annual General Meetings of Deutsche Börse AG. In addition, the relevant 
bond terms require that the change of control must adversely affect the long-term rating given to 
Deutsche Börse AG by Moody’s Investors Services, Inc., S&P Global Ratings or Fitch Ratings Limited. 
Further details can be found in the applicable bond terms.  

  The terms of the €500.0 million fixed-rate bonds 2015/2025, the €600.0 million fixed-rate bonds 

2018/2028, and the €600.0 million fixed-rate bonds 2012/2022, which were all issued by Deutsche 
Börse AG, all provide Deutsche Börse AG with a termination right in the event of a change of control. If 
these cancellation rights are exercised, the bonds are repayable at par plus any accrued interest. A 
change of control occurs if a person or a group of persons acting in concert, or third parties acting on 
their behalf, has or have acquired more than 50 per cent of the shares of Deutsche Börse AG or the 
number of Deutsche Börse AG shares required to exercise more than 50 per cent of the voting rights at 
Annual General Meetings of Deutsche Börse AG. In addition, the respective sets of bond terms require 
that the change of control must adversely affect the rating given to one of the preferential unsecured 
debt instruments of Deutsche Börse AG by Moody’s Investors Services, Inc., S&P Global Ratings or 
Fitch Ratings Limited. Further details can be found in the applicable bond terms. 

  Based on the previous remuneration system for Executive Board members presented to the Annual 

General Meeting 2016, under certain conditions the Executive Board members of Deutsche Börse AG 

10
27

Gruppe Deutsche Börse | Annual report 2019 
 
 
 
Deutsche Börse Group | Annual report 2019 

Executive and Supervisory Boards 
Management report | Report on economic position 
Financial statements 
Notes 
Further information 

have a special termination right in the event of a change of control. According to the agreements made 
with all Executive Board members, a change of control occurs if (1) a shareholder or third party 
discloses possession of more than 50 per cent of the voting rights in Deutsche Börse AG in accordance 
with sections 33 and 34 of the German Securities Trading Act (WpHG), (2) an intercompany 
agreement in accordance with Section 291 of the AktG is entered into with Deutsche Börse AG as a 
dependent company, or Deutsche Börse AG is absorbed in accordance with section 319 of the AktG, or 
(3) Deutsche Börse AG is merged in accordance with Section 2 of the German Transformation Act 
(UmwG). 

Moreover, there are agreements in place with the Executive Board members under the existing 
remuneration system, which provide for compensation in the event of a change of control. A description 
of these agreements, which are in line with national and international practice, can be found in the  

 remuneration report. 

Report on economic position 

Macroeconomic and sector-specific environment  

Macroeconomic conditions continue to have an influence on the business development of Deutsche 
Börse Group despite the growing importance of structural growth factors. The macroeconomic 
environment during the year under review was rather complex; whilst some factors had a stimulating 
effect on business, other factors unsettled market participants, dampening their business activity: 

  The global economic situation, with a slight downward trend in economic output in the economies 

relevant to Deutsche Börse Group (Central Europe, USA) in the year under review. The European Central 
Bank's (ECB) continued persevering of its low-interest-rate policy, with deposit rates at minus 0.5 
per cent, and the resumption of its bond-buying programme as part of its quantitative easing policy 
(QE). 

  The US Federal Reserve's (Fed) monetary policy measures to counteract a possible economic 

downturn, which were accompanied by interest rate cuts of 25 basis points each in July, September 
and October. 

  The lower level of stable volatility on equity markets – as measured by the VDAX® index – is one of the 

key drivers of trading activity on the cash and derivatives markets. 

  The stability of the economic situation in the euro area continued over the course of the year, although 
the economic outlook became increasingly gloomy, particularly in the second half of 2019. This was 
accompanied by persistent uncertainty regarding the terms of the United Kingdom's withdrawal from 
the EU and its impact on markets. 

  The trade dispute between the US and the EU, China, and other major trading partners, and the trade 

tariffs imposed on commodity or goods imports by the respective parties, fuelled concerns over a global 
trade war. 

  Continued unstable political conditions in some parts of Eastern Europe and recurring flashpoints in the 

Arab world and their impact on the Western world. 

  Regulatory projects and the resulting stricter requirements for capital market participants 

Business developments 

Given the overall framework conditions described at the beginning of the report on the economic 
position, the situation on the capital markets for financial service providers such as Deutsche Börse 
Group in the reporting year was challenging compared with the previous year. Already at the beginning 

11
28

Gruppe Deutsche Börse | Annual report 2019 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Deutsche Börse Group | Annual report 2019 

Executive and Supervisory Boards 
Management report | Report on economic position 
Financial statements 
Notes 
Further information 

of 2019, it was anticipated that this year would see a cooling of the global economic environment, 
which proved to be the case as the year progressed. The main reasons for this were the trade disputes 
between the US and the EU, China and other major trading partners, and the penalty tariffs imposed by 
the respective parties on the import of raw materials and goods. As concerns about a global trade war 
deepened, expectations as to the economy in general became dampened – especially expectations for 
Germany, an economy with a particular dependence on global trade. Despite market uncertainty, the 
volatility measured by the VDAX volatility index – one of the main drivers of trading activity on the cash 
and derivatives markets – was on average slightly below that of the previous year, apart from a few 
short-term peaks. Meanwhile, despite lower trading volumes compared with the previous year, the DAX 
and STOXX® benchmark indices saw a significant increase in their levels by the end of the year. Central 
banks' interest rate policies stimulated the market environment considerably. The US Fed’s monetary 
policy easing had a negative impact on net interest income from banking business from the second half 
of the year onwards. 

Comparability of figures 

Changes in the basis of consolidation 
Deutsche Börse AG, Frankfurt/Main, Germany, completed the acquisition of Axioma Inc., New York, USA 
(Axioma) during the third quarter of 2019. Axioma was merged with Deutsche Börse's index businesses 
to form Qontigo, a newly established company which is an innovative provider of investment information 
and a leading developer of solutions for modernising investment management – from risk to return. 
Deutsche Börse has held a 78.3 per cent stake in the company since 13 September 2019. Revenue 
and costs are reported in the Qontigo segment (Index and analytics business). In this context, certain 
licence revenues from the Data segment (data business) were also re-allocated to the new Qontigo 
segment, which amounted to €10.1 million for the first nine months of 2019. The previous year's 
figures were also adjusted accordingly (€12.8 million). 

Changes to the consolidated income statement and to the consolidated balance sheet  
due to the recognition of leases in accordance with IFRS 16 
Deutsche Börse Group adjusted the structure of its financial statements as at 1 January 2019 in 
accordance with IFRS 16. It now recognises the type of expenses for certain leases described in  

 note 3 to the consolidated financial statements. Since 1 January 2019 these have no longer been 
reported under operating costs but as part of depreciation, amortisation and the financial result. Given 
that the prior year’s figures were not restated, IFRS 16 leads to a decline in operating costs year-on-year 
for the 2019 financial year, while EBITDA, depreciation and amortisation increase and the financial 
result decreases. As a result of the recognition of right-of-use assets from leases and taking into account 
any deferred taxes recognised in this context, total assets have risen by €265.6 million overall as at 
1 January 2019. 

In order to make the results for the 2019 financial year comparable with the figures of the previous year, 
the following table provides estimates for a retrospective application of IFRS 16. These figures have not 
been prepared or audited pursuant to national or international accounting standards, but merely serve to 
provide a better overview of the Group’s business development.  

12
29

Gruppe Deutsche Börse | Annual report 2019 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Deutsche Börse Group | Annual report 2019 

Executive and Supervisory Boards 
Management report | Report on economic position 
Financial statements 
Notes 
Further information 

Estimates for the shift of operating costs to depreciation and amortisation as well as to the financial 
result for 2018 as a result of the first-time application of IFRS 16 

Group 

Reduction of operating costs 

Increase of depreciation and amortisation 

Reduction of financial result 

Reporting segments (reduction of operating costs) 

Eurex (financial derivatives) 

EEX (commodities) 

360T (foreign exchange) 

Xetra (cash equities) 

Clearstream (post-trading) 

IFS (investment fund services) 

GSF (collateral management) 

Qontigo (index- and analytics business) 

Data  

Results of operations 

2018 
€ m 

50.3 

47.2 

2.9 

11.6 

3.3 

1.1 

4.2 

19.3 

4.6 

2.4 

1.7 

2.1 

Deutsche Börse Group looks back on another successful financial year. Almost all segments contributed 
to this success, some of them achieving substantial revenue growth. The Group achieved structural net 
revenue growth of 5 per cent for the year overall, in line with expectations. The Eurex (financial 
derivatives) and EEX (commodities) segments were the main drivers of this development. In addition to 
over-the-counter (OTC) clearing, structural growth of net revenues in the Eurex segment (financial 
derivatives) was mainly due to new products and pricing models, whilst in the EEX segment 
(commodities, the positive development of the structural net revenue growth reflected significant market 
share gains in Europe and the US. The Qontigo (index and analytics business, 360T (foreign exchange 
trading) and IFS (investment fund services) segments also contributed to strong structural growth. 
Cyclical effects were unable to drive the Group's growth any further compared to the previous year and 
broadly offset each other over the period. Higher net interest income from banking business 
(Clearstream, post-trading segment) made a positive contribution to growth. This was offset by lower 
volatility on the financial markets compared to the previous year, reflected in a slightly lower trading 
volume in financial derivatives (Eurex segment). Consolidation effects – mainly resulting from the 
acquisitions of Axioma and Swisscanto – contributed around 1 per cent to higher net revenue. Overall, 
the Group generated net revenue of € 2,936.0 million an increase of 6 per cent compared to the 
previous year (2018: €2,779.7 million).  

The reclassification of expenses due to IFRS 16 impacted on the operating costs and EBITDA, as well as 
on depreciation, amortisation and impairment, and on the financial result. For details, please refer to the 

 note 3 to the consolidated financial statements. 

Operating costs for Deutsche Börse Group of €1,264.4 million (2018: €1,340.2 million) comprise staff 
costs and other operating expenses. Higher expenditure for investments in new technologies and growth 
initiatives was partially offset by the changeover to IFRS 16. Non-recurring effects totalled 
€134.9 million for 2019 (2018: €244.2 million) and led to adjusted operating costs of 
€1,129.5 million (2018: €1,096.0 million). Following adjustments to the previous year's figures in 

13
30

Gruppe Deutsche Börse | Annual report 2019 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Deutsche Börse Group | Annual report 2019 

Executive and Supervisory Boards 
Management report | Report on economic position 
Financial statements 
Notes 
Further information 

accordance with IFRS 16, adjusted operating costs rose by 8 per cent, mainly due to higher capital 
expenditure and consolidation effects. Excluding consolidation effects, adjusted operating costs increased 
by 5 per cent. 

Adjusted staff costs increased year-on-year to €705.7 million (2018: €665.8 million). The increase was 
mainly due to higher average staff numbers, due in part to acquisitions. Non-recurring effects of 
€42.1 million (2018: €158.2 million) attributed to personnel expenses mainly include costs incurred for 
efficiency measures in the context of the Structural Performance Improvement Programme (SPIP) 
introduced in 2018. 

Other adjusted operating expenses relate mainly to the costs of enhancing and operating Deutsche Börse 
Group's technological infrastructure. This includes, for example, costs for the Group's own IT and for 
external IT service providers. In addition, other operating expenses include the cost of the office 
infrastructure at all the Group’s locations as well as travel expenses, most of which are incurred in 
connection with sales activities. Adjusted operating costs fell slightly year-on-year to €423.8 million 
(2018: €430.2 million). This figure does not include non-recurring effects of €92.8 million 
(2018: €86.0 million), which resulted from organisational restructuring measures within the scope of 
implementing the corporate strategy "Roadmap 2020", for example, as well as M&A activities. 

Results from strategic investments rose slightly to €6.7 million (2018: €4.2 million). 

Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) rose by 16 per cent. Adjustment of 
the previous year's figures to reflect the adoption of IFRS 16 resulted in an increase in adjusted EBITDA 
of 5 per cent. 

The Group reports depreciation, amortisation and impairment losses separately from operating costs. 
This figure increased by 7 per cent year-on-year to €226.2 million (2018: €210.5 million) and is 
mainly due to the reclassification of expenses in accordance with IFRS 16. 

The financial result totalled €–53.7 million (2018: €–76.4 million). This decrease was mainly due to 
lower provisions for interest payments on any potential tax back payments for the 2019 financial year. 

The adjusted Group tax rate for 2019 was 26 per cent, as expected. 

Overall, the net profit for the period attributable to Deutsche Börse AG shareholders was 
€1,003.9 million (2018: €824.3 million), an increase of 22 per cent on last year's result. Adjusted, this 
amounted to €1,105.6 million (2018: €1,002.7 million), an increase of 10 per cent. 

Non-controlling interests in net profit attributable to Deutsche Börse AG shareholders amounted to 
€31.5 million for the period (2018: €28.2 million). This comprises mainly earnings attributable to non-
controlling shareholders of EEX Group and, since September 2019, Qontigo GmbH. 

Based on the weighted average of 183.4 million shares, basic earnings per share amounted to €5.47 
(2018: €4.46 for an average of 184.9 million shares outstanding). Adjusted, basic earnings per share 
rose to €6.03 (2018: €5.42). 

14
31

Gruppe Deutsche Börse | Annual report 2019 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Deutsche Börse Group | Annual report 2019 

Executive and Supervisory Boards 
Management report | Report on economic position 
Financial statements 
Notes 
Further information 

Comparison of results of operations with the forecast for 2019 
For 2019, Deutsche Börse Group had expected an increase in structural net revenue of at least 5 
per cent on the basis of its diverse structural growth initiatives. The Group expected a slightly more 
reticent market environment in the 2019 financial year compared to 2018, due to the slowdown in 
global economic growth, increased economic risks and political uncertainties, especially with regard to 
further cyclical growth. However, despite the continuing uncertainty, it became less of a factor for 
financial markets as the year progressed, resulting in stock market volatility, measured by the VSTOXX 
volatility index, and thus trading volumes falling short of the higher comparative figures for the previous 
year. In particular, the Group did not expect US interest rates to drop in the second half of 2019. The 
 “Business developments” section thus largely reflect the Group’s 
conditions described earlier in the 
assumptions used in the forecast. Based on its highly diversified business model, Deutsche Börse Group 
increased net revenue by a total of 6 per cent. Of this increase, 5 per cent is attributable to structural 
growth factors, with cyclical factors generally offsetting each other. One per cent of this growth is 
attributable to consolidation effects. The structural growth forecast was therefore met. 

The Group anticipated an increase in structural net revenue of at least 5 per cent, along with operating 
costs in a range corresponding to this. Deutsche Börse Group had expected an increase in adjusted net 
profit attributable to Deutsche Börse AG shareholders of around 10 per cent. On an adjusted basis, 
Deutsche Börse Group achieved a 10 per cent increase in adjusted net profit for the period attributable 
to Deutsche Börse AG shareholders, in line with the forecast. Moreover, the Group achieved a ratio of net 
debt to adjusted EBITDA of 1.0, which is well below the target value of 1.75 maximum. The adjusted 
tax rate was 26.0 per cent, exactly on target. In line with projections, the operating cash flow was 
clearly positive. Investments in property, plant and equipment, as well as intangible assets amounted to 
€184.7 million, slightly higher than forecast. After increasing its target figures, the Group aimed to 
distribute dividends equivalent to the mean of the projected range of 40 to 60 per cent of (adjusted) net 
profit for the period attributable to Deutsche Börse AG shareholders. According to the proposal made to 
the Annual General Meeting, based on a proposed dividend of €2.90 per share, a figure of 48 per cent 
was reached.  

15
32

Gruppe Deutsche Börse | Annual report 2019 
 
 
 
 
Deutsche Börse Group | Annual report 2019 

Executive and Supervisory Boards 
Management report | Report on economic position 
Financial statements 
Notes 
Further information 

Eurex (financial derivatives) segment 

Eurex (financial derivatives) segment: key indicators  

FINANCIAL KEY FIGURES 

Net revenue 

Equity index derivatives 

Interest rate derivatives 

Equity derivatives 

OTC clearing (incl. net interest income on margins for OTC interest rate swaps) 

Margin fees 

Other (incl. connectivity, member fees and net interest income on margins for 
exchange-traded products) 

Operating costs  

Operating costs (adjusted) 

EBITDA 

EBITDA (adjusted) 

PERFORMANCE INDICATORS 

Financial derivatives: trading volumes on Eurex Exchange 

Derivatives1) 

Equity index derivatives 

Interest rate derivatives 

Equity derivatives 

Financial derivatives: OTC clearing volumes 

Notional outstanding (average) 

Notional cleared (incl. compression) 

2018 

Change 

2019 

€m 

957.1 

484.0 

210.9 

51.1 

41.2 

52.3 

117.6 

314.5 

296.0 

647.6 

666.2 

€m 

936.1

466.2

231.9

43.8

25.6

50.0

118.6

376.3

304.9

559.4

630.8

m contracts 

m contracts

1,947.1 

1,951.8

953.0 

506.8 

425.2 

€bn 

12,795 

28,064 

949.8

628.5

372.1

€bn

7,027

15,099

% 

2 

4 

–9 

17 

61 

5 

–1 

–16 

–3 

16 

6 

% 

0 

0 

–11 

14 

% 

82 

85 

1)  Due to other traded products, such as exchange-traded commodities (ETCs) on precious metals derivatives, the total shown does not equal the sum  

of the individual figures 

In the Eurex (financial derivatives) segment, Deutsche Börse Group combines the financial derivatives 
trading and clearing business at Eurex Exchange. The clearing volume of OTC interest rate swaps, one of 
the structural growth factors for Deutsche Börse Group, is reported as a separate item within the 
segment. The performance of the Eurex segment largely depends on the trading activities of institutional 
investors, and proprietary trading by professional market participants. 

Trading volumes in the Eurex segment across all product groups reached 1,947.1 million contracts in 
the 2019 financial year, coming very close to the previous year’s figure of 1,951.8 million contracts. 
The importance of geopolitical influences on the markets, such as the trade dispute between the US and 
China and the delays surrounding Brexit, eased increasingly in the course of 2019. Accordingly, equity 
market volatility in the 2019 financial years, as measured by the VSTOXX volatility index, was 
10 per cent lower on average than the high figure for the previous year. Despite what was an 
unfavourable market environment overall, trading volumes in the business with equity index derivatives 
in the year under review were up slightly on the previous year. Higher contract volumes were evident in 
sector index trading, particularly for products based on MSCI indices. The Eurex segment benefited here 
from the considerably broader range of products offered. Single-stock derivatives trading volumes rose by 
14 per cent in 2019, due above all to higher contract volumes in derivatives on bank shares.  

16
33

Gruppe Deutsche Börse | Annual report 2019 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Deutsche Börse Group | Annual report 2019 

Executive and Supervisory Boards 
Management report | Report on economic position 
Financial statements 
Notes 
Further information 

By contrast, trading volumes in interest rate derivatives declined by 11 per cent in the 2019 financial 
year. Volumes were burdened here by the absence of further interest rate increases in the US at the start 
of 2019, as anticipated by many market participants. Instead, the US Federal Reserve (Fed) lowered its 
key interest rates three times in 2019. In conjunction with the loose monetary policy still pursued by the 
ECB, this led to a decline in trading volumes in Europe, especially in the longer maturities. 

The Eurex segment achieved marked growth of 480 per cent in trading in commodity ETFs, so-called 
exchange traded commodities (ETCs), albeit from a low absolute level. The option on the physical gold 
ETC in particular offers investors an opportunity to gain exposure to a proxy for gold spot volatility. ETC 
trading volumes totalled 8.1 million contracts in 2019 (2018: 1.4 million). 

Clearing of OTC interest rate derivatives continued to increase in the 2019 financial year, with the 
outstanding nominal volume exceeding the previous year’s value by 63 per cent. Eurex Clearing’s market 
share in global euro-denominated OTC interest rate derivatives rose accordingly to 14.5 per cent (2018: 
9.3 per cent). The incentive programme that Eurex introduced in September for transferring interest rate 
derivative portfolios to Eurex Clearing also had a positive effect, helping Eurex clients migrate their 
positions into the EU-27. Cleared nominal volumes rose by 85 per cent in 2019. 

At the start of 2019, Eurex Clearing’s Partnership Programme was extended to include the repo 
segment, with the objective of enhancing selection and efficiency for market participants in special repos 
and general collateral (GC) instruments, as well as furthering acceptance and growth in repo business 
between traders and customers. At the end of 2019, more than 300 end clients (2018: 130) were 
connected to Eurex Clearing's interest rate derivatives service. Increased buy-side demand is proof of the 
trust our clients place in the quality of euro clearing based in Frankfurt. 

Overall, net revenue in the Eurex segment increased by a total of 2 per cent in 2019. The biggest growth 
drivers in percentage terms were OTC clearing and the business with equity derivatives. Trading in equity 
index derivatives, measures by the net revenues of the most important business, reported a 4 per cent 
increase in revenue. The segment’s adjusted EBITDA rose by 6 per cent. 

17
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Gruppe Deutsche Börse | Annual report 2019 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Deutsche Börse Group | Annual report 2019 

Executive and Supervisory Boards 
Management report | Report on economic position 
Financial statements 
Notes 
Further information 

EEX (commodities) segment 

EEX (commodities) segment: key indicators 

FINANCIAL KEY FIGURES 

Net revenue 

Power spot  

Power derivatives 

Gas 

Other (incl. connectivity, member fees and admission allowance) 

Operating costs  

Operating costs (adjusted) 

EBITDA 

EBITDA (adjusted) 

PERFORMANCE INDICATORS 

Commodities: trading volumes on EEX 

Power spot  

Power derivatives 

Gas 

2019 

€m 

289.3 

70.9 

105.1 

42.8 

70.5 

169.6 

150.6 

119.4 

138.4 

2018 

 €m 

256.6 

67.1 

82.1 

36.6 

70.8 

149.2 

141.2 

107.2 

115.2 

TWh 

597.7 

5,829.7 

2,546.3 

TWh 

576.6  

4,385.5 

1,962.9 

Change 

% 

13 

6 

28 

17 

0 

14 

7 

11 

20 

% 

4 

33 

30 

The EEX (commodities) segment comprises Deutsche Börse Group's trading activities on EEX Group's 
platforms, located in Europe, Asia and North America. The EEX Group operates marketplaces and 
clearing houses for energy and commodity products, connecting more than 600 participants around the 
world. The product portfolio comprises contracts on energy, metals and environmental products, as well 
as freight and agricultural products. EEX Group’s most important revenue drivers are the power spot and 
derivatives markets, and the gas markets. 

EEX Group cemented its position further in 2019 as a global commodities exchange, achieving marked 
growth especially in the markets for electricity, natural gas and freight.  

The Group increased its trading volume in the spot power market by 4 per cent in 2019. Growth was 
attributable mainly to increases in the German and Austrian day-ahead markets, and from greater 
volume in the intraday markets, due in part to the higher share of renewable energy. On the other hand, 
the introduction of a joint order book – and hence, the coupling of the day-ahead markets in Germany, 
Austria, the Netherlands, Belgium and France at the start of July 2019 – drove up competitive pressure. 

EEX Group’s power derivatives markets saw an increase in trading volumes of 33 per cent to 5,829.7 TWh. 
Trading in Phelix-DE futures continued to expand and reached a new record volume of 250.1 TWh in 
September 2019. EEX Group also significantly increased its trading volume and further extended its 
market share in 2019 on the power derivatives markets in France, Spain and Hungary. EEX rolled out 
new power products at the start of June 2019 for three southern European markets. comprising cash-
settled power futures for Bulgaria, Serbia and Slovenia. With the new products, EEX's range of power 
products now covers 20 European market areas. US power trading, operated by Nodal Exchange which 
was acquired in 2017, increased its volume by 79 per cent in 2019. Nodal Exchange reported a new 
record volume of 231 TWh in October 2019, while its market share of the North American power 
derivatives market climbed to 36 per cent in the year under review (2018: 21 per cent). 

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Gruppe Deutsche Börse | Annual report 2019 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Deutsche Börse Group | Annual report 2019 

Executive and Supervisory Boards 
Management report | Report on economic position 
Financial statements 
Notes 
Further information 

In the gas market, trading volume of the EEX segment rose by 30 per cent. High growth rates were 
achieved in the gas spot market in the Netherlands, Germany and Austria in particular. Trading activity 
on the gas derivatives market increasingly gained momentum during 2019, driven especially by the 
Dutch and the German market.  

2019 was a very positive year for the freight segment, with freight volumes settled via the ECC clearing 
house climbing in 2019 by 109 per cent year-on-year.  

Across all product groups, net revenue of the EEX segment rose by 13 per cent in the year under review. 
Adjusted EBITDA rose by 20 per cent. 

360T (foreign exchange) segment 

360T (foreign exchange) segment: key indicator 

FINANCIAL KEY FIGURES 

Net revenue 

Trading 

Other (incl. connectivity and member fees) 

Operating costs  

Operating costs (adjusted) 

EBITDA 

EBITDA (adjusted) 

PERFOMANCE INDICATORS 

Foreign exchange: trading volumes on 360T® 

Average daily volume 

1)  Including GTX trading volumes since July 2018 

2019 

2018 

Change 

€m 

92.1 

76.9 

15.2 

57.7 

50.4 

34.4 

41.7 

€m 

78.8 

66.7 

12.1 

49.9 

45.7 

28.9 

33.1 

€bn 

82.51) 

€bn 

69.21) 

% 

17 

15 

26 

16 

10 

19 

26 

% 

19 

In the 360T (foreign exchange) segment, Deutsche Börse Group manages its foreign exchange trading 
business, which takes place on the platforms provided by its subsidiaries 360 Treasury Systems AG and 
360TGTX Inc. Net revenue of the 360T segment is driven mainly by the trading activities of institutional 
investors, banks and internationally active companies, and the provision of liquidity through so-called 
liquidity providers. During the year under review, the segment generated 83 per cent of its revenue from 
foreign-exchange trading and 17 per cent from the provision of other services. 

The market environment in the 360T segment was determined by low volatility overall on the FX spot 
markets during the year under review. Despite this cyclical headwind, the 360T segment was 
nonetheless able to increase average daily trading volumes on its platform by 19 per cent during the 
2019 financial year. Growth in trading volumes was based primarily on the acquisition and onboarding 
of new clients, in particular in the US, as well as in the EMEA and APAC regions. Strong growth was 
recorded in the year under review, above all in swaps and forward transactions. The OTC product range 
was also extended in the year under review with the introduction of a fully-automated limit order book 
for FX swaps (360TGTX MidMatch) and a streaming service for non-deliverable forwards (NDFs).  

In addition, Eurex's FX trading and clearing activities, which are also allocated to the 360T segment, 
reached important milestones in the planned expansion of the product and service range. This led to the 
acquisition of two renowned US banks – J.P. Morgan and Morgan Stanley – as the first participants for 

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Gruppe Deutsche Börse | Annual report 2019 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Deutsche Börse Group | Annual report 2019 

Executive and Supervisory Boards 
Management report | Report on economic position 
Financial statements 
Notes 
Further information 

the OTC FX clearing service. The first cross-currency swaps were successfully cleared via Eurex Clearing 
in October. Eurex Clearing’s ITC-FX clearing service offers interdealer clearing of EUR/USD and GBP/USD 
currency pairs for cross-currency swaps with a term of up to 50 years. The Eurex business with FX-
based exchange-traded derivatives (ETDs) was another of the segment’s initiatives. Further renowned 
clearing members, liquidity providers and trading participants were acquired as clients for Eurex FX 
futures trading in the year under review. The volume of FX futures traded on the Eurex platform grew 
steadily in 2019 to reach a record volume of 32,540 traded contracts on 11 December 2019. Open 
interest at year-end 2019 reached a new all-time high of €2.04 billion. The market data product, which 
was rolled out together with the Data segment in 2018 and provides data on both FX spot and swap 
markets, continued to be very well received by market participants last year and developed positively. 

Given the product mix, which comprises a higher share of lower-margin products, net revenue growth of 
17 per cent for the 2019 financial year fell slightly short of the increase in trading volumes. The GTX 
business (acquired in the previous year) contributed 12 percentage points to revenue growth over the year 
as a whole. The 360T segment’s adjusted EBITDA rose by 26 per cent.  

Xetra (cash equities) segment 

Xetra (cash equities) segment: key indicators 

FINANCIAL KEY FIGURES 

Net revenue 

Trading and clearing 

Listing 

Other (incl. connectivity and member fees) 

Operating costs 

Operating costs (adjusted) 

EBITDA 

EBITDA (adjusted) 

PERFORMANCE INDICATORS 

Trading volume (single-counted order book turnover at the trading venues Xetra®, 
Börse Frankfurt and Tradegate) 

Equities 

ETF/ETC/ETN 

2019 

€m 

222.6 

156.4 

19.9 

46.3 

101.7 

98.1 

124.8 

128.4 

2018 

€m 

228.7 

170.6 

17.8 

40.3 

118.8 

102.7 

115.5 

131.6 

€bn 

€bn 

1,500.3 

1,354.9 

145.4 

1,719.6 

1,552.7 

166.9 

Change 

% 

–3 

–8 

12 

15 

–14 

–4 

8 

–2 

% 

–13 

–13 

–13 

In the Xetra segment (cash equities), Deutsche Börse Group brings together its cash market trading 
venues (Xetra®, the Frankfurt Stock Exchange, and Tradegate). Besides trading and clearing services 
income, the segment generates revenue from the ongoing listing of companies’ securities and exchange 
admissions, from connecting clients to trading venues, and from services provided to partner exchanges. 

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Gruppe Deutsche Börse | Annual report 2019 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Deutsche Börse Group | Annual report 2019 

Executive and Supervisory Boards 
Management report | Report on economic position 
Financial statements 
Notes 
Further information 

Low equity market volatility in the 2019 financial year was the main reason for the unfavourable cyclical 
environment for Deutsche Börse Group's cash market business. The higher index levels compared with 
the previous year were unable to offset the lower trading activity, so that trading volumes fell by 13 per 
cent in the year under review. Competing with other pan-European trading venues, Xetra nonetheless 
further strengthened its position as the reference market for trading in DAX® constituents, increasing its 
market share to 71 per cent (2018: 68 per cent). Trading volumes in exchange-traded funds (ETFs) 
were also down 13 per cent year-on-year. Assets under management in ETFs totalled €709.8 billion as 
at 31 December 2019 (2018: €524.2 billion).  

During the year under review, the Xetra segment recorded a total of four initial public offerings (IPOs) 
compared with 18 in 2018. These included the IPOs of TRATON SE, the Volkswagen Group’s 
commercial vehicles business, with an issue volume of €1.6 billion and TeamViewer AG with an issue 
volume of €2.2 billion. TeamViewer’s IPO was the largest of a technology company in Germany since 
2000. 

Persistently high investor interest in Xetra-Gold® – a bearer bond backed by physical gold – led to new 
record levels, both in terms of gold holdings and assets under administration. At the end of the financial 
year 2019, the gold held in custody reached a record of 203.2 tonnes (2018: 181.4 tonnes), 
equivalent to around €8.8 billion (2018: €6.5 billion). Xetra Gold thus remains the leading European 
security backed by physical gold. In the year under review, the aggregate order book turnover was 
€3.4 billion (2018: €2.7 billion), making Xetra Gold the most actively traded instrument amongst 
exchange traded commodities (ETCs) traded on Xetra.  

Net revenue in the Xetra segment declined slightly by 3 per cent during the year under review. The 
below-average decline in revenue from trading and clearing services compared with the performance of 
trading volume resulted from Deutsche Börse’s rebate and pricing model, i.e. lower volume discounts are 
granted for lower trading volumes. Higher listing fees also had a positive impact on net revenue. The 
increase in other revenue was attributable to higher connectivity fees and resulted above all from 
numerous clients developing their infrastructure in preparation for the UK’s exit from the EU. The 
segment’s adjusted EBITDA also fell slightly by 2 per cent. 

21
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Gruppe Deutsche Börse | Annual report 2019 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Deutsche Börse Group | Annual report 2019 

Executive and Supervisory Boards 
Management report | Report on economic position 
Financial statements 
Notes 
Further information 

Clearstream (post-trading) segment 

Clearstream (post-trading) segment: key indicators 

FINANCIAL KEY FIGURES 

Net revenue 

Custody 

Settlement 

Net interest income from banking business 

Third-party services 

Other (incl. connectivity, account maintenance) 

Operating costs  

Operating costs (adjusted) 

EBITDA 

EBITDA (adjusted) 

PERFORMANCE INDICATORS 

Assets under custody ICSD and CSD (average) (€bn) 

Settlement transactions ICSD (m) 

Cash balances (daily average) (€bn) 

2019 

€m 

764.7 

391.7 

82.2 

188.2 

24.3 

78.3 

305.0 

282.4 

459.4 

482.0 

2018 

€m 

727.3 

382.8 

76.0 

155.5 

32.1 

80.9 

351.9 

277.7 

375.2 

440.1 

11,561 

11,302 

56.1 

15.7 

48.4 

13.1 

 Change  

% 

5 

2 

8 

21 

–24 

–3 

–13 

2 

22 

10 

% 

2 

16 

20 

Deutsche Börse Group’s settlement and custody activities are reported under the Clearstream (post-
trading) segment. In providing the post-trade infrastructure for Eurobonds and other markets, 
Clearstream is responsible for the issuance, settlement, management and custody of securities from 
more than 50 markets worldwide. Net revenue in this segment is driven mainly by the volume and value 
of securities under custody, which determines the deposit fees. The settlement business depends 
primarily on the number of settlement transactions processed by Clearstream via stock exchanges as well 
as over the counter (OTC). This segment also contains the net interest income originating from 
Clearstream’s banking business. 

The average value of assets under custody in the central securities depository (CSD) and international 
central securities depository (ICSD) business increased by 2 per cent in the 2019 financial year. This 
rise was mainly due to a higher volume of bonds held in the ICSD business, which also benefitted from 
the strength of the US dollar versus the euro. Net revenue from custody services rose accordingly by 
2 per cent in the reporting year. Increased client activity resulted in a 16 per cent higher number of 
settlement transactions, especially in the ICSD business. Net revenue from settlement services saw a 
corresponding increase of 8 per cent in the 2019 financial year. 

Net interest income from Clearstream’s banking business rose 21 per cent to €188.2 million in full year 
2019 (2018: €155.5 million). The higher net interest income on cash deposits resulted from catch-up 
effects from interest rate hikes in the US in 2018, which had outweighed the effect of the three interest 
rate cuts by the US Federal Reserve in the second half of 2019. The rise in net interest income was also 
a result of higher US dollar-denominated deposits. Customers cash balances overall rose by 20 per cent 
to €15.7 billion as at 31 December 2019. 

Net revenue from third-party services declined by 24 per cent year-on-year. While revenue from 
regulatory reporting services offered via REGIS-TR continued to grow, this growth was in total 
overcompensated by the discontinuation of the managed services business.   

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Gruppe Deutsche Börse | Annual report 2019 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Deutsche Börse Group | Annual report 2019 

Executive and Supervisory Boards 
Management report | Report on economic position 
Financial statements 
Notes 
Further information 

Other revenue recorded a year-on-year decline as a result of a one-time €9.3 million insurance payment 
recognised in the prior year. Other services, including connectivity and account maintenance, however, 
recorded a rise in net revenue. 

Overall, the Clearstream segment increased net revenue by 5 per cent in 2019. Operating costs adjusted 
for exceptional effects advanced by 2 per cent, mainly as a result of higher staff costs due to additional 
hirings, which have been partially offset by lower variable compensation. Accordingly, adjusted EBITDA 
improved year-on-year by 10 per cent. 

IFS (investment fund services) segment 

IFS (investment fund services) segment: key indicators 

FINANCIAL KEY FIGURES 

Net revenue 

Custody 

Settlement 

Other (incl. connectivity, order routing and reporting fees) 

Operating costs  

Operating costs (adjusted) 

EBITDA 

EBITDA (adjusted) 

PERFORMANCE INDICATORS 

Assets under custody (average) (€bn) 

Settlement transactions (m) 

2019 

 €m 

183.1 

76.7 

53.6 

52.8 

2018 

 €m 

154.3 

65.9 

49.4 

39.0 

110.3 

108.3 

95.1 

72.8 

88.0 

86.8 

46.0 

67.5 

2,502 

27.9 

2,385 

24.5 

 Change 

% 

19 

16 

9 

35 

2 

10 

58 

30 

% 

5 

14 

In the IFS (investment fund services) segment, Deutsche Börse Group reports the order routing and 
settlement activity and custody volumes of mutual, exchange-traded, and alternative funds processed by 
Clearstream. Clients can settle and manage their entire fund portfolio via Clearstream’s Vestima® fund 
processing platform. Net revenue in the IFS segment is largely a function of the value of assets under 
custody and the number of transactions. 

Assets under custody in the IFS segment climbed by 5 per cent in the 2019 financial year, leading to a 
16 per cent rise in net revenue from custody services. The number of settlement transactions rose by 
14 per cent in the reporting year fuelled by the onboarding of new clients and high levels of activity 
among existing clients amid increased market share in growing fund market. As a consequence, net 
revenue from settlement services increased by 9 per cent. 

Following the acquisition of Swisscanto Funds Centre Ltd. at the end of 2018, the rollout of related 
services launched in mid-2019 progressed as scheduled and several new clients were acquired in the 
reporting year. Among others, the functionalities of the Fund Desk distribution support service were 
enhanced and fully integrated into the IFS product range. The services encompass distribution contract 
negotiation, compliance support services for eligibility control and anti-money-laundering, know-your-
customer and know-your-distributor rules, exchange fund data from asset managers to fund distributors 
and vice versa, as well as a distribution commission management service. As a result, the new service 
will help clients meet regulatory requirements for transparency and standardisation in fund distribution, 
which have increased under MiFID II. Thanks to the broader product offering, the IFS segment realised 

23
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Gruppe Deutsche Börse | Annual report 2019 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
  
  
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Deutsche Börse Group | Annual report 2019 

Executive and Supervisory Boards 
Management report | Report on economic position 
Financial statements 
Notes 
Further information 

revenue synergies from cross-selling. The net revenues related to the Swisscanto acquisition are included 
in the “other revenue” line item, which rose by 35 per cent in 2019. 

During the 2019 financial year, IFS also completed the acquisition of Ausmaq Limited, the specialist 
managed funds custody business of National Australia Bank Limited, thereby extending its fund service 
offering to the Australian market. Australia has recorded steady growth in recent years and ranks number 
one among the Asia-Pacific fund markets and number four globally with regard to assets under 
management. 

Overall, the IFS segment’s net revenue increased by 19 per cent in 2019. Roughly half of the increase 
(€13.3 million) was attributable to the acquisitions of Swisscanto Funds Centre Ltd. and Ausmaq 
Limited, while organic growth amounted to 8 per cent. Due to the segment’s highly scalable business 
model, adjusted EBITDA climbed by 30 per cent. 

GSF (collateral management) segment 

GSF (collateral management)segment: key indicators 

2019 

2018 

 Change 

FINANCIAL KEY FIGURES 

Net revenue 

Collateral management 

Securities lending 

Operating costs  

Operating costs (adjusted) 

EBITDA 

EBITDA (adjusted) 

PERFORMANCE INDICATORS 

Average outstandings from collateral management 

Average outstandings from securities lending 

 €m 

78.0 

48.9 

29.1 

38.4 

36.3 

38.1 

40.2 

 €bn 

401.8 

48.9 

 €m 

83.1 

43.3 

39.8 

48.4 

39.5 

34.2 

43.1 

 €bn 

377.6 

53.8 

% 

–6 

13 

–27 

–21 

– 8 

11 

–7 

% 

6 

–9 

In the GSF (collateral management) segment, Deutsche Börse Group reports on business development at 
Clearstream’s collateral management and securities lending services. Collateral management services 
(formerly named Repo) encompass Tri-Party repo, GC Pooling® and collateral administration services. 

Average outstandings in the collateral management business recorded growth of 6 per cent in the 2019 
financial year. This was mainly the result of new customer wins and growing volumes in initial-margin 
segregation products under the European Market Infrastructure Regulation (EMIR). Net revenue from 
collateral management services increased accordingly by 13 per cent. 

The GSF segment succeeded in significantly broadening its customer base in 2019, leading to a steady 
recovery in securities lending volumes over the course of the year. However, this could not fully offset the 
challenging market conditions in the business, with average outstanding volumes down 9 per cent 
compared to the previous year. Negative interest rates and ample liquidity provided by the ECB put 
added pressure on fees, resulting in a decline of 27 per cent in net revenue from securities lending in 
2019. 

The GSF segment’s net revenue overall fell by 6 per cent in the 2019 financial year. As a result, 
adjusted EBITDA declined by 7 per cent. 

24
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Gruppe Deutsche Börse | Annual report 2019 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
  
  
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Deutsche Börse Group | Annual report 2019 

Executive and Supervisory Boards 
Management report | Report on economic position 
Financial statements 
Notes 
Further information 

Qontigo (index and analytics business) segment  

Qontigo (index and analytics business) segment: key indicators1) 

FINANCIAL KEY FIGURES 

Net revenue 

ETF licences 

Exchange licences  

Other licences  

Analytics 

Operating costs  

Operating costs (adjusted) 

EBITDA 

EBITDA (adjusted)  

PERFORMANCE INDICATORS 

Assets under management in ETFs on STOXX® indices (average for the period) 

Assets under management in ETFs on DAX® indices (average for the period) 

2019 

€m 

190.2 

38.7 

31.5 

94.2 

25.8 

101.0 

69.4 

89.2 

120.8 

 €bn 

71.2 

24.0 

2018 

€m 

157.3 

43.8 

31.3 

82.2 

– 

53.9 

44.5 

103.4 

112.8 

 €bn 

81.9 

27.7 

Index derivatives (traded contracts) (m) 

879.6 

875.4 

 Change 

% 

21 

–12 

1 

15 

– 

87 

56 

–14 

7 

% 

–13 

–13 

0 

1)  As part of the combination, certain licence revenues were re-allocated from the Data segment to the new Qontigo segment (index and analytics business) 

In the Qontigo (index and analytics business) segment, Deutsche Börse Group reports on the develop-
ment of its subsidiary, Qontigo, which was formed through the merger of STOXX Ltd. and Axioma Inc. in 
September 2019. In the index business, Qontigo offers issuers an extensive range of indexes, providing 
issuers with a wealth of opportunities for creating financial instruments for even the most diverse 
investment strategies. While the ETF licence revenues depend on the volume invested worldwide in 
exchange-traded index funds (ETFs) on STOXX® and DAX® indices, the exchange licence revenues are 
determined mainly by the volume traded in index derivatives on STOXX and DAX indices on Eurex. 
Licence fees from structured products are shown as part of other licence fees. In Analytics, Qontigo 
offers its clients risk analytics and portfolio-management tools. Revenue in this area depends mainly on 
order volume. However, a significant portion of this revenue requires the volume of new business to be 
recognised at the time the revenue is generated (rather than spread over the term of the contract). Actual 
net revenue may therefore fluctuate from month to month depending on the volume of new business. 

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Gruppe Deutsche Börse | Annual report 2019 
 
  
 
 
 
 
  
  
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Deutsche Börse Group | Annual report 2019 

Executive and Supervisory Boards 
Management report | Report on economic position 
Financial statements 
Notes 
Further information 

In the year under review, European stock indices recorded an outflow of investment funds to other 
regions – an effect that could not be compensated for by higher index levels compared to the previous 
year. Average assets under management in ETFs on STOXX and DAX indices each fell by 13 per cent 
compared to the previous year. ETF licence fees for 2019 declined similarly, by 12 per cent. In line with 
the almost unchanged trading volume in index derivatives at Eurex, exchange-based licence fees in 
2019 were 1 per cent up on the already high figure for the previous year. 

In July STOXX Ltd. announced that it had been recognised as administrator according to Article 32 of 
the EU Benchmarks Regulation. This recognition means that indices managed by STOXX can now be 
included in the ESMA Benchmark Register. To achieve synergies in Deutsche Börse Group's index 
business, Deutsche Börse AG has decided to transfer the administration (as defined in the EU 
Benchmark Regulation) of its indices (DAX, eb.rexx etc.) to STOXX Ltd. 

Net revenue from Analytics of €25.9 million, reported for the first time in the 2019 financial year, 
reflects the new business generated by the merger with Axioma in portfolio management and risk 
analytics software. Revenue relates to the period since the acquisition was completed (13 September 
2019).  

Due to the signing of a number of new contracts, including those with buy-side customers, other licence 
revenues rose by 14 per cent for 2019. Overall, net revenue for the Qontigo segment increased by 
21 per cent in the year under review. Adjusted EBITDA for the segment rose by 7 per cent.  

Data segment 

Data segment: key indicators1) 

FINANCIAL KEY FIGURES 

Net revenue 

Cash and derivatives 

Regulatory services 

Other (incl. CEF® data services) 

Operating costs  

Operating costs (adjusted) 

EBITDA 

EBITDA (adjusted) 

PERFORMANCE INDICATORS 

Subscriptions  

2019 

€m 

158.9 

112.0 

19.1 

27.8 

66.3 

51.3 

92.5 

2018 

€m 

170.3 

113.6 

17.8 

38.9 

83.5 

53.0 

86.7 

107.5 

117.2 

thousand 

thousand 

334.3 

377.8 

 Change  

% 

1 

–1 

7 

7 

–1 

–3 

25 

3 

% 

–12 

1)  As part of the combination, certain licence revenues were re-allocated from the Data segment to the new Qontigo segment (index and analytics business) 

In the Data segment, Deutsche Börse Group reports on the development of its business concerning 
licences for real-time trading, market signals and the supply of historical data and analytics. The most 
important products in this respect are order book data from the cash and derivatives markets, as well as 
reference data of Deutsche Börse and data from its partner exchanges. The segment generates much of 
its net revenue on the basis of long-term client relationships; it is relatively independent of trading 
volumes and capital markets volatility. Revenue from regulatory services is also is shown in this 
segment.  

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Gruppe Deutsche Börse | Annual report 2019 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
  
  
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Deutsche Börse Group | Annual report 2019 

Executive and Supervisory Boards 
Management report | Report on economic position 
Financial statements 
Notes 
Further information 

Net revenue for Data increased year-on-year by 1 per cent. Net revenue for data from the cash and 
derivatives markets decreased primarily due to higher back billings for the same period last year. 
Regulatory services saw revenue increase mainly as a result of the positive development in the Group's 
core business as well as non-recurring effects. The segment's other net revenue (including CEF® data 
services and external collaborations) increased due to an early termination of a contract.  

Overall, adjusted EBITDA for 2019 increased by 3 per cent due to a stronger increase in net revenue 
compared to adjusted operating costs. 

Development of profitability 
Deutsche Börse Group’s return on shareholders’ equity expresses the ratio of net income after taxes to 
average equity available to the Group during the course of 2019. At 19.3 per cent return on equity was 
higher than the previous year's ratio (2018: 17.1 per cent). Adjusted for the effects described in             

 Results of operations, the return on equity was 21.3 per cent (2018: 20.8 per cent). 

27
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Gruppe Deutsche Börse | Annual report 2019 
 
 
 
 
 
Deutsche Börse Group | Annual report 2019 

Executive and Supervisory Boards 
Management report | Report on economic position 
Financial statements 
Notes 
Further information 

Financial position 

Cash flow 

Consolidated cash flow statement (condensed) 

Cash flows from operating activities (excluding CCP positions) 

Cash flows from operating activities 

Cash flows from investing activities 

Cash flows from financing activities 

Cash and cash equivalents as at 31 December 

Cash and other bank balances as at 31 December 

2019 
€m 

1,030.6 

926.1 

– 722.9 

99.4 

2,145.5 

888.1 

2018 
€m 

1,176.5 

1,298.2 

792.0 

– 832.9 

1,839.0 

1,322.3 

Cash and cash equivalents at Deutsche Börse Group comprise cash and bank balances – to the extent 
that these do not result from reinvesting current liabilities from cash deposits by market participants –  
as well as receivables and liabilities from banking business with an original maturity of three months or 
less. Cash and cash equivalents as at 31 December 2019 amounted to €2,142.1 million (31 December 
2018: €1,839.0 million). Other cash and bank balances amounted to €888.1 million as at 
31 December 2019 (31 December 2018: €1,322.3 million).  

In the 2019 financial year, Deutsche Börse Group generated a positive cash flow of €304.8 million (2018: 
€1,257.3 million). The informative value of Deutsche Börse Group’s cash flow is relevant only to a limited 
extent since it includes in particular CCP positions which are subject to significant fluctuations on the 
reporting date, as well as the inflows and outflows resulting from the banking business. Adjusted by these 
effects, the cash flow in the 2019 financial year can essentially be explained as follows: 

Deutsche Börse Group generated €1,030.6 million (2018: €1,176.5 million) in cash flow from operating 
activities, excluding changes in CCP positions on the reporting date. This figure is determined indirectly, 
resulting from the net profit for the period amounting to €1,035.4 million (2018: €852.5 million), which 
is adjusted by non-cash expense and income such as depreciation and deferred tax assets. Additionally, 
especially higher tax payments in 2019 resulted in a negative contribution to cash flow from operating 
activities(increase in working capital). 

The positive cash flow from operating activities is essentially matched by the purchase of the 
investments in intangible assets and property amounting to €184.7 million and the distribution of 
€495.0 million in dividends by Deutsche Börse AG for the 2018 financial year (dividends for the 2017 
financial year: €453.3 million). In particular, the acquisition of Axioma Inc. resulted in a total cash 
outflow in cash flow from investing activities in amount of €648.3 million. At the same time, General 
Atlantic’s participation in the index business of Deutsche Börse Group led to an cash inflow in amount of 
€666.4 million and to an increase in cash flow from financing activities. Therefore, the acquisition of 
Axioma Inc. was mostly neutral for cash and cash equivalents. 

As in previous year, the Group assumes it will have a strong liquidity base in the 2020 financial year 
due to its positive cash flows from operating activities, adequate credit lines and flexible management 
and planning systems. 

For further details regarding the cash flow, please refer to the 
 note 20 to the consolidated financial statements. 
as 

 consolidated cash flow statement as well 

28
45

Gruppe Deutsche Börse | Annual report 2019 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Deutsche Börse Group | Annual report 2019 

Executive and Supervisory Boards 
Management report | Report on economic position 
Financial statements 
Notes 
Further information 

Liquidity management 
Deutsche Börse Group primarily meets its operating liquidity requirements from internal financing, i.e. by 
retaining generated funds – with a view towards maintaining sufficient liquidity in order to be able to 
meet all of the Group's payment obligations when due. An intra-Group cash pool is used for pooling 
surplus cash as far as regulatory and legal provisions allow. All of the Group’s cash investments are 
short-term, in order to ensure rapid availability, and are largely collateralised using liquid bonds from 
prime-rated issuers. Moreover, Deutsche Börse AG has access to external sources of financing, such as 
bilateral and syndicated credit lines, as well as a commercial paper programme (see   note 23 to the 
consolidated financial statements for details on financial risk management). In recent years, Deutsche 
Börse AG has leveraged its access to the capital markets to issue corporate bonds in order to meet its 
structural financing needs. 

Debt instruments issued by Deutsche Börse AG (outstanding as at 31 December 2019)  

Type 

Issue volume 

ISIN 

Term 

Maturity  Coupon (p.a.) 

Listing 

Fixed-rate bearer bond 

€600 m 

DE000A1RE1W1 

10 years 

October 2022 

Fixed-rate bearer bond 

€500 m 

DE000A1684V3 

10 years 

October 2025 

Fixed-rate bearer bond 

€600 m 

DE000A2LQJ75 

10 years 

March 2028 

2.375%  Luxembourg
/Frankfurt 

1.625%  Luxembourg
/Frankfurt 

1.125%  Luxembourg
/Frankfurt 

Fixed-rate bearer bond 
(hybrid bond) 

€600 m 

DE000A161W62 

February 2021/ 
February 2041 

2.75% (until 
call date) 

Luxembourg
/Frankfurt 

Call date 
5.5 years/final 
maturity in 
25.5 years 

Capital management 
The Group’s clients generally expect it to maintain conservative interest coverage and leverage ratios, 
and hence to achieve a good credit rating. 

The Group is committed to achieving the minimum financial risk profile that is consistent with an AA 
rating in accordance with S&P Global Ratings methodology. Furthermore, the company endeavours to 
maintain the strong AA credit rating of its subsidiary Clearstream Banking S.A., in order to ensure the 
long-term success of its Clearstream securities settlement and custody segment. The activities of the 
Eurex Clearing AG subsidiary also require Deutsche Börse AG to have and maintain a strong credit 
quality. 

29
46

Gruppe Deutsche Börse | Annual report 2019 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Deutsche Börse Group | Annual report 2019 

Executive and Supervisory Boards 
Management report | Report on economic position 
Financial statements 
Notes 
Further information 

To this end, the Group aims to achieve the following relevant key performance indicators:  

  Net debt to EBITDA ratio: no more than 1.75 
  Free funds from operations (FFO) to net debt: equal to or greater than 50 per cent 
  Interest cover ratio: at least 14 
  Tangible equity (for Clearstream Banking S.A.): total of at least €1.1 billion 

When calculating these key performance indicators, Deutsche Börse Group closely follows the 
methodology applied by S&P Global Ratings:  

  To determine EBITDA, reported EBITDA is adjusted by the result from strategic investments, as well as 

by unfunded pension obligations. EBITDA for 2019 was €1,679 million. 

  In order to determine FFO, interest and tax expenses are deducted from EBITDA, applying the 

respective imputed adjustments for unfunded pension obligations etc. FFO in 2019 amounted to 
€1,294 million. 

  The Group’s net debt is reconciled by first deducting 50 per cent of the hybrid bond, as well as the 

surplus cash as at the reporting date, from gross debt (i.e. from interest-bearing liabilities). Liabilities 
from operating leases and unfunded pension obligations are then added. Net debt for 2019 totalled 
€1,638 million.  

  The parameters used to determine interest expenses include interest expenses for financing Deutsche 
Börse Group, less interest expenses of Group entities which are also financial institutions – including 
Clearstream Banking S.A., Clearstream Banking AG, and Eurex Clearing AG. Interest expenses incurred 
which are not related to Group financing are not included in the calculation of interest expenses. Only 
50 per cent of the hybrid bond is counted towards interest expenses. Interest expenses totalled 
€49 million in 2019. 

Deutsche Börse AG has declared its intention not to reduce the tangible equity (equity less intangible 
assets) of Clearstream Banking S.A. below €1,100 million. Clearstream Banking S.A. exceeded this 
threshold during the year under review, with a level of €1,448 million. 

The following table "Relevant parameters" illustrates the calculation methodology and shows the values 
for 2019. 

Relevant key performance indicators according to the adjusted calculation method   

Net debt / EBITDA 

Free funds from operations (FFO) / net debt 

% 

Interest coverage ratio 

Target figures 

2019 

≤ 1.75 

≥ 50 

≥ 14 

1.0 

79 

34 

Tangible equity of Clearstream Banking S.A. (as at the reporting date) 

€m 

≥ 1,100 

1,448   

S&P Global Ratings bases the determination of the key performance indicators on the corresponding 
weighted average of the reported or expected results of the previous, the current and the following 
reporting period. To ensure the transparency of the key performance indicators, the Group reports them 
based on the respective current reporting period. 

30
47

Gruppe Deutsche Börse | Annual report 2019 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Deutsche Börse Group | Annual report 2019 

Executive and Supervisory Boards 
Management report | Report on economic position 
Financial statements 
Notes 
Further information 

Dividends and share buy-backs 
Deutsche Börse Group generally aims to distribute dividends equivalent to between 40 and 60 per cent 
of adjusted net profit for the period attributable to Deutsche Börse AG shareholders. Within this range, 
the Group manages the actual payout ratio mainly relative to the business performance and based on 
continuity considerations. In addition, the company plans to invest the remaining available funds 
primarily into complementary external development. Should the investment of these funds by the Group 
not be possible, additional share buy-backs would represent another possibility for distribution. 

For the 2019 financial year, Deutsche Börse AG is proposing that the Annual General Meeting resolve to 
pay a dividend of €2.90 per no-par value share (2018: €2.70). This dividend is equivalent to a 
distribution ratio of 48 per cent of adjusted net profit for the period, attributable to shareholders of 
Deutsche Börse AG, adjusted for the non-recurring items described in the   Results of operations (2018: 
49 per cent, also adjusted). Given 183.4 million no-par shares bearing dividend rights, this would result 
in a total dividend payment of €532.0 million (2018: €495.0 million). The number of shares bearing 
dividend rights is produced by deducting 6.6 million treasury shares from the ordinary share capital of 
190.0 million shares.  

Credit ratings 

Credit ratings  

Deutsche Börse AG 

S&P Global Ratings 

Clearstream Banking S.A. 

Fitch Ratings  

S&P Global Ratings 

Long-term 

Short-term 

AA 

AA 

AA 

A– 1+ 

F1+ 

A– 1+ 

Deutsche Börse AG regularly has its credit quality reviewed by S&P Global Ratings, while Clearstream 
Banking S.A. is rated by Fitch Ratings and S&P Global Ratings.  

On 29 August 2019, Fitch Ratings affirmed the AA credit rating of Clearstream Banking S.A. with a 
stable outlook. The rating reflects Clearstream Banking’s leading position in the post-trade business and 
its diligent liquidity management, as well as its impeccable capitalisation.  

In 2019, S&P Global Ratings left the AA credit ratings of Deutsche Börse AG and Clearstream Banking 
S.A. unchanged. Deutsche Börse AG's rating reflects the assumption that the Group will continue its 
growth strategy and reach at least the lower end of its growth targets. Clearstream Banking S.A.'s rating 
reflects its strong risk management, minimal debt levels and strong position on the international capital 
markets, especially through its international custody and transaction business.  

As at 31 December 2019, Deutsche Börse AG was one of only two DAX-listed companies awarded an 
AA rating by S&P Global Ratings. The rating histories of Deutsche Börse AG and Clearstream Banking 
S.A. are given in the   five-year overview.  

31
48

Gruppe Deutsche Börse | Annual report 2019 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Deutsche Börse Group | Annual report 2019 

Executive and Supervisory Boards 
Management report | Report on economic position 
Financial statements 
Notes 
Further information 

Net assets 

Material changes to net assets are described below; the full consolidated balance sheet is shown in the 

 consolidated financial statements.  

Consolidated balance sheet (extract) 

ASSETS 

Non-current assets 

thereof intangible assets 

thereof goodwill 

thereof other intangible assets 

thereof financial assets 

thereof financial assets measured at amortised costs 

thereof equity investments measured at FVOCI 

thereof financial instruments held by central counterparties 

Current assets 

thereof financial instruments held by central counterparties 

thereof restricted bank balances 

thereof other cash and bank balances 

EQUITY AND LIABILITIES 

Equity 

Liabilities 

thereof non-current liabilities 

thereof financial instruments held by central counterparties 

thereof financial liabilities measured at amortised cost 

thereof deferred tax liabilities  

thereof current liabilities 

thereof financial instruments held by central counterparties 

thereof financial liabilities measured at amortised cost 

thereof cash deposits by market participants 

31 Dec 2019 
€m 

31 Dec 2018 
€m 

11,706.9 

15,642.0 

5,008.4 

3,470.5 

1,040.9 

6,027.6 

698.7 

66.3 

4,191.6 

2,865.6 

952.7 

11,168.6 

1,057.1 

108.8 

5,234.2 

9,985.4 

125,458.4 

146,257.1 

78,301.5 

94,280.3 

29,988.7 

29,833,6 

888.1 

1,322.3 

6,110.6 

4,963.4 

131,054.7 

156,935.7 

8,610.4 

5,234.2 

2,627.2 

226.3 

12,854.3 

9,985.4 

2,283.2 

194.5 

122,444.3 

144,081.4 

77,411.5 

94,068.3 

14,432.1 

19,219.7 

29,755.8 

29,559.2 

Deutsche Börse Group’s total assets have decreased in comparison with the previous year – this is 
primarily due to the fall in the financial instruments held by central counterparties on the reporting date.  

Intangible assets increased significantly against the background of the acquisitions, which led to an 
increase in goodwill. Current assets – adjusted for the decline in financial instruments held by central 
counterparties – are at the same level as in the previous year. 

The Group's equity increased significantly year-on-year, due on the one hand to the acquisition of 
Axioma respectively General Atlantic's stake in Deutsche Börse Group's index business and on the other 
hand to the retained profit of the previous year. 

Overall, Deutsche Börse Group invested €184.7 million in the continued business in intangible assets 
and property, plant and equipment (capital expenditure or capex) in the reporting period (2018: 
€160.0 million). The Group’s largest investments were made in the Clearstream and Eurex segments. 

32
49

Gruppe Deutsche Börse | Annual report 2019 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Deutsche Börse Group | Annual report 2019 

Executive and Supervisory Boards 
Management report | Report on economic position 
Financial statements 
Notes 
Further information 

Working capital 
Working capital comprises current assets less current liabilities, excluding technical closing-date  
items. Current assets, excluding technical closing-date items, amounted to €898.5 million (2018:  
€1,098.3 million). As Deutsche Börse Group collects fees for most of its services on a monthly  
basis, the trade receivables of €447.3 million included in current assets as at 31 December 2019 
(31 December 2018: €397.5 million) were relatively low compared with net revenue. The current 
liabilities of the Group, excluding technical closing-date items, amounted to €1,072.9 million 
(2018: €1,468.5 million, excluding technical closing-date items). The Group therefore had slightly 
negative working capital of €170.6 million at the end of the year (2018: €370.2 million). 

Technical closing-date items 
The “financial instruments of the central counterparties” item relates to the function performed by Eurex 
Clearing AG and European Commodity Clearing AG: since they act as the central counter parties for 
Deutsche Börse Group’s various markets, their financial instruments are carried in the balance sheet at 
their fair value. The financial instruments of the central counterparties are described in detail in the  

 risk report and in 

 notes 13, and 23 to the consolidated financial statements. 

Market participants linked to the Group’s clearing houses partly provide collateral in the form of cash  
deposits, which are subject to daily adjustments. The cash deposits are generally invested on a secured  
basis overnight by the central counterparties and reported in the balance sheet under “restricted bank 
balances”. The total value of cash deposits at the reporting dates relevant for the reporting period 
(31 March, 30 June, 30 September and 31 December) varied between €30 billion and €32 billion 
(2018: between €28 billion and €30 billion). 

Value added: breakdown of company performance 
Value added is calculated by subtracting depreciation and amortisation as well as external costs from  
the company performance. In 2019, the value added by Deutsche Börse Group amounted to 
€2,194.8 million (2018: €2,028.3 million). The breakdown shows that large portions of the generated 
value added flow back into the economy: 25 per cent (€548.7 million) benefit shareholders in the form 
of dividend payments, while 34 per cent (€746.2 million) was attributable to staff costs in the form  
of salaries and other remuneration components. Taxes accounted for 17 per cent (€373.1 million), while 
2 per cent (€43.9 million) was attributable to external creditors. The 22 per cent value added that 
remained in the company (€482.9 million) is available for investments in growth initiatives, among other 
things. 

33
50

Gruppe Deutsche Börse | Annual report 2019 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Deutsche Börse Group | Annual report 2019 

Executive and Supervisory Boards 
Management report | Report on economic position 
Financial statements 
Notes 
Further information 

Overall assessment of the economic position by the Executive Board  

The economic outlook deteriorated further in the 2019 financial year, partly against the backdrop of a 
continuing trade conflict and the uncertainty surrounding the outcome of an impending Brexit. This was 
reflected mainly in reticence among market participants, as well as cash outflows from European 
securities. As a result, volatility was on average lower than in the previous year leading to lower trading 
in financial derivatives. An environment of persistently low interest rates also had a negative impact on 
trading volumes in interest rate derivatives. However, averagely higher interest rates on customer 
deposits held in US dollars resulted in a positive development of the net interest income from banking 
business. Cyclical effects were unable to drive the Group's growth any further compared to the previous 
year and broadly offset each other over the period. Consequently growth in the reporting period was 
primarily the result of structural factors including the development of new products and services, the 
acquisition of additional market share and the development of new markets. Overall the Group's net 
revenue from these activities increased by 5 per cent in line with the Executive Board's expectations. 
Taking into account net revenue from consolidation effects the Group recorded net revenue growth of 
6 per cent. After adjusting the previous year's figures to reflect IFRS 16 operating costs rose by 8 per 
cent. In addition to increased staff costs due to higher numbers of employees another contributing factor 
was the consolidation of companies acquired during the course of 2019. On an adjusted basis the 
Group achieved a 10 per cent increase in net profit attributable to Deutsche Börse AG shareholders. 
which was also in line with the Executive Board's expectations. Based on this, the Executive Board 
considers Deutsche Börse Group’s financial position to be very solid during the reporting period. The 
Group generated high operating cash flows as in the previous year. Given the increase in adjusted 
EBITDA. Deutsche Börse was able to further improve the ratio of net debt to EBITDA at Group level: With 
a value of 1.0 the target value of 1.75 was clearly undercut. 

Deutsche Börse AG has offered its shareholders increasing dividends for years – and the 2019 financial 
year is no exception. With a proposed dividend of €2.90 (2018: €2.70) this represents a 7 per cent 
increase on the previous year. As a result of the improvement in earnings the distribution ratio fell 
slightly from 49 per cent in the previous year to 48 per cent in the year under review (adjusted in each 
case for non-recurring effects) and was thus in line with the Executive Board's target range of 40 to 60 
per cent. 

34
51

Gruppe Deutsche Börse | Annual report 2019 
 
 
Deutsche Börse Group | Annual report 2019 

Executive and Supervisory Boards 
Management report | Report on economic position 
Financial statements 
Notes 
Further information 

Deutsche Börse Group: five-year overview 

Consolidated income statement 

Net revenue  

thereof net interest income from banking business 

Operating costs (excluding depreciation, amortisation 
and impairment losses) 

Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and 
amortisation (EBITDA)  

Depreciation, amortisation and impairment losses 

Net profit for the period attributable to  
Deutsche Börse AG shareholders 

Earnings per share (basic) 

Consolidated cash flow statement 

2015 

2016 

2017 

2018 

2019 

€m 

€m 

2,220.31) 

2,388.7 

2,462.3 

2,779.7 

2,936.0 

50.6 

84.0 

132.6 

204.5 

246.1 

€m  – 1,164.21) 

– 1,186.4 

– 1,131.6 

– 1,340.2 

– 1,264.4 

€m 

€m 

€m 

€ 

1,054.61) 

1,239.2 

1,528.5 

1,443.7 

1,678.3 

– 119.0 

– 131.0 

– 159.9 

– 210.5 

– 226.2 

613.31) 

3.311) 

722.1 

874.3 

824.3 

1,003.9 

3.87 

4.68 

4.46 

5.47 

Cash flows from operating activities 

€m 

10.1 

1,621.4 

1,056.2 

1,298.2 

926,1 

Consolidated balance sheet 

Non-current assets 

Equity 

Financial liabilities measured at amortised cost 

Performance indicators 

Dividend per share 

Dividend payout ratio 

Employees (average annual FTEs) 

Personnel expense ratio (staff costs / net revenue) 

Tax rate 
Return on shareholders’ equity (annual average)6) 

Deutsche Börse shares 

Year-end closing price 

Average market capitalisation 

Rating key figures 

Net debt / EBITDA 

Free Funds from Operations (FFO) / EBITDA 

Deutsche Börse AG: S&P Global Ratings  
Clearstream Banking S.A.:  S&P Global Ratings  

Fitch 

Market indicators 
Xetra®, Börse Frankfurt and Tradegate 

Trading volume (single-counted) 
Eurex® 

Number of contracts 

Clearstream 

€m 

€m 

€m 

€ 

% 

% 

% 

% 

14,386.9 

11,938.7 

10,883.7 

15,642.0 

11,706.9 

3,695.1 

4,623.2 

2,546.5 

2,284.7 

4,959.4 
1,688.42) 

4,963.4 

6,110.6 

   2,283.2 

2,627.2 

2.25 
554) 
4,4601) 

27 

26 
204) 

2.35 
544) 

2.45 
534) 

2.70 
494)5) 

4,731 

5,183 

5,397 

25 

27 
194) 

26 
274) 
184) 

30 
274) 
214) 

2.903) 
484)5) 

5,835 

25 
264) 
214) 

€  

€bn 

81.39 

14.7 

77.54 

14.0 

96.80 

17.2 

104.95 

140.15 

21.5 

24.0 

% 

Rating 

Rating 

Rating 

2.2 
351) 

AA 

AA 

AA 

1.2 

58 

AA 

AA 

AA 

1.1 

59 

AA 

AA 

AA 

1.1 

69 

AA 

AA 

AA 

1.0 

79 

AA 

AA 

AA 

€bn 

1,636 

1,377 

1,468 

1,720 

1,500 

m 

1,6731) 

1,728 

1,676 

1,952 

1,947 

Assets under custody (annual average) 

€bn 

11,460 

11,173 

11,246 

11,303 

11,561 

Investment fund services (IFS) 

Assets under custody (annual average) 

€bn 

1,815 

1,902 

2,219 

2,385 

2,502 

1)  Figure for 2015 without consideration of International Securities Exchange (ISE), which represents a discontinued operation due to its disposal as at 30 June 2016 
2)  Bonds that will mature in the following year are reported under “other current liabilities” (2017: €599.8 million) 
3)  Proposal to the Annual General Meeting 2020  
4)  Adjusted for exceptional effects; please refer to the consolidated financial statements for the respective financial year for adjustment details  
5)  Amount based on the proposal to the Annual General Meeting 2020  
6)  Net profit for the period attributable to Deutsche Börse AG shareholders / average shareholders’ equity for the financial year based on the quarter-end balance of 

shareholders’ equity  

35
52

Gruppe Deutsche Börse | Annual report 2019 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Deutsche Börse Group | Annual report 2019 

Executive and Supervisory Boards 
Management report | Report on post-balance sheet date events 
Financial statements 
Notes 
Further information 

Report on post-balance sheet date events 

On 21 January 2020 Clearstream the post-trading service provider of Deutsche Börse Group and UBS 
agreed on a partnership in the fund services sector. The companies have entered into an agreement 
under which Clearstream will acquire 51 per cent of the Zurich-based fund distribution platform 
Fondcenter AG from UBS for a purchase price of CHF389 million. UBS will retain a minority stake of 
49 per cent. The transaction is expected to be closed in the second half of 2020. Upon completion of 
the transaction Fondcenter will fully consolidate. The newly formed company will become the 
competence centre for fund distribution services within Deutsche Börse Group and the combination with 
the existing Clearstream Fund Desk (formerly Swisscanto Funds Centre) creates a leading provider of 
fund distribution services with high benefits for customers of UBS and Clearstream. 

Combined non-financial statement 

This combined non-financial statement for Deutsche Börse Group and the parent company Deutsche 
Börse AG is integrated into the combined management report; it fulfils the provisions of sections 289b–e 
and 315b–c of the Handelsgesetzbuch (HGB, German Commercial Code). It is also in accordance with 
the standards (“Core” option) of the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI). A detailed overview of all GRI 
indicators (GRI index) is available at   www.deutsche-boerse.com > Sustainability > Reporting > GRI. 
More detailed information that is referenced in the non-financial statement does not form part of the 
statement itself. Provided no explicit statements are made for the parent company, qualitative 
information within the meaning of the combined management report applies to Deutsche Börse Group 
and the parent company Deutsche Börse AG. In some cases, quantitative details concerning the parent 
entity are disclosed separately.  

Deutsche Börse Group uses not only the financial figures outlined in the   “Group management” section 
for Group management, but also non-financial performance indicators – specifically, the availability of its 
trading systems for the cash and derivatives markets and the share of women in executive positions. For 
details regarding the targets pursued and the results achieved in the year under review, please refer to 
the   sections entitled “Social matters – systems availability” and   “Combined corporate governance 
statement and corporate governance report – target figures for the proportion of female executives 
beneath Executive Board level”. 

A materiality analysis comprising continuous analyses and assessments of relevant internal and external 
stakeholders’ expectations and requirements is a key element of Deutsche Börse Group’s sustainability 
strategy. This process is aimed at identifying the issues required to understand the Group’s business 
performance, operating results, the capital corporation situation and the impact of its activities on non-
financial aspects. Thus, the Group is able to identify opportunities and risks in its core business activities 
at an early stage and define concrete areas of entrepreneurial activity on this basis.  

36
53

Gruppe Deutsche Börse | Annual report 2019 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Deutsche Börse Group | Annual report 2019 

Executive and Supervisory Boards 
Management report | Combined non-financial statement 
Financial statements 
Notes 
Further information 

The combined non-financial statement outlines the objectives, actions, due diligence processes applied, 
the involvement of the Group’s management and other stakeholders, as well as the concept outcomes 
with respect to employee matters (see the   “Employees” section), compliance (including combating 
corruption and bribery), social matters and product matters.  

As a service provider with a focus on electronic market infrastructure services, Deutsche Börse Group 
engages in relatively little environmentally sensitive activity from a corporate ecology perspective; hence, 
in this combined non-financial statement, no detailed report is provided in this respect. Nonetheless, the 
Group is committed to protecting the environment and conserving natural resources. Deutsche Börse 
Group has outlined its environmental policies in its   code of business conduct. Indicators for its 
environmental sustainability performance are available on its website:   www.deutsche-boerse.com > 
Sustainability > Reporting > ESG Indicators. Moreover, environmental protection issues are becoming 
increasingly relevant for the design of individual products or services; related measures are described in 
detail in the   “Product matters” section. Deutsche Börse Group has also published a   climate strategy 
aligned with the recommendations of the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) in 
2019. 

The area of human and employee rights was identified as non-material for Deutsche Börse Group during 
the materiality analysis, and is thus not included in the non-financial statement. Nevertheless, active 
protection of human and employee rights is a key element of Deutsche Börse Group’s corporate 
responsibility: the Group addresses this at various points along the value creation chain. In addition, 
complying with human and employee rights is a key pillar of the Group’s human resources policy. 
Specific topics (e.g. diversity) are discussed in the   “Employees” section and on the website   
www.deutsche-boerse.com > Sustainability > Set an example > Employees > Guiding principles. 
Deutsche Börse Group furthermore reports on sustainability in procurement management on its website 
at   www.deutsche-boerse.com > Sustainability > Set an example > Procurement management and is 
aware of its responsibility as a global company. It joined the UN Global Compact in 2009. 

As an international capital markets organiser, Deutsche Börse Group aims to build and grow market 
participants’ trust in its market structures. As a responsible member of society, it also endeavours to use 
the expertise it deploys to successfully manage its core business in such a way that enables contribution 
to resolving social challenges. In this context, Deutsche Börse Group wishes to set a good example. 
Please refer to the   “Fundamental information about the Group” section for a detailed description of 
Deutsche Börse Group’s business model. Deutsche Börse Group acts “with an eye to the future”. Its 
sustainability strategy of the same name defines the Group’s understanding of entrepreneurial 
responsibility and guides its operations. Please see the   section entitled “Management approach for a 
Group-wide commitment to sustainability”. 

As a member of the UN Global Compact (UNGC) and the Sustainable Stock Exchanges initiative (SSE), 
Deutsche Börse Group has committed itself to implementing the 17 Sustainable Development Goals 
(SDGs) of the “2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development” set by the UN. An overview of Deutsche 
Börse Group’s contribution to the corresponding targets can be found in the following  “Overview: key 
sustainability aspects” table.  

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Gruppe Deutsche Börse | Annual report 2019 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Deutsche Börse Group | Annual report 2019 

Executive and Supervisory Boards 
Management report | Combined non-financial statement 
Financial statements 
Notes 
Further information 

Overview: key sustainability aspects 

Relevant contents of the non-financial 
statement according to section 289c HGB1) 

Areas for action relevant to 

UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 

Deutsche Börse Group 

covered by Deutsche Börse Group 

Business model 

 p. 18 

  Overview of Deutsche Börse Group 
  Objectives and strategies 
 
Internal management 
  Research and development activities 

  Economic performance 
  Stakeholder engagement 
  Brand management 

Mandatory aspects 

Employee matters 

 p. 56 

  Staff development 
  Human resources strategy 
  Promoting diversity and gender equality 
  Employer attractiveness 

Social matters 

 p. 63 

  Human Capital Development  
  Human and employee rights  

  SDG 7 “Affordable and clean energy” 
  SDG 8 “Decent work and economic 

growth“ 

  SDG 9 “Industry, innovation and 

infrastructure“ 

  SDG 12 “Responsible consumption and 

production” 

  SDG 17 “Partnerships for the goals“ 

  SDG 4 “Quality education” 
  SDG 5 “Gender equality“ 
  SDG 8 “Decent work and economic 

growth“ 

  SDG 10 “Reduce inequalities“ 

  Sustainable financial market initiatives 
  Stable, transparent and fair markets 

  Economic participation and education 
  Transparent, stable and fair markets 

  SDG 4 “Quality education“ 
  SDG 8 “Decent work and economic 

 
Systems availability 
  Market transparency 
 

Stable financial markets 

Anti-corruption and bribery matters 

 p. 59 

growth“ 

  SDG 9 “Industry, innovation and 

infrastructure“ 

  SDG 10““Reduce inequalities“ 
  SDG 12 “Responsible consumption and   

production” 

  SDG 16 “Peace, justice and strong 

institutions“ 

  SDG 17 “Partnerships for the goals“ 

  Good governance 

  SDG 8 “Decent work and economic 

growth” 

  SDG 10 “Reduce inequalities“ 
  SDG 16 “Peace, justice and strong 

institutions“ 

  Compliance organisation 
  Code of business conduct 
  Compliance rules 
  Compliance training 
  Whistleblowing system 
  Analysis of compliance risks 
  Due dilligence/customer review 
  Data protection 
 
 

Internal/external audit 

Inside information 

Further relevant aspects 

Product matters 

 p. 66 

  Customer satisfaction 
  Sustainable index products 
  Eurex ESG derivates offering 
  Energy and energy-related markets 

  Sustainable product and service portfolio 

  SDG 7 “Affordable and clean energy” 
  SDG 8 “Decent work and economic 

growth“ 

  SDG 9 “Industry, innovation and 

infrastructure“ 

  SDG 12 “Responsible consumption and 

production“ 

1) HGB = Handelsgesetzbuch (German Commercial Code) 

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Deutsche Börse Group | Annual report 2019 

Executive and Supervisory Boards 
Management report | Combined non-financial statement 
Financial statements 
Notes 
Further information 

Employees  

This chapter provides an overview of key indicators reflecting staff developments at Deutsche Börse 
Group; at the same time, it satisfies the requirements for reporting on employee matters, as part of the 
non-financial statement.  

Staff development 
As at 31 December 2019, Deutsche Börse Group employed a total of 6,775 staff (31 December 2018: 
5,964), drawn from 105 nationalities at 41 locations worldwide. The average number of employees in 
the reporting period was 6,286 (2018: 5,800). On Group level, this corresponds to an increase of 
around 8.4 percent compared to the previous year’s reporting date.  

The fluctuation rate was 8.7 per cent (unadjusted: 10.6 per cent; 31 December 2018: 8.7 and 
9.3 per cent). At the end of the year under review, the average length of service for the company was 
8.9 years (2018: 9.5 years).  

The number of Deutsche Börse AG’s employees rose by 54 during the year under review to 1,556.3 as 
at 31 December 2019 (comprising 563,5 women and 992,8 men; 31 December 2018: 1,502). The 
average number of employees at Deutsche Börse AG for the 2019 financial year was 1,505 (2018: 
1,465). As at 31 December 2019, Deutsche Börse AG employed staff at six locations worldwide.  

For more details, please refer to the   table entitled “Key data on Deutsche Börse Group’s workforce as 
at 31 December 2019”. 

Human resources strategy  
Employee commitment and highly developed skills are among the cornerstones supporting Deutsche 
Börse Group’s business success. Its corporate culture is characterised by a sense of responsibility, 
commitment, flexibility and teamwork. Deutsche Börse Group aims to make sure that staff with these 
qualities continue to join the company in the future and that they stay for the long term, if possible. 
Deutsche Börse Group’s Executive Board is also engaged in employee matters through one of its Board 
members who is simultaneously Director of Labour Relations as well as through other regular reporting 
formats. The Group's workforce is diverse in many respects – including nationality, age, gender, religion, 
or cultural and social origin. The company promotes this diversity and benefits from it, creating an 
environment conducive to integration from which the corporate culture benefits. This is also in the 
interests of Deutsche Börse Group’s business: its broad range of diverse products and services and the 
international composition of its client base pose specific requirements regarding the professional and 
cross-cultural expertise of employees. 

Within the scope of its growth strategy, the Group promotes a high-performance culture with a distinct 
focus on clients’ needs and innovation. In order to encourage this culture, Deutsche Börse Group has a 
remuneration system for executive staff in place that incorporates growth, performance and financial 
indicators to a greater extent than in previous years. 

In July 2019, the Supervisory Board adopted the human resources strategy 2020 initiated by the 
Executive Board. This strategy is built on a detailed analysis of employee needs and the relevant human 
resources indicators (e.g. recruiting metrics, key figures on staff development) as well as on the results of 
an employee survey conducted in February 2019. It rests on the four pillars “attract”, “develop”, “retain” 
and “lead”. According to these pillars, concepts for employer branding, recruiting, training & develop-
ment, remuneration and flexible working time models have been drawn up. Quick wins that were 
realised immediately in 2019 included recruiting via LinkedIn, the Working from Home Policy, the 
provision of the “Job Bikes” initiative and a promotion committee which convenes on a quarterly basis. 

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Deutsche Börse Group | Annual report 2019 

Executive and Supervisory Boards 
Management report | Combined non-financial statement 
Financial statements 
Notes 
Further information 

In the course of implementing the strategy, Human Resources was split into an operative business 
partner team and a strategic concept team. Moreover, expansion of the Shared Service Center is planned 
over the medium term.  

Promoting diversity and gender equality  
As a global enterprise, Deutsche Börse Group advocates openness and fairness at the workplace. This is 
why Deutsche Börse AG signed the   “Diversity Charter” to support recognition, appreciation and 
integration of diversity in the working environment. For Deutsche Börse Group, diversity within the 
company is the basis for achieving a corporate culture characterised by open dialogue, trust and mutual 
acceptance. 

Deutsche Börse Group does not tolerate any discrimination, whether on the grounds of gender, sexual 
orientation, race, nationality, ethnic origin, age, religion or disability, and irrespective of whether 
behaviour among employees is concerned or the placement of orders with third parties. Deutsche Börse 
Group's Equal Opportunities Officers safeguard the equal treatment of staff members. Moreover, Human 
Resources has implemented processes designed to ensure equal treatment in the selection of personnel 
and enable the Group to take prompt action whenever discrimination is suspected. In 2019, no 
incidents of discrimination were reported at the Frankfurt/Eschborn, Luxembourg, Prague and Cork 
locations (which are covered by reporting); accordingly, no countermeasures were required. 

Employer attractiveness 
To remain sustainably successful, the recruiting of top talents is of the essence. Thus the participation at 
university-based events and social network activities have been increased, and a globally uniform 
employee referral programme has been established. 

Also in place are the “Evolving Leaders” programme, designed to identify and promote future executives 
from within the Group, as well as the “Show Your Talent” initiative, which is set to create visibility for 
and support employees’ entrepreneurial and innovative potential. At the same time, the programmes are 
designed to strengthen staff commitment and their performance orientation.  

From initial contact to the actual meeting, mentors and mentees can connect on the “Meet your Mentor” 
platform. Experienced colleagues assume sponsorship for other employees, making their work easier. As 
mentors, they assist new colleagues in networking beyond their own department, help them to get to 
know the company and offer a comprehensive, cross-divisional understanding. The "New Role" 
mentoring programme makes it easier for colleagues to take on a new executive role.  

To increase the share of women in executive positions the company ensures that women are identified 
as candidates. In addition, Deutsche Börse Group offers numerous additional tools to promote female 
employees, such as targeted succession planning and a mentoring programme that involves internal and 
external mentors. Meetings and training courses designed specifically for women are held regularly 
within the scope of a women’s network. For details regarding targets for female quotas, please refer to 
the   section entitled “Combined corporate governance statement and corporate governance report – 
target figures for the proportion of female executives beneath the Executive Board” and the   section 
entitled “Comparison with the forecast for 2019”. 

Deutsche Börse Group assigns high priority to training its staff and to providing continuing professional 
development: employees continuously enhance and renew their knowledge by attending exchange-
specific training courses. These include, in particular, IT trainings, e.g. for cloud computing, and career 
path trainings, e.g. for project management and leadership. With regard to personal development, the 
Group also offers numerous online and live trainings that are tailored to the target group, e.g. for 

40
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Gruppe Deutsche Börse | Annual report 2019 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Deutsche Börse Group | Annual report 2019 

Executive and Supervisory Boards 
Management report | Combined non-financial statement 
Financial statements 
Notes 
Further information 

communication, responsibility assumption or teamwork skills. Deutsche Börse also supports its 
employees and executives in facing their individual challenges by offering a broad range of internal and 
external professional development measures (see the   “Key data on Deutsche Börse Group’s workforce 
as at 31 December 2019” table). 

Key data on Deutsche Börse Group’s workforce as at 31 December 2019 (part 1) 

Deutsche Börse AG 

Deutsche Börse Group 

All locations 

Germany 

Luxembourg 

Employees (HC) 

50 years and older 

40−49 years 

30−39 years 

Under 30 years 

Average age 

Full-time employees 

Part-time employees 

Length of service 

Under 5 years (%) 

5–15 years (%) 

Over 15 years (%) 

Staff turnover 

Joiners 

Leavers 

Male 

Female 

993 

342 

270 

278 

103 

44 

966 

27 

45 

23 

32 

125 

54 

564 

130 

134 

216 

84 

40 

439 

125 

46 

25 

29 

76 

39 

Male 

1,772 

520 

489 

576 

188 

42 

1,714 

58 

45 

27 

28 

255 

107 

Female 

1,088 

240 

263 

430 

155 

40 

793 

295 

45 

27 

28 

156 

70 

Male 

Female 

655 

206 

255 

146 

47 

44 

628 

27 

27 

23 

50 

65 

36 

431 

102 

161 

115 

53 

42 

295 

136 

29 

30 

41 

39 

24 

Training days per staff member (FTE’s) 

4.18 

4.33 

3,98 

4.44 

3.91 

4.75 

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Deutsche Börse Group | Annual report 2019 

Executive and Supervisory Boards 
Management report | Combined non-financial statement 
Financial statements 
Notes 
Further information 

Key data on Deutsche Börse Group’s workforce as at 31 December 2019 (part 2) 

Deutsche Börse Group 

Czech Republic 

Ireland 

Other locations 

Employees (HC) 

50 years and older 

40−49 years 

30−39 years 

Under 30 years 

Average age 

Full-time employees 

Part-time employees 

Length of service 

Under 5 years (%) 

5–15 years (%) 

Over 15 years (%) 

Staff turnover 

Joiners 

Leavers 

Training days per staff 
member (FTE’s) 

Male 

Female 

637 

21 

137 

357 

122 

36 

633 

4 

65 

35 

0 

144 

65 

372 

8 

55 

225 

84 

35 

350 

22 

60 

40 

0 

75 

29 

Male 

219 

13 

50 

66 

90 

34 

218 

1 

64 

29 

7 

73 

31 

Female 

Male 

Female 

Total 
(part 1 and 2) 

255 

8 

59 

118 

70 

35 

232 

23 

42 

47 

11 

55 

31 

888 

168 

250 

293 

177 

39 

873 

15 

66 

29 

5 

156 

101 

459 

51 

101 

199 

108 

37 

423 

36 

62 

36 

4 

88 

52 

6,775 

1,337 

1,819 

2,525 

1,094 

39.83 

6158 

617 

49 

30 

21 

1,106 

546 

2.67 

3.03 

3.07 

2.02 

2.23 

2.81 

3.52 

Compliance – including combat against corruption and bribery 

Responsible entrepreneurial action implies adherence to laws and regulations; it is also based on the 
principle of integrity and ethically irreproachable conduct at all times. Deutsche Börse Group has 
implemented a compliance management system based on regulatory requirements, with the objectives 
of preventing misconduct and avoiding liability and reputational risks for the Group, its legal 
representatives, executives and staff. Beyond business-related compliance requirements, the focus is on 
strengthening a uniform compliance culture throughout the Group, especially with a view to enhancing 
compliance awareness. The compliance management system – under the responsibility of, and 
promoted by, the Executive Board of Deutsche Börse AG – therefore constitutes an indispensable 
element of good corporate governance with respect to compliance. Such a system provides the 
foundation for sustainable risk transparency; specifically, it facilitates mitigating risks in the areas of 
money laundering/terrorism financing, data protection, corruption, as well as market manipulation  
and insider trading; it also monitors requirements concerning financial sanctions and embargoes.  

The compliance management system applies to Deutsche Börse AG as well as to domestic and 
international companies in which Deutsche Börse AG holds a majority interest (whether directly or 
indirectly). Thanks to its Group-wide compliance approach, Deutsche Börse Group safeguards the 
respective Group entities' adherence with applicable law and regulatory requirements. The compliance 
functions and the Chief Compliance Officers of the individual Group entities have a unified  reporting  
line to the Group Chief Compliance Officer, who in turn reports directly to the Executive Board  
of Deutsche Börse AG. Compliance reporting includes all relevant compliance risk areas within the 
mandate of the compliance function.  

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Deutsche Börse Group | Annual report 2019 

Executive and Supervisory Boards 
Management report | Combined non-financial statement 
Financial statements 
Notes 
Further information 

Deutsche Börse Group is continually developing its compliance management system in order to deal 
with rising complexity and increasing regulatory requirements. Measures have been implemented to 
prevent, identify, and mitigate Compliance risks and where applicable, to ensure accountability for 
Compliance incidents, – especially with regard to the areas of money laundering/terrorism financing, 
financial sanctions and embargoes, as well as market manipulation, insider trading and data protection. 

For this purpose, Deutsche Börse Group is aligning its system with the recommendations of an 
internationally recognised standard (ISO 19600 “Compliance Management Systems – Guidelines”). Based 
on this standard, the Group’s compliance functions identify fields of action and measures to ensure 
compliance management meets the requirements as they continue to change.  

As a member of the UN Global Compact, Deutsche Börse AG has committed to observe the related 
principles, notably the principle to work against corruption in all its forms, which includes extortion and 
bribery. In line with its code of business conduct, Deutsche Börse Group prohibits its employees from 
involving themselves in corruption, or from taking part in any actions which may lead to the impression 
that the Group promises, arranges, provides, receives, or asks for inadmissible benefits. Bribery and 
facilitation payments are prohibited.  

It is Deutsche Börse Group’s guiding principle that the actions and decisions of all employees are taken 
objectively and with integrity. Management plays a particularly important role in this context. Deutsche 
Börse Group is fully aware of the so-called “tone from the top” for achieving a high level of attention  
for avoiding compliance risks – both within the Group and amongst market participants. In order to 
sustainably enshrine this guiding principle, and to prevent Deutsche Börse Group and its staff from legal 
sanctions and reputational damage, Compliance has implemented a variety of preventative measures  
in a risk-oriented approach. 

Compliance organisation 
Compliance has overall responsibility for identifying and managing Group-wide compliance risks. 
Compliance devises risk-oriented measures in order to contain and manage identified risks; to 
communicate risks, incidents, and the effectiveness of the measures taken; it ensures continuous 
improvement of the compliance management system by way of regular adjustments to the relevant 
internal policies and processes. 

Key compliance topics are discussed by Deutsche Börse’s Group Compliance Committee, which 
comprises senior management representatives from the business divisions and the relevant Group-wide  
control functions.  

Code of business conduct 
Deutsche Börse Group’s code of business conduct, which is communicated to all members of staff, 
summarises the most important aspects with regard to corporate ethics and compliance as well as 
appropriate conduct. The Code focuses on principles to guide decisions – not rules or lists of dos and 
don’ts. Moreover, Compliance provides employees with compliance-relevant information via the 
corresponding intranet pages, unless specific confidentiality aspects prevent such communication. For 
details, see the   section entitled “Combined corporate governance statement and corporate governance 
report”. 

Compliance rules 
Compliance has implemented Group-wide policies covering relevant local requirements. These rules are 
designed to ensure that the internal stakeholder groups acting on behalf of Deutsche Börse Group 
comply with the behavioural rules set out in such policies, with the objective of countering breaches of 
compliance throughout the Group in a preventive, investigative and consequential manner. Group-wide 

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Deutsche Börse Group | Annual report 2019 

Executive and Supervisory Boards 
Management report | Combined non-financial statement 
Financial statements 
Notes 
Further information 

communications via the intranet are geared towards providing employees (including members of the  
Executive Board and Managing Directors) with the necessary guidance in their daily work, and making 
sure they commit to such guidance.  

Compliance training 
Regular compliance training is essential for a culture of compliance throughout Deutsche Börse Group: 
employees worldwide are being trained with respect to relevant compliance issues – covering, in 
particular, the areas of money laundering/terrorism financing, data protection, corruption, market 
manipulation and insider trading. Managers who are exposed to increased compliance risks on account 
of their activities receive additional training in line with their needs. Participation in training measures 
covering the compliance topics mentioned above is mandatory for employees, as well as for 
management.  

Whistleblowing system 
Deutsche Börse Group has established a whistleblowing system, where employees can relay information 
about potential or actual breaches of prudential orregulatory rules and ethical standards, by phone or  
e-mail, whereby the anonymity of whistleblowers is a fundamental guarantee. Through its commitment 
to compliance awareness, Deutsche Börse Group cultivates an open approach to dealing with mis-
conduct. For this reason, concerns are often passed on directly to the responsible line manager, or to 
Compliance. During 2019, six reports were submitted via the whistleblowing system, or directly via line 
managers or control functions (such as Compliance).  

Analysis of compliance risks 
In line with regulatory requirements, Deutsche Börse Group carries out detailed risk analyses and/or risk 
assessments, at least on an annual basis – specifically, it analyses the risk of being abused for the 
purposes of money laundering/financing of terrorism, corruption and securities law infringements. Such 
risk analyses and assessments comprise the Group’s own business activities as well as business 
relationships, market participants, products and services. Risk-mitigating measures are derived from the 
compliance risks identified. 

Due diligence review of clients, market participants, counterparties, and business partners, plus 
transaction monitoring 
Deutsche Börse Group is constantly improving its processes for the onboarding of new clients and  
the review of existing clients (“Know Your Customer” processes). Depending on the assessment of client  
risk in each case, client relationships are subject to corresponding diligence duties concerning their 
establishment, update, and monitoring. Client relationships are not entered into where the risks involved 
are too high. Deutsche Börse Group analyses transaction data in order to identify activity which might 
indicate potential money laundering. 

Deutsche Börse Group is exposed to the risk of sanctions being imposed upon business partners; 
moreover, there is a risk of bribery and corruption. In this connection, the Group examines its business 
partners, whereby their details are cross-checked against relevant data sources (such as embargo, 
sanctions, PEP, terrorist and other “black lists”). Appropriate measures are taken in the event of any 
match against such lists. 

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Deutsche Börse Group | Annual report 2019 

Executive and Supervisory Boards 
Management report | Combined non-financial statement 
Financial statements 
Notes 
Further information 

Non-financial key performance figures: corruption/data protection  

Corruption 

Punished cases of corruption 

Percentage of business units for which measures have been taken to address corruption risks 

% 

Number of employees who were trained in ABC measures (anti-bribery/corruption)1) 

Data protection 

2019 

2018 

0 

100 

1 

100 

6,142 

1,562 

Number of justified customer complaints relating to data protection 

0 

0 

1)  The web-based ABC training is mandatory for employees of Deutsche Börse Group. The number of employees who attended anti-bribery/corruption trainings varies 

with respect to the year under review due to the training frequencies that extend over a period of several years 

Data protection/protection of personal data 
Deutsche Börse Group has exposure to a plethora of data during the course of its business activities. The 
Group takes data protection very seriously and has taken measures to ensure compliance with data 
protection law, in particular the appropriate and transparent processing of personal data. The Executive 
Board has appointed a Data Protection Officer and established a data protection organisation to ensure,  
that the data privacy framework and the principles of the EU General Data Protection Regulation, which 
came into force in 2018, are adhered to. To this end, the data protection organisation informs and 
advises the individual legal entities with respect to data protection. The data protection organisation also 
serves as a contact for data protection authorities, and supports the business units in assessing risks 
related to the issue of data protection risks. It supports a stronger culture of data protection at Deutsche 
Börse Group by raising awareness and providing training on data protection in the context of the Group’s 
business activities.  

In 2019, the data protection organisation has integrated  its monitoring framework into the structure of 
compliance safeguards and controls, as a second line of defence on data protection. The Data Protection 
Officer informs senior management on an annual basis about its activities to enhance the Data 
Protection framework.  

Inside information 
In its capacity as an issuer of securities, Deutsche Börse Group has access to information which, in 
accordance with legal requirements, may be classified as inside information. To raise awareness 
amongst the employees affected, further measures were introduced on a Group-wide basis in 2019. 
These measures are designed to mitigate the risks of market manipulation and insider trading for 
employees’ personal account transactions and are geared towards ensuring that maximum sensitivity  
is applied to dealing with such information. 

Compliance maintains a Group-wide restricted list in which issuers or financial instruments are included 
if particularly sensitive, compliance-relevant information. Compliance may impose a general prohibition 
of trading for such issuers or financial instruments or may prohibit certain types of transactions. A 
confidential watch list is used to summarise compliance-relevant information about other issuers and/or 
financial instruments. In particular, Compliance uses these lists to monitor personal transactions of 
employees as well as information barriers. 

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Deutsche Börse Group | Annual report 2019 

Executive and Supervisory Boards 
Management report | Combined non-financial statement 
Financial statements 
Notes 
Further information 

Internal/external audit 
At least once a year, Internal Audit checks whether the measures and concepts of the compliance 
management system comply with the regulatory requirements, in a risk-based manner. Moreover, 
regulated entities are subject to statutory external audits. 

Social matters 

As a market infrastructure provider, Deutsche Börse Group considers ensuring transparency on the 
capital markets as its direct responsibility. By ensuring such transparency, it fosters stability in these 
markets, promoting their economic success. The management is involved through its participation on 
the Group Sustainability Board; its approach on social and sustainability matters is described in detail in 
the section 

 “Management approach for a Group-wide commitment to sustainability”. 

Sustainable financial market initiatives 
The Green and Sustainable Finance Cluster Germany e. V. is an initiative committed to enhancing the 
expertise on sustainable finance in the market, putting that expertise to efficient use, and identifying (as 
well as taking) specific action to make national and international financial markets structures fit for the 
future. Kristina Jeromin, Head of Group Sustainability, is one of the two Managing Directors co-heading 
the Cluster. The Cluster has defined four fields of action: sustainable finance – status quo and 
innovation; data and digitalisation; metrics and standards; dialogue and knowledge development. It 
coordinates the activities of the participating institutions within these fields of action and brings them 
together with policymakers, regulators, civil society and academia. Within Germany, the Cluster 
collaborates closely with relevant political players in Berlin. At a European level, the Cluster is a member 
of the technical expert group on sustainable finance and thus actively involved in the European 
Commission’s Action Plan on sustainable finance; the Cluster supports the Action Plan's implementation 
and is involved in the corresponding consultation process leading to future regulation. Since June 2019, 
Deutsche Börse Group and the Cluster have been members of the Sustainable Finance Committee to 
advise the German government and foster dialogue between the financial industry, real economy, civil 
society and academia. 

Stable, transparent and fair markets 
Systems availability  
Deutsche Börse AG operates its trading systems for the cash and derivatives markets as redundant 
server installations, distributed across two geographically separated, secure data centres. Should a 
trading system fail, it would be operated from the second data centre. Together with clients, Deutsche 
Börse successfully simulated this scenario – as well as the impact of local disruptions – within the scope 
of the FIA Test (the annual disaster recovery exercise conducted by the Futures Industry Association). 
Other disruptions, such as workstation malfunctions or personnel failures, were also tested. Thanks to 
manifold tests and the verified roll-out of software, as well as the continuous monitoring of the network, 
servers and applications, Deutsche Börse Group achieved a 100 per cent availability of its cash market 
trading system and 99.996 per cent for its derivatives trading system. These levels corresponded to 
downtimes of around 0 minutes and 12 minutes, respectively, during the entire year. 

Market transparency  
Section 42 (1) of the Börsengesetz (BörsG, German Exchange Act) authorises exchanges to impose 
additional admission requirements and further notification duties upon equity issuers, for parts of the 
regulated market. Frankfurter Wertpapierbörse (FWB®, the Frankfurt Stock Exchange) used this 
 Exchange Rules (section IV, sub-section 2) to create the “Prime Standard” in 
authorisation in its 
2003. The Prime Standard segment is characterised, on the one hand, by special post-admission 
obligations, which are monitored by the FWB with any breaches sanctioned by the exchange’s Sanctions 

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Deutsche Börse Group | Annual report 2019 

Executive and Supervisory Boards 
Management report | Combined non-financial statement 
Financial statements 
Notes 
Further information 

Committee; on the other hand, admission to the Prime Standard is a mandatory requirement for 
inclusion into one of Deutsche Börse AG’s selection indices. 

Over and above statutory requirements under the Wertpapierhandelsgesetz (WpHG, German Securities 
Trading Act), Prime Standard issuers must submit their financial reports (annual and half-yearly reports), 
as well as their quarterly statements for the first and third quarter, to FWB, in German and/or English 
and within set deadlines. Moreover, Prime Standard issuers must submit their calendars of material 
corporate events to FWB, hold an analysts’ conference at least once a year and publish any inside 
information in English as well as German. All submissions to FWB must be carried out via the Exchange 
Reporting System (ERS®). This electronic interface allows for efficient sorting and display of data, 
helping to spot any impending failure to meet a deadline. This allows FWB to support issuers concerning 
their transparency duties in the best possible manner by sending out e-mail reminders prior to each 
deadline. All reports and data submitted to FWB are subsequently available on 
frankfurt.de/en, the exchange’s website, under the respective issuer’s name. Information is thus 
accessible to interested investors in a compact, easy-to-find manner, creating a particular level of market 
transparency within the Prime Standard segment. Submission via ERS allows for monitoring fulfilment of 
transparency requirements – seamlessly and without delay. 

 www.boerse-

In 2019, ten cases were submitted to the FWB Sanctions Committee for the delayed disclosure of 
information. Proceedings had been completed with the expiry of the 23 January 2020 deadline: Fines 
were imposed in an amount totalling €207,075.  

Deutsche Börse Group launched a new segment for green bonds – bonds issued to raise capital for 
projects with climate and environmental benefits – on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange in November 2018. 
This “shop window” for green investors includes 235 bonds. All bonds in this segment comply with the 
 Green Bond Principles of the International Capital Markets Association, which offer guidelines on key 
components of issuance: use of proceeds, process for project evaluation and selection, management of 
proceeds, as well as reporting. The new segment caters to the demand for sustainable financing, which 
is rising all over the world. Investors who care not only about the economic, but also the ecological 
return of their investment can find the right strategy at www.boerse-frankfurt.de 
frankfurt.de > Bonds > Green Bonds. The bonds included in Deutsche Börse’s segment are admitted for 
trading at various European stock exchanges, including the Frankfurt Stock Exchange.  

 www.boerse-

Stable financial markets 
The core economic function of an exchange is to preserve economic prosperity and create the right 
framework conditions for growth. As a global market infrastructure provider, Deutsche Börse Group 
operates markets that help enterprises of all sizes to raise equity and debt – which in turn enables them 
to grow, create and protect jobs and contribute to a higher level of value creation.  

As central counterparty (CCP), Eurex Clearing AG fulfils its responsibility of promoting sustainable global 
economic growth and stable financial markets. Furthermore, as a clearing house it is an independent 
risk manager and ensures a neutral valuation of its member's risk positions. It also protects members in 
the event of a market participant defaulting, thus minimising risks and enhancing both the efficiency of 
trading and the stability of the financial markets. The bundling of default risk also permits high netting 
effects, which in turn facilitate sustainable cost savings for the entire market. 

The outcome of the UK’s Brexit referendum on 23 June 2016 has caused significant uncertainty for the 
entire European financial services sector. A key issue in this context is the clearing of over-the-counter 
(OTC) interest rate derivatives. With some €312 trillion (82 per cent), they account for the largest share 
of outstanding OTC volumes, while being the main driver behind the strong increase registered since 
2016 [source: BIS, Semiannual OTC Derivatives Statistics, June 2019; the indication provided by the 

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Deutsche Börse Group | Annual report 2019 

Executive and Supervisory Boards 
Management report | Combined non-financial statement 
Financial statements 
Notes 
Further information 

Bank for International Settlements of approx. €461 trillion (  www.bis.org > Statistics > Derivatives > 
OTC derivatives statistics) was adjusted by eliminating the dual counting of interdealer volumes 
(source:    www.clarusft.com); €/US$ exchange rate as at 30 June 2019: 1.1380, Deutsche 
Bundesbank]. The EU and the United Kingdom are currently negotiating the terms for Britain’s exit from 
the EU. A controversial discussion is ongoing concerning future additions to clearing houses outside the 
EU-27, creating significant uncertainty amongst market participants. Eurex Clearing AG has come up 
with a solution designed to make the (potentially required) shift of euro clearing into the EU-27 as 
straightforward as possible for all market participants: the Eurex Clearing Partnership Programme. 
Through this initiative, Eurex Clearing AG is not only offering the market an attractive alternative for 
clearing interest rate derivatives outside of London and within the EU-27 but also anticipating potential 
market turbulence and taking early action to counteract it. 

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Deutsche Börse Group | Annual report 2019 

Executive and Supervisory Boards 
Management report | Combined non-financial statement 
Financial statements 
Notes 
Further information 

Non-financial key indicators: social matters  

Transparency 

Proportion of companies reporting in accordance with maximum transparency standards1) 

Security 

Availability of cash market trading system2) 

Availability of derivatives market trading system2) 

Average monthly cleared volumes across all products3) 

2019 

2018 

92 

91 

100 

99.996 

24.0 

99.912 

99.963 

23.5 

% 

% 

% 

€ trillion 

1)  Ratio of the market capitalisation of companies listed in the Prime Standard for shares to the market capitalisation of all companies listed on the Frankfurter 

Wertpapierbörse (FWB®, the Frankfurt Stock Exchange) 

2)  System availability ranks amongst the most important non-financial performance indicators (as defined in DRS 20 and section 289 (3) in conjunction with 

section 289 (1) sentence 3 of the HGB) for which a forecast is made 

3)  Average monthly clearing volume, including exchange-traded and OTC derivatives, as well as securities and repo transactions. Clearing volumes are subject to 

double counting 

Deutsche Börse Group pays wages, salaries and taxes. Its commercial activity therefore contributes to 
private and public income – this contribution is made transparent in the value-added statement. For 
details, please refer to the 

 “Value added: breakdown of corporate performance” section. 

Product matters 

Customer satisfaction 
Deutsche Börse Group is executing a Group-wide growth strategy with which it aims to strengthen its 
agility, ambition, effectiveness and clear customer focus. In improving its organisation, the Group aims to 
better address changing client needs and gradually tap unutilised potential by means of a Group-wide 
approach to marketing, sales, innovation and product development.  

In 2019, surveys across the EEX, Eurex, 360T and Clearstream began to be standardized; they include 
common questions and use a standardised “Net Promoter Score” methodology. In this context, 
businesses ask their clients about their readiness to recommend the service provider with the aim of 
notifying senior management and staff of the results shortly after the close of the survey. For 2020 there 
is also the ambition to report the results from as many areas as possible that have carried out a unified 
survey. 

One example of Deutsche Börse Group’s customer focus is Clearstream’s annual client services survey. 
This survey aims to identify customer needs and prioritise and address enhancement requests to further 
improve products and services. The results of this survey are taken up by the Clearstream Management 
Committee, which includes senior management, where concrete actions are taken to address customer 
needs. The Clearstream senior management is provided with an overview of the items (customers’ 
needs/complaints) raised in the survey.  

Sustainable index products 
There is an increasing demand for considering sustainability indicators in the investment process. 
Qontigo’s index provider STOXX is part of Deutsche Börse Group, and calculates and distributes more 
than 12,000 indices, a growing number of which are designed after sustainability aspects. STOXX’s 
offering of sustainability indices is diversified and includes environmental, social and governance- (ESG), 
climate change- and carbon emissions-related products. Indices are built based on internal research and 
the evaluation of market demand. 

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Deutsche Börse Group | Annual report 2019 

Executive and Supervisory Boards 
Management report | Combined non-financial statement 
Financial statements 
Notes 
Further information 

For all indices, the ultimate goal is to provide solutions to investors who consider sustainability a key 
element of their investment strategy. STOXX® and iSTOXX® indices focus on indicators that can be 
assessed quantitatively and are compiled by research providers specialised in the field. Within this 
approach, STOXX aims to select companies that are ranked better than their peers according to selected 
indicators and tilt the allocation towards those companies. 

All data and service providers appointed by STOXX are subject to regular monitoring as required by 
the regulations of the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) and the European 
Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA). STOXX indices are entirely rule-based. Consequently, there 
is neither a committee involved nor are customers consulted in the process of reviewing the index 
composition. 

Having launched several index families focused on different aspects of sustainability and by continuing 
researching applications of sustainable portfolio allocations, STOXX aims to provide its clients with 
transparent, objective and rules-based solutions. The current index offering ensures that STOXX’s 
products are securely established in the market and that STOXX can offer a timely response to the next 
developments in sustainability. 

STOXX, as an index provider, also has the duty to represent the economic reality of the environment in 
which financial actors operate. In order to prepare for and help facilitate a shift in investment culture, 
STOXX develops and maintains a broad range of sustainability indices in response to investors’ 
current as well as anticipated demand. The broad range of solutions may also aim at mitigating 
business risk should investors decide to reallocate more significant parts of their investments to 
sustainability-oriented solutions, which may be driven, in part, by investor-specific or external 
regulations. 

As asset owners are steadily stepping up their fiduciary role and are implementing environmental, social 
and governance (ESG) investment strategies, STOXX is addressing this development by offering two 
approaches for ESG-compliant versions of STOXX flagship benchmarks: 

  STOXX ESG-X indices are ESG-screened versions of flagship STOXX global, regional, country, size and 
blue-chip benchmarks. They incorporate standard norm- and product-based exclusions that aim to 
limit market and reputational risks while keeping a low tracking error and a similar risk-return profile to 
the respective benchmark. STOXX specifically excludes companies that Sustainalytics considers to be 
non-compliant with the UN Global Compact Principles, are involved in controversial weapons, are 
tobacco producers (0 per cent revenue threshold) and that either derive revenues from thermal coal 
extraction or exploration or have power generation capacity that utilises thermal coal (>25 per cent 
revenue threshold). 

  The EURO STOXX 50® ESG index is the ESG-integrated version of the key eurozone benchmark that 

combines exclusionary screens (as described above) and ESG integration criteria. 

The EURO STOXX 50® ESG index and STOXX’s suite of ESG-X indices are suitable for underlying 
mandates, passive funds, ETFs, structured products and listed derivatives with the ambition to increase 
liquidity and lower the cost of trading. 

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Deutsche Börse Group | Annual report 2019 

Executive and Supervisory Boards 
Management report | Combined non-financial statement 
Financial statements 
Notes 
Further information 

Overview of STOXX ESG, Climate Change and Carbon-Emission Index Offerings: 

  STOXX ESG Benchmark indices 
  STOXX ESG-X Benchmark indices 
  STOXX Sustainability indices 
  STOXX Global ESG Leaders and ESG Specialized Leaders indices 
  STOXX Climate indices 
  STOXX Low Carbon indices  
  ESG Impact indices 

In addition to the above-mentioned STOXX indices, the ÖkoDAX® index focuses on German companies 
active in the renewable energy business and DAXglobal Alternative Energy expands the DAXglobal index 
family by adding a growth indicator for the alternative energies sector. 

iSTOXX ESG offering 
Under the umbrella of the iSTOXX brand, STOXX also offers a broad range of customised ESG-related 
indices that cater to specific client requirements. These indices offer specific strategies within the 
broader STOXX universe of responsible investing indices that track companies that are pioneering or 
making the most headway in the transition to a low-carbon economy and a fairer and better world from 
the perspective of ESG principles.  

Visit the STOXX website www.stoxx.com for a complete overview of all STOXX and iSTOXX indices. 

Non-financial key indicators: sustainable index products 

ESG criteria 

Assets under management in ETFs based on ESG indices from STOXX1) 

Total assets under management in ETFs based on indices from STOXX 

€m 

€bn 

274.3 

76.3 

91.9 

68.2 

31 Dec 2019 

31 Dec 2018 

Transparency 

Number of sustainable index concepts 

Number of calculated indices 

224 

131 

12,554 

11,547 

1)  Based on the ETFs issued in 2016: FlexShares STOXX® Global ESG Impact index and FlexShares STOXX® US ESG Impact index and based 
on ETFs issued in 2019: EURO iSTOXX ESG-X & Ex Nuclear Power Multi Factor, EURO STOXX ESG-X & Ex Nuclear Power Minimum 
Variance Unconstrained, EURO STOXX 50 ESG und STOXX Europe 600 ESG-X 

Eurex ESG derivatives offering 
Eurex took over a pioneering role by introducing an ESG product suite based on European benchmarks 
in February 2019. The three futures on the highly liquid European STOXX benchmarks covering ESG 
Exclusions, Low Carbon and Climate Impact support market participants to manage sustainability-driven 
challenges. In October the first exchange-traded ESG options on a European benchmark was added to 
the product range. At the same time the offering was further complemented by STOXX Select products 
with futures and options that capture the performance of European companies with high dividend 
payments and low volatility which are selected from the STOXX ESG Global Leaders index. 

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Deutsche Börse Group | Annual report 2019 

Executive and Supervisory Boards 
Management report | Combined non-financial statement 
Financial statements 
Notes 
Further information 

Products available for trading on Eurex:  

  EURO STOXX 50® Low Carbon Index Futures 
  STOXX® Europe 600 ESG-X Index Futures and Options 
  STOXX® Europe Climate Impact Ex Global Compact Controversial Weapons & Tobacco Index Futures 
  STOXX® Europe ESG Leaders Select 30 Index Futures and Options 

Ten months after their launch in February 2019, STOXX Europe 600 ESG-X Index Futures, which are by 
far the most popular contracts, have reached over half a million traded contracts with ca. 50 per cent of 
the flow coming from end clients and asset owners. ESG is one of the major trends and the product 
interest is in line with Eurex expectations.  

Further information is available on www.eurexchange.com -> products -> ESG derivatives  

Energy and energy-related markets 
Deutsche Börse Group holds a majority shareholding in European Energy Exchange AG (EEX), Leipzig, 
Germany. The product and service offerings of EEX and its subsidiaries focus on energy and energy- 
related markets (e.g. power, gas, emission allowances). By providing liquid, secure and transparent 
markets, EEX group plays an important role in improving the efficient functioning of these markets that 
are directly linked to questions of climate change. This includes the continuous development of new 
products and services, providing market solutions to support the long-term transition of Germany’s and  
Europe’s energy system towards a higher share of carbon-free, renewable energy sources.  

EEX is constantly developing new support within the framework of the German “Energiewende” and 
wider EU climate and energy policy, which includes the long-term 2030 and 2050 climate and energy 
policy targets. In addition to power markets, EEX operates a regulated market for emissions allowances. 
EEX also hosts the central auction platform for the EU Emissions Trading System, organising regular 
auctions on behalf of 27 EU member states, including 25 countries that form an EU-wide auction 
platform to be coordinated by the European Commission, Germany and Poland. This system could be 
expanded to include the heating and transportation sectors.  

Furthermore, EEX is developing new hedging instruments to address the effects of increasing power 
generation from renewables. In the ongoing transition to an energy system with a higher share of 
renewables, EEX is taking an active role by introducing new products to support this process. An 
example for the latter has been the extension of maturities in the electricity derivatives market, which 
allows for electricity production and procurement to be hedged for up to ten years: companies 
developing renewable energy, and their business partners, can hedge against price volatility and 
counterparty credit risks over the long term. The extension of maturities is a way of financing the 
expansion of renewable energy without providing explicit sponsorship. Such long-term maturities and 
hedging opportunities provided by EEX are already extensively used in Spain.  

EEX Group further promotes the integration and marketing of renewables through its role as a provider of 
registries for so-called guarantees of origin, which are used by electricity distributors to prove the origin 
of the energy they supply. These guarantees of origin are rising in importance on the market for so-called 
green gases, too. In February 2019, EEX Group further expanded this business by acquiring Grexel, the 
leading European provider of guarantees of origin registries. Powernext SE, part of EEX Group, has 
operated a register for French guarantees of origin since 2013 and has been commissioned by the 
French government with the organisation of auctions.  

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Deutsche Börse Group | Annual report 2019 

Executive and Supervisory Boards 
Management report | Combined non-financial statement 
Financial statements 
Notes 
Further information 

Comparison with the forecast for 2019 

With regard to the development expected of its non-financial performance indicators for 2019, the Group 
succeeded in increasing the level of systems availability compared to the previous year: in the cash 
market, trading system availability was at 100 per cent (2018: 99.912 per cent). The availability of the 
T7 system for the derivatives market reached 99.996 per cent (2018: 99.963 per cent). Against this 
backdrop, the company expects to maintain the availability of the different trading systems for the cash 
and derivatives market at the very high level seen in previous years throughout the forecast period. 

In its endeavours to raise the share of women holding executive positions, as early as in 2010, the 
Executive Board had adopted a voluntary commitment to increase the share of women holding middle 
and upper management positions to 20 per cent by 2020, and of women holding lower management 
positions to 30 per cent during the same period. The Group maintains this ambition, and has extended 
the scope of its voluntary commitment, over and above legal requirements. Firstly, the target figures 
determined in this context relate to Deutsche Börse Group worldwide. Secondly, the definition of 
management levels/positions was extended to also include heads of teams, for example. On a global 
level, as at 31 December 2019, Deutsche Börse Group achieved a quota of 15 per cent for the upper 
and middle management levels (2018: 14 per cent) and 27 per cent for lower management positions 
(2018: 29 per cent). For Germany, the quotas were 16 per cent (2018: 14 per cent) and 22 per cent 
(2018: 26 per cent), respectively.  

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Deutsche Börse Group | Annual report 2019 

Executive and Supervisory Boards 
Management report | Risk Report 
Financial statements 
Notes 
Further information 

Risk Report 

Deutsche Börse Group includes the following entities which are regulated as credit institutions: 
Clearstream Banking S.A. and Clearstream Banking AG (hereinafter referred to as “Clearstream”, 
including Clearstream Holding AG), as well as Eurex Clearing AG. Furthermore, Eurex Clearing AG and 
European Commodity Clearing AG are authorised as central counterparties (CCPs) and are subject to the 
requirements of the European Market Infrastructure Regulation (EMIR). In addition, other Group 
companies hold different licences to provide regulated activities in the financial services sector. As such, 
these entities are subject to comprehensive statutory requirements, inter alia on risk management (for 
further information on the regulated entities, please refer to   note 15 to the consolidated financial 
statements). Over and above the statutory requirements, including the EU directives (CRD IV and 
MiFID II) and their implementation into national law, other regulations worth mentioning include 
primarily EU regulations (CRR and EMIR), the national requirements of the Minimum Requirements for 
Risk Management (MaRisk) issued by the Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (Bundesanstalt für 
Finanzdienstleistungsaufsicht, BaFin), and circular 12/552 issued by the Financial Supervisory Authority 
of Luxembourg (Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier, CSSF). In this context, significant 
parts of the risk management are defined in the scope of the so-called second pillar of the Basel III 
regime for a number of the Group’s companies. Moreover, national regulations implementing the EU 
Banking Recovery and Resolution Directive (BRRD) apply to Clearstream and Eurex Clearing AG 
regarding the establishment of recovery plans. Deutsche Börse Group follows international standards in 
its risk management and applies these also without or beyond such statutory requirements.  

The highest regulatory standards within the Group are applicable to Eurex Clearing AG and Clearstream, 
given their regulation as credit institutions. Considering this and their economic importance, this risk 
report focuses on these subsidiaries in particular. 

Risk strategy and risk management 

Deutsche Börse Group’s risk strategy is aligned with its business model and company strategy. The 
Group provides the infrastructure for reliable and secure capital markets, assists constructively in their 
regulation and plays a leading role in all of the areas in which it does business. Deutsche Börse Group’s 
risk strategy is based on three core principles:  

1. Risk limitation – protecting the company against liquidation and ensuring its continuing operation  
“Capital exhaustion should not occur more than once in 5,000 years and an operating loss must not be 
generated more than once every hundred years.” This means that one goal is to ensure a minimum 
probability of 99.98 per cent that the total capital will not be lost within the next twelve months. Another 
objective is to guarantee for a probability of 99.0 per cent or more that Deutsche Börse will at least 
break even, expressed in terms of its EBITDA. In other words, this principle establishes how much risk 
the Group must be able to withstand while also determining its risk appetite. 

2. Support for growth in the various business segments  
“Risk management supports the business units in developing their business”. With this principle, the 
Group promotes its growth strategy.  As such, risks are identified, and clearly communicated. This 
principle includes risk from organic growth, M&A activities and the use of transformational technology. 
The aim is to make well-founded strategic decisions within the boundaries of the defined risk appetite. 

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Executive and Supervisory Boards 
Management report | Risk Report 
Financial statements 
Notes 
Further information 

3. Appropriate risk/return ratio  
“The return on equity should exceed the cost of equity.” Deutsche Börse Group has set itself the goal of 
ensuring that risk and return should be reasonably balanced, both for specific business areas in general 
and for individual regions, products and customers.  

Internal risk management is based on the Group-wide detection and management of risk, which is 
focused on its risk appetite, see the chart   “Interlocking business strategy and risk strategy“. Deutsche 
Börse AG’s Executive Board has overall responsibility, and defines the framework for risk management 
throughout the Group. Under these Group-wide risk management requirements, each business segment 
and each regulated company is responsible for managing its own risk.  

Implementation in the Group’s organisational structure and workflow 
The risk strategy applies to the entire Deutsche Börse Group. Risk management functions, processes and 
responsibilities are binding for all Group employees and organisational units. To ensure that all 
employees are risk-aware, risk management is firmly anchored in the Group’s organisational structure 
and workflows. The Executive Board is responsible for risk management overall, whereas within the 
individual companies it is the responsibility of the management. The boards and committees given 
below receive regular information on risk situation.  

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Deutsche Börse Group | Annual report 2019 

Executive and Supervisory Boards 
Management report | Risk Report 
Financial statements 
Notes 
Further information 

Supervisory Board of Deutsche Börse AG assesses and monitors the effectiveness of the risk manage-
ment system and its continuing development. The Supervisory Board has delegated the regular 
evaluation of the appropriateness and the effectiveness of the risk management system to the Audit 
Committee. In addition, the Risk Committee examines the risk strategy and risk appetite on an annual 
basis.  

Deutsche Börse AG’s Executive Board determines the Group-wide risk strategy and risk appetite and 
allocates the latter to the company’s individual business segments and business units, respectively. It 
ensures that the Group’s risk appetite is and remains compatible with its short- and long-term strategy, 
business and capital planning, risk-bearing capacity and remuneration systems. The Executive Board of 
Deutsche Börse AG also determines what parameters are used to assess risks, how risk capital is 
allocated and what procedures apply. It ensures that the requirements for the risk strategy and risk 
appetite are met. 

The Group Risk Committee (GRC) reviews the risk position of the Group at least on a quarterly basis and 
involves the Executive Board in all decisive questions. The GRC is an internal Group committee, chaired 
by the Chief Financial Officer. 

Group Risk Management (GRM), headed by the CRO, prepares the proposals for the corresponding risk 
strategy, risk appetite, the approaches and methods for monitoring risk, capital allocation and 
procedures. GRM continuously analyses and evaluates risks and produces quantitative and qualitative 
reports. These are submitted six times a year to the GRC, once a month to the Executive Board, once a 
quarter to the Risk Committee of the Supervisory Board and twice a year to the Supervisory Board. 
Likewise, the CRO reports to the Audit Committee on the appropriateness and effectiveness of the risk 

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Deutsche Börse Group | Annual report 2019 

Executive and Supervisory Boards 
Management report | Risk Report 
Financial statements 
Notes 
Further information 

management system on an annual basis. This system ensures that the responsible bodies can regularly 
check whether the defined risk limits are being adhered to consistently. In addition, GRM recommends 
risk management measures. 

The Group’s regulated subsidiaries act in the same way, always ensuring that they meet the require-
ments of the Group. In particular, they adhere to the risk appetite framework allocated to them by 
Deutsche Börse Group. The relevant supervisory boards and their committees are involved in the 
process, as are the executive boards and the corresponding risk management functions. Clearstream and 
Eurex Clearing AG implement customised versions of this risk strategy, using parameters and reporting 
formats that are compatible with the overarching Group-wide structure. In general, the management of 
the respective subsidiary bears the responsibility for its risk management and risk appetite; appro-
priateness and the effectiveness is evaluated by the respective supervisory board. 

Centrally coordinated risk management – a five-stage process 
Risk management is implemented in a five-stage process. The objective is to identify all potential losses 
in good time, to record them centrally and to evaluate them in quantitative terms as far as possible; if 
necessary, management measures must then be recommended and their implementation monitored (see 
the   “The five-stage risk management system” chart): The first stage identifies the risks and the 
possible causes of losses or operational hitches. In the second stage, the business areas regularly – or 
immediately, in urgent cases – report to GRM the risks that they have identified and quantified. In the 
third stage, GRM assesses the risk exposure, while in the fourth stage, the business areas manage the 
risks by avoiding, mitigating or transferring them, or by actively accepting them. The fifth and final stage 
involves, for example, monitoring different risk metrics and, where necessary, informing the responsible 
Executive Board members and committees of significant risks, their assessment and possible emergency 
measures. In addition to its regular monthly and quarterly reports, GRM compiles ad hoc reports for 
members of the executive and supervisory boards. The risk management functions at Clearstream and 
Eurex Clearing AG submit reports to the respective executive boards and supervisory boards. As an 
independent unit, Internal Audit reviews the risk controlling functions. 

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Executive and Supervisory Boards 
Management report | Risk Report 
Financial statements 
Notes 
Further information 

Approaches and methods for risk monitoring 

Deutsche Börse Group uses quantitative and qualitative approaches and methods for risk monitoring, 
with the objective of providing as complete a picture as possible of its risk situation at all times. To this 
end, the Group continuously reviews internal events with regard to their risk properties, whilst also 
considering regional as well as global developments. The Group is thus able to recognise and analyse 
existing risks; at the same time, it is able to swiftly and adequately respond to emerging risks, as well as 
to changes in the market or in the business environment. 

Existing risks 
Deutsche Börse Group employs a range of tools to evaluate and monitor operational, financial and 
business risk on a continuous basis, applying the liquidation principle and the going-concern principle, 
to quantify and aggregate risks. The value at risk (VaR) model is the main tool used for quantification. 
The purpose of the VaR model is to determine the amount of capital – given a confidence interval 
defined ex ante – required to cover potential losses incurred within twelve months. Moreover, so-called 
stress tests are carried out in order to simulate extreme, yet plausible, events and their impact upon the 
Group’s risk-bearing capacity. Another approach to risk monitoring, which serves as an early warning 
system for quantified and non-quantifiable in-house risks, is complementary risk metrics. These risk 
metrics are based on IT and security risks, potential losses, credit, liquidity and business risks. 

1. Liquidation principle:  what risk can the capital cover?  
The required economic capital (REC) is calculated in accordance with the liquidation principle. The first 
part of Principle 1 of its risk strategy specifies that Deutsche Börse Group should not exhaust its risk-
bearing capacity in more than 0.02 per cent of all years. For Clearstream and Eurex Clearing AG, REC 
calculated in this manner also complies with the requirements of the second pillar of Basel III. Deutsche 
Börse Group determines its risk-bearing capacity on the basis of its reported equity in accordance with 
International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRSs). Clearstream and Eurex Clearing AG determine their 
risk-bearing capacity on the basis of their regulatory capital (for details, see   note 15 to the 
consolidated financial statements).  

For management purposes, GRM regularly determines the ratio of the REC to the risk-bearing capacity. 
This indicator is known as the utilisation of risk-bearing capacity and it answers a key risk management 
question: how much risk can the Group afford and what risk is it currently exposed to? The ratio of REC 
to risk-bearing capacity remained within the stipulated maximum risk throughout the reporting period. If 
this were not the case, the Group would in a worst-case scenario exhaust its entire risk-bearing capacity 
and would have to be liquidated (“gone concern”). 

2. Going-concern principle:  what risks can be absorbed by earnings? 
Deutsche Börse Group employs the going-concern principle that assumes an orderly continuation of the 
Group in the event of a crisis, and uses earnings at risk (“EaR”) as an indicator. This indicator 
corresponds to the second part of Principle 1 of the Group’s risk strategy, i.e. that an operating loss 
equal to the earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) may occur no more 
than once in a hundred years. In other words, there should be a probability of 99.0 per cent or more 
that Deutsche Börse should at least break even (profit for the period expressed in terms of EBITDA). 
Under the going-concern principle, EaR determined in this way is compared with the Group’s risk 
appetite – which is, in turn, measured in terms of projected EBITDA. 

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Executive and Supervisory Boards 
Management report | Risk Report 
Financial statements 
Notes 
Further information 

3. Regulatory capital requirements  
Clearstream and Eurex Clearing AG must calculate their capital requirements for various risk types (see 
the   “Deutsche Börse Group’s risk profile“ chart) in line with the Pillar I requirements under Basel III. In 
addition, Eurex Clearing AG must fulfil EMIR capital requirements while Clearstream Banking AG has to 
comply with CSDR capital requirements as authorisation as CSD was granted by BaFin in January 
2020. Clearstream Banking S.A. is currently applying for authorisation according to CSDR. Clearstream 
and Eurex Clearing AG use a standardised approach for analysing and evaluating credit and market risk.  

The two institutions have adopted different approaches regarding operational risk: Clearstream has used 
the considerably more complex advanced measurement approach (AMA) for this in all business units 
since 2008. This means that it meets the regulatory capital requirements for operational risk set out in 
the EU’s Capital Requirements Regulation (CRR). The model is also employed for REC calculations and 
was fundamentally revised and improved during 2016. According to the method – which has been 
approved and is regularly audited by BaFin – the required capital is allocated to the regulated entities. In 
contrast, Eurex Clearing AG employs the basic indicator approach in order to calculate regulatory capital 
requirements (for details, see   note 15 to the consolidated financial statements).  

4. Stress tests 
Stress tests are being carried out in order to simulate extreme (yet plausible) events for all material types 
of risk. Using and calculating both hypothetical as well as historical scenarios, this stress test simulates 
the occurrence of extreme losses, or an accumulation of large losses, within a single year. Similarly, 
inverse stress tests are also carried out, which analyse which loss scenarios would exceed the risk-
bearing capacity.  

5. Risk metrics 
Risk metrics are used to quantify the exposure to the most important internal risks against set limits. 
They are complementary to the VaR approach and serve to monitor other factors as well as non-
quantifiable risks. Any breach of these limits serves as an early warning signal, which is reported to the 
Executive Board on a monthly basis. Furthermore, any such breach immediately triggers the requisite 
risk mitigation processes.  

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Emerging risks 
With regard to risk management, Deutsche Börse Group pursues a sustainable, long-term strategy by 
also evaluating risks beyond a twelve-month horizon. For this purpose, the Group has developed so-
called risk maps tailored specifically for expected or upcoming regulatory requirements and IT and 
information security risks. In addition, other operational, business and financial risks are also assessed 
beyond a twelve-month period. Risk maps classify risks by their probability of occurring and by their 
financial impact, should they materialise. A review process of Environment Social Governance (ESG) 
aspects is also carried out as part of the Group Risk Committee.  

Risk description 

The following section describes the types of risk that Deutsche Börse Group generally has to manage and 
presents the risks it actually faces. It also explains the measures that Deutsche Börse Group uses to 
attempt to prevent loss events, and to minimise their financial effects.  

Risk profile 
The risk profile of Deutsche Börse Group differs fundamentally from those of other financial services 
providers. Deutsche Börse Group differentiates between the three standard types of risk: operational risk, 
financial risk and business risk. Project risk also exists but the Group does not specifically quantify these 
as their impact is already reflected in the three risk types. The majority of risks are of an operational 
nature (see the charts below: “Required economic capital for German universal banks by risk type” and 
“Required economic capital for Deutsche Börse Group by risk type”). 

Operational risk greater than financial and business risk 
Utilisation of risk-bearing capacity in the liquidation principle and of risk appetite in the going-concern 
principle are used as internal management indicators throughout Deutsche Börse Group (see the   
“Approaches and methods for risk monitoring” section for an explanation of these terms). In addition to 
the financial and operational risk already mentioned, business risk is also identified and assessed. This 
relates in particular to potential threats to revenue such as price pressure or loss in market share as well 
as cost risks. Under the liquidation principle, financial risk amounts to only approximately 23 per cent of 
Deutsche Börse Group’s total risk, while business risk represents 10 per cent of the total. This makes 
the third typical risk type all the more important for Deutsche Börse Group: at 67 per cent, operational 

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risk accounts for two-thirds of the REC. Information on the additional capital requirements of other 
subsidiaries is provided in   note 15 to the consolidated financial statements. 

The three risk types applicable to Deutsche Börse Group are described in detail below, in the order of 
their importance. 

Operational risk 
For Deutsche Börse Group, operational risks comprise the unavailability of systems, service deficiency, 
damage to physical assets as well as legal disputes and business practice (see the chart below: 
“Operational risk at Deutsche Börse Group”). Human resources risks are quantified just like other 
operational risks. The share of operational risk of the REC was 67 per cent as at 31 December 2019. 

Unavailability of systems 
Operational resources such as the Xetra® and T7® trading systems are essential for the services offered 
by Deutsche Börse Group. They should never fail in order to ensure that market participants can trade 
securities or derivatives at any time and without delay. The Group therefore calculates the availability of 
these systems as an important risk indicator. In line with the Group’s risk strategy, the business areas 
are responsible for monitoring the indicators. 

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The longer the downtime for one of these systems, the larger the potential loss. An outage could be 
caused by software or hardware issues, or in unlikely cases, the availability of the systems could be 
affected by acts of cyber crime or terrorist attack. In the past, only limited failures have occurred both 
with Xetra and with T7 and its predecessor system. In practice, there has never been a system failure 
lasting longer than one day. Deutsche Börse Group has taken a number of measures to further minimise 
the risk of failure lasting an entire day or longer, for example the redundancy of the network 
infrastructure. 

In general, availability risk represents the largest operational risk for Deutsche Börse Group and is 
therefore subject to regular tests that simulate not only what happens when its own systems fail but also 
when suppliers fail to deliver. 

Service deficiency 
Risks can also arise if a service provided to a customer is inadequate and this leads to complaints or 
legal disputes. One example would be errors in the settlement of securities transactions due to defective 
products and processes or mistakes in manual entries. A second example are handling errors in the 
collateral liquidation process in the event of the default of a large clearing customer. Such errors have 
not occurred to date in the rare case of a failure. The related processes are tested at least annually.  

Other sources of error may be attributable to suppliers or to product defects; mistakes that may lead to 
the loss of client assets or mistakes in accounting processes must also be considered. The Group 
registers all complaints and formal objections as a key indicator of deficient processing risk. 

Damage to physical assets 
Natural disasters, accidents, terrorism or sabotage are other operational risks that could, for example, 
cause the destruction of, or severe damage to, a data centre or office building. Business Continuity 
Management and Physical Security measures aim at averting significant financial damage (see the   
chart Business Continuity Management).  

Legal disputes and business practice 
Losses can also result from ongoing legal proceedings. These can occur if Deutsche Börse Group 
breaches laws or other requirements, enters into inadequate contractual agreements or fails to monitor 
and observe case law to a sufficient degree. Legal risk also includes losses due to fraud and labour law 
issues. This could entail, for example, losses resulting from insufficient anti-money laundering controls 
or breaches of competition law or of banking secrecy. Such operational risks can also arise if government 
sanctions are not observed, e.g. in case of conflicting laws of different jurisdictions, or in the event of 
breaches of other governmental or overarching regulations.  

In its   2012 corporate report, Deutsche Börse Group informed about the class action Peterson vs 
Clearstream Banking S.A., the first Peterson proceeding,  targeting turnover of certain customer positions 
held in Clearstream Banking S.A.’s securities omnibus account with its US depository bank, 
Citibank NA, and asserting direct claims against Clearstream Banking S.A. for damages of 
US$250.0 million. The matter was settled between Clearstream Banking S.A. and the plaintiffs and the 
direct claims against Clearstream Banking S.A. were abandoned. 

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In July 2013, the US court ordered turnover of the customer positions to the plaintiffs, ruling that these 
were owned by Bank Markazi, the Iranian central bank. Bank Markazi appealed, and the decision was 
affirmed on 9 July 2014 by the Second Circuit Court of Appeals and later by the US Supreme Court on 
20 April 2016. Once distribution of the funds to the plaintiffs is complete, a related case, Heiser vs 
Clearstream Banking S.A., also seeking turnover of the same assets, should also be dismissed. 

On 30 December 2013, a number of US plaintiffs from the first Peterson case, as well as other 
plaintiffs, filed a complaint targeting restitution of certain assets that Clearstream Banking S.A. holds as 
a custodian in Luxembourg. In 2014, the defendants in this action, including Clearstream Banking S.A., 
moved to dismiss the case. On 19 February 2015, the US court issued a decision granting the 
defendants’ motions and dismissing the lawsuit. The plaintiffs lodged an appeal against this ruling at the 
competent appeals court (Second Circuit Court of Appeals), which on 21 November 2017 confirmed 
large portions of the decision of the trial court. The appellate court referred the case back to the court of 
first instance regarding another aspect, asking the court to assess whether the assets held in 
Luxembourg are subject to execution in the USA. Clearstream Banking S.A. filed a petition against this 
ruling with the US Supreme Court on 8 May 2018. The US Supreme Court decided on 13 January 
2020 to refer the second Peterson case back to the appeals court for consideration in the light of new 
US legislation. 

On 14 October 2016, a number of US plaintiffs filed a complaint naming Clearstream Banking S.A. and 
other entities as defendants. The complaint in this proceeding, Havlish vs Clearstream Banking S.A. is 
based on similar assets and allegations as in the Peterson proceedings. The complaint seeks turnover of 
certain assets that Clearstream Banking S.A. holds as a custodian in Luxembourg. The complaint also 
asserts direct claims against Clearstream Banking S.A. and other defendants and purports to seek 
damages of up to approximately US$6.6 billion plus punitive damages and interest. The proceedings 
have been suspended due to the pending complaint to the US Supreme Court in the second Peterson 
case. 

On 2 April 2014, Clearstream Banking S.A. was informed that the United States Attorney for the 
Southern District of New York has opened a grand jury investigation against Clearstream Banking S.A. 
due to Clearstream Banking S.A.’s conduct with respect to Iran and other countries subject to US 
sanction laws. Clearstream Banking S.A. is cooperating with the US attorney. 

In the context of the ongoing disputes regarding assets of Bank Markazi, Clearstream Banking S.A. was 
served with a complaint of Bank Markazi on 17 January 2018 naming Banca UBAE S.p.A. and 
Clearstream Banking S.A. as defendants. The complaint filed before the Luxembourg courts primarily 
seeks the restitution of assets of Bank Markazi which the complaint alleges are held on accounts of 
Banca UBAE S.p.A. and Bank Markazi with Clearstream Banking S.A. totalling approximately 
US$4.9 billion plus interest. Alternatively, Bank Markazi seeks damages to the same amount. The assets 
sought include assets to the amount of approximately US$1.9 billion that were turned over to US 
plaintiffs pursuant to a 2013 binding and enforceable US court order in a proceeding to which Bank 
Markazi was a party. The claim also addresses customer assets of approximately US$2 billion, which 
include assets that are held at Clearstream Banking S.A. and which are currently subject to US and 
Luxembourg litigation brought by US plaintiffs, and further addresses assets that were previously 
transferred out of Clearstream Banking S.A. to Banca UBAE S.p.A.  

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On 15 June 2018, Banca UBAE S.p.A. filed a complaint against Clearstream Banking S.A. in front of 
the Luxembourg courts. This complaint is a recourse action related to the complaint filed by Bank 
Markazi against Clearstream Banking S.A. and Banca UBAE S.p.A and asks that Banca UBAE S.p.A. be 
indemnified and held harmless by Clearstream Banking S.A. in the event that Banca UBAE S.p.A. loses 
the legal dispute brought by Bank Markazi and is ordered by the court to pay damages to Bank Markazi. 

On 26 December 2018, two US plaintiffs filed a complaint naming Clearstream Banking S.A. and other 
entities as defendants. The plaintiffs hold claims against Iran and Iranian authorities and persons 
amounting to approximately US$28.8 million. The complaint in this case (Levin vs. Clearstream 
Banking S.A.) is based on similar assets and allegations as in the second Peterson case, and the Havlish 
case. The complaint seeks turnover of certain assets that Clearstream Banking S.A. holds as a custodian 
in Luxembourg. The complaint also asserts direct claims against Clearstream Banking S.A. and other 
defendants and purports to seek damages of up to approximately US$28.8 million, plus punitive 
damages and interest. The proceedings have been suspended due to the pending second Peterson case. 

On 4 December 2019, several US plaintiffs from the aforementioned Heiser vs Clearstream Banking S.A. 
case filed a new complaint naming Clearstream Banking S.A. and other entities as defendants. The 
plaintiffs hold claims against Iran and Iranian authorities and persons in excess of US$500.0 million, 
and are seeking turnover of Iranian assets. Also these proceedings will be suspended with a view to the 
further development of the second Peterson case.  

Starting on 16 July 2010, the insolvency administrators of Fairfield Sentry Ltd. and Fairfield Sigma Ltd., 
two funds domiciled on the British Virgin Islands, filed complaints in the US Bankruptcy Court for the 
Southern District of New York, asserting claims against more than 300 financial institutions for 
restitution of amounts paid to investors in the funds for redemption of units prior to December 2008. On 
14 January 2011, the funds' insolvency administrators filed a court claim against Clearstream 
Banking S.A. for the restitution of US$13.5 million in payments made for redemption of fund units, 
which the funds made to investors via the settlement system of Clearstream Banking S.A. The 
proceedings, which were suspended for several years, is ongoing. 

Legal disputes have arisen regarding a bond issued by MBB Clean Energy AG (MBB), which is held in 
custody by Clearstream Banking AG. MBB issued the first tranche of the bond in April 2013 and the 
second tranche of the bond in December 2013. The global certificates for the two tranches were 
delivered to Clearstream Banking AG by the paying agent of the issuer. The legal disputes relate to the 
non-payment of the bond and the purported lack of validity of the bond. Clearstream Banking AG’s role 
in the context of the purported lack of validity of the MBB bond is primarily to safekeep the global 
certificate as national central securities depository. Insolvency proceedings have meanwhile been opened 
in respect of the issuer, MBB. 

A buyer of an MBB Clean Energy AG (MBB) bond, which is held in custody by Clearstream Banking AG 
and was listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange, filed a lawsuit at a Dutch court concerning claims for 
damages against Clearstream Banking AG, Deutsche Börse AG and other partners. 

In September 2017, Clearstream Banking AG and Clearstream Banking S.A. were made aware that the 
Public Prosecutor’s Office in Cologne had initiated proceedings for tax evasion against an employee of 
Clearstream Banking AG for his alleged involvement in the settlement of transactions of market 
participants over the dividend date (cum/ex transactions). On 22 January 2018, the Public Prosecutor’s 
Office in Cologne addressed to Clearstream Banking AG a notification of hearing Clearstream Banking AG 
and Clearstream Banking S.A. as potential secondary participants (Nebenbeteiligte). Starting on 27 
August 2019, together with other supporting authorities, the Public Prosecutor’s Office in Cologne 
conducted searches of the offices of Clearstream Banking AG, Clearstream Banking S.A., as well as other 

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Deutsche Börse Group companies and sites. In the course of these measures, Deutsche Börse Group 
entities were made aware that the Public Prosecutor’s Office in Cologne has extended the group of 
accused persons to include further current and former employees of Deutsche Börse Group companies. 
Due to the early stage of the proceedings, it is not possible to predict timing, scope or consequences of a 
potential decision. The affected companies are cooperating with the competent authorities. The 
concerned entities do not expect that they could be successfully held liable. 

In November 2018, a customer of a trading participant of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange filed a lawsuit at 
the District Court (Landgericht) of Frankfurt/Main against Deutsche Börse AG. The plaintiff is claiming 
damages of approximately €2.6 million from Deutsche Börse AG. The alleged damages are said to have 
arisen (1) on 7 July 2016, from Deutsche Börse AG’s publication of an inaccurate ex-dividend date 
relating to a financial instrument via the Xetra system and (2) due to the fact that a client of the plaintiff 
relied on this inaccurate information to conclude transactions. 

On 19 December 2018, the German Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (Bundesanstalt für 
Finanzdienstleistungsaufsicht, BaFin) sent Deutsche Börse AG a formal hearing notification in a penalty 
proceeding, which refers to the allegation of a supposed lack of self-liberation or, alternatively, an 
allegedly omitted ad hoc announcement. Specifically, in the search for a successor for Carsten Kengeter, 
Deutsche Börse AG had omitted to qualify as a price-relevant intermediate step the fact that a few days 
before the appointment of Theodor Weimer in November 2017, two suitable and interested CEO 
candidates had been identified and a decision about the appointment was planned. Even after 
consulting with external experts, Deutsche Börse AG believes this allegation is unfounded. 

Despite the ongoing proceedings described before, the Executive Board is not aware of any material 
changes to the Group’s risk situation.  

Measures to mitigate operational risk 
Deutsche Börse Group takes specific measures to reduce its operational risk. Among them are 
emergency and contingency plans, insurance policies, measures concerning information security and the 
physical safety of employees and buildings as well compliance rules and procedures. 

Emergency and contingency plans 
It is essential for Deutsche Börse Group to provide its products and services as reliably as possible. The 
Group has to maintain its business operations and safeguard against emergencies, failures and crises. If 
its core processes and resources are not available, this represents not only a substantial risk for the 
entire Group but also even a potential systemic risk for the financial markets in general. As a result, 
Deutsche Börse Group has set up a system of emergency and crisis plans covering the entire Group 
(business continuity management, BCM). This covers all processes designed to ensure continuity of 
operations in the event of a crisis and significantly reduces unavailability risk. Measures include 
precautions relating to all important resources (systems, workstations, employees, suppliers), including 
the redundant design of essential IT systems and the technical infrastructure, as well as emergency 
measures designed to mitigate the unavailability of employees or workspaces in core functions at all 
important locations. This includes unavailability due to pandemic based events, like the recent 
“Coronavirus” outbreak. This situation is being handled in accordance to the Deutsche Börse Group 
Incident and Crisis Management Process. Precautionary measures are centrally coordinated to ensure 
continuity of Deutsche Börse Group’s critical operations as well as employees’ health and safety. Back-
up locations are subject to regular tests and remote access is also available. Examples of such 
precautions are listed in the 

 “Business continuity management” chart.  

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Preparations for emergencies and crises 
The Group has introduced and tested a management process for emergencies and crises that enables it 
to respond quickly and in a coordinated manner. This is intended to minimise the effects on business 
processes and on the market and to enable a quick return to regular operations. All business segments 
have appointed emergency managers to act as central contacts and take responsibility during 
emergencies and crises. The emergency managers inform the Executive Board or raise the alarm with 
them in the case of severe incidents. In the event of a crisis, the Executive Board member responsible for 
the affected business area acts as the crisis manager or delegates this role. The emergency and 
contingency plans are tested regularly by realistically simulating critical situations. Such tests are 
generally carried out unannounced. The test results are evaluated based on the following criteria: 

  Functionally effective: the measures must be technically successful.  
  Executable: the employees must be familiar with the emergency procedure and be able to execute it. 
  Timely: emergency measures must ensure that operations restart within the intended time period, 

namely the recovery time objective (RTO). 

Information Security 
Attacks on information technology systems and their data – especially due to cyber crime – represent 
operational risks for Deutsche Börse Group, which is continuously confronted with rising threats in this 
respect, as are other financial services providers and the entire sector. Unauthorised access, change and 
loss of information, as well as non-availability of information and services, may all arise as a result of 
these attacks (such as phishing, DDoS and ransomware attacks). It is worth noting that there was no 
successful attack on Deutsche Börse Group’s core systems in 2019. 

In order to maintain the Group’s integrity as a transaction services provider, and in order to mitigate and 
control the risks, Deutsche Börse is continuously implementing measures to increase information 
security. The aim is to proactively boost the robustness of procedures, applications and technologies 
against cyber crime in such a way that they are adjusted to the threatening situation and regulatory 
requirements at an early stage. The foundation for this is formed by a set of core processes together with 
specific control measures based on the established international information security standards ISO/IEC 
27000.  

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The information security function checks that the information security and information security risk 
management requirements are adhered to; it also monitors the systemic integration of (and adherence 
to) security standards, within the scope of product and application development.  

The Group operates a situation centre (Computer Emergency Response Team, CERT), which detects and 
assesses threats from cyber crime at an early stage, and coordinates risk mitigation measures in 
cooperation with the business units.  

Group Information Security operates an Group-wide programme designed to raise staff awareness for the 
responsible handling of information, and to improve staff conduct in this aspect. All in all, Deutsche 
Börse Group’s security approach includes overall measures in accordance with ISO 27000 covering both 
the development phase and the operational phase.  

Furthermore, Deutsche Börse Group has been a full member of national associations (Cyber Security 
Sharing and Analytics, CSSA), trade associations (World Federation of Exchanges) and international 
networks (Financial Services Information Sharing and Analysis Center, FS-ISAC) which contribute 
significantly towards a forward-looking stance vis-à-vis cyber threats, and the development of strategies 
to fend off such threats. 

Physical security 
Deutsche Börse Group places great importance on physical security issues due to the constantly 
changing global security risks and threats. Corporate Security has developed an integral security concept 
to protect the company, its employees and values from internal and external attacks and threats – in a 
proactive as well as reactive manner. Analysts are continuously assessing the security situation at 
Deutsche Börse Group’s locations and are in close contact with authorities (Federal Criminal Police 
Office – BKA, Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution – BfV, etc.), security services providers, 
and security departments of other companies. Multi-level security processes and controls ensure 
physical safety at the Group’s locations. Physical access to buildings and values is monitored 
permanently; it is based on the access principle of 'least privilege' (need-to-have basis). Penetration tests, 
inter alia, are carried out on a regular basis to verify the efficiency and effectiveness (as well as the 
quality) of the security processes at the locations. 

In an increasingly competitive global market environment, access to know-how and confidential 
company information bears the potential of a major financial advantage to outsiders or competitors. 
Deutsche Börse applies state-of-the-art technology to prevent its knowledge from being obtained illegally, 
e.g. through wiretapping.  

Furthermore, Corporate Security is tasked with providing support to employees while they are travelling 
or on foreign assignment, i.e. protecting them from risks in the areas of crime, civil unrest, terrorism and 
natural disasters. In this context, a worldwide travel security programme was established which 
guarantees a risk assessment before, during and after travelling, supported by a travel-tracking system 
and a central 24/7 emergency telephone number. 

Insurance policies 
Operational risks that Deutsche Börse Group cannot or does not wish to bear itself are transferred to 
insurance companies, if this is possible at a reasonable price. The insurance policies are checked 
individually and are approved by Deutsche Börse AG’s Chief Financial Officer. 

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Compliance  
Compliance at Deutsche Börse is responsible for supporting the individual legal entities in ensuring that 
regulatory requirements are observed and generally protecting the Group against financial and non-
financial risks, such as reputational damage in the markets it serves, in cooperation with  supervisory 
authorities, or the general public. Whilst endowed with appropriate autonomy from the business units, 
Group Compliance nonetheless fulfils its mandate as an enabler of business, to allow the former to focus 
on the clients and markets the Group wishes to serve. Compliance has to take the necessary steps to 
systematically and pre-emptively mitigate compliance risks. This requires the identification of compliance 
risks, and a risk-based assessment of appropriate measures.  

Deutsche Börse Group pursues an enterprise-wide approach to its Compliance function, ensuring that 
applicable laws and regulatory requirements are followed with respect to individual legal entities. Under 
applicable law, the Compliance functions of the individual legal entities report to the respective member 
of the Executive Board responsible for Compliance. Moreover, the Compliance functions and their staff 
report directly to the Group Chief Compliance Officer via a uniform reporting structure. Wherever 
possible, Deutsche Börse Group’s compliance follows a synergistic and holistic approach by applying 
Group-wide compliance regulations and standards, with the objective of ensuring that the related 
concepts are spread throughout the Group. 

Deutsche Börse Group’s Compliance function has been consistently strengthened over recent years. 
During the course of 2019, the Group significantly increased its Compliance personnel in major offices 
around the world, with the objective of coordinating and enhancing the strength of the individual legal 
entities’ Compliance function as well as the alignment between Compliance officers, control functions of 
individual business segments and other control functions as required by supervisory bodies. This close 
alignment strengthened the second line of defence. In order to be able to act pre-emptively and to 
mitigate the compliance risks referred to above, the Group continues to invest into the acquisition and 
further development of IT tools. This provides a validated data inventory, which enables the Group to 
consistently and appropriately respond to compliance risks. In 2019, the focus continued on 
standardising and digitalising compliance processes with an impact on relevant business units. Deutsche 
Börse Group also improved its due diligence procedures with respect to clients, market participants, 
counterparties and business partners. 

Group Compliance continuously promotes regulartory-compliant and ethically impeccable conduct, as 
well as integrity amongst all Deutsche Börse Group employees. For instance, staff have been sensitised 
to (and enhanced emphasis been placed on) compliance-relevant aspects throughout the respective 
business units and within Deutsche Börse Group’s regulatorily required control functions. The code of 
business conduct encompasses the aforementioned activities and sets a holistic basis for a regulatory 
environment for Deutsche Börse Group. 

Over the last few years, Deutsche Börse Group has devoted itself to the development of market-leading 
compliance standards. The Group promotes and reflects these standards across its entire product-related 
value creation chain, particularly from the perspective of a leading global provider of financial markets 
infrastructure. Deutsche Börse AG decided to align its compliance management system with the globally 
recognised ISO 19600 standard. This was a crucial next step, designed to exploit Group-wide synergies 
and to move beyond the scope of regulatory requirements. These efforts will be continued in 2020. A 
special focus lies on compliance monitoring and controls, on the basis of a Group-wide procedural 
approach.  

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Financial risk 
Deutsche Börse Group classifies its financial risk into credit, market and liquidity risk (see the “Financial 
risk at Deutsche Börse Group” chart below). At Group level, these risks account for about 23 per cent of 
the REC (this information only includes credit and market risk; liquidity risk is not quantified as part of 
the REC; see   note 23 to the consolidated financial statements). They primarily apply to the Group’s 
credit institutions. As a result, the following explanation focuses on Clearstream and Eurex Clearing AG. 

The assets and liabilities relating to the financial instruments held by central counterparties balance each 
other out. 

Credit risk 
Credit risk and counterparty default risks describe the danger that a counterparty might not meet its 
contractual obligations, or not meet them in full. Measurement criteria include the degree to which the 
credit line has been utilised, the collateral deposited and concentration risk. Although Clearstream and 
Eurex Clearing AG often have short-term exposures against counterparties totalling several billion euros 
overall, these are generally secured by collateral deposited by the market participants. Moreover, the 
Group regularly evaluates the reliability of its emergency plans at Clearstream and Eurex Clearing AG in 
the event of client defaults, and the resulting credit risk. 

Furthermore, Clearstream Banking S.A. is exposed to credit risk arising from its strategic securities 
lending transactions (ASLplus). Only selected banks act as borrowers. All borrowing transactions are fully 
collateralised and only selected bonds with a high credit rating are permitted for use as collateral.  

Clearstream grants loans to its clients in order to make the securities settlement more efficient. This type 
of credit business is, however, fundamentally different from the classic lending business. On the one 
hand, credit is extended solely for less than a day, and it is generally collateralised and granted to clients 
with high creditworthiness on the other. Furthermore, the credit lines granted can be revoked at 
any time. 

Under its terms and conditions, Eurex Clearing AG only enters into transactions with its clearing 
members. Clearing mainly relates to defined securities, rights and derivatives that are traded on specific 
stock exchanges. Eurex Clearing AG also offers this service for over-the-counter (OTC) products such as 
interest rate swaps and forward rate agreements. As a central counterparty, it steps in between 

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transactional counterparties. Through offsetting mutual claims and requiring clearing members to post 
collateral, Eurex Clearing AG mitigates the credit risk exposure. 

To date, no default by a client with a secured credit line has resulted in financial losses. Deutsche Börse 
Group therefore views the probability that one of its customers could become insolvent, and that this 
could lead to losses for the Group as low.  

Credit risk can also arise from cash investments. The Treasury department is responsible here, and has 
Group-wide authority. Treasury largely makes collateralised investments of funds belonging to Group 
companies as well as Clearstream and Eurex Clearing AG customers. To date, a counterparty default has 
not led to a loss for the Group.  

Clearstream and Eurex Clearing AG run stress tests to analyse scenarios, such as the default of their 
largest counterparty. The figures determined in this way are compared with the limits defined as part of 
the companies’ risk-bearing capacity. In addition, the impact of several clearing counterparties defaulting 
at the same time is calculated for Eurex Clearing AG. A special stress test examines Clearstream 
Banking S.A.’s credit risk exposure from the settlement procedure with Euroclear. Moreover, inverse 
stress tests are run to determine the number of counterparties that would have to default for losses to 
exceed the risk cover amount. Risks identified in the course of stress tests carried out during the 2019 
financial year were analysed further, and corresponding risk-reduction measures initiated, e.g. reducing 
credit risks through diversification. 

Deutsche Börse Group generally tracks a variety of risk indicators in addition to its risk measures (REC, 
EaR and the credit risk stress tests performed). These include the extent to which individual clients 
utilise their credit lines, and credit concentrations. 

Reducing credit risk 
Clearstream and Eurex Clearing AG assess the creditworthiness of potential customers or counterparties 
to an investment before entering into a business relationship with them. The companies do this in the 
same way: they determine the size of individual customers’ credit lines based on requirements and 
regular creditworthiness checks, which they supplement with ad hoc analyses if necessary. They define 
haircuts collateral depending on the risk involved, and continually review their appropriateness.  

Given the size and volatility of its clients’ liabilities, Eurex Clearing AG has developed a leading-edge 
collateral management system, which is described in detail in the following section. 

Safety for the participants and the clearing house  
Each clearing member must prove that it has liable capital (or, in the case of funds, assets under 
management) equal to at least the amounts that Eurex Clearing AG has defined for the different markets. 
The amount of liable capital (or assets under management) for which evidence must be provided 
depends on the risk. To mitigate Eurex Clearing AG’s risk that clearing members might default before 
settling open transactions, members are obliged to deposit collateral in the form of cash or securities 
(margins) on a daily basis and, if required, to meet additional intraday margin calls.  

Eurex Clearing AG only permits securities with a high credit quality and liquidity to be used as collateral. 
Internal valuations and external ratings are used to determine the credit quality. On the basis of these 
consolidated ratings, only collateral that is classified at least as investment grade is permitted. The limits 
for bank bonds are raised to at least “A– due to the potential wrong-way risks. The admission criteria are 
reviewed continually and market risk is covered by haircuts with a confidence level of at least 99.9 per 
cent. Hence, securities of issuers with lesser credit quality are subject to higher haircuts than those 
applied to securities with higher credit quality. Eligible collateral that no longer meets the high credit 

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rating requirements at a later point in time (e.g. due to a new consolidated rating) is excluded. Risk 
inputs are checked monthly and the safety margins are recalculated daily for each security. In addition, a 
minimum safety margin applies to all securities.  

Margins are calculated separately for clearing member accounts and client accounts. Gains and losses 
resulting from intraday changes to the value of financial instruments are either settled in cash by the 
counterparties (variation margin) or deposited with Eurex Clearing AG as collateral by the seller due to 
the change in the equivalent value of the item (premium margin). In the case of bond, repo or equity 
transactions, the margin is collected from either the buyer or the seller (current liquidating margin), 
depending on how the transaction price performs compared to the current value of the financial 
instruments. The purpose of these margins is to offset gains and losses.  

In addition, Eurex Clearing AG uses additional collateral to protect itself in the case of default by a 
clearing member against any risk that the value of the positions in the member’s account will deteriorate 
in the period before the account is settled. This additional collateral is known as the additional margin. 
The target confidence level here is at least 99.0 per cent (with a minimum two-day holding period) for 
exchange-traded transactions, or 99.5 per cent (with a five-day holding period) for OTC transactions. 
Eurex Clearing AG checks daily whether the margins match the requested confidence level: initial margin 
is currently calculated using the legacy risk-based - margining method, and the new - Eurex Clearing - 
Prisma method, which is already available for all derivative contracts traded. The new method takes the 
clearing member’s entire portfolio – as well as historical and stress scenarios – into account when 
calculating margin requirements. The objective is to cover market fluctuations for the entire liquidation 
period until the account is settled. At present, the risk-based - margining method is still used for cash 
market products and physical deliveries, as well as for securities lending and repo transactions.  

In addition to the margins for current transactions, each clearing member contributes to a default fund, 
with the contributions based on its individual risk profile. This fund is jointly liable for the financial 
consequences of a default by a clearing member to the extent that this cannot be covered by the 
member’s individual margin, and its own and Eurex Clearing AG’s contributions to the default fund. 
Eurex Clearing AG uses daily stress tests to check whether its default fund is adequate enough to absorb 
a default of its two largest clearing members. This involves subjecting all current transactions and their 
collateral to market price fluctuations at a confidence level of at least 99.9 per cent. In order to be able 
to determine potential losses in excess of a clearing member’s individual margins, the impact on the 
default fund of a potential default is simulated. Eurex Clearing AG has defined limits which, when 
exceeded, trigger an immediate adjustment to the size of the default fund if necessary. The following 
lines of defence are available in case a clearing member is unable to meet its obligations to Eurex 
Clearing AG due to a delay in performance or a default:  

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  First, Eurex Clearing AG may net the relevant clearing member’s outstanding positions and transactions 

and/or close them – in terms of the risk involved – by entering into appropriate back-to-back 
transactions, or settle them in cash. Clients' segregation models are taken into account accordingly. 
  Any potential shortfall that might be incurred in connection with such a closing or cash settlement, as 
well as the associated costs, would be covered in the first instance by the collateral provided by the 
clearing member concerned. As at 31 December 2019, collateral amounting to €57,697 million had 
been provided for the benefit of Eurex Clearing AG (after haircuts).  

  After this, the relevant clearing member’s contribution to the default fund would be used to cover the 
open amount. Contributions ranged from €1 million to €236.7 million as at 31 December 2019. 

  Any remaining shortfall would initially be covered by a contribution to the default fund by Eurex 

Clearing AG. Eurex Clearing AG’s contribution amounted to €200.0 million as at 31 December 2019.  
  Only then would the other clearing members’ contributions to the default fund be used proportionately. 
As at 31 December 2019, aggregate default fund contribution requirements for all clearing members of 
Eurex Clearing AG amounted to €3,630 million. After the contributions have been used in full, Eurex 
Clearing AG can request additional contributions from each clearing member, which can be at most 
twice as high as their original default fund contributions. In parallel to these additional contributions, 
Eurex Clearing AG provides additional funds of up to €300.0 million, provided via a Letter of Comfort 
from Deutsche Börse AG (see below). These additional funds will be used together with the additional 
clearing member contributions, on a pro-rata basis. 

  Next, the portion of Eurex Clearing AG's equity which exceeds the minimum regulatory equity would be 

realised. 

  Finally, the remaining minimum regulatory equity of Eurex Clearing AG would be drawn upon. 
  Deutsche Börse AG has issued a letter of comfort in favour of Eurex Clearing AG. With this letter of 
comfort, Deutsche Börse AG commits to provide the funds to Eurex Clearing AG required to fulfil its 
duties – including the duty to provide additional funds of up to €300.0 million, as mentioned before. 
The maximum amount to be provided under the Letter of Comfort amounts to €600.0 million, 
including payments already made. Third parties are not entitled to any rights under the Letter of 
Comfort.  

In the event of default by a clearing member, Eurex Clearing AG carries out a Default Management 
Process (DMP), with the objective of closing out all positions assumed as a result of the default. Within 
the scope of the DMP, any costs incurred in connection with such close-out are covered using collateral 
from Eurex Clearing’s lines of defence. Essentially, within the DMP framework, products which share 
similar risk characteristics are assigned to liquidation groups that are liquidated using the same process. 
Within a liquidation group, Eurex Clearing AG will balance its position by transferring defaulted positions 
to other clearing members, either via an auction or by way of bilateral independent sales. Potential 
claims against Eurex Clearing AG, arising from the settlement of positions assumed from the defaulted 
clearing members, are covered by the collateral from the multiple lines of defence. Whenever necessary, 
these collateral items are disposed on in the market by way of bilateral independent sales, in order to 
cover the outstanding claims from the settlement of the open positions. The DMP will therefore not only 
contribute to the security and integrity of capital markets, but will also protect non-defaulted clearing 
members from any negative effects resulting from the default. 

In the past, the DMP of Eurex Clearing AG has been used four times, involving the defaults of Gontard & 
MetallBank (2002), Lehman Brothers (2008), MF Global (2011), and Maple Bank (2016). 

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In all of the cases mentioned above, the funds pledged as collateral by the defaulted clearing member 
were sufficient to cover losses incurred upon closing out positions – in fact, a significant portion of 
resources was returned to the defaulted clearing member. 

Deutsche Börse Group reduces its risk when investing funds belonging to Group companies and client 
funds by distributing investments across multiple counterparties, all with a high credit quality, by 
defining investment limits for each counterparty and by investing funds primarily in the short term and in 
collateralised form if possible. Investment limits are established for each counterparty on the basis of at 
least annual credit checks and using ad hoc analyses, as necessary. Since extending its licence as an 
investment and credit institution under the Kreditwesengesetz (German Banking Act), Eurex Clearing AG 
can also use the permanent facilities at Deutsche Bundesbank and the Swiss National Bank; it is thus in 
a position to manage the largest part of client funds in a central bank environment. 

Investment losses on currencies for which Eurex Clearing AG has no access to the respective central 
banks will be borne, on a pro-rata basis, by Eurex Clearing AG and by those clearing members active in 
the currency where losses were incurred. The maximum amount which each clearing member will have 
to contribute in this manner is the total amount such clearing member has pledged with Eurex 
Clearing AG as cash collateral in this currency. The maximum amount to be borne by Eurex Clearing AG 
is €50 million. 

Market risk 
Market risk include risks of a detrimental development of interest rates, exchange rates or other market 
prices. Deutsche Börse Group measures these risks using Monte - Carlo simulations based on historical 
price data, as well as corresponding stress tests.  

Clearstream and Eurex Clearing AG invest parts of their equity in securities with the highest credit 
quality. The majority of these securities have a variable interest rate, interest rate risk is low. The Group 
avoids open currency positions whenever possible. Furthermore, market risk could result from Deutsche 
Börse Group’s ring-fenced pension plan assets (Contractual Trust Arrangement (CTA), Clearstream's 
pension fund in Luxembourg). The Group reduced its risk of extreme losses by deciding to invest a 
predominant proportion of the CTA on the basis of a value preservation mechanism.  

Liquidity risk 
Liquidity risk arises if a Deutsche Börse Group company is unable to meet its daily payment obligations 
or if it can only do so at a higher refinancing cost. Operational liquidity requirements are met primarily 
internally by retaining funds generated with a view towards maintaining sufficient liquidity in order to be 
able to meet all of the Group's payment obligations when due. An intra-Group cash pool is used to pool 
surplus cash from subsidiaries on a Deutsche Börse AG level, as far as regulatory and legal provisions 
allow. Liquid funds are invested in the short term in order to ensure that they are available. Short-term 
investments are also largely secured by liquid bonds from first-class issuers. Deutsche Börse AG has 
access to short-term external sources of financing, such as agreed credit lines with individual banks or 
consortia, and a commercial paper programme. In recent years, Deutsche Börse AG has leveraged its 
access to the capital markets to issue corporate bonds in order to meet its structural financing needs. 

Since Clearstream’s investment strategy aims to be able to repay customer deposits at all times, liquidity 
limits are set carefully. In addition, extensive sources of financing are available at all times, such as 
ongoing access to the liquidity facilities at Deutsche Bundesbank and Banque centrale du Luxembourg.  

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Due to its role as a central counterparty, Eurex Clearing AG has strict liquidity guidelines and its 
investment policy is correspondingly conservative. Regular analyses ensure the appropriateness of the 
liquidity guidelines. In addition, Eurex Clearing AG can use Deutsche Bundesbank’s permanent facilities. 

Deutsche Börse Group can also be exposed to liquidity risk in case of a customer default. If a clearing 
member of Eurex Clearing AG defaults, its member position is liquidated. If a Clearstream customer 
defaults, the – generally collateralised and intraday – credit line granted to increase settlement efficiency 
would be called, and the collateral provided by the client could then be liquidated. A decline in market 
liquidity, following a market disruption, would increase Deutsche Börse Group’s liquidity risk exposure. 
By means of stress tests, Clearstream and Eurex Clearing AG calculate for each day of the month – and 
report on a monthly basis – the liquidity needs that would result if the two largest counterparties were to 
default, and maintain sufficient liquidity in order to cover the liquidity needs determined. Potential risks 
that are identified in the course of stress tests are analysed and corresponding risk-reduction measures 
initiated. During the 2019 reporting year, Eurex Clearing AG and Clearstream continuously held 
sufficient liquidity to fulfil both regulatory requirements as well as the liquidity needs determined through 
stress tests. 

Business risk 
Business risk reflects the fact that the Group depends on macroeconomic and geopolitical developments 
and is influenced by other external events, such as changes in the competitive environment or regulatory 
initiatives. It therefore expresses the risks associated with the Group’s business environment and sector. 
It also includes business strategy risk, i.e. the impact of risks on the business strategy and possible 
adjustments to it. These business risks are represented as variance analyses of planned and actual 
EBITDA, and are monitored constantly by the divisions. They account for about 10 per cent of the 
Group’s REC. Business risk may result in revenues lagging budget projections or in costs being higher. 

Business risk includes the risk that competitors, such as the exchanges Euronext, Singapore Exchange 
(SGX), ICE Futures Europe and Mercado Español de Futuros Financieros  (MEFF), as operators of 
derivatives markets, might increase their market shares on the European trading markets (both on- and 
off-exchange).  

Additional business risk may arise from regulatory requirements, or from the geopolitical or economic 
environment – for example, in the event of an intra-Europe crisis affecting monetary union, the impact of 
negative interest rates or a tariff conflict, having adverse effects on trading activity.  

The introduction of a binding carbon dioxide price also represents a potential business risk. Germany’s 
federal government is currently revising its climate policy, with a price tag for carbon dioxide likely to be 
a key instrument. The integration of the financial sector in this respect – or expansion of the European 
Union Emissions Trading System  (EU ETS) – is possible and would represent an additional cost factor 
for the Group. The EU index regulation, which is aimed at higher ESG transparency requirements, also 
represents a potential business risk for the Group. Such a regulation could limit the innovative power of 
the Group’s ESG products, thus reducing the company’s long-term success. 

The orderly exit of the United Kingdom from the European Union (Brexit) on 31 January 2020 allows for 
a transition period up to the end of 2020, which may be extended once by up to two years. EU law shall 
apply in and for the UK during the transition period although the UK will have no co-determination right 
in the EU institutions. The UK will also remain a part of the EU single market and the EU customs union 
in this time. The EU and the UK are expected to negotiate a free trade agreement during the transition 
period. The risk of an unregulated Brexit from January 2021 onwards remains if an agreement cannot 
be reached within this timeframe. Brexit was subject to continuous analyses with regard to the risk for 
customers, products and business continuity. 

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Deutsche Börse Group launched three initiatives aimed at reducing these risks: (1) The Brexit readiness 
project, which is responsible for coordinating all of Deutsche Börse Group’s divisions to retain their 
access to the markets, (2) the transition team, which will support UK customers through the Brexit 
process and any adjustments that need to be made, to continue to have access to Deutsche Börse Group 
and its divisions and (3) the Eurex Clearing partnership programme, which supports an EU-27 
alternative for euro clearing. Deutsche Börse Group remains well prepared for Brexit. All divisions have 
submitted the necessary applications with the British authorities and the customers are well prepared for 
transferring their activities in full to a unit of the Group located inside EU-27.  

The EU-based liquidity pool for Eurex Clearing AG’s euro swaps is also growing substantially, so that 
euro clearing can continue to be offered competitively in Frankfurt, regardless of political developments. 

The introduction of a financial transaction tax, which continues to be supported by some European 
states, might have a negative impact upon Deutsche Börse Group’s business activities. Likewise, a 
sustained period of weak trading activity on the market following a significant downturn on the equity 
markets (whatever the reasons), for example, also represents a risk to the Group.  

Overall assessment of the risk situation by the Executive Board 

Deutsche Börse AG’s Executive Board is responsible for risk management throughout the Group and 
regularly reviews the entire Group’s risk situation. The Executive Board of Deutsche Börse AG confirms 
the effectiveness of the risk management system.   

Summary  
The risk profile of Deutsche Börse Group did not change significantly in the 2019 financial year. 
Deutsche Börse Group’s risks were covered by sufficient risk-bearing capacity at all times, i.e. the 
allocated risk appetite limits were complied with.  

As at 31 December 2019, the Group’s REC amounted to €2,696 million, a 5 per cent increase year-on-
year (31 December 2018: €2,573 million). REC was covered by sufficient aggregate risk-bearing 
capacity at all times during the 2019 financial year. EaR amounted to €1,103 million as at 31 
December 2019, of which €750 million was attributable to operational risk, €152 million to financial 
risk, and €201 million to business risk.  

Outlook  
Deutsche Börse Group continually assesses its risk situation. Based on the calculated REC in stress tests 
and based on the risk management system, Deutsche Börse AG’s Executive Board concludes that the 
available risk cover amount is sufficient. Furthermore, it cannot identify any risk that would endanger the 
Group’s existence as a going concern.  

The Group is determined to further strengthen and expand its Group-wide risk management and internal 
control system (ICS) in 2020 too, by means of, for example, methodological improvement in the ICS and 
closer integration of the control functions. 

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Further information 

Report on opportunities 

Organisation of opportunities management 

Deutsche Börse Group’s opportunities management aims to identify, evaluate and assess opportunities 
as early as possible and to take appropriate measures in order to transform opportunities into business 
success. 

Deutsche Börse Group evaluates organic growth opportunities in the individual business areas both on 
an ongoing basis throughout the year and systematically at the Group level as part of its annual budget 
planning process. The process begins with a careful analysis of the market environment, which 
considers both what the customer wants, as well as market developments, competitors and regulatory 
changes. Ideas for growth initiatives are developed further using uniform, Group-wide templates and 
subjected to a profitability analysis. On this basis, the Executive Board of Deutsche Börse AG makes the 
final decision as to which initiatives are to be implemented.  

Organic growth opportunities 

Deutsche Börse Group has a very broad portfolio of products and services with which it covers all areas 
of a market infrastructure provider’s value creation chain. This makes the Group one of the most broadly 
based stock exchange organisations in the world. In order to maintain and expand this position the 
company is pursuing a growth strategy called Roadmap 2020. Among other things Deutsche Börse 
Group is focusing on organic growth opportunities in order to achieve its strategic goals. The Group 
makes a basic distinction between structural and cyclical opportunities: structural opportunities arise for 
example as a result of regulatory changes, new client requirements (such as the growing demand for 
exchange-traded solutions to over-the-counter (OTC) transactions) or from the trend whereby an 
increasing portion of assets are allocated in passive investment strategies (e.g. index funds). The 
company can actively exploit these opportunities. Cyclical opportunities on the other hand cannot be 
influenced directly by the Group and are driven by macroeconomic changes. In addition Deutsche Börse 
Group intends to seize long-term opportunities arising as a result of the technological transformation. 

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Structural growth opportunities 
When taking advantage of structural growth potential, Deutsche Börse Group focuses on product- and 
service-driven initiatives designed to satisfy new client needs as well as regulatory requirements. 
Moreover, the Group regularly examines whether it can better achieve growth in high-potential asset 
classes, products or services – organically or through external acquisitions and cooperation agreements. 
In this connection, the Group has defined the following five areas of business that focus beyond the 
organic options to external growth as well: commodities, foreign exchange trading, investment funds 
services, data and index business and fixed-income trading. 

The Group expects to see its highest revenue growth in trading and clearing in the coming years, due in 
part to the clearing of OTC derivatives and further growth in the trading of energy and gas products. 
Foreign exchange trading via 360T is also expected to provide a contribution to net revenue growth. 
Post-trading will focus on the further development of investment fund business. The growth focus in pre-
trading lies in expanding the index and analytics business. The business potential of the initiatives stated 
here are described in more detail below. 

Clearing of OTC derivatives 
The liquidity problems experienced by major market participants during the financial crisis were triggered 
by the failure to settle bilateral OTC transactions that were mainly entered into on an unsecured basis. In 
light of this, the leading industrialised nations (G20) agreed to create an effective regulatory environment 
to make off-exchange derivatives transactions more transparent and more secure. Consequently, the 
European Union has created the European Market Infrastructure Regulation (EMIR). EMIR involves the 
obligation to clear standardised OTC derivative transactions using a central counterparty. Preparing for 
mandatory clearing, Eurex Clearing AG had developed set up a central counterparty to clear OTC 
derivatives transactions. With the Eurex Partnership Programme, launched in October 2017, Eurex 
Clearing has created an alternative for clearing interest rate swaps within the EU. The programme has 
been widely accepted: Hence, since 2018, the notional outstanding volume on Eurex Clearing has 
increased significantly.  

Trading and clearing of power and gas products on EEX 
Leipzig-based European Energy Exchange AG (EEX) allows Deutsche Börse Group to offer a broad 
product range for trading and clearing of spot and derivatives contracts on power and gas as well as 
emission certificates. EEX has become the central market for energy in Continental Europe and its 
product range includes the markets Germany, France, the Netherlands, Belgium, Italy and Spain. It has 
also been active in the US market through its acquisition of Nodal Exchange in 2017. EEX's growth is 
mainly based on the growing importance of renewable energies for generating energy. Owing to the high 
degree of fragmentation, as well as the inefficiency of OTC markets, the demand for on-exchange trading 
and clearing solutions has also increased over recent years. EEX believes it is well positioned in this 
changing competitive environment to achieve structural growth and gain additional market share. 

Growth in foreign-exchange trading (360T) 
With the full acquisition of 360T, Deutsche Börse AG successfully explored a new asset class – foreign-
exchange trading. 360T® is a leading, globally active currency trading platform, whose broad customer 
base includes companies, buy-side customers and banks. By combining 360T's knowledge and 
experience in the foreign exchange market with Deutsche Börse Group's IT expertise, the Group will be 
able to tap the additional revenue potential. 360T has made progress with various measures for 
achieving synergies. including the launch of its FX futures and clearing services. Thanks to its leading 
position, 360T further benefits from a structural trend: even though, at present, the vast majority of daily 
foreign-exchange trading volumes is still executed off-exchange, demand for transparent, electronic 
multi-bank trading platforms such as 360T is rising.  

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Cross-border settlement of investment funds  
Clients of Deutsche Börse Group can use Clearstream’s settlement and custody services for their entire 
fund portfolio – covering traditional investment funds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs) as well as hedge 
funds. Given that supervisory authorities are also calling for more efficient settlement and custody 
solutions in order to guarantee maximum security for client assets under custody, the Group expects to 
acquire additional client portfolios in the future. The Group is also continuously expanding its range of 
products and services. Clearstream, for example, is extending its range of fund services to include 
management of distribution agreements, as well as data compilation through acquisitions. Extending the 
product and service range, Clearstream expects to generate additional net revenue by realising cross-
selling synergies. 

Expansion of the index and analytics business 
Deutsche Börse Group's objective in its index business is to give the already established European index 
provider STOXX an even more global profile, in order to develop and market other indices worldwide (in 
addition to its DAX® and STOXX® index families). In addition, Deutsche Börse's index business will 
continue to take advantage of the structural trend towards passive investment products (ETFs). An 
increasing number of private clients and asset managers now follow this trend; not only are the costs 
lower, but many active investment strategies have been returning under-average performance. In order to 
support these trends more effectively, in 2019 Deutsche Börse AG acquired Axioma Inc., New York, 
USA, (Axioma), a leading provider of portfolio and risk management solutions. The combination created 
Qontigo a fully integrated leading information provider for institutional investors, serving the growing 
market demand for products and analysis in this area.  

Cyclical opportunities 
In addition to its structural growth opportunities, Deutsche Börse Group has cyclical opportunities, for 
instance as a result of positive macroeconomic developments. Although the Group cannot influence 
these cyclical opportunities directly, they could lift Deutsche Börse Group’s net revenue and net profit for 
the period attributable to Deutsche Börse AG shareholders significantly in the medium term: 

  The volumes of interest rate derivatives traded on the Group’s derivatives markets could rise if 

speculation on trends in long-term yields on German and other European government bonds grows, 
and if the spread between the various European government bonds continues to narrow.  
  In the cash and derivatives market segments - Xetra (securities trading) and Eurex (financial 

derivatives) - positive economic development, a lasting increase in investor confidence in the capital 
markets leading to a renewed risk appetite among market participants and a sustained increase in 
stock market volatility could stimulate trading activity among market participants and boost trading 
volumes.  

Technological opportunities 
New developments such as cloud services, in the context of artificial intelligence (AI), big data, robotics, 
blockchain technology, combined with the potential for innovation offered by fintech companies, are 
driving change in the financial sector. This new wave of technology might help overcome barriers to 
market harmonisation, while creating additional efficiency and mitigating risks. This development is 
expected to last for the next ten years, with digitisation set to accelerate. The challenge for incumbent 
providers is in finding the right way to open up new business models and innovative technologies. 

The Group has optimised its internal processes particularly with regard to cloud services. HR processes, 
purchasing and settlement of travel expenses, among others, are now processed in the cloud. This has 
led to a significant streamlining of processes, and also has a positive effect on the Group's costs. The 
Group is also working on transferring services and processes with clients to the cloud. For instance, the 

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introduction of new trading platforms and updating of existing infrastructure might be tested beforehand 
by clients, via the cloud. This would lead to significantly more agile processes within the Group, as new 
processes would be introduced at more frequent intervals, allowing the Group to respond more 
effectively to clients’ requirements. In 2019, Deutsche Börse signed agreements with Microsoft and 
Google on the use of cloud services, positioning itself at the forefront of cloud use in the European 
financial services sector. 

Blockchain technology constitutes another aspect of technological opportunities. It is considered a 
disruptive technology at times – but at present, the financial services sector is increasingly exploring its 
opportunities. Thanks to its decentralised nature, it facilitates direct interaction between participants, 
thus offering the potential for simplifying complex processes. Established market infrastructure providers 
such as Deutsche Börse Group, which covers the entire value creation chain from a single source, play 
an important role when it comes to tapping this potential – meeting existing industry standards at the 
same time. Besides legal and regulatory requirements, this also involves adhering to security standards, 
as well as limiting risks and ensuring cost efficiency.  

Report on expected developments 

The report on expected developments describes Deutsche Börse Group’s expected performance for the 
2020 financial year. It contains statements and information on events in the future, and is based on the 
company’s expectations and assumptions at the time of publication of this corporate report. In turn, 
these are subject to known and unknown opportunities, risks and uncertainties. Numerous factors, 
many of which are outside the company’s control, influence the Group’s success, its business strategy 
and its financial results. Should opportunities, risks or uncertainties materialise or should one of the 
assumptions made turn out to be incorrect, the Group’s actual performance could deviate either 
positively or negatively from the expectations and assumptions contained in the forward-looking 
statements and information contained in this report on expected developments. 

Developments in the operating environment 

Macroeconomic environment  
With global economic growth slowing further in 2019 as expected, Deutsche Börse Group generally 
anticipates a slight improvement in the general conditions for global growth in the forecast period. 
Reasons for this include the prospect of a resolution of the ongoing trade conflicts, mainly between 
China and the US, the easing of US interest rate policy since mid-2019, as well as the political situation 
in Europe, especially with regard to the reduced risk of a disorderly withdrawal of the United Kingdom 
from the European Union. However, at the time of the publication of this combined management report 
it becomes apparent, that the SARS-CoV-2 („Coronavirus“) virus outbreak in China at the end of 2019 
will have significant negative implications for the development of the global economy, at least in the first 
months of 2020. 

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Gruppe Deutsche Börse | Annual report 2019 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Deutsche Börse Group | Annual report 2019 

Executive and Supervisory Boards 
Management report | Report on expected developments 
Financial statements 
Notes 
Further information 

Future development of results of operations 

Given its diversified business model and multiple sources of revenue, Deutsche Börse Group believes it 
is very well positioned to further improve its results of operations in the medium and long term. This 
expectation is based on, among other things, the structural growth opportunities that the Group intends 
to exploit (for details, see the   Opportunities report), as well as on additional contributions from 
mergers and acquisitions.  

As in 2019, Deutsche Börse Group expects net revenue from structural growth opportunities to increase 
by at least 5 per cent in the forecast period. The Group is driving this growth through investment. In 
doing so, it aims to shift further market share from over-the-counter trading and clearing to the on-
exchange segment and to further expand its positions in existing asset classes by introducing new 
products and functionalities. In contrast, the development of business divisions reliant on cyclical factors 
continues to depend mainly on the degree of speculation regarding future interest rate development in 
Europe, and the extent of equity market volatility, potentially resulting in both positive and negative 
effects on the Group’s net revenue growth. 

Within the scope of its growth strategy, Deutsche Börse Group pursues clearly defined principles for 
managing operating costs. Essentially, the Group achieves the necessary flexibility in managing operating 
costs through two different initiatives designed to enhance operating efficiency. Firstly, the Group has 
implemented a continuous process to improve operating efficiency. Secondly, the Group has already 
resolved a series of structural cost reduction measures in 2018, and has largely completed the 
implementation of the said measures in 2019. 

The Group expects adjusted net profit for the period attributable to Deutsche Börse AG shareholders to 
increase to around €1.20 billion in the forecast period. The Group would then be fully in line with its 
medium-term growth targets of 10 to 15 per cent average per year for the adjusted net profit for the 
period from 2017 to 2020.  

Forecast for results of operations 2020  

Net revenue from structural opportunities (excluding non-recurring effects) 

Net profit for the period attributable to Deutsche Börse AG shareholders  

(excluding non-recurring effects) 

Based on 
2019 
€m 

2,936.0 

Forecast for 
2020 

>5% 
growth 

1,105.5 

€bn ~1.20 

80
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Gruppe Deutsche Börse | Annual report 2019 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Deutsche Börse Group | Annual report 2019 

Executive and Supervisory Boards 
Management report | Report on expected developments 
Financial statements 
Notes 
Further information 

Trends in non-financial performance indicators 

Initiatives to promote the transparency and security of the markets will continue to be a key focus during 
the forecast period, ensuring that Deutsche Börse Group adds value to society. Against this backdrop, 
the company expects to maintain the availability of the different trading systems for the cash and 
derivative market at the very high level seen in previous years throughout the forecast period.  

Responsible management that focuses on long-term value creation is of considerable importance for 
Deutsche Börse Group as a service provider. Given demographic change and the resulting shortage of 
specialist staff, the company aims to continue to position itself adequately and – among other things – to 
increase the number of women in management positions.   
Deutsche Börse AG's Executive Board has defined target quotas for women on the two management 
levels beneath the Executive Board, in accordance with section 76 (4) of the AktG, in each case referring 
to Deutsche Börse AG. By 31 December 2021, the proportion of women holding positions in the first 
and second management levels beneath the Executive Board is planned to reach 15 per cent and 20 per 
cent, respectively. 

Moreover, as early as in 2010, the Executive Board had adopted a voluntary commitment to increase the 
share of women holding middle and upper management positions to 20 per cent by 2020, and of 
women holding lower management positions to 30 per cent during the same period. The Group 
maintains this ambition, and has extended the scope of its voluntary commitment, over and above legal 
requirements. Firstly, the target figures determined in this context relate to Deutsche Börse Group 
(including subsidiaries) worldwide. Secondly, the definition of management levels/positions was 
extended to also include heads of teams, for example. 

Future development of the Group’s financial position 

The company expects operating cash flow, which is Deutsche Börse Group’s primary funding instrument, 
to remain clearly positive in the future. The Group expects that two significant factors will influence 
changes in liquidity. Firstly, the company plans to invest around €200 million in intangible assets and 
property, plant and equipment at Group level. These investments will serve primarily to develop new 
products and services in the Eurex (financial derivatives) and Clearstream (post-trading) segments, and 
to enhance existing ones. Secondly, the Executive Board and Supervisory Board of Deutsche Börse AG 
will propose a dividend of €2.90 per share to the Annual General Meeting to be held in May 2020. This 
would correspond to a cash outflow of about €532 million. Against the background of the growth 
strategy, the company anticipates that, in future, freely available funds will increasingly also be applied 
to the Group’s complementary external growth options. Apart from the above, no other material factors 
were expected to impact the Group’s liquidity at the time the combined management report was 
prepared. As in previous years, the Group assumes that it will have a sound liquidity base in the forecast 
period due to its positive cash flow from operating activities, adequate credit lines (for details   see note 
23 to the consolidated financial statements for details), and flexible management and planning systems. 

Deutsche Börse Group generally aims to distribute dividends equivalent to between 40 and 60 per cent 
of adjusted net profit for the period attributable to Deutsche Börse AG shareholders. Within this range, 
the Group manages the actual payout ratio mainly relative to the business performance and based on 
continuity considerations. In addition, the company plans to invest the remaining available funds 
primarily into organic growth, but also, secondarily, for the Group’s complementary external 
development. Should the Group be unable to invest these funds, additional payouts, particularly share 
buy-backs, present another opportunity for the use of funds. To maintain its strong credit ratings at 

81
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Gruppe Deutsche Börse | Annual report 2019 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Deutsche Börse Group | Annual report 2019 

Executive and Supervisory Boards 
Management report | Deutsche Börse AG (disclosures based on the HGB) 
Financial statements 
Notes 
Further information 

Group level, the company aims at a ratio of net debt to EBITDA of no more than 1.75, and a ratio of free 
funds from operations to net debt of at least 50 per cent. 

Overall assessment by the Executive Board 

The Executive Board of Deutsche Börse AG believes that the Group continues to be very well positioned 
in terms of international competition, thanks to its comprehensive offering along the securities trading 
value chain and its innovative strength. Against this backdrop, the Executive Board expects to see a 
positive trend in the Group' s results of operations over the long term. The purpose of the measures as 
part of the growth strategy is to further accelerate the Group’s growth. In this context, the Group aims to 
act in a more agile and effective manner, and with increased client focus, to turn Deutsche Börse into 
the global market infrastructure provider of choice, being top-ranked in all its activities. Looking at the 
economic and regulatory framework over the forecast period, uncertainty persists concerning capital 
market participants’ behaviour; therefore, it is impossible to come up with a concrete forecast for cyclical 
growth in net revenue. Nonetheless, Deutsche Börse Group endeavours to further expand its structural 
growth areas, and to increase their contribution to net revenue again by at least 5 per cent. In terms of 
net profit for the period attributable to Deutsche Börse AG shareholders, the Executive Board expects 
growth (excluding non-recurring effects) of around €1.20 billion in the forecast period. Overall, the 
Executive Board assumes on this basis that cash flow from operating activities will be clearly positive 
and that, as in previous years, the liquidity base will be sound. The overall assessment by the Executive 
Board is valid as at the publication date for this combined management report. 

Deutsche Börse AG (disclosures based on the HGB) 

The annual financial statements of Deutsche Börse AG are prepared in accordance with the provisions of 
the German Commercial Code (Handelsgesetzbuch, HGB) and the supplementary provisions of the 
German Stock Corporation Act (Aktiengesetz, AktG) and are the underlying basis for the explanations 
that follow. 

Business and operating environment 

General position 
Deutsche Börse AG is the parent company of Deutsche Börse Group. The parent company’s business 
activities include first and foremost the cash and derivatives markets, which are reflected in the Eurex 
(financial derivatives) and Xetra (cash equities) segments, as well as the data and index businesses. 
Deutsche Börse AG also operates essential parts of Deutsche Börse Group’s information technology. The 
development of Deutsche Börse Group’s Clearstream (post-trading) segment is reflected in Deutsche 
Börse AG’s business development, primarily due to the profit and loss transfer agreement with 
Clearstream Holding AG. Deutsche Börse Group’s IFS (investment fund services) and GSF (collateral 
management) segments, in contrast, play a lesser role for Deutsche Börse AG. Nonetheless, Deutsche 
Börse AG’s business and operating environment is essentially the same as that of Deutsche Börse Group; 
this is described in the   “Macroeconomic and sector-specific environment” section. 

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Gruppe Deutsche Börse | Annual report 2019 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Deutsche Börse Group | Annual report 2019 

Executive and Supervisory Boards 
Management report | Deutsche Börse AG (disclosures based on the HGB) 
Financial statements 
Notes 
Further information 

Deutsche Börse AG’s course of business in the reporting period 
Deutsche Börse AG’s revenues have increased by 1.9 per cent in the 2019 financial year, coming in 
below the company’s expectations. Total costs (staff costs, amortisation of intangible assets and 
depreciation of property, plant and equipment and other operating expenses) decreased by 4 per cent. 
Our volume of new business has risen by just under 55.2 per cent over the same period of the previous 
year. Deutsche Börse AG's Executive Board considers the company’s performance during the 2019 
financial year as satisfactory.  

Performance figures for Deutsche Börse AG 

Sales revenue by segment 

2019 
€m 

2018 
€m 

Sales revenue 

1,423.5 

1,396.5 

Total costs 

884.6 

921.2 

Net income from 
participations held 

EBITDA 

Net profit for the 
period 

Earnings per share 
(€) 

542.9 

1,181.2 

242.3 

831.2 

825.9 

532.2 

55.2 

4.501)

2.881)

56.3 

1)  Calculation based on weighted average of shares outstanding 

Change 
% 

1.9 

– 4.0

124.1 

42.1 

2019 
€m 

2018 
€m 

Change 
% 

Eurex (financial 
derivatives) 

EEX (commodities) 

360T (foreign exchange) 

854.5

14.8 

0.4 

836.6 

13.5 

2.9 

Xetra (cash equities) 

222.1 

229.8 

2.1 

9.6 

– 85.2

– 3.3

Clearstream (post-
trading) 

IFS (investment fund 
services) 

GSF (collateral 
management)  

Qontigo (index business) 

83.8 

75.7 

10.7 

15.0 

8.7 

72.3 

7.8 

25.3 

3.1 

27.4 

152.3 

– 7.6

0.5 

1.8 

Data (data business) 

199.7 

198.8 

Total 

1,423.5 

1,396.5 

Results of operations of Deutsche Börse AG 

Deutsche Börse AG’s net revenue rose by 1.9 per cent in 2019 to €1,423.5 million 
(2018: €1,396.5 million). At €854.5 million (2018: €836.6 million), the largest contribution to 
revenue came from the Eurex (financial derivatives) segment. The breakdown of revenue by company 
segment is provided in the   “Sales revenue by segment” table.  

For more information on the development of the Eurex (financial derivatives) segment, please refer to the 

 “Eurex (financial derivatives) segment” section.  

The revenue contributed by the EEX (commodities) and 360T (foreign exchange) segments is generated 
mainly by IT services. Therefore, the explanations in the   “EEX (commodities) segment” and “360T 
(foreign exchange) segment” sections relate only indirectly to Deutsche Börse AG. The earnings situation 
of the Data and Qontigo (index business) segments is shown in the   “Data segment” and “Qontigo 
(index business) segment” sections. It is worth noting that the business development of the STOXX Ltd. 
subsidiary does not directly impact upon the business performance of Deutsche Börse AG. An 
explanation of the business development in the Xetra (cash equities) segment can largely be found in the 
 “Xetra (cash equities) segment” section. Revenues attributable to the Clearstream (post-trading), IFS  

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Gruppe Deutsche Börse | Annual report 2019 
Deutsche Börse Group | Annual report 2019 

Executive and Supervisory Boards 
Management report | Deutsche Börse AG (disclosures based on the HGB) 
Financial statements 
Notes 
Further information 

(investment fund services) and GSF (collateral management) segments result from the IT services 
Deutsche Börse AG provides to companies belonging to the Clearstream Holding subgroup.  

Other operating income decreased to €36.3 million during the year under review (2018: €54.3 million). 

The company's total costs of €884.6 million were down 4 per cent year-on-year 
(2018: €921.2 million). For a breakdown, please refer to the   table “Overview of total costs”. Staff 
costs were down by 17.5 per cent year-on-year during the year under review, to €248.6 million 
(2018: €301.5 million). The decline in staff costs is mainly due to the restructuring programme and 
streamlining of the management structure. Furthermore, additions to pension provisions decreased by 
€9.8 million, which was due to changed framework conditions. The staff numbers increased from an 
average of 1,437 in the prior year to 1,472 in the 2019 financial year.  

Amortisation of intangible assets and depreciation of property, plant and equipment increased to a total 
of €59.1 million in the year under review (2018: €57.8 million).  

Other operating expenses were up 2.7 per cent year-on-year, to €576.9 million (2018: €561.9 million).  

Deutsche Börse Group’s result from equity investments for the 2019 financial year totalled €542.9 
million (2018: €242.3 million) and, among others, consisted of dividend income of €305.7 million 
(2018: €90.6 million), income from the transfer of profits in the amount of €228.1 million 
(2018: €152.7 million) and a loss absorption from profit and loss transfer agreements of €3.9 million. 

Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) increased to €1,181.2million 
(2018: €831.2 million). Net profit for the period amounted to €825.9 million, representing an increase 
of 55.2 per cent (2018: €532.2 million).  

Development of profitability 
Deutsche Börse AG’s return on equity expresses the ratio of net income after taxes to average equity 
available to the company during the course of 2019. Return on equity increased from 21 per cent in 
2018 to 29.9 per cent in the year under review. 

Financial position of Deutsche Börse AG 

As at the reporting date, cash and cash equivalents amounted to €849.3 million (2018: €716.5 million) 
and included bank deposits on current accounts as well as term deposits and other short-term deposits. 

Deutsche Börse AG has external credit lines available of €605.0 million (2018: €605.0 million), which 
were not yet drawn upon as at 31 December 2019. Moreover, the company has a Commercial Paper 
programme in place, which allows for flexible and short-term financings of up to €2.5 billion, in various 
currencies. At the end of the year, there was no Commercial Paper outstanding. 

Through a Group-wide cash-pooling system, Deutsche Börse AG ensures an optimum allocation of 
liquidity throughout Deutsche Börse Group; in this way, the parent entity makes sure that all subsidiaries 
are in a position to honour their payment obligations at any time.  

Deutsche Börse AG has issued three corporate bonds with a nominal value of €600 million each and 
one corporate bond with a nominal value of €500 million. For more details concerning these bonds, 
please refer to the   “Financial position” section.  

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Gruppe Deutsche Börse | Annual report 2019 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Deutsche Börse Group | Annual report 2019 

Executive and Supervisory Boards 
Management report | Deutsche Börse AG (disclosures based on the HGB) 
Financial statements 
Notes 
Further information 

In the 2019 financial year, Deutsche Börse AG generated cash flow from operating activities of €945.1 
million (2018: 642.3 million), mainly thanks to higher net profit. 

Cash flow from investing activities amounted to €495.0 million (2018: €444.1 million). This increase is 
strongly correlated with the capital reduction of Eurex Global AG (€442.3 million) and STOXX Ltd. 
(€50.1 million). In addition, the Index Business was spun off into Qontigo Index GmbH (€14.0 million). 

Cash flow from financing activities amounted to €–486.1 million in the year under review  
(2018: €–807.8 million). In the 2019 financial year, Deutsche Börse AG distributed €495 million in 
dividends for the year 2018. Cash and cash equivalents amounted to €47.3 million on the 31 
December 2019 reporting date (2018: €–906.6 million) and consisted of liquid funds of 
€849.3 million (2018: €716.5 million), less cash-pooling liabilities of €801.9 million (2018: 
€1,623.1 million).  

Overview of total costs 

Cash flow statement (condensed) 

2019 
€m 

2018 
€m 

Staff costs 

248.6 

301.5 

Change 
% 

– 17.5 

Depreciation and 
amortisation 

Other operating 
expenses 

Total 

59.1 

57.8 

2.3 

Cashflow from investing activities 

Cash flows from operating activities 

576.9 

561.9 

884.6 

921.2 

2.7 

– 4.0 

Cash and cash equivalents as at 
31 December 

47.3 

– 906.6 

Cashflow from financing activities 

– 486.1 

– 807.8 

2019 
€m 

2018 
€m 

945.0 

495.0 

642.3 

– 444.1 

Net assets of Deutsche Börse AG 

As at 31 December 2019, the non-current assets of Deutsche Börse AG amounted to €5,349.8 million 
(2018: €5,892.9 million). At €5,007.5 million, most of the non-current assets was attributable to 
shares in affiliated companies (2018: €5,520.9 million), mainly from the investment in Clearstream 
Holding AG, in 360 Treasury Systems AG, in Eurex Frankfurt AG as well as the investment in Qontigo 
GmbH.  

Deutsche Börse AG’s investments in intangible assets and property, plant and equipment totalled 
€60.4 million during the year under review (2018: €56.1 million). This rise was related to payments on 
account for construction in progress in various locations. Depreciation and amortisation in 2019 
amounted to €59.2 million (2018: €57.8 million).  

Receivables from and liabilities to affiliated companies include settlements for intra-Group services and 
amounts invested by Deutsche Börse AG within the scope of cash-pooling arrangements. Apart from 
settlements for intra-Group services, receivables from affiliated companies are largely due from Qontigo 
GmbH and Qontigo Index GmbH. This is on account of the spin-off of the Index Business into Qontigo 
Index GmbH and the associated establishment of Qontigo GmbH. In total, these items amount to 
€80.4 million. Liabilities to affiliated companies resulted mainly from cash-pooling amounting to 
€801.9 million (2018: €1,623.1 million) and trade liabilities in the amount of €46.1 million (2018: 
€43.9 million). 

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Gruppe Deutsche Börse | Annual report 2019 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Deutsche Börse Group | Annual report 2019 

Executive and Supervisory Boards 
Management report | Deutsche Börse AG (disclosures based on the HGB) 
Financial statements 
Notes 
Further information 

Working capital amounted to €–903.5 million in 2019 (2018: €–1,652.9 million). The change was 
mainly attributable to a decrease in liabilities from cash pooling. 

Non-current assets (condensed) 

Employees per country/region 

Intangible assets 

Property, plant and equipment 

2019 

€m 

108.5 

85.6 

2018 

€m 

Germany 

117.9 

Great Britain 

74.9 

France 

Financial assets 

5,155.7 

5,700.1 

Other European countries 

Non-current assets as at 31 
December 

5,349.8 

5,892.9 

Total Deutsche Börse AG  

1,515 

Asia 

31 Dec 2019 

1,484 

20 

5 

4 

2 

% 

98.0 

1.3 

0.3 

0.3 

0.1 

100 

Deutsche Börse AG employees 

The number of employees at Deutsche Börse AG rose by 74 in the reporting year and totalled 1,515 as 
at 31 December 2019 (31 December 2018: 1,469 employees). The average number of employees at 
Deutsche Börse AG for the 2019 financial year was 1,472 (2018: 1,437). 

During the 2019 financial year, 93 employees left Deutsche Börse AG, resulting in a staff turnover rate 
of 6 per cent. 

On 31 December 2019, Deutsche Börse AG had employees at six locations around the world. Infor-
mation on the countries, regions, the employees’ age structure and length of service are provided in the 
tables that follow.  

As at 31 December 2019, 77 per cent of Deutsche Börse AG’s employees were graduates. The ratio is 
based on the number of employees holding a degree from a university, college or vocational academy, as 
well as the employees who have completed degrees abroad. In 2019, the company invested an average 
of 4.0 days in training per employee.  

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Gruppe Deutsche Börse | Annual report 2019 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Deutsche Börse Group | Annual report 2019 

Executive and Supervisory Boards 
Management report | Deutsche Börse AG (disclosures based on the HGB) 
Financial statements 
Notes 
Further information 

Age structure of employees 

Employee length of service 

Less than 30 years 

30 to 39 years 

40 to 49 years 

More than 50 years 

31 Dec 2019 

177 

466 

401 

471 

Total Deutsche Börse AG  

1,515 

% 

11.7 

30.8 

26.4 

31.1 

100 

Less than 5 years 

5 to 15 years 

More than 15 years 

Total Deutsche Börse AG  

31 Dec 2019 

688 

340 

487 

1,515 

% 

45.4 

22.4 

32.2 

100 

Remuneration report of Deutsche Börse AG 

The principles governing the structure and design of the remuneration system at Deutsche Börse AG are 
the same as those for Deutsche Börse Group. Therefore, please refer to the   remuneration report for 
Deutsche Börse Group.  

Corporate governance statement in accordance with section 289f HGB 

The corporate governance statement in accordance with section 289f HGB corresponds to that of 
Deutsche Börse Group. Therefore, please refer to the   “Combined corporate governance statement and 
corporate governance report” section.  

Opportunities and risks facing Deutsche Börse AG 

The opportunities and risks facing Deutsche Börse AG, as well as the measures and processes for 
dealing with these opportunities and risks, are essentially the same as those for Deutsche Börse Group. 
Therefore, please refer to the   risk report and the   report on opportunities of Deutsche Börse Group. In 
principle, Deutsche Börse AG participates in the opportunities and risks of its equity investments and 
subsidiaries in proportion to the size of its shareholding. Risks that could potentially threaten the 
existence of the Eurex Clearing AG subsidiary would also have had a direct influence on Deutsche Börse 
AG based on a letter of comfort issued by Deutsche Börse AG. As of the reporting date, there were no 
risks jeopardising the company’s existence. Further information on the letter of comfort issued to Eurex 
Clearing AG is available in the   “Other financial obligations and transactions not included in the 
balance sheet” section in the notes to the annual financial statements of Deutsche Börse AG. 

The description of the internal control system (ICS), required by section 289 (4) of the HGB, is provided 
in the   “Group management” section. 

Report on expected developments at Deutsche Börse AG 

The expected developments in Deutsche Börse AG’s business are largely subject to the same factors as 
those influencing Deutsche Börse Group. The relevant disclosures and quantitative information on 
Deutsche Börse AG are provided in the   report on expected developments.  

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Gruppe Deutsche Börse | Annual report 2019 
 
  
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Deutsche Börse Group | Annual report 2019 

Executive and Supervisory Boards 
Management report | Remuneration report 
Financial statements 
Notes 
Further information 

Remuneration report

This remuneration report outlines the principles governing the remuneration system applicable to the 
members of Deutsche Börse AG’s Executive Board: it also describes the structure and amount of 
remuneration payable to them, together with the principles governing Supervisory Board remuneration, 
and the amounts payable. The remuneration report is part of the combined management report and 
complies with the requirements of the Handelsgesetzbuch (HGB, German Commercial Code), the 
International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRSs) and German Accounting Standard No. 17 (Reporting 
on the Remuneration of Members of Governing Bodies). In addition, the remuneration report (including 
the remuneration systems for the Executive Board and the Supervisory Board outlined therein) complies 
with almost all recommendations of the German Corporate Governance Code (the “Code”) as amended 
on 7 February 2017 (the “GCGC 2017); for details, please refer to the   “Combined corporate 
governance statement and corporate governance report”. The remuneration report (including the 
remuneration systems for the Executive Board and the Supervisory Board) also complies with almost all 
recommendations of the Code as amended on 16 December 2019 (the “GCGC 2020”); compliance will 
increase even further for the remuneration systems for the Executive Board and the Supervisory Board 
adjusted with effect from the 2020 financial year. 

The remuneration report comprises two sections: “Remuneration systems for the Executive Board and 
the Supervisory Board” and “Total remuneration and remuneration amounts for the Executive Board and 
the Supervisory Board”. 

Remuneration systems for the Executive Board and the Supervisory Board  

Remuneration system for the Executive Board 

General principles 
The Supervisory Board, being advised by its Nomination Committee, determines the remuneration 
system for the members of the Executive Board. The remuneration system adopted by the Supervisory 
Board is submitted to the Annual General Meeting. The Supervisory Board reviews the remuneration 
system on a regular basis, supported by its Nomination Committee, and submits the remuneration 
system to the Annual General Meeting for approval in the event of any material changes – in any case, 
every four years. The Supervisory Board may retain the support of independent external experts when 
necessary. Deutsche Börse Group’s rules for avoiding and dealing with conflicts of interest are also 
applicable to the procedures for determining, implementing and reviewing the remuneration system. 
Where conflicts of interest occur in exceptional cases, they must be disclosed: affected Board members 
may be excluded from discussion and decision-making processes, amongst other consequences. 

The previous remuneration system for the Executive Board members was adopted by the Supervisory 
Board, effective 1 January 2016, and was approved by the Annual General Meeting on 11 May 2016 in 
accordance with section 120 (4) of the Aktiengesetz (AktG, German Stock Corporation Act) (old 
wording). This remuneration system was adjusted in some areas, effective 1 January 2020, by way of a 
Supervisory Board resolution; the adjusted remuneration system will be submitted to the Annual General 
Meeting on 19 May 2020 for approval in accordance with section 120a (1) of the AktG. This 
remuneration report contains additional explanations of the adjustments applicable from the 2020 
financial year onwards; besides these adjustments, the amended remuneration system for the Executive 
Board is in line with the system in force to date.  

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Gruppe Deutsche Börse | Annual report 2019 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Deutsche Börse Group | Annual report 2019 

Executive and Supervisory Boards 
Management report | Remuneration report 
Financial statements 
Notes 
Further information 

Executive Board remuneration is set by the Supervisory Board, on the basis of the remuneration system 
in force; the Nomination Committee is responsible for preparing the Supervisory Board’s decision. In 
doing so, the Supervisory Board shall ensure that remuneration is appropriate to the corresponding 
Executive Board member’s tasks and performance, as well as to the enterprise’s financial situation, and 
that it does not exceed the prevailing market level of remuneration without specific reasons. For this 
purpose, the Supervisory Board shall conduct a horizontal and vertical peer-group comparison on a 
regular basis (at least every two years); see the   section on “Examination of appropriateness of 
Executive Board remuneration (peer-group comparison)” for details. 

Targets and reference parameters set by the Supervisory Board for variable remuneration components for 
each new financial year may not be changed retrospectively. 

A target remuneration in line with prevailing market levels is assigned to each Executive Board member. 
This target remuneration is predominantly oriented upon the skills and experience required for that 
member’s tasks, as well as upon the target remuneration for the other Executive Board members. The 
remuneration for the Chairman of the Executive Board (Chief Executive Officer) is roughly double the 
target remuneration for the other Executive Board members. 

Implementation of the remuneration system adjusted with effect from the 2020 financial year 
The adjusted remuneration system for the Executive Board applies to all service contracts with Executive 
Board members entered into or extended on or after 1 January 2020. In accordance with the 
GCGC 2020 and section 26j of the Einführungsgesetz zum Aktiengesetz (EGAktG, Introductory Law to 
the German Stock Corporation Act), the existing remuneration system shall continue to apply to all 
existing service contracts with members of the Executive Board. Executive Board members are 
remunerated in accordance with the remuneration system applicable to them. 

Contribution to promoting the corporate strategy and supporting the long-term development of the 
company. 
Within the framework of its corporate strategy, Deutsche Börse’s goal is to strengthen – and further 
expand – its position as a leading European financial markets infrastructure provider with global growth 
ambitions over the long term. Hence, the company’s primary strategic focus is on growth. Deutsche 
Börse Group aligns its actions with long-term and sustainable company success, discharging its 
corporate responsibility holistically. 

In line with these targets, the remuneration system for the Executive Board is based on three pillars: 
firstly, a clear performance orientation and a highly detailed assessment based on ambitious internal and 
external targets ensure the focus is on the company’s goal of above-average growth. Secondly, multi-year 
bases for assessment, long-term elements, and the use of deferred payouts discourage excessive risk-
taking. Thirdly, the new remuneration system promotes a strong equity culture, and in this way helps 
align the interests of shareholders, management and other stakeholders. Particularly the individual 
targets set incentives for sustainable action. 

Within the scope of the remuneration system adjusted as of 1 January 2020, the Supervisory Board is 
entitled to temporarily deviate from the remuneration system pursuant to section 87a (2) of the AktG if it 
is necessary for the sake of the company’s long-term wellbeing. Such a deviation requires a resolution 
adopted by the Supervisory Board with a two-thirds majority – based on a recommendation made by the 
Nomination Committee – listing the reasons and the type of deviation on a case-by-case basis. Based on 
such a resolution, deviations from the remuneration system are possible for all remuneration 
components. The maximum remuneration however cannot be touched. 

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Structure and remuneration components 
The remuneration system for Executive Board members consists of four components:  

  Non-performance-related basic remuneration  
  Performance-related remuneration components  
  Contractual ancillary benefits 
  Pension contribution 

On aggregate, the four components set out above represent the target total remuneration. Non-
performance-related basic remuneration plus performance-related remuneration components are 
equivalent to target direct remuneration (also refer to the chart below: “Composition of target direct 
remuneration and target total remuneration”). 

In addition, the company’s share ownership guidelines require Executive Board members to invest a 
substantial amount of money in Deutsche Börse AG shares during their term of office. 

The individual remuneration system components for the Executive Board are explained in detail below. 

Non-performance-related basic remuneration 
The members of the Executive Board receive a fixed base salary, which is payable in twelve equal 
monthly instalments. This non-performance-related remuneration comprises approximately 30 per cent 
of the target direct remuneration payable each year. 

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Performance-related remuneration components 
Performance-related remuneration accounts for approximately 70 per cent of target direct remuneration 
for the year and is largely share-based. It predominantly covers a period of several years and comprises a 
performance bonus and performance shares. Performance-related remuneration is largely calculated on 
a long-term basis, with various target criteria being assessed over a period of five years (performance 
shares) or four years (share-based performance bonus: one-year performance period and three-year 
holding period for shares to be invested). The cash component of the performance bonus (annual 
payout) is the only short-term variable remuneration component (see also the “Basic remuneration, and 
annual and long-term incentive components” chart).  

Performance bonus 
The performance bonus is calculated on the basis of Deutsche Börse AG’s Performance Bonus Plan 
(PBP). It accounts for roughly two-thirds of Executive Board members’ performance-related remuneration 
and for approximately 45 per cent of their target direct remuneration. The performance bonus is split 
50:50 between a share-based component (the share-based performance bonus) and a cash component.  

Performance shares 
Performance shares are calculated and granted on the basis of the Performance Share Plan (PSP). They 
are paid out after the reporting period since they reflect the performance of Deutsche Börse AG’s share 
price over a five-year performance period. Performance shares account for approximately one-third of 
Executive Board members’ performance-related remuneration, and for approximately 25 per cent of their 
target direct remuneration. 

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The criteria used by the Supervisory Board to assess the extent to which Executive Board members have 
met their individual targets are described below. These criteria are used to calculate the performance 
bonus due to Executive Board members, as well as the number of performance shares to be granted and 
their value. 

Principles governing the PBP and assessing target achievement for the performance bonus 
Based on the PBP, a performance bonus with a certain target value is indicated to the Executive Board 
members for each year. The extent to which Executive Board members have met their targets for the 
performance bonus is determined for each financial year on the basis of the PBP. The basic assessment 
procedure is based on two components: two-thirds of the bonus consider the increase in adjusted net 
profit attributable to Deutsche Börse AG shareholders for the remuneration year concerned (hereinafter 
referred to as net income) and thus reflect Deutsche Börse AG’ strategic growth orientation. One-third 
reflects the Executive Board members’ individual performance which is assessed particularly with a view 
to whether strategic and operating targets with strategic relevance were achieved. This way, the 
performance bonus recognises the implementation of Deutsche Börse AG’s business strategy, thus 
contributing to the company’s long-term development. 

Once the Supervisory Board has determined the overall extent to which Board members have met their 
targets using these two components, it may then review this figure and adjust it using a performance 
multiplier in exceptional situations if so required; this can be done either for individual Executive Board 
members or for the Executive Board as a whole. Please refer to the   “Determining the performance 
multiplier” section. 

The total performance bonus is paid out in cash, at the latest together with the regular salary payment 
for the calendar month following the approval of Deutsche Börse AG’s consolidated financial statements 
for the year. Executive Board members are obliged to invest 50 per cent of the total payout after tax in 
Deutsche Börse AG shares, which they have to hold for at least three years. For further details regarding 
the share purchase process, please refer to the   section “Automated share purchase designed to fulfil 
the plan conditions as well as the share ownership guidelines”.  

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Assessing the adjusted net income growth 
Net income growth is calculated independently from the financial planning concerned by comparing the 
adjusted net income for the remuneration year with the prior-year figure. Target achievement rates may 
range between 0 and 200 per cent: net income decrease of 20 per cent or more corresponds to a 0 per 
cent target achievement rate (floor). Where net income remains stable (i.e. unchanged year-on-year), 
this is deemed to represent a target achievement rate of 75 per cent, while a 7.5 per cent increase is 
equivalent to a target achievement rate of 100 per cent (target value). Net income growth of 15 per cent 
or more corresponds to a 200 per cent target achievement rate (cap). This means that there is a stronger 
incentive to achieve net income growth of between 7.5 per cent and 15 per cent, because the target 
achievement curve is steeper (see the following “Assessing net income for the performance bonus” 
chart). 

PBP adjustments as of the 2020 financial year 
Under the remuneration system in force from the 2020 financial year onwards, the net income 
assessment to determine target achievement for the performance bonus was adjusted. By 
carrying out these amendments, the Supervisory Board once again increases the incentive for 
above-average net income growth.  

On the one hand, the floor for a performance bonus payout was elevated, meaning that in future 
a net income decrease of 10 per cent or more corresponds to a 0 per cent target achievement 
rate (previously: 20 per cent and more). According to the Supervisory Board’s view, the thus 
steeper and now linear target achievement curve (see the following chart “Assessing net income 
for the performance bonus as of 1 January 2020”) between floor and target value better reflects 
Deutsche Börse AG’s desired performance culture. At the same time, the Supervisory Board 
continues to deem the floor of a slightly decreasing net income for the one-year performance 
period to be appropriate. Such net income fluctuations are often also based on external factors 
and should not lead to a total loss of the performance bonus.  

In addition, the maximum performance bonus as of 1 January 2020 shall only be granted as of 
minimum net income growth amounting to 18.75 per cent (previously: 15 per cent). The cap 
was also elevated, from 200 per cent to 250 per cent, to reward above-average net income 
growth even more. 

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Determining individual targets and assessing the target achievement 
The Supervisory Board defines the Executive Board members’ individual targets and their weighting for 
the upcoming financial year (and in the event that a member is elected during the year, as of the 
appointment date). Individual targets can also be determined for the entire Executive Board. 

Individual targets should contribute to an implementation of the corporate strategy as well as to a long-
term, sustainable development at Deutsche Börse Group. Targets must be demanding and ambitious. 
Furthermore, they must be specific enough to allow for target achievement to be measured, i.e. specific 
figures or expectations for target achievement are determined. To avoid dilution, each Executive Board 
member shall have no more than four targets per year. 

The targets are derived from the Group or corporate strategy or its respective parts and comprise their 
implementation. Strategic projects and initiatives can directly serve to implement the corporate strategy, 
as can operating measures. The latter can also be agreed as targets if they indirectly contribute to 
strategy implementation, for example by creating an essential foundation for the company’s structure, 
organisation, function and long-term development. 

The performance criteria to be used by the Supervisory Board within the scope of the annual target 
agreement can be financial as well as non-financial and must include at least one performance criterion 
from the catalogue of sustainability topics (including ecological and social aspects) per year, provided the 
Supervisory Board doesn’t refrain from this due to special circumstances in individual cases. 

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Catalogue of performance criterions 

Corporate strategy implementation 

Objectives of the corporate strategy 

Business development 

Product development and innovation 

Gaining market share 

Exploring new markets 

Strategic projects 

M&A 

Sustainability 

Customer satisfaction 

Employee satisfaction 

Diversity 

Risk management 

Compliance 

Corporate governance 

Corporate Social Responsibility 

Company structure, organisation, and function 

Carbon emission reduction/considerate use of resources 

Efficiency enhancement 

Liquidity planning 

Reporting and communication 

Succession planning 

Advised by the Nomination Committee, the Supervisory Board assesses the extent to which each 
member of the Executive Board has achieved his or her targets after the end of the remuneration year in 
question. A floor of 0 per cent and a cap of 200 per cent have been defined for the target achievement 
rate of individual targets.  

The individual targets for the Executive Board members for the 2020 financial year were determined in 
accordance with the adjusted remuneration system. The target agreement includes both targets regarding 
the implementation of Deutsche Börse AG’s growth strategy “Roadmap 2020” and sustainability targets 
alike. The individual targets determined for and the target achievement rate of the Executive Board 
members are reported in a transparent manner following the remuneration year. 

Determining the performance multiplier 
The performance multiplier for the performance bonus supports the Supervisory Board in special 
situations when considering additional success and performance aspects hitherto not sufficiently 
comprised in the previously determined targets. As such, the performance multiplier can be used e.g. in 
the event of mergers, acquisitions or divestments to allow the Supervisory Board to account for any 
dilution of equity, or to reflect the achievement of qualitative or quantitative targets (especially integration 
parameters) when finally assessing the extent to which an Executive Board member has achieved his or 
her overall targets. The performance multiplier has a minimum value of 0.8 and a maximum value of 
1.2; it is multiplied by the performance assessment for the performance bonus, taking the 200 per cent 
cap (as of 2020 financial year: 233.33 per cent) into account.  

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Principles governing the PSP and assessing target achievement for performance shares 
At the beginning of each financial year, the PSP allots a potential number of so-called performance 
shares to each member of the Executive Board. The number of initial (phantom) performance shares 
thus allotted is determined by dividing the amount of the individual target remuneration (in euros) by the 
average Xetra® closing price of Deutsche Börse shares in the calendar month preceding the start of the 
performance period (fair value of the performance shares). Target achievement regarding performance 
shares is determined after the end of a five-year performance period. The respective target achievements 
are assessed on the basis of two components: firstly, the adjusted net income growth over the five-year 
period, and, secondly, the relative total shareholder return (TSR) for Deutsche Börse shares compared to 
the TSR for the STOXX® Europe 600 Financials index (the industry benchmark) during the same period. 
The PSP thus supports the implementation of the growth-oriented corporate strategy on the one hand 
and especially Deutsche Börse AG’s long-term development via the long-standing performance period on 
the other. 

The final number of phantom performance shares is determined from the total target achievement rate 
for net income growth and TSR performance during the performance period, multiplied by the number of 
(phantom) performance shares granted at the outset. The final number of phantom performance shares 
determined in this manner is multiplied by the average Xetra closing price for Deutsche Börse shares in 
the calendar month preceding the end of the performance period. This results in the amount to be paid 
out to purchase the tradeable shares (adjusted for the dividends per share paid out during the per-
formance period). Each payout amount is generally due in three equal instalments: the first instalment is 
due at the latest together with the regular salary payment for the calendar month following the approval 
of Deutsche Börse AG’s consolidated financial statements for the year after the end of the performance 
period in question; the second and third instalments are due at the corresponding dates in the two years 
subsequent to the payment of the first instalment. The members of the Executive Board are obliged to 
invest the amount paid out after tax in Deutsche Börse AG shares. For further details regarding the share 
purchase process, please refer to the   section “Automated share purchase designed to fulfil the plan 
conditions as well as the share ownership guidelines”. 

The PSP has two variables:  

  The first variable is the number of performance shares which is derived from the net income growth 
and from the TSR for Deutsche Börse shares in comparison to the TSR of the reference index, over a 
five-year period in each case. The maximum number of performance shares is limited at 250 per cent 
of the number of performance shares determined at the beginning of the performance period.  

  The second variable is the change in the share price and the dividend during the performance period; 

no cap is applied to the share price. 

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Assessing net income for performance shares
The Supervisory Board determines the target achievement rate for adjusted net income growth at the  
end of each financial year during the five-year performance period and determines them for the 
Executive Board members. The target achievement rate at the end of the performance period in question 
is the average of the annual target achievement rates for each of the five years. Target achievement rates 
may range between 0 and 250 per cent. If net income declines or remains unchanged year-on-year, this 
is deemed to represent a target achievement rate of 0 per cent (floor), while a 7.5 per cent increase 
corresponds to a target achievement rate of 100 per cent. Net income growth of 15 per cent or more 
corresponds to a 250 per cent target achievement rate (cap). The target achievement rate increases 
more strongly for growth rates between 10 and 15 per cent than for single-digit growth rates, providing a 
greater incentive for Executive Board members to aim for double-digit net income growth (see also the 
following chart “Assessing net income growth for performance shares”).  

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PSP adjustments regarding net income growth as of the 2020  financial year 
The remuneration system valid as of financial year 2020 has also been amended with regard to 
assessing net income for the PSP. These adjustments refer to the performance periods beginning 
as of this point in time. Net income growth required to achieve the cap was lifted from 15 per 
cent to 18.75 per cent, whilst the target achievement cap of 250 per cent was maintained. The 
Supervisory Board thus increases the demands for maximum target achievement regarding net 
income growth under the Performance Share Plan. 

Furthermore, as of financial year 2020 the target achievement curve is completely linear between 
floor and cap. Therefore, the higher target achievement rate of 133 per cent in the hitherto non-
linear target achievement curve disappears if net income increases by 10 per cent (see the 
following chart “Assessing net income growth for performance shares as of 1 January 2020”).  

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Assessing the TSR performance for Deutsche Börse shares 
The TSR performance for Deutsche Börse shares is derived from Deutsche Börse AG’s ranking relative to 
the companies included in the STOXX Europe 600 Financials index. The target achievement rates for 
Executive Board members can range from 0 per cent (floor) to 250 per cent (cap). A zero per cent target 
achievement rate is assumed where Deutsche Börse AG’s five-year relative TSR falls short of the median, 
i.e. where it is lower than that for at least half of the index constituents. Where Deutsche Börse AG’s TSR 
has performed in line with 60 per cent of index constituents, this represents a target achievement rate of 
100 per cent. Where Deutsche Börse AG’s TSR has performed in line with at least 75 per cent of index 
constituents, this represents a target achievement rate of 175 per cent. The cap of 250 per cent is 
reached if Deutsche Börse AG’s TSR ranks in the top 20 per cent of index constituents – in other words, 
if it is in the 80th percentile of the index or higher. Please also refer to the following chart “Assessing the 
total shareholder return (TSR) for Deutsche Börse shares for performance shares”. 

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PSP adjustments regarding TSR performance as of the 2020 financial year 
As with assessing net income, the cap for total shareholder return as a second performance 
indicator of the Performance Share Plan was left at 250 per cent, albeit with a higher target 
achievement. To reach the cap, Deutsche Börse AG’s TSR must in future lie at or above the TSR 
of at least 90 per cent of companies included in the benchmark index (until financial year 
2020: 80 per cent). The Supervisory Board thereby also increases the total shareholder return 
demands for maximum target achievement under the Performance Share Plan.  

In line with the target achievement curve for net income growth, the curve for TSR performance 
was also adjusted and is linear now. 

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Contractual ancillary benefits 
Contractual ancillary benefits are granted to members of the Executive Board, such as the provision of an 
appropriate company car for business and personal use. They also receive taxable contributions towards 
private pensions. In addition, the company may take out insurance cover for them (within reason). 
Currently this includes personal accident insurance and directors & officers (D&O) insurance for 
Executive Board members. Other ancillary benefits may include a temporary or permanent 
reimbursement of expenses for a second household, journeys home, moving costs, cost coverage for 
security measures and the use of pool vehicles or transport services. 

Pension commitments 

Retirement benefits
The members of the Executive Board are generally entitled to receive retirement benefits upon reaching 
the age of 60, provided that they are no longer in the service of Deutsche Börse AG at that time – for 
Thomas Book, this applies on reaching the age of 63. The Supervisory Board reviews and determines 
the pensionable income that is used as the basis for retirement benefits. There are two different 
retirement benefit systems for Executive Board members. Executive Board members normally receive a 
defined contribution pension. Those members who continue being subject to an existing agreement from 
prior appointments within Deutsche Börse Group may instead receive a defined benefit pension. The 
pensionable income and the present value of the pension commitments existing as at 31 December 
2019 are shown in the   “Retirement benefits” table. 

Defined contribution pension system: For Executive Board members covered by the defined 
contribution pension system, the company makes an annual capital contribution to the scheme for each 
calendar year that a member serves on the Executive Board. This contribution is determined by applying 
an individual percentage (known as the “replacement rate”) to the pensionable income. The pensionable 
income is determined and regularly reviewed by the Supervisory Board. The annual capital contributions 
calculated in this way bear interest of 3 per cent per annum. Benefits are generally paid in the form of a 
monthly pension, however, Executive Board members have the option of choosing a one-off capital 
payment or five instalments. Pension entitlements are vested in accordance with the 

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Betriebsrentengesetz (German Company Pensions Act). The defined contribution pension system applies 
to Theodor Weimer, Christoph Böhm, Stephan Leithner, Gregor Pottmeyer and Hauke Stars. 

Defined benefit pension system: After reaching the contractually agreed retirement age, members of  
the Executive Board covered by the defined benefit pension system receive the replacement rate of their 
individual pensionable income as a pension. A precondition for this is that the Executive Board member 
in question served on the Executive Board for at least three years and was reappointed at least once. As 
with the defined contribution pension system, the pensionable income is determined and regularly 
reviewed by the Supervisory Board. The replacement rate depends upon the Executive Board member’s 
term of office and the number of reappointments and amounts to a maximum of 50 per cent. Payout 
terms and vesting rules are in line with those applicable for the defined contribution pension system. 
From among the active members of the Executive Board, the defined benefit pension system applies to 
Thomas Book.  

Early retirement pension 
Members of the Executive Board who have a defined benefit pension are entitled to an early retirement 
pension if the company does not extend their contract, unless the reasons for this are attributable to the 
Executive Board member or would justify termination without notice of the Executive Board member’s 
contract. The amount of the early retirement pension is calculated in the same way as the retirement 
benefits – by applying the applicable replacement rate to the pensionable income. Once again, a 
precondition is that the Executive Board member served on the Executive Board for at least three years 
and was reappointed at least once. Members of the Executive Board who have a defined contribution 
pension are not eligible for an early retirement pension. 

Permanent incapacity to work and death benefits 
In the event that a member of the Executive Board becomes permanently incapable of working, the 
company is entitled to retire him or her. Executive Board members are deemed to be permanently 
incapable of working if they are unable to perform their professional activities for more than six months, 
and if they are not expected to regain their capacity to work within a further six months. In such cases, 
those Executive Board members who have a defined benefit pension plan receive the amount calculated 
by applying the applicable replacement rate to the pensionable income. Executive Board members with 
a defined contribution pension plan receive the plan assets that have accrued at the time when the 
benefits fall due, plus a supplement corresponding to the full annual pension contribution that would 
have been due in the year in which the Executive Board member left the company’s service, multiplied 
by the number of years between the time at which the benefits fell due and the Executive Board member 
reaching the age of 60. 

If an Executive Board member dies, his or her spouse receives 60 per cent and each dependent child 
receives 10 per cent of the above amount (25 per cent for full orphans), up to a maximum of 100 
per cent of the pension contribution. 

Transitional payments 
In the event that an Executive Board member becomes permanently incapable of working, the defined 
benefit pension agreements for Executive Board members provide for a transitional payment. The 
amount of this payment corresponds to the target variable remuneration (performance bonus and 
performance shares) in the year in which the event triggering the benefits occurs. It is paid out in two 
tranches in the two following years. If an Executive Board member dies, his or her spouse receives 
60 per cent of the transitional payment.  

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Share ownership guidelines 
Deutsche Börse’s share ownership guidelines are a key element in order ensure that remuneration for 
the Executive Board is aligned with the long-term corporate performance of Deutsche Börse AG, as 
provided for by the strategy. Under these guidelines, members of the Executive Board are obliged to 
continuously hold a multiple of their average basic remuneration in Deutsche Börse AG shares during 
their term of office. A multiple of 3 applies to the CEO, and a multiple of 2 to the Deputy CEO and to 
ordinary Executive Board members. Shares belonging to the following three categories are used to assess 
compliance with the share ownership guidelines: (1) shares purchased from the performance bonus; (2) 
shares received under the allocation of performance shares; and (3) shares held in private ownership. In 
each case, such shareholdings must be built up over a three-year period. The shareholdings of Mr 
Pottmeyer and Ms Stars were evaluated as at 31 December 2018 and were found to be compliant with 
the share ownership guidelines. Such compliance shall be evaluated on 31 December 2020 with regard 
to the shareholdings of Mr Weimer and on 31 December 2021 at the latest with regard to the 
shareholdings of Mr Böhm, Mr Book and Mr Leithner. For further details regarding the procedures for 
these share purchases, please refer to the   section “Automated share purchase designed to fulfil the 
plan conditions as well as the share ownership guidelines”. 

Additional elements of the remuneration system for the Executive Board 

Severance payments 
In the event that an Executive Board member’s contract of service is terminated early for a reason other 
than good cause, any payments made to the Executive Board member may not exceed the remuneration 
for the residual term of his or her contract of service, and may also not exceed the value of two total 
annual remuneration payments (severance cap). The payment is calculated on the basis of the total 
remuneration for the past financial year and, where appropriate, the expected total remuneration for the 
current financial year. Performance bonus claims and performance shares that have been granted will 
lapse if the company has good cause for an extraordinary termination of the Executive Board member’s 
employment or if an Executive Board member terminates his or her contract before the end of the 
performance period without good cause and without reaching a mutual agreement. 

Examination of appropriateness of Executive Board remuneration (peer-group comparison) 
The Supervisory Board conducts a horizontal and vertical peer-group comparison to examine the 
appropriateness of Executive Board remuneration on a regular basis (at least every two years). For this 
purpose, the Supervisory Board may seek the advice of an external expert who is independent from the 
Executive Board and from the company. The horizontal comparison is based on a relevant peer group of 
reference companies; this may include DAX constituents, international exchange operators, national and 
international financial institutions, financial infrastructure providers or similar groups. When selecting 
peer groups for comparison, the Supervisory Board will consider, in particular, that such companies are 
comparable in size to Deutsche Börse AG. The vertical comparison concerns the relationship between 
Executive Board remuneration to the remuneration levels of senior management (comprising two 
management levels below the Executive Board) and of the entire workforce, as well as the development 
of the various salary levels over a two-year period. In this respect, the Supervisory Board considers the 
remuneration levels compared to employees of Deutsche Börse AG, as well as to the overall workforce of 
Deutsche Börse Group. The Supervisory Board takes the results of this examination into account when 
setting target remuneration for members of the Executive Board, and thus also ascertains that Executive 
Board remuneration is appropriate. 

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Compensation for lapsed remuneration claims against a previous employer 
Where a member of the Executive Board has demonstrably and permanently lost claims for remuneration 
against a previous employer (for example, long-term variable remuneration granted or pension 
commitments), the Supervisory Board may agree to compensation – in the form of a one-off payment, 
by granting additional variable remuneration during the first year of the Executive Board service contract, 
or a one-off contribution to the pension agreement. Any such grants must be disclosed separately in the 
remuneration report. 

Automated share purchase designed to fulfil the plan conditions as well as  
the share ownership guidelines 
For members of the Executive Board, the share purchase agreed upon under the Performance Bonus 
Plan and the Performance Share Plan, as well as any share purchase from private funds, must be settled 
by a service provider appointed by Deutsche Börse AG and assigned by the beneficiary; the service 
provider invests the investment amounts independently, i.e. without any influence from the beneficiary 
or the company, on behalf of the beneficiary into Deutsche Börse AG shares. The share purchase takes 
place during the first four trading days (consecutive calendar days) in June every year. 

Determining maximum remuneration 
The annual remuneration – comprising fixed salary, variable remuneration components and pension 
expenses – is capped at an aggregate gross amount of €9.5 million (total cap) for each Executive Board 
member. Ancillary benefits are not included in this amount. Although these are subject to fluctuation, 
no extraordinary fluctuations are expected and therefore it is not necessary to include them in the total 
cap. In the interest of shareholders, the company will continue to provide competitive incentives for 
good personal performance and the company's long-term sustainable success to Executive Board 
members, whilst preventing any unintended excesses which might otherwise be possible.  

Maximum remuneration adjustment as of the 2020 financial year 
In future, not only the annual remuneration – comprising fixed salary, variable remuneration 
components and pension expenses – but also ancillary benefits will be subject to the cap of the 
total remuneration at an aggregate gross amount of €9.5 million (total cap). 

Change of control 
If an Executive Board member is asked to stand down within six months of a change of control, he or 
she is entitled to a severance payment equal to two total annual remuneration payments or the value of 
the residual term of his or her contract of service, where this is less than two years. This entitlement 
may be increased to 150 per cent of the severance payment. If an Executive Board member resigns 
within six months of the change of control taking effect because his or her position as a member of the 
Executive Board is negatively impacted to a significant degree as a result of the change of control, the 
Supervisory Board may decide at its discretion whether to grant a severance payment in the above-
mentioned amount. In the case of a change of control, all current performance periods shall end on the 
day on which the contract of service is terminated. The corresponding performance shares will be settled 
early. 

Change of control adjustments as of the 2020 financial year 
The provision for a change of control and a resulting severance payment are cancelled without 
substitution. 

Term of Executive Board service contracts 
The term of service contracts for Executive Board members depends on the duration of appointment. 
Generally, a multi-year term of office is envisaged, taking the provisions on flexible age limit into 

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Executive and Supervisory Boards 
Management report | Remuneration report 
Financial statements 
Notes 
Further information 

consideration (see the   “Flexible age limit and term of office” section). The Supervisory Board thus 
considers the threshold as per section 84 of the AktG, particularly the maximum term of office of five 
years. In accordance with recommendation B.3 of the GCGC 2020, the term for first-time appointments 
should not exceed three years. Service contracts do not provide for ordinary termination, in accordance 
with German public-company law, whereby the right to terminate without notice, for good cause, 
remains unaffected. The service contract is also terminated early in the event of the appointment being 
terminated early, unless specificaly agreed otherwise. 

Post-contractual non-compete clause 
A post-contractual non-compete clause applies to members of Deutsche Börse AG's Executive Board. 
This means that the Executive Board members in question are contractually prohibited from acting for a 
competing company, or from undertaking competing activities, for one year following the end of their 
service. Compensation of 75 per cent of the member’s final fixed remuneration and 75 per cent of his or 
her final cash bonus is payable during the non-compete period. Pension agreement benefits are offset 
against the compensation. In addition, 50 per cent of other earnings are deducted if these – together 
with the compensation – exceed the Executive Board member’s final remuneration. The company may 
waive the post-contractual non-compete clause before the Executive Board member’s contract of service 
ends. 

Adjustments to the post-contractual non-compete clause from the 2020 financial year onwards 
Going forward, any severance payments will also be offset against compensation, in addition to 
pension agreement benefits. 

Sideline activities 
Additional appointments assumed, or sideline activities entered into, by individual members of the 
Executive Board, require the approval of the full Executive Board and the Chairman of the Supervisory 
Board or, in certain cases, of the full Supervisory Board (which has delegated granting such approval to 
the Nomination Committee). If a member of the Executive Board receives any remuneration for an office 
performed at an affiliate of Deutsche Börse AG, this remuneration is offset against the Executive Board 
member’s entitlement to remuneration from Deutsche Börse AG. 

Recovery or reduction of variable remuneration (clawback) from the 2020 financial year 
onwards 
By virtue of the service contract for Executive Board members, in events of serious misconduct, 
the Supervisory Board is entitled to demand repayment of variable remuneration under the 
Performance Bonus Plan or the Performance Share Plan, in full or in part, or to reduce variable 
remuneration not yet disbursed accordingly (compliance clawback). Any such clawback shall be 
limited to the calendar year during which the reason has occurred. The Supervisory Board shall 
be entitled to asset a clawback claim even after an Executive Board member has left the 
company, for a period of up to two years following termination of the service contract. Any claims 
for damages remain unaffected by the assertion of any clawback of variable remuneration. 

Remuneration system for the Supervisory Board 

Remuneration for the Supervisory Board is a fixed remuneration only, plus an attendance fee for 
meetings, in accordance with suggestion G.18 sentence 1 of the GCGC 2020. The members of the 
Supervisory Board receive fixed annual remuneration of €70,000. In accordance with section 5.4.6 (1) 
sentence 2 of the GCGC 2017 (recommendation G.17 of the GCGC 2020), remuneration is increased 
for the Chairman of the Supervisory Board and for his or her deputy, as well as for chairs and members 

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Deutsche Börse Group | Annual report 2019 

Executive and Supervisory Boards 
Management report | Remuneration report 
Financial statements 
Notes 
Further information 

of committees. The remuneration for the Chairman of the Supervisory Board amounts to €170,000; the 
remuneration for the Deputy Chairman to €105,000. Members of Supervisory Board committees receive 
additional fixed annual remuneration of €30,000 for each committee position they hold. The relevant 
amount for members of the Audit Committee is €35,000. The remuneration paid to committee chairs is 
€40,000, or €60,000 in the case of the Chairman of the Audit Committee. If a Supervisory Board 
member belongs to several Supervisory Board committees, only their work on a maximum of two 
committees (the two most highly remunerated ones) is remunerated. Supervisory Board members who 
only hold office for part of the financial year receive one-twelfth of the fixed annual remuneration and, if 
applicable, of the remuneration payable for their membership of committees, for each month or part-
month in which they are members. The remuneration for any financial year is due and payable as a one-
off payment after the General Meeting that accepts the consolidated financial statements for the relevant 
financial year or decides on their approval. 

Members of the Supervisory Board or a Supervisory Board committee receive an attendance fee of 
€1,000 for each Board or committee meeting that they attend in person, either as a member or as a 
guest. Where two or more meetings are held on the same day or on consecutive days, the attendance 
fee is only paid once. 

The Supervisory Board examines, on a regular basis, whether its members’ remuneration is appropriate, 
given their tasks and the situation of the company. For this purpose, the Supervisory Board shall conduct 
a horizontal market comparison, and may seek the advice of an independent external expert. Depending 
upon the result of the comparative analysis and the Supervisory Board’s assessment of this result, the 
Supervisory Board may, jointly with the Executive Board, submit a proposal to the Annual General 
Meeting for adjustments to Supervisory Board remuneration. Irrespective of such a proposal the Annual 
General Meeting passes a resolution on the remuneration of Supervisory Board members (including the 
underlying remuneration system) every four years at the latest; the relevant resolution may also confirm 
the current remuneration. 

The structure of Supervisory Board remuneration, providing for fixed remuneration only, strengthens  
the Board’s independence and provides for a counterbalance to the structure of Executive Board 
remuneration, which is mainly variable and aligned with Deutsche Börse AG's growth strategy. 
Supervisory Board remuneration therefore contributes to the implementation of the business strategy, 
and thus promotes Deutsche Börse AG's long-term development.  

Planned adjustments to Supervisory Board remuneration from the 2020 financial year onwards 
The Supervisory Board has carried out a horizontal comparison of the existing components of 
Supervisory Board remuneration; this exercise was prepared by the Nomination Committee and 
the Supervisory Board was supported in its examination by an independent external expert. 

Based on this market comparison, the Supervisory Board and the Executive Board resolved to 
propose to the ordinary Annual General Meeting of Deutsche Börse AG on 19 May 2020 that 
individual components of Supervisory Board remuneration be adjusted by way of amendments to 
the Articles of Association. Based on the proposed adjustments, members of the Supervisory 
Board will in future receive fixed annual remuneration of €85,000. The remuneration for the 
Chairman of the Supervisory Board is proposed to be raised to €220,000; the remuneration for 
the Deputy Chairman to €125,000. The additional remuneration for the Chairman of the Audit 
Committee is proposed to be raised to €75,000. The additional remuneration for chairs of the 
other committees, as well as for membership in all committees, is set to remain unchanged. The 
remaining rules governing remuneration for members of Deutsche Börse AG’s Supervisory Board 
will also remain unchanged. 

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Deutsche Börse Group | Annual report 2019 

Executive and Supervisory Boards 
Management report | Remuneration report 
Financial statements 
Notes 
Further information 

The Supervisory Board believes that the structure of Supervisory Board remuneration, providing 
for fixed remuneration only (plus attendance fees) already provides for a sensible counterbalance 
to the growth-oriented Executive Board remuneration, and thus contributes to the sustainable 
long-term development of Deutsche Börse AG. Fundamentally, remuneration for the Supervisory 
Board has been unchanged since 2012. The proposed amendments duly account for the further 
increasing importance of the Supervisory Board’s supervision and advisory duties, in the context 
of rising complexity of Deutsche Börse Group's business activities.  

Remuneration report for the Executive Board and the Supervisory Board  

Remuneration report for the Executive Board 

Loans to Executive Board members 
The company did not grant any loans or advances to members of the Executive Board during financial 
year 2019, and there are no loans or advances from previous years to members of the Executive Board. 

Payments to former members of the Executive Board 
Former members of the Executive Board or their surviving dependants received payments of €9.7 million 
in the year under review (2018: €4.4 million). The actuarial present value of the pension obligations as 
at the reporting date was €84.8 million (31 December 2018: €67.5 million). 

Benefits in connection with the termination of Executive Board appointments 
The former Deputy CEO, Mr Preuss, has resigned from his appointment as at 31 October 2018. His 
service contract ended on 31 May 2019. For the remaining term of his service contract in 2019 
(1 January until 31 May 2019), he received the following remuneration: 

  Fixed remuneration: €333,300 
  Performance bonus: €584,500 
  Performance shares (full year 2019): 6,473  
  Ancillary benefits: €14,400 

With regard to Mr Preuss, the company has decided to waive the post-contractual non-compete clause. 

Remuneration of former CEO Carsten Kengeter 
The former Chief Executive Officer, Carsten Kengeter, who stepped down with effect from 31 December 
2017, participated in the Co-Performance Investment Plan (CPIP) that was resolved by the Supervisory 
Board in 2015. In December 2015, during the investment period provided for in the CPIP, he used 
private funds to invest €4,500,000 in Deutsche Börse AG shares (investment shares). In return for his 
acquisition of the investment shares, Mr Kengeter was granted 68,987 co-performance shares in the 
company. The performance period for the co-performance shares commenced on 1 January 2015 and 
ended on 31 December 2019. Given that Mr Kengeter only worked for Deutsche Börse AG for three 
years of the relevant five-year performance period in accordance with the CPIP, the initial number of co-
performance shares was reduced to 41,392. Co-performance shares are basically subject to the same 
financial criteria as for performance shares, which are explained in the   section “Principles governing 
the PSP and assessing target achievement for performance shares”. Thus the performance of the co-
performance shares is measured on the basis of (i) Deutsche Börse AG’s net income growth and (ii) the 
ratio of the change in TSR for Deutsche Börse shares to that for the companies included in the STOXX® 
Europe 600 Financials index. The equivalent of performance shares is due for disbursement in three 
stages: Mr Kengeter received the first advance payment of €2.1 million on 31 March 2019, with the 

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Deutsche Börse Group | Annual report 2019 

Executive and Supervisory Boards 
Management report | Remuneration report 
Financial statements 
Notes 
Further information 

second advance payment due on 31 March 2020 and the final disbursement on 31 March 2021. 
Based on a pro-rata entitlement of 60 per cent (i.e. three-fifths) for Mr Kengeter’s term of office, less 
than the first advance payment disbursed on 31 March 2019, the company has recognised a provision 
amounting to €11.0 million. 

10,014 performance shares were retrospectively granted to Mr Kengeter for the period from 1 April to 
31 December 2018, given his entitlement for performance shares without deduction.  

Prior to Mr Kengeter’s resignation in 2017, no agreement had been concluded with him for the 
implementation of the overall cap of an aggregate gross remuneration of €9.5 million, as outlined in the 

 “Caps on the total amount of remuneration” section.  

Amount of Executive Board remuneration 
The following tables contain the figures for the individual Executive Board remuneration components 
mentioned above for financial years 2019 and 2018. The remuneration awarded to each Executive 
Board member in accordance with section 4.2.5 (3) of the German Corporate Governance Code is 
shown in the   “Benefits granted” and “Benefits received” tables. The information disclosed in 
accordance with section 314 of the HGB is shown in the   “Benefits received” tables. 

Retirement benefits 

Pensionable 
income 

Replacement rate 

Present value/defined benefit 
obligation 

Pension expense 

2019 
€ thous. 

as at 31 Dec 
2019 
% 

as at 31 Dec 
2018 
% 

as at 31 Dec 
2019 
€ thous. 

as at 31 Dec 
2018 
€ thous. 

2019 
€ thous. 

2018 
€ thous. 

Defined benefit 
system 

Thomas Book 

Total 

500.0 

500.0 

50.0 

50.0  

45.0 

45.0 

6,992.8 

4,829.0 

6,992.8 

4,829.0 

384.9 

384.9 

356.1 1) 

356.1 

Defined contribution 
system 

Theodor Weimer 

1,000.0 

Christoph Böhm 

Stephan Leithner 

Gregor Pottmeyer 

Hauke Stars 

Total 

500.0 

500.0 

500.0 

500.0 

40.0 

48.0 

48.0 

48.0 

40.0 

40.0 

48.0 

48.0 

48.0 

40.0 

957.3 

513.3 

643.7 

4,162.4 

2,312.6 

560.8 

114.1 

256.5 

3,517.8 

1,918.2 

466.2 

419.6 

406.1 

297.3 

274.4 

677.8 

147.9 

295.2 

300.1 

269.6 

3,000.0 

224.0 

224.0 

8,589.3 

6,367.4 

1,863.6 

1,690.6 

1)  Until 30 June 2018, Thomas Book was remunerated by Eurex Frankfurt AG. Since 1 July 2018, Deutsche Börse AG pays out the total amount of Mr Book’s 

remuneration. Thus, Deutsche Börse AG contributes €178,100 to retirement provisions for Thomas Book 

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Deutsche Börse Group | Annual report 2019 

Executive and Supervisory Boards 
Management report | Remuneration report 
Financial statements 
Notes 
Further information 

2019 total expense for share-based payments 
(Prior-year figures in brackets) 

Theodor Weimer 

Christoph Böhm 

Thomas Book 

Stephan Leithner 

Gregor Pottmeyer 

Hauke Stars 

Andreas Preuss1) 

Jeffrey Tessler2) 

Total 

Carrying 
amount as at  
the reporting 
date  
(total) 
€ thous. 

2,141,8 

(588.3) 

330.2 

(42.2) 

513.9 

(116.9) 

557.0 

(126.7) 

4,055.8 

Expense 
recognised  
(total) 
€ thous. 

1,553.6 

(588.3) 

287.9 

(42.2) 

396.9 

(116.9) 

430.3 

(126.7) 

2,191.4 

(1,200.7) 

(1,864.4) 

2,021.8 

3,742.1 

(1,107.9) 

(1,720.3) 

– 

– 

(4,789.7) 

(5,620.9) 

– 

– 

(3,801.7) 

(4,461.4) 

6,881.9 

11,340.8 

(11,774.1) 

(14,541.1) 

1)  Member of the Executive Board until 31 October 2018; expense recognised / carrying amount as at the reporting date relate to the full financial year 2018 
2)  Member of the Executive Board until 30 June 2018; expense recognised / carrying amount as at the reporting date relate to the full financial year 2018 

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Deutsche Börse Group | Annual report 2019 

Executive and Supervisory Boards 
Management report | Remuneration report 
Financial statements 
Notes 
Further information 

Number of phantom shares 

Number of  
phantom 
shares  
on the  
grant date 

Adjustments of  
number of 
phantom  
shares since  
the grant date 

Number of  
phantom 
shares  
as at  
31 Dec. 2019 

Theodor Weimer 

Christoph Böhm 

Thomas Book 

Stephan Leithner 

Gregor Pottmeyer 

Hauke Stars 

Tranche 2019 

Tranche 2018 

11,998 

13,353 

5,602 

14,812 

Total 2018 to 2019 tranches 

Tranche 2019 

Tranche 2018 

Total 2018 to 2019 tranches 

Tranche 2019 

Tranche 2018 

Total 2018 to 2019 tranches 

Tranche 2019 

Tranche 2018 

Total 2018 to 2019 tranches 

Tranche 2019 

Tranche 2018 

Tranche 2017 

Tranche 2016 

Total 2016 to 2019 tranches 

Tranche 2019 

Tranche 2018 

Tranche 2017 

Tranche 2016 

Total 2016 to 2019 tranches 

Total 2016 to 2019 tranches 

5,168 

959 

4,769 

2,654 

5,168 

2,876 

5,168 

5,752 

7,464 

7,148 

4,769 

5,307 

6,887 

6,595 

2,414 

991 

2,221 

2,743 

2,414 

2,972 

2,414 

5,944 

7,548 

8,063 

2,226 

5,484 

6,965 

7,439 

17,600 

28,165 

45,765 

7,582 

1,950 

9,532 

6,990 

5,397 

12,388 

7,582 

5,848 

13,430 

7,582 

11,696 

15,012 

15,211 

49,501 

6,995 

10,791 

13,852 

14,034 

45,672 

176,288 

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Executive and Supervisory Boards 
Management report | Remuneration report 
Financial statements 
Notes 
Further information 

Benefits granted (part 1) 

Theodor Weimer 
(CEO) 

Dr Christoph Böhm 
(CIO/COO) 

2019 
€ thous. 

2019 
 (min) 
€ thous. 

2019 
 (max) 
€ thous. 

2018 
€ thous. 

2019 
€ thous. 

2019 
 (min) 
€ thous. 

2019 
 (max) 
€ thous. 

2018 
€ thous. 

1,500.0 

1,500.0 

1,500.0 

1,500.0 

720.0 

720.0 

720.0 

120.0 

26.8 

26.8 

26.8 

22.9 

67.1 

67.1 

67.1 

11.4 

1,526.8 

1,526.8 

1,526.8 

1,522.9 

787.1 

787.1 

787.1 

131.4 

Fixed remuneration 

Ancillary benefits 

Total 

One-year variable 
remuneration 
Cash component of 
performance bonus (50%) 

1,100.0 

Multi-year variable remuneration 

2,400.0 

0.0 

0.0 

2,200.0 

1,100.0 

560.0 

n/a 

2,400.0 

1,120.0 

0.0 

0.0 

186.6 

93.3 

n/a 

186.6 

Share component performance 
bonus  
(50%, 3-year holding period)1) 

Performance shares  
(5-year term) 2) 

Total 

Pension expense 

Total remuneration 

Benefits granted (part 2) 

Fixed remuneration 

Ancillary benefits 

Total 

1,100.0 

0.0 

n/a 

1,100.0 

560.0 

0.0 

n/a 

93.3 

1,300.0 

0.0 

5,026.8 

1,526.8 

n/a 

n/a 

1,300.0 

560.0 

0.0 

5,022.9 

2,467.1 

787.1 

n/a 

n/a 

93.3 

411.3 

466.2 

466.2 

466.2 

677.8 

419.6 

419.6 

419.6 

147.9 

5,493.0 

1,993.0  9,500.0 3) 

5,700.7 

2,886.7 

1,206.7  9,500.0 3) 

559.2 

Thomas Book 

Stephan Leithner 

2019 
€ thous. 

2019 
 (min) 
€ thous. 

2019 
 (max) 
€ thous. 

2018 
€ thous. 

2019 
€ thous. 

2019 
 (min) 
€ thous. 

2019 
 (max) 
€ thous. 

2018 
€ thous. 

650.0 

650.0 

650.0 

31.6 

31.6 

31.6 

325.0 

15.7 4) 

720.0 

720.0 

720.0 

360.0 

19.3 

19.3 

19.3 

5.7 

681.6 

681.6 

681.6 

340.7 

739.3 

739.3 

739.3 

365.7 

One-year variable 
remuneration 
Cash component of 
performance bonus (50%) 

516.7 

Multi-year variable remuneration 

1,033.4 

0.0 

0.0 

516.6 

258.3 

560.0 

n/a 

516.6 

1,120.0 

0.0 

0.0 

560.0 

n/a 

280.0 

560.0 

Share component performance 
bonus  
(50%, 3-year holding period)1) 

Performance shares  
(5-year term) 2) 

Total 

Pension expense 

Total remuneration 

516.7 

0.0 

n/a 

258.3 

560.0 

0.0 

n/a 

280.0 

516.7 

0.0 

2,231.7 

681.6 

n/a 

n/a 

258.3 

560.0 

0.0 

1,115.6 

2,419.3 

739.3 

n/a 

n/a 

280.0 

1,205.7 

384.9 

384.9 

384.9 

356.1 

406.1 

406.1 

406.1 

295.2 

2,616.6 

1,066.5  9,500.0 3) 

1,471.7 

2,825.4 

1,145.4  9,500.0 3) 

1,500.9 

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Executive and Supervisory Boards 
Management report | Remuneration report 
Financial statements 
Notes 
Further information 

Benefits granted (part 3) 

Gregor Pottmeyer 
(CFO) 

Hauke Stars 
(Director of Labour Relations) 

2019 
€ thous. 

2019 
 (min) 
€ thous. 

2019 
 (max) 
€ thous. 

2018 
€ thous. 

2019 
€ thous. 

2019 
 (min) 
€ thous. 

2019 
 (max) 
€ thous. 

2018 
€ thous. 

720.0 

720.0 

720.0 

720.0 

650.0 

650.0 

650.0 

650.0 

34.5 

34.5 

34.5 

29.2 

30.1 

30.1 

30.1 

24.9 

754.5 

754.5 

754.5 

749.2 

680.1 

680.1 

680.1 

674.9 

Fixed remuneration 

Ancillary benefits 

Total 

One-year variable 
remuneration 
Cash component of 
performance bonus (50%) 

560.0 

Multi-year variable remuneration 

1,120.0 

0.0 

0.0 

1,120.0 

560.0 

516.7 

n/a 

1,120.0 

1,033.4 

0.0 

0.0 

1,033.4 

516.7 

n/a 

1,033.4 

Share component performance 
bonus  
(50%, 3-year holding period)1) 

Performance shares  
(5-year term) 2) 

Total 

Pension expense 

Total remuneration 

560.0 

0.0 

n/a 

560.0 

516.7 

0.0 

n/a 

516.7 

560.0 

0.0 

2,434.5 

754.5 

n/a 

n/a 

560.0 

516.7 

0.0 

2,429.2 

2,230.2 

680.1 

n/a 

n/a 

516.7 

2,225.0 

297.3 

297.3 

297.3 

300.1 

274.4 

274.4 

274.4 

269.6 

2,731.8 

1,051.8  9,500.0 3) 

2,729.3 

2,504.6 

954.5  9,500.0 3) 

2,494.6 

1) The level of target achievement is capped at 200 per cent. No cap on the share price performance – therefore, no maximum can be stated (n.m.). For more 

information, please refer to the   “Combined corporate governance statement and corporate governance report” section 

2) The target achievement rates for net income and total shareholder return, and for the maximum number of performance shares are all capped at 250 per cent. No 
cap on the share price performance – therefore, no maximum can be stated for the individual remuneration components (no max.). For more information, please 
refer to the   “Combined corporate governance statement and corporate governance report” section 

3)  The total remuneration (excluding ancillary benefits) is capped at €9.5 million 
4)  Until 30 June 2018, Thomas Book was remunerated by Eurex Frankfurt AG. Since 1 July 2018, Deutsche Börse AG pays out the total amount of Mr Book’s 

remuneration. Thus, Deutsche Börse AG contributes €178,100 to retirement provisions for Thomas Book 

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Executive and Supervisory Boards 
Management report | Remuneration report 
Financial statements 
Notes 
Further information 

Benefits received (part 1) 

Fixed remuneration 

Ancillary benefits1) 

Total 

One-year variable 
remuneration 
Cash component of 
performance bonus 
(50%) 

Multi-year variable 
remuneration 

Share component 
performance bonus  
(50%, 3-year holding 
period) 

Performance shares (5-
year term) 

Pension expense 

Total remuneration 
(German Corporate 
Governance Code)2) 

Plus performance shares 

Less variable share 
component 

Theodor Weimer 
(CEO) 

Dr Christoph Böhm 
(CIO/COO) 

2019 
€ thous. 

1,500.0 

26.8 

2018 
€ thous. 

1,500.0 

22.9 

1,526.8 

1,522.9 

2019 
€ thous. 

720.0 

67.1 

787.1 

2018 
€ thous. 

120.0 

11.4 

131.4 

Thomas Book 

2018 
€ thous. 

325.0 

15.7 

340.7 

2019 
€ thous. 

650.0 

31.6 

681.6 

1,515.4 

2,117.5 

823.5 

155.6 

693.7 

439.2 

1,515.4 

2,117.5 

823.5 

155.6 

693.7 

439.2 

1,515.4 

2,117.5 

823.5 

155.6 

693.7 

439.2 

Total 

4,557.6 

5,757.9 

2,434.1 

– 

– 

– 

466.2 

677.8 

419.6 

5,023.8 

1,300.0 

6,435.7 

1,300.0 

2,853.7 

560.0 

– 

442.6 

147.9 

590.5 

93.3 

– 

2,069.0 

384.9 

– 

1,219.1 

356.1 4) 

2,453.9 

1,575.2 

516.7 

258.3 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

Less pension expense 

– 466.2 

– 677.8 

– 419.6 

– 147.9 

– 384.9 

– 356.1 

Total remuneration 
(section 314 of the HGB) 

Number of phantom 
shares (no-par value 
share)3) 

5,857.6 

7,057.9 

2,994.1 

535.9 

2,585.7 

1,477.4 

11,998 

13,353 

5,168 

959 

4,769 

2,654 

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Deutsche Börse Group | Annual report 2019 

Executive and Supervisory Boards 
Management report | Remuneration report 
Financial statements 
Notes 
Further information 

Benefits received (part 2) 

Stephan Leithner 

Gregor Pottmeyer 
(CFO) 

Hauke Stars 
(Director of Labour 
Relations) 

Total5) 

2019 
€ thous. 

2018 
€ thous. 

2019 
€ thous. 

2018 
€ thous. 

2019 
€ thous. 

2018 
€ thous. 

2019 
€ thous. 

2018 
€ thous. 

Fixed remuneration 

720.0 

360.0 

720.0 

720.0 

650.0 

650.0 

4,960.0 

3,675.0 

Ancillary benefits1) 

19.3 

5.7 

34.5 

29.2 

30.1 

24.9 

209.4 

109.8 

Total 

739.3 

365.7 

754.5 

749.2 

680.1 

674.9 

5,169.4 

3,784.8 

One-year variable 
remuneration 
Cash component of 
performance bonus 
(50%) 

Multi-year variable 
remuneration 

Share component 
performance bonus  
(50%, 3-year holding 
period) 

Performance shares (5-
year term) 

771.5 

476.0 

732.2 

856.8 

643.4 

759.5 

5,179.7 

4,804.6 

771.5 

476.0 

732.2 

856.8 

643.4 

759.5 

5,179.7 

4,804.6 

771.5 

476.0 

732.2 

856.8 

643.4 

759.5 

5,179.7 

4,804.6 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

Total 

2,282.3 

1,317.7 

2,218.9 

2,462.8 

1,966.9 

2,193.9 

15,528.8 

13,394.0 

Pension expense 

406.1 

295.2 

297.3 

300.1 

274.4 

269.6 

2,248.5 

2,046.7 

Total remuneration 
(German Corporate 
Governance Code)2) 

2,688.4 

1,612.9 

2,516.2 

2,762.9 

2,241.3 

2,463.5 

17,777.3 

15,440.7 

Plus performance shares 

560.0 

280.0 

560.0 

560.0 

516.7 

516.7 

4,013.4 

3,008.3 

Less variable share 
component 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

Less pension expense 

– 406.1 

– 295.2 

– 297.3 

– 300.1 

– 274.4 

– 269.6 

– 2,248.5 

– 2,046.7 

Total remuneration  
(section 314 of the HGB) 

Number of phantom shares 
(no-par value share)3) 

2,842.3 

1,597.7 

2,778.9 

3,022.8 

2,483.6 

2,710.6 

19,542.2 

16,402.3 

5,168 

2,876 

5,168 

5,752 

4,769 

5,307 

37,040 

30,901 

1)  Ancillary benefits (other benefits) comprise salary components such as taxable contributions towards private pensions, company car arrangements, travel 

arrangements, and expenses for tax and legal advice 

2)  The total remuneration (excluding ancillary benefits) is capped at €9.5 million 
3) The number of prospective performance shares for the performance period determined at the 2019 grant date is calculated by dividing the target amount by the 

average share price (Xetra® closing price) for Deutsche Börse shares in December 2018 (€108.36) 

4)  Until 30 June 2018, Thomas Book was remunerated by Eurex Frankfurt AG. Since 1 July 2018, Deutsche Börse AG pays out the total amount of Mr Book’s 

remuneration. Thus, Deutsche Börse AG contributes €178,100 to retirement provisions for Thomas Book 

5)  Prior-year figures were adjusted due to Messrs Andreas Preuss and Jeffrey Tessler leaving the company; thus, they do not match the figures published in the 

previous year 

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Deutsche Börse Group | Annual report 2019 

Executive and Supervisory Boards 
Management report | Remuneration report 
Financial statements 
Notes 
Further information 

Remuneration report for the Supervisory Board  

The members of the Supervisory Board receive fixed annual remuneration of €70,000. The 
remuneration for the Chairman of the Supervisory Board amounts to €170,000; the remuneration for 
the Deputy Chairman to €105,000. Members of Supervisory Board committees receive additional fixed 
annual remuneration of €30,000 for each committee position they hold. The relevant amount for 
members of the Audit Committee is €35 thousand. The remuneration paid to committee chairs is €40 
thousand, or €60 thousand in the case of the Chairman of the Audit Committee. If a Supervisory Board 
member belongs to several Supervisory Board committees, only their work on a maximum of two 
committees (the two most highly remunerated ones) is remunerated. Supervisory Board members who 
only hold office for part of the financial year receive one-twelfth of the fixed annual remuneration and, if 
applicable, of the remuneration payable for their membership of committees, for each month or part-
month in which they are members. 

Members of the Supervisory Board or a Supervisory Board committee receive an attendance fee of 
€1 thousand for each Board or committee meeting that they attend in person, either as a member or  
as a guest. Where two or more meetings are held on the same day or on consecutive days, the 
attendance fee is only paid once. 

Remuneration paid to members of the Supervisory Board for advisory and agency services 
No agreements for advisory and agency services had been entered into in the reporting period with 
members of the Supervisory Board, or with companies that employ members of the Supervisory Board of 
Deutsche Börse AG or in which Supervisory Board members hold an interest. 

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Deutsche Börse Group | Annual report 2019 

Executive and Supervisory Boards 
Management report | Remuneration report 
Financial statements 
Notes 
Further information 

Supervisory Board remuneration1) 

Joachim Faber (Chairman) 

Nadine Absenger 

Ann-Kristin Achleitner2) 

Markus Beck 

Richard Berliand2) 

Karl-Heinz Flöther 

Marion Fornoff 

Hans-Peter Gabe 

Craig Heimark 

Martin Jetter 

Susann Just-Marx 

Achim Karle 

Cornelis Johannes Nicolaas Kruijssen 

Barbara Lambert 

Monica Mächler 

Joachim Nagel 

Florian Rodeit 

Carsten Schäfer 

Erhard Schipporeit 

Charles G. T. Stonehill3) 

Clara-Christina Streit3) 

Jutta Stuhlfauth (Deputy Chairwoman) 

Gerd Tausendfreund 

Johannes Witt 

Amy Yip 

Total 

2019 

2018 

2019 4) 
€ thous. 

2018 4) 
€ thous. 

full year 

full year 

full year  16 May – 31 Dec 

1 Jan - 8 May 

full year 

full year 

15 Aug - 31 Dec 

1 Jan - 8 May 

full year 

full year 

full year 

– 

– 

– 

1 Jan – 15 Aug 

1 Jan – 15 Aug 

1 Jan – 16 May 

full year  16 May – 31 Dec 

full year 

15 Aug - 31 Dec 

full year 

28 Aug - 31 Dec 

full year 

15 Aug - 31 Dec 

full year  16 May – 31 Dec 

– 

1 Jan – 16 May 

257.0 

114.0 

43.7 

147.0 

62.3 

146.0 

– 

– 

– 

143.7 

139.0 

138.0 

139.0 

171.0 

– 

full year  16 May – 31 Dec 

156.0 

–  16 May – 15 Aug 

– 

full year 

28 Aug - 31 Dec 

138.0 

– 

1 Jan – 16 May 

8 May – 31 Dec 

8 May – 31 Dec 

– 

– 

full year 

full year 

full year  16 May – 31 Dec 

– 

1 Jan – 16 May 

– 

69.7 

68.7 

181.0 

107.0 

– 

full year 

full year 

129.5 

260.0 

95.0 

118.5 

55.8 

168.3 

146.0 

84.2 

86.8 

45.7 

89.7 

53.2 

53.2 

53.2 

114.7 

61.3 

102.7 

45.3 

53.2 

71.7 

– 

– 

172.7 

72.7 

61.3 

118.5 

2,350.6 

2,183.7 

1)  The recipient of the remuneration is determined individually by the members of the Supervisory Board 
2)  Left the Supervisory Board on 8 May 2019 
3)  Elected to the Supervisory Board on 8 May 2019 
4)  Remuneration including individual attendance fee 

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Deutsche Börse Group | Annual report 2019 

Executive and Supervisory Boards 
Management report | Combined corporate governance statement and corporate governance report 
Financial statements 
Notes 
Further information 

Combined corporate governance statement and corporate governance report  

Deutsche Börse Group assigns great importance to the principles of good corporate governance and 
control. In this statement, we report on corporate governance at Deutsche Börse AG in accordance with 
section 3.10 of the Deutscher Corporate Governance Kodex (the “Code”, German Corporate Governance 
Code). Moreover, this statement contains the corporate governance statement pursuant to sections 289f 
and 315d of the Handelsgesetzbuch (HGB, German Commercial Code).  

Declaration of Compliance pursuant to section 161 of the Aktiengesetz  
(AktG, German Stock Corporation Act) 

On 10 December 2019, the Executive Board and Supervisory Board of Deutsche Börse AG issued the 
following Declaration of Conformity: 

“Declaration by the Executive Board and the Supervisory Board of Deutsche Börse AG regarding the 
German Corporate Governance Code in accordance with section 161 of the German Stock Corporation 
Act 

The following Declaration of Conformity refers to the current version of the German Corporate 
Governance Code (GCGC) of 7 February 2017 as published in the Federal Gazette on 24 April 2017. 

The Executive Board and the Supervisory Board of Deutsche Börse AG declare that the recommend-
ations of the GCGC have been met almost completely and will be met with only few deviations. For 
details, please see below: 

1. Agreement of severance payment caps when concluding Executive Board contracts (no. 4.2.3 (4) GCGC) 

Severance payment caps agreed upon in all current contracts with the members of the Executive Board 
complied and will continue to comply with recommendation no. 4.2.3 (4) GCGC. As in the past, 
however, the Supervisory Board reserves the right to deviate from no. 4.2.3 (4) GCGC in the future 
under certain circumstances. The Supervisory Board is of the opinion that a deviation may become 
necessary in extraordinary cases. 

2. Caps on total amount of remuneration (no. 4.2.3 (2) (sentence 6) GCGC) and disclosure in the 
remuneration report (no. 4.2.5 (3) GCGC) 

No. 4.2.3 (2) (sentence 6) GCGC recommends that the amount of management compensation shall be 
capped, both as regards variable components and in the aggregate. Deutsche Börse AG deviated and will 
deviate from this recommendation. 

The annual remuneration, comprising fixed and variable remuneration components and pension 
benefits, is capped at EUR 9.5 million (total cap) for each member of the Executive Board. Ancillary 
benefits are so far not included in this amount. Although these are subject to fluctuation, no extra-
ordinary fluctuations are expected and therefore it is not necessary to include them in the total cap. 
However, it is envisaged to include also the ancillary benefits in the calculation of the total cap of 
€ 9.5 million in the future when renewing existing service contracts or entering into new service 
contracts with Executive Board members. 

The long-term variable remuneration components under the remuneration system are share-based. Even 
though a cap is provided in relation to the number of shares granted, no dedicated cap is foreseen on 

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Deutsche Börse Group | Annual report 2019 

Executive and Supervisory Boards 
Management report | Combined corporate governance statement and corporate governance report 
Financial statements 
Notes 
Further information 

the maximum achievable bonus amount as there is no cap on share price performance. Extraordinary 
developments are however sufficiently reflected in the total cap. 

No. 4.2.5 (3) (subitem 1) GCGC recommends, inter alia, presenting the maximum achievable 
remuneration for variable remuneration components in the remuneration report. As there will be no 
dedicated cap in relation to the share-based variable remuneration components, the maximum 
achievable remuneration cannot be presented as recommended in no. 4.2.5 (3) (subitem 1) GCGC.  

3. Composition of the Nomination Committee (no. 5.3.3 GCGC)  

No. 5.3.3 GCGC recommends that the Supervisory Board forms a Nomination Committee composed 
exclusively of shareholder representatives. In accordance with Section 4 b of the German Stock 
Exchange Act the Nomination Committee also assists the Supervisory Board of Deutsche Börse AG in 
selecting candidates for the Executive Board. As in particular this task shall not exclusively be performed 
by the shareholder representatives on the Supervisory Board the Nomination Committee also includes 
employee representatives. However, it will be ensured that the nominees proposed to the Annual General 
Meeting for the election as members of the Supervisory Board are determined solely by the shareholder 
representatives on the Committee.”  

The annual Declaration of Conformity pursuant to section 161 of the AktG, as well as the Declarations of 
Conformity for the past five years, are available on our website 

 www.deutsche-boerse.com/declcompliance. 

Disclosures on suggestions of the Code 
Deutsche Börse AG also largely complies with the suggestions of the Code and deviates only regarding 
the following aspects: 

In accordance with section 4.1.3 sentence 3 of the Code, employees shall be given the opportunity to 
report, in a protected manner, suspected breaches of the law within the company; third parties should 
also be given this opportunity. Deutsche Börse AG has implemented a whistleblowing system for its 
employees in accordance with the recommendation in section 4.1.3 sentence 3 of the Code. This 
whistleblowing system is also open to external service providers. However, Deutsche Börse deviates 
otherwise from the suggestion of also giving third parties the opportunity of reporting such suspicions 
mainly given the fact that, as far as Deutsche Börse is concerned, other such third parties are regular 
market participants who have other options at their disposal for reporting suspicions without being 
bound by fiduciary duties under employment law. 

In accordance with section 4.2.3 (2) (sentence 9) of the Code, early disbursements of multiple-year, 
variable remuneration components should not be permitted. While Deutsche Börse AG adheres to this 
suggestion in principle, it reserves the right to deviate in extraordinary circumstances, e.g. in the event of 
an Executive Board member’s inability to work, disease or death. The company also reserves the right to 
diverge from this procedure in other extraordinary cases, such as change-of-control events. 

Information on corporate governance practices 

Conduct policies 
Deutsche Börse Group’s global orientation means that binding policies and standards of conduct must 
apply at each of the Group’s locations around the world. Specifically, the main objectives of these 
principles for collaboration are to ensure responsibility, respect and mutual esteem. The Group also 
adheres to these principles when implementing its business model. Communications with clients, 
investors, employees and the general public are based on timely information and transparency. In 

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Deutsche Börse Group | Annual report 2019 

Executive and Supervisory Boards 
Management report | Combined corporate governance statement and corporate governance report 
Financial statements 
Notes 
Further information 

addition to focusing on generating profits, Deutsche Börse Group’s business is managed sustainably in 
accordance with recognised standards of social responsibility. 

Code of business conduct for employees 
Acting responsibly means having values that are shared by all employees throughout the Group. In 
2017, Deutsche Börse AG’s Executive Board adopted an extended code of business conduct. This 
document, which is applicable throughout the Group, defines the foundations of key ethical and legal 
standards, including – but not limited to – the following topics:  

  Confidentiality and the handling of sensitive information 
  Conflicts of interest 
  Personal account dealing, as well as the prevention of insider dealing and market manipulation  
  Company resources and assets  
  Combat of bribery and corruption 
  Risk management 
  Whistleblowers 
  Environmental awareness 
  Equal opportunities and protection against undesirable behaviour 

The code of business conduct applies to members of the Executive Board, all other executives and all 
employees of Deutsche Börse Group. In addition to specifying concrete rules, the code of business 
conduct provides general guidance as to how employees can contribute to implementing the defined 
values in their everyday working life. The goal of the code of business conduct is to provide guidance on 
working together in the company on a day-to-day basis, to help resolve any conflicts and to resolve 
ethical and legal challenges. All newly hired employees receive the code of business conduct as part  
of their employment contract documentation. The code of business conduct is an integral part of the 
relationship between employer and employees at Deutsche Börse Group. Breaches may lead to 
disciplinary action. The document is available on 
an example > Employees > Guiding principles.  

 www.deutsche-boerse.com > Sustainability > Set 

Code of conduct for suppliers and service providers 
Deutsche Börse Group not only requires its management and staff to adhere to high standards – it 
demands the same from its suppliers and service providers. The code of conduct for suppliers and 
service providers requires them to respect human rights and employee rights and comply with minimum 
standards. Implementing a resolution of the Executive Board, the code of conduct for suppliers was 
amended in 2016 to include the requirements set out in the UK Modern Slavery Act, applicable to all 
corporations conducting business in the United Kingdom. Most suppliers have signed up to these 
conditions; all other key suppliers have made voluntary commitments, which correspond to, or in fact, 
exceed Deutsche Börse Group’s standards. Service providers and suppliers must sign this code or enter 
into an equivalent voluntary commitment before they can do business with Deutsche Börse Group. The 
code of conduct for suppliers is reviewed regularly in the light of current developments and amended if 
necessary. It is available on Deutsche Börse Group’s website 
Sustainability > Set an example > Procurement management. 

 www.deutsche-boerse.com > 

Values 
Deutsche Börse Group’s business activities are based on the legal frameworks and ethical standards of 
the different countries in which it operates. A key way in which the Group underscores the values it 
considers important is by joining initiatives and organisations that advocate generally accepted ethical 
standards. Relevant memberships are as follows: 

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Deutsche Börse Group | Annual report 2019 

Executive and Supervisory Boards 
Management report | Combined corporate governance statement and corporate governance report 
Financial statements 
Notes 
Further information 

United Nations Global Compact 
 www.unglobalcompact.org: this voluntary business initiative 
established by the United Nations aims to achieve a more sustainable and more equitable global 
economy. At the heart of the compact are ten principles covering the areas of human rights,  
labour, environment protection and anti-corruption. Deutsche Börse Group has submitted annual 
communications on progress (COPs) on its implementation of the UN Global Compact since 2009. 

 www.diversity-charter.com: as a signatory to the Diversity Charter, the company has 

Diversity Charter 
committed to acknowledging, respecting and promoting the diversity of its workforce, customers and 
business associates – irrespective of their age, gender, disability, race, religion, nationality, ethnic 
background, sexual orientation or identity. 

 www.ilo.org: this UN agency is the international organisation 

International Labour Organization 
responsible for drawing up and overseeing international labour standards; it brings together 
representatives of governments, employees and employers to promote the joint development of policies 
and programmes. Deutsche Börse Group has signed up to the ILO’s labour standards and hence has 
agreed to abide by them. 

 www.deutsche-boerse.com/frankfurt-declaration:  the Frankfurt Declaration 

Frankfurt Declaration 
demonstrates the signatories’ intention to define the framework conditions for sustainable finance and to 
put concrete initiatives in place in the Frankfurt financial centre. These are directed towards the 
identification of innovative business areas and the responsible handling of risks, among other things. 
The potential of sustainable finance infrastructures must therefore be fully encouraged in order to 
support positive economic and social development founded on the unconditional protection of the 
natural basis of life. 

For further information on sustainability at Deutsche Börse Group, please see   the chapter „Combined 
non-financial statement” or go to   www.deutsche-boerse.com > Sustainability. 

Sector-specific policies 
Deutsche Börse Group’s pivotal role in the financial sector requires that it handles information – and 
especially sensitive data and facts – responsibly. A number of rules are in force throughout the Group to 
ensure that employees comply with this. These cover both legal requirements and special policies 
applicable to the relevant industry segments, such as the whistleblowing system and risk and control 
management policies. 

Whistleblowing system 
Deutsche Börse Group’s whistleblowing system gives employees and external service providers an 
opportunity to report non-compliant behaviour. The Group has engaged the auditing and consulting 
company Deloitte to act as an external ombudsman and receive any such information submitted by 
phone or e-mail. Whistleblowers’ identities are not revealed to Deutsche Börse Group. 

Risk and control management policies 
Functioning control systems are an important part of stable business processes. Deutsche Börse Group’s 
enterprise-wide control systems are embedded in an overarching framework. This comprises, among 
other things, the legal requirements, the recommendations of the German Corporate Governance Code, 
international regulations and recommendations and other company-specific policies. The executives 
responsible for the different elements of the control system are in close contact with each other and with 
the Executive Board, and report regularly to the Supervisory Board or its committees. Equally, the Group 
has an enterprise-wide risk management system that covers and provides mandatory rules for functions, 
processes and responsibilities. Details of the internal control system and risk management at Deutsche 
Börse Group can be found in the 

 “Internal management” and “Risk report” sections. 

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Executive and Supervisory Boards 
Management report | Combined corporate governance statement and corporate governance report 
Financial statements 
Notes 
Further information 

Working practices of the Executive Board and the Supervisory Board 

An important fundamental principle of the German Stock Corporation Act is the dual board system – 
which assigns separate, independent responsibilities to the Executive Board and the Supervisory Board. 
These responsibilities and their implementation at Deutsche Börse AG are set out in detail in the 
following paragraphs.  

Both boards perform their duties in the interests of the company and with the aim of achieving a 
sustainable increase in value. Their actions are based on the principle of responsible corporate 
governance. Therefore, Deutsche Börse AG’s Executive Board and Supervisory Board work closely 
together in a spirit of mutual trust, with the Executive Board providing the Supervisory Board with 
comprehensive information on the company’s and the Group’s position and the course of business in a 
regular and timely manner. In addition, the Executive Board regularly informs the Supervisory Board 
concerning all issues relating to corporate planning, the risk situation, risk management, compliance and 
the company’s control systems. The strategic orientation of the company is examined in detail and 
agreed upon with the Supervisory Board. Implementation of the relevant measures is discussed at 
regular intervals. The Chief Executive Officer reports to the Supervisory Board without undue delay, orally 
or in writing, on matters that are of special importance to the company.  

In addition, the CEO keeps the Chairman of the Supervisory Board continuously informed of the current 
developments affecting the company’s business, significant transactions, upcoming decisions and the 
long-term outlook and discusses these issues with him. The Supervisory Board may also request reports 
from the Executive Board at any time, especially on matters and business transactions at Deutsche Börse 
AG and subsidiaries that have a significant impact on Deutsche Börse AG’s position. 

Deutsche Börse AG’s Executive Board  
The Executive Board manages Deutsche Börse AG and Deutsche Börse Group; it had six members 
during the reporting period. The main duties of the Executive Board include defining the Group’s 
corporate goals and strategic orientation, managing and monitoring the operating units, as well as 
establishing and monitoring an efficient risk management system. The Executive Board is responsible for 
preparing the consolidated and annual financial statements of Deutsche Börse AG, as well as for 
producing financial information during the course of the year. In addition, it must ensure the company’s 
compliance with legal requirements and official regulations. 

The members of the Executive Board are jointly responsible for all aspects of management. Irrespective 
of this collective responsibility, the individual members manage the company’s business areas assigned 
to them in the Executive Board’s schedule of responsibilities independently and are personally 
responsible for them. In addition to the business areas, the functional areas of responsibility are that of 
the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and the Chief Information Officer/ 
Chief Operating Officer (CIO/COO). The business areas cover the operating business units, such as the 
company’s cash market activities, the derivatives business, securities settlement and custody and the 
market data business. Details can be found in the 
Organisational structure” section.  

 “Overview of Deutsche Börse Group – 

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Executive and Supervisory Boards 
Management report | Combined corporate governance statement and corporate governance report 
Financial statements 
Notes 
Further information 

Further details of the Executive Board’s work are set out in the bylaws that the Supervisory Board has 
resolved for the Executive Board. Among other things, these list issues that are reserved for the entire 
Executive Board, special measures requiring the approval of the Supervisory Board, other procedural 
details and the arrangements for passing resolutions. The Executive Board holds regular meetings; these 
are convened by the CEO, who coordinates the Executive Board’s work. Any Executive Board member 
can require a meeting to be convened. In accordance with its bylaws, the entire Executive Board 
normally takes decisions on the basis of resolutions passed by a simple majority of the members voting 
on them in each case. If a vote is tied, the CEO has the casting vote.  

More information on the Executive Board, its composition, members’ individual appointments and 
 www.deutsche-boerse.com/execboard. 
biographies can be found at 

Deutsche Börse AG’s Supervisory Board  
The Supervisory Board supervises and advises the Executive Board in its management of the company. 
It supports the Executive Board in significant business decisions and provides assistance on strategically 
important issues. The Supervisory Board has specified measures requiring its approval in the bylaws for 
the Executive Board. In addition, the Supervisory Board is responsible for appointing the members of the 
Executive Board, deciding on their total remuneration, examining Deutsche Börse AG’s consolidated and 
annual financial statements and the combined management report including the combined non-financial 
statement. Details of the Supervisory Board’s work during the 2019 financial year can be found in the 

 report of the Supervisory Board. 

The Supervisory Board consisted of 16 members, and has parity co-determination, which means it 
consists of an equal number of shareholder representatives and employee representatives in line with the 
German Mitbestimmungsgesetz (MitbestG, German Co-determination Act). The term of office for 
shareholder and employee representatives on the current Supervisory Board ends at the Annual General 
Meeting in 2021. 

The Supervisory Board holds at least six regular meetings every year. In addition, extraordinary meetings 
are held as required. The committees also hold regular meetings. Unless mandatory statutory provisions 
or the Articles of Associations call for a different procedure, the Supervisory Board passes its resolutions 
by a simple majority. If a vote is tied, the Chairman has the casting vote. In addition, the Supervisory 
Board regularly reviews the structure, size, composition and performance of the work of the Executive 
and Supervisory Boards as well as the effectiveness of its own work, and discusses potential areas for 
improvement and resolves suitable measures, where necessary. 

Supervisory Board committees 
The Supervisory Board’s goal in establishing committees is to improve the efficiency of its work by 
examining complex matters in smaller groups that prepare them for the plenary meeting of the 
Supervisory Board. Additionally, the Supervisory Board has delegated individual decision-making powers 
to the committees, to the extent that this is legally permissible. The Supervisory Board had seven 
committees at the beginning of the reporting period. The Chairman Selection Committee was established 
for a limited period of time for the purpose of preparing the new election of the Supervisory Board Chair 
after the Annual General Meeting 2020. For details on the committees, please refer to the 

 “Supervisory Board committees during 2019: composition and responsibilities” tables. Their 
individual responsibilities are outlined in the Supervisory Board’s bylaws. The committees’ rules of 
procedure correspond to those for the plenary meeting of the Supervisory Board. Details of the current 
duties and members of the individual committees can be found online, at 
boerse.com/supervboard > Committees.  

 www.deutsche-

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Executive and Supervisory Boards 
Management report | Combined corporate governance statement and corporate governance report 
Financial statements 
Notes 
Further information 

The chairmen of the individual committees report to the plenary meeting about the subjects addressed 
and resolutions passed in the committee meetings. Information on the Supervisory Board’s concrete 
work and meetings during the reporting period can be found in the 

 report of the Supervisory Board. 

More information on the Supervisory Board and its committees, the individual members and their 
appointments and biographies, can be found at: 
 www.deutsche-boerse.com/supervboard.  

Supervisory Board committees during 2019: composition and responsibilities 

Audit Committee 

Members 

 Barbara Lambert  
(Chairperson)  

 Nadine Absenger1) 
 Markus Beck1)  

 Karl-Heinz Flöther 

 Joachim Nagel 
 Jutta Stuhlfauth1)  

1)  Employee representative 

Composition 

 At least four members who are elected by the Supervisory Board 

 Prerequisites for the chair of the committee: the person concerned must be independent, and must 

have specialist knowledge and experience of applying accounting principles as well as internal 
control and risk management processes (financial expert)  

 Persons who cannot chair the committee: the Chairman of the Supervisory Board; former 

members of the company’s Executive Board whose appointment ended less than two years ago 

Responsibilities 

 Deals with issues relating to the preparation of the annual budget and financial topics, particularly 

capital management  

 Deals with issues relating to the adequacy and effectiveness of the company’s control systems – in 
particular, to risk management, compliance and internal audit 

 Audit reports 

 Deals with accounting issues, including oversight of the accounting and reporting process 

 Half-yearly financial reports, plus any quarterly financial reports, if applicable  

 Examines the annual financial statements, the consolidated financial statements and the 

combined management report (including the combined non-financial statement), discusses the 
audit report with the external auditors and prepares the Supervisory Board’s resolutions adopting 
the annual financial statements and approving the consolidated financial statements, as well as 
the resolution on the Executive Board’s proposal on the appropriation of the unappropriated 
surplus 

 Prepares the Supervisory Board’s recommendation to the Annual General Meeting on the election 
of the external auditors of the annual financial statements, the consolidated financial statements 
and the half-yearly financial report (to the extent that the latter is audited or reviewed by external 
auditors) and makes corresponding recommendations to the Supervisory Board 

 Deals with the required independence of the external auditor  

 Deals with non-audit services rendered by the external auditor  

 Issues the engagement letter to the external auditor of the annual financial statements and the 
consolidated financial statements – including, in particular, the review or audit of half-yearly 
financial reports, and determines focal areas of the audit and the audit fee 

 Prepares the Supervisory Board’s resolution approving the statement on the German Corporate 

Governance Code pursuant to section 161 of the AktG and the corporate governance statement in 
accordance with section 289f of the HGB 

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Deutsche Börse Group | Annual report 2019 

Executive and Supervisory Boards 
Management report | Combined corporate governance statement and corporate governance report 
Financial statements 
Notes 
Further information 

Nomination Committee 
Members 

 Joachim Faber (Chairman) 
 Markus Beck1)  

Composition 

 Chaired by the Chairman of the Supervisory Board  

 At least five other members who are elected by the Supervisory Board  

 Richard Berliand (until 8 May 2019) 

Responsibilities 

 Martin Jetter 
 Jutta Stuhlfauth1)  
 Gerd Tausendfreund1) 

 Proposes suitable candidates to the Supervisory Board for inclusion in the Supervisory Board’s 

election proposal to the Annual General Meeting (the proposal is being submitted by shareholder 
representatives) 

 Amy Yip (since 8 May 2019) 

 Other tasks and duties set forth in section 4b (5) of the BörsG 

 Deals with issues relating to the contracts of service for Executive Board members and, in 

particular, to the structure and amount of their remuneration 

 Addresses succession planning for the Executive Board  

 Approves appointments of members of Deutsche Börse AG’s Executive Board to other executive 

boards, supervisory boards, advisory boards and similar boards, as well as honorary appointments 
and sideline activities, including any exemptions from the approval requirement 

 Approves the grant or revocation of general powers of attorney 

 Approves cases in which the Executive Board grants employees retirement pensions or other 
individually negotiated retirement benefits, or proposes to enter into employer/works council 
agreements establishing pension plans 

1)  Employee representative 

Risk Committee 
Members 

 Joachim Nagel (Chairman)  
 Susann Just-Marx1) 
 Cornelis Kruijssen1)  
 Barbara Lambert  

1)  Employee representative 

Composition 

 At least four members who are elected by the Supervisory Board 

Responsibilities 

 Reviews the risk management framework, including the overall risk strategy, risk appetite and the 

risk roadmap 

 Takes note of and reviews the periodic risk management and compliance reports 

 Oversees monitoring of the Group’s operational, financial and business risks 

 Discusses the annual reports on significant risks and the risk management systems at regulated 

Group entities, to the extent legally permissible 

Strategy Committee 
Members 

Composition 

 Joachim Faber (Chairman) 

 Chaired by the Chairman of the Supervisory Board 

 Ann-Kristin Achleitner (until 8 May 

 At least five other members who are elected by the Supervisory Board 

2019) 

 Susann Just-Marx1)  
 Achim Karle1)  
 Carsten Schäfer1)  

Responsibilities 

 Advises the Executive Board on matters of strategic importance to the company and its affiliates 

 Addresses fundamental strategic and business issues, as well as projects important to Deutsche 

 Charles Stonehill (since 8 May 2019) 

Börse Group 

 Clara-Christina Streit (since 8 May 

2019) 

 Amy Yip (until 8 May 2019) 

1)  Employee representative 

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Deutsche Börse Group | Annual report 2019 

Executive and Supervisory Boards 
Management report | Combined corporate governance statement and corporate governance report 
Financial statements 
Notes 
Further information 

Technology Committee 
Members 

Composition 

 Martin Jetter (Chairman since

 At least four members who are elected by the Supervisory Board

8 May 2019)

 Richard Berliand (Chairman until

Responsibilities 

8 May 2019) 

 Karl-Heinz Flöther
 Achim Karle1)
 Cornelis Kruijssen1)
 Carsten Schäfer1)

 Amy Yip (since 8 May 2019)

1)  Employee representative 

Chairman’s Committee  
Members 

 Joachim Faber (Chairman)
 Nadine Absenger1)

 Richard Berliand (until 8 May 2019)

 Martin Jetter (since 8 May 2019)
 Jutta Stuhlfauth1)

1)  Employee representative

 Supports the Supervisory Board in meeting its supervisory duties with respect to the information

technology used to execute the Group’s business strategy and with respect to information security

 Advises on IT strategy and architecture

 Oversees monitoring of technological innovations, the provision of IT services, the technical

performance and stability of IT systems, operational IT risks, and information security services and
-risks

Composition 

 Chaired by the Chairman of the Supervisory Board

 Deputy Chairperson of the Supervisory Board as well as one shareholder representative and one

employee representative each who are elected by the Supervisory Board

Responsibilities

 Time-sensitive affairs

Mediation Committee  
Members 

Composition 

 Joachim Faber (Chairman)

 Chaired by the Chairman of the Supervisory Board

 Karl-Heinz Flöther (since 8 May 2019)

 Deputy Chairperson of the Supervisory Board as well as one shareholder representative and one

 Martin Jetter (until 8 May 2019)
 Susann Just-Marx1)
 Jutta Stuhlfauth1)

employee representative each

Responsibilities

 Tasks and duties pursuant to section 27 (3) of the MitbestG

1)  Employee representative

Chairman Selection Committee (temporary committee since 19 September 2019)  
Members 

Composition 

 Barbara Lambert (Chairperson)
 Markus Beck1)

 Joachim Faber
 Jutta Stuhlfauth1)
 Gerd Tausendfreund1)

 Amy Yip

1)  Employee representative

 As determined by the Supervisory Board

Responsibilities 

 Prepares the new election of the Supervisory Board Chair -, in particular, recommends candidates
to be elected by the Supervisory Board

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Deutsche Börse Group | Annual report 2019 

Executive and Supervisory Boards 
Management report | Combined corporate governance statement and corporate governance report 
Financial statements 
Notes 
Further information 

Targets for composition and qualification requirements of the Supervisory Board 

In accordance with section 5.4.1 of the Code, the Supervisory Board has adopted a catalogue of specific 
targets concerning its composition that, above all, should serve as a basis for the future nomination of its 
members. This catalogue comprises qualification requirements as well as diversity targets. Furthermore, 
members shall have sufficient time, as well as the personal integrity and suitability of character, to 
exercise their office. In addition, half of the shareholder representatives on the Supervisory Board shall 
be independent. 

Qualification requirements 
Given their knowledge, skills and professional experience, members of the Supervisory Board shall  
have the ability to perform the duties of a supervisory board member in a company with international 
business activities. The Supervisory Board has determined individual (basic) as well as general 
qualification requirements. Basic requirements are derived from the business model, the concrete 
targets, as well as from specific regulations applicable to Deutsche Börse Group.  

Individual (basic) qualification requirements  
Ideally, each Supervisory Board member holds the following basic qualifications: 

  Understanding of commercial issues
  Analytical and strategic skills
  Understanding of the corporate governance system
  Knowledge of the financial services sector
  Understanding of Deutsche Börse AG’s activities
  Understanding of Deutsche Börse Group’s structure
  Understanding of the member’s own position and responsibilities

General qualification requirements 
The general qualifications refer to the Supervisory Board in its entirety. At least two of its members 
should have profound knowledge, especially concerning the following topics: 

  Business models of exchanges and the capital markets
  Accounting, finance, audit
  Risk management and compliance
  Information technology and security, digitalisation
  Clearing, settlement and custody business
  Regulatory requirements

The current composition of the Supervisory Board fulfils these criteria concerning the qualification of its 
members. 

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Deutsche Börse Group | Annual report 2019 

Executive and Supervisory Boards 
Management report | Combined corporate governance statement and corporate governance report 
Financial statements 
Notes 
Further information 

Supervisory Board members’ general qualification requirements 

Business 
models of 
exchanges and 
the capital 
markets 

Accounting, 
finance, audit 

Risk 
management 
and 
compliance 

Information 
technology and 
security, 
digitalisation 

Clearing, 
settlement and 
custody 
business 

Regulatory 
requirements 

Joachim Faber (Chairman) 

+ 

Karl-Heinz Flöther 

Martin Jetter 

Barbara Lambert 

Joachim Nagel 

Charles Stonehill 

Clara-Christina Streit 

Amy Yip 

+ 

+ 

+ 

+ 

+ 

+ 

+ 

+ 

+ 

+ 

+ 

+ 

+ 

+ 

+ 

+ 

+ 

+ 

+ 

+ 

+ 

+ 

+ 

+ 

+ 

+ 

+ 

Independence 
In accordance with section 5.4.2 of the Code, the Supervisory Board shall be comprised of what it 
considers to be an appropriate number of independent members. Supervisory Board members are no 
longer to be considered independent in the meaning of section 5.4.2 of the Code, particularly if they 
have a personal or business relationship with the company, its governing bodies, a controlling 
shareholder or an entity affiliated with the controlling shareholder that may cause a substantial (and not 
merely temporary) conflict of interest. The Supervisory Board has resolved that at least half of its 
members who are shareholder representatives are to be independent in this sense. The Supervisory 
Board regards all of its shareholder representatives as being independent.  

Diversity concept for the Executive Board and the Supervisory Board 

The diversity concept for the Executive Board and the Supervisory Board, as adopted by the Supervisory 
Board in accordance with section 289f (2) no. 6 of the HGB, has the objective of ensuring a wide range 
of perspectives and experience through the composition of both bodies. The concept is implemented 
within the scope of appointing new Executive Board members or regarding nominations for election of 
new Supervisory Board members. 

Flexible age limit and term of office 
The Supervisory Board considers the flexible age limit stipulated in the bylaws (generally 70 years) when 
nominating candidates for election by the Annual General Meeting. Furthermore, the Supervisory Board’s 
bylaws provide for a general limitation to members’ maximum term of office to twelve years, which  
the Supervisory Board shall also consider in its nominations of candidates to the Annual General 
Meeting. 

The flexible age limit for members of the Executive Board provides for the term of office to expire at the 
end of the month during which a member reaches the age of 60 years. From the month during which an 
Executive Board member has reached the age of 60, re-appointment is permitted for a period of one year 
in each case, provided that the last term of office shall expire at the end of the month during which the 
Executive Board member reaches the age of 65. When appointing members of the Executive Board,  
the Supervisory Board pursues the objective of achieving an optimal composition of the Executive Board 
from the company’s perspective. In this context, experience and industry knowledge, as well as 
professional and personal qualifications, play a major role. Depending on the Executive Board position to 
be filled, it is not just the scope and depth of skills that is decisive, but also whether the specific skills 

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Deutsche Börse Group | Annual report 2019 

Executive and Supervisory Boards 
Management report | Combined corporate governance statement and corporate governance report 
Financial statements 
Notes 
Further information 

are up to date. The flexible age limit has been deliberately worded to preserve the Supervisory Board's 
flexibility in taking decisions on appointments. 

At present, no Executive Board member has passed the age limit of 65 years. However, the Supervisory 
Board agreed to prolong Theodor Weimer’s term of office as Chairman of Deutsche Börse AG’s Executive 
Board in the long term, until 31 December 2024. Theodor Weimer will reach the age of 65 in 2024. 
The main reason for prolonging his term of office is his comprehensive expertise in the financial sector, 
the professional and personal qualifications he has proven to possess since the beginning of his term of 
office in 2018, and the special role of the Chairman of the Executive Board. Against this background, 
the Supervisory Board resolved to extent Mr Weimer’s term of office for a period of more than one year, 
although he has already reached the age of 60. 

Share of women holding management positions 
With regard to the Supervisory Board, the legally prescribed gender quota of 30 per cent in accordance 
with section 96 (2) of the AktG applies. In order to prevent the possible discrimination of either 
shareholder representatives or employee representatives, and in order to increase the planning security 
in the relevant election procedures, the shareholder representatives on the Supervisory Board have 
opposed the overall compliance of the quota in accordance with section 96 (2) (sentence 2) of the AktG. 
Thus, the minimum proportion of 30 per cent is to be complied with for each gender with regard to the 
shareholder representatives and the employee representatives. This means that at least two women and 
two men from each the shareholder representatives and from the employee representatives must be on 
the Supervisory Board. Currently, there are three women each from the shareholder representatives and 
from the employee representatives. The legally prescribed gender quota is thus complied with.  

Deutsche Börse AG’s Supervisory Board has defined a target quota for women on the Executive Board in 
accordance with section 111 (5) of the AktG. The first minimum target – 20 per cent of the Executive 
Board members were to be women – was complied with by the end of the implementation period on 
30 June 2017. The quota of women on the Executive Board was 20 per cent at such point in time. 
Effective 1 July 2017, the Supervisory Board decided to extend the 20 per cent target quota of women 
on the Executive Board until 31 December 2021. This quota, however, declined due to the increase of 
the Executive Board to six members as of 1 July 2018, despite the fact that the actual number of 
women on the Executive Board did not change. The quota of women on the Executive Board is currently 
16.7 per cent.  

The Supervisory Board intends to comply with the 20 per cent target quota for women on the Executive 
Board and also intends to further increase the quota for women on the Supervisory Board. This will be 
taken into account in future personnel decisions. 

International profile 
The composition of the Executive Board and the Supervisory Board shall reflect the company’s 
international activities. With Barbara Lambert, Charles Stonehill, Clara-Christina Streit and Amy Yip, 
there are four shareholder representatives on the Supervisory Board holding non- (or non-exclusive) 
German citizenship. Cornelis Kruijssen, employee representative on the Supervisory Board, has the 
Dutch nationality. In addition, many of the members of the Supervisory Board have long-term 
professional experience in the international field or are working abroad on a permanent basis. The 
Supervisory Board will therefore continue to meet the objectives concerning its international 
composition. The same applies to the Executive Board, where Stephan Leithner holds non-German 
citizenship, and whose members have gained long-standing international working experience as well.  

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Deutsche Börse Group | Annual report 2019 

Executive and Supervisory Boards 
Management report | Combined corporate governance statement and corporate governance report 
Financial statements 
Notes 
Further information 

Educational and professional background 
The Supervisory Board has set itself the objective of considering an appropriate range of educational  
and professional backgrounds regarding its own composition, as well as regarding the composition of the 
Executive Board. The composition of both the Supervisory Board and the Executive Board reflect these 
objectives. In addition to possessing professional experience in the financial services industry, members 
of the Executive Board and the Supervisory Board also have a professional background in consultancy, 
the IT sector, administration and regulation as well as auditing. In terms of academic education, 
economic and legal degrees prevail, in addition to backgrounds, inter alia, in IT and engineering. 
Education and professional experience thus also contribute to fulfilling the previously mentioned 
qualification requirements for Supervisory Board members. 

The composition of both Deutsche Börse AG’s Supervisory Board and Executive Board is in line with the 
 www.deutsche-boerse.com/supervboard for further information 
objectives stated above. Please refer to 
concerning the members of the Supervisory Board and its committees. For further information 
concerning the members of the Executive Board, please see 

 www.deutsche-boerse.com/execboard. 

Preparations for the election of a chairperson as well as shareholder representatives to the 
Supervisory Board 

Joachim Faber, the long-standing Chairman of the Supervisory Board, will depart from the Supervisory 
Board after the Annual General Meeting on 19 May 2020. The Supervisory Board embarked with the 
process of finding a suitable successor for Mr Faber as chair of the Supervisory Board – and the 
necessary election of a new member of the Supervisory Board – at an early stage. 

In September 2019, the Supervisory Board established the Chairman Selection Committee for the 
purpose of preparing the projected election of the Supervisory Board chair. The committee is chaired by 
Barbara Lambert. After an extensive review of all potential internal and external candidates, the 
Chairman Selection Committee proposed to the Supervisory Board that Martin Jetter be elected as the 
new Supervisory Board Chairman. In December 2019, the Supervisory Board acknowledged the 
proposal of the Chairman Selection Committee, and nominated Martin Jetter as candidate to succeed 
Mr Faber as chair of the Supervisory Board. 

The Supervisory Board's Nomination Committee – whose task it is to propose suitable candidates to the 
Supervisory Board for recommendation to the Annual General Meeting – has concerned itself with 
Mr Faber’s successor as member of the Supervisory Board. After a careful pre-selection process and 
several personal candidate interviews, the Nomination Committee resolved in December 2019 to 
propose to the Supervisory Board that Michael Rüdiger be nominated as candidate to be elected by the 
Annual General Meeting 2020. When selecting an appropriate candidate, the committee has taken into 
account the above criteria. 

Mr Rüdiger has many years of experience in the financial services industry, on both an national and 
international level. He acquired his comprehensive expertise regarding capital market topics – among 
others – in executive positions at Schweizerische Kreditanstalt, UBS (formerly named Schweizerische 
Bankgesellschaft), Allianz Asset Management and Credit Suisse, where he headed the Central Europe 
business. Most recently, from 2012 to 2019, Mr Rüdiger served as Chairman of the Board of 
Management of DekaBank Deutsche Girozentrale. He is a Supervisory Board member of Evonik 
Industries AG and was a Exchange Council member at both Frankfurter Wertpapierbörse (FWB, the 
Frankfurt Stock Exchange) and Eurex Deutschland from 2017 to 2020, chairing FWB’s Exchange 
Council since mid-2017. 

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Deutsche Börse Group | Annual report 2019 

Executive and Supervisory Boards 
Management report | Combined corporate governance statement and corporate governance report 
Financial statements 
Notes 
Further information 

Training and professional development measures for members of the Supervisory Board 

As a matter of principle, Supervisory Board members are responsible for their continuing professional 
development. Deutsche Börse AG complies with the recommendation of section 5.4.5 (2) of the Code as 
well as the guidelines of the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) on management bodies 
of market operators and data reporting services providers, and supports Supervisory Board members in 
this endeavour – for example, by organising targeted introductory events for new Supervisory Board 
members, or workshops on selected strategy issues as well as on professional topics (if required). Thus, 
in addition to one strategy and two technology workshops, the Supervisory Board held workshops on 
sustainable finance as well as legal and compliance matters. In individual cases, Deutsche Börse AG 
assumes the costs incurred for third-party training, which are then covered by the qualification 
programme for Supervisory Board members.  

Examination of the effectiveness of Supervisory Board work 

Deutsche Börse AG regards regular reviews of the effectiveness of Supervisory Board work – in 
accordance with section 5.6 of the Code – as a key component of good corporate governance. The 2019 
effectiveness examination was supported by an external service provider, and dedicated to the following 
areas: tasks and composition of the Supervisory Board, co-operation between Supervisory Board 
members and between the Executive Board and the Supervisory Board, Supervisory Board meetings and 
Supervisory Board committees. The review yielded positive results, both in terms of overall effectiveness 
as well as regarding the audited subject areas. Where it identified room for improvement, optimising 
proposals were discussed by the Supervisory Board and measures for their execution implemented.  

Long-term succession planning for the Executive Board 

Together with the Executive Board, the Supervisory Board ensures that there is long-term succession 
planning. Therefore, the Supervisory Board, or its Nomination Committee, regularly – at least once a 
year – concerns itself with potential Executive Board member candidates. The Chairman of the Executive 
Board is involved in these considerations, provided that the discussed subject matters do not refer to the 
succession of his own position. The Supervisory Board prepares an applicant profile for vacant Executive 
Board positions. The Supervisory Board pays attention to ensure that the knowledge, expertise and 
experience of all Executive Board members be diverse and well balanced, and adheres to the adopted 
diversity concept. Moreover, the Supervisory Board ensures it is informed regularly about the succession 
planning at the first level beneath the Executive Board, and provides advice to the Executive Board in 
this regard.  

Target figures for the proportion of female executives beneath the Executive Board 

Deutsche Börse AG’s Executive Board has defined target quotas for women on the two management 
levels beneath the Executive Board, in accordance with section 76 (4) of the AktG, in each case referring 
to Deutsche Börse AG. By 31 December 2021, the proportion of women holding positions in the first 
and second management levels beneath the Executive Board is planned to amount to 15 per cent and 
20 per cent, respectively. As per 31 December 2019, the share of women holding positions on the first 
and second management levels beneath the Executive Board at Deutsche Börse AG in Germany was 
15 per cent and 18 per cent, respectively. 

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Deutsche Börse Group | Annual report 2019 

Executive and Supervisory Boards 
Management report | Combined corporate governance statement and corporate governance report 
Financial statements 
Notes 
Further information 

Moreover, as early as in 2010, the Executive Board had adopted a voluntary commitment to increase the 
share of women holding middle and upper management positions to 20 per cent by 2020 and of 
women holding lower management positions to 30 per cent during the same period. The Group 
maintains this ambition, and has extended the scope of its voluntary commitment, over and above legal 
requirements. Firstly, the target figures determined in this context relate to Deutsche Börse Group 
(including subsidiaries) worldwide. Secondly, the definition of management levels/positions was 
extended to also include heads of teams, for example. On a global level, as at 31 December 2019, these 
quotas stood at 15 per cent for upper and middle management levels and 27 per cent for lower 
management positions. For Germany, the quotas were 16 per cent and 22 per cent, respectively. 

Shareholder representation, transparent reporting and communication 

Shareholders exercise their rights at the Annual General Meeting (AGM). In the spirit of good corporate 
governance, Deutsche Börse AG aims to make it as easy as possible for shareholders to exercise their 
shareholder rights. For instance, Deutsche Börse AG shareholders may follow the AGM over the internet 
and can be represented at the AGM by proxies nominated by Deutsche Börse AG. These proxies exercise 
voting rights solely in accordance with shareholders’ instructions. Additionally, shareholders may exercise 
their voting rights by post or online. Among other things, the AGM elects the shareholder representatives 
to the Supervisory Board and resolves on the formal approval of the actions of the Executive Board and 
the Supervisory Board. It also passes resolutions on the appropriation of the unappropriated surplus, 
resolves on capitalisation measures and approves intercompany agreements and amendments to 
Deutsche Börse AG’s Articles of Association. Ordinary AGMs – at which the Executive Board and the 
Supervisory Board give an account for the past financial year – take place once a year. 

To maximise transparency and ensure equal access to information, Deutsche Börse AG’s corporate 
communications generally follow the rule that all target groups should receive all relevant information 
simultaneously. Deutsche Börse AG’s financial calendar informs shareholders, analysts, shareholders’ 
associations, the media and interested members of the public of key events such as the date of the 
AGM, or publication dates for financial performance indicators. 

Ad hoc disclosures, information on directors’ dealings and voting rights notifications, corporate reports 
and interim reports, and company news can all be found on Deutsche Börse's website:  www.deutsche-
boerse.com. Deutsche Börse AG provides information about its consolidated and annual financial 
statements at an annual press briefing. It also offers conference calls for analysts and investors following 
the publication of the interim reports. Furthermore, when outlining its strategy and providing information 
to everyone who is interested, it abides by the principle that all target groups worldwide must be 
informed at the same time. 

Additionally, Deutsche Börse AG submitted a COP for 2019 to the UN Global Compact. Good corporate 
governance is one of Deutsche Börse Group’s core concerns, is why it has complied with the Global 
Compact’s principles for many years. Public records of this have been available since the company 
officially joined the initiative in 2009: 
responsibility > UN Global Compact. 

 www.deutsche-boerse.com > Sustainability > Our 

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Deutsche Börse Group | Annual report 2019 

Executive and Supervisory Boards 
Management report | Combined corporate governance statement and corporate governance report 
Financial statements 
Notes 
Further information 

Accounting and auditing 

Deutsche Börse AG’s annual report provides shareholders and interested members of the public with 
detailed information on Deutsche Börse Group’s business performance during the reporting period. 
Additional information is published in its half-yearly financial report and two quarterly statements. The 
annual financial statement documents and the annual report are published within 90 days of the end of 
the financial year (31 December); intra-year financial information (half-yearly financial report and 
quarterly statements) is made available within 45 days of the end of the relevant quarter or six-month 
period. Following preparations by the Audit Committee, the consolidated and annual financial statements 
are discussed by the entire Supervisory Board and with the external auditors, examined, and then 
approved. The Executive Board discusses the half-yearly report and the quarterly statements for the first 
and third quarters with the Supervisory Board’s Audit Committee prior to their publication. The half-
yearly financial report is reviewed by the external auditors. In line with the proposal by the Supervisory 
Board, the 2019 AGM elected KPMG AG Wirtschaftsprüfungsgesellschaft, Berlin, (KPMG) to audit its 
2019 annual and consolidated financial statements and to review its half-yearly financial report in the 
year under review. KPMG was also instructed to perform a review of the contents of the combined non-
financial statement during the 2019 financial year. The lead auditor, Sven-Olaf Leitz, and the deputy 
lead auditor, Klaus-Ulrich Pfeiffer, have been responsible for the audit since 2018. The Supervisory 
Board’s proposal was based on the recommendation by the Audit Committee. The Audit Committee 
obtained the necessary statement of independence from KPMG before the election. This states that there 
are no personal, business, financial or other relationships between the auditor, its governing bodies and 
audit managers on the one hand, and the company and the members of its Executive and Supervisory 
Boards on the other, that could give cause to doubt the auditor’s independence. The Audit Committee 
checked that this continued to be the case during the reporting period. It also oversaw the financial 
reporting process in 2019. The Supervisory Board was informed in a timely manner of the Committee’s 
work and the insights gained; there were no material findings. Information on audit services and fees is 
provided in 

 note 6 to the consolidated financial statements. 

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Gruppe Deutsche Börse | Annual report 2019 
 
 
Consolidated financial 
statements/notes

151

Consolidated  inancial statements

151

152

153

Consolidated income statement 

Consolidated statement of comprehensive income 

Consolidated balance sheet

155 

Consolidated cash  low statement 

157 

Consolidated statement of changes in equity

159

Notes to the consolidated financial statements

159

169

Basis of preparation

Consolidated income statement disclosures     

185

Consolidated Balance sheet disclosures 

230

Other disclosures

260

Responsibility statement by the Executive 
Board

261

Independent Auditor’s Report

Deutsche Börse Group | Annual report 2019 

Executive and Supervisory Boards 
Management report  
Financial statements | Consolidated income statement 
Notes 
Further information 

Consolidated income statement 

for the period 1 January to 31 December 2019 

Sales revenue 

Net interest income from banking business 

Other operating income 

Total revenue 

Volume-related costs 

Net revenue (total revenue less volume-related costs) 

Staff costs 

Other operating expenses 

Operating costs 

Net income from strategic investments 

Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) 

4 

4 

4 

4 

5 

6 

8 

2019 
€m 

20181) 
€m 

3,054.2 

2,899.2 

246.1 

15.1 

204.5 

28.7 

3,315.4 

3,132.4 

– 379.4

– 352.7

2,936.0 

2,779.7 

– 747.8

– 516.6

– 824.0

– 516.2

– 1,264.4 

– 1,340.2 

6.7 

4.2 

1,678.3 

1,443.7 

Depreciation, amortisation and impairment losses 

11, 12 

– 226.2

– 210.5

Earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) 

1,452.1 

1,233.2 

Financial income 

Financial expense 

Earnings before tax (EBT) 

Other tax 

Income tax expense 

Net profit for the period 

Net profit for the period attributable to Deutsche Börse AG shareholders 

Net profit for the period attributable to non-controlling interests 

Earnings per share (basic) (€) 

Earnings per share (diluted) (€) 

9 

9 

10 

21 

21 

10.7 

– 64.4

7.4 

– 83.8

1,398.4 

1,156.8 

– 0.4

– 362.6

1,035.4 

1,003.9 

31.5 

5.47 

5.47 

– 0.6

– 303.7

852.5 

824.3 

28.2 

4.46 

4.46 

1)  In context of the harmonization of the presentation of connection and maintenance fees, €5.3 million were reclassified from other operating income to sales 

revenue. 

151
133

Gruppe Deutsche Börse | Annual report 2019 
Deutsche Börse Group | Annual report 2019 

Executive and Supervisory Boards 
Management report  
Financial statements | Consolidated statement of comprehensive income 
Notes 
Further information 

Consolidated statement of comprehensive income 

for the period 1 January to 31 December 2019 

Net profit for the period reported in consolidated income statement 

Items that will not be reclassified to profit or loss: 

Changes from defined benefit obligations 

Equity investments measured at fair value through OCI 

Other 

Deferred taxes 

Items that may be reclassified subsequently to profit or loss: 

Exchange rate differences 

Other comprehensive income from investments using the equity method 

Remeasurement of cash flow hedges 

Deferred taxes 

Other comprehensive income after tax 

Total comprehensive income 

thereof Deutsche Börse AG shareholders 

thereof non-controlling interests 

Note 

2019 
€m 

1,035.4 

10 

15 

10 

– 42.1 

– 10.4 

– 0.9 

11.3 

– 42.1 

– 1.8 

– 0.4 

0.2 

0 

– 2.0 

– 44.1 

991.3 

960.6 

30.7 

2018 
€m 

852.5 

– 23.9 

– 7.2 

– 0.3 

6.8 

– 24.6 

12.8 

– 0.4 

0 

– 3.9 

8.5 

– 16.1 

836.4 

806.4 

30.0 

152
134

Gruppe Deutsche Börse | Annual report 2019 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Deutsche Börse Group | Annual report 2019 

Executive and Supervisory Boards 
Management report  
Financial statements | Consolidated balance sheet 
Notes 
Further information 

Consolidated balance sheet 

as at 31 December 2019 

Assets 

NON-CURRENT ASSETS 

Intangible assets 

Software 

Goodwill 

Payments on account and software in development 

Other intangible assets 

Property, plant and equipment 

Land and buildings 

Fixtures and fittings 

Computer hardware, operating and office equipment as well as 
car pool 

Payments on account and construction in progress 

Financial assets 

Equity investments measured at FVOCI 

Debt financial assets measured at amortised cost 

Financial assets at FVPL 

Financial instruments held by central counterparties 

Other financial debt assets at FVPL 

Investment in associates and joint ventures 

Other non-current assets 

Deferred tax assets 

Total non-current assets 

CURRENT ASSETS 

Debt Financial assets measured at amortised cost 

Trade Receivables 

Other financial assets at amortised cost 

Restricted bank balances 

Other cash and bank balances 

Financial assets at FVPL 

Financial instruments held by central counterparties 

Derivatives 

Other financial  assets at FVPL 

Income tax assets 

Other current assets 

Total current assets 

Total assets 

Note 

31 Dec 2019 
€m 

1 Jan 20191)
€m 

31 Dec 2018 
€m 

11 

12 

13 

10 

13 

13 

14 

404.5 

3,470.5 

92.5 

1,040.9 

5,008.4 

346.5 

39.8 

95.9 

15.8 

498.0 

66.3 

698.7 

321.0 

2,865.6 

52.3 

952.7 

321.0 

2,865.6 

52.3 

952.7 

4,191.6 

4,191.6 

258.3 

31.3 

89.3 

14.8 

393.7 

0  

31.3 

84.8 

14.8 

130.9 

108.8 

1,057.1 

108.8 

1,057.1 

5,234.2 

9,985.4 

9,985.4 

28.4 

17.3 

17.3 

6,027.6 

11,168.6 

11,168.6 

44.5 

4.0 

124.4 

42.5 

4.1 

107.1 

42.5 

4.1 

104.3 

11,706.9 

15,907.6 

15,642.0 

447.3 

15,381.6 

29,988.7 

888.1 

397.5 

19,722.6 

29,833.6 

1,322.3 

397.5 

19,722.6 

29,833.6 

1,322.3 

78,301.5 

94,280.3 

94,280.3 

1.4 

0.4 

108.5 

340.9 

4.7 

0.4 

55.9 

639.8 

4.7 

0.4 

55.9 

639.8 

125,458.4 

146,257.1 

146,257.1 

137,165.3 

162,164.7 

161,899.1 

153
135

Gruppe Deutsche Börse | Annual report 2019 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Deutsche Börse Group | Annual report 2019 

Executive and Supervisory Boards 
Management report  
Financial statements | Consolidated balance sheet 
Notes 
Further information 

Equity and liabilities 

EQUITY 

Subscribed capital 

Share premium 

Treasury shares 

Revaluation surplus 

Accumulated profit 

Shareholders’ equity 

Non-controlling interests 

Total equity 

NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES 

Provisions for pensions and other employee benefits 

Other non-current provisions 

Financial liabilities measured at amortised cost 

Financial liabilities at FVPL 

Financial instruments held by cenral counterparties 

Other Financial liabilites at FVPL 

Other non-current liabilities 

Deferred tax liabilities 

Total non-current liabilities 

CURRENT LIABILITIES 

Income tax liabilities3) 

Other current provisions 

Financial liabilities at amortised cost 

Trade payables 

Other financial liabilities at amortised cost 

Cash deposits by market participants 

Financial liabilities at FVPL 

Financial instruments held by central counterparties 

Derivatives 

Other financial liabilities at FVPL 

Other current liabilities 

Total current liabilities 

Total liabilities 

31 Dec 2019 
€m 

1 Jan 20191) 31 Dec 20182) 
€m 

€m 

Note 

15 

190.0 

1,344.7 

– 471.8 

– 52.1 

4,724.5 

5,735.3 

375.3 

190.0 

1,340.4 

– 477.7 

– 10.2 

3,779.4 

4,821.9 

133.5 

190.0 

1,340.4 

– 477.7 

– 10.2 

3,787.4 

4,829.9 

133.5 

6,110.6 

4,955.4 

4,963.4 

193.5 

225.2 

164.1 

209.9 

164.1 

209.9 

2,627.2 

2,539.4 

2,283.2 

5,234.2 

9,985.4 

9,985.4 

84.3 

19.7 

226.3 

0.2 

17.0 

194.5 

0.2 

17.0 

194.5 

8,610.4 

13,110.5 

12,854.3 

231.8 

250.7 

295.8 

306.6 

295.8 

306.6 

206.7 

195.0 

195.0 

14,225.4 

19,047.8 

19,024.7 

29,755.8 

29,559.2 

29,559.2 

77,411.5 

94,068.3 

94,068.3 

25.9 

3.6 

332.9 

3.0 

0 

3.0 

0 

623.1 

628.8 

122,444.3 

144,098.8 

144,081.4 

131,054.7 

157,209.3 

156,935.7 

17 

18 

13 

13 

10 

18 

13 

13 

19 

Total equity and liabilities 

137,165.3 

162,164.7 

161,899.1 

1)  Figures as at 01.01.2019 adjusted 
2)  Prior year figures adjusted 
3)  Thereof non-current: €101.9 million (2018: €79.0 million) 

154
136

Gruppe Deutsche Börse | Annual report 2019 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Deutsche Börse Group | Annual report 2019 

Executive and Supervisory Boards 
Management report  
Financial statements | Consolidated cash flow statement 
Notes 
Further information 

Consolidated cash flow statement 

for the period 1 January to 31 December 2019 

Net profit for the period 

Depreciation, amortisation and impairment losses 

Increase  in non-current provisions 

Deferred tax income 

Other non-cash income 

Changes in working capital, net of non-cash items: 

(Increase)/decrease in receivables and other assets 

Increase/(decrease) in current liabilities 

Increase in non-current liabilities 

Net loss/(gain) on disposal of non-current assets 

Cash flows from operating activities excluding CCP positions 

Changes in liabilities from CCP positions 

Changes in receivables from CCP positions 

Cash flows from operating activities 

Payments to acquire intangible assets 

Payments to acquire property, plant and equipment 

Payments to acquire non-current financial instruments 

Payments to acquire investments in associates and joint ventures 

Payments to acquire subsidiaries, net of cash acquired 

Effects of the disposal of (shares in) subsidiaries, net of cash disposed 

Net decrease/(net increase) in current receivables and securities from banking 
business with an original term greater than three months 

Effects of the disposal of (shares in) associates 

Net increase in current liabilities from banking business with an original term greater 
than three months 

Proceeds from disposals of non-current financial instruments 

Proceeds from disposals of intangible assets 

Cash flows from investing activities 

Purchase of treasury shares 

Proceeds from sale of treasury shares 

Payments to non-controlling interests 

Proceeds from non-controlling interests 

Repayment of long-term financing 

Proceeds from long-term financing 

Net payments from leases (IFRS 16) 

Dividends paid 

Cash flows from financing activities 

Note 

11, 12 

10 

2019 
€m 

1,035.4 

226.2 

5.9 

– 15.4 

52.5 

– 273.0 

– 106.4 

– 159.2 

-7.4 

– 1.0 

1,030.6 

1,895.7 

– 2,000.2 

20 

926.1 

– 123.0 

– 61.9 

– 226.5 

– 9.5 

– 666.4 

0.1 

371.4 

4.7 

– 62.3 

47.8 

2.6 

20 

– 722.9 

0 

6.2 

– 24.5 

655.3 

0 

0 

– 42.6 

– 495.0 

99.4 

20 

2018 
€m 

852.5 

210.5 

59.7 

– 36.0 

– 21.3 

105.7 

– 8.8 

113.6 

0.9 

5.4 

1,176.5 

– 1,676.0 

1,797.7 

1,298.2 

– 94.8 

– 65.2 

– 38.7 

– 4.8 

– 169.2 

– 0.4 

655.1 

0 

250.3 

259.5 

0.2 

792.0 

– 364.2 

6.5 

– 14.9 

0.6 

– 600.0 

592.4 

0 

– 453.3 

– 832.9 

Net change in cash and cash equivalents 

302.6 

1,257.3 

155
137

Gruppe Deutsche Börse | Annual report 2019 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Deutsche Börse Group | Annual report 2019 

Executive and Supervisory Boards 
Management report  
Financial statements | Consolidated cash flow statement 
Notes 
Further information 

Net change in cash and cash equivalents (brought forward) 

Effect of exchange rate differences 

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period 

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period 

Interest-similar income received 

Dividends received 

Interest paid 

Income tax paid 

Note 

20 

2019 
€m 

302.6 

3.9 

1,839.0 

2,145.5 

540.1 

4.7 

– 323.0 

– 494.1 

2018 
€m 

1,257.3 

1.5 

580.2 

1,839.0 

435.1 

6.7 

– 312.0 

– 303.3 

156
138

Gruppe Deutsche Börse | Annual report 2019 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Deutsche Börse Group | Annual report 2019 

Executive and Supervisory Boards 
Management report  
Financial statements | Consolidated statement of changes in equity 
Notes 
Further information 

Consolidated statement of changes in equity 

for the period 1 January to 31 December 2019 

Balance as at 1 January 2018 

Net profit for the period 

Other comprehensive income after tax 

Total comprehensive income 

Exchange rate differences and other adjustments 

Purchase of treasury shares 

Sale of treasury shares 

Retirement of treasury shares 

Sales under the Group Share Plan 

Changes due to capital increases/decreases 

Dividends paid 

Transactions with shareholders 

Balance as at 31 December 2018 

  Attributable to owners of Deutsche Börse AG 

Subscribed 

capital  Share premium 
€m 

€m 

Treasury 
shares 
€m 

193.0 

1,332.3 

– 334.6 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

– 3.0 

0 

0 

0 

– 3.0 

190.0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

5.1 

3.0 

0 

0 

0 

8.1 

1,340.4 

0 

0 

0 

0 

– 364.2 

0 

215.4 

5.7 

0 

0 

– 143.1 

– 477.7 

Initial application of IFRS 16 at 1 January 2019 

0 

0 

0 

Balance as at 1 January 2019 

Profit for the period 

Other comprehensive income 

Total comprehensive income 

Exchange rate differences and other adjustments 

Sale of treasury shares 

Sales under the Group Share Plan 

Changes due to capital increases/decreases 

Changes from defined benefit obligations 

Dividends paid 

Transactions with shareholders 

Balance as at 31 December 2019 

190.0 

1,340.4 

– 477.7 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

4.3 

0 

0 

0 

0 

4.3 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

5.9 

0 

0 

0 

5.9 

190.0 

1,344.7 

– 471.8 

157
139

Gruppe Deutsche Börse | Annual report 2019 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Deutsche Börse Group | Annual report 2019 

Executive and Supervisory Boards 
Management report  
Financial statements | Consolidated statement of changes in equity 
Notes 
Further information 

Attributable to owners of Deutsche Börse AG 

Revaluation 
surplus 
€m 

Accumulated 
profit 
€m 

Shareholders' 
equity 
€m 

Non-controlling 
interests 
€m 

Total equity 
€m 

3,624.2 

4,829.3 

118.1 

4,947.4 

14.4 

0 

– 24.6 

– 24.6 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

824.3 

6.7 

831.0 

0.9 

0 

0 

– 215.4 

0 

0 

– 453.3 

– 667.8 

824.3 

– 17.9 

806.4 

0.9 

– 364.2 

5.1 

0 

5.7 

0 

– 453.3 

– 805.8 

28.2 

1.8 

30.0 

0.3 

0 

0 

0 

0 

– 14.9 

0 

– 14.6 

133.5 

852.5 

– 16.1 

836.4 

1.2 

– 364.2 

5.1 

0 

5.7 

– 14.9 

– 453.3 

– 820.4 

4,963.4 

– 10.2 

3,787.4 

4,829.9 

0 

– 8.0 

– 8.0 

0 

– 8.0 

– 10.2 

0 

– 41.9 

– 41.9 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

3,779.4 

1,003.9 

– 1.4 

1,002.5 

13.5 

0 

0 

0 

424.1 

– 495.0 

– 57.4 

4,821.9 

1,003.9 

– 43.3 

960.6 

13.5 

4.3 

5.9 

0 

424.1 

– 495.0 

– 47.2 

– 52.1 

4,724.5 

5,735.3 

133.5 

31.5 

– 0.8 

30.7 

– 0.8 

0 

0 

– 24.5 

236.4 

0 

211.1 

375.3 

4,955.4 

1,035.4 

– 44.1 

991.3 

12.7 

4.3 

5.9 

– 24.5 

660.5 

– 495.0 

163.9 

6,110.6 

158
140

Gruppe Deutsche Börse | Annual report 2019 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Deutsche Börse Group | Annual report 2019 

Executive and Supervisory Boards 
Management report  
Financial statements 
Notes | Basis of preparation 
Further information 

Notes to the consolidated financial statements 
Basis of preparation 

1. General principles 

Company information 

Deutsche Börse AG is the parent company of Deutsche Börse Group. Deutsche Börse AG (the 
“company”) has its registered office in Frankfurt/Main, and is registered in the commercial register B of 
the Frankfurt/Main Local Court (Amtsgericht Frankfurt am Main) under HRB 32232. Deutsche Börse AG 
and its subsidiaries operate cash and derivatives markets. Its business areas range from pre-IPO and 
growth financing services, the admission of securities to listing, through trading, clearing and settlement, 
down to custody of securities. Furthermore, IT services are provided and market information distributed. 
Moreover, certain subsidiaries of Deutsche Börse AG own a banking license and offer banking services to 
customers. For details regarding internal organisation and reporting, see   note 22. 

Basis of reporting 

The 2019 consolidated financial statements have been prepared in compliance with the International 
Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) 
and the related interpretations issued by the International Financial Reporting Interpretations Committee 
(IFRIC), as adopted by the European Union in accordance with Regulation No. 1606/2002 of the 
European Parliament and of the Council on the application of international accounting standards.  

The disclosures required in accordance with the Handelsgesetzbuch (HGB, German Commercial Code) 
section 315e (1) have been presented in the notes to the consolidated financial statements and the  

 remuneration report of the combined management report.  

The consolidated income statement is structured using the nature of expense method. 

Deutsche Börse AG’s consolidated financial statements have been prepared in euros, the functional 
currency of Deutsche Börse AG. Unless stated otherwise, all amounts are shown in millions of euros 
(€m). Due to rounding, actual amounts may differ from unrounded or disclosed figures. This may cause 
slight deviations from the figures disclosed in the previous year. 

Going forward, Deutsche Börse will present all accounting policies, estimates, measurement uncer-
tainties as well as discretionary judgements referring to a specific subject matter in the corresponding 
note, together with other disclosures relevant to the subject matter. Such disclosures are focused on 
applicable accounting options under IFRSs. Deutsche Börse Group does not disclose the underlying 
published IFRS guidelines, unless this is considered crucial to enhance transparency. The annual 
financial statements of subsidiaries included in the consolidated financial statements have been 
prepared on the basis of the Group-wide accounting policies based on IFRS that are described in the 
following. They were applied consistently to the periods shown.  

159
141

Gruppe Deutsche Börse | Annual report 2019 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Deutsche Börse Group | Annual report 2019 

Executive and Supervisory Boards 
Management report  
Financial statements 
Notes | Basis of preparation 
Further information 

New accounting standards – implemented in the year under review 

In the 2019 reporting period, the following standards and interpretations issued by the IASB and 
adopted by the European Commission were applied to Deutsche Börse Group for the first time. 

Standard/Amendment/Interpretation 

IFRS 9 

IFRS 16 

IAS 19 

IAS 28 

Amendment “Prepayment Features with Negative Compensation” 

01 Jan 2019 

none 

Leases 

01 Jan 2019 

See  note 3 

Application 
date 

Effects at 
Deutsche Börse 
Group 

Amendment “Plan Amendment, Curtailment or Settlement” 

Amendment “Long-term investments in Associates and Joint 
Ventures” 

01 Jan 2019 

01 Jan 2019 

01 Jan 2019 

none 

none 

none 

IFRIC 23 

Uncertainty over Income Tax Treatments 

Amendments resulting from the Annual Improvements Project 
2015-2017 - amendments to IFRS 3, IFRS 11, IAS 12, IAS 23 

01 Jan 2019 

non-material 

New accounting standards – not yet implemented 

The IASB issued the following new or amended Standards and Interpretations, which were not applied 
in the 2019 consolidated financial statements, because endorsement by the EU was still pending or the 
application was not mandatory. The new or amended Standards and Interpretations must be applied for 
financial years beginning on or after the effective date. Even though early application may be permitted 
for some standards, Deutsche Börse Group does usually not use any early application options.  

Standard/Amendment/Interpretation 

IFRS 3 

Amendment: Definition of a Business 

IFRS 17 

IAS 1, IAS 8 

Insurance Contracts 

Amendment: Definition of Material 

Revised Framework 

Application 
date 

Effects at 
Deutsche Börse 
Group 

01 Jan 2020 

non-material 

01 Jan 2021 

See notes under 
this table 

01 Jan 2020 

non-material 

01 Jan 2020 

non-material 

160
142

Gruppe Deutsche Börse | Annual report 2019 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Deutsche Börse Group | Annual report 2019 

Executive and Supervisory Boards 
Management report  
Financial statements 
Notes | Basis of preparation 
Further information 

IFRS 17 “Insurance Contracts” 
IFRS 17 establishes the principles for the recognition, measurement, presentation and disclosure of 
insurance contracts. The objective of IFRS 17 is to ensure that an entity provides relevant information 
that faithfully represents insurance contracts. According to the standard, insurance liabilities shall be 
measured at the current fulfilment cash flows instead of historical costs. Furthermore, the objective is to 
form a uniform basis regarding the recognition, measurement and presentation of insurance contracts, 
including the notes. In the EU, the standard must be applied for financial years beginning on or after 1 
January 2021; and has not yet been adopted by the EU. Deutsche Börse Group currently analyses the 
potential impact on the consolidated financial statements; at present, no material effects for the Group’s 
financial position and financial performance are expected. 

2. Consolidation principles 

Intra-Group assets and liabilities are eliminated. Income arising from intra-Group transactions is  
eliminated against the corresponding expenses. Intercompany profits or losses arising from deliveries  
of intra-Group goods and services, as well as dividends distributed within the Group, are eliminated. 
Deferred taxes for consolidation adjustments are recognised where these are expected to reverse in 
subsequent years. 

Interests in equity attributable to non-controlling interest shareholders are carried under “non-controlling 
interests” within equity. Where these are classified as “puttable instruments”, they are reported under 
“liabilities”. 

Currency translation 

Transactions denominated in a currency other than a company’s functional currency are translated into 
the functional currency at the spot exchange rate applicable at the transaction date. At the reporting 
date, monetary balance sheet items in foreign currency are measured at the exchange rate at the 
reporting date, while non-monetary balance sheet items recognised at historical cost are measured at the 
exchange rate on the transaction date. Non-monetary balance sheet items measured at fair value are 
translated at the exchange rate prevailing at the valuation date. Exchange rate differences are recorded 
as other operating income or expenses in the period in which they arise unless the underlying 
transactions are hedged. Gains and losses from a monetary item that forms part of a net investment in a 
foreign operation are recognised directly in “retained earnings”. 

The balance sheet items of companies whose functional currency is not the euro are translated into the 
reporting currency as follows: assets and liabilities are translated into euros at the closing rate, equity is 
translated at historical rates and the items in the consolidated income statement are translated at the 
average exchange rates for the reporting period. Resulting exchange differences are recognised directly in 
“retained earnings”. When the relevant subsidiary is sold, these exchange rate differences are recognised 
in the net profit for the period in which the deconsolidation gain or loss is realised.  

161
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Gruppe Deutsche Börse | Annual report 2019 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Deutsche Börse Group | Annual report 2019 

Executive and Supervisory Boards 
Management report  
Financial statements 
Notes | Basis of preparation 
Further information 

The following euro exchange rates of consequence to Deutsche Börse Group were applied: 

Exchange rates 

Swiss francs 

US dollars 

Czech koruna 

Singapore dollar 

British pound 

Average rate 
2019 

Average rate 
2018 

Closing price as 
at 31 Dec 
2019 

Closing price as 
at 31 Dec 
2018 

CHF 

USD (US$) 

CZK 

SGD 

GBP (£) 

1.1112 

1.1195 

1.1512 

1.1801 

1.0857 

1.1212 

1.1264 

1.1433 

25.6700 

25.6605 

25.4068 

25.7315 

1.5256 

0.8767 

1.5907 

0.8863 

1.5090 

1.0857 

1.5577 

0.8978 

Any goodwill arising on the acquisition of a foreign operation and any fair value adjustments to the 
carrying amounts of assets and liabilities arising from initial consolidation are reported in the functional 
currency of the foreign operation and translated at the closing rate. 

Subsidiaries and business combinations 

Deutsche Börse AG and all subsidiaries directly or indirectly controlled by Deutsche Börse AG are 
included in the consolidated financial statements. Deutsche Börse AG controls a company if it is exposed 
to variable returns resulting from its involvement with the company in question or has rights to such 
returns and is able to influence them by using its power over the company.  

Initial consolidation of subsidiaries in the course of business combinations uses the purchase method. 
The acquiree’s identifiable assets, liabilities and contingent liabilities are recognised at their acquisition 
date fair values. Any excess of cost over the acquirer’s interest in the fair value of the subsidiary’s net 
identifiable assets is recognised as goodwill. Goodwill is reported in subsequent periods at cost less 
accumulated impairment losses. 

Deutsche Börse AG’s equity interests in subsidiaries, associates and joint ventures as at 
31 December 2019 included in the consolidated financial statements are presented in the list of 
shareholdings in   note 34.  

Acquisitions 

Fondcenter AG, Zurich, Switzerland (Fondcenter) 
On 21 January 2020, Deutsche Börse Group announced that the Group’s post-trade services provider 
Clearstream and UBS have agreed on a partnership in the investment fund services business segment. 
The companies have entered into an agreement under which Clearstream Holding AG, Frankfurt, 
Germany will acquire 51 per cent of the fund distribution platform Fondcenter AG, Zurich, Switzerland 
from UBS for a purchase price of CHF389 million. UBS will retain a minority of 49 per cent. The newly-
combined company will become the centre of excellence for fund distribution services within Deutsche 
Börse Group and will significantly enhance Clearstream’s existing Fund Desk business (formerly 
Swisscanto Funds Centre). This will create a leading fund distribution service provider – to the benefit of 
UBS customers as well as Clearstream customers. 

162
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Gruppe Deutsche Börse | Annual report 2019 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Deutsche Börse Group | Annual report 2019 

Executive and Supervisory Boards 
Management report  
Financial statements 
Notes | Basis of preparation 
Further information 

The transaction is expected to be closed in the second half of 2020. Following transaction closing, 
Deutsche Börse Group will exercise control over the Fondcenter business, and will therefore include the 
entity in its basis of consolidation. At the time of publication of this annual report, detailed information 
regarding the purchase price allocation are not yet available. 

Axioma Inc, New York, USA (Axioma) 
Deutsche Börse AG, Frankfurt/Main, Germany, completed the acquisition of Axioma Inc., New York, USA 
(Axioma) during the third quarter of 2019. Axioma was merged with Deutsche Börse's existing index 
businesses to form the Qontigo segment, which is an innovative provider of investment information and 
a leading developer of solutions for modernising investment management – from risk to return. Deutsche 
Börse has held a 78.3 per cent stake in the merged company since 13 September 2019. 

As part of the transaction, General Atlantic, Greenwich, USA, acquired a share of 19.2 per cent in 
Deutsche Börse Group’s combined index business. The share of General Atlantic will be disclosed as 
part of non-controlling interests in Deutsche Börse Group’s income statement, statement of compre-
hensive income, and statement of financial position. Given the fact that Deutsche Börse AG retained 
control of the (previously existing) index business after the transaction, an amount of €417.9 million 
was recognised directly in shareholders’ equity of Deutsche Börse Group (for further details, see  
 Consolidated statement of changes in equity). Shareholders hold put options on the remaining 

2.5 per cent stake in the index business not held by Deutsche Börse AG. Deutsche Börse Group applies 
the anticipated acquisition method to the shares held by third parties. This means that Deutsche Börse 
Group does not disclose such shares under non-controlling interests, but recognises financial liabilities in 
the amount of €84.0 million (part of the consideration transferred), which are measured at fair value 
through profit or loss. 

Since the business models are highly complementary, Deutsche Börse expects the transaction to deliver 
considerable synergies both in terms of revenue and cost effects. Such synergies are reflected in 
particular by the goodwill resulting from the transaction. The purchase price allocation – preliminary as 
at the reporting date – yielded the following effects: 

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Notes | Basis of preparation 
Further information 

Goodwill resulting from the business combination with Axioma Inc. 

Consideration transferred 

Purchase price in cash 

Put options 

Acquired bank balances 

Total consideration 

Acquired assets and liabilities 

Customer relationships 

Trade names 

Software 

Software in development 

Other non-current assets 

Other current assets (without cash) 

Deferred tax liabilities 

Other non-current and current liabilities 

Contract liabilities 

Total assets and liabilities acquired 

Goodwill (not tax-deductible) 

Preliminary 
goodwill 
calculation 
13 Sep 2019 
€m 

648.3 

84.0 

–1.9 

730.3 

36.3 

65.0 

90.3 

15.2 

15.2 

41.5 

– 36.8 

– 71.5 

– 21.5 

133.9 

596.4 

The full consolidation of Axioma Inc. and its subsidiaries resulted in an increase of net revenue 
amounting to €25.8 million as well as a decrease of income after tax amounting to €5.0 million. If the 
company had been fully consolidated as at 1 January 2019, this would have resulted in an increase of 
net revenue amounting to €67.9 million as well as a decrease of income after tax amounting to €19.5 
million.  

Ausmaq Limited, Sydney, Australia (Ausmaq) 
Clearstream Banking S.A., Luxembourg (Clearstream Banking Luxembourg) successfully completed the 
acquisition of Ausmaq Limited, Sydney, Australia, during the third quarter of 2019. With this 
acquisition, Deutsche Börse Group is further expanding its offering in the investment funds space, and 
has entered the Australian market. Ausmaq Limited has been a wholly-owned subsidiary of Clearstream 
Banking Luxembourg since 31 July 2019. Revenue and costs are reported in the IFS segment 
(Investment Fund Services). Due to the expansion of its geographical footprint, Deutsche Börse expects 
the transaction to deliver revenue synergies, reflected in particular by the resulting goodwill. The 
purchase price allocation – preliminary as at the reporting date – yielded the following effects: 

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Notes | Basis of preparation 
Further information 

Goodwill resulting from the business combination with Ausmaq Limited 

Consideration transferred 

Purchase price in cash 

Acquired bank balances 

Total consideration 

Acquired assets and liabilities 

Customer relationships 

Software 

Other non-current assets 

Other current assets less liabilites 

Deferred tax liabilities on temporary differences 

Total assets and liabilities acquired 

Goodwill (not tax-deductible) 

Preliminary 
goodwill 
calculation 
31 Jul 2019 
€m 

24.3 

– 7.5 

16.8 

4.5 

4.8 

0.4 

– 0.1 

– 2.8 

6.8 

10.0 

The full consolidation of Ausmaq Limited resulted in an increase of net revenue amounting to 
€3.3 million as well as of income after tax amounting to €0.3 million. If the company had been fully 
consolidated as at 1 January 2019, this would have resulted in an increase of net revenue amounting to 
€8.0 million as well as of income after tax amounting to €0.3 million.  

Grexel Systems Oy, Helsinki, Finland, (Grexel Systems) 
Effective 1 February 2019, European Energy Exchange AG (EEX), Leipzig, Germany (a 75 per cent 
subsidiary of Deutsche Börse AG), acquired 100 per cent of the shares in Grexel Systems Oy, Helsinki, 
Finland (Grexel Systems). Grexel Systems is the leading provider of registries for guarantees of origin and 
other energy certificates in Europe. Revenue and costs are reported in the EEX segment (Commodities). 
The goodwill resulting from the transaction mainly reflects expected cost synergies. The purchase price 
allocation – preliminary as at the reporting date – yielded the following effects: 

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Notes | Basis of preparation 
Further information 

Goodwill resulting from the business combination with Grexel Systems Oy 

Consideration transferred 

Purchase price in cash 

Non-controlling interests 

Acquired bank balances 

Total consideration 

Acquired assets and liabilities 

Customer relationships 

Trade names 

Software and other intangible assets 

Other non-current assets 

Current liabilities 

Deferred tax liabilities on temporary differences 

Non-controlling interests 

Total assets and liabilities acquired 

Goodwill (not tax-deductible) 

Preliminary 
goodwill 
calculation 
1 Feb 2019 
€m 

9.4 

– 2.3 

– 1.2 

5.9 

3.2 

0.4 

1.5 

0.5 

– 0.2 

– 1.0 

– 1.4 

3.0 

2.9 

The full consolidation of Grexel Systems resulted in an increase of net revenue amounting to 
€1.8 million as well as of income after tax amounting to €0.1 million. If the company had been fully 
consolidated as at 1 January 2019, this would have resulted in an increase of net revenue amounting to 
€2.0 million as well as of income after tax amounting to €0.2 million.  

Associates  

Investments in associates and joint ventures are measured at cost on initial recognition and accounted 
for using the equity method upon subsequent measurement. Where Deutsche Börse Group’s share of the 
voting rights in a company amounts to less than 20 per cent, Deutsche Börse Group’s significant 
influence is exercised through the Group’s representation on the supervisory board or the board of 
directors.  

3. First-time adoption of IFRS 16 “Leases” 

IFRS 16 establishes principles for the recognition, measurement, presentation and disclosure of leases. 
The objective of IFRS 16 is to ensure that lessees and lessors provide relevant information on the effects 
of lease contracts. The standard must be applied for financial years beginning on or after 1 January 
2019.  

Deutsche Börse Group initially applies IFRS 16 “Leases” using the modified retrospective approach. In 
line with the applicable transition regulations, comparative figures were not adjusted; therefore, 

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Management report  
Financial statements 
Notes | Basis of preparation 
Further information 

previous-year figures are not comparable. The changes in accounting policies resulting from the first-
time adoption of IFRS 16 are set out below. 

Lessee  
As a lessee, Deutsche Börse Group uses office properties, data centres, and company cars. IFRS 16 
introduces a single lessee accounting model. According to this approach, the lessee is obliged to 
recognise all leases: first, the lessee recognises the right-of-use asset, i.e. the lessee’s right to use the 
leased asset; second, the lessee recognises the lease liability, i.e. the lessee’s obligation to make lease 
payments.  

Regarding leases with early termination or renewal options, Deutsche Börse Group exercises prudent 
commercial judgement to assess the applicable contract terms. Any and all significant facts and 
circumstances are taken into account in the assessment as to whether the exercising of early termination 
or renewal options is reasonably certain.  

Deutsche Börse Group uses general practical expedients provided by IFRS 16 by not recognising right-of-
use assets and lease liabilities for short-term leases (lease terms of less than twelve months) and low-
value assets.  

Measurement of lease liabilities:  
Lease liabilities are recognised at the present value of future lease payments. The incremental borrowing 
rate of the Group at the beginning of the lease is used to calculate the present value. Value-added tax 
included in lease payments is neither considered in the lease liability nor in the carrying amount of the 
right-of-use asset, regardless of whether Deutsche Börse Group is entitled to make tax withholding or not. 

In subsequent periods, interest payments made are recognised as increases of the lease liability, while 
lease payments are recognised as decreases. The Group remeasures its lease liabilities if adjustments to 
future lease payments are made.  

Measurement of right-of-use assets: 
Right-of-use assets are measured at cost. Any accumulated depreciation/amortisation and impairment 
amounts are deducted from the cost of right-of-use assets as part of subsequent measurement.  

At first-time adoption, IFRS 16 was applied as follows: 

  The present value of the lease liabilities is calculated on the basis of the future lease payments using 

the incremental borrowing rate. A uniform rate is selected for similar leases. 

  The measurement of the right-of-use asset is calculated on the basis of the individual agreements, 
either retrospectively using the interest rate applied upon initial application or on the basis of the 
adjusted lease liabilities. The cumulative effects from first-time adoption of the new standard are 
recorded as at the date of first-time adoption directly in equity. The right-of-use asset is adjusted by 
provisions from the charges of lease agreements. 

  In the case of agreements with a remaining term of less than twelve months at the date of first-time 

adoption, a decision is made on an individual agreement level. 

  All arrangements identified as leases in the past will continue to be classified as such. 
  Initial direct costs are not taken into account in the right-of-use asset. 

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Management report  
Financial statements 
Notes | Basis of preparation 
Further information 

Effects from the initial application of IFRS 16 “Leases” 

Lessee 
As a result of the recognition of right-of-use assets and the corresponding lease liabilities, Deutsche 
Börse Group’s total assets increased by €265.6 million at initial application of IFRS 16. The effects 
recognised in equity (accumulated profit) amounted to €10.8 million (€8.0 million after deferred taxes). 
As at 1 January 2019, the following reconciliation of lease liabilities applies: 

Reconciliation Leasing1) 

Operating lease commitment at 31 December 2018 

Short-term Leases 

Variable Lease Payments 

Less other adjustments 

Lease liabilities recognised at 01.01.2019 (gross amount) 

Discounting 

Lease liabilities due to first time application of IFRS 16 as of 01.01.2019 

1) Comparative figures for the half year report 2019 were adjusted retrospectively 
2) Prior year figures adjusted 

 €m 

310.92) 

2.0 

5.3 

15.2 

288.4 

10.3 

278.1 

The weighted incremental borrowing rate for the lease liabilities initially recognised as at 1 January 
2019 was 0.8 per cent p.a. 

As from 1 January 2019, the type of expenses associated with such leases changed as well. Since that 
date, Deutsche Börse Group has recognised depreciation for right-of-use assets as well as interest 
expenses from lease liabilities, instead of rental and lease expenses recognised in other operating 
expenses. These changes led to an improvement of earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and 
amortisation (EBITDA).  

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Management report  
Financial statements 
Notes | Consolidated income statement disclosures 
Further information 

Consolidated income statement disclosures  

4. Net revenue 

Recognition of income and expenses 

Overall, Deutsche Börse Group’s net revenue comprised the following items: 

  revenue, 
  net interest income from banking business, 
  other operating income, and 
  volume-related costs. 

Revenue recognition 
This section comprises details on revenue from contracts with customers. This includes in particular: 
revenue recognition, trade receivables as well as contract liabilities (see   note 19 concerning net 
contractual liabilities). Revenue is generated in Deutsche Börse Group’s segments as follows:  

Eurex (financial derivatives) 
Revenue in the derivatives business is generated primarily from fees that are charged for transactions 
with regard to the matching/registration, administration and regulation of order book and off-book 
transactions on Eurex Germany. Fees, as well as any reductions are specified in price lists and circulars. 
Rebates depend mainly on monthly volumes or the monthly fulfilment of liquidity provisioning 
obligations in certain products or product groups. Revenue for transactions in listed derivatives is 
recognised as soon as contracts are matched/registered and there is no unfulfilled obligation towards the 
customer. Receivables are recognised if the agreed service is rendered at a specific point in time and the 
claim to the consideration solely depends on the course of time. Transaction fees are invoiced on a 
monthly basis and are payable when invoiced. Since discounts are generally granted on a monthly basis, 
the recognition of a contractual liability is not necessary. Payments are generally debited directly from the 
clearing member immediately after invoicing.  

Fees are also collected for clearing and settlement services provided for off-exchange (over-the-counter, 
OTC) transactions, mainly comprising posting and administration fees. Fees for these transactions and 
the related discounts are also specified in price lists and circulars of Eurex Clearing AG. In the case of 
OTC transactions, posting fees are recognised at novation on a monthly basis. These fees are recognised 
at a specific point in time; namely, when the promised service is transferred at a specific point in time, 
and the entitlement to consideration depends solely on the passage of time. OTC administrative fees are 
recognised based on a time period as the service is provided until the transaction has been closed, 
terminated or has matured. A receivable is recognised monthly based on the usage within the respective 
month, provided that the respective position is still open at month end. In general, the payments are 
directly debited from the clearing member. 

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Financial statements 
Notes | Consolidated income statement disclosures 
Further information 

In addition connection fees are charged for the technical connections to the trading and clearing systems 
of Deutsche Börse Group. The customer has use of the company’s service and uses the service as it is 
performed over the life of the contract. As the smallest reporting period is the same as the contract term, 
the performance progress equals 100 per cent. The connectivity revenue generated from this is usually 
realised monthly with invoicing. 

EEX (commodities) 
Its product portfolio comprises contracts on power, natural gas and emission allowances, as well as 
freight rates and agricultural products. Revenue is generated primarily from fees that are charged for 
exchange trading and clearing of commodity products. Transaction fees are specified in the price list. 
Rebates are granted primarily in the form of monthly rebates for the provision of a certain volume or level 
of liquidity. These types of rebates are dependent upon the total monthly volume or the monthly 
fulfilment of certain liquidity provision obligations. Revenue is recognised as soon as contracts are 
matched/registered and there is no unfulfilled obligation towards the customer as the service has already 
been performed by this point in time. EEX recognises receivables when the promised service is provided 
at a certain time and the entitlement to consideration depends solely on the passage of time. Most of the 
invoiced amounts are debited directly from the clearing members.  

360T (foreign exchange) 
360T is a provider of optimised services covering the entire trading process of foreign-exchange 
products. It generates commission income from transaction and access fees payable for the use of its 
trading platform. In addition, 360T generates installation fees from the onboarding of customers on its 
trading platform, as well as user set-up fees and fees for the programming and maintenance of 
necessary interfaces. Revenue is recognised when the contractually agreed service is provided to the 
customer. Revenue from the use of the platform and maintenance fees are recognised on a pro-rata 
basis. Access fees, transaction fees, as well as trading platform fees, contain different discount 
schedules on a monthly basis. Such discounts are considered accordingly in the month in which the 
services are rendered and reduce the sales revenue of such period. They are invoiced on a monthly 
basis. Maintenance fees are invoiced on an annual basis. 

Xetra (cash equities) 
As a general rule, securities intended for trading on the regulated market of Fankfurter Wertpapierbörse 
(FWB, the Frankfurt Stock Exchange) are subject to the admission and listing, or inclusion, resolved by 
FWB’s Exchange Management. Deutsche Börse AG, as the operator of the public-sector exchange, 
charges fees for the admission, listing, inclusion and quotation of securities on the regulated market. 
Fees charged for the admission and inclusion of securities with definite maturities on the regulated 
market are realised using the projected useful lives of the underlying securities. Accordingly, the fees 
charged for the listing of securities on the regulated unofficial market are realised using the projected 
useful lives of the underlying securities. The method for measuring progress towards complete 
satisfaction of the performance obligation on the basis of projected useful lives is considered appropriate 
within the meaning of IFRS 15. Invoicing is made on a quarterly basis, and receivables are payable 
upon receipt of invoice.  

Listing fees are levied for the activity of all bodies of FWB, which supervise the trading and the 
settlement of trades as well as ensure the proper functioning of all trading activities (permanent 
possibility to make use of exchange facilities). Listing fees are recurring fees, which are charged for a 
service that is delivered over time. Accordingly, revenue is realised on a pro-rata basis. Revenue from 
fees for listings on the regulated unofficial market is realised in a similar manner. For trading cash 
market products, the same accounting treatment as described within the   section Eurex (financial 
derivatives) applies for the Xetra segment (securities trading).  

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Notes | Consolidated income statement disclosures 
Further information 

Clearstream (post-trading) 
Clearstream provides post-trading infrastructure and services; it offers transaction settlement services as 
well as administration and custody of securities. The fees are calculated in accordance with the prices 
set in the price list as well as with any relevant discounts granted. In accordance with the general terms 
and conditions, the customer authorises direct debiting and consequently no financing component has 
been identified. Customers in the custody business receive the benefit from the service provided and 
consume it at the same time as the performance is fulfilled during the contract period. The revenue 
generated from this is generally realised on a monthly basis upon invoicing.  

Fees collected for the administration of securities and for settlement services are recognised when the 
agreed service is provided to the customer. This occurs when instructions are received and the 
transactions are processed. The service has been fulfilled at this point in time. Receivables are 
recognised if the agreed service is rendered at a specific point in time and the claim to the consideration 
solely depends on the course of time. Since discounts are generally granted on a monthly basis, the 
recognition of a contractual liability is not necessary. Customers are invoiced on a monthly basis and 
consideration is payable when invoiced.  

IFS (investment fund services) 
The segment provides services to standardise fund processing and to increase efficiency and safety in 
the investment fund sector. The services offered comprise order routing, settlement and asset 
administration, as well as custody services. Revenue is recognised when the promised service is 
transferred to the customer. This occurs when instructions are received and the transactions are 
processed. The service has been fulfilled at this point in time. Revenue is recognised based on the price 
specified in the price list and reduced by the corresponding rebates. Customers are invoiced on a 
monthly basis and consideration is payable when invoiced. 

GSF (collateral management) 
Via Clearstream, Deutsche Börse Group provides a comprehensive range of global securities financing 
(GSF) services with the two most prominent being collateral management and securities lending 
services. Customers of collateral management services simultaneously receive and consume the benefits 
with the company’s performance of the service. Revenue is recognised over a certain period of time 
concurrent with the provision of collateral management services. Services in the securities lending 
business, on the other hand, are provided at a specific point in time.   

Qontigo (index and analytics business)  
The Qontigo segment comprises the index and analytics business. The index offering ranges from blue-
chip to benchmark to strategy to sustainability to smart-beta indices. The Group generates revenue from 
calculating and marketing indices, which financial market participants use as underlyings for financial 
instruments or as a benchmark for the performance of investment funds. In Analytics, Qontigo offers its 
clients risk-analytics and portfolio-construction tools.  

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Management report  
Financial statements 
Notes | Consolidated income statement disclosures 
Further information 

Customers in the index business simultaneously receive and consume all of the benefits provided during 
the contract term. The recognition of revenue for index licences is based on fixed payments, variable 
payments (usage-based volumes; mostly assets under management), or a combination of the two. For 
variable payments, customers report their usage, and fees are invoiced in the quarter after usage; 
monthly estimates are recognised. This is determined either based on the customer’s average usage over 
the previous twelve months, adjusted to take into account current developments in the markets, or 
based on the real data in the markets on a customer level. Revenue estimates are revised when 
warranted by the circumstances. Increases and decreases in estimated revenue are reflected in the 
consolidated income statement in the period in which the circumstances that give rise to the revision 
become known by the management. For two fee components (minimum fee and usage-based fee), a 
contract liability is recognised and reduced each month based on the usage that has been recognised 
each month. Customers are invoiced on a quarterly basis, and consideration is payable when invoiced. 

Customers of the analytics business either receive the right to access the intellectual property, or receive 
the right to use the intellectual property. The intellectual property licences are granted for software 
products, which are subsequently referred to as “SaaS Front Office” and “SaaS Middle Office”. Revenue 
generated with SaaS Front Office fees is recognised at a specific point in time because all contractual 
obligations are fulfilled, and the customer obtains control of the asset, as soon as the licence key is 
transferred to the customer. SaaS Middle Office fees are recognised over a certain period of time, i.e. the 
contractual term. Fees are also charged for the maintenance and servicing (summarized as "Main-
tenance") of the software products, which are realized over the contract term. For this purpose, the 
transaction price for maintenance is calculated and allocated according to the "expected cost plus a 
margin" approach.   

Data (data business) 
Market participants subscribe to real-time trading and market signals or licence these services for their 
own use, processing, or dissemination. The customer simultaneously receives and consumes the 
benefits provided by the entity’s performance during the contract term. Customers report their usage,  
and fees are charged in the month after usage. Deutsche Börse Group puts together monthly estimates 
that are based on the trend of the preceding months. Revenue estimates are revised when warranted by 
the circumstances. Increases and decreases in estimated revenue are reflected in the consolidated 
income statement in the period in which the circumstances that give rise to the revision become known 
by the management. Revenue is recognised based on the price specified in the price list. Customers are 
invoiced on a monthly basis, and consideration is payable when invoiced. 

Net interest income from banking business 
Net interest income from banking business mainly results from interest income, generated by investing 
excess cash (in a positive interest rate environment). Given the currently prevailing interest rate anomaly, 
Deutsche Börse Group also generates interest income from customer balances held at Deutsche Börse 
Group (in a negative interest rate environment). Furthermore, this item comprises interest payments 
made on customer balances (positive interest rate environment) as well as cash investments (negative 
interest rate environment) and fees for providing customer credit lines. Interest income and interest 
expenses are calculated, allocated, and realised when due, with the applicable effective interest rate on 
a daily basis. 

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Management report  
Financial statements 
Notes | Consolidated income statement disclosures 
Further information 

Other operating income 
Other operating income is income not attributable to the typical business model of Deutsche Börse 
Group; it is therefore not disclosed as part of revenue. Other operating income is usually realised when 
all chances and risks have been transferred. Other operating income comprises, for instance, income 
from subleasing property, income from exchange rate differences as well as the reversal of impairments 
recognised on trade receivables. 

Volume-related costs 
The “volume-related costs” item comprises expenses that depend, in particular, on the number of certain 
trade or settlement transactions, the custody volume, the Global Securities Financing volume, or the 
volume of market data acquired or that result from revenue-sharing agreements or maker-taker pricing 
models. Volume-related costs are not incurred if the corresponding revenue is no longer generated. 

Composition of net revenue (part 1) 

Sales revenue 

Net interest income from banking business 

Xetra (cash equities) 

Trading and clearing 

Listing 

Other 

Eurex (financial derivatives) 

Equity index derivatives 

Interest rate derivatives 

Equity derivatives 

OTC clearing 

Margin fees 

Infrastructure 

Other 

EEX (commodities) 

Power derivatives 

Power spot 

Gas 

Other 

360T (foreign exchange) 

Trading 

Other1) 

2019 
€m 

169.7 

19.3 

46.3 

235.3 

534.6 

214.0 

58.4 

41.8 

17.0 

76.7 

30.2 

2018 
€m 

187.6 

17.5 

40.3 

245.4 

514.2 

233.6 

49.8 

23.6 

13.4 

74.2 

26.8 

972.7 

935.6 

113.3 

72.6 

55.1 

67.0 

308.0 

82.8 

15.1 

97.9 

88.2 

67.3 

44.9 

71.0 

271.4 

70.1 

11.9 

82.0 

2019 
€m 

2018 
€m 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

46.3 

0 

0 

46.3 

7.7 

0 

0 

3.7 

11.4 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

40.2 

0 

– 0.1 

40.1 

5.9 

0 

0 

3.0 

8.9 

0 

0 

0 

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Management report  
Financial statements 
Notes | Consolidated income statement disclosures 
Further information 

Other operating income 

Volume-related costs 

Net revenue 

2019 
€m 

2018 
€m 

5.7 

1.5 

0 

7.2 

0.2 

0.1 

0.1 

11.7 

– 11.0 

0 

15.1 

16.2 

0 

0 

0 

1.3 

1.3 

0 

0.1 

0.1 

5.3 

0.8 

0 

6.1 

0.1 

0.1 

0 

3.6 

– 3.6 

0 

21.4 

21.6 

0 

0 

0 

1.3 

1.3 

0 

0.2 

0.2 

2019 
€m 

– 19.0 

– 0.9 

0 

– 19.9 

– 50.8 

– 3.2 

– 7.4 

– 12.3 

0 

– 0.2 

– 4.2 

– 78.1 

– 15.9 

– 1.7 

– 12.3 

– 1.5 

– 31.4 

– 5.9 

0 

– 5.9 

2018 
€m 

– 22.3 

– 0.5 

0 

– 22.8 

– 48.1 

– 1.8 

– 6.0 

– 1.6 

0 

0 

– 3.7 

– 61.2 

2019 
€m 

156.4 

19.9 

46.3 

222.6 

484.0 

210.9 

51.1 

41.2 

52.3 

76.5 

41.1 

2018 
€m 

170.6 

17.8 

40.3 

228.7 

466.2 

231.9 

43.8 

25.6 

50.0 

74.2 

44.4 

957.1 

936.1 

– 12.0 

105.1 

– 0.2 

– 8.3 

– 4.5 

70.9 

42.8 

70.5 

82.1 

67.1 

36.6 

70.8 

– 25.0 

289.3 

256.6 

– 3.4 

0 

– 3.4 

76.9 

15.2 

92.1 

66.7 

12.1 

78.8 

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Financial statements 
Notes | Consolidated income statement disclosures 
Further information 

Composition of net revenue (part 2) 

Clearstream (post-trading) 

Custody 

Settlement 

Net interest income from banking business 

Third-party services 

Other 

GSF (collateral management) 

Repo 

Securities lending 

IFS (investment fund services) 

Custody 

Settlement 

Other 

Data 

Cash and derivatives 

Regulatory services 

Other2) 

Qontigo (index and analytics business) 

ETF licenses 

Exchange licenses 

Axioma 

Other licenses2) 

Sales revenue 

Net interest income from banking business 

2019 
€m 

532.3 

130.7 

0 

24.6 

104.9 

792.5 

49.9 

62.5 

112.4 

80.0 

58.6 

56.1 

194.7 

126.0 

22.2 

48.9 

197.1 

43.0 

34.4 

27.4 

101.9 

206.7 

2018 
€m 

514.9 

113.2 

0 

32.5 

97.4 

758.0 

44.2 

91.8 

136.0 

68.5 

52.6 

41.2 

162.3 

127.8 

19.8 

49.7 

197.3 

47.3 

34.2 

0 

89.9 

171.4 

2019 
€m 

0 

0 

2018 
€m 

0 

0 

188.2 

155.5 

0 

0 

0 

0 

188.2 

155.5 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0.2 

0.2 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

Total 

3,117.3 

2,959.4 

246.1 

204.5 

Consolidation of internal revenue 

– 63.1 

– 60.2 

0 

0 

Group 

3,054.2 

2,899.2 

246.1 

204.5 

175
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Deutsche Börse Group | Annual report 2019 

Executive and Supervisory Boards 
Management report  
Financial statements 
Notes | Consolidated income statement disclosures 
Further information 

Other operating income 

Volume-related costs 

Net revenue 

2019 
€m 

0.2 

0 

0 

0 

3.0 

3.2 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

– 0.1 

– 0.1 

0 

0 

0.5 

0.5 

0 

0 

0.1 

0.3 

0.4 

2018 
€m 

1.7 

0 

0 

0 

11.1 

12.8 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0.4 

0.4 

0 

0 

0 

0.1 

0.1 

2019 
€m 

– 140.8 

– 48.5 

0 

– 0.3 

– 29.6 

– 219.2 

– 1.0 

– 33.4 

– 34.4 

– 3.3 

– 5.0 

– 3.4 

– 11.7 

– 14.0 

– 3.1 

– 21.6 

– 38.7 

– 4.3 

– 2.9 

– 1.7 

– 8.0 

– 16.9 

2018 
€m 

– 133.8 

– 37.2 

0 

– 0.4 

– 27.6 

– 199.0 

– 0.9 

– 52.0 

– 52.9 

– 2.6 

– 3.2 

– 2.2 

– 8.0 

– 14.2 

– 2.0 

– 24.0 

– 40.2 

– 3.5 

– 2.9 

0 

– 7.8 

– 14.2 

2019 
€m 

391.7 

82.2 

188.2 

24.3 

78.3 

764.7 

48.9 

29.1 

78.0 

76.7 

53.6 

52.8 

183.1 

112.0 

19.1 

27.8 

158.9 

38.7 

31.5 

25.8 

94.2 

190.2 

2018 
€m 

382.8 

76.0 

155.5 

32.1 

80.9 

727.3 

43.3 

39.8 

83.1 

65.9 

49.4 

39.0 

154.3 

113.6 

17.8 

26.1 

157.5 

43.8 

31.3 

0 

82.2 

157.3 

28.8 

42.5 

– 456.2 

– 426.7 

2,936.0 

2,779.7 

– 13.7 

– 13.8 

76.8 

74.0 

0 

0 

15.1 

28.7 

– 379.4 

– 352.7 

2,936.0 

2,779.7 

1) As part of the harmonisation of the reporting of connectivity and maintenance fees, €5.3 million were reclassified from other operating income to sales revenues 
2) As part of the combination, certain licence revenues were re-allocated from the Data segment to the new Qontigo segment (index and analytics business) 

176
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Deutsche Börse Group | Annual report 2019 

Executive and Supervisory Boards 
Management report  
Financial statements 
Notes | Consolidated income statement disclosures 
Further information 

Composition of net interest income from banking business 

Interest income from positive interest environment 

Debt financial assets measured at amortised cost 

Financial assets at FVPL 

Interest expenses from positive interest environment 

Financial liabilities measured at amortised cost 

Financial liabilities at FVPL 

Interest income from negative interest environment 

Financial liabilities measured at amortised cost 

Financial liabilities at FVPL 

Interest expenses from negative interest environment 

Debt financial assets measured at amortised cost 

Financial assets at FVPL 

Total 

Other operating income 

2019 
€m 

270.1 

207.7 

62.4 

– 85.8 

– 71.7 

– 14.1 

250.7 

242.6 

8.1 

– 188.9 

– 186.8 

– 2.1 

246.1 

2018 
€m 

216.3 

161.6 

54.7 

– 64.9 

– 53.4 

– 11.5 

224.7 

219.5 

5.2 

– 171.6 

– 169.9 

– 1.7 

204.5 

Other operating income in the amount of €15.1 million (2018: €28.7 million) mainly comprises rental 
income from subleases (income from operating leases) in amount of €1.0 million (2018: €1.1 million) 
and income from exchange rate in amount of €4.6 million (2018: €4.6 million). 

5. Staff costs 

Composition of staff costs 

Wages and salaries 

Social security contributions, retirement and other benefits 

Total 

2019 
€m 

622.1 

125.7 

747.8 

2018 
€m 

660.1 

163.9 

824.0 

Wages and salaries comprise costs associated with the efficiency programme in the amount of 
€42.1 million (2018: €158.2 million). 

177
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Deutsche Börse Group | Annual report 2019 

Executive and Supervisory Boards 
Management report  
Financial statements 
Notes | Consolidated income statement disclosures 
Further information 

6. Other operating expenses 

Composition of other operating expenses 

Costs for IT service providers and other consulting services 

IT costs 

Non-recoverable input tax 

Premises expenses 

Travel, entertainment and corporate hospitality expenses 

Advertising and marketing costs 

Insurance premiums, contributions and fees 

Voluntary social benefits 

Cost of exchange rate differences 

Supervisory Board remuneration 

Short-term leases 

Cost of agency agreements 

Miscellaneous 

Total 

Composition of fees paid to the auditor 

2019 

2018 

Statutory audit services 

Other assurance or valuation services3) 

Tax advisory services 

Other services 

Total 

1)  Thereof €-0.2 million for 2018 
2)  Thereof €0.1 million for 2017 
3)  Service according to ISAE 3402 and ISAE 3000 
4)  Thereof €0.2 million for 2017 

Total 
€m 

4.51) 

0.4 

0.5 

0.2 

5.6 

Germany 
€m 

2.6 

0.1 

0.3 

0.1 

3.1 

2019 
€m 

226.4 

125.4 

37.8 

32.3 

24.6 

21.9 

13.3 

6.4 

5.7 

4.1 

2.0 

0.3 

16.4 

516.6 

Total 
€m 

4.32) 

1.24) 

0.3 

0 

5.8 

2018 
€m 

164.9 

123.0 

44.3 

80.0 

22.7 

22.6 

15.8 

5.6 

5.2 

4.5 

- 

0.3 

27.3 

516.2 

Germany 
€m 

2.6 

0.8 

0.2 

0 

3.6 

Fees paid for “statutory audit services” rendered by KPMG AG Wirtschaftsprüfungsgesellschaft mainly 
comprise the audit of the consolidated financial statements according to IFRS, of the annual financial 
statements of Deutsche Börse AG according to the Handelsgesetzbuch (HGB, German Commercial Code) 
and of the annual financial statements of various subsidiaries according to the respective local GAAP. 
This item also includes statutory additions to the audit scope as well as key points of audit agreed with 
the Supervisory Board. Services rendered during the reporting year also included reviews of the interim 
financial statements. 

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Deutsche Börse Group | Annual report 2019 

Executive and Supervisory Boards 
Management report  
Financial statements 
Notes | Consolidated income statement disclosures 
Further information 

7. Research and development costs 

Research and development costs of internally developed software 

Research costs are expensed in the period in which they are incurred. Development costs for internally 
developed intangible assets are only capitalised when the definition and recognition criteria for intangible 
assets according to IAS 38 are met, and development costs can be separated from research costs.  

Development costs that have to be capitalised include direct labour costs, costs of purchased services 
and workplace costs, including proportionate overheads that can be directly attributed to the preparation 
of the respective asset for use, such as costs for the software development environment. Development 
costs that do not meet the requirements for capitalisation are recognised through profit or loss. Interest 
expense that cannot be allocated directly to one of the development projects is recognised through profit 
or loss in the reporting period. 

Research and development costs 

Total expense for 
software development 

of which capitalised 

Eurex (financial derivatives) 

EEX (commodities) 

360T (foreign exchange) 

Xetra (cash equities) 

Clearstream (post-trading) 

IFS (investment fund services) 

GSF (collateral management) 

Qontigo (index and analytics business) 

Data (data business) 

2019 
€m 

36.7 

24.9 

4.9 

6.7 

41.3 

11.0 

4.3 

5.0 

7.0 

2018 
€m 

35.9 

12.9 

3.9 

4.9 

43.1 

6.3 

1.5 

3.0 

16.9 

Research expense 

0.3 

2.4 

2019 
€m 

20.7 

10.2 

3.9 

3.9 

36.3 

9.2 

3.4 

5.0 

4.9 

0 

2018 
€m 

20.4 

9.2 

3.0 

2.7 

35.7 

4.4 

1.0 

0 

3.8 

0 

Total 

142.2 

130.8 

97.5 

80.2 

179
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Deutsche Börse Group | Annual report 2019 

Executive and Supervisory Boards 
Management report  
Financial statements 
Notes | Consolidated income statement disclosures 
Further information 

8. Net income from strategic investments 

Composition of net income from strategic investments 

Equity method-accounted result of associates 

China Europe International Exchange AG 

HQLAx S.à r.l. 

Tradegate AG Wertpapierhandelsbank 

Other 

Total income from equity method measurement1) 

Net income from other strategic investments 

Total 

1)  Including impairment losses  

2019 
€m 

2018 
€m 

– 1.7 

– 1.5 

2.9 

0.4 

0.2 

6.5 

6.7 

– 2.0 

– 0.5 

4.9 

0.3 

2.7 

1.5 

4.2 

In addition to the result of at-equity valuation the net income from associates also includes impairment 
losses. No impairment loss was recognised in the reporting year (2018: €0.6 million for the 
participation in Switex GmbH). 

Dividends are recognised in net income from other strategic investments if the right to receive payment is 
based on legally assertible claims. In the year under review, Deutsche Börse Group received dividends in 
the amount of €1.3 million (2018: €2.9 million). 

For the development of net income from other strategic investments, please refer to   note 13.1. 

9. Financial result 

The financial result comprises interest income and expenses which are not attributable to the banking 
business of Deutsche Börse Group, and are therefore not recognised in net revenue. Interest income and 
expense are recognised using the effective interest method over the respective financial instrument’s term 
to maturity. Interest income is recognised when it is probable that the economic benefits associated with 
the transaction will flow to the entity and the income can be measured reliably. Interest expense is 
recognised in the period in which it is incurred. 

Composition of financial income 

Income from other financial assets FVPL 

Interest income from financial assets measured at amortised cost 

Interest income on tax refunds 

Other interest income and similar income 

Total 

2019 
€m 

0.3 

1.3 

7.0 

2.1 

10.7 

2018 
€m 

0.3 

1.0 

6.0 

0.1 

7.4 

180
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Deutsche Börse Group | Annual report 2019 

Executive and Supervisory Boards 
Management report  
Financial statements 
Notes | Consolidated income statement disclosures 
Further information 

Composition of financial expense 

Interest expense from financial liabilities measured at amortised cost 

Interest expense on taxes 

Interest expense from financial assets measured at amortised cost 

Expense of the unwinding of the discount on pension provisions 

Transaction cost of financial liabilities measured at amortised cost 

Other interest expense 

Expense from derivatives 

Expense from other financial liabilities FVPL 

Interest expense on lease liabilities 

Total 

10. Income tax expense

2019 
€m 

48.2 

3.1 

2.8 

2.8 

2.2 

0.2 

0 

0 

5.2 

64.4 

2018 
€m 

47.5 

26.7 

3.1 

2.5 

1.8 

1.4 

0.7 

0.1 

– 

83.8 

Deutsche Börse Group is subject to the tax laws of those countries in which it operates and generates 
income. If it is probable that the tax authorities will not accept the disclosed amounts or the legal 
assessments on which the Group’s tax declarations are based (uncertain tax positions), tax liabilities are 
recognised based on the best possible estimate of expected cash outflows. Tax assets are recognised if it 
is considered likely that they will be realised. The recognition of uncertain tax positions is reassessed if 
there is a change in the underlying facts or their legal assessment (e.g. change in case law). 

Deferred tax assets and liabilities are computed using the balance sheet liability approach. The deferred 
tax calculation is based on temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities 
in the IFRS financial statements and their tax base that will lead to a future tax liability or benefit when 
assets are used or sold or liabilities are settled. These differences are used to calculate deferred tax 
assets or liabilities.  

The deferred tax assets or liabilities are measured using the tax rates that are currently expected to apply 
when the temporary differences reverse, based on tax rates that have been enacted or substantively 
enacted by the reporting date. Deferred tax assets are recognised for the unused tax loss carryforwards 
only to the extent that it is probable that future taxable profit will be available. Deferred tax assets and 
deferred tax liabilities are offset where a legally enforceable right to set off current tax assets against 
current tax liabilities exists, and the deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities relate to income taxes 
levied by the same taxation authority. 

181
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Deutsche Börse Group | Annual report 2019 

Executive and Supervisory Boards 
Management report  
Financial statements 
Notes | Consolidated income statement disclosures 
Further information 

Composition of income tax expense 

Current income tax expense/(income) 

for the current year 

for previous years 

Deferred income tax expense/(income) 

due to temporary differences 

due to tax loss carryforwards 

due to changes in tax legislation and/or tax rates 

Total 

Allocation of income tax expense to Germany and foreign jurisdictions 

Current income tax expense 

Germany 

Foreign jurisdictions 

Deferred income tax expense/(income) 

Germany 

Foreign jurisdictions 

Total 

2019 
€m 

378.0 

384.4 

– 6.4 

– 15.4 

– 22.7 

– 0.4 

7.7 

362.6 

2019 
€m 

378.0 

245.4 

132.6 

– 15.4 

– 6.4 

– 9.0 

362.6 

2018 
€m 

339.7 

320.5 

19.2 

– 36.0 

– 12.0 

– 1.6 

– 22.4 

303.7 

2018 
€m 

339.7 

237.7 

102.0 

– 36.0 

– 5.9 

– 30.1 

303.7 

Tax rates of 27.4 to 31.9 per cent (2018: 27.4 to 31.9 per cent) were used in the reporting period to 
calculate income taxes for the German Group companies. These reflect trade income tax at rates of 
11.6 to 16.1 per cent (2018: 11.6 to 16.1 per cent), corporation tax of 15 per cent (2018: 15 per 
cent) and the 5.5 per cent solidarity surcharge (2018: 5.5 per cent) on corporation tax.  

A tax rate of 24.9 per cent (2018: 26.0 per cent) was used for the Luxembourgian Group companies, 
reflecting trade income tax at a rate of 6.7 per cent (2018: 6.7 per cent) and corporation tax at 18.2 per 
cent (2018: 19.3 per cent). 

Tax rates of 10.0 to 34.6 per cent (2018: 10.0 to 34.6 per cent) were applied to the Group companies  
in the remaining countries; see 

 note 34. 

In the year under review, Deutsche Börse Group did not utilise any previously unrecognised tax loss 
carryforwards (2018: nil). There was no deferred tax income from previously unrecognised tax losses 
(2018: €0.7 million). As in the previous year, there were no effects resulting from changes of the 
impairment of deductible temporary differences. 

The following table shows the carrying amounts of deferred tax assets and liabilities as at the reporting 
date by line item or loss carryforward: 

182
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Deutsche Börse Group | Annual report 2019 

Executive and Supervisory Boards 
Management report  
Financial statements 
Notes | Consolidated income statement disclosures 
Further information 

Composition of deferred taxes 

Intangible assets 

Internally developed Software 

Other 

Financial assets 

Other assets 

Provisions for pensions and other employee benefits 

Other provisions 

Liabilities 

Tax loss carryforwards 

Deferred taxes (before netting) 

thereof recognised in profit and loss 

thereof recognised in other comprehensive income1) 

Netting of deferred taxes  

Total 

Deferred tax assets 

Deferred tax liabilities 

31 Dec 2019 
€m 

31 Dec 2018 
€m 

31 Dec 2019 
€m 

31Dec 2018 
€m 

63.8 

47.4 

16.4 

1.2 

3.1 

78.6 

14.7 

18.3 

15.9 

195.6 

135.4 

60.2 

– 71.2 

124.4 

50.3 

43.0 

7.3 

0.3 

3.7 

61.4 

13.9 

3.8 

2.8 

136.2 

87.3 

48.9 

– 31.9 

104.3 

– 265.8 

– 59.0 

– 206.8 

– 5.2 

– 8.4 

– 15.1 

– 0.1 

– 2.9 

0 

– 297.5 

– 295.6 

– 1.9 

71.2 

– 210.9 

– 31.8 

– 179.1 

– 2.3 

– 2.4 

– 8.7 

– 0.1 

– 2.0 

0 

– 226.4 

– 224.5 

– 1.9 

31.9 

– 226.3 

– 194.5 

1)  See 

 note 15 for further information on deferred taxes recognised in other comprehensive income 

Short-term elements of deferred taxes are recognised in non-current assets and liabilities, in line with 
IAS 1 “Presentation of Financial Statements”. 

At the end of the reporting period, accumulated unused tax losses amounted to €39.5 million (2018: 
€30.5 million), for which no deferred tax assets were recognised. The unused tax losses are attributable 
to domestic losses totalling €4.6 million and to foreign tax losses totalling €34.9 million (2018: 
domestic tax losses €0.2 million, foreign tax losses €30.3 million).  

The losses can be carried forward indefinitely in Germany subject to the minimum taxation rules. In the 
US, losses may be carried forward for a maximum period of 20 years, provided they were incurred 
before 1 January 2018. In accordance with the latest tax reform in the US, adopted at the end of 
December 2017, losses incurred after 31 December 2017 may be carried forward indefinitely, taking 
into account newly introduced minimum taxation rules. In all other countries, losses can be carried 
forward indefinitely. 

There were no unrecognised deferred tax liabilities on future dividends of subsidiaries and associates or 
on gains from the disposal of subsidiaries and associates in the reporting period (2018: nil). 

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Deutsche Börse Group | Annual report 2019 

Executive and Supervisory Boards 
Management report  
Financial statements 
Notes | Consolidated income statement disclosures 
Further information 

Reconciliation from expected to reported tax expense 

Earnings before tax (EBT) 

Expected tax expense 

Effects of different tax rates 

Effects of non-deductible expenses 

Effects of tax-exempt income 

Tax effects from loss carryforwards 

Effects from changes in tax rates 

Effects from intra-group restructuring 

Other 

Income tax expense arising from current year 

Income taxes for previous years 

Income tax expense 

2019 
€m 

2018 
€m 

1,398.4 

1,156.8 

363.6 

– 12.3 

10.4 

– 11.8 

0.3 

7.7 

– 5.0 

16.1 

369.0 

– 6.4 

362.6 

312.3 

– 20.5 

13.1 

– 9.4 

1.0 

– 5.1 

– 10.9 

4.0 

284.5 

19.2 

303.7 

To determine the expected tax expense, earnings before tax have been multiplied by the composite tax 
rate of 26 per cent assumed for 2019 (2018: 27 per cent). 

As at 31 December 2019, the reported tax rate was 25.9 per cent (2018: 26.3 per cent).  

184
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Deutsche Börse Group | Annual report 2019 

Executive and Supervisory Boards 
Management report  
Financial statements 
Notes | Consolidated balance sheet disclosures 
Further information 

Consolidated balance sheet disclosures 

11. Intangible assets

Recognition and Measurement

Capitalised development costs are amortised from the date of first use of the software using the straight-
line method over the asset’s expected useful life. The useful life of internally developed software is 
generally assumed to be five years; a useful life of seven years is used as the basis in the case of newly 
developed trading platforms and clearing or settlement systems, and for certain enhancements of these 
systems.  

Purchased software is generally amortised based on the projected useful life. The amortisation period for 
intangible assets with finite useful lives is reviewed at a minimum at the end of each financial year. If 
the expected useful life of an asset differs from previous estimates, the amortisation period is adjusted 
accordingly. 

The other intangible assets were largely acquired within the context of business combinations and refer 
to exchange licences, trade names and customer relationships. The acquisition costs correspond to the 
fair values as at the acquisition date. Depending on the relevant acquisition transaction, the expected 
useful life is 5 years for trade names with finite useful lives, 4 to 24 years for participant and customer 
relationships, and 2 to 20 years for other intangible assets. 

Exchange licences as well as certain trade names have no finite useful lives, and, in addition, there is an 
intention to maintain the exchange licences as part of the general business strategy; therefore, an 
indefinite useful life is assumed. 

Intangible assets are derecognised on disposal or when no further economic benefits are expected to 
flow from them. 

Impairment tests 

At each reporting date, the Group assesses whether there are any indications that an intangible asset 
may be impaired. If this is the case, the carrying amount is compared with the recoverable amount (the 
higher of value in use and fair value less costs of disposal) to determine the amount of any potential 
impairment.  

Value in use is estimated on the basis of the discounted estimated future cash flows from continuing use 
of the asset and from its ultimate disposal, before taxes. For this purpose, discount rates are estimated 
based on the prevailing pre-tax weighted average cost of capital. If no recoverable amount can be 
determined for an asset, the recoverable amount of the cash-generating unit (CGU) to which the asset 
can be allocated is determined. 

Irrespective of any indications of impairment, intangible assets with indefinite useful lives and intangible 
assets not yet available for use must be tested for impairment at least once a year. Impairment tests for 

185
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Deutsche Börse Group | Annual report 2019 

Executive and Supervisory Boards 
Management report  
Financial statements 
Notes | Consolidated balance sheet disclosures 
Further information 

(group of) CGUs with allocated goodwill are carried out on 30 September every financial year. If the 
estimated recoverable amount of the asset or CGU is lower than the respective carrying amount, an 
impairment loss is recognised and the net carrying amount of the asset or CGU, respectively, is reduced 
to its estimated recoverable amount. 

At the acquisition date, goodwill is allocated to the CGU, or groups of CGUs, that is/are expected to 
create synergies from the relevant acquisition. If changes arise in the structure of CGUs, for example 
through a new segmentation, goodwill is allocated taking into account the relative fair values of the 
newly defined CGUs. Irrespective of any indications of impairment, these items must be tested for 
impairment at least annually at the lowest level of impairment at which Deutsche Börse Group monitors 
the respective goodwill. An impairment loss is recognised if the carrying amount of the CGU, or groups 
of CGUs, to which goodwill is allocated (including the carrying amount of that goodwill) is higher than 
the recoverable amount of this group of assets. The impairment loss is first allocated to the goodwill, 
then to the other assets in proportion to their carrying amounts.  

The recoverable amount of the (groups of) CGUs was determined based on the fair value less costs to 
sell. Only if the fair value less costs to sell did not exceed the carrying amount, the value in use was 
determined. Given that no active market was available for the (groups of) CGUs, the determination of fair 
values less costs to sell was based on the discounted cash flow method (level 3 input factors). The 
detailed planning period covers a respective time period of five years; for (groups of) CGUs, which have 
been allocated an asset with an indefinite useful life, such time period ends in perpetuity. Individual 
costs of capital are determined for each (group of) CGU(s), for the purpose of discounting projected cash 
flows. These capital costs are based on data incorporating beta factors, borrowing costs, as well as the 
capital structure of the respective peer group. Pricing, trading volumes, assets under custody, market 
share assumptions or general business development assumptions are based on past experience or 
market research. Other key assumptions are mainly based on external factors and generally correspond 
to internal management planning. Significant macroeconomic indicators include, for instance, equity 
index levels, volatility of equity indices, as well as interest rates, exchange rates, GDP growth, 
unemployment levels and government debt. When calculating value in use, the projections are adjusted 
for the effects of future restructurings and performance investments, if appropriate.  

At each reporting date, the Group assesses whether there are any indications that an impairment 
recognised for non-current assets in previous years (except goodwill) does no longer apply. If this is the 
case, the carrying amount of the asset is increased and the difference is recognised in profit or loss. The 
maximum amount of this reversal is limited to the carrying amount that would have resulted if no 
impairment loss had been recognised in previous periods. Deutsche Börse Group does not reverse any 
goodwill impairments. 

186
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Deutsche Börse Group | Annual report 2019 

Executive and Supervisory Boards 
Management report  
Financial statements 
Notes | Consolidated balance sheet disclosures 
Further information 

Intangible assets 

Purchased 
software 
€m 

Internally 
developed 
software 
€m 

Payments on 
account and 
software in 
development 
€m 

Other 
intangible 
assets 
€m 

Goodwill 
€m 

Total 
€m 

277.9 

965.9 

2,770.9 

90.0 

1,009.6 

5,114.3 

5.0 

0 

13.2 

– 107.2 

0 

0 

0 

90.6 

– 0.5 

36.4 

0 

74.0 

0.3 

0 

0 

0 

0 

4.1 

0 

0 

44.8 

– 0.3 

– 74.0 

0 

66.2 

161.8 

0 

0.4 

– 1.4 

0 

4.3 

– 0.5 

94.8 

– 108.9 

0 

8.7 

188.9 

1,076.1 

2,865.6 

60.5 

1,079.1 

5,270.2 

95.5 

15.7 

– 2.3 

0 

– 1.0 

0 

53.0 

0 

17.9 

0.2 

609.3 

0 

0 

0 

– 4.4 

15.2 

44.6 

0 

– 17.9 

0 

110.4 

9.7 

0 

– 0.1 

0.7 

830.4 

123.0 

– 2.3 

– 0.1 

– 4.5 

296.8 

1,147.2 

3,470.5 

102.4 

1,199.8 

6,216.7 

241.3 

18.6 

0 

0 

– 106.8 

153.1 

20.3 

0 

– 2.3 

– 0.2 

680.4 

79.4 

31.5 

– 0.4 

0 

790.9 

77.7 

0 

0 

0 

170.9 

868.6 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

3.2 

0 

5.2 

0 

– 0.2 

8.2 

0 

1.8 

0 

– 0.1 

98.4 

29.4 

0 

0 

– 1.4 

126.4 

32.5 

0 

0 

0 

1,023.3 

127.4 

36.7 

– 0.4 

– 108.4 

1,078.6 

130.5 

1.8 

– 2.3 

– 0.3 

9.9 

158.9 

1,208.3 

35.8 

285.2 

2,865.6 

52.3 

952.7 

4,191.6 

125.9 

278.6 

3,470.5 

92.5 

1,040.9 

5,008.4 

Historical cost as at 
1 Jan 2018 

Acquisitions from business 
combinations 

Disposals from change in 
scope of consolidation 

Additions 

Disposals 

Reclassifications 

Exchange rate differences 

Historical cost as at 
31 Dec 2018 

Acquisitions through 
business combinations 

Additions 

Disposals 

Reclassifications 

Exchange rate differences 

Historical cost as at        
31 Dec 2019 

Amortisation and 
impairment losses as at    
1 Jan 2018 

Amortisation 

Impairment losses 

Disposals from change in 
scope of consolidation 

Disposals 

Amortisation and 
impairment losses as at 
31 Dec 2018 

Amortisation 

Impairment losses 

Disposals 

Exchange rate differences 

Amortisation and 
impairment losses as at 
31 Dec 2019 

Carrying amount as at 
31 Dec 2018 

Carrying amount as at 
31 Dec 2019 

187
169

Gruppe Deutsche Börse | Annual report 2019 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Deutsche Börse Group | Annual report 2019 

Executive and Supervisory Boards 
Management report  
Financial statements 
Notes | Consolidated balance sheet disclosures 
Further information 

Software, payments on account and software in development 

Additions to software mainly relate to the implementation of the European Central Securities Depositories 
Regulation (CSDR) in the Clearstream (post-trading) segment and the development of the Investment 
Fund Services in the IFS segment. 

Carrying amounts of material software and software in development as well as remaining amortisation 
periods of software applications 

Carrying amount1) as at 

Remaining amortisation period as at 

31 Dec 2019 
€m 

31 Dec 2018 
€m 

31 Dec 2019 
years 

31 Dec 2018 
years 

Eurex (financial derivatives) 

C7 

T7 trading platform for derivatives 

Eurex Clearing Prisma 

OTC CCP 

Clearstream (post-trading) 

TARGET2-Securities (T2S) 

1CAS Custody & Portal 

CSD-R 

LMP 

Customer Onboarding 

IFS (Investment Fund Services) 

IFS Unity 

360T (foreign exchange) 

Trading platform of 360T group 

Xetra (cash equities) 

34.5 

16.7 

9.6 

12.1 

59.1 

31.8 

53.6 

9.9 

10.9 

36.9 

20.5 

16.8 

11.9 

71.8 

37.9 

31.3 

9.0 

6.3 

12.1 

4.7 

1.5 – 4.9 

2.5 – 4.9 

0.4 – 4.9 

0.9 – 4.9 

0.3 – 3.7 

1.3 – 4.7 

1.5 – 4.9 

0.3 – 4.9 

2.9 – 4.1 

3.9 – 5.1 

5.2 

n.a. 

4.9 – 5.2 

4.9 

5.0 

6.2 

n.a. 

6.2 

n.a. 

n.a. 

18.4 

18.5 

2.8 – 6.9 

1.8 – 6.9 

T7 trading platform for the cash markets 

9.1 

8.4 

2.9 – 4.9 

3.9 – 5.5 

1)  Individual releases of a software application are combined and reported as a single asset 

The impairments tests carried out at Deutsche Börse Group in 2019 resulted in impairment losses 
totalling €1.8 million (2018: €36.7 million). Impairment losses of €1.8 million (recoverable amount: 
negative) were disclosed in the fourth quarter of 2019 in the “depreciation, amortisation and impairment 
losses” item and relate to the carrying amount of the Regulatory Reporting Hub IT platform in the Data 
segment. The impairment was due to the discontinuation of the SFTR services, which led to a significant 
downgrade of revenue projections in line with preliminary customer feedback. 

The recoverable amount was measured at fair value less costs to sell, using a discounted cash flow 
model (level 3 inputs). 

188
170

Gruppe Deutsche Börse | Annual report 2019 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Deutsche Börse Group | Annual report 2019 

Executive and Supervisory Boards 
Management report  
Financial statements 
Notes | Consolidated balance sheet disclosures 
Further information 

Goodwill and other intangible assets from business combinations 

Changes in goodwill classified by (groups of) CGUs 

Eurex 
€m 

Clearstream 
€m 

Qontigo 
(former 
STOXX) 
€m 

360T 
€m 

GSF 
€m 

EEX 
€m 

IFS 
€m 

Data 
€m 

Xetra 
€m 

Total 
€m 

1,293.4 

969.0 

18.4 

189.2 

142.1 

113.2 

19.6 

19.3 

6.7 

2,770.9 

0 

0.1 

0.1 

0 

54.0 

0 

0.1 

0.9 

0 

0 

0 

36.5 

0 

2.4 

0.5 

0.1 

0 

0 

90.6 

4.1 

1,293.5 

969.1 

18.5 

244.1 

142.1 

115.6 

56.6 

19.4 

6.7 

2,865.6 

0 

0 

596.4 

0 

0.1 

– 0.1 

– 6.3 

1.1 

0 

0 

2.9 

10.0 

0 

1.0 

– 0.3 

0.1 

0 

0 

609.3 

– 4.3 

1,293.6 

969.0 

608.6 

245.2 

142.1 

119.5 

66.3 

19.5 

6.7 

3,470.5 

Balance as at 
1 Jan 2018 

Acquisitions 
through business 
combinations 

Exchange rate 
differences 

Balance as at 
31 Dec 2018 

Acquisitions 
through business 
combinations 

Exchange rate 
differences 

Balance as at 
31 Dec 2019 

Other intangible assets are divided into the following categories: 

Changes in other intangible assets by category 

Balance as at 1 Jan 2018 

Acquisitions through 
business combinations 

Additions 

Amortisation 

Exchange rate differences 

Balance as at 31 Dec 2018 

Acquisitions through 
business combinations 

Additions 

Amortisation 

Exchange rate differences 

Reclassifications 

Balance as at 31 Dec 2019 

Exchange 
licences 
€m 

23.0 

0 

0 

0 

1.0 

24.0 

0 

0 

0 

0.5 

0 

24.5 

Trade 
names 
€m 

458.2 

1.7 

0 

– 0.1 

0.2 

460.0 

65.4 

0 

– 0.1 

– 0.6 

0 

Member and 
customer 
relationships 
€m 

Miscellaneous 
intangible 
assets 
€m 

425.7 

64.1 

0 

– 28.2 

3.1 

464.7 

44.0 

8.5 

– 31.2 

0.8 

0 

4.3 

0.4 

0.4 

– 1.1 

0 

4.0 

1.0 

1.2 

– 1.2 

0 

– 0.1 

4.9 

524.7 

486.8 

Total 
€m 

911.2 

66.2 

0.4 

– 29.4 

4.3 

952.7 

110.4 

9.7 

– 32.5 

0.7 

– 0.1 

1,040.9 

189
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Gruppe Deutsche Börse | Annual report 2019 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Deutsche Börse Group | Annual report 2019 

Executive and Supervisory Boards 
Management report  
Financial statements 
Notes | Consolidated balance sheet disclosures 
Further information 

Key assumptions used for impairment tests in 2019 

(Group of) CGUs 

Goodwill 
Eurex 
Clearstream 
Qontigo 
360T 

GSF 
EEX 
IFS 
Data 
Xetra 

Allocated 
Book 
Value 
€m 

1,293.6 
969.0 
608.5 
245.2 

142.1 
119.5 
66.3 
19.5 
6.7 

Trade names and exchange licences 

STOXX 
Axioma 
Nodal 
360T 

EEX 
360TGTX 
Structured Products 

420.0 
64.3 
28.6 
19.9 

14.3 
1.7 
0.2 

Risk-Free 
interest rate 
% 

Market Risk 
Premium 
% 

Discount 
Rate 
% 

  CAGR1) 

Perpetuity 
Growth 
Rate 
% 

Net 
Revenue 
% 

Operating 
Costs 
% 

– 0.2 
– 0.2 
– 0.2 
– 0.2 

– 0.2 
– 0.2 
– 0.2 
– 0.2 
– 0.2 

0.2 
2.3 
2.3 
0.2 

0.2 
2.3 
0.2 

7.5 
7.5 
7.5 
7.5 

7.5 
7.5 
7.5 
7.5 
7.5 

7.5 
6.0 
6.0 
7.5 

7.5 
6.0 
7.5 

5.8 
7.0 
7.4 
7.3 

8.1 
6.7 
7.8 
7.6 
6.2 

7.8 
8.5 
8.0 
7.7 

7.0 
8.6 
7.0 

1.0 
1.0 
1.5 
2.0 

1.5 
1.5 
1.5 
1.5 
1.0 

1.5 
1.5 
1.5 
2.0 

1.5 
2.0 
1.0 

4.9 
3.1 
13.2 
11.1 

4.6 
8.0 
9.9 
3.6 
2.8 

8.3 
26.6 
9.0 
8.7 

5.6 
21.3 
2.9 

3.9 
3.3 
20.7 
6.7 

2.6 
6.0 
5.5 
5.5 
3.1 

3.4 
16.9 
7.2 
4.5 

4.5 
12.0 
2.5 

1)  CAGR = compound annual growth rate in detailed planning period 

Key assumptions used for impairment tests in 2018 

Allocated 
Book 
Value 
€m 

1,293.5 

969.1 

244.1 

142.1 

115.6 

56.6 

19.4 

18.5 

6.7 

Goodwill 

Eurex 

Clearstream 

360T 

GSF 

EEX 

IFS 

Data 

STOXX 

Xetra 

Trade names and exchange licenses 

STOXX 

Nodal 

360T Core 

EEX Core 

360TGTX 

Structured Products 

420.0 

28.0 

19.9 

13.9 

1.7 

0.2 

Risk-Free 
interest rate 
% 

Market Risk 
Premium 
% 

Discount 
Rate 
% 

Perpetuity 
Growth 
Rate 
% 

Net 
Revenue 
% 

Operating Costs 
% 

  CAGR1) 

0.9 

0.9 

0.9 

0.9 

0.9 

0.9 

0.9 

0.9 

0.9 

0.8 

2.9 

0.8 

0.8 

2.9 

0.8 

6.5 

6.5 

6.5 

6.5 

6.5 

6.5 

6.5 

6.5 

6.5 

6.5 

6.5 

6.5 

6.5 

6.5 

6.5 

7.2 

7.4 

8.7 

8.5 

7.7 

7.4 

7.5 

7.5 

7.3 

7.6 

9.4 

7.9 

7.3 

9.9 

7.3 

1.0 

1.0 

2.5 

1.5 

1.5 

1.5 

1.5 

1.5 

1.0 

1.5 

1.5 

2.5 

1.5 

2.5 

1.0 

8.0 

4.7 

13.0 

3.1 

9.2 

10.2 

6.5 

8.6 

3.2 

7.9 

13.6 

11.5 

7.1 

12.4 

3.9 

3.9 

0.8 

9.0 

1.8 

6.3 

6.7 

4.2 

7.4 

– 0.5 

8.0 

10.0 

6.5 

4.5 

9.4 

3.6 

1)  CAGR = compound annual growth rate in detailed planning period 

Even in case of a reasonably possible change of the parameters, none of the above-mentioned CGUs, or 
groups of CGUs, would be impaired. 

190
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Gruppe Deutsche Börse | Annual report 2019 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Deutsche Börse Group | Annual report 2019 

Executive and Supervisory Boards 
Management report  
Financial statements 
Notes | Consolidated balance sheet disclosures 
Further information 

12. Property, plant and equipment 

12.1 Measurement of property, plant and equipment 

Depreciable items of property, plant and equipment are carried at cost less cumulative 
depreciation. The straight-line depreciation method is used. The carrying amount is immediately 
written down to its recoverable amount if the carrying amount is higher than its recoverable 
amount. Costs of an item of property, plant and equipment comprise all costs directly attributable 
to the production process, as well as an appropriate proportion of production overheads. No 
borrowing costs were recognised in the reporting period as they could not be directly allocated to 
any particular development project.  

Useful life of property, plant and equipment 
Asset 

Computer hardware 

Office equipment 

Leasehold improvements 

Repair and maintenance costs are expensed as incurred.  

Depreciation period 

3 to 5 years 

5 to 25 years 

based on lease term 

If it is probable that the future economic benefits associated with an item of property, plant and 
equipment will flow to the Group and the cost of the asset in question can be reliably determined, 
expenditure subsequent to acquisition is added to the carrying amount of the asset as incurred. The 
carrying amounts of any parts of an asset that have been replaced are derecognised. 

191
173

Gruppe Deutsche Börse | Annual report 2019 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Deutsche Börse Group | Annual report 2019 

Executive and Supervisory Boards 
Management report  
Financial statements 
Notes | Consolidated balance sheet disclosures 
Further information 

Property, plant and equipment (incl. right-of-use assets) 

Computer 
hardware, 
operating and 
office equip-
ment as well 
as car pool 

Advance 
payments 
made and 
construction in 
progress 
€m 

Land and 
Buildings 

Fixtures and 
fittings 
€m 

Historical costs as at 1 Jan 2018 

Acquisitions through business combinations 

Disposals from change in scope of 
consolidation 

Additions 

Disposals 

Reclassifications 

Exchange rate differences 

Historical costs as at 31 Dec 2018 

Historical costs as at 1 Jan 2019 

Acquisitions through business combinations 

Additions 

Disposals 

Reclassifications 

Exchange rate differences 

Historical costs as at 31 Dec 2019 

Depreciation and impairment losses as at     
1 Jan 2018 

Depreciation 

Disposals from change in scope of 
consolidation 

Disposals 

Depreciation and impairment losses as at   
31 Dec 2018 

Depreciation 

Disposals 

Exchange rate differences 

Depreciation and impairment losses as at   
31 Dec 2019 

Carrying amount as at 31 Dec 2018 

Carrying amount as at 1 Jan 2019 

Carrying amount as at 31 Dec 2019 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

258.3 

10.2 

120.7 

0 

0 

– 0.1 

389.1 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

42.5 

0 

0.1 

42.6 

0.0 

258.3 

346.5 

84.3 

0.3 

0 

5.4 

– 6.5 

0 

0 

83.5 

83.5 

1.5 

9.7 

– 24.5 

7.1 

0.2 

77.5 

49.5 

8.5 

0 

– 5.8 

52.2 

7.8 

– 22.5 

0.2 

37.7 

31.3 

31.3 

39.8 

390.7 

0.6 

– 0.1 

46.7 

– 167.5 

0.5 

0.2 

271.1 

275.6 

3.8 

46.3 

– 12.6 

– 0.2 

0.1 

313.0 

314.3 

37.9 

– 0.1 

– 165.8 

186.3 

43.6 

– 12.3 

– 0.5 

217.1 

84.8 

89.3 

95.9 

2.2 

0 

0 

13.1 

0 

– 0.5 

0 

14.8 

14.8 

0 

8.1 

– 0.3 

– 6.8 

0 

15.8 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

14.8 

14.8 

15.8 

Total 
€m 

477.2 

0.9 

– 0.1 

65.2 

– 174.0 

0 

0.2 

369.4 

632.2 

15.5 

184.8 

– 37.4 

0.1 

0.2 

795.4 

363.8 

46.4 

– 0.1 

– 171.6 

238.5 

93.9 

– 34.8 

– 0.2 

297.4 

130.9 

393.7 

498.0 

192
174

Gruppe Deutsche Börse | Annual report 2019 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Deutsche Börse Group | Annual report 2019 

Executive and Supervisory Boards 
Management report  
Financial statements 
Notes | Consolidated balance sheet disclosures 
Further information 

12.2 Right-of-use assets  

Deutsche Börse Group leases a number of various assets. This includes buildings, passenger vehicles 
and fixtures and fittings in land and buildings. Right-of-use assets are measured at cost. Any 
accumulated depreciation and impairment amounts are deducted from the cost of right-of-use assets as 
part of subsequent measurement. This does not apply to short-term leases with a term of not more than 
12 months and leases for low-value assets. Expenses in the reporting year resulting from the above-
mentioned short-term and low-value assets are reported in other operating expenses. 

Useful life of property, plant and equipment 
Asset 

Right-of-Use –  Land and buildings 

Right-of-Use –  Car pool 

Depreciation period 

based on lease term 

based on lease term 

As a lessor in the case of an operating lease, the Group presents the leased asset as an item of property, 
plant and equipment and measures such asset at amortised cost. The lease instalments received during 
the period are shown under other operating income. 

Right-of-Use Assets 

Historical costs as at 1 Jan 2019 

Acquisitions through business combinations 

Additions 

Depreciation 

Exchange rate differences 

Carrying amount as at 31 Dec 2019 

IT hardware, 
operating and 
office equip-
ment, as well 
as car pool 
€m 

4.5 

3.0 

2.3 

– 2.7 

– 0.1 

7.0 

Land and 
buldings 

258.3 

10.2 

120.7 

– 42.5 

– 0.2 

346.5 

Total 
€m 

262.8 

13.2 

123.0 

– 45.2 

– 0.3 

353.5 

The term of the leases is 15.5 years on average. 

Operating leases for buildings, some of which are subleased, have a maximum remaining term of 
30 years. The lease contracts usually terminate automatically when the lease expires. The Group has 
options to extend some leases. 

For details regarding the corresponding lease liabilities, please see   note 13.2. 

193
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Gruppe Deutsche Börse | Annual report 2019 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Deutsche Börse Group | Annual report 2019 

Executive and Supervisory Boards 
Management report  
Financial statements 
Notes | Consolidated balance sheet disclosures 
Further information 

13. Financial instruments 

Financial assets and liabilities are recognised when the Deutsche Börse Group becomes a party to a 
financial instrument. A financial instrument is contract that gives rise to a financial asset of one entity 
and to a financial liability or equity instrument of another entity. 

Financial instruments are measured at fair value upon initial recognition. The fair value of financial 
instruments not measured at fair value through profit or loss has to include individually attributable 
transaction costs as incidental acquisition costs which result in an increase of the fair value of financial 
assets and a decrease in the fair value of a financial liability upon origination.  

In accordance with IFRS 13, the fair value is defined as a selling price, which is the price that market 
participants receive when selling an asset or pay when transferring a liability in the context of an orderly 
transaction. The fair value is either a price determined on an active market is determined or on the on 
the basis of valuation models. The relevant inputs for the respective measurement model are either 
directly observable on the market or are otherwise determined using expert estimates. 

Financial assets 

Recognition and initial measurement 
Regular way purchases and sales of financial assets are generally recognised and derecognised at the 
trade date. Purchases and sales of debt instruments classified as “at amortised cost” and of equities 
eligible for clearing via the central counterparties (CCPs) of Deutsche Börse Group are recognised and 
derecognised at the settlement date. Financial assets are derecognised when the contractual rights to the 
cash flows expire or when the company transfers these rights in a transaction that transfers substantially 
all risks and rewards of ownership of the financial assets.  

Clearstream Banking S.A. acts as a principal in securities borrowing and lending transactions in the 
context of the ASLplus securities lending system and is an intermediate between lender and borrower 
without becoming a contracting party from an economic perspective. Consequently, these transactions 
are not recognised in the consolidated balance sheet. 

Deutsche Börse Group allocates its financial assets to the following measurement categories, based on 
the business model for managing the financial assets and the contractual cash flow characteristics. 

  At fair value (either at “fair value through other comprehensive income” (FVOCI) or “fair value through 

profit or loss” (FVPL)) 
  At amortised cost (aAC) 

Deutsche Börse Group does not make use of the option to designate financial assets at fair value through 
profit or loss upon initial recognition (fair value option). 

194
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Gruppe Deutsche Börse | Annual report 2019 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Deutsche Börse Group | Annual report 2019 

Executive and Supervisory Boards 
Management report  
Financial statements 
Notes | Consolidated balance sheet disclosures 
Further information 

A significant change (modification) of the contractual terms of a financial instrument measured at 
amortised cost results in the derecognition of the original financial instrument and the recognition of a 
new financial asset. Insignificant changes lead to an adjustment of the carrying amount, without the 
relevant financial instrument being derecognised. 

The Group reclassifies debt instruments when – and only when – its business model for managing such 
items has changed. 

Subsequent measurement of debt instruments 
Deutsche Börse Group allocates each debt instrument in one of the following categories: 

  Amortised cost (aAC): Assets allocated to the “hold” business model and whose cash flows consist of 
solely payments of principal and interest are measured at amortised cost using the effective interest 
method, less any allowances for expected credit losses. Any gain or loss is recognised in profit or loss 
at the time the asset is derecognised or impaired. Interest income is included in financial income or in 
net interest income from banking business using the effective interest rate method. Foreign-exchange 
gains and losses are presented in other operating income or expenses or in financial income or 
expense. 

  Fair value through other comprehensive income (FVOCI): Deutsche Börse Group did not apply the 

“hold and sell” business model in the reporting period and therefore did not allocate any debt 
instruments to this measurement category. 

  Fair value through profit or loss (FVPL): Financial assets that do not meet the criteria for 

measurement at amortised cost or at FVOCI, are measured at FVPL. A gain or loss is recognised in 
profit or loss and included as a net amount in the consolidated income statement within net income 
from strategic investments in the period in which it arises.  

Subsequent measurement of equity instruments 
Deutsche Börse Group subsequently measures all equity investments not held for trading purposes at fair 
value. Where the Group’s management irrevocably opted for presenting fair value gains and losses on 
equity investments in other comprehensive income, there is no subsequent reclassification of fair value 
gains and losses to profit or loss following the derecognition of the investment, but a reclassification to 
retained earnings. Dividends from such financial instruments are recognised in profit or loss as net 
income from strategic investments when the Group’s right to receive payments is established and when 
such dividends are not capital repayments. As at the reporting date, Deutsche Börse Group has 
designated all equity instruments as at fair value through other comprehensive income. 

Impairment 
Any impairment for expected credit losses for debt instruments reported at amortised cost and at fair 
value through other comprehensive income are determined using a three-stage model. They represent a 
forward-looking measurement of future losses that are generally subject to estimates. The expected credit 
loss corresponds to either that of the coming 12 months or that of the entire lifetime of the 
corresponding instrument. The impairment methodology applied depends on whether there has been a 
significant increase in credit risk. A loss allowance equal to twelve-month expected credit losses is 
recognised unless the credit risk on a financial instrument has increased significantly since initial 
recognition. Within Deutsche Börse Group, the expected credit losses for trade receivables are measured 
based on the simplified approach, which requires lifetime expected losses to be recognised from initial 
recognition of a receivable. 

195
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Gruppe Deutsche Börse | Annual report 2019 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Deutsche Börse Group | Annual report 2019 

Executive and Supervisory Boards 
Management report  
Financial statements 
Notes | Consolidated balance sheet disclosures 
Further information 

  Stage  1: The impairment upon initial recognition is measured on the basis of the expected losses for 

the next 12 months.  

  Stage  2: If a financial asset's credit risk has increased significantly without a resulting impairment, the 
expected credit loss is determined over the entire term. A significant increase in credit is determined 
individually using internal ratings. 

  Stage  3: If the financial asset is impaired, the impairment is measured on the basis of the lifetime 

expected credit loss. If observable data indicating severe financial difficulties are available and there is 
a high default risk, a financial asset is classified as impaired, even if the definition of default is not yet 
met. Indications for impairment may include liquidity problems, the request to restructure debt as well 
as a breach of contract. A credit-risk-induced contractual adjustment always leads to an impairment of 
the financial asset. 

Default probabilities are derived mainly from internal ratings. Financial assets are considered to have low 
credit risk if listed bonds and other financial investments or counterparties have an investment-grade 
credit rating. 

Deutsche Börse Group has identified the following two triggers to identify an event of default and which 
cause a transfer to stage 3 accordingly: 

  Legal default: a contractual partner is unable to fulfil its contractual obligation according to an 

agreement with Deutsche Börse Group due to insolvency/bankruptcy.  

  Contractual default: a contractual partner is unable or unwilling to fulfil, in a timely manner, one or 
more of its scheduled contractual obligations according to an agreement with Deutsche Börse Group. 
The non-fulfilment of the contractual obligation could potentially result in a financial loss for Deutsche 
Börse Group.  

For trade receivables, a default is assumed for amounts which are overdue for more than 360 days. The 
following criteria are used for the assessment of derecognition: 

  Insolvency proceedings are not started due to missing substance of the debtor. 
  Insolvency proceedings have not resulted in any payment for a period of three years, and there is no 

indication that any amount will be received going forward. 

  Enforcement activities are not pursued by Deutsche Börse Group due to cost-benefit analysis, or 

Deutsche Börse Group has tried unsuccessfully to collect the receivable for a period of three years. 

Financial liabilities 

Financial liabilities are recognised when a Group company becomes a party to the instrument. 
Purchases and sales of equities via the central counterparty Eurex Clearing AG are recognised at the 
settlement date analogous to financial assets. 

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Executive and Supervisory Boards 
Management report  
Financial statements 
Notes | Consolidated balance sheet disclosures 
Further information 

Offsetting financial assets and liabilities 
Financial assets and liabilities are offset and only the net amount is presented in the consolidated 
balance sheet when a Group company currently has a legally enforceable right to set off the recognised 
amounts and intends either to settle on a net basis or to realise the asset and settle the liability 
simultaneously. 

Financial liabilities measured at amortised cost  
Financial liabilities not held for trading are carried at amortised cost. The borrowing costs associated 
with the placement of financial liabilities are included in the carrying amount and accounted for using 
the effective interest method if they are directly attributable. Discounts are amortised over the term of the 
liabilities. 

Financial liabilities measured at fair value through profit or loss 
A forward transaction with a non-controlling shareholder for the acquisition of non-controlling interests 
that is settled in cash or by delivering other financial assets is a financial liability recognised at fair value. 
It is subsequently measured at fair value through profit or loss. The equity interest attributable to a non-
controlling shareholder underlying the transaction is accounted for as if it had already been acquired at 
the time of the transaction. 

Deutsche Börse Group does not make use of the option to designate financial liabilities at fair value 
through profit or loss upon initial recognition (fair value option). 

Deutsche Börse Group’s exposure to various risks associated with the financial instruments is discussed 
in   note 23. The maximum exposure to credit risk at the end of the reporting period is the carrying 
amount of each class of financial assets mentioned above. 

Derivative financial instruments and hedge accounting 

Derivative financial Instruments are measured at fair value through profit or loss unless they are hedging 
instruments as part of hedge accounting. Deutsche Börse Group applies the hedge accounting principles 
set out in IFRS 9. Deutsche Börse Group uses derivative financial instruments to hedge existing or 
expected transactions in order to reduce interest rate risks or foreign-exchange risks. Changes in the fair 
value of derivative financial instruments are measured either in profit or loss in the consolidated income 
statement or, in the case of cash flow hedges, in other comprehensive income after taking into account 
deferred taxes. 

Hedge accounting is generally of minor significance at Deutsche Börse Group. Hedging instruments used 
by Deutsche Börse Group within the context of hedge accounting are only derivatives that are used solely 
as economic hedges of forecast future cash flows of highly probable transaction and not for speculative 
investments, e.g. by hedging the purchase price to be paid in a foreign currency against currency risks 
within the context of corporate transaction.  

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Executive and Supervisory Boards 
Management report  
Financial statements 
Notes | Consolidated balance sheet disclosures 
Further information 

Upon entering into a transaction designated for hedging purposes, Deutsche Börse Group documents the 
economic relation between the hedging instrument and the hedged item. The hedging relationship must 
be effectively at any time, i.e. the performance of the hedging instrument must almost fully compensate 
the performance of the hedged item. The dollar offset method as well as regression analyses are used to 
measure effectiveness. Ineffectiveness may arise as regards the timing of the forecast future cash flows 
or if the hedged item ceases to exist. 

The documentation also comprises information about the Group's expectations to that extent the hedging 
instrument contributes to offsetting the fluctuations of the cash flows earned with the hedged item. 
Derivatives that do not or no longer fulfil the documentation or effectiveness requirements for the 
recognition under hedge accounting principles, whose hedged item no longer exists or for which the 
hedge accounting provisions are not applied are reported in the category “financial assets and liabilities 
at fair value through profit or loss”. The Group also documents its risk management objective and 
strategy for undertaking various hedge transactions at that point in time. 

The fair value of a derivative used for hedging purposes is reported as a non-current asset or a non-
current liability when the remaining term of the hedged item is more than 12 months. In contrast, the 
fair value of such derivatives is shown as either a current asset or a current liability when the remaining 
term of the hedged item is not more than 12 months. 

13.1 Equity investments measured at fair value through other comprehensive income 

This item comprises strategic investments which are not held for trading and which Deutsche Börse 
Group has irrevocably elected to recognise at fair value through other comprehensive income in this 
category at initial recognition.  

The material strategic investments of Deutsche Börse Group are as follows: 

Equity investments at fair value through other comprehensive income 

Listed securities 

Bombay Stock Exchange Ltd. 

Unlisted securities 

Taiwan Futures Exchange Corp. 

Digital Asset Holdings LLC 

Trifacta Inc. 

Trumid Holdings LLC 

S.W.I.F.T. SCRL 

Other 

Total 

2019 
€m 

12.5 

12.5 

53.8 

0 

8.7 

6.6 

17.1 

10.8 

10.7 

66.3 

2018 
€m 

19.1 

19.1 

89.7 

42.6 

6.2 

5.4 

12.8 

10.2 

12.5 

108.8 

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Executive and Supervisory Boards 
Management report  
Financial statements 
Notes | Consolidated balance sheet disclosures 
Further information 

None of the equity investments have been pledged as collateral by Deutsche Börse Group. 

As at 31 December 2019, the fair value of these equity investments was €66.3 million (2018: 
€108.8 million). Dividend payments of €1.3 million (2018: €2.9 million) from these equity investments 
were recorded in net income from strategic investments. In addition, disposals led to a net gain on 
realisation of €10.5 million (2018: €-7.2 million), recognised outside profit or loss in retained earnings. 

Amounts recognised in profit or loss and other comprehensive income 

Gains/(losses) recognised in other comprehensive income; 

Dividends from equity investments held at FVOCI recognised in profit or loss 

Related to investments held at the end of the reporting period 

Total 

2019 
€m 

10.5 

1.3 

11.8 

2018 
€m 

– 7.2 

2.9 

– 4.3 

13.2 Financial assets and liabilities measured at amortised cost 

Financial assets measured at amortised cost primarily include the following: 

  Trade receivables 
  Debt securities 
  Receivables in connection with securities transactions 
  Reverse repurchase agreements 
  Money market transactions 
  Central counterparty balances 
  Restricted bank balances 
  Other cash and bank balances 

Financial liabilities measured at amortised cost primarily include the following financial instruments: 

  Issued bonds and commercial paper, 
  Trade payables, 
  Liabilities in connection with securities transactions as well as 
  Cash deposits by market participants 

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Executive and Supervisory Boards 
Management report  
Financial statements 
Notes | Consolidated balance sheet disclosures 
Further information 

Financial assets measured at amortised cost 

Composition of fair value of financial assets at amortised cost 

  31 Dec 2019 

  31 Dec 2018 

Non-current 
€m 

Current 
€m 

Total 
€m 

Non-current 
€m 

Current 
€m 

Total 
€m 

Listed debt securities 

693.0 

592.1 

1,285.1 

1,052.0 

572.4 

1,624.4 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

1,285.1 

1,052.0 

0 

0 

693.0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

592.1 

454.4 

– 1.1 

– 6.0 

– 7.1 

454.4 

– 1.1 

– 6.0 

– 7.1 

0.0 

447.3 

447.3 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0.3 

0 

5.2 

0 

0.1 

0 

0 

6,394.3 

6,394.3 

1,596.2 

6,435.7 

8.0 

1,596.2 

6,435.7 

8.0 

231.7 

231.7 

0.1 

47.1 

4.4 

48.4 

23.6 

0.4 

47.1 

9.6 

48.4 

23.7 

29,988.7 

29,988.7 

888.1 

888.1 

572.4 

403.2 

1,624.4 

403.2 

– 0.91) 

– 4.81) 

– 5.7 

– 0.9 

– 4.8 

– 5.7 

397.5 

397.5 

6,516.2 

6,516.2 

2,244.7 

6,435.9 

18.5 

2,244.7 

6,435.9 

18.5 

2,253.3 

2,253.3 

0.1 

45.2 

3.8 

0.5 

45.2 

8.4 

1,608.9 

1,608.9 

23.6 

23.7 

29,833.6 

29,833.6 

1,322.3 

1,322.3 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0.4 

0 

4.6 

0 

0.1 

0 

0 

Expected loss on listed 
debt securities 

Stage 1 

Total expected loss on 
listed debt securities 

Listed debt securities net 
of expected loss 

Trade Receivables 

Expected loss on trade 
receivables 

Stage 1/2 

Stage 3 

Total expected loss on 
trade receivables 

Trade receivables net of 
expected loss 

Other financial assets 
measured at amortised 
cost 

Reverse Repurchase 
Agreements 

Balances on nostro 
accounts (bank balances) 

Money market lendings 

Margin calls 

Customer overdrafts from 
settlement business 

Loans and receivables to 
related parties and other 
investors 

Interest receivables 

Receivables from deposits 

CCP balances 

Other 

Restricted bank balances 

Other cash and bank 
balances 

Total other financial assets 
measured at amortised 
cost 

Other financial assets 
measured net of expected 
loss at amortised cost 

5.7 

45,666.3 

45,672.0 

5.1 

50,306.1 

50,311.2 

5.7 

45,666.3 

45,672.0 

5.1 

50,306.1 

50,311.2 

Total 

698.7 

46,705.7 

47,404.4 

1,057.1 

51,276.0 

52,333.1 

1) Prior year figures adjusted 

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Management report  
Financial statements 
Notes | Consolidated balance sheet disclosures 
Further information 

Financial liabilities measured at amortised cost 

Composition of financial liabilities at amortised cost 

  31 Dec 2019 
  Carrying amount 

  31 Dec 2018 
  Carrying amount 

Non-current 
€m 

Current 
€m 

Total 
€m 

Non-current 
€m 

Current 
€m 

Total 
€m 

Bonds issued 

2,286.2 

0 

2,286.2 

2,283.2 

0 

2,283.2 

Cash deposits by market 
participants 

Trade payables 

Deposits from securities 
settlement business 

Commercial papers issued 

Money market lendings 

Bank overdrafts 

Margin deposits 

Interest accruals 

Leasing Liabilities 

Liabilities from CCP 
positions 

Associate payables 

Miscellaneous 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

341.0 

0 

0 

0 

29,755.8 

29,755.8 

206.7 

206.7 

13,725.6 

13,725.6 

311.9 

311.9 

19.2 

5.2 

31.0 

35.8 

41.5 

49.9 

0.7 

4.4 

19.2 

5.2 

31.0 

35.9 

382.5 

49.9 

0.7 

4.4 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

29,559.2 

29,559.2 

195.0 

195.0 

16,796.8 

16,796.8 

402.2 

36.6 

0 

17.9 

36.6 

0 

402.2 

36.6 

0 

17.9 

36.6 

0 

1,714.9 

1,714.9 

0.1 

19.6 

0.1 

19.6 

Total 

2,627.2 

44,187.9 

46,815.1 

2,283.2 

48,778.9 

51,062.1 

The financial liabilities recognised on the balance sheet were not secured by liens or similar rights as at 
31 December 2018 or as at 31 December 2019. 

13.3 Restricted bank balances 

Amounts reported separately under liabilities as cash deposits by market participants are restricted. Such 
amounts are mainly invested via bilateral or triparty reverse repurchase agreements and in the form of 
overnight deposits at banks (restricted bank balances). Government and government-guaranteed bonds 
with an external rating of at least AA– are accepted as collateral for the reverse repurchase agreements. 
Reported restricted bank balances total €29,988.7 million (2018: €29,833.6 million).  

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Executive and Supervisory Boards 
Management report  
Financial statements 
Notes | Consolidated balance sheet disclosures 
Further information 

13.4 Cash deposits by market participants 

Composition of cash deposits by market participants 

31 Dec 2019 
€m 

31 Dec 2018 
€m 

Liabilities from margin payments 

Liabilities from margin payments to Eurex Clearing AG by clearing members 

25,461.9 

23,673.9 

Liabilities from margin payments to European Commodity Clearing AG by clearing members 

3,794.7 

5,502.2 

Liabilities from margin payments to Nodal Clear, LLC by clearing members 

Liabilities from margin payments to European Energy Exchange AG by clearing members 

Liabilities from cash deposits by participants in equity trading 

Total 

494.2 

0.3 

4.7 

372.7 

0.3 

10.1 

29,755.8 

29,559.2 

13.5. Financial instruments at fair value through profit or loss 

Deutsche Börse Group measures the following financial instruments at fair value: 

  Financial instruments held by central counterparties 
  Derivatives 
  Other financial instruments measured at fair value through profit or loss: Financial assets include, in 
particular, investment fund units, convertible bonds and loans with an option to convert the loan into 
equity, as well as financial instruments from an incentive programme. Contingent purchase price 
components are reported in financial liabilities.  

Financial instruments held by central counterparties 
European Commodity Clearing AG, Nodal Clear, LLC and Eurex Clearing AG act as central 
counterparties: 

  Eurex Clearing AG guarantees the settlement of all transactions involving futures and options on Eurex 
Germany. It also guarantees the settlement of all transactions for Eurex Repo (repo trading platform), 
certain exchange transactions in equities on Frankfurter Wertpapierbörse (FWB, the Frankfurt Stock 
Exchange) and certain cash market transactions on the Irish Stock Exchange. Eurex Clearing AG also 
guarantees the settlement of off-order-book trades entered for clearing in the trading systems of the 
Eurex exchanges, Eurex Bonds, Eurex Repo, the Frankfurt Stock Exchange and the Irish Stock 
Exchange. In addition, Eurex Clearing AG clears over-the-counter (OTC) interest rate derivatives and 
securities lending transactions, where these meet the specified novation criteria. 

  European Commodity Clearing AG guarantees the settlement of spot and derivatives transactions at the 

trading venues of EEX group and the connected partner exchanges. 

  Nodal Clear, LLC, as part of the Nodal Exchange Group, is a Derivatives Clearing Organisation (DCO) 
registered in the United States and is the central counterparty for all transactions executed on Nodal 
Exchange. 

The transactions of the clearing houses are only executed between the respective clearing house and a 
clearing member.  

Purchases and sales of equities and bonds via the Eurex Clearing AG central counterparty are recognised 
and simultaneously derecognised at the settlement date.  

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Executive and Supervisory Boards 
Management report  
Financial statements 
Notes | Consolidated balance sheet disclosures 
Further information 

For products that are marked to market (futures, options on futures as well as OTC interest-rate 
derivatives), the clearing houses recognise gains and losses on open positions of clearing members on 
each exchange day. By means of the variation margin, profits and losses on open positions resulting 
from market price fluctuations are settled on a daily basis. The difference between this and other margin 
types is that the variation margin does not comprise collateral, but is a daily offsetting of profits and 
losses in cash. Therefore, futures and OTC interest rate derivatives are not reported in the consolidated 
balance sheet. “Traditional” options, for which the buyer must pay the option premium in full upon 
purchase, are carried in the consolidated balance sheet at fair value. Receivables and liabilities from 
repo transactions and from cash-collateralised securities lending transactions are classified as held for 
trading and carried at fair value.  

“Financial instruments held by central counterparties” are reported as non-current if the remaining 
maturity of the underlying transactions exceeds twelve months at the reporting date. 

The fair values recognised in the consolidated balance sheet are based on daily settlement prices. These 
are calculated and published by the clearing house in accordance with the rules set out in the contract 
specifications (see also the clearing conditions of the respective clearing house). 

Composition of financial instruments held by central counterparties 

Repo transactions 

Options 

Others 

Total 

thereof non-current 

thereof current 

31 Dec 2019 
€m 

31 Dec 2018 
€m 

60,352.2 

63,147.3 

23,126.5 

40,428.1 

57.0 

690.3 

83,535.7 

104,265.7 

5,234.2 

9,985.4 

78,301.5 

94,280.3 

The aggregate financial instruments held by central counterparties are classified into current and non-
current in the consolidated balance sheet. Receivables and liabilities that may be offset against a 
clearing member are reported on a net basis. Financial liabilities of €890.0 million (31 December 2018: 
€212.0 million) were eliminated because of intra-Group GC Pooling transactions. 

Derivatives 
Where derivatives do not meet the hedge accounting criteria, they are classified as “held for trading” for 
accounting purposes and are accounted for at fair value through profit or loss. Deutsche Börse Group 
uses derivative financial instruments to hedge existing or expected transactions in order to reduce 
interest rate risks or foreign-exchange risks. As at the reporting date, the following transactions have 
been recognised: 

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Executive and Supervisory Boards 
Management report  
Financial statements 
Notes | Consolidated balance sheet disclosures 
Further information 

Derivative Financial Instruments 

Assets 

Non-current 

Option to acquire equity investments 

Total Non-current assets 

Current 

Foreign currency derivatives not designated in hedges 

Total Current assets 

Total Assets 

Liabilities 

Current 

Foreign currency derivatives not designated in hedges 

Total Current liabilities 

Total Liabilities 

Notional 
amount 
31 Dec 2019 
€m 

Carrying 
amount 
31 Dec 2019 
€m 

Notional 
amount 
31 Dec 2018 
€m 

Carrying 
amount 
31 Dec 2018 
€m 

0.0 

0.0 

827.0 

827.0 

827.0 

2,138.6 

2,138.6 

2,138.6 

0 

0 

1.4 

1.4 

1.4 

25.9 

25.9 

25.9 

2.0 

2.0 

2,094.8 

2,094.8 

2,096.8 

1,289.5 

1,289.5 

1,289.5 

0.0 

0.0 

4.7 

4.7 

4.7 

3.0 

3.0 

3.0 

Deutsche Börse Group has entered into transactions involving derivatives to economically reduce the 
foreign-exchange rate risk. These transactions do not meet the hedge accounting requirements. 

As at 31 December 2019, currency swaps expiring in less than seven months had a notional value of 
€2,965.6 million (31 December 2018: €3,383.2 million expiring in less than six months) as well as a 
negative fair value of €25.9 million (31 December 2018: positive fair value of €4.7 million and negative 
fair value amounting to €2.9 million). These swaps were entered into to convert foreign currencies 
resulting from the commercial paper programme into euros and to economically hedge short-term foreign 
currency receivables and liabilities in euros. 

Cash flow hedges that qualify for hedge accounting 
The effective portion of changes in the fair value of derivatives that are designated and qualify as cash 
flow hedges are recognised in other comprehensive income. Hedge ineffectiveness is directly recognised 
in profit or loss in the consolidated income statement within net interest income from banking business 
or financial income or expenses.  

When a hedging instrument expires or is sold or terminated, or when a hedge no longer meets the 
criteria for hedge accounting, hedge accounting is discontinued. When the forecast transaction  
is no longer expected to occur, the cumulative gain or loss and deferred costs of hedging that were 
reported in equity are immediately reclassified to profit or loss. 

Other financial assets and liabilities FVPL 

The other financial assets FVPL essentially include non/current investment fund shares in amount of 
€28.4 million (December 31, 2018: €14.6 million). The other financial liabilities FVPL include non-
current contingent purchase price components in amount of €84.3 million (31 December 2018: 
€0.2 million) and a current put option of €3.6 million (31 December 2018: nil) related to the 
acquisition of Axioma. 

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Executive and Supervisory Boards 
Management report  
Financial statements 
Notes | Consolidated balance sheet disclosures 
Further information 

Amounts recognised in profit or loss 

Fair value gains (losses) on other financial assets at FVPL recognised in other gains/(losses) 

Distributions from ETFs 

Fair value gains (losses) on contingent pruchase price components 

Total 

13.6 Fair value hierarchy 

2019 
€m 

6.3 

0.3 

– 0.2 

6.4 

2018 
€m 

– 1.5 

0.3 

0.6 

– 0.6 

The financial assets measured at fair value includes financial assets and liabilities of the following three 
hierarchy levels:  

  Level 1: Financial instruments with a quoted price for identical assets and liabilities in an active 

market. 

  Level 2: Financial instruments with no quoted prices for identical instruments on an active market and 
whose fair value is determined using valuation methods based on observable market parameters (e.g. 
OTC derivatives). 

  Level 3: Financial instruments where the fair value is determined using one or more unobservable 

significant inputs. This does not apply to equity instruments 

There were no transfers between levels for recurring fair value measurements during the year under 
review. 

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Executive and Supervisory Boards 
Management report  
Financial statements 
Notes | Consolidated balance sheet disclosures 
Further information 

Fair value hierarchy 

Assets  

Financial assets measured at fair value 
through other comprehensive income 

Strategic investments 

Total 

Financial assets FVPL 

Non-current financial instruments held by 
central counterparties 

Other non-current financial assets at FVPL 

Current financial instruments of the central 
counterparties 

Current derivatives 

Other current financial assets at FVPL 

Total 

Total assets  

Liabilities  

Financial liabilities FVPL 

Non-current financial instruments of the 
central counterparties 

Non-current financial liabilities FVPL 

Current financial instruments held by 
central counterparties 

Current derivatives 

Current financial liabilities FVPL 

Total liabilities 

Fair value as at 
31 Dec 2019 

thereof attributable to: 

€m 

Level 1 
€m 

Level 2 
€m 

Level 3 
€m 

66.3 

66.3 

5,234.2 

28.4 

78,301.5 

1.4 

0.4 

83,565.9 

83,632.2 

12.5 

12.5 

0 

11.3 

0 

0 

0 

11.3 

23.8 

0 

0 

5,234.2 

0 

78,301.5 

1.4 

0 

83,537.2 

83,537.2 

53.8 

53.8 

0 

17.2 

0 

0 

0.4 

17.5 

71.3 

– 82,759.5 

0 

– 82,671.6 

– 87.9 

– 5,234.2 

– 84.3 

– 77,411.5 

– 25.9 

– 3.6 

– 82,759.5 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

– 5,234.2 

0 

– 77,411.5 

– 25.9 

0 

– 82,671.6 

0 

– 84.3 

0 

0 

– 3.6 

– 87.9 

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Executive and Supervisory Boards 
Management report  
Financial statements 
Notes | Consolidated balance sheet disclosures 
Further information 

Fair value hierarchy previous year 

Fair value as at 
31 Dec 2018 

thereof attributable to: 

€m 

Level 1 
€m 

Level 2 
€m 

Assets 

104,396.9 

27.7 

104,270.4 

Financial assets measured at fair value through other 
comprehensive income 

Strategic investments 

Total 

Financial assets held for trading 

108.8 

108.8 

Non-current financial instruments of the central counterparties 

9,985.4 

Other non-current financial assets at FVPL 

17.3 

Current financial instruments of the central counterparties 

94,280.3 

Current derivatives 

Other current financial assets at FVPL 

4.7 

0.4 

19.1 

19.1 

0 

8.6 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

9,985.4 

0 

94,280.3 

4.7 

0 

104,288.1 

8.6 

104,270.4 

Level 3 
€m 

98.8 

89.7 

89.7 

0 

8.7 

0 

0 

0.4 

9.1 

Total 

Total assets 

Liabilities 

Financial liabilities FVPL 

– 104,056.9 

0 

– 104,056.7 

– 0.2 

Non-current financial instruments of the central counterparties 

– 9,985.4 

Non-current financial liabilities at fair value through profit or 
loss (FVPL) 

– 0.2 

Current financial instruments held by central counterparties 

– 94,068.3 

Current derivatives 

Total liabilities 

– 3.0 

– 104,056.9 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

– 9,985.4 

0 

0 

– 0.2 

– 94,068.3 

– 3.0 

0 

0 

– 104,056.7 

– 0.2 

The fair value of a financial instrument is measured using quoted market prices, if available. If no 
quoted market prices are available, observable market prices, for example for interest rates or exchange 
rates, are used. This observable market information is then used as inputs for financial valuation 
techniques, e.g. option pricing models, discounted cash flow models or net asset value. In isolated 
instances, fair value is determined exclusively on the basis of internal valuation models. 

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Executive and Supervisory Boards 
Management report  
Financial statements 
Notes | Consolidated balance sheet disclosures 
Further information 

Changes in level 3 financial instruments 

Balance as at 1 Jan 2018 

Acquisitions from business combinations 

Additions 

Disposals 

Realised capital gains/(losses) 

Financial results 

Other operating expenses 

Other operating income 

Net income from strategic investments 

Changes recognised in the revaluation surplus 

Unrealised gains/(losses) fro currency translation recognised 

in equity 

Balance as at 31 Dec 2018 

Acquisitions from business combinations 

Additions 

Disposals 

Reclassifications 

Unrealised capital gains/(losses) recognised in profit or loss 

Other operating expenses 

Result from strategic investments 

Staff cost 

Changes recognised in the revaluation surplus 

Unrealised gains/(losses) fro currency translation recognised 

in equity 

Balance as at 31 Dec 2019 

Financial Assets 

measured at 
fair value 
through profit 
or loss 
m € 

Strategic 
investments 
m € 

Financial 
Liabilities 

measured at 
fair value 
through profit 
or loss 
m € 

67.8 

0.1 

13.6 

– 0.3 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

7.5 

1.0 

89.7 

0 

0.9 

– 42.7 

3.3 

0 

0 

0 

0 

1.9 

0.6 

53.8 

7.6 

0 

3.1 

– 1.8 

0.2 

0 

– 0.1 

0.4 

– 0.1 

0 

0 

9.1 

0 

7.9 

– 0.3 

– 3.3 

4.1 

0 

4.1 

0 

0 

0 

– 1.1 

0 

0 

0.3 

0.6 

– 0.1 

0 

0.7 

0 

0 

0 

– 0.2 

– 84.0 

– 0.3 

0 

0 

– 3.5 

0.1 

0 

– 3.6 

0 

0 

17.5 

– 87.9 

Total 

m € 

74.3 

0.1 

16.7 

– 1.8 

0.8 

– 0.1 

– 0.1 

1.1 

– 0.1 

7.5 

1.0 

98.6 

– 84.0 

8.5 

– 43.0 

0 

0.6 

0.1 

4.1 

– 3.6 

1.9 

0.6 

– 16.7 

The value of level 3 equity investments is reviewed on a quarterly basis using internal valuation models. 
In the year under review, a strategic investment of the FVOCI category was fully sold which led to a 
disposal in the amount of €42.7 million. Moreover, debt instruments previously measured at fair value 
were converted into equity, resulting in a reclassification within Level 3 in the amount of €3.3 million. In 
addition, investment fund units measured at fair value through profit or loss were acquired in the 
amount of €7.9 million. The measurement of the investment fund units at fair value had an effect on 
profit or loss amounting to €4.1 million reported in net income from strategic investments.  

The acquisition of Axioma Inc. resulted in an addition of €84.0 million from the application of the 
anticipated purchase method which has to be reported as part of the consideration transferred as a 
financial liability measured at fair value through profit or loss (see   note2). The Principal Manager 
Shareholder Put Option granted within the scope of the acquisition resulted in a measurement gain in 
the amount of €3.6 million recognised in profit or loss. 

There were no further material changes in the reporting year regarding financial assets and liabilities 
allocated to Level 3. A change in the parameters observable on the market, taking into account realistic 

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Deutsche Börse Group | Annual report 2019 

Executive and Supervisory Boards 
Management report  
Financial statements 
Notes | Consolidated balance sheet disclosures 
Further information 

alternative assumptions, would not have any material effects on the carrying amounts of the unlisted 
equity securities measured at fair value through profit or loss as at the reporting date. 

The bonds issued by Deutsche Börse Group have a fair value of €2,451.1 million (31 December 2018: 
€2,422.9 million) and are disclosed under liabilities measured at amortised cost. The fair value of such 
instruments is based on the debt instruments’ quoted prices. Due to insufficient market liquidity, the 
liabilities were allocated to level 2. 

Fixed-income securities held by Deutsche Börse Group have a fair value of €1,360.1 million 
(31 December 2018: €1,627.0 million). They are recognised as part of debt instruments measured at 
amortised cost. The fair value of the securities was determined by reference to published price 
quotations in an active market. The securities were allocated to level 1. 

The financial instrument’s carrying amount for all other items represents a reasonable approximation of 
the fair value. 

13.7 Offsetting financial instruments 

Gross presentation of offset financial instruments held by central counterparties 

Gross amount of financial 
instruments 

Gross amount of offset financial 
instruments 

Net amount of financial 
instruments 

31 Dec 2019 
€m 

31 Dec 2018 
€m 

31 Dec 2019 
€m 

31 Dec 2018 
€m 

31 Dec 2019 
€m 

31 Dec 2018 
€m 

Financial assets from repo 
transactions 

Financial liabilities from 
repo transactions 

Financial assets 
from options 

Financial liabilities 
from options 

104,334.5 

98,083.3 

– 43,982.3 

– 34,936.0 

60,352.2 

63,147.3 

– 103,444.5 

– 97,871.3 

43,982.3 

34,936.0 

– 59,462.2 

– 62,935.3 

78,171.1 

76,089.8 

– 55,044.6 

– 35,661.7 

23,126.5 

40,428.1 

– 78,171.1 

– 76,089.8 

55,044.6 

35,661.7 

– 23,126.5 

– 40,428.1 

13.8 Cash or securities collateral held by central counterparties 

As the clearing houses of the Deutsche Börse Group guarantee the settlement of all traded contracts, 
they have established multi-level collateral systems. The central pillar of the collateral systems is the 
determination of the overall risk per clearing member (margin) to be covered by cash or securities 
collateral. Losses calculated on the basis of current prices and potential future price risks are covered up 
to the date of the next collateral payment.  

In addition to these daily collateral payments, each clearing member must make contributions to the 
respective default fund (for further details, see the   risk report in the combined management report). 
Cash collateral is reported in the consolidated balance sheet under “cash deposits by market 
participants” and the corresponding amounts under “restricted bank balances”.  

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Deutsche Börse Group | Annual report 2019 

Executive and Supervisory Boards 
Management report  
Financial statements 
Notes | Consolidated balance sheet disclosures 
Further information 

Securities collateral is generally not derecognised by the clearing member providing the collateral, as the 
opportunities and risks associated with the securities are not transferred to the secure party. Recognition 
at the secure party is only permissible if the clearing member providing the transfer is in default 
according to the underlying contract. 

The aggregate margin calls based on the executed transactions and default fund requirements after 
haircuts was €52,889.4 million as at the reporting date (2018: €47,969.5 million). Collateral totalling 
€61,711.0 million (2018: €58,992.9 million) was actually deposited. 

Composition of collateral held by central counterparties 

Cash collateral (cash deposits)1)2) 

Securities and book-entry securities collateral3)4) 

Total 

31 Dec 2019 
€m 

31 Dec 2018 
€m 

26,489.6 

29,240.5 

35,221.4 

29,752.4 

61,711.0 

58,992.9 

1)  The amount includes the clearing fund totalling €2,914.5 million (2018: €2,938.3million) 
2)  The collateral value is determined on the basis of the fair value less a haircut amounting to €345.3 million (2018: €344.4 million)  
3)  The amount includes the clearing fund totalling €2,055.2 million (2018: €1,789.1 million) 
4)  The collateral value is determined on the basis of the fair value less a haircut amounting to €4,595.4 million (2018: €4,243.9 million) 

14. Other current assets 

Composition of other current assets 

Other receivables from CCP transactions (commodities) 

Prepaid expenses 

Tax receivables (excluding income taxes) 

Interest receivables on taxes 

Miscellaneous 

Total 

31 Dec 2019 
€m 

31 Dec 2018 
€m 

208.7 

543.9 

66.5 

39.7 

19.3 

6.7 

50.4 

41.6 

0 

3.9 

340.9 

639.8 

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Deutsche Börse Group | Annual report 2019 

Executive and Supervisory Boards 
Management report  
Financial statements 
Notes | Consolidated balance sheet disclosures 
Further information 

15. Equity 

Changes in equity are presented in the consolidated statement of changes in equity. As at 31 De-
cember 2019, the number of no-par value registered shares of Deutsche Börse AG in issue was 
190,000,000 (31 December 2018: 190,000,000).  

Subject to the agreement of the Supervisory Board, the Executive Board is authorised to increase the 
subscribed share capital by the following amounts: 

Composition of authorised share capital 

Amount 
in € (shares) 

Date of authori­ 
sation by the 
shareholders 

Existing shareholders’ pre-emptive rights 
may be disapplied for 
fractioning and/or may be disapplied if the 
share issue is: 

Expiry date 

Authorised share capital I1) 

13,300,000 

11 May 2016 

10 May 2021  n.a. 

Authorised share capital II1) 

19,300,000 

13 May 2015 

12 May 2020   for cash at an issue price not significantly 

lower than the stock exchange price, up to a 
maximum amount of 10 per cent of the 
nominal capital. 

   against non-cash contributions for the 

purpose of acquiring companies, parts of 
companies, interests in companies, or other 
assets. 

Authorised share capital III1) 

38,600,000 

13 May 2015 

12 May 2020  n.a. 

Authorised share capital IV1) 

6,000,000 

17 May 2017 

16 May 2022  n.a. 

1)  Shares may only be issued, excluding shareholders’ pre-emptive subscription rights, provided that the aggregate amount of new shares issued excluding 

shareholders' pre-emptive rights during the term of the authorisation (including under other authorisations) does not exceed 20 per cent of the issued share capital  

Contingent capital  

By resolution of the Annual General Meeting of 8 May 2019, the Executive Board is authorised, subject 
to the consent of the Supervisory Board, to issue in the period until 7 May 2024 on one or several 
occasions convertible bonds and/or warrant-linked bonds or a combination of such instruments with a 
total principal amount of up to €5,000,000,000 with or without a limited term and to grant holders or 
creditors of such bonds conversion or option rights, respectively, to acquire new no-par value registered 
shares in Deutsche Börse AG representing a notional interest in the share capital of up to €17,800,000, 
as stipulated in the terms and conditions of convertible bonds or the terms and conditions of the 
warrants attaching to the warrant-linked bonds.  

The Executive Board is authorised, subject to the consent of the Supervisory Board, to exclude the 
subscription rights of the shareholders in relation to bonds with conversion or option rights to acquire 
shares in Deutsche Börse AG in the following cases: The Executive Board is authorised, subject to the 
approval of the Supervisory Board, to exclude shareholders’ pre-emptive rights to bonds with conversion 
or option rights to shares of Deutsche Börse AG in the following cases: (i) to avoid fractional amounts, 
(ii) when the issue price of a bond is not materially below the theoretical fair value determined in 
accordance with recognised financial techniques and the total number of shares attributable to these 
bonds does not exceed 10 per cent of the share capital, (iii) to grant the holders of conversion or option 
rights to shares of Deutsche Börse AG subscription rights to offset any dilutive effects to the same extent 
as they would be entitled to receive after exercising these rights.  

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Deutsche Börse Group | Annual report 2019 

Executive and Supervisory Boards 
Management report  
Financial statements 
Notes | Consolidated balance sheet disclosures 
Further information 

The bonds may also be issued by companies based in Germany or abroad that are affiliated with 
Deutsche Börse AG within the meaning of sections 15 ff. of the Aktiengesetz (AktG, German Stock 
Corporation Act). Accordingly, the share capital was contingently increased by up to €17,800,000 
(contingent capital 2019). To date, the authorisation to issue convertible bonds and/or bonds with 
warrants has not been exercised. 

There were no further subscription rights to shares as at 31 December 2019 or 31 December 2018. 

Revaluation surplus 

The development of the revaluation surplus is as follows: 

Revaluation surplus 

Balance as at 1 Jan 2018 
(gross) 

Changes from defined benefit 
and similar obligations 

Fair value measurement 

Balance as at 31 Dec 2018 
(gross) 

Changes from defined benefit 
and similar obligations 

Fair value measurement 

Balance as at 31 Dec 2019 
(gross) 

Deferred taxes 

Balance as at 1 Jan 2018 

Additions 

Reversals 

Balance as at 31 Dec 2018 

Additions 

Reversals 

Balance as at 31 Dec 2019 

Balance as at 1 Jan 2018 
(net) 

Balance as at 31 Dec 2018 
(net) 

Balance as at 31 Dec 2019 
(net) 

Recognition of 

hidden 
reserves from 

Equity 
investments 

fair value 
measurement 

€m 

measured at 
FVOCI 
€m 

103.7 

23.7 

0 

0 

0 

– 7.2

103.7 

16.5 

0 

0 

0 

– 10.4

Cashflow-
Hedges 
€m 

Defined benefit 

obligations 
€m 

Other 
€m 

Total 
€m 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0.2 

– 153.2

0 

– 25.8

– 23.9

0 

– 0.3

0 

– 24.2

– 7.2

– 177.1

– 0.3

– 57.2

– 42.1

0 

– 0.9

0 

– 43.0

– 10.2

103.7 

6.1 

0.2 

– 219.2

– 1.2

– 110.4

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

– 1.7

0.1 

– 0.3

– 1.9

0.1 

0 

– 1.8

103.7 

22.0 

103.7 

14.6 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

– 0.1

– 0.1

0 

0 

41.9 

6.9 

0 

48.8 

11.1 

0 

59.9 

0 

0.1 

0 

0.1 

0.2 

0 

0.3 

40.2 

7.1 

– 0.3

47.0 

11.4 

– 0.1

58.3 

– 111.3

0 

14.4 

– 128.3

– 0.2

– 10.2

103.7 

4.3 

0.1 

– 159.3

– 0.9

– 52.1

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Executive and Supervisory Boards 
Management report  
Financial statements 
Notes | Consolidated balance sheet disclosures 
Further information 

Accumulated profit 

The “accumulated profit” item includes exchange rate differences amounting to €–8.2 million (2018:  
€–6.8 million). €2.1 million (2018: €–8.2 million) was withdrawn due to currency translation for 
foreign subsidiaries in the reporting period and €0.7 million (2018: €1.4 million) was added relating to 
transactions used to hedge against currency risk. 

Regulatory capital requirements and regulatory capital ratios 

As in the past, Clearstream Banking S.A., Clearstream Banking AG and Eurex Clearing AG, in their 
capacity as credit institutions, are subject to solvency supervision by the German or Luxembourg 
banking supervisory authorities (Bundesanstalt für Finanzdienstleistungsaufsicht, BaFin, and 
Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier, CSSF, respectively). The same applies to the 
Clearstream Holding at a regulatory group level. Eurex Repo GmbH and 360 Treasury Systems AG are 
also subject to specific provisions applicable to certain investment firms under BaFin solvency 
supervision.  

Since the authorisation of both Eurex Clearing AG and European Commodity Clearing AG as central 
counterparties under the provisions of Regulation (EU) No 648/2012 (European Market Infrastructure 
Regulation, EMIR) in 2014, these companies have been subject to the capital requirements under 
Article 16 EMIR. These requirements apply to Eurex Clearing AG in parallel to the solvency supervision 
requirements applicable to credit institutions. In each concrete case, the more stringent requirement 
has to be met. Irrespective of its status as a specialist credit institution according to German law, 
European Commodity Clearing AG is only subject to EMIR capital requirements. 

Clearstream Banking AG, Clearstream Banking S.A. and LuxCSD S.A. are central securities depositories 
(CSDs) within the meaning of Article 2 Paragraph 1 Number 1 of the Regulation (EU) No. 909/2014 
(Central Securities Depositories Regulation, CSDR). In January 2020, for Clearstream Banking AG the 
CSD licence pursuant to Article 16 CSDR was granted by BaFin as of 21 January 2020. As a result, the 
company is subject to the capital requirements set forth in Article 47 CSDR. While the review of 
remaining applications for authorisation of Clearstream Banking AG (acording to Article 54 CSDR), 
Clearstream Banking S.A. and LuxCSD S.A. by the respective supervisory authorities is ongoing, the 
companies partially operate under existing transitional provisions. In addition, Clearstream Banking AG 
and Clearstream Banking S.A. will also be subject to a capital surcharge for credit institutions applicable 
for the provision of intra-day credit pursuant to Article 54 Paragraph 3 Letter d CSDR. 

Nodal Clear, LLC is a Derivatives Clearing Organisation (DCO) subject to regulation by the US 
Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC).  

REGIS-TR S.A., as a trade repository according to EMIR, is subject to supervision exercised by the 
European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA). 

Powernext SAS is a market company according to Article L. 421-2 of the Monetary and Financial Code 
(Code monétaire et financier) and therefore is subject to supervision exercised by Autorité des marchés 
financiers (AMF). 

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Executive and Supervisory Boards 
Management report  
Financial statements 
Notes | Consolidated balance sheet disclosures 
Further information 

The EMIR capital requirements for central counterparties are, in large part, based on the EU own funds 
requirements for credit institutions, but the details differ in relation to the capital components, the 
capital requirement components and capital deduction items. Moreover, EMIR does not specify any 
capital buffers such as those introduced by the Directive 2013/36/EU (Capital Requirements Directive, 
CRD IV) and Regulation (EU) No 575/2013 (Capital Requirements Regulation, CRR) for banks. 

Since 1 January 2014, the own funds requirements for credit institutions have been primarily subject to 
the EU-wide requirements of the CRR as well as the supplementary national regulations implementing 
CRD IV, which transposed the “Basel III” rules into European law. 

All companies that are directly or indirectly (i.e. by means of EMIR requirements) subject to the CRR 
own funds requirements are exempted from compliance with trading book requirements. Market risk 
exposures consist only of relatively small open foreign currency positions. The companies concerned 
uniformly apply the standardised approach for credit risk. As a result of the specific business of the 
credit institutions and central counterparties belonging to Deutsche Börse Group, their recognised assets 
are subject to sharp fluctuations. This leads to correspondingly volatile total capital ratios at the 
Clearstream companies. The volatility of the ratio is subject to major fluctuations on a day-to-day basis 
in the course of the year. Due to a high degree of collateralised or zero-weighted cash investments, the 
own funds requirements for credit and market risk exposures of Eurex Clearing AG and European 
Commodity Clearing AG are relatively stable despite volatile total assets in the course of the year. 

To calculate operational risk, Eurex Clearing AG and European Commodity Clearing AG use the basic 
indicator approach, while the Clearstream companies apply the advanced measurement approach (AMA). 

Due to the specific arrangements for the two investment firms, Eurex Repo GmbH and 360 Treasury 
Systems AG, no explicit own funds requirements for operational risk are determined in accordance with 
Article 95 CRR. Instead, the total own funds requirement is determined either as the own funds 
requirement amount for credit and market risk or as 25 per cent of fixed overhead costs, depending on 
which is higher. Since credit and market risks are low, the relevant criterion for both companies is the 
own funds requirement on the basis of overhead costs. 

None of the Group companies subject to solvency supervision has neither Additional Tier 1 nor Tier 2 
supplementary capital. 

A minimum total capital ratio of 8 per cent generally applies to credit institutions subject to the CRR. In 
addition, CRD IV introduced various capital buffers, which the supervised (credit) institutions 
generally have to meet over and above the minimum total capital ratio of 8 per cent, although they 
may temporarily fall below these levels. The capital buffers were introduced in stages up until 1 
January 2019, depending on the economic environment and systemic risk components: since 2014, 
CSSF has imposed a standard capital conservation buffer of 2.5 per cent of Tier 1 capital on all 
Luxembourg credit institutions; this arrangement represents a departure from the general transitional 
provisions of CRD IV. For all German credit institutions, a capital conservation buffer was phased-in 
(1.875 per cent throughout 2018 and 2.5 per cent starting from 1 January 2019. Similarly, an 
countercyclical capital buffer is required to be available in order to ensure that banks accumulate a 
buffer during a period in which a specific region experiences economic growth, while such a buffer may 
fall to a lower level during an economic downturn in such region. The respective per centage is generally 
determined by the competent authority of the country in which the (credit) risk positions are located. 
Therefore, a bank’s individual per centage is a combined rate, which takes into account the total volume 
of credit transactions in the various countries. As at 31 December 2019, the bank-specific counter-
cyclical buffer requirements. stood at 0.04 per cent of risk-weighted assets for Clearstream Banking S.A, 
at the level of 0.02 per cent for Clearstream Holding and at the level of 0.01 per cent for Clearstream 

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Deutsche Börse Group | Annual report 2019 

Executive and Supervisory Boards 
Management report  
Financial statements 
Notes | Consolidated balance sheet disclosures 
Further information 

Banking AG, whereas for Eurex Clearing AG it was equal to 0.03 per cent. In addition, a systemic risk 
buffer must be applied if required by the competent authority. As at 31 December 2019, the systemic 
risk buffer was not yet required in Luxembourg nor in Germany. In general, the credit institutions that are 
subject to the provisions of the CRR fall into two groups: those designated as not systemically important, 
which includes Clearstream Banking AG, Clearstream Holding group and Eurex Clearing AG; and those 
designated as “Other Systemically Important Institution (O-SII)”, which includes Clearstream Banking 
S.A. as of 1 January 2018. As a result, CSSF imposed on Clearstream Banking S.A., according to 
Regulation CSSF No. 18-06, a buffer for O-SIIs amounting to 0.5 per cent, effective since 1 January 
2019. 

The individual companies’ capital resources sufficiently reflect the fluctuation in risk-weighted assets. 
Stress considerations are used to determine the capital required for expected peaks, and additional 
reserves for unexpected events are added. In addition, buffers are taken into account for the calculation 
of the recovery indicators specified in the recovery plans. The objective of these indicators is to prevent 
triggering recovery events. The capital requirements determined in this way will be used for the mid-term 
capital planning. As the actual capital requirements are below these expected peaks, this may lead to a 
higher actual total capital ratio (solvency ratio). 

The own funds requirements of Clearstream Group decreased moderately in the reporting period. 
Capital requirement for Clearstream Banking AG slightly increased while for Clearstream Banking S.A. 
they decreased. Changes occurred regarding own funds requirements for operational risks as well as 
credit and market risks, both at the single-entity and Group levels.  

In the medium to long term, the Clearstream Group expects increasing own funds requirements at a 
regulatory group level for the following reasons:  

  The future applicability of own funds requirements based on CSDR 
  The establishment of own funds requirements resulting from the introduction of minimum 

requirements for equity and eligible liabilities (MREL) as a result of Directive (EU) No 59/2014  

  The implementation of the so-called CRR II package and other amendments under Basel III  

Eurex Clearing AG’s own funds requirements decreased compared with the previous year. Given the 
increase in revenues in the past years, own funds requirements for operational risk rose according to the 
model; while own funds requirements for credit and market risk declined. 

The own funds requirements for operational risk calculated with Eurex Clearing AG’s internal risk model 
are higher than the own funds requirements derived from the basic indicator approach, which is based on 
the profit and loss statement as prescribed by CRR. Hence, Eurex Clearing AG always applies additional 
capital buffers for such risks, surpassing regulatory minimum requirements. Against this background, 
banking supervisors requested in 2011 that Eurex Clearing AG increase the basis for the calculation of 
regulatory own funds requirements by considering an appropriate share of clearing-related fees received 
for the account of operating entities. The own funds requirements for operational risk are calculated once 
a year based on a three-year average of historical income, including the assumed clearing fees, and are 
therefore not subject to daily fluctuations. Compliance with the minimum regulatory ratio is maintained 
at all times due to the sufficient capital buffer for uncollateralised cash investments. 

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Executive and Supervisory Boards 
Management report  
Financial statements 
Notes | Consolidated balance sheet disclosures 
Further information 

Eurex Clearing AG’s capital requirements according to EMIR are currently significantly above CRR and 
CRD IV capital requirements. Independently of this, the capital resources of Eurex Clearing AG are 
reviewed on an ongoing basis and monitored as part of medium-term capital planning. Eurex Clearing AG 
received contributions to its capital reserve in an amount of €100.0 million in 2019 from parent company 
Eurex Frankfurt AG. Further contributions are scheduled for the coming years, in order to continuously 
strengthen Eurex Clearing AG’s capital base. Eurex Clearing AG’s own contribution to the default fund 
increased in 2019 to €200.0 million. 

Composition of own funds requirements 

Own funds requirements for 
operational risk 

Own funds requirements for credit 
and market risk 

Total capital requirements 

31 Dec 2019 
€m 

31 Dec 2018 
€m 

31 Dec 2019 
€m 

31 Dec 2018 
€m 

31 Dec 2019 
€m 

31 Dec 2018 
€m 

Clearstream Holding group 

450.6 

409.9 

63.2 

146.9 

513.8 

556.6 

Clearstream Banking S.A. 

Clearstream Banking AG 

324.5 

126.2 

312.5 

97.4 

53.2 

6.5 

93.5 

5.9 

327.7 

132.7 

406.0 

103.2 

Eurex Clearing AG 

80.6 

75.2 

16.2 

26.1 

96.8 

101.3 

Regulatory capital ratios according to CRR 

Own funds requirements 

Regulatory equity 

Total capital ratio 

31 Dec 2019 
€m 

31 Dec 2018 
€m 

31 Dec 2019 
€m 

31 Dec 2018 
€m 

31 Dec 2019 
% 

31 Dec 2018 
% 

Clearstream Holding group 

513.8 

556.6 

1,559.5 

1,525.5 

24.3 

21.9 

Clearstream Banking S.A. 

Clearstream Banking AG 

377.7 

132.7 

406.0 

103.2 

1,149.4 

1,112.0 

369.7 

369.3 

24.4 

22.3 

21.9 

28.6 

Eurex Clearing AG 

96.8 

101.3 

614.8 

514.8 

50.8 

40.6 

The capital requirements under Article 16 EMIR do not stipulate a specific ratio. Instead, the total 
amount of share capital, retained earnings and reserves, less certain items (including the central 
counterparty’s own contribution to the default fund), is compared with the capital requirements. This 
total has to be at least equal to these requirements. In other words, EMIR requires a capital cover of at 
least 100 per cent. A reporting requirement to the competent authority – in this case BaFin – is triggered 
when this ratio falls below 110 per cent.  

The capital resources of European Commodity Clearing AG are currently well above the regulatory 
requirements. As at the reporting date, total equity as disclosed in the statement of financial position was 
fully available to cover the risks according to Article 16 of EMIR, given that this equity fulfil the required 
liquidity standards. Similar to the other companies, the capital base is consistently monitored. Given the 
increase in the regulatory minimum requirements for contributions to the default fund, European 
Commodity Clearing AG’s default fund contribution was increased. As at 31 December 2019, European 
Commodity Clearing AG’s total default fund contribution amounted to €15.0 million, and thus exceeded 

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Deutsche Börse Group | Annual report 2019 

Executive and Supervisory Boards 
Management report  
Financial statements 
Notes | Consolidated balance sheet disclosures 
Further information 

regulatory minimum requirements. Depending on the future business performance, and in particular on 
changes in the regulatory framework, the capital resources will be adjusted as needed. 

Capital adequacy requirements under EMIR 

Own funds requirement for operational, credit and market risk 

Other EMIR capital requirements 

Total EMIR capital requirements under Article 16 of EMIR 

Equity 

EMIR deductions 

Own contribution to default fund 

EMIR capital adequacy ratio 

1)  Prior year adjusted.  

Eurex Clearing AG 

European Commodity Clearing AG 

31 Dec 2019 
€m 

31 Dec 2018 
€m 

31 Dec 2019 
€m 

31 Dec 20181) 
€m 

96.8 

76.2 

173.0 

614.8 

0 

– 200.0 

414.8 

101.3 

77.9 

179.2 

514.8 

0 

– 150.0 

364.8 

25.2 

41.9 

67.1 

118.9 

0 

– 15.0 

103.9 

23.2 

42.0 

65.2 

108.9 

0 

– 11.5 

97.4 

Composition of own funds/capital requirements 

Own funds requirements for credit 
and market risk 

Additional own funds 
requirements on the basis of fixed 
overheads 

Own funds requirements to be 
met 

31 Dec 2019 
€m 

31 Dec 2018 
€m 

31 Dec 2019 
€m 

31 Dec 2018 
€m 

31 Dec 2019 
€m 

31 Dec 2018 
€m 

Eurex Repo GmbH 

360 Treasury Systems AG 

0.6 

5.2 

0.5 

7.4 

1.8 

4.3 

2.8 

1.0 

2.4 

9.5 

3.3 

8.4 

Compliance with own funds requirements 

Own funds requirements 

Regulatory equity 

total capital ratio 

31 Dec 2019 
€m 

31 Dec 2018 
€m 

31 Dec 2019 
€m 

31 Dec 2018 
€m 

31 Dec 2019 
% 

31 Dec 20181) 
% 

Eurex Repo GmbH 

360 Treasury Systems AG 

2.4 

9.5 

3.3 

8.4 

21.9 

32.8 

18.0 

28.8 

72.5 

27.5 

43.6 

27.4 

1)  Prior year adjusted.  

According to Article 21 (b) of the Delegated Regulation (EU) No 150/2013, REGIS-TR S.A. is required to 
maintain equity in the amount of at least 50 per cent of annual operating costs. 

According to the MAS, EEX Asia Pte. Limited is required to maintain own funds at the rate of either 
18 per cent of annual operating revenue or 50 per cent of annual operating costs, depending on which 
is higher. Regarding the anticipated upswing in the business development of EEX Asia Pte. Limited, we 
expect slightly increasing own funds requirements. Its capital base will be adjusted, if required. 

217
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Deutsche Börse Group | Annual report 2019 

Executive and Supervisory Boards 
Management report  
Financial statements 
Notes | Consolidated balance sheet disclosures 
Further information 

Powernext SAS is obliged continuously comply with a capital adequacy ratio of at least 8.0 per cent set 
forth in “Arrêté du 2 juillet 2007 relatif au capital minimum, aux fonds propres et au contrôle interne des 
entreprises de marché”. The capital adequacy ratio is equal to the ratio between the overall capital and 
the equity requirements for operational risk, multiplied by 12,5. The operational risk is calculated via the 
3 years average net banking income multiplied with 15.0 per cent. Additionally, Powernext SAS need to 
proof a share capital higher than €730 thousand and higher than 50.0 per cent of operating costs at 
recognition. Furthermore the company’s capital (equity) must exceed 50 per cent of current operating 
costs. All regulatory requirements are fullfilled as of 31 December 2019. 

Given its DCO status, Nodal Clear, LLC is obliged to maintain sufficient financial resources to cover all 
current costs for a minimum period of twelve months; moreover, Nodal Clear, LLC must provide 
sufficient highly liquid assets to cover all current costs for at least six months. 

Compliance with own funds requirements 

REGIS-TR S.A. 

EEX Asia Pte. Limited2) 

Powernext SAS 

Nodal Clear LLC 

1)  Prior year adjusted.  
2)  In 2018, operated as Cleartrade Exchange Pte. Limited. 

Own funds requirements 

Regulatory equity 

31 Dec 2019 
€m 

31 Dec 20181) 
€m 

31 Dec 2019 
€m 

31 Dec 20181) 
€m 

5.7 

0.6 

3.7 

24.5 

5.2 

0.9 

3.6 

23.3 

9.3 

1.5 

27.4 

31.1 

9.9 

1.6 

25.8 

26.4 

The regulatory minimum requirements were complied with at all times by all companies during the 
reporting period and in the period up to the preparation of the consolidated financial statements.  

218
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Deutsche Börse Group | Annual report 2019 

Executive and Supervisory Boards 
Management report  
Financial statements 
Notes | Consolidated balance sheet disclosures 
Further information 

16. Shareholders’ equity and appropriation of net profit of Deutsche Börse AG 

The annual financial statements of the parent company Deutsche Börse AG, prepared as at 
31 December 2019 in accordance with the provisions of the Handelsgesetzbuch (HGB, the German 
Commercial Code), report net profit for the period of €825.9 million (2018: €532.2 million) and equity 
of €2,867.5 million (2018: €2,526.5 million). In 2019, Deutsche Börse AG distributed €495.0 million 
(€2.70 per share) from the unappropriated surplus of the previous year.  

Proposal on the appropriation of the unappropriated surplus 

Net profit for the period 

Appropriation to other retained earnings in the annual financial statements 

Unappropriated surplus 

Proposal by the Executive Board: 

Distribution of a regular dividend to the shareholders of €2.90 per share for 183,429,035 no-par value shares 
carrying dividend rights 

Appropriation to retained earnings 

31 Dec 2019 
€m 

825.9 

– 265.9 

560.0 

531.9 

28.1 

No-par value shares carrying dividend rights 

Number of shares issued as at the reporting date 

Number of treasury shares as at the reporting date 

Number of shares outstanding as at the reporting date 

31 Dec 2019 

31 Dec 2018 

Number 

Number 

190,000,000 

190,000,000 

– 6,570,965 

– 6,652,955 

183,429,035 

183,347,045 

The proposal on the appropriation of the unappropriated surplus reflects treasury shares held directly or 
indirectly by the company that do not carry dividend rights under section 71b of the Aktiengesetz (AktG, 
the German Stock Corporation Act). The number of shares carrying dividend rights can change until the 
Annual General Meeting through the repurchase or sale of further treasury shares. In this case, with a 
dividend of €2.90 per eligible share, an amended resolution for the appropriation of the unappropriated 
surplus will be proposed to the Annual General Meeting. 

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Gruppe Deutsche Börse | Annual report 2019 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Deutsche Börse Group | Annual report 2019 

Executive and Supervisory Boards 
Management report  
Financial statements 
Notes | Consolidated balance sheet disclosures 
Further information 

17. Provisions for pensions and other employee benefits 

Defined benefit pension plans 

Provisions for pensions and similar obligations are measured using the projected unit credit method on 
the basis of actuarial reports in accordance with IAS 19. Calculating the present value requires certain 
actuarial assumptions (e.g. discount rate, staff turnover rate, salary and pension trends) to be made. The 
current service cost and the net interest expense or income for the subsequent period are calculated on 
the basis of these assumptions.  

The fair value of plan assets is deducted from the present value of pension obligations, reflecting the 
asset ceiling rules if there are any excess plan assets. This results in the net defined benefit liability or 
asset. Net interest expense for the financial year is calculated by applying the discount rate determined 
at the beginning of the financial year to the net defined benefit liability determined as at that date. 

The relevant discount rate is determined by reference to the return on long-term corporate bonds with a 
rating of at least AA (Moody’s Investors Service, S&P Global Ratings, Fitch Ratings and DBRS) on the 
basis of the information provided by Bloomberg, and a maturity that corresponds approximately to the 
maturity of the pension obligations. Moreover, the bonds must be denominated in the same currency as 
the underlying pension obligation. Measurement of the pension obligations in euros is, in principle, 
based on a discount rate which is determined according to the Towers Watson “GlobalRate:Link” 
methodology updated in line with the current market trend.  

The actuarial gains or losses and the difference between the expected and the actual return or loss on 
plan assets are recognised in other comprehensive income in the revaluation surplus. They result from 
changes in expectations with regard to life expectancy, pension trends, salary trends and the discount 
rate.  

Other long-term benefits for employees and members of executive boards (total disability pension, 
transitional payments and surviving dependants’ pensions) are also measured using the projected unit 
credit method. Actuarial gains and losses and past service cost are recognised immediately and in full 
through profit or loss.  

The defined benefit obligations of the companies of Deutsche Börse Group relate primarily to final salary 
arrangements and pension plans based on capital components, which guarantee employees a choice of 
either lifelong pensions or capital payments on the basis of the final salary paid. Deutsche Börse Group 
uses external trust solutions to cover some of its pension obligations. 

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Deutsche Börse Group | Annual report 2019 

Executive and Supervisory Boards 
Management report  
Financial statements 
Notes | Consolidated balance sheet disclosures 
Further information 

Net liability of defined benefit obligations 

Present value of defined benefit obligations 
that are at least partially funded 

Fair value of plan assets 

Funded status 

Present value of unfunded obligations 

Net liability of defined benefit obligations 

Impact of minimum funding requirement/asset 
ceiling 

Amount recognised in the balance sheet 

Germany 
€m 

Luxembourg 
€m 

506.7 

84.2 

Other 
€m 

25.6 

Total 
31 Dec 2019 
€m 

Total 
31 Dec 2018 
€m 

616.5 

531.9 

– 351.6 

– 55.7 

– 20.9 

– 428.2 

– 372.1 

155.1 

4.3 

159.4 

0 

159.4 

28.5 

0.7 

29.2 

0 

29.2 

4.7 

0.1 

4.8 

0 

4.8 

188.3 

5.1 

193.4 

0 

159.8 

4.3 

164.1 

0 

193.4 

164.1 

The defined benefit plans comprise a total of 2,772 beneficiaries (2018: 2,768). The present value of 
defined benefit obligations can be allocated to the beneficiaries as follows: 

Allocation of the present value of the defined benefit obligation to the beneficiaries 

Eligible current employees 

Former employees with vested entitlements 

Pensioners or surviving dependants 

Germany 
€m 

Luxembourg 
€m 

213.6 

189.4 

108.1 

511.1 

81.8 

2.4 

0.7 

84.9 

Other 
€m 

24.3 

0.3 

1.0 

25.6 

Total 
31 Dec 2019 
€m 

Total 
31 Dec 2018 
€m 

319.7 

192.1 

109.8 

621.6 

294.9 

149.8 

91.5 

536.2 

Essentially, the retirement benefits encompass the following retirement benefit plans: 

Executive boards of Group companies (Germany and Luxembourg) 
Individual commitment plans exist for executive board members of certain Group companies; they are 
based on the plan for executives described in the second paragraph below, i.e. in each calendar year the 
company provides an annual contribution to a capital component calculated in accordance with actuarial 
principles. The benefit assets equal the total of the acquired capital components of the individual years 
and are converted into a lifelong pension once the benefits fall due. In addition, retirement benefit 
agreements are in place with members of the executive boards of Group companies, under which they 
are entitled to pension benefits upon reaching the age of 63 and following reappointment. When the 
term of office began, the replacement rate was 30 per cent of individual pensionable income. It rose by 
5 per centage points with each reappointment, up to a maximum of 50 per cent of pensionable income. 
Details of the pension commitments for members of Deutsche Börse AG’s Executive Board can be found 
in the   remuneration report.  

221
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Gruppe Deutsche Börse | Annual report 2019 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Deutsche Börse Group | Annual report 2019 

Executive and Supervisory Boards 
Management report  
Financial statements 
Notes | Consolidated balance sheet disclosures 
Further information 

Germany 
There is an employee-funded deferred compensation plan for employees of certain Deutsche Börse 
Group companies in Germany who joined prior to 1 January 2019. Under this plan, it is possible to 
convert portions of future remuneration entitlements into benefit assets of equal value which bear 
interest of 6 per cent p.a. The benefits consist of a capital payment made in equal annual instalments 
over a period of three years upon the reaching the age of 65 or at an earlier date due to disability or 
death.  

In the period from 1 January 2004 to 30 June 2006, executives in Germany were offered the 
opportunity to participate in the following pension system based on capital components: the benefit is 
based on annual income received, composed of fixed annual salary and the variable remuneration. Every 
year, participating Group companies provide for an amount that corresponds to a certain per centage of 
the pensionable income. This amount is multiplied by a capitalisation factor depending on age, resulting 
in the “annual capital component”. The benefit assets equal the total of the acquired capital components 
of the individual years and are converted into a lifelong pension once the benefits fall due. This benefit 
plan was closed to new staff on 30 June 2006; the executives who were employed in the above period 
can continue to earn capital components. 

As part of adjustments to the remuneration systems to bring them into line with supervisory 
requirements contracts were adjusted for some executives. For executives affected, whose contracts 
allowed for the inclusion of only the income received and the variable remuneration above the upper 
limit of the contribution assessment as pensionable income, the pensionable income was determined on 
the basis of income received from the year 2016. This will be adjusted to account for the increase of the 
cost of living according to the consumer price index for Germany as issued by the Federal Statistical 
Office. For executives affected, whose capital components were calculated on the basis of income 
received, without observing the upper limit of the contribution assessment, an amount has been 
determined that will be reviewed annually, and adjusted if necessary, by the Supervisory Board, taking 
any changes in circumstances in terms of income and purchasing power into account.  

Luxembourg 
The defined benefit pension plan in favour of Luxembourg employees is funded by means of cash 
contributions to an “association d'épargne pension” (ASSEP) organized in accordance with Luxembourg 
law. The benefits consist of a one-off capital payment, which is generally paid upon reaching the age of 
65. Contributions to the ASSEP are funded in full by the participating companies. The contributions are 
determined annually on the basis of actuarial opinions in accordance with Luxembourg law.  

222
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Deutsche Börse Group | Annual report 2019 

Executive and Supervisory Boards 
Management report  
Financial statements 
Notes | Consolidated balance sheet disclosures 
Further information 

Changes in net defined benefit obligations 

  Present value of obligations 

Fair value of plan assets 

Total 

Balance as at 1 Jan 

Changes through business 
combinations 

Current service cost 

Interest expense/(income) 

Past service cost and gains 
and losses on settlements 

Remeasurements 

Return on plan assets, 
excluding amounts already 
recognised in interest 
income 

Adjustments to 
demographic assumptions 

Adjustments to financial 
assumptions 

Experience adjustments 

Effect of exchange rate 
differences 

Effect of exchange rate 
differences 

Contributions: 

Employers 

Plan participants 

Benefit payments 

Settlements 

Tax and administration 
costs 

Balance as at 31 Dec 

2019 
€m 

536.2 

0.1 

26.1 

9.2 

– 

35.3 

– 

– 

70.3 

– 5.6 

– 

64.7 

0.6 

– 

0.8 

– 15.2 

– 

– 0.9 

621.6 

2018 
€m 

144.2 

0 

27.4 

2.4 

2.7 

32.5 

22.9 

– 0.5 

3.7 

– 2.3 

0 

23.81) 

2018 
€m 

507.6 

0 

27.4 

8.9 

2.7 

39.0 

2019 
€m 

2018 
€m 

– 372.1 

– 363.4 

0 

– 

– 6.5 

– 

– 6.5 

0 

– 

– 6.5 

– 

– 6.5 

2019 
€m 

164.1 

0.1 

26.1 

2.7 

0 

28.8 

– 

– 22.5 

22.9 

– 22.5 

– 0.5 

3.7 

– 2.3 

– 

0.9 

0.5 

– 

0.6 

– 11.6 

– 

– 0.8 

536.2 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 22.5 

– 0.5 

– 

– 

– 

– 

22.9 

– 0.2 

– 

70.3 

– 5.6 

0 

42.21) 

0.1 

0.3 

– 42.5 

– 37.3 

– 42.5 

– 37.3 

– 0.8 

15.2 

– 

1.5 

– 0.6 

11.6 

– 

1.4 

– 428.2 

– 372.1 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0.6 

193.4 

0.6 

164.1 

1) Thereof €–0.2 million (2018: €–0.1 million) in the offsetting item for non-controlling interests 

In 2019 financial year, employees converted a total of €6.4 million (2018: €6.9 million) of their 
variable remuneration into deferred compensation benefits. 

223
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Gruppe Deutsche Börse | Annual report 2019 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Deutsche Börse Group | Annual report 2019 

Executive and Supervisory Boards 
Management report  
Financial statements 
Notes | Consolidated balance sheet disclosures 
Further information 

Assumptions 
Provisions for pension plans and other employee benefits are measured annually at the reporting date 
using actuarial techniques. The assumptions for determining the actuarial obligations for the pension 
plans differ according to the individual conditions in the countries concerned and are shown in the 
following table:  

Actuarial assumptions 

Discount rate 

Salary growth 

Pension growth 

Staff turnover rate 

1)  Up to the age of 50, afterwards 0 per cent 

31 Dec 2019 

31 Dec 2018 

Germany 
% 

Luxembourg 
% 

Germany 
% 

Luxembourg 
% 

1.00 

3.50 

2.00 

2.00 

1.00 

3.30 

1.80 

2.00 

1.75 

3.50 

2.00 

2.001) 

1.75 

3.30 

1.80 

2.001) 

In Germany, the “2018 G” mortality tables (generation tables) developed by Prof Klaus Heubeck are 
used. For Luxembourg, generation tables of the Institut national de la statistique et des études 
économiques du Grand-Duché de Luxembourg are used.  

Sensitivity analysis 
The sensitivity analysis presented in the following considers the change in one assumption at a time, 
leaving the other assumptions unchanged from the original calculation, i.e. possible correlation effects 
between the individual assumptions are not taken into account.  

Sensitivity of defined benefit obligation to change in the weighted principal assumptions 

Change in actuarial assumption 

Effect on defined benefit 
obligation 

Effect on defined benefit 
obligation 

Present value of the obligation1) 

Discount rate 

Increase by 1.0 per centage point 

Salary growth 

Increase by 0.5 per centage points 

Reduction by 1.0 per centage point 

Pension growth 

Increase by 0.5 per centage points 

Reduction by 0.5 per centage points 

Life expectancy2) 

Reduction by 0.5 per centage points 

Increase by one year 

Reduction by one year 

2019 
Defined benefit 
obligation 
€m 

621.6 

529.5 

739.2 

635.4 

610.2 

636.6 

608.0 

640.4 

602.9 

2018 
Defined benefit 
obligation 
€m 

536.2 

460.2 

634.2 

549.9 

529.1 

549.3 

525.6 

551.2 

522.4 

Change 
% 

– 

– 14.8 

18.9 

2.2 

– 1.8 

2.4 

– 2.2 

3.0 

– 3.0 

Change 
% 

– 

– 14.2 

18.3 

2.6 

– 1.3 

2.4 

– 2.0 

2.8 

– 2.6 

1)  Present value of the obligations using assumptions in accordance with the 
2)  Prior year adjusted 

 ”Actuarial assumptions” table 

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Gruppe Deutsche Börse | Annual report 2019 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Deutsche Börse Group | Annual report 2019 

Executive and Supervisory Boards 
Management report  
Financial statements 
Notes | Consolidated balance sheet disclosures 
Further information 

Composition of plan assets 

Germany 
In Germany, plan assets are held by a trustee in safekeeping for individual companies of Deutsche Börse 
Group and the beneficiaries. At the company’s instruction, the trustee uses the funds transferred to 
acquire securities, without any consulting by the trustee. The contributions are invested in accordance 
with an investment policy, which may be amended by the companies represented in the investment 
committee. The trustee may refuse to carry out instructions if they are in conflict with the fund’s 
allocation rules or the payment provisions. In accordance with the investment policy,  
a value preservation mechanism is applied; investments can be made in different asset classes. 

Luxembourg 
In Luxembourg, the Board of Directors of the Clearstream Pension Fund is responsible for determining 
the investment strategy, with the aim of maximising returns in relation to a benchmark. This benchmark 
is 75 per cent derived from the return on five-year German federal government bonds and 25 per cent 
from the return on the EURO STOXX 50 Index. According to the investment policy, the fund may only 
invest in fixed-income and variable-rate securities, as well as listed investment fund units; it may hold 
cash, including in the form of money market funds. 

Composition of plan assets 

31 Dec 2019 

31 Dec 2018 

Bonds 

Government bonds 

Corporate bonds 

Derivatives 

Stock index futures 

Interest rate futures 

Investment funds 

Total listed 

Qualifying insurance policies 

Cash 

Total not listed 

Total plan assets 

€m 

352.1 

246.9 

105.2 

– 0.4 

0.4 

– 0.8 

26.1 

377.8 

21.0 

29.4 

50.4 

428.2 

% 

82.2 

– 0.1 

6.1 

88.2 

4.9 

6.9 

11.8 

100.0 

€m 

299.8 

217.3 

82.5 

2.5 

– 0.3 

2.8 

20.7 

323.0 

16.9 

32.2 

49.1 

372.1 

% 

80.5 

0.7 

5.6 

86.8 

4.5 

8.7 

13.2 

100.0 

As at 31 December 2019, plan assets did not include any financial instruments held by the Group 
(2018: nil), nor did they include any property occupied or other assets used by the Group. 

Risks 
In addition to the general actuarial risks, the risks associated with the defined benefit obligations relate 
especially to financial risks in connection with the plan assets, including in particular counterparty credit 
and market risks.  

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Deutsche Börse Group | Annual report 2019 

Executive and Supervisory Boards 
Management report  
Financial statements 
Notes | Consolidated balance sheet disclosures 
Further information 

Market risk 
The return on plan assets is assumed to be the discount rate determined on the basis of corporate bonds 
with an AA rating. If the actual rate of return on plan assets is lower than the discount rate used, the  
net defined benefit liability increases accordingly. If volatility is low, the actual return is further expected 
to exceed the return on corporate bonds with a good rating in the medium to long term. The level of the 
net liability is influenced by the discount rates in particular, whereby the current low interest rates 
contribute to a relatively high net liability. Deutsche Börse Group considers the share price risk resulting 
from derivative positions in equity index futures in the plan assets to be appropriate. The company bases 
its assessment on the expectation that the overall volume of payments from the pension plans will be 
manageable in the next few years, that the total amount of the obligations will also be manageable and 
that it will be able to meet these payments in full from operating cash flows. Any amendments to the 
investment policy take into account the duration of the pension obligation as well as the expected 
payments over a period of ten years. 

Inflation risk 
Possible inflation risks that could lead to an increase in defined benefit obligations exist because some 
pension plans are final salary plans or the annual capital components are directly related to salaries, i.e. 
a significant increase in salaries would lead to an increase in the benefit obligation from these plans. In 
Germany, however, there are no contractual arrangements with regard to inflation risk for these pension 
plans. An interest rate of 6 per cent p.a. has been agreed for the employee-financed deferred com-
pensation plan; the plan does not include any arrangements for inflation, so that it has to be assumed 
that there will be little incentive for employees to contribute to the deferred compensation plan in times 
of rising inflation. In Luxembourg, salaries are adjusted for the effects of inflation on the basis of a 
consumer price index no more than once a year; this adjustment leads to a corresponding increase in 
the benefit obligation from the pension plan. Since the obligation will be met in the form of a capital 
payment, there will be no inflation-linked effects once the beneficiary reaches retirement age.  

Duration and expected maturities of the pension obligations 
The weighted duration of the pension obligations is 16.7 years (2018: 16.1 years) as at 
31 December 2019. 

Expected maturities of undiscounted pension payments 

Expected pension 
payments1) 
31 Dec 2019 
€m 

Expected pension 
payments 
31 Dec 2018 
€m 

Less than 1 year 

Between 1 and 2 years 

Between 2 and 5 years 

More than 5 years up to 10 years 

Total 

14.9 

13.8 

48.0 

126.8 

203.5 

1)  The expected payments in Swiss francs were translated into euros at the relevant closing rate on 31 December 

19.6 

14.5 

42.8 

112.4 

189.3 

226
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Gruppe Deutsche Börse | Annual report 2019 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Deutsche Börse Group | Annual report 2019 

Executive and Supervisory Boards 
Management report  
Financial statements 
Notes | Consolidated balance sheet disclosures 
Further information 

The expected costs of defined benefit plans (excluding service cost for deferred compensation) amount to 
approximately €16.4 million for the 2020 financial year, including net interest expense. 

Defined contribution pension plans and multi-employer plans 

Defined contribution plans 
There are defined contribution plans as part of the occupational pension system using pension funds 
and similar pension institutions. In addition, contributions are paid to the statutory pension insurance 
scheme. The level of contributions is normally determined in relation to income. As a rule, no provisions 
are recognised for defined contribution plans. The contributions paid are reported as pension expenses 
in the year of payment. There are defined contribution pension plans for employees in several countries. 
In addition, the employer pays contributions to employees’ private pension funds. 

Multi-employer plans 
Several Deutsche Börse Group companies are member institutions of BVV Versicherungsverein des 
Bankgewerbes a.G., a pension insurance provider with registered office in Berlin. Employees and 
employers make regular contributions, which are used to provide guaranteed pension plans, and a 
potential surplus. The contributions to be made are derived from contribution rates applied to active 
employees’ monthly gross salaries, taking into account specific financial thresholds. Member institutions 
are liable in the second degree regarding the fulfilment of BVV’s agreed pension benefits. However, we 
consider the risk that said liability will actually be utilised as remote. Given that BVV membership is 
governed by several Works Council Agreements, membership termination is subject to certain conditions. 
Deutsche Börse Group considers BVV pension obligations as multi-employer defined benefit pension 
plans. However, we currently lack information regarding the allocation of BVV assets to individual 
member institutions and the respective beneficiaries. Moreover, we do not know Deutsche Börse Group’s 
actual share in BVV’s total obligations. Hence, Deutsche Börse Group discloses this plan as a defined 
contribution plan. Based on its latest publications, BVV does not suffer any deficient cover with a 
potential impact on Deutsche Börse Group’s future contributions. 

EPEX Netherlands B.V. participates in the ABP pension fund within the EEX subgroup. Participation is 
mandatory for all employees. Employer contributions are calculated by ABP and adjusted, if necessary. 
Since the allocation of assets to member institutions and beneficiaries is not possible, this pension plan 
can also be presented only as a defined contribution plan.  

During the reporting period, the costs associated with defined contribution plans, and designated multi-
employer plans, amounted to €42.8 million (2018: €39.6million). In 2020, Deutsche Börse Group 
expects to make contributions to multi-employer plans amounting to around €10.2 million.  

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Deutsche Börse Group | Annual report 2019 

Executive and Supervisory Boards 
Management report  
Financial statements 
Notes | Consolidated balance sheet disclosures 
Further information 

18. Changes in other provisions

Other provisions 

Provisions are recognised if the Group has a present obligation from an event in the past, it is probable 
that there will be an outflow of resources embodying economic benefits to settle the obligation and the 
amount of this obligation can be estimated reliably. The amount of the provision corresponds to the best 
estimate of the expenditure required to settle the obligation at the reporting date.  

A restructuring provision is only recognised when an entity has a detailed formal plan for the 
restructuring and has raised a valid expectation in those affected that the restructuring measures will be 
implemented, for example by starting to implement that plan or by announcing its principal features to 
those affected by it. Provisions in the context of the programme resolved in 2018 to reduce structural 
costs (Structural Performance Improvement Programme, SPIP) as well as provisions recognised for 
contractually agreed early retirement agreements and severance agreements, are recorded in other 
provisions. 

Changes in other provisions (Part 1) 

Balance as at 1 Jan 2019 

Changes in the basis of consolidation 

Reclassification1) 

Utilisation 

Reversal 

Additions 

Currency translation 

Interest 

Balance as at 31 Dec 2019 

Changes in other provisions (Part 2) 

Bonuses 
€m 

Restructuring and 
efficiency measures 
€m 

Share-based 
payments 
€m 

Interest on taxes 
€m 

119.4 

0 

– 5.2

– 94.1

– 13.3

111.2 

0.3 

0 

118.3 

148.5 

– 1.2

0 

– 36.6

– 15.6

11.1 

0.1 

2.3 

108.6 

70.1 

– 0.5

– 0.4

– 7.9

– 2.3

42.1 

0.1 

0 

101.3 

79.6 

0 

0 

– 10.5

– 1.3

2.6 

0 

0 

70.4 

Other tax 
provisions 
€m 

Other personnel 
provisions 
€m 

Anticipated Losses 
€m 

Miscellaneous 
€m 

Balance as at 1 Jan 2019 

Changes in the basis of consolidation 

Reclassification1) 

Utilisation 

Reversal 

Additions 

Currency translation 

Interest 

Balance as at 31 Dec 2019 

39.0 

0 

–0

– 2.8

– 2.4

0.3 

0 

0 

34.1 

15.2 

– 0.1

– 0.1

– 6.7

– 0.7

2.0 

0 

0 

9.6 

10.7 

0 

0 

0 

– 3.0

0.8 

0.1 

0 

8.6 

1)  Relates primarily to reclassifications to the employee-funded deferred compensation plan (see 

 note 17) as well as to reclassifications from liabilities 

34.0 

0.1 

– 0.8

– 9.5

– 3.7

4.6 

0.1 

0.2 

25.0 

228
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Deutsche Börse Group | Annual report 2019 

Executive and Supervisory Boards 
Management report  
Financial statements 
Notes | Consolidated balance sheet disclosures 
Further information 

The other non-current and current provisions amount to a total of €476.0 million (31 December 2018: 
€516.5 million). The non-current provisions in amount of €225,2 million (31 December 2018: €209.9 
million) essentially have a residual lifetime between one to five years. Furthermore current provisions 
exist in amount of €250.7 million (31 December 2018: €306.6 million). 

Provisions for restructuring and efficiency measures include provisions for contractually agreed early 
retirement benefits and severance payments as well as expenses directly related to restructuring 
measures. Furthermore, this item includes provisions amounting to €16.8 million (31 December 2018: 
€59.0 million for the implementation of the restructuring plan.  

For details on share-based payments, see   note 25. 

19. Other current provisions

Deutsche Börse Group reports the following contract liabilities resulting from contracts with customers: 

Contract liabilities 

Non-current contract liabilities  

Current contract liabilities  

Total 

31 Dec 2019 
€m 

31 Dec2018 
€m 

20.2 

21.5 

41.7 

10.0 

5.4 

15.4 

The business combination of Axioma led to an increase of contract liabilities by €24.5 million, which 
include accruals from „SaaS Middle Office“ products at the reporting date. 

Composition of other current liabilities 

Liabilities from CCP positions 

Tax liabilities (excluding income taxes) 

Vacation entitlements, flexitime and overtime credits 

Contract liability 

Social security liabilities 

Liabilities to employees 

Liabilities to supervisory bodies 

Deferred income 

Miscellaneous 

Total 

31 Dec 2019 
€m 

31 Dec 2018 
€m 

210.6 

50.6 

27.7 

21.5 

8.3 

4.2 

3.3 

2.9 

3.8 

543.9 

36.4 

24.5 

5.4 

6.8 

3.4 

2.7 

0.4 

5.3 

332.9 

628.8 

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Deutsche Börse Group | Annual report 2019 

Executive and Supervisory Boards 
Management report  
Financial statements 
Notes | Other disclosures 
Further information 

Other disclosures 

20. Consolidated cash flow statement disclosures

Composition of other non-cash income 

Subsequent measurement of non-derivative financial instruments 

Reversal of discount and transaction costs from long-term financing 

Reversal of the revaluation surplus for cash flow hedges 

Equity method measurement 

Impairment of financial instruments 

Subsequent measurement of derivatives 

Contract liabilities 

Gains on the disposal of subsidiaries and equity investments 

Miscellaneous 

Total 

Reconciliation to cash and cash equivalents 

Reconciliation to cash and cash equivalents 

Restricted bank balances 

Other cash and bank balances 

Net position of financial instruments held by central counterparties 

Current financial instruments measured at amortised cost 

Less financial instruments with an original maturity exceeding 3 months 

Current financial liabilities measured at amortised cost 

Less financial instruments with an original maturity exceeding 3 months 

Current liabilities from cash deposits by market participants 

Cash and cash equivalents 

31 Dec 2019 
€m 

31 Dec 2018 
€m 

– 16.0

– 30.5

3.0 

0 

3.9 

1.8 

26.4 

26.3 

– 1.0

8.0 

52.5 

2.9 

0.7 

1.0 

0.9 

0.8 

– 1.2

0 

4.1 

– 21.3

31 Dec 2019 
€m 

31 Dec 2018 
€m 

29,988.7 

29,833.6 

888.1 

890.0 

1,322.3 

212.0 

15,381.6 

19,722.6 

– 1,339.7

– 2,666.6

– 14,225.4

– 19,024.7

317.9 

1,999.0 

– 29,755.8

– 29,559.2

2,145.5 

1,839.0 

230
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Deutsche Börse Group | Annual report 2019 

Executive and Supervisory Boards 
Management report  
Financial statements 
Notes | Other disclosures 
Further information 

21. Earnings per share

Under IAS 33, earnings per share are calculated by dividing the net profit for the period attributable to 
Deutsche Börse AG shareholders (net income) by the weighted average number of shares outstanding.  

In order to determine diluted earnings per share, potentially dilutive ordinary shares that may be 
acquired under the share-based payment programmes (see also   note 25) were added to the average 
number of shares. In order to calculate the number of potentially dilutive ordinary shares, the exercise 
prices were adjusted for the fair value of the services still to be provided.  

In order to determine diluted earnings per share, the 2014 Long-term Sustainable Instrument (LSI) 
tranche, for which cash settlement has not been resolved, is assumed to be settled with equity 
instruments – regardless of actual accounting in accordance with IFRS 2. The following potentially 
dilutive rights to purchase shares were outstanding as at 31 December 2019:  

Calculation of the number of potentially dilutive ordinary shares 

Tranche 

Exercise price 

20142) 

Total 

€ 

0 

Adjustment of the 
exercise price 
according to 
IAS 33 
€ 

Average number of 
outstanding options 

Average price for 
the period1) 

Number of 
potentially dilutive 
ordinary shares 

31 Dec 2019 

€ 

31 Dec 2019 

0 

3,252 

126.10 

3,252 

3,252 

1)  Volume-weighted average price of Deutsche Börse AG shares on Xetra calculated on a daily basis for the period 1 January to 31 December 2019 
2)  This relates to share subscription rights within the scope of the Long-term Sustainability Instrument (LSI) for senior executives. The quantity of subscription rights 
under the 2014 LSI tranche may still change from the quantity reported as at the reporting date, since subscription rights will only be granted in future financial 
years. 

As the volume-weighted average share price calculated on a daily basis was higher than the adjusted 
exercise price for the 2014 tranche, these stock options are considered to be dilutive under IAS 33 as at 
31 December 2019.  

Calculation of earnings per share (basic and diluted) 

Number of shares outstanding as at beginning of period 

Number of shares outstanding as at end of period 

Weighted average number of shares outstanding 

Number of potentially dilutive ordinary shares 

2019 

2018 

183,347,045 

186,610,158 

183,429,035 

183,347,045 

183,381,196 

184,887,281 

3,252 

7,605 

Weighted average number of shares used to compute diluted earnings per share 

183,384,448 

184,894,886 

Net income for the period (€m) 

Earnings per share (basic) (€) 

Earnings per share (diluted) (€) 

1,003.9 

5.47 

5.47 

824.3 

4.46 

4.46 

As in the previous year, there were no subscription rights in 2019 that were excluded from the 
calculation of the weighted average of potentially dilutive shares for having a dilutive effect during the 
reporting year ending on the reporting date. 

231
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Deutsche Börse Group | Annual report 2019 

Executive and Supervisory Boards 
Management report  
Financial statements 
Notes | Other disclosures 
Further information 

22. Segment reporting

Deutsche Börse divides its business in nine individual segments: This structure serves as a basis for the 
Group’s internal management and financial reporting (see the table entitled “Internal organisational and 
reporting structure” for details).  

Segment reporting (part 1) 

Eurex (financial derivatives) 

EEX (commodities) 

360T (foreign exchange) 

Xetra (cash equities) 

Clearstream (post-trading) 

IFS (investment fund services) 

GSF (collateral management) 

Qontigo (index and analytics business) 

Data (data business) 

Total  

Net revenues 

Operating costs 

EBITDA 

2019 
€m 

957.1 

289.3 

92.1 

222.6 

764.7 

183.1 

78.0 

190.2 

158.9 

20181) 
€m 

936.1 

256.6 

78.8 

228.7 

727.3 

154.3 

83.1 

157.3 

157.5 

2019 
€m 

– 314.4

– 169.6

– 57.7

– 101.7

– 305.0

– 110.3

– 38.4

– 101.0

– 66.3

2018 
€m 

– 376.3

– 149.2

– 49.9

– 118.8

– 351.9

– 108.3

– 48.4

– 53.9

– 83.5

2,936.0 

2,779.7 

– 1,264.4

– 1,340.2

2019 
in % 

2018 
in % 

68 

41 

37 

56 

60 

40 

49 

47 

58 

57 

60 

42 

37 

51 

52 

30 

41 

66 

47 

52 

1)  As part of the combination, certain licence revenues were re-allocated from the Data segment to the new Qontigo segment (index and analytics business) 

Segment reporting (part 2) 

Depreciation, 
amortisation and 
impairment losses 

EBIT 

CAPEX1) 

2019 
€m 

2018 
€m 

2019 
€m 

2018 
€m 

2019 
€m 

2018 
€m 

Employees 
(as at 31 December) 

2019 

2018 

Eurex (financial derivatives) 

– 53.6

– 48.4

594.1 

511.0 

EEX (commodities) 

360T (foreign exchange) 

Xetra (cash equities) 

– 31.4

– 26.5

– 19.3

– 15.8

88.0 

15.1 

80.7 

13.1 

– 14.4

– 11.3

110.4 

104.2 

Clearstream (post-trading) 

– 62.5

– 50.0

396.9 

325.2 

IFS (investment fund services) 

GSF (collateral management) 

– 19.2

– 19.5

– 5.0

– 11.5

Qontigo (index and analytics business) 

– 12.5

– 5.7

Data (data business) 

– 8.3

– 21.8

53.6 

33.1 

76.7 

84.2 

26.5 

22.7 

97.7 

52.1 

37.6 

28.6 

6.0 

13.0 

55.3 

22.1 

5.7 

7.0 

9.4 

34.8  1,412.0 

1,265.0 

21.2 

829.0 

725.0 

4.3 

8.8 

260.0 

253.0 

483.0 

488.0 

57.8  1,776.0 

1,767.0 

16.2 

887.0 

752.0 

3.6 

3.4 

9.9 

240.0 

242.0 

608.0 

197.0 

280.0 

275.0 

Total  

– 226.2

– 210.5

1,452.1  1,233.2 

184.7 

160.0  6,775.0 

5,964.0 

1)  Excluding investments from business combinations 

Sales revenue is presented separately by external sales revenue and internal (inter-segment) sales 
revenue. Inter-segment services are charged on the basis of measured quantities or at fixed prices, 
e.g. the provision of data by the Eurex (financial derivatives) segment to the Data segment. For an 
overview of intercompany revenes, see   note 4. Services between the segments are charged on the 
basis of assessed quantities or at fixed prices, e.g. data delivery from the Eurex segment (financial 
derivatives) to the Data segment. 

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Deutsche Börse Group | Annual report 2019 

Executive and Supervisory Boards 
Management report  
Financial statements 
Notes | Other disclosures 
Further information 

Non-cash valuation allowances and bad debt losses resulted from the following segments: 

Breakdown of non-cash valuation allowances and bad debt losses 

Eurex (financial derivatives) 

360T (foreign exchange) 

Xetra (cash equities) 

Clearstream (post-trading) 

GSF (collateral management) 

Qontigo (index and analytics business) 

Data (data business) 

Total 

2019 
€m 

0.2 

0.6 

0.9 

0.9 

0.1 

– 0.8

0.3 

2.2 

2018 
€m 

0.2 

0.5 

1.4 

– 0.3

0.1 

1.2 

0.1 

3.2 

In the prior year there was an impairment loss required to be recognised for strategic investments in 
amount of €0.6 million, see   note 8). An additional impairment loss from developed software was 
recognised in the 2019 reporting year in amount of €1.8 million (2018: €36.7 million, see   note 11 
and   note 12).  

Deutsche Börse Group’s business model – and that of its segments – is focused on an internationally 
operating participant base and pricing does not differ depending on the customer’s location. From a 
price, margin and risk perspective, this means that it is not decisive whether sales revenue is generated 
from German or non-German participants.  

The risks and returns from the activities of the subsidiaries operating within the economic environment 
of the European Monetary Union (EMU) do not differ significantly from each other on the basis of the 
factors to be considered in identifying information on geographical regions under IFRS 8. As a result, 
Deutsche Börse Group has designated the following regional segments: the eurozone, the rest of Europe, 
America and Asia-Pacific.  

Sales revenue is allocated to the individual regions according to the customer’s domicile, while 
investments and non-current assets are allocated according to the company’s domicile and employees 
according to their location. 

As described above, the analysis of sales is based on the direct customer’s billing address. This means 
e.g. that sales to an American investor trading a product with an Asian underlying via a European 
clearing member are classified as European sales. 

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Deutsche Börse Group | Annual report 2019 

Executive and Supervisory Boards 
Management report  
Financial statements 
Notes | Other disclosures 
Further information 

Information on geographical regions 

Sales revenue1) 

Investments2) 

Non-current non-
financial assets3) 4) 

2019 
€m 

20185) 
€m 

2019 
€m 

2018 
€m 

2019 
€m 

2018 
€m 

Number of employees 

2019 

2018 

Euro zone 

Rest of Europe 

America 

Asia-Pacific 

1,718.1 

1,491.2 

176.1 

154.7 

4,043.4 

3,636.2 

999.2 

1,121.8 

231.5 

168.5 

199.2 

147.2 

3.7 

4.8 

0.1 

3.7 

1.5 

0.1 

455.1 

1,029.9 

22.5 

512.7 

213.2 

2.9 

4,721 

1,360 

411 

283 

4,425 

1,154 

184 

201 

Total of all regions 

3,117.3 

2,959.4 

184.7 

160.0 

5,550.9 

4,365.0 

6,775 

5,964 

Consolidation of internal 
net revenue 

– 63.1

– 60.2

Group 

3,054.2 

2,899.2 

184.7 

160.0 

5,550.9 

4,365.0 

6,775 

5,964 

1)  Including countries in which more than 10 per cent of sales revenue was generated: UK (2019: €704.2 million, 2018: €887.4 million) and 

Germany (2019: €769.6 million, 2018: €655.0 million) 

2)  Excluding goodwill and right-of-use assets from leasing 
3)  Including countries in which more than 10 per cent of assets are held: Germany (2019: €3,634.1 million, 2018: €3,439.2 million) and United 

States (2019: €1,029.9 million, 2018: €213.2 million) 

4)  These include intangible assets, property, plant and equipment, and investments in associates and joint ventures 
5)  Prior year adjusted 

23. Financial risk management

Deutsche Börse Group presents the qualitative disclosures required by IFRS 7 in detail in the combined 
management report (see explanations in the   risk report). These include the nature and extent of risks 
arising from financial instruments, as well as the objectives, strategies and methods used to manage 
risk. 

Financial risks arise at Deutsche Börse Group mainly in the form of credit risk. To a smaller extent, the 
Group is exposed to market risk. Financial risks are quantified using the economic capital concept 
(please refer to the   risk report for detailed disclosures). Required economic capital is assessed on a 
99.98 per cent confidence level for a one-year holding period. It is compared with the Group’s liable 
equity capital adjusted for intangible assets so as to test the Group’s ability to absorb extreme and un-
expected losses. Required economic capital (REC) for financial risk is calculated at the end of each 
month and amounted to €627.0 million as at 31 December 2019, whereby €510.0 million stem from 
credit risk and €117.0 million stem from market risk.  

The Group evaluates its financial risk situation on an ongoing basis. In the view of the Executive Board, 
no threat to the continued existence of the Group can be identified at this time. 

234
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Deutsche Börse Group | Annual report 2019 

Executive and Supervisory Boards 
Management report  
Financial statements 
Notes | Other disclosures 
Further information 

Credit risk 

Credit risk of financial instruments (part 1) 

Carrying amounts – 
maximum risk exposure 

Collateral 

Segment 

Note 

Amount at 
31 Dec 2019 
€m 

Amount at 
31 Dec 2018 
€m 

Amount at 
31 Dec 2019 
€m 

Amount at 
31 Dec 2018 
€m 

Collateralised cash investments 

Reverse repurchase agreements 

Uncollateralised cash investments 

Money market lendings – 
central banks 

Money market lendings – 
other counterparties 

Balances on nostro accounts 
and other bank deposits 

Securities 

Fund assets 

Eurex (financial 
derivatives)1) 

Clearstream  
(post-trading) 

Group1) 

Eurex (financial 
derivatives) 

Clearstream (post-
trading) 

EEX (commodities) 

Clearstream (post-
trading) 

Clearstream (post-
trading) 

Group 

Clearstream (post-
trading) 

Eurex (financial 
derivatives) 

Group 

Group 

91.2 

49.7 

100.82) 

53.7 

13.2 

6,394.3 

0 

6,485.5 

6,516.2 

410.0 

6,975.9 

6,552.23)4) 

6,616.73) 4) 

0 

6,653.0 

411.0 

7,081.4 

26,038.8 

24,287.911) 

5,998.6 

3,989.7 

5,974.7 

5,571.811) 

437.2 

556.7 

1,604.5 

748.7 

2,252.5 

733.3 

13.2 

1,266.9 

1,610.0 

13.2 

13.2 

13.5 

4.2 

14.05) 

28.4 

9.4 

5.15) 

14.6 

40,131.0 

41,016.0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

Loans for settling securities transactions 

Technical overdraft 
facilities 

Automated Securities Fails 
Financing7) 

Clearstream (post-
trading) 

Clearstream (GSF) 

ASLplus securities lending7) 

Clearstream (GSF) 

Total 

13.2 

231.7 

2,253.3 

n.a.6) 

n.a.6) 

288.88) 

58,008.6 

58,529.1 

105,145.6 

413.28) 

42,558.3 

45,224.8 

93,216.7 

316.6 

58,228.6 

58,545.2 

65,198.2 

448.4 

42,693.7 

43,142.1 

50,223.5 

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Deutsche Börse Group | Annual report 2019 

Executive and Supervisory Boards 
Management report  
Financial statements 
Notes | Other disclosures 
Further information 

Credit risk of financial instruments (part 2) 

Balance brought forward 

Other financial instruments 

Convertible notes 

Other loans 

Other assets 

Trade receivables 

Other receivables 

Segment 

Note 

Group 

Group 

Group 

Group 

Clearstream 
(post-trading) 

Eurex (financial 
derivatives) 

Group 

13.5 

13.2 

13.2 

Other instruments at fair 
value 

Group 

13.2 

Carrying amounts – 
maximum risk exposure 

Collateral 

Amount at 31 
Dec 2019 
€m 

Amount at 31 
Dec 2018 
€m 

Amount at 31 
Dec 2019 
€m 

Amount at 31 
Dec 2018 
€m 

105,145.6 

93,216.6 

65,198.2 

50,223.5 

0 

0.3 

23.7 

454.4 

43.1 

48.4 

21.6 

0.4 

2.7 

0.4 

23.7 

403.2 

57.7 

1,608.9 

14.4 

0.4 

591.9 

2,111.4 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

Financial instruments 
held by central 
counterparties 

Derivatives 

Total 

52,889.49) 

47,969.59) 

66,680.910) 

61,752.110) 

13.5 

1.4 

4.7 

0 

0 

158,628.3 

143,302.2 

131,879.1 

111,975.6 

1)  Presented in the items “restricted bank balances” and “other cash and bank balances” 
2)  Thereof none pledged to central banks (2018: nil) 
3)  Thereof €274.0 million pledged to central banks (2018: €162.7 million) 
4)  Total of fair value of cash (2019: nil; 2018: nil) and securities collateral (2019: €6,552.2 million; 2018: €6,616.7 million) received under reverse repurchase 

agreements 

5)  The amount includes collateral totalling €5.1 million (2018: €5.1 million) 
6)  The portfolio of deposited collateral is not directly attributed to any utilisation, but is determined by the scope of the entire business relationship and the limits 

granted. 

7)  Off-balance-sheet items 
8)  Meets the IFRS 9 criteria for a financial guarantee contract 
9) Net value of all margin requirements resulting from executed traes at the reporting date as well as default fund requirements: this figure represents the riskoriented 
view of Eurex Clearing AG and European Commodity Clearing AG, while the carrying amount of the “financial instruments held by central counterparties” itemin 
the blance sheet shows the gross amount of the open trades acccording to IAS 32. 

10) Collateral value of cash and securities collateral deposited for margins, covering the net value of all margin and default fund requirements 
11) Prior year figures adjusted 

Cash investments 
Deutsche Börse Group is exposed to credit risk in connection with the investment of cash funds. 
Clearstream receives cash deposits from its customers in various currencies, and invests these cash 
deposits in money market instruments. Eurex Clearing AG receives cash collateral mainly in its clearing 
currencies EUR and CHF.  

The Group mitigates such risks by investing short-term funds either – to the extent possible – on a 
collateralised basis, e.g. via reverse repurchase agreements, or by depositing them with central banks. 

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Deutsche Börse Group | Annual report 2019 

Executive and Supervisory Boards 
Management report  
Financial statements 
Notes | Other disclosures 
Further information 

According to the treasury policy, mainly highly liquid financial instruments with a minimum rating of AA– 
(Standard & Poor’s/Fitch) or Aa3 (Moody’s) issued or guaranteed by governments or supranational 
institutions are eligible as collateral.  

Uncollateralised cash investments are permitted only with counterparties with sound creditworthiness 
within the framework of defined counterparty credit limits. Counterparty credit risk is monitored on the 
basis of an internal rating system. 

The fair value of securities received under reverse repurchase agreements was €6,653.0 million (2018: 
€7,081.4 million). Clearstream Banking S.A. and Eurex Clearing AG are entitled to pledge the eligible 
securities received to their central banks to regain liquidity. 

As at 31 December 2019, Clearstream S.A.has pledged secorities with a value of €476.7 million to 
central banks. Of this, securities with a value of €274.0 million relate to reverse repurchase agreements 
(2018: €162.7 million) and €202.7 million (2018: €1,205.7 million) stem from Clearstream’s 
investment portfolio.  

Ats at 31 December 2019, Eurex Clearing AG has pledged no securities to central banks. 

Loans for settling securities transactions 
Clearstream (post-trading) grants customers intraday technical overdraft facilities to maximise settlement 
efficiency. These settlement facilities are subject to internal credit review procedures. They are revocable 
at the option of the Clearstream subgroup and are in general fully collateralised. Technical overdraft 
facilities amounted to €115.5 billion as at 31 December 2019 (2018: €115.2 billion). Of this amount, 
€3.4 billion (2018: €3.3 billion) is unsecured and only relates to credit lines granted to selected central 
banks and multilateral development banks in compliance with the CSDR exemption as per article 23 of 
Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2017/390. Actual outstandings at the end of each business day 
generally represent a small fraction of the facilities and amounted to €231.7 million as at 
31 December 2019 (2018: €2,253.3 million); see   note 13.2. 

Clearstream (GSF, collateral management) also guarantees the risk resulting from the Automated 
Securities Fails Financing programme it offers to its customers, where Clearstream Banking S.A. acts as 
an intermediary between borrower and lender. This risk is collateralised. Guarantees given under this 
programme amounted to €288.8 million as at 31 December 2019 (2018: €413.2 million). Collateral 
received by Clearstream Banking S.A. in connection with these loans amounted to €316.6 million 
(2018: €448.4 million).  

Under the ASLplus securities lending programme, Clearstream Banking S.A. had securities borrowings 
from various counterparties totalling €58,008.6 million as at 31 December 2019 (2018: 
€42,558.3 million). These securities were fully lent to other counterparties. Collateral received by 
Clearstream Banking S.A. in connection with these loans amounted to €58,228.6 million (2018: 
€42,693.7 million). This collateral was pledged to the lender, while Clearstream Banking S.A. remains 
its legal owner. 

In 2018 and 2019, no losses from credit transactions occurred in relation to any of the transaction types 
described. 

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Deutsche Börse Group | Annual report 2019 

Executive and Supervisory Boards 
Management report  
Financial statements 
Notes | Other disclosures 
Further information 

Financial instruments of the central counterparties 
To safeguard the Group’s central counterparties against the risk of default by a clearing member, the 
clearing conditions require the clearing members to deposit margins in the form of cash or securities on 
a daily basis or an intraday basis in the amount stipulated by the respective clearing house. Additional 
safety mechanisms of the Group’s central counterparties are described in detail in the   risk report.  

Trade receivables  
Trading, settlement and custody fees are generally collected without delay by direct debit. Fees for other 
services, such as the provision of data and information, are settled mainly by transfer. Trade receivables 
are analysed using an expected credit loss model based on the simplified approach as outlined in 
IFRS 9. To measure the expected credit loss, trade receivables and contract assets have been grouped 
based on the days past due. The trade receivables share the main risk characteristics. The expected loss 
amount has been determined by applying the lifetime expected loss approach. The expected loss rates 
are based on the payment profiles over a period of five years and the loss profile experienced over that 
period. 

Loss allowances for trade receivables as at 31 December 2019 

Not more 
than 30 
days past 
due 
€m 

Not more 
than 60 
days past 
due 
€m 

Not more 
than 90 
days past 
due 
€m 

Not more 
than 120 
days past 
due 
€m 

Not more 
than 360 
days past 
due 
€m 

More 
than360 
days past 
due 
€m 

Insolvent 
€m 

Total 
€m 

Expected loss 
rate 

Trade 
Receivables 

Loss allowance 

0.0% 

0.0% 

0.0% 

1.0% 

5.0% 

82.0% 

0,0% 

24.6 

0.0 

13.4 

0.0 

5.8 

0.0 

4.4 

0.1 

19.9 

1.1 

5.7 

4.7 

1.3 

1.3 

75.1 

7.1 

Loss allowances for trade receivables as at 31st December 2018 

Not more 
than 30 
days past 
due 
€m 

More than 
30 days 
past due 
€m 

More than 
60 days 
past due 
€m 

More than 
90 days 
past due 
€m 

More than 
120 days 
past due 
€m 

More 
than360 
days past 
due 
€m 

Insolvent 
€m 

Total 
€m 

Expected loss 
rate 

Trade 
Receivables 

Loss allowance 

0.0% 

0.0% 

0.0% 

0.0% 

5.0% 

82.0% 

0,0% 

30.5 

0 

12.4 

0.1 

7.1 

0 

3.2 

0 

15.0 

0.8 

4.3 

3.5 

1.3 

1.3 

73.8 

5.7 

Trade receivables are written off when there is no reasonable expectation of recovery. In 2019, no 
significant receivables (31 December 2018: nil) were uncollectible due to customer defaults. Moreover, 
no significant payments were received in 2019 for receivables which had previously been written off 
(2018: €0.1 million). 

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Deutsche Börse Group | Annual report 2019 

Executive and Supervisory Boards 
Management report  
Financial statements 
Notes | Other disclosures 
Further information 

Debt securities 
All of the entity’s debt securities measured at amortised cost are considered to have low credit risk, and 
the loss allowance recognised during the period was therefore limited to twelve months’ expected losses. 
The Group considers “low credit risk" for listed bonds to be an investment grade credit rating granted by 
an external rating agency. The expected loss is calculated based on a loss rate approach derived from 
default rates provided by a rating agency. 

Development of the loss allowance 

Closing loss allowance as at 1 January 2018 

Increase in the allowance recognized in profit or loss during the 
period 

Decrease in the allowance recognized  
in profit or loss during the period 

Closing loss allowance as at 31 December 2018 

Increase in the allowance recognized  
in profit or loss during the period 

Decrease in the allowance recognised 
in profit or loss during the period 

Closing loss allowance as at 31 December 2019 

Debt securities 
Stage 1 
€m 

Trade 
receivables 
Stage 1/2 
€m 

Trade 
receivables 
Stage 3 
€m 

0.3 

0 

– 0.2 

0.1 

0 

0 

0 

0.5 

0.5 

– 0.1 

0.9 

0.6 

– 0.4 

1.1 

3.2 

1.8 

– 0.2 

4.8 

1.8 

– 0.6 

6.0 

Total 

€m 

4.0 

2.3 

– 0.5 

5.8 

2.4 

– 1.0 

7.1 

Credit risk concentrations 
Deutsche Börse Group’s business model and the resulting business relationships mean that, as a rule, 
credit risk is concentrated on the financial services sector. Potential concentrations of credit risk are 
limited by application of counterparty, group and country credit limits.Collateral and currency 
concentrations are also monitored. 

Management of credit risk concentration, including collateral concentration, and so-called large 
exposures, is conducted in compliance with applicable regulatory requirements such as those arising 
from, among others, articles 387–410 of Regulation (EU) 575/2013 (Capital Requirements Regulation, 
CRR), article 47 paragraph 8 of Regulation (EU) 648/2012 (European Market Infrastructure Regulation, 
EMIR) and respectively applicable national requirements (see also   note 15 for an explanation of 
regulatory capital requirements). Requirements on concentration risks arising from Regulation (EU) 
909/2014 (Central Securities Depository Regulation, CSDR) have been implemented as part of Deutsche 
Börse Group’s affiliated CSDs’ authorisation under article 16 CSDR. 

The required economic capital (value at risk (VaR) with a 99.98 per cent confidence level) for credit risk 
is calculated monthly for each day and amounted to €510.0 million as at 31 December 2019 (2018: 
€517.0 million).  

Deutsche Börse Group also applies additional methods in order to detect credit concentration risks. In 
2019, no significant adverse credit concentrations were assessed. 

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Deutsche Börse Group | Annual report 2019 

Executive and Supervisory Boards 
Management report  
Financial statements 
Notes | Other disclosures 
Further information 

Market risk 

Market risk arises from changes in interest rates, foreign-exchange rates and other market prices. 
Deutsche Börse Group is generally only affected to a limited extent by market risk. The required 
economic capital for market risk is calculated on a monthly basis. As at 31 December 2019, the 
required economic capital for market risk was €117.0 million (2018: €84.0 million).  

In the 2019 financial year, no impairment losses (2018: €0.6 million) were recognised in profit or loss 
for strategic investments that are not included in the VaR for market risk. 

Interest rate risk 
Changes in market interest rates may affect Deutsche Börse Group’s net profit for the period attributable 
to Deutsche Börse AG shareholders. This risk arises whenever interest terms of financial assets and 
liabilities are different.  

Interest rate sensitive assets include the Group’s money market and investment portfolios, while interest 
rate sensitive liabilities mainly consist of short-term debt instruments. Interest rate risk from long-term 
liabilities of Deutsche Börse AG is mitigated through issuance of fixed-coupon bonds.  

In 2019, Deutsche Börse AG did not issue any bonds to refinance long-term indebtedness. For an 
overview on details of all bonds issued before 2019 by Deutsche Börse Group, see the   “Net assets” 
section in the combined management report. 

Cash received as deposits from market participants is mainly invested via short-term reverse repurchase 
agreements and in the form of overnight deposits at central banks, limiting the risk of a negative impact 
due to a changed interest rate environment. Negative interest rates resulting from reinvestments of these 
cash deposits are passed on to the respective Clearstream (post-trading) customers after applying an 
additional margin. For Eurex Clearing AG, interest rates on cash collateral are in principle calculated 
based on a predefined market benchmark rate per currency after deducting an additional spread per 
currency. In exceptional cases such as market disruption Eurex Clearing AG reserves the right to 
calculate interest rates on cash collateral based on the realised interest rate. 

Group entities may furthermore invest their own capital and part of stable customer cash balances in 
high-quality liquid bonds. The bond portfolio consists mostly of variable-rate instruments, which leads to 
a comparably low interest rate risk for the Group.  

The risk arising from interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities is monitored on each business 
day and limited by using a system which includes mismatch limits in combination with interest rate risk 
limits and stop-loss limits. The interest rate risk limits determine the acceptable maximum loss caused 
by a hypothetical adverse yield curve shift. The stop-loss limits define the fair value of a portfolio 
triggering an ad hoc review and risk-reducing actions. 

Interest rate swaps as well as swaptions are used to hedge interest rate risks. As of the reporting date, 
there are no hedging relationships with regards to interest rate risk in place.  

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Deutsche Börse Group | Annual report 2019 

Executive and Supervisory Boards 
Management report  
Financial statements 
Notes | Other disclosures 
Further information 

Foreign-exchange rate risk 
Measuring and managing foreign-exchange risk is important for reducing Deutsche Börse Group’s 
exposure to exchange rate movements. The three main types of foreign-exchange risk that Deutsche 
Börse Group is exposed to are cash flow-, translation- and transaction-related foreign-exchange risk. 
Cash flow risk reflects the risk of fluctuations in Deutsche Börse Group’s present value of future 
operating cash flows from foreign-exchange movements. Translation risk comprises effects from the 
valuation of the Group’s assets and liabilities in foreign currencies. Finally, transaction risk is closely 
related to cash flow risk; it may arise through changes in the structure of Deutsche Börse Group’s asset 
and liabilities in foreign currencies. 

The Group operates internationally and is, to a limited extent, exposed to foreign-exchange risk, primarily 
in US$, CHF, £ and CZK. Exchange rate fluctuations may affect the Group’s profit margins and the value 
of assets and liabilities denominated in a currency that is not the functional currency of the relevant 
Group entity. Respective currency risks arise mainly from operating income and expenses denominated 
in a currency other than the functional currency, inter alia from that portion of the Clearstream (post-
trading) segment’s sales revenue and net interest income from banking business that is directly or 
indirectly in US$. The Clearstream (post-trading) segment generated 20 per cent of its sales revenue and 
net interest income (2018: 21 per cent) directly or indirectly in US$. 

Currency mismatches are avoided to the maximum extent possible. All types of foreign-exchange risks 
are measured on a regular basis and monitored on a Group as well as single entity level. Limits are 
defined for cash flow and translation risk affecting the Group’s income statement. Deutsche Börse 
Group’s treasury policy defines risk limits which take into account historic foreign-exchange rate 
fluctuations. Any exposure exceeding those limits must be hedged. Foreign-exchange exposures below 
the defined limits may also be hedged. Management of foreign-exchange risks is in principle based on 
the Group level. Hedging on a single entity level may be conducted if foreign-exchange risk threatens the 
viability of the single entity. 

To eliminate foreign-exchange risks, Deutsche Börse Group uses financial instruments to hedge existing 
or highly probable forecast transactions. The Group may use foreign-exchange forwards, foreign-
exchange options as well as cross-currency swaps to hedge the exposure to foreign-exchange risk. Under 
the Group’s policy, the critical terms of forwards and options must align with the hedged items.  

In addition, for Clearstream (post-trading), the policy stipulates that intraperiod open net foreign-
exchange positions are closed out when they exceed €15.0 million. This policy was complied with, as in 
the previous year; as at 31 December 2019, there were no significant net foreign-exchange positions. 

Other market risks 

Moreover, market risk arises from investments in bonds, investments in funds, futures within the 
framework of contractual trust arrangements (CTAs) and from the Clearstream Pension Fund in 
Luxembourg. For the CTAs, the investment is protected by a pre-defined floor, which reduces the risk of 
extreme losses for Deutsche Börse Group. In addition, there are equity price risks arising from strategic 
equity investments. 

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Deutsche Börse Group | Annual report 2019 

Executive and Supervisory Boards 
Management report  
Financial statements 
Notes | Other disclosures 
Further information 

Liquidity risk 

For the Group, liquidity risk may arise from potential difficulties in renewing maturing financing, such as 
commercial paper, issued bonds as well as bilateral and syndicated credit facilities. In addition, 
financing required for unexpected events may result in a liquidity risk. Most of the Group’s cash invest-
ments are short-term to ensure that liquidity is available, should such a financing need arise. Eurex 
Clearing AG and Clearstream may invest stable customer balances up to a maximum of one year in 
secured money market products, or in high-quality securities with a remaining maturity of less than ten 
years, with an exception for UK gilts accepting a maximum remaining life to maturity of 30 years, 
subject to strict monitoring of mismatch and interest rate limits. Term investments can be transacted via 
reverse repurchase agreements against highly liquid collateral that can be deposited with the central 
bank and used as a liquidity buffer if required. Eurex Clearing AG remains almost perfectly matched with 
respect to the durations of customer cash margins received and repective investments. 

The companies of Deutsche Börse Group have the following credit lines at their disposal, which were not 
utilized as of the balance sheet date. 

Contractually agreed credit lines 

Company 

Purpose of credit line 

Currency 

Deutsche Börse AG 

Eurex Clearing AG 

working capital1) 

settlement 

settlement 

settlement2) 

Clearstream Banking S.A. 

working capital1) 

Settlement2) 

Settlement2) 

Settlement2) 

European Energy Exchange AG 

working capital 

European Commodity Clearing AG 

settlement 

Axioma Inc. 

working capital 

€ 

€ 

CHF 

USD 

€ 

€ 

USD 

GBP 

€ 

GBP 

USD 

Amount at    

Amount at    

31 Dec 2019 
m 

31 Dec 2018 
m 

605.0 

605.0 

1,170.0 

1,170.0 

200.0 

150.0 

750.0 

1,250.0 

3,050.0 

350.0 

22.0 

1.0 

50.0 

200.0 

0.0 

750.0 

500.0 

1,425.0 

500.0 

20.0 

1.0 

- 

1)  €400.0 million of Deutsche Börse AG’s working capital credit lines is a sub-credit line of Clearstream Banking S.A.’s €750.0 million working capital credit line. 
2)  Including committed foreign exchange swap lines and committed repo lines. 

For refinancing purposes, Eurex Clearing AG and the Clearstream Banking S.A. can pledge eligible 
securities with their respective central banks. Clearstream Banking S.A. has a bank guarantee (letter of 
credit) in favour of Euroclear Bank S.A./N.V. issued by an international consortium to secure daily 
deliveries of securities between Euroclear Bank S.A./N.V. and Clearstream Banking S.A. This guarantee 
amounted to US$3.0 billion as at 31 December 2019 (2018: US$3.0 billion). Euroclear Bank S.A./N.V. 
has also issued a guarantee in favour of Clearstream Banking S.A. amounting to US$3.0 billion (2018: 
US$3.0 billion).  

A commercial paper programme offers Deutsche Börse AG an opportunity for flexible, short-term 
financing, involving a total facility of €2.5 billion in various currencies. As at year-end, there was no 
commercial paper outstanding (2018: nil). 

Clearstream Banking S.A. also has a commercial paper programme with a programme limit of 
€1.0 billion, which is used to provide additional short-term liquidity. As at 31 December 2019, 
commercial paper with a nominal value of €311.9 million had been issued (2018: €402.1 million). 

242
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Deutsche Börse Group | Annual report 2019 

Executive and Supervisory Boards 
Management report  
Financial statements 
Notes | Other disclosures 
Further information 

In 2019, Standard & Poor’s confirmed Deutsche Börse AG’s AA credit rating with a stable outlook. At the 
end of 2019, Deutsche Börse AG was one of only two DAX-listed companies that had been given an AA 
rating by Standard & Poor’s. Deutsche Börse AG’s commercial paper programme was awarded the best 
possible short-term rating of A–1+. The AA rating of Clearstream Banking S.A. was confirmed with a 
stable outlook by the rating agencies Fitch and Standard & Poor’s in 2019. For further details on the 
rating of Deutsche Börse Group, see the   “Financial position” section in the combined management 
report. 

Maturity analysis of financial instruments (1) 

Contractual maturity 

Trade payables 

0.4 

204.0 

0.7 

Not more 
than 3 
months 
€m 

Sight 
€m 

More than 
3 months 
but not 
more than 
1 year 
€m 

More than 
1 year but 
not more 
than 5 
years 
€m 

Reconcilia- 
tion to 
carrying 
amount 
€m 

Over 5 
years 
€m 

Carrying 
amount 
€m 

45.6 

1,457.8 

1,362.2 

-238.4

2,627.2 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

13,826.3 

0 

3.6 

63.7 

11.6 

0 

29,751.1 

4.7 

335.1 

33.9 

0 

0 

153.3 

227.2 

-39.4

341.0 

84.3 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

1.6 

84.3 

206.7 

0,3 

14,225.4 

–6.4

39.1 

0 

3.6 

0 

29,775.8 

43,581.4 

272.4 

381.4 

1,542.1 

1,362.2 

– 236.5

46,903.0 

11,220.4 

59,271.0 

6,920.1 

4,176.5 

1,057.7 

0 

82,645.7 

-11,220.4

– 60,161.0

–6,920.1

–4,176.5

– 1,057.7

0 

– 83,535.7

31.12. 2019 

Non-derivative financial liabilities 

Non-current financial liabilities 
measured at amortised cost 

Thereof: Lease liabilities  

Non-current financial liabilities at 
fair value through profit or loss 

Current financial liabilities 
measured at amortised cost 

Thereof: Lease liabilities 

Financial liabilities 
measured at fair value

Cash deposits by market 
participants 

Total non-derivative financial 
liabilties (gross) 

Derivatives and financial 
instruments held by central 
counterparties 

Financial liabilites and derivatives 
held by central counterparties 

less financial assets and derivatives 
held by central counterparties 

Cash inflow - derivatives and 
hedges 

Cash flow hedges 

Fair value hedges 

0 

0 

– 16.0

– 79.3

0 

0 

Derivatives held for trading 

-829.6

– 75.7

– 2,171.0

Cash outflow - derivatives and 
hedges 

Cash flow hedges 

Derivatives held for trading 

0 

828.2 

16.0 

75.9 

Total derivatives and hedges 

-1.4

– 889.9

80.3 

2,172.2 

2.2 

Financial guarantee contracts 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

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Deutsche Börse Group | Annual report 2019 

Executive and Supervisory Boards 
Management report  
Financial statements 
Notes | Other disclosures 
Further information 

Maturity analysis of financial instruments (2) 

Contractual maturity 

Other bank loans overdrafts 

29,559.2 

0 

0 

Not more 
than 3 
months 
€m 

Sight 
€m 

More than 
3 months 
but not 
more than 
1 year 
€m 

More than 
1 year but 
not more 
than 5 
years 
€m 

Reconcilia- 
tion to 
carrying 
amount 
€m 

Over 5 
years 
€m 

Carrying 
amount 
€m 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

195.0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

18,566.3 

203.9 

270.9 

1,335.3 

1,150.0 

– 202.1 

2,283.2 

0.2 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0.2 

195.0 

0.0 

– 16.4 

19,024.7 

0 

29,559.2 

48,125.5 

398.9 

270.9 

1,335.5 

1,150.0 

– 218.5 

51,062.3 

26,256.3 

54,796.6 

13,015.4 

7,347.1 

2,638.3 

0 

104,053.7 

– 26,256.3 

– 55,008.6 

– 13,015.4 

– 7,347.1 

– 2,638.3 

0  – 104,265.7 

31.12. 2018 

Non-derivative financial liabilities 

Interest-bearing liabilities 

Other non-current financial 
liabilities 

Non-derivative liabilties from 
banking issues 

Payables to associates 

Trade payables, payables to 
related parties and other current 
liabilities 

Total non-derivative financial 
liabilties (gross) 

Derivatives and financial 
instruments 
held by central counterparties 

Financial liabilites and derivatives 
held by central counterparties 

less financial assets and 
derivatives held by central 
counterparties 

Cash inflow - derivatives and 
hedges 

Cash flow hedges 

Fair value hedges 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

Derivatives held for trading 

– 1,592.6 

– 137.1 

– 1,642.4 

Cash outflow - derivatives and 
hedges 

Cash flow hedges 

Fair value hedges 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

Derivatives held for trading 

1,592.4 

136.9 

1,662.7 

Total derivatives and hedges 

– 0.2 

– 212.2 

20.3 

Financial guarantee contracts 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

244
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Deutsche Börse Group | Annual report 2019 

Executive and Supervisory Boards 
Management report  
Financial statements 
Notes | Other disclosures 
Further information 

24. Financial liabilities and other risks 

Legal risks 

The companies of Deutsche Börse Group are subject to litigation. Such litigation may lead to orders to 
pay against the entities of the Group. If it is more likely than not that an outflow of resources will occur, 
a provision will be recognised based on an estimate of the most probable amount necessary to settle the 
obligation if such amount is reasonably estimable. The management of the entity affected must judge 
whether the possible obligation results from a past event, as well as evaluate the probability of a cash 
outflow and estimate its amount. As the outcome of litigation is usually uncertain, the judgement is 
reviewed continuously. 

Deutsche Börse Group recognises provisions for the possible incurrence of losses only if there is a 
present obligation arising from a past event that is likely to result in an outflow of resources and if the 
Group can reliably estimate the amount of the obligation (see also   note 18). Contingent liabilities may 
result from present obligations and from possible obligations arising from events in the past. In order to 
identify the litigation for which the possibility of incurring a loss is more than unlikely, as well as how 
the possible loss is estimated, Deutsche Börse Group considers a large number of factors, including the 
nature of the claim and the facts on which it is based, the jurisdiction and course of the individual 
proceedings, the experience of Deutsche Börse Group, prior settlement talks (to the extent that they 
already taken place) as well as expert opinions and evaluations of legal advisors. However, it is also 
possible that no reliable estimate for a specific litigation could be determined before the approval of the 
consolidated financial statements, and that – as a result – no provisions are recognised. The companies 
of Deutsche Börse Group are subject to litigation; as the outcome of litigation is usually uncertain, the 
judgement is reviewed continuously. 

Deutsche Börse Group presents further details of litigation risks in the combined management report 
(see explanations in the   risk report).  

Tax risks 

Due to its business activities in various countries, Deutsche Börse Group is exposed to tax risks. A 
process has been developed to recognise and evaluate these risks, which are initially recognised based 
on their probability of occurrence. These risks are then measured on the basis of their expected value. A 
tax liability is recognised in the event that it is more probable than not that the risks will occur. Deutsche 
Börse Group continuously reviews whether the conditions for recognising corresponding tax liabilities are 
met.  

25. Share-based payment  

Deutsche Börse Group operates the Group Share Plan (GSP), the Stock Bonus Plan (SBP), the Co-
Performance Investment Plan (CPIP) and the Performance Share Plan (PSP) as well as the Long-term 
Sustainable Instrument (LSI) and the Restricted Stock Units (RSU), which provide share-based payment 
components for employees, senior executives and executive board members.  

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Deutsche Börse Group | Annual report 2019 

Executive and Supervisory Boards 
Management report  
Financial statements 
Notes | Other disclosures 
Further information 

Stock Bonus Plan (SBP)

The SBP is open to senior executives of Deutsche Börse AG and its participating subsidiaries. It grants a 
long-term remuneration component in the form of so-called SBP shares. These are generally accounted 
for as share-based payments for which Deutsche Börse AG has a choice of settlement in cash or equity 
instruments for certain tranches. Tranches due in previous years were each settled in cash. In the 
reporting period, the company established an additional tranche of the SBP for senior executives who 
are not risk takers. In order to participate in the SBP, a beneficiary must have earned a bonus. The 
awards are settled in cash and the SBP shares are measured as cash-settled share-based payment 
transactions. The cost of the options is estimated using an option pricing model (fair value 
measurement) and recognised in staff costs in the consolidated income statement.  

The number of stock options is determined by the amount of the individual and performance-based SBP 
bonus for the financial year, divided by the average share price (Xetra closing price) of Deutsche Börse 
AG’s shares in the fourth quarter of the financial year in question. Neither the converted SBP bonus nor 
the stock options are paid at the time the bonus is determined. Rather, the entitlement is generally 
received three years after the grant date (the "waiting period"). Within this period, beneficiaries cannot 
assert shareholder rights (in particular, the rights to receive dividends and attend the Annual General 
Meeting). Once they have met the condition of service, the beneficiaries’ claims resulting from the SBP 
are calculated on the first trading day following the last day of the waiting period. The current market 
price at that date (closing auction price of Deutsche Börse shares in electronic trading on the Frankfurt 
Stock Exchange) is multiplied by the number of stock options. Stock options are settled in cash. 

Evaluation of the SBP  
The company uses an adjusted Black-Scholes model (Merton model) to calculate the fair value of the 
stock options. 

Valuation parameters for SBP shares 

Term to 

Risk-free interest rate 

Volatility of Deutsche Börse AG shares 

Dividend yield 

Exercise price 

Tranche 2019 

Tranche 2018 

Tranche 2017 

Tranche 2016 

31/03/2023 

31/03/2022 

28/02/2021 

29/02/2020 

% 

% 

% 

€ 

– 0.54 

18.28 

1.93 

0 

– 0.58 

18.67 

1.93 

0 

– 0.63 

19.12 

0.96 

0 

– 0.72 

16.63 

0,00 

0 

The valuation model does not take into account exercise hurdles. The volatilities applied correspond to 
the market volatilities of comparable options with comparable maturities. 

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Deutsche Börse Group | Annual report 2019 

Executive and Supervisory Boards 
Management report  
Financial statements 
Notes | Other disclosures 
Further information 

Valuation of SBP shares 

Deutsche 
Börse AG share 
price at 
31 Dec 2019 
€ 

Balance at 
31 Dec 2019 
Number 

Intrinsic value/ 
option at 
31 Dec 2019 
€ 

Fair value/ 
option at 
31 Dec 2019 
€ 

Settlement 
obligation 
€m 

Current 
provision at 
31 Dec 2019 
€m 

Non-current 
provision at 
31 Dec 2019 
€m 

15,217 

12,660 

11,782 

8,403 

48,062 

140.15 

140.15 

140.15 

140.15 

140.15 

140.15 

140.15 

140.15 

134.53 

99.78 

63.18 

30.99 

2.0 

1.3 

0.7 

0.3 

4.3 

2.0 

0 

0 

0 

2.0 

0 

1.3 

0.7 

0.3 

2.3 

Tranch
e 

20161) 

2017 

2018 

20192) 

Total 

1)  The number of stock options, settlement obligation, and short-term provision of the 2016 tranche includes the unsettled shares of the 2015 tranche 
2)  Given that the 2019 SBP tranche stock options for senior executives will not be granted until the 2020 financial year, the number of shares applicable as at the 

reporting date may be adjusted during the 2020 financial year 

Average price of the exercised and forfeited share options 

Tranche 

2015 

2016 

2017 

2018 

Average price of the 
exercised share 
options 
€ 

Average price of the 
forfeited share 
options 
€ 

113.97 

117.00 

120.25 

136.55 

0.00 

122.96 

88.85 

51.14 

The stock options from the 2015 SBP tranche were exercised in the reporting period following the 
expiration of the waiting period. Shares of the SBP tranches 2016, 2017 and 2018 were paid to former 
employees as part of severance payments in the year under review.  

The carrying amount of the provision for the SBP results from the measurement of the number of SBP 
stock options at the fair value of the closing auction price of Deutsche Börse shares in electronic  
trading at the Frankfurt Stock Exchange at the reporting date and its proportionate recognition over the 
waiting period.  

Provisions for the SBP amounting to €4.3 million were recognised at the reporting date of 31 December 
2019 (31 December 2018: €3.5 million). The total expense for LSI stock options in the reporting period 
amounted to €2.6 million (2018: €2.1 million).  

Change in number of SBP shares allocated 

Balance at 
31 Dec 
2018 

Disposals 
Tranche 
2016 

Disposals 
Tranche 
2017 

Disposals 
Tranche 
2018 

Additions 
Tranche 
2019 

Fully settled 
cash options 

Options 
forfeited 

Balance at 
31 Dec 
2019 

To other 
senior 
executives 

Total 

57,392 

57,392 

0 

0 

0 

0 

– 772 

– 772 

8,403 

– 16,120 

8,403 

– 16,120 

–841 

– 841 

48,062 

48,062 

247
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Deutsche Börse Group | Annual report 2019 

Executive and Supervisory Boards 
Management report  
Financial statements 
Notes | Other disclosures 
Further information 

Long-term Sustainable Instrument (LSI) and Restricted Stock Units (RSU) 

In 2014, Deutsche Börse Group introduced the Long-Term Sustainable Instrument (LSI) plan in order to 
provide share-based remuneration in line with regulatory requirements. This programme was extended 
in 2016 with the Restricted Stock Units (RSU) plan. The following disclosures relate to both plans.  

Long-term Sustainable Instrument (LSI) 
The LSI remuneration model requires at least half of a part of the variable remuneration to be settled in 
cash and half in phantom shares of Deutsche Börse AG (LSI shares). All tranches will be settled in cash. 
A portion of the variable remuneration is paid in the subsequent year and another portion over a further 
period of three or four years. Moreover, a portion of the variable remuneration shall be converted into 
RSU, subject to a three-year retention period after grant and a one-year waiting period (RSU shares). 
Deutsche Börse Group thus measures the LSI shares as cash-settled share-based payment transactions. 
The options are measured using an option pricing model (fair value measurement). Any right to payment 
of a stock bonus only vests after the expiration of the one-year service period on which the plan is 
based, taking certain waiting periods into account. 

The number of LSI and RSU shares for the 2015 to 2018 tranches is calculated by dividing the 
proportionate LSI or RSU bonus, respectively, for the year in question by the average closing price of 
Deutsche Börse AG shares in the last month of a financial year. The number of LSI and RSU shares for 
the 2019 tranche is based on the closing auction price of Deutsche Börse shares as at the disbursement 
date of the cash component of the 2019 tranche in 2020, or on the closing price as at the following 
trading day on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange. This results in individual LSI tranches for the LSI bonus, 
which have maturities of between one and eight years. The RSU bonus is used as a basis for another 
four-year tranche. Payment of each tranche is made after a waiting period of one year. Neither 
remuneration system stipulates any condition of service. Following the expiry of the waiting period, both 
the LSI and the RSU shares of the 2015 to 2018 tranches are measured on the basis of the average 
closing price of Deutsche Börse AG shares in the last month preceding the end of the waiting period. 
The LSI and RSU shares of the 2019 tranche are measured at the closing auction price as at the first 
trading day in February of the year in which the holding period ends.  

Restricted Stock Units (RSU) 
Like the LSI plan, the RSU plan applies to risk takers within Deutsche Börse Group. RSU shares are 
settled in cash; Deutsche Börse Group thus measures the RSU shares as cash-settled share-based 
payment transactions. The options are measured using an option pricing model (fair value 
measurement). Any right to payment of a stock bonus only vests after the expiration of the one-year 
service period on which the plan is based, taking a three-year retention period and a one-year waiting 
period into account. 

Evaluation of the LSI and the RSU
The company uses an adjusted Black-Scholes model (Merton model) to calculate the fair value of the 
LSI and RSU stock options. 

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Deutsche Börse Group | Annual report 2019 

Executive and Supervisory Boards 
Management report  
Financial statements 
Notes | Other disclosures 
Further information 

Valuation parameters for LSI and RSU shares 

Tranche 2019 

Tranche 2018 

Tranche 2017 

Tranche 2016 

Tranche 2015 

Tranche 2014

Term to 

31.12.2020 to 
31.12.2028 

31.12.2019 to 
31.12.2025 

31.12.2019 to 
31.12.2022 

31.12.2019 to 
31.12.2021 

31.12.2019 to 
31.12.2020 

31.12.2019 
to 
31.12.2020 

Risk-free interest rate 

% 

–0.66 to –0.61  – 0.66 to – 0.64 

– 0.66 

– 0.66 to –0.64 

– 0.64  

– 0.62  

Volatility of Deutsche 
Börse AG shares  

%  18.10 to 21.68  18.10 to 19.80  18.10 to 18.92 

18.10  

18,10 

0 

Dividend yield 

Exercise price 

% 

€ 

1.93  

0 to 1.93 

0 to 1.93 

0 to 1.93 

0 to 1.93 

0 to 1.93 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

The valuation model does not take into account exercise hurdles. The volatilities applied correspond to 
the market volatilities of comparable options with comparable maturities. 

Valuation of LSI and RSU shares 

Tranche 

Balance as at 
31 Dec 2019 
Number 

Deutsche 
Börse AG share 
price as at 
31 Dec 2019 
€ 

Intrinsic value/ 
option as at 
31 Dec 2019 
€ 

Fair value/ 
option as at 
31 Dec 2019 
€ 

Settlement 
obligation 
€m 

Current 
provision as at 
31 Dec 2019 
€m 

Non-current 
provision as at 
31 Dec 2019 
€m 

2014 

2015 

2016 

2017 

2018 

2019 

Total 

2,037 

7,849 

58,719 

57,648 

76,181 

42,470 

244,904 

140.15 

140.15 

140.15 

140.15 

140.15 

140.15 

140.15 

138.48 

140.15 

137.49 – 138.48 

140.15 

134.89 – 138.48 

140.15 

132.34 – 138.48 

140.15 

129.84 – 138.48 

140.15 

127.39 – 137.49 

0.3 

1.1 

8.0 

7.8 

10.3 

5.6 

33.1 

0.3 

0.9 

1.2 

1.0 

2.7 

0 

6.1 

0 

0.2 

6.8 

6.8 

7.6 

5.6 

27.0 

Provisions amounting to €33.1 million were recognised as at 31 December 2019 (31 December 2018: 
€26.5 million). The total expense for LSI stock options in the reporting period amounted to €10.9 
million (31 December 2018: €10.1 million). 

Change in number of LSI and RSU shares allocated 

Balance 
at 
31 Dec 
2018 

Disposals 
Tranche 
2014 

Disposals 
Tranche 
2015 

Disposals 
Tranche 
2016 

Disposals 
Tranche 
2017 

Disposals 
Tranche 
2018 

Additions 
Tranche 
2019 

Fully 
settled 
cash 
options 

Options 
forfeited 

Balance 
at 
31 Dec 
2019 

To other 
senior 
executives 

265.210 

Total 

265.210 

0 

0 

– 450 

– 2,452 

– 3,907 

– 15,691 

42,470 

– 40,276 

– 450 

– 2,452 

– 3,907 

– 15,691 

42,470 

– 40,276 

0 

0 

244,904 

244,904 

249
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Deutsche Börse Group | Annual report 2019 

Executive and Supervisory Boards 
Management report  
Financial statements 
Notes | Other disclosures 
Further information 

Co-Performance Investment Plan (CPIP) and Performance Share Plan (PSP) 

Performance Share Plan (PSP) 
The PSP was launched in financial year 2016 for members of the Executive Board of Deutsche 
Börse AG as well as selected senior executives and employees of Deutsche Börse AG and of participating 
subsidiaries. The number of phantom PSP shares to be allocated is calculated based on the number of 
shares granted and the increase of net profit for the period attributable to Deutsche Börse AG 
shareholders, as well as on the relative performance of the total shareholder return (TSR) on Deutsche 
Börse AG’s shares compared with the total shareholder return of the STOXX Europe 600 Financials Index 
constituents. The shares are subject to a performance period of five years. The subsequent payment  
of the stock bonus will be settled in cash. For further details on this plan, please see the   “Principles 
governing the PSP and assessing target achievement for performance shares” section in the 
remuneration report.  

The 100 per cent stock bonus target was calculated in euros for each Executive Board member. The 100 
per cent stock bonus target for selected executives and employees of Deutsche Börse AG and 
participating subsidiaries is defined by the responsible decision-making bodies. Based on the PSP 100 
per cent stock bonus target, the corresponding number of phantom shares for each beneficiary was 
calculated by dividing the stock bonus target by the average share price (Xetra closing price) of Deutsche 
Börse AG’s shares in the last calendar month preceding the performance period. Any right to payment of 
a PSP stock bonus vested only at the end of a five-year performance period. 

The final number of Performance Shares was calculated by multiplying the original number of 
Performance Shares with the level of overall target achievement. The PSP level of overall target 
achievement was based on two performance factors during the performance period: firstly, on the 
relative performance of the total shareholder return (TSR) on Deutsche Börse AG’s shares compared with 
the total shareholder return of the STOXX Europe 600 Financials Index as the peer group; and secondly, 
on the increase of Deutsche Börse AG’s net profit for the period attributable to shareholders of the parent 
company. The two performance factors contribute 50 per cent each to calculate overall target 
achievement. 

The payout amount is calculated by multiplying the final number of performance shares with the average 
share price (Xetra closing price) of Deutsche Börse AG’s shares in the last calendar month preceding  
the performance period, plus the total of dividend payments made during the performance period based 
on the final number of performance shares. The plans are settled in cash. 

Co-Performance Investment Plan (CPIP) 
In financial year 2015, a new remuneration programme (Co-Performance Investment Plan, CPIP) was 
introduced, and the former CEO of Deutsche Börse AG, Carsten Kengeter, was offered a one-time 
participation. The appropriate number of phantom shares was calculated based on the number of shares 
granted and the increase of Deutsche Börse AG’s net profit for the period attributable to shareholders  
of Deutsche Börse AG, as well as on the relative performance of the total shareholder return (TSR) on 
Deutsche Börse AG’s shares compared with the total shareholder return of the STOXX Europe 600 
Financials Index entities. The performance period for the measurement of the performance criteria 
commenced on 1 January 2015 and ends on 31 December 2019. The shares are subject to a 
performance period of five years and a waiting period until 31 December 2019. The subsequent 
payment of the stock bonus will be settled in cash, by 31 March 2021.  

250
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Deutsche Börse Group | Annual report 2019 

Executive and Supervisory Boards 
Management report  
Financial statements 
Notes | Other disclosures 
Further information 

Evaluation of the CPIP and the PSP 
The company uses an adjusted Black-Scholes model (Merton model) to calculate the fair value of the 
CPIP and PSP stock options. 

Valuation parameters for CPIP and PSP shares 
Tranche 2019 

Tranche 2018 

Tranche 2017 

Tranche 2016 

Tranche 2015 

Term to 

Risk-free interest rate 

Volatility of Deutsche Börse AG 
shares 

Dividend yield 

Excerciseprice 

Relative otal shareholder return 

Net profit for the period attributable 
to Deutsche Börse AG shareholders 

% 

% 

% 

€ 

% 

% 

31 Dec 2023 

31 Dec 2022 

31 Dec 2021 

31 Dec 2020 

31 Dec 2019 

– 0.64  

– 0.66  

– 0.66 

– 0.64 

– 0.66 

19.80  

18.43  

18.92 

18.10 

18.20 

0  

0  

0  

0  

140.00  

250.00  

133.00  

157.00  

0  

0  

250.00  

152.00;  
163.00  

0  

0  

0 

0 

250.00 

250.00 

0 

172.00 

The valuation model does not take into account exercise hurdles. The volatilities applied correspond to 
the market volatilities of comparable options with comparable maturities. 

Valuation of CPIP and PSP shares 

Deutsche 
Börse AG share 
price as at 
31 Dec 2019 
€ 

140.15 

140.15 

140.15 

140.15 

140.15 

Tranche 

Balance as at 
31 Dec 2019 
Number 

2015 

2016 

2017 

2018 

2019 

Total 

87,574 

140,031 

139,681 

142,431 

79,761 

589,478 

Intrinsic value/ 
option as at 
31 Dec 2019 
€ 

Fair value/ 
option as at 
31 Dec 2019 
€ 

Settlement 
obligation 
€m 

Current 
provision as at 
31 Dec 2019 
€m 

Non-current 
provision as at 
31 Dec 2019 
€m 

140.15 

150,33 

140.15  51.88 -150.12 

140.15 

88.71-147.85 

140.15 

11.66-145.45 

140.15 

28.59-142.93 

11.0 

19.4 

16.9 

13.2 

3.4 

63.9 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

11.0 

19.4 

16.9 

13.2 

3.4 

63.9 

Provisions for the CPIP and the PSP amounting to €64.0 million were recognised at the reporting date of 
31 December 2019 (31 December 2018: €40.1 million). Of the provisions, €11.2 million were 
attributable to members of the Executive Board (2018: €15.9 million). The total expense for CPIP and 
PSP stock options in the reporting period was €23.9 million (2018: €23.3 million). Of that amount, an 
expense of €6.7 million was attributable to members of the Executive Board (2018: €13.1 million).  

251
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Deutsche Börse Group | Annual report 2019 

Executive and Supervisory Boards 
Management report  
Financial statements 
Notes | Other disclosures 
Further information 

Change in number of CPIP and PSP shares allocated 

Balance at 
31 Dec 
2018 

Additions 
Tranche 
2015 

Additions 
Tranche 
2016 

Additions/ 
(disposals) 
Tranche 
2017 

Additions  
Tranche 
2018 

Additions 
Tranche 
2019 

Fully 
settled 
cash 
options 

Options 
forfeited 

Balance at
31 Dec2019

To the 
Executive 
Board1) 

To other 
senior 
executives 

Total 

430,397 

0 

6,361 

2,524 

19,659 

47,215 

0 

– 45,308 

460,848 

106,664 

537,061 

0 

0 

2,385 

8,746 

– 909 

450 

20,040 

1,615 

20,109 

67,255 

0 

0 

0 

128,630 

– 45,308 

589,478 

1) Active and former members of the Executive Board 

For further information on the number of stock options granted to Executive Board members, and on the 
remuneration system for Executive Board members, please refer to the   remuneration report. 

Group Share Plan (GSP) 

Employees of Deutsche Börse Group who are not members of the Executive Board or senior executives 
have the opportunity to acquire shares of Deutsche Börse AG at a discount under the Group Share Plan 
(GSP). Under the GSP tranche for the year 2019, the participating employees could subscribe for up to 
50 shares of the Company at a discount of 40 per cent and another 50 shares at a discount of 10 per 
cent. The acquired shares are subject to a lock-up period of two years. 

The expense of this discount is recognised in the income statement at the grant date. In the reporting 
period, an expense totalling €4.1 million (2018: €4.0 million) was recognised in staff expense for the 
GSP.  

Management Incentive Programme (MIP)

Das MIP was set up for the senior management of the Qontigo Group. It grants a non-current 
remuneration component in the form of virtual shares of the Qontigo Group. The remuneration is paid in 
cash. These are generally accounted for as sharebased payments. The amounts payable to the 
beneficiaries are intended to reflect the economic development of the Qontigo Group. The MIP contains 
a time-based and a performance-based component. The vesting period is four years and starts one year  
after closing. 

Valuation 
The value of the virtual shares is determined using a Monte Carlo simulation on the respective balance 
sheet date, which appropriately reflects the contract-specific conditions. The underlying simulations 
depend on the underlying from which the payment is linked to the beneficiaries of the MIP. The 
enterprise value of the Qontigo Group serves as the underlying. On the basis of the simulations carried 
out, a discounted average payment of the contractually agreed payment flows to the respective 
participants as calculated. The main valuation parameters include the enterprise value and the expected 
volatility of the Qontigo Group as well as the expected term and the contract-specific payment profile. 

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Deutsche Börse Group | Annual report 2019 

Executive and Supervisory Boards 
Management report  
Financial statements 
Notes | Other disclosures 
Further information 

26. Executive bodies 

The members of the company’s executive bodies are listed in the   “The Executive Board” and   “The 
Supervisory Board” chapters of this annual report.  

27. Corporate governance 

On 10 December 2019, the Executive and Supervisory Boards issued the latest version of the 
declaration of conformity in accordance with section 161 of the Aktiengesetz (AktG, the German Stock 
Corporation Act) and made it permanently available to shareholders on the company’s website (see also 
the   combined corporate governance declaration statement and corporate governance report).  

28. Related party disclosures  

Related parties as defined by IAS 24 are members of the executive bodies of Deutsche Börse AG as well 
as the companies classified as associates of Deutsche Börse AG, investors and investees, and 
companies that are controlled or significantly influenced by members of the executive bodies. 

The remuneration of the individual members of the Executive and Supervisory Boards is presented in the 

remuneration report.  

Executive Board 

In 2019, the fixed and variable remuneration of the members of the Executive Board, including non-
cash benefits granted in the financial year, amounted to €19.5 million (2018: €21.0 million). During 
the year under review, expenses of €6.9 million (2018: €11.8 million) were recognised in connection 
with share-based payments to Executive Board members. 

The actuarial present value of the pension obligations to Executive Board members was €15.6million as 
at 31 December 2019 (2018: €28.8 million). Expenses of €2.2 million (2018: €3.2 million) were 
recognised as additions to pension provisions. 

Former members of the Executive Board or their surviving dependants 

The remuneration paid to former members of the Executive Board or their surviving dependants 
amounted to €9.7 million in 2019 (2018: €4.4 million). The actuarial present value of the pension 
obligations was €84.8 million as at 31 December 2019 (2018: €67.5 million). 

Termination benefits 

Expenses of €2.3 million were recognised in connection with the termination of Executive Board 
appointments. €2.0 million thereof are attributable to share-based payments to former Executive Board 
members. 

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Deutsche Börse Group | Annual report 2019 

Executive and Supervisory Boards 
Management report  
Financial statements 
Notes | Other disclosures 
Further information 

Supervisory Board 

The aggregate remuneration paid to members of the Supervisory Board in the reporting year was €2.4 
million (2018: €2.2 million).  

In financial year 2019, the employee representatives on Deutsche Börse AG’s Supervisory Board 
received remuneration (excluding Supervisory Board remuneration) amounting to €1.1 million 
(2018: €0.7 million). The total consists of the fixed and variable salary components for those employee 
representatives. 

Business relationships with related parties and key management personnel 

The following table shows transactions entered into within the scope of business relationships with non-
consolidated companies of Deutsche Börse AG during the 2019 financial year. All transactions were 
concluded at prevailing market terms.  

Transactions with related parties 

Amount of the transactions: 
revenues 

Amount of the transactions: 
expenses 

Outstanding balances: 
receivables 

Outstanding balances: 
liabilities 

Associates 

Total 

2019 
€m 

14.3 

14.3 

2018 
€m 

11.2 

11.2 

2019 
€m 

– 20.7 

– 20.7 

2018 
€m 

– 19.1 

– 19.1 

31 Dec 
2019 
€m 

2.3 

2.3 

31 Dec 
2018 
€m 

1.2 

1.2 

31 Dec 
2019 
€m 

– 2.2 

– 2.2 

31 Dec 
2018 
€m 

– 1.0 

– 1.0 

Business relationships with key management personnel 
Key management personnel are persons who directly or indirectly have authority and responsibility for 
planning, directing and controlling the activities of Deutsche Börse Group. The Group defines the 
members of the Executive Board and the Supervisory Board as key management personnel for the 
purposes of IAS 24.  

European Commodity Clearing Luxembourg S. à r.l., Luxembourg, Luxembourg (ECC Luxembourg) – a 
subsidiary of European Commodity Clearing AG and therefore a member of the EEX group – entered into 
a managing director agreement with IDS Lux S. à r.l., Luxembourg. The subject of the agreement is to 
provide a natural person for the function of managing director in the management of ECC Luxembourg. 
In addition to this position as managing director of ECC Luxembourg, this person is also a member of the 
key management personnel at IDS Lux S.à r.l. In the financial year 2019, ECC Luxembourg made 
payments in the amount of approximately €14 thousand for these management services.  

On the board of directors of Powernext SAS, Paris, France – one of the subsidiaries of European Energy 
Exchange AG, Leipzig, Germany – there are representatives of GRTgaz, Bois-Colombes, France, the 
parent company of 3GRT, Tarascon, France, and EDEV S.A., Courbevoie, France. During the 
2019 financial year, Powernext SAS rendered development and maintenance services for customised 
software solutions in the area of market coupling and balancing, as well as in connection with an 
electronic trading platform for 3GRT. In this context, the Group generated revenue of €735.6 thousand 
in 2019. As at 31 December 2019, receivables amounted to €148.8 thousand. 

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Deutsche Börse Group | Annual report 2019 

Executive and Supervisory Boards 
Management report  
Financial statements 
Notes | Other disclosures 
Further information 

The Board of Directors of LuxCSD S.A., Luxembourg, an associate from Deutsche Börse Group’s 
perspective, comprises two members of management of fully consolidated subsidiaries who are 
maintaining a key position within these subsidiaries of Deutsche Börse Group. There are business 
relationships with Clearstream Banking S.A., Luxembourg, Clearstream Services S.A., Luxembourg, 
Clearstream International S.A., Luxembourg, Clearstream Banking AG, Frankfurt/Main, Germany, and 
Deutsche Börse AG, Frankfurt/Main, Germany, to LuxCSD S.A. Overall, revenue of €2,264.9 thousand 
as well as expenses of €1,130.5 thousand were recognised for such contracts during the reporting year. 

Furthermore, an Executive Board member of Clearstream Banking AG concurrently holds an executive 
position within Deutsche Börse Commodities GmbH, Frankfurt/Main, Germany, an associate of Deutsche 
Börse Group. During the 2019 financial year, Deutsche Börse Group realised revenue of €5,415.2 
thousand and incurred expenses of €17,430.9 thousand based on the business relationship with 
Deutsche Börse Commodities GmbH. 

One Executive Board member of Deutsche Börse AG as well as one Supervisory Board member of a 
fully-consolidated company of Deutsche Börse Group are members of the Supervisory Board of China 
Europe International AG (CEINEX), Frankfurt/Main, Germany. This stock corporation was established as 
a joint venture between Shanghai Stock Exchange Ltd., Shanghai, China; China Financial Futures 
Exchange, Shanghai, China; and Deutsche Börse AG. During the 2019 financial year, Deutsche Börse 
Group realised revenue of €160.2 thousand and incurred expenses of €40.3 thousand based on the 
business relationship with CEINEX.  

A member of the management of Axioma Inc., New York, USA, as well as one related party to this 
company which exercises control over the company Cloud9 Smart, New York, USA, maintain business 
relationships with each other. In the context of the services provided by Cloud9 Smart and Axioma Inc., 
expenses of €26.1 thousand were incurred in 2019. As at 31 December 2019, liabilities amounted to 
€9.8 thousand. 

Selected executives of Deutsche Börse Group companies also hold a key management position within 
the Clearstream Pension Fund, an “association d’épargne pension” (ASSEP) under Luxembourg law. By 
means of cash contributions to this ASSEP, Clearstream International S.A., Clearstream Banking S.A., as 
well as Clearstream Services S.A., fund the defined benefit plan established in favour of their 
Luxembourg employees.  

29. Employees 

Employees 

Average number of employees during the year 

Employed at the reporting date 

Employees (average annual FTEs) 

2019 

6,289 

6,775 

5,841 

2018 

5,800 

5,964 

5,397 

Of the average number of employees during the year, 26 (2018: 30) were classified as Managing 
Directors (excluding Executive Board members), 318 (2018: 333) as senior executives and 5,945 
(2018: 5,437) as employees.  

There was an average of 5,841 full-time equivalent (FTE) employees during the year (2018: 5,397). 
Please also refer to the   “Employees” section in the combined management report.  

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Deutsche Börse Group | Annual report 2019 

Executive and Supervisory Boards 
Management report  
Financial statements 
Notes | Other disclosures 
Further information 

30. Events after the end of the reporting period 

On 21 January 2020, Deutsche Börse Group’s post-trade services provider Clearstream and UBS agreed 
on a partnership in the investment fund services business segment. For this purpose, the companies 
entered into an agreement by which Clearstream acquires 51 per cent of Zurich-based fund distribution 
platform Fondcenter AG from UBS for CHF 389 million. UBS will retain a minority of 49 per cent. The 
transaction is expected to be closed in the second half of 2020. Fondcenter will be consolidated 
following the closing of the transaction.  

31. Date of approval for publication 

Deutsche Börse AG's Executive Board approved the consolidated financial statements for submission to 
the Supervisory Board on 02 March 2020. The Supervisory Board is responsible for examining the 
consolidated financial statements and stating whether it endorses them. 

32. Disclosures on material non-controlling interests 

Material non-controlling interests 

Attributable to non-controlling interests: 

Capital (%) 

Voting rights (%) 

Net profit for the period (in €m) 

Equity (in €m) 

Dividend payments (in €m) 

Assets (in €m) 

Liabilities (in €m) 

Profit/loss (in €m) 

Other comprehensive income (in €m) 

Comprehensive income (in €m) 

Cashflows (in €m) 

European Energy Exchange AG, 
Leipzig 

Qontigo GmbH,  
Frankfurt am Main 

31 Dec 2019 
€m 

31 Dec 2018 
€m 

31 Dec 2019 
€m 

31 Dec 2018 
€m 

75.1 

62.8 

53.9 

472.8 

16.2 

527.0 

54.2 

53.9 

0.9 

54.8 

– 7.5 

75.1 

62.8 

43.8 

434.2 

16.2 

502.1 

67.9 

43.8 

1.9 

45.7 

49.2 

78.3 

78.3 

32.8 

783.4 

0 

1,018.5 

235.1 

32.8 

– 10.2 

22.6 

139.1 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

33. Disclosures on associates 

Deutsche Börse Group does not have any material associates. The following table shows summarised 
financial information for the individual associates that are immaterial when considered separately. 

Non-material associates 

Book value of non-material associates 

Profit after tax 

Other comprehensive income 

Comprehensive income 

1)  Disclosures are based on preliminary and unaudited figures which may be adjusted subsequently. 

31 Dec 2019 
€m 

31 Dec 2018 
€m 

44.5 
0.91) 

0 

0.9 

42.5 

1.7 

0 

1.7 

256
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Gruppe Deutsche Börse | Annual report 2019 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Deutsche Börse Group | Annual report 2019 

Executive and Supervisory Boards 
Management report  
Financial statements 
Notes | Other disclosures 
Further information 

34. List of shareholdings 

Deutsche Börse AG’s equity interests in subsidiaries, associates and joint ventures as at 
31 December 2019 included in the consolidated financial statements are presented in the following 
tables.  

Consolidated subsidiaries (part 1) 

Company 

Assam SellerCo, Inc. in Liquidation 

Assam SellerCo Service, Inc. in Liquidation 

Need to Know News, LLC in Liquidation 

Börse Frankfurt Zertifikate AG 

Clearstream Holding AG 

Clearstream Banking AG 

Clearstream Banking S.A. 

Ausmaq Ltd. 

Clearstream Banking Japan, Ltd. 

Domicile 

New York, USA 

New York, USA 

Chicago, USA 

Frankfurt/Main, Germany 

Frankfurt/Main, Germany 

Frankfurt/Main, Germany 

Luxembourg, Luxembourg 

Sydney, Australia 

Tokyo, Japan 

REGIS-TR S.A. 

Luxembourg, Luxembourg 

Clearstream Global Securities Services Limited 

Cork, Ireland 

Clearstream International S.A. 

Clearstream Operations Prague s.r.o. 

Clearstream Services S.A. 

REGIS-TR UK Ltd. (dormant) 

DB1 Ventures GmbH 

Luxembourg, Luxembourg 

Prague, Czech Republic 

Luxembourg, Luxembourg 

London, United Kingdom 

Frankfurt/Main, Germany 

Deutsche Boerse Market Data + Services Singapore Pte. Ltd. 

Singapore, Singapore 

Deutsche Boerse Systems Inc. 

Chicago, USA 

Deutsche Börse Photography Foundation gGmbH 

Frankfurt/Main, Germany 

Deutsche Börse Services s.r.o. 

Prague, Czech Republic 

Deutsche Börse Shareholdings GmbH (dormant) 

Frankfurt/Main, Germany 

Eurex Frankfurt AG 

Eurex Clearing AG 

Eurex Clearing Security Trustee GmbH 

Eurex Repo GmbH 

Frankfurt/Main, Germany 

Frankfurt/Main, Germany 

Frankfurt/Main, Germany 

Frankfurt/Main, Germany 

Eurex Securities Transactions Services GmbH 

Frankfurt/Main, Germany 

Eurex Global Derivatives AG 

Eurex Services GmbH 

Zug, Switzerland 

Frankfurt/Main, Germany 

Equity interest as at 31 Dec 
2019 direct/(indirect) 
% 

100.00 

(100.00) 

(100.00) 

100.00 

100.00 

(100.00) 

(100.00) 

(100.00) 

(100.00) 

(50.00) 

(100.00) 

(100.00) 

(100.00) 

(100.00) 

(50.00) 

100.00 

100.00 

100.00 

100.00 

100.00 

100.00 

100.00 

(100.00) 

(100.00) 

(100.00) 

(100.00) 

100.00 

100.00 

257
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Deutsche Börse Group | Annual report 2019 

Executive and Supervisory Boards 
Management report  
Financial statements 
Notes | Other disclosures 
Further information 

Consolidated subsidiaries (part 2) 

Company 

Domicile 

Equity interest as at 31 Dec 
2019 direct/(indirect) 

European Energy Exchange AG 

EEX Asia Pte. Limited 

EEX Link GmbH 

European Commodity Clearing AG 

Leipzig, Germany 

Singapore, Singapore 

Leipzig, Germany 

Leipzig, Germany 

European Commodity Clearing Luxembourg S.à r.l. 

Luxembourg, Luxembourg 

Grexel Systems Oy 

Nodal Exchange Holdings, LLC 

Nodal Exchange, LLC 

Nodal Clear, LLC 

Powernext SAS 

Gaspoint Nordic A/S 

PEGAS CEGH Gas Exchange Services GmbH 

EPEX SPOT SE 

EPEX Netherlands B.V. 

EPEX SPOT Schweiz AG 

Power Exchange Central Europe a.s. 

Qontigo GmbH 

Axioma Inc. 

Axioma (CH) GmbH 

Axioma (HK) Ltd. 

Axioma (UK) Ltd. 

Axioma Argentina S.A.U. 

Axioma Asia Pte Ltd. 

Axioma Germany GmbH 

Axioma Japan G.K. 

Axioma Ltd. 

Axioma S.A.S.U. 

Qontigo Index GmbH 

Stoxx Ltd. 

INDEX PROXXY Ltd. 

Helsinki, Finland 

Tysons Corner, USA 

Tysons Corner, USA 

Tysons Corner, USA 

Paris, France 

Brøndby, Denmark 

Vienna, Austria 

Paris, France 

Amsterdam, Netherlands 

Bern, Switzerland 

Prague, Czech Republic 

Frankfurt/Main, Germany 

New York, USA 

Geneva, Switzerland 

Hong Kong, Hong Kong 

London, United Kingdom 

Buenos Aires, Argentina 

Singapore, Singapore 

Frankfurt/Main, Germany 

Tokyo, Japan 

Sydney, Australia 

Paris, France 

Frankfurt/Main, Germany 

Zug, Switzerland 

London, United Kingdom 

STOXX Australia Pty Limited (in liquidation) 

Sydney, Australia 

Regulatory Services GmbH 

Tradegate Exchange GmbH 

Börse Berlin AG 

360 Treasury Systems AG 

360 Trading Networks Inc. 

360 Trading Networks Limited 

360 Trading Networks Sdn Bhd 

360T Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd. 

360TGTX Inc. 

Finbird GmbH 

Finbird Limited (in liquidation) 

ThreeSixty Trading Networks (India) Pte. Ltd. 

1) Thereof 59,98 per cent direct and 3,99 per cent indirect 

Frankfurt/Main, Germany 

Berlin, Germany 

Berlin, Germany 

Frankfurt/Main, Germany 

New York, USA 

Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE) 

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 

Singapore, Singapore 

New York, USA 

Frankfurt/Main, Germany 

Jerusalem, Israel 

Mumbai, India 

% 

75.05 

(75.05) 

(75.05) 

(75.05) 

(75.05) 

(75.05) 

(75.05) 

(75.05) 

(75.05) 

(75.05) 

(75.05) 

(38.27) 

(38.27) 

(38.27) 

(38.27) 

(50.03) 

78.32 

(78.32) 

(78.32) 

(78.32) 

(78.32) 

(78.32) 

(78.32) 

(78.32) 

(78.32) 

(78.32) 

(78.32) 

(78.32) 

(78.32) 

(78.32) 

(78.32) 

100.00 

63.92 

(63.97)1) 

100.00 

(100.00) 

(100.00) 

(100.00) 

(100.00) 

(100.00) 

(100.00) 

(100.00) 

(100.00) 

258
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Deutsche Börse Group | Annual report 2019 

Executive and Supervisory Boards 
Management report  
Financial statements 
Notes | Other disclosures 
Further information 

Associates 

Company 

Domicile 

Equity interest as at                  

31 Dec 2019 direct/(indirect) 
% 

BrainTrade Gesellschaft für Börsensysteme mbH 

Frankfurt/Main, Germany 

China Europe International Exchange AG 

Deutsche Börse Commodities GmbH 

enermarket GmbH 

HQLAx S.à r.l. 

LuxCSD S.A. 

R5FX Ltd 

SEEPEX a.d. 

SPARK Commodities Ltd. 

Tradegate AG Wertpapierhandelsbank 

ZDB Cloud Exchange GmbH in Liquidation 

Zimory GmbH in Liquidation 

Frankfurt/Main, Germany 

Frankfurt/Main, Germany 

Frankfurt/Main, Germany 

Luxembourg, Luxembourg 

Luxembourg, Luxembourg 

London, United Kingdom 

Belgrade, Serbia 

Singapore, Singapore 

Berlin, Germany 

Eschborn, Germany 

Berlin, Germany 

(37.72) 

40.00 

16.20 

(30.02) 

35.13 

(50.00) 

15.65 

(9.57) 

(18.76) 

19.99 

49.90 

30.03 

259
241

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Deutsche Börse Group | Annual report 2019 

Executive and Supervisory Boards 

Management report  

Financial statements 

Notes 
 Further information | Responsibility statement by the Executive Board 

Responsibility statement by the Executive Board 

To the best of our knowledge, and in accordance with the applicable reporting principles, the 
consolidated financial statements give a true and fair view of the assets, liabilities, financial position and 
profit or loss of the Group, and the combined management report includes a fair review of the 
development and performance of the business and the position of the Group, together with a description 
of the principal opportunities and risks associated with the expected development of the Group. 

Frankfurt / Main, 6 March 2020 
Deutsche Börse AG 

260
242

Gruppe Deutsche Börse | Annual report 2019Independent Auditors’ Report

To Deutsche Börse Aktiengesellschaft, Frankfurt am Main

Report on the Audit of the Consolidated Financial Statements and  
Combined Management Report

Opinions

We have audited the consolidated financial statements of Deutsche Börse Aktiengesellschaft, Frankfurt 
am Main, and its subsidiaries (the Group), which comprise the consolidated balance sheet as of 
31 December 2019, the consolidated income statement, the consolidated statement of comprehensive 
income, the consolidated cash flow statement and the consolidated statement of changes in equity for 
the financial year from 1 January to 31 December 2019, and notes to the consolidated financial 
statements, including a summary of significant accounting policies. In addition, we have audited the 
combined management report of Deutsche Börse Aktiengesellschaft, Frankfurt am Main, for the 
financial year from 1 January to 31 December 2019, including the combined non-financial statement 
in line with Sections 289b(1), 289c, 315b and 315c HGB [Handelsgesetzbuch: German Commercial 
Code]. In accordance with the legal requirements applicable in Germany, we did not audit the compo-
nents of the combined management report which we have identified in the „Other information“ section 
of our audit opinion. 

The combined management report comprises links to the Group’s website which are not required by 
law. In accordance with the legal requirements applicable in Germany, we did not audit these links, 
nor the information referred to in the links. 

In our opinion, on the basis of the knowledge obtained in the audit,

 the accompanying consolidated financial statements comply in all material respects with the IFRSs 
as adopted by the EU and the additional requirements of German commercial law pursuant to 
Section 315e(1) HGB [Handelsgesetzbuch: German Commercial Code] and, in compliance with 
these requirements, give a true and fair view of the assets, liabilities, and financial position of the 
Group as of 31 December 2019 and of its financial performance for the financial year from 
1  January to 31 December 2019, and the accompanying combined management report as a whole 
provides an appropriate view of the Group’s position 
 In all material respects, the combined management report is consistent with the consolidated 
financial statements, complies with German legal requirements and appropriately presents the 
opportunities and risks of future development. Our opinion on the combined management report 
does not cover the content of the components of the combined management report which we have 
identified in the „Other information“ section of our audit opinion. The combined management report 
comprises links to the Group’s website which are not required by law. Our opinion does not cover 
the links, nor the information referred to in the links.

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Pursuant to Section 322(3) sentence 1 HGB, we declare that our audit has not led to any reservations 
relating to the legal compliance of the consolidated financial statements and of the combined manage-
ment report.

Basis for the Opinions  

We conducted our audit of the consolidated financial statements and combined management report in 
accordance with Section 317 HGB and the EU Audit Regulation No 537/2014 (referred to subse-
quently as ‘EU Audit Regulation’) and in compliance with German Generally Accepted Standards for 
Financial Statement Audits promulgated by the Institut der Wirtschaftsprüfer [Institute of Public 
Auditors in Germany] (IDW). Our responsibilities under those requirements and principles are further 
described in the ‘Auditor’s Responsibilities for the Audit of the Consolidated Financial Statements and 
Combined Management Report’ section of our auditor’s report. We are independent of the group entities 
in accordance with the requirements of European law and German commercial and professional law, and 
we have fulfilled our other German professional responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. In 
addition, in accordance with Article 10(2) point (f) of the EU Audit Regulation, we declare that we have 
not provided non-audit services prohibited under Article 5(1) of the EU Audit Regulation. We believe that 
the evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinions on the 
consolidated financial statements and on the combined management report.

Key Audit Matters in the Audit of the Consolidated Financial Statements

Key audit matters are those matters that, in our professional judgement, were of most significance in 
our audit of the consolidated financial statements for the financial year from 1 January to 31 December 
2019. These matters were addressed in the context of our audit of the consolidated financial state-
ments as a whole, and in forming our opinion thereon; we do not provide a separate opinion on these 
matters.

Impairment of the goodwill
For the accounting policies applied as well as the assumptions used, please refer to note 2 (Consoli-
dation principles) and note 11 (Intangible assets) in the notes to the consolidated financial statements.

THE FINANCIAL STATEMENT RISK
At 31 December 2019, goodwill amounted to EUR 3,470.5 million (previous year: EUR 2,865.6 million). 
The goodwill thus represents 2.5 per cent of the assets of the Group at 31 December 2019.

Goodwill is subjected to an impairment test by the company at least once a year and also on an ad 
hoc basis, if appropriate. For this purpose, the carrying amount is compared with the recoverable 
amount of the cash-generating unit (CGU). Deutsche Börse AG determines the recoverable amounts of 
the cash-generating units either on the basis of the value in use or on the basis of the fair value less 
costs of disposal. If the carrying amount is higher than the recoverable amount, there is a need for 
impairment. 

The result of these valuations is highly dependent upon assumptions concerning future cash inflows, 
based on the corporate planning, as well as the defined parameters. As a result, the valuations are 
subject to discretion. Any need for impairment that may arise as a result can have a material impact on 
the statement of the assets, liabilities and financial performance of the Group. Therefore, the correct 
determination of any need for impairment is of particular significance for the financial statements. 

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Gruppe Deutsche Börse | Annual report 2019Executive and Supervisory BoardsManagement reportFinancial statementsNotesFurther information | Independent Auditors’ ReportOUR AUDIT APPROACH
With the support of our valuation experts, we have assessed the valuation models used by the com-
pany as well as the appropriateness of the significant assumptions relating to valuation parameters. We 
assessed the appropriateness of the assumptions used in the determination of the discount rates by 
comparing them with market- and industry-specific reference values; we additionally verified the 
calculation method used to determine the discount rates. We compared the expected cash inflows and 
outflows used for the calculations with the current budget plan approved by management. In order to 
assess the appropriateness of the assumptions used when the budget plan was drawn up, we first 
discussed these in meetings with management. Then we compared the assumptions used with 
relevant peer group companies, and evaluated analyst reports on the market segments. We further-
more appraised the reliability of the forecasts in previous years based on whether they occurred or not. 
Within the scope of our own sensitivity analyses, we determined whether there would be a need for 
impairment in the event of possible changes in the assumptions in realistic ranges.

OUR OBSERVATIONS
The calculation method used by the company is appropriate and consistent with the relevant valuation 
principles. The underlying assumptions about the valuation-relevant parameters have been calculated 
in a balanced way and are within acceptable ranges.

Impairment of the other intangible assets
For the accounting policies applied as well as the assumptions used, please refer to note 2 (Consoli-
dation principles) and note 11 (Intangible assets) in the notes to the consolidated financial statements.

THE FINANCIAL STATEMENT RISK
At 31 December 2019, other intangible assets amounted to EUR 1,040.9 million (previous year: 
EUR 952.7 million). Other intangible assets thus represents 0.8 per cent of the Group’s assets as at 
31 December 2019.

The other intangible assets with indefinite useful lives are subject to an impairment test by the com-
pany at least once a year, and also on an ad hoc basis, if appropriate. For this purpose, Deutsche 
Börse AG determines the recoverable amounts of the intangible asset or cash-generating units, in case 
no independent cash flows can be allocated to that specific intangible asset, either on the basis of the 
value in use or on the basis of the fair value less costs of disposal. The result of these valuations is 
highly dependent upon assumptions concerning future cash inflows, based on the corporate planning, 
as well as the defined parameters. As a result, the valuations are subject to discretion. Any need for 
impairment that may arise as a result can have a material impact on the statement of the assets, 
liabilities and financial performance of the Group. Therefore, the correct determination of any need for 
impairment is of particular significance for the financial statements.

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Gruppe Deutsche Börse | Annual report 2019Executive and Supervisory BoardsManagement reportFinancial statementsNotesFurther information | Independent Auditors’ ReportOUR AUDIT APPROACH
With the support of our valuation experts, we have assessed the valuation models used by the com-
pany as well as the appropriateness of the significant assumptions relating to valuation parameters. We 
assessed the appropriateness of the assumptions used in the determination of the discount rates by 
comparing them with market- and industry-specific reference values; we additionally verified the 
calculation method used to determine the discount rates. We compared the expected cash inflows and 
outflows used for the calculations with the current budget plan approved by management. In order to 
assess the appropriateness of the assumptions used when the budget plan was drawn up, we first 
discussed these in meetings with management. Then we compared the assumptions used with 
relevant peer group companies, and evaluated analyst reports on the market segments. We further-
more appraised the reliability of the forecasts in previous years based on whether they occurred or not. 
Within the scope of our own sensitivity analyses, we determined whether there would be a need for 
impairment in the event of possible changes in the assumptions in realistic ranges.

OUR OBSERVATIONS
The calculation method used by the company is appropriate and consistent with the relevant valuation 
principles. The underlying assumptions about the valuation-relevant parameters have been calculated 
in a balanced way and are within acceptable ranges.

The valuation of provisions for tax risks
For the accounting policies applied as well as the assumptions used, please refer to note 10 (Income 
tax expense) in the notes to the consolidated financial statements. Information on the tax provisions 
and risks can be found in note 24 (Financial liabilities and other risks).

THE FINANCIAL STATEMENT RISK
The Group operates in a variety of jurisdictions with different legal systems. The provisions for tax risks 
amounted to €265.9 million at 31 December 2019.

The application of the local and international tax regulations and of tax relief is complex and associated 
with risks. The calculation of tax provisions requires the company to exercise judgement in the assess-
ment of tax issues and to make estimates concerning tax risks. The result of these assessments is 
dependent to a large extent on assumptions concerning the future interpretation of tax situations in the 
course of tax audits, and also on decisions of the tax authorities and courts on similar tax situations, 
and is therefore subject to discretion. Any additional tax expenses can have a material impact on the 
statement of assets, liabilities and financial performance of the Group. Therefore, the identification and 
correct allocation of provisions for tax risks is of particular significance for the consolidated financial 
statements. 

Deutsche Börse AG occasionally commissions external experts to assess tax matters.

OUR AUDIT APPROACH
With the support of our employees specialising in local and international tax law, we appraised the tax 
calculation, including the risk assessment, of Deutsche Börse AG. Where available, we have also 
acknowledged the assessment of external experts engaged by the company. We held meetings with 

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Gruppe Deutsche Börse | Annual report 2019Executive and Supervisory BoardsManagement reportFinancial statementsNotesFurther information | Independent Auditors’ Reportthe management as well as staff from the tax department in order to gain an understanding of the 
existing tax risks. We have assessed the competence and the objectivity of external experts and 
evaluated the documents they have produced.

Furthermore, we evaluated the correspondence with the competent tax authorities and assessed the 
assumptions used to determine the tax provisions on the basis of our knowledge and experience of the 
current application of the relevant legal regulations by the authorities and the courts.

OUR OBSERVATIONS
The assumptions for determining the tax provisions are appropriate.

Other Information
The company’s management, or the Supervisory Board, is responsible for the other information. The 
other information comprises: 

the combined corporate governance statement, which is disclosed in the section “Combined corporate 
governance statement and corporate governance report”. Other information also comprises the other 
parts of the annual report. 

However, other information does not comprise the consolidated financial statements, the audited 
disclosures of the combined management report as well as our corresponding auditor‘s report.

Our opinions on the consolidated financial statements and on the combined management report do not 
cover the other information, and consequently we do not express an opinion or any other form of 
assurance conclusion thereon.

In connection with our audit, our responsibility is to read the other information and, in so doing, to 
consider whether the other information is

 materially inconsistent with the consolidated financial statements, with the audited disclosures in the 
combined management report or our knowledge obtained in the audit, or  
 otherwise appears to be materially misstated. 

Responsibilities of Management and the Supervisory Board for the Consolidated Financial State-
ments and Combined Management Report

Management is responsible for the preparation of the consolidated financial statements that comply, in 
all material respects, with IFRSs as adopted by the EU, and the additional requirements of German 
commercial law pursuant to Section 315e(1) HGB, and that the consolidated financial statements, in 
compliance with these requirements, give a true and fair view of the assets, liabilities, financial 
position and financial performance of the Group. In addition, management is responsible for such 
internal control as they have determined necessary to enable the preparation of consolidated financial 
statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.

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In preparing the consolidated financial statements, management is responsible for assessing the 
Group’s ability to continue as a going concern. Moreover, the company’s management has the respon-
sibility to disclose any matters that are relevant for the going concern assumption. In addition, they are 
responsible for financial reporting based on the going concern basis of accounting unless there is an 
intention to liquidate the Group or to cease operations, or there is no realistic alternative but to do so.

Furthermore, management is responsible for the preparation of the combined management report that, 
as a whole, provides an appropriate view of the Group’s position and is, in all material respects, 
consistent with the consolidated financial statements, complies with German legal requirements and 
appropriately presents the opportunities and risks of future development. In addition, management is 
responsible for such arrangements and measures (systems) as they have considered necessary to 
enable the preparation of the combined management report that is in accordance with the applicable 
German legal requirements and to be able to provide sufficient appropriate evidence for the assertions 
in the combined management report.

The supervisory board is responsible for overseeing the Group’s financial reporting process for the 
preparation of the consolidated financial statements and of the combined management report.

Auditor’s Responsibilities for the Audit of the Consolidated Financial Statements and the 
 Combined Management Report

Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements 
as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and whether the 
combined management report as a whole provides an appropriate view of the Group’s position and, in 
all material respects, is consistent with the consolidated financial statements and the knowledge 
obtained in the audit, complies with the German legal requirements, and appropriately presents the 
opportunities and risks of future development, as well as to issue an auditor’s report that includes our 
opinions on the consolidated financial statements and on the combined management report. 

Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance, but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in 
accordance with Section 317 HGB and the EU Audit Regulation and in compliance with German 
Generally Accepted Standards for Financial Statement Audits promulgated by the Institut der Wirt-
schaftsprüfer (IDW) will always detect a material misstatement. Misstatements can arise from fraud or 
error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected 
to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these consolidated financial state-
ments and this combined management report.

We exercise professional judgement and maintain professional scepticism throughout the audit. 
We also:

 Identify and assess the risks of material misstatement of the consolidated financial statements and 
the combined management report, whether due to fraud or error, design and perform audit procedu-
res responsive to those risks, and obtain audit evidence that is sufficient and appropriate to provide 
a basis for our opinions. The risk of not detecting a material misstatement resulting from fraud is 
higher than for one resulting from error, as fraud may involve collusion, forgery, intentional omissi-
ons, misrepresentations, or the override of internal control.
 Obtain an understanding of the internal control system relevant to the audit of the consolidated 
financial statements, and of arrangements and measures (systems) relevant to the audit of the 
combined management report, in order to design audit procedures that are appropriate in the 
circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of these 
systems.

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 Evaluate the appropriateness of accounting policies used by management and the reasonableness of 
estimates made by management and related disclosures.
 Conclude on the appropriateness of management’s use of the going concern basis of accounting 
and, based on the audit evidence obtained, whether a material uncertainty exists related to events or 
conditions that may cast significant doubt on the Group’s ability to continue as a going concern. If 
we conclude that a material uncertainty exists, we are required to draw attention in the auditor’s 
report to the related disclosures in the consolidated financial statements and in the combined 
management report or, if such disclosures are inadequate, to modify our respective opinions. Our 
conclusions are based on the audit evidence obtained up to the date of our auditor’s report. How-
ever, future events or conditions may cause the Group to cease to be able to continue as a going 
concern.
 Evaluate the overall presentation, structure and content of the consolidated financial statements, 
including the disclosures, and whether the consolidated financial statements present the underlying 
transactions and events in a manner that the consolidated financial statements give a true and fair 
view of the assets, liabilities, financial position, and financial performance of the Group in compli-
ance with IFRSs as adopted by the EU and the additional requirements of German commercial law 
pursuant to Section 315e(1) HGB.
 Obtain sufficient appropriate audit evidence regarding the financial information of the entities or busi-
ness activities within the Group to express opinions on the consolidated financial statements and on 
the combined management report. We are responsible for the direction, supervision and perfor-
mance of the group audit. We remain solely responsible for our opinions.
 Evaluate the consistency of the combined management report with the consolidated financial 
statements, its conformity with German law, and the view of the Group’s position it provides.
 Perform audit procedures on the prospective information presented by management in the combined 
management report. On the basis of sufficient appropriate audit evidence, we evaluate, in particular 
the significant assumptions used by management as a basis for the prospective information, and 
evaluate the proper derivation of the prospective information from these assumptions. We do not 
express a separate opinion on the prospective information and on the assumptions used as a basis. 
There is a substantial unavoidable risk that future events will differ materially from the prospective 
information.

We communicate with those charged with governance regarding, among other matters, the planned 
scope and timing of the audit and significant audit findings, including any significant deficiencies in 
internal control that we identify during our audit.

We also provide those charged with governance with a statement that we have complied with the 
relevant independence requirements, and communicate with them all relationships and other matters 
that may reasonably be thought to bear on our independence and, where applicable, the related 
safeguards.

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From the matters communicated with those charged with governance, we determine those matters that 
were of most significance in the audit of the consolidated financial statements of the current period and 
are therefore the key audit matters. We describe these matters in our auditor’s report unless law or 
regulation precludes public disclosure about the matter.

Other Legal and Regulatory Requirements 

Further information pursuant to Article 10 of the EU Audit Regulation

We were elected as group auditors by the annual general meeting held on 8 May 2019. We were 
engaged by the chair of the audit committee of the Supervisory Board on 28 June 2019. In compli-
ance with the transitional provisions of Article 41(2) of the EU Audit Regulations, we have been 
engaged as auditors of the consolidated financial statements of Deutsche Börse AG without interrup-
tion since the 2001 financial year.

We declare that the opinions expressed in this auditor’s report are consistent with the additional report 
to the audit committee pursuant to Article 11 of the EU Audit Regulation (long form audit report).

In addition to the consolidated financial statements, we audited the annual financial statements of 
Deutsche Börse AG and carried out various annual audits of subsidiaries. The audits included reviews 
of interim financial statements. Other certification services relate to ISAE 3402 and ISAE 3000 
reports, and statutory or contractual audits such as audits under the WpHG, KWG as well as other 
contractually agreed assurance services.

Tax services include assistance in the preparation of tax returns, tax appraisals and advice on indivi-
dual matters, and tax advice related to the external audit.

As part of other services, we supported Deutsche Börse AG with quality assurance measures and 
forensic services.

German Public Auditor Responsible for the Engagement

The German Public Auditor responsible for the engagement is Klaus-Ulrich Pfeiffer.

Frankfurt am Main, 6 March 2020
KPMG AG
Wirtschaftsprüfungsgesellschaft

gez. Leitz
Wirtschaftsprüfer 
[German Public Auditor]

gez. Pfeiffer
Wirtschaftsprüfer 
[German Public Auditor]

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Gruppe Deutsche Börse | Annual report 2019Executive and Supervisory BoardsManagement reportFinancial statementsNotesFurther information | Independent Auditors’ ReportExecutive and Supervisory Boards

Management report

Financial statements

Notes

Further information | Glossary

Glossary

B

Benchmarks Regulation
An EU regulation on indices that are used as references for finan-
cial instruments and financial contracts. The Benchmarks Regula-
tion came into force on 1 January 2018. Under its transitional 
provisions, benchmark administrators from both EU and non-EU 
countries must obtain authorised or registered status by 1 January 
2020.

Blockchain/distributed ledger technology
A blockchain/a distributed ledger is a public, distributed set of 
 digital data. Originally developed as the technological basis for  
the virtual currency bitcoin, blockchain technology can be used  
to  facilitate direct user-to-user transactions during digital pay-
ments processing and e-commerce.

Brexit
The decision by the United Kingdom to leave the European Union. 
This will have far-reaching consequences for the financial markets 
and their participants. Deutsche Börse Group’s overriding aim is 
to ensure secure, competitive markets. In line with this, the Group 
is in continuous close contact with clients, the supervisory autho-
rities and associations.

C

C7 
Deutsche Börse Group’s IT architecture for clearing exchange- 
 OTC products (both for derivatives and for the spot 
traded and 
market). C7® is part of the Group’s 7 Market Technology® series.

Cash flows from operating activities
Total cash inflows and outflows arising in the course of operating 
business. Cash flows from operating activities are Deutsche Börse 
Group’s primary source of finance and are reported both before 
and after the changes in receivables and liabilities from CCP posi-
tions, since the latter vary widely depending on the reporting date 
and the informative value of this indicator is therefore limited. 

Cash pool
A master account used to bundle excess liquidity within affiliated 
companies, to the extent permitted by the regulatory and legal fra-
mework.

CCP
Central counterparty; also: clearing house. An institution that in-
terposes itself between trading partners as the legal buyer or sel-
ler after a transaction has been entered into, facilitating netting, 
 collateral) 
minimising counterparty default risk (
and carrying out all steps necessary for final clearing.

 margin and 

Clearing
The netting (offsetting of buy and sell positions) of receivables 
and liabilities arising from securities and derivatives transactions. 
The goal is to facilitate efficient risk management by reducing risk 
positions. Clearing is also used to determine the bilateral net debt 
of buyers and sellers. Central clearing is performed via a CCP 
such as Eurex Clearing AG.

Collateral
Collateral, in particular in the form of cash or securities such as 
 equities or bonds, is posted in order to meet specified collateral re-
 margin). This process is known as collateralisation.
quirements (

Commercial Paper
A debt security with a short or medium term (mostly less than one 
year) traded on the money market and sold by highly creditworthy 
issuers to finance their short-term capital requirements. 

CRD V/CRR II
Amendments to the Capital Requirements Directive IV and 
 Capital Requirements Regulation CRD IV/CRR proposed by the 
European Commission. The proposals concern the minimum re-
quirements for equity and eligible liabilities (MREL) and the total 
loss-absorbing capacity (TLAC); they also involve amendments 
to the EU Bank Recovery and Resolution Directive (BRRD) and 
the related regulation. The draft legislation will probably be 
finali sed in the first quarter of 2019; the related requirements 
are not expected to come into force before the beginning of 
2021.

CSD
Central securities depository. Clearstream Banking AG acts among 
other things as the officially recognised German central securities 
depository under the Depotgesetz (German Safe Custody Act). In 
this function, it offers a wide range of post-trade services for secu-
rities issued in Germany and other countries.

CSDR
Central Securities Depository Regulation. The CSDR aims to har-
monise the securities 
 CSDs in Europe.
for 

 settlement systems and supervisory rules 

Custody
The safekeeping and administration of securities. A custody 
 account (similar to an account for monetary transactions) is 
 established for each customer. The custody account information 
includes details of the types, nominal amounts or quantities, and 
numbers etc. of the securities held, as well as the name and 
 address of the account holder.

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Further information | Glossary

D

H

DB1 Ventures
Deutsche Börse Group’s corporate venture capital arm. 
DB1  Ventures’ goal is to provide capital to pioneering financial 
services companies so as to enable them to develop their ideas 
and create growth. The focus is on early- to growth-stage fintech 
businesses.

Depreciation, amortisation and impairment losses
Regular and ad hoc downward adjustments to the carrying 
amounts of intangible assets and property, plant and equipment. 
 operating costs in order  
These are presented separately from 
to ensure transparent reporting of costs and earnings, and to in-
crease comparability with competitors.

E

EBITDA
Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, amortisation and  
impairment losses. Deutsche Börse Group’s operating profit,  
consisting of the difference between 

 net revenue and  

 operating costs.

EMIR/EMIR Review
European Market Infrastructure Regulation. EMIR regulates  

 OTC OTC derivatives, 

 CCPs and trade repositories; it aims to 

improve security and integrity on the OTC derivatives market by 
promoting transparency and reducing risk. Among other things, it 
 clearing obligation for eligible OTC 
does this by introducing a 
 derivatives and measures to reduce counterparty credit risk and 
 operational risk for OTC derivatives not cleared via CCPs, plus disc-
losure requirements for all derivatives. EMIR also establishes  general 
requirements for CCPs and trade repositories. The EMIR  review pro-
posals that were published in the summer of 2017 aim to improve 
efficiency on the one hand and to ensure the security and stability of 
the financial markets after Brexit on the other.

ESG criteria
ESG = environment, social, governance. The composition of ESG 
indices reflects these three selection criteria.

ETF 
Exchange-traded fund. A mutual fund with an indefinite maturity 
whose shares can be bought or sold in continuous trading on the 
exchange. It tracks the performance of the index on which it is ba-
sed.

F

Free funds from operations (FFO)/net debt ratio 
Performance indicator used in Deutsche Börse Group’s consolida-
ted balance sheet as from 2019. FFO are calculated by deduc ting 
interest and tax expenses from EBITDA, and adjusting the  figure 
for operating leases and unfunded pension obligations. Deutsche 
Börse Group’s target ratio is at least 50 per cent; this is the figure 
needed to achieve the minimal financial risk profile  required for an 
AA rating under the S&P Global Ratings metho dology. 

FX 
Foreign exchange. 

Hybrid bond
A subordinated corporate bond with both equity- and debt-like 
features, a very long or unlimited maturity and a high coupon.

I

ICSD
International 

 CSD

Interest-bearing gross debt/EBITDA ratio 
Performance indicator used in Deutsche Börse Group’s consolida-
ted balance sheet up to 2018. Deutsche Börse Group’s target ratio 
was set at a maximum of 1.5 in order to maintain the AA  rating at 
Group level.

Interest coverage ratio 
A performance indicator showing the ratio of EBITDA to interest 
expenses from financing activities. Until 2018, Deutsche Börse 
Group aimed for a minimum interest coverage ratio of 16 at Group 
level in order to maintain its AA rating. The target for the Clears-
tream subgroup was at least 25. As from 2019, the method of 
calculating this indicator has been adjusted in line with a new me-
thodology from S&P Global Ratings; the new minimum target ratio 
is 14.

Interest rate swaps 
The exchange of fixed interest rates and floating rates payable ba-
sed on identical principal amounts in the same currency

IPO 
Initial public offering. An IPO is when a company first offers its 
shares for sale to the general public.

L

Liquidity
A market situation in which a security can be bought or sold 
 rapidly, even in larger quantities, without substantially affecting  
its price.

Listing
Quotation of a security or issuer on the exchange.  

M

Margin
 CCP for all types of 
Collateral requirements determined by a 
transactions for which it acts as a central counterparty, used to 
cover risk from open positions in case a participant defaults.

MiFID II 
The revision of the Markets in Financial Instruments Directive 
( MiFID). The revised directive came into effect in January 2018.  
It sets out the rules governing the authorisation and activities of 
investment firms – in particular for so-called market makers 
 (liquidity providers) and participants in algorithmic trading – and 
regulated trading venues, along with precautionary measures for 
specifying and supervising position limits for commodities deriva-
tives and the requirements to be met by data reporting services. 

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Further information | Glossary

MiFIR 
Markets in Financial Instruments Regulation. A supplementary EU 
regulation to MiFID II that has been in effect since January 2018. 
Its comprehensive reporting obligations are designed to increase 
transparency on the stock, bond and derivatives markets and 
close loopholes in off-exchange transactions. The introduction of 
mandatory on-venue trading for shares and derivatives ensures 
that a larger number of transactions will be executed on regulated 
trading venues. The new regulations also cover the accessibility of 
 CCPs, trading venues and benchmarks as well as provisions go-

verning the activities of companies from third countries. 

N

P

Payback period
The period until the cost of an investment or an asset is covered 
by the income generated with it. This measure is used in financial 
assessment to prioritise and manage projects. 

Prime Standard
Subsegment of the EU-regulated market of Frankfurter Wertpapier-
börse (FWB®, the Frankfurt Stock Exchange) for companies that 
meet particularly high transparency standards. A listing in the 
Prime Standard is a precondition for admission to one of Deutsche 
Börse’s selection indices, such as the DAX®, MDAX®, SDAX® or 
TecDAX®.

Net present value (NPV)
The present (discounted) value of future payments. This measure 
is used in financial assessments to prioritise and manage projects.

Q

Net profit for the period attributable to shareholders of 
 Deutsche Börse AG
The profit generated within a certain period that is attributable to 
shareholders; this measure is used to manage the results of 
opera tions.

Net revenue
Revenue plus net interest income from banking business and other 
operating income, less volume-related costs. Deutsche Börse Group 
uses net revenue (and operating costs) to manage its 

 EBITDA.

Nodal Exchange 
US derivatives exchange providing price, credit and liquidity  
risk management to participants in the North American energy 
markets. Nodal Exchange belongs to Deutsche Börse Group’s EEX 
(commodities) segment.

O

Operating costs
Personnel costs plus other operating expenses. Depreciation, amorti-
sation, and impairment losses are presented separately from opera-
ting costs in order to ensure transparent reporting of costs and 
 earnings, and to increase comparability with competitors. Deutsche 
Börse Group uses operating costs (and net revenue) to manage its 

 EBITDA. 

OTC 
Over the counter, off-exchange. Describes transactions between 
two or more trading parties that are not executed on a regulated 
market. 

OTC clearing
The name given to the 
 executed on a regulated market

 clearing of transactions that are not 

QE 
Quantitative easing. In March 2015, the European Central Bank 
(ECB) launched a programme to purchase sovereign bonds and 
 liquidity 
other securities. The aim was to further boost market 
and to fend off deflation by increasing the money supply. The ECB 
discontinued its QE programme in December 2018.

R

Regulatory Reporting Hub 
Deutsche Börse Group’s platform for reporting solutions. The Hub 
enables sell-side and buy-side institutions, corporates and trading 
venues, to efficiently meet their current and future regulatory 
 obligations. It supports clients in reporting to all relevant national 
 competent authorities across Europe and in fulfilling transparency 
requirements.

Repo
Short for “repurchase agreement”. An agreement between the 
buyer and the seller of a security in which the seller promises to 
buy back the security on a specified date. Repos are typically 
used by banks as a temporary source of liquid funds.

Return on equity (RoE)
The ratio of net profit for the period attributable to Deutsche 
Börse AG shareholders to the average equity available to 
 Deutsche Börse Group in a fiscal year. This measure is used  
to determine the yield generated by the equity deployed.

Roadmap 2020
Deutsche Börse Group’s growth strategy, which was unveiled in 
May 2018. Roadmap 2020 focuses on three strategic initiatives: 
organic growth, targeted acquisitions and investments in inno-
vative technologies. It aims to consolidate and further expand 
 Deutsche Börse’s position as a leading European financial markets 
infrastructure provider with ambitions for global growth.

271

Gruppe Deutsche Börse | Annual report 2019Tangible equity
Equity less intangible assets, a performance indicator used by 
Deutsche Börse Group; the figure at Group level should be positive. 
Tangible equity should not fall below €700 million at Clearstream 
International S.A. or €400 million at Clearstream Banking S.A., 
since in Deutsche Börse Group’s opinion, compliance with these fi-
gures is compatible with an AA rating.

V

VDAX®
Volatility index indicating the fluctuations in the DAX® index 
 expected in the derivatives market (implied volatility).

Volatility
Measure of the extent to which the price of a security or an index 
fluctuates around a mean value during a certain period of time.

Executive and Supervisory Boards

Management report

Financial statements

Notes

Further information | Glossary

S

Securities lending
Transfer of securities by a lender in return for a fee – and usually 
 collateral – on condition that the borrower returns 
also against 
securities of the same kind, quality and amount to the lender at 
the end of a fixed term.

Settlement
The completion of an exchange transaction, i. e. the transfer of the 
money and traded securities from the seller to the buyer and vice 
versa. Within Deutsche Börse Group, Clearstream is responsible 
for this post-trading function.

Stress test
Stress tests are carried out in order to simulate extreme, yet plau-
sible, events for all material types of risk. Using both hypothetical 
and historical scenarios, they simulate the occurrence of extreme 
losses, or an accumulation of large losses, within a single year.

Swisscanto Funds Centre Ltd.
Swisscanto Funds Centre Ltd. operates the Swisscanto Fund Desk 
at Zürcher Kantonalbank, which offers banks a one-stop fund tra-
ding platform featuring straightforward order placement and settle-
ment, as well as custody services. Swisscanto Funds Centre Ltd. 
has been part of Deutsche Börse Group’s IFS (investment fund ser-
vices) segment since 2018. The company was renamed Clears-
tream Funds Centre Ltd. on 2 November 2018.

T

T2S
TARGET2-Securities. ECB-operated platform for securities 
 settlement in central bank money, which allows banks to reduce 
 collateral. Clearstream 
cross-border settlement costs and pool 
migrated to T2S in February 2017. “TARGET” is short for 
“Trans-European Automated Real-Time Gross Settlement Express 
Transfer System”. 

T7 
IT architecture used for Deutsche Börse Group’s trading systems 
(Eurex® Exchange, Xetra®, the European Energy Exchange and to 
some extent also 360T®). It is also used at other exchanges such as 
BSE (formerly known as the Bombay Stock Exchange) and Helsinki 
Stock Exchange. T7 is part of the Group’s 7 Market Technology® 
series.

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Management report 

Financial statements

Notes

Further information | Acknowledgement | Contact | Registered trademarks

Acknowledgement

Published by
Deutsche Börse AG
60485 Frankfurt/Main
Germany
www.deutsche-boerse.com

Concept and layout
Deutsche Börse AG, Frankfurt/Main
Kirchhoff Consult AG, Hamburg

Photographs
Getty Images/instamatics

Financial reporting system
Combined management report, consolidated financial 
statements and notes produced in-house using firesys 
and SmartNotes.

Publication date
13 March 2020

The German version of this report is legally binding.  
The company cannot be held responsible for any 
misunder- standing or misinterpretation arising from 
this translation. 

Reproduction – in total or in part – only with the writ-
ten  permission of the publisher

We would like to thank all colleagues and service 
 providers who participated in the compilation of this 
report for their friendly support.

Publications service
The annual report 2019 is both available in German 
and English. 

The annual report 2019 of Deutsche Börse Group is 
available as pdf on the internet:  

 www.deutsche-boerse.com/annual _ report

Contact

 ir@deutsche-boerse.com

Investor Relations
E-Mail 
Phone  +49-(0) 69 – 2 11 – 1 16 70
+49-(0) 69 – 2 11 – 1 46 08
Fax 

 www.deutsche-boerse.com/ir _ e

 group-sustainability@deutsche-boerse.com

Group Sustainability
E-Mail 
Phone  +49-(0) 69 – 2 11 – 1 42 26
Fax 

+49-(0) 69 – 2 11 – 61 42 26

 www.deutsche-boerse.com/sustainability

 corporate.report@deutsche-boerse.com

Financial Accounting & Controlling
E-Mail 
Phone  +49-(0) 69 – 2 11 – 1 79 80
Fax 

+49-(0) 69 – 2 11 – 61 79 80

Registered trademarks

The following names or designations are  
registered trademarks of Deutsche Börse AG  
or a Deutsche Börse Group:
C7®, DAX®, Deutsche Börse Venture Network®, ERS®, Eurex®, 
Eurex Bonds®, Eurex Clearing Prisma®, Eurex Repo®, F7®, FWB®, 
GC Pooling®, M7®, MDAX®, ÖkoDAX®, SDAX®, T7®, TecDAX®, 
VDAX®, Vestima®, Xetra® und Xetra-Gold® sind eingetragene 
Marken der Deutsche Börse AG. 360T® ist eine eingetragene 
Marke der 360 Treasury Systems AG. EURO STOXX®, EURO 
STOXX 50®, iSTOXX® und STOXX® Europe 600 Financials sind 
eingetragene Marken der STOXX Ltd. TRADEGATE® ist eine 
 eingetragene Marke der Tradegate AG Wertpapierhandelsbank 
CFF®, Vestima® und Xemac® are registered trademarks of 
Clearstream International S.A. EEX® is a registered trademark of 
European Energy Exchange AG.

273

Gruppe Deutsche Börse | Annual report 2019Executive and Supervisory Boards

Management report 

Financial statements

Notes

Further information | About this report

About this report

Deutsche Börse Group’s 2019 annual report does not 
only  document what happened in financial year 2019 
but also provides a solid summary of how the com-
pany defines and implements key action areas for its 
 “Overview of 
sustainability profile. In addition, the 
key sustainability aspects” table shows the UN’s sus-
tainable development goals (SDGs) that are addressed 
by Deutsche Börse Group.

Our reporting of sustainability information and key 
performance indicators complies with the Global Re-
porting Initiative (GRI) Standards (Core option). A 
comprehensive overview of all GRI  indicators (GRI in-
 www.deutsche-boerse.com > 
dex) can be found at 
Sustainability > Reporting > GRI

Principles of sustainability reporting
Our aim in our sustainability reporting is to achieve 
the highest possible degree of clarity and transpa-
rency. The combined management report contains a 
separate section with a combined non-financial state-
ment in accordance with sections 289b and 315b of 
the Handelsgesetzbuch (HGB, German Commercial 
Code). In line with this, the non-financial facts and fi-
gures  published in it generally refer to Deutsche Börse 
Group as a whole. Where the information on Deut-
sche Börse AG differs from that on Deutsche Börse 
Group this is specifically mentioned. In addition, to-
pics that are specific to certain locations and locally 
managed sustainability activities are identified as 
such.

Verification of non-financial key performance indi-
cators 
KPMG AG Wirtschaftsprüfungsgesellschaft, an inde-
pendent  external auditor, has audited the content of 
 Au-
the combined non- financial statement. KPMG’s 
ditor’s Report on Deutsche Börse AG’s (consolidated) 
financial statements and combined management re-
port as at 31 December 2019 also covers the 
 assurance of the combined non-financial statement. 

The separate limited assurance review opinion on all 
sustainability information contained in the GRI index 
 www.deutsche-boerse.
can be accessed  online at 
com > Sustainability >  Reporting > Annual report.

274

Gruppe Deutsche Börse | Annual report 2019Financial calendar 2020

29 April 2020
Publication quarterly statement Q1/2020

19 May 2020
Annual General Meeting (Frankfurt)

29 July 2020
Publication half-yearly financial report 2020

28 October 2020
Publication quarterly statement Q3/2020

Deutsche Börse AG
60485 Frankfurt am Main
www.deutsche-boerse.com